Absolutely Berkshire August 2022 by ABSOLUTELY Magazines

BERKSHIRE

Berkshire AUGUST 2022

AUGUST 2022

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ABSOLUTELY-BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.CO.UK

STUFF THE GLOBAL FASHION DESTINATION CAUSING A STIR IN BERKSHIRE PLUS

WINDSOR WINNER Inside the home transformed by Jimmie Martin CASTING THE NET Exploring Corn Exchange Newbury and its community links IN THE MIX How 137 Distillery is stirring up the drinks industry

ST YLISH / INTELLIGENT / ELEGA NT

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FA B R I C FURZE PL ATT ROAD, MAIDENHEAD

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A PA R T M E N T L I V I N G WITH A DIFFERENCE The latest addition to Oakford’s superb collection of new homes, Fabric delivers contemporary apartment living with all the comfort and convenience you could hope for. These one- and two-bedroom apartments are set in six individual buildings, offering an inspired specification. Each home is finished to an exceptional standard, with features such as underfloor heating, dedicated outside space, and integrated appliances. Set in the Thameside town of Maidenhead, Fabric is a convenient location, with fantastic transport links for both road and rail, including the advent of Crossrail’s new Elizabeth line, which will connect you directly to London’s underground network. With a direct train to London Paddington in under 30 minutes†, it’s the ideal choice for those wanting the perfect work-life

S H OW A PA R T M E N T O P E N D A I LY: 10.00am - 5.00pm

balance. With easy access to the city and capital, you can still enjoy the more relaxed atmosphere offered by the natural open space of the countryside, which is just a stone’s throw away. The best of both worlds: living on the fringes of town and edge of countryside, you get both a riverside town with idyllic walks and a thriving social scene. Delectable restaurants and pubs are in abundance nearby with Bray and Marlow boasting serious gastronomic credentials.

AVA I L A B L E N OW 2 bedroom apartments from £360,000 COMING SOON Further 1 bedroom apartments

To find out why we’re different, arrange your viewing today:

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fabric@hamptons.co.uk *The Help to Buy scheme is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. For full terms and conditions speak to a sales advisor. †Times and distances are taken from Google and will change depending on the time and date of travel, and so should not be relied upon.

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S TAY I N B E D The ultimate luxury is taking time to unwind in a bed so comfortable that you never want to leave

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Put your feet up with broadband that works for you EDITOR MARK KEBBLE

Highly recommended Alex, Trustpilot 3 Jul 2022

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents AUGUST 2022

92 C U LT U R E 20 AGENDA

The best events across the county in August

CORN EXCHANGE

Behind the scenes at Newbury's cultural hub

FA S H I O N & B E A U T Y 54 SCAMP & DUDE

Celebrating their Marlow shop opening

58 THE SHOOT

The global brand supporting local boutiques

32 THAMES LIDO

65 HEALTHCARE SPECIAL

FOOD & DRINK 42 FOOD NOTES

INTERIORS 84 INTERIORS NEWS

44 HARE & HOUNDS

88 HANNAH HEYS

50 137 DISTILLERY

92 REAL HOME

Dive into a stunning restoration

The best bites in your local area

Why this is on the Berkshire foodie map

What founder Pete Lumber did next

Everything you need for your wellbeing

The latest from the industry

The textile designer adding colour to the home

A Windsor house revamped top to toe

A B S O L U T E LYB U C K I N G H A M S H I R E .C O. U K The online guide to inspirational local living.

O N T H E C OV E R Atterley SS22 collection (atterley.com)

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PRESENTS

PERONI ITALIA AUTUMN RACING WEEKEND Friday 30th September – Saturday 1st October Real racing, real drama. With world-class racing and true Italian style, the Peroni Italia racing weekend is the ultimate autumn occasion. Alongside the racing we host the CAMRA Ascot beer festival. Choose from over 160 beers, ciders and perries to enjoy on the day.

Tickets from £20 Fine Dining from £259+VAT

Book now at ASCOT.COM

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5 LETTER Editor’s ABSOLUTELY’S August issue highlights

Scamp & Dude

Happy times as the brand opens in Marlow (p54)

here's been a lot said on the subject of mental health over the past couple of years. But what some seem to forget is that it has been an issue even before Covid reared its ugly head. True, lockdown did bring wellbeing more sharply into focus, and probably was the first time that many felt feelings of depression and anxiety. I am often accused of thinking too negatively and it's certainly an annoying trait I have, but I also realise that I need to talk about things more than I do. It really helps. Saying all of this – and judging by the numbers down my local gym right now – people are looking after themselves in the 21st century, but there is always more that can be done. It's why our health and beauty special this month is always relevant, and covers everything that can offer that little boost we all need from time to time. Elsewhere, we have a double trip to Newbury, with a behind the scenes look at the Corn Exchange and Hare & Hounds respectively. We take a peek at Scamp & Dude's new Marlow shop, and Hannah Heys' work will certainly brighten up your life. Stay healthy.

Sun Seekers

The best SPF lotions on the market for August (p73)

MARK KEBBLE EDITOR

Katy Griffiths

On the inner workings of Corn Exchange Newbury (p22)

Food Profile

How Hare & Hounds transformed its dining options (p44)

Hannah Heys

The textile designer with bold ideas (p88)

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Wish LIST

AQ UA SPLASH Oliver James' lilos are made to be loved. The first collection includes six luxury upholstered lilos made from durable materials and striking fabrics, designed to be handsome pieces of ﬂoating furniture. oliverjameslilos.com

OCEAN FRESH Ocean-coloured Efforia from Prima Donna is available up to an H cup. Bra £84 and Tanga £40 ameliesfollies.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

10 things we Absolutely love COMPILED BY

ON THE SCENT In Jo Malone London's Wild Flower candle pair, Florescent Honeysuckle & Davana sit with mesmerising Wild Bluebell for a radiant ﬂoral fragrance. In a ﬂoral print box by fashion designer Richard Quinn. £100 jomalone.co.uk

ON THE NAIL Chanel's The Sky, The Sun and The Sea collection comprises six luminous shades of nail polish which reﬂect off the sea with each wave, and melt into a brilliant palette of mauve, green, and lilac. chanel.com

PENDLE HARTE

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES

COOL BLUE This latest piece from Baker Brothers Diamonds will have you dreaming of the sea. It's a 18ct White Gold Sapphire & Diamond Vintage Style Pendant. £3,500 bakerbrothersdiamonds.com

G R E E N D AY Santorini and Mykonosthemed dresses are part of the vast collection of holiday wear at Aspiga. aspiga.com

H AT S O F F Emma Mulholland on Holiday's Happy Hawaii bucket hat is crafted from cotton and features a larger-than-life hibiscus print. koibird.com

CHECK OUT Featuring sturdy textile uppers with mixed gingham patterns and embroidery, the Gingham Block Sk8-Hi Tapered brings an old school Americana look to Vans' classic deconstructed high top shoe. vans.co.uk

S O L A R G LOW Bianca Balti is the face of Dolce & Gabbana's new Solar Glow Collection, which defines, illuminates and enhances the complexion. dolceandgabbanabeauty.com

FA S C I N AT I N G RHYTHM This hat is an accessory you can't get enough of watching. The curvy silk organza ﬂowers and the ﬂat look of the pillbox complement each other. £645 mervebayindir.com

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Karl Sydow, Trademark Films, PW Productions & Anthology Theatre present the Watermill Theatre production of

IAN HISLOP

NICK NEWMAN

“A FAST-PACED, CAPERING PRODUCTION” The Guardian

“VERY SILLY INDEED” The Financial Times

25 - 29 OCT 2022 0844 871 7615* atgtickets.com/aylesbury *Fees apply. Calls cost up to 7ppm, plus your phone company’s access charge

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C U LT U R E

DOGS TRU ST 1 8 AU G U ST • B E ACO N S F I E L D L I B R A RY

Dogs Trust is offering free workshops this month to help families understand dogs and learn how to live happily and safely alongside them. The charity, which finds new homes for thousands of dogs every year, is offering the ‘how to stay safe’ workshops to families with children aged seven and over. The 90-minute workshops must be booked in advance. dogstrust.org.uk

Agenda 20 • Corn Exchange Newbury 22 • Alex Crisp 27 A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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The Agenda

T H I S M O N T H ' S H OT T E ST EV E N TS

EV E NT

ParkFest 3 September W O O B U R N PA R K One to mark in your diary for early September, this free entry event is two festivals in one. From 12-4pm is the village fair, where you can expect plenty of stalls selling crafts and lots of enticing food and drink options, plus entertainment for the kids. Then from 4-7pm, the event turns into a mini music festival with local bands taking to the stage, along with bars and BBQ food. wooburnparish.gov.uk

MU S I C

Sunday Jazz Sessions THRO U GHO U T AU GUST, RUN N YMEDE

There’s nothing that says British summertime more than live music outdoors. Every Sunday during August, Runnymede have an array of musicians playing on their riverside terrace. Sit back on one of the oversized bean bags or deckchairs and enjoy Pimm’s on tap from their Airstream or a crisp glass of rose wine and a delicious bite to eat from the River Hideout. runnymedehotel.com

FA M I LY

Wondrous Family Walks Until 30 August T H E R OA L D DA H L M U S E U M Strap on your walking boots and head off with the family to explore the village and countryside that inspired some of the best-loved children’s books, including Danny the Champion of the World. Walks are every Tuesday, but you can also enjoy crafts, storytelling and trails Tuesday to Sunday throughout the summer holidays. roalddahl.com/museum

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CULTURE • DIARY

T H E AT R E

Whistle Down The Wind

PAMELA RAITH PHOTOGRAPHY

Until 10 September T H E WAT E R M I L L T H E AT R E An epic tale about the transforming power of love and kindness, Whistle Down The Wind is packed full of multi award-winning songs including No Matter What, When Children Rule The World and The Vaults of Heaven. In this brand-new production, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman’s iconic musical is reimagined by a talented professional cast of actormusicians and local young people. watermill.org.uk

THE SOUL BWG Gallery presents Spirit Within Lovers of all things magical will be delighted by BWG Gallery’s latest group exhibition, Spirit Within. The show features eight emerging women artists who explore spirituality, occulture, mysticism, and inner-worlds through their practices and coincides with a cultural resurgence of interest in witches, crystals, manifesting and more.

FADING SPIRITS OF ALBION, BY HAZEL FLOREZ

EV E N T

HENLEY COUNTRY CRAFT SHOW

Highlights include expressive paintings by multidisciplinary artist Salome Wu, whose abstract and deeply emotional canvases present complex personal mythology. A unique voice can be found in Lisbon-born ﬁgurative painter Mafalda Figueiredo. Her piece Burn it Down (2022) encapsulates the exhibition title perfectly. It depicts

26-29 August S T O N O R PA R K Visit the Henley Country Craft Show over the August bank holiday weekend in the charming location of Stonor Park and enjoy great shopping, family entertainment, activities and delicious food! It’s set to be the biggest show in ten years with over 200 exhibitors attending and is the biggest quality craft show in the UK. thecraftshows.co.uk

This Month’s Must See

ART FO R

ASCOT ANTIQUES & INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW

19- 21 AUGUST, ASCOT RACECOURSE

he inaugural Ascot Antiques & Interior Design Show launches this August at Ascot Racecourse in the Lower Exhibition Hall and the Upper Royal Pavilion. With high quality nationwide dealers in attendance, there will be a wide variety of fantastic antiques and collectables on offer to purchase with something for everyone. Charles Hanson will open the event to the public.

WE VOYAGE BETWEEN THOUGHT AND REALITY, BY OLIVIA MANSFIELD

a naked woman, boldly staring out of the canvas as a ghostly spirit lurks behind her. Finally, esoteric surrealist artist Hazel Florez’s piece Fading Visions of Albion (2022), a talisman featuring varieties of the UK’s endangered ﬂower species, is both intricately enticing and sweetly sentimental. On Display at Ben Oakley Gallery 9 Greenwich Market, SE10 9JA Until August 28 brusheswithgreatness.co.uk

treeofages.co.uk

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PHOTO: HOLLY BOBBINS

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CULTURE • INTERVIEW

L I

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S TA G E The Corn Exchange Newbury packs a punch as a regional arts venue with community and wellbeing taking centre stage, as director Katy Griffiths explains

t took 20 minutes for 4,500 oversized dominoes to fall into the lake at Victoria Park in Newbury, much to the delight of thousands of cheering spectators. The spectacle was momentous for the community and an achievement for Katy Griffiths, Director of Corn Exchange Newbury. But it was no mean feat. “The logistics were extraordinary, we hoped and prayed everything went to plan! It was amazing,” Griffiths smiles. “We think around 10,000 people came together from Newbury and beyond.” It was all part of a playful yet epic piece, which weaved through the streets of Newbury. Thousands of concrete blocks installed by hundreds of volunteers formed a meandering line through the town, traversing roads, pavements, waterways and parks. At a pre-arranged signal, the first block fell, knocking over the second, the third and the fourth – gaining momentum until the toppling blocks surged through the streets. With the support of the town council and local partnerships, the free event brought immense joy, a feeling that has intensified since the global Covid pandemic, adds Griffiths. “When that final domino toppled,

B y N ATA L I E L I

and we heard the cheers and celebration, it was an incredible moment for the town and community. People were like kids, chasing the dominos, such brilliant fun. Knowing that our organisation made that happen after the last few years is very special.” On that fateful week in March 2020 when lockdown forced closures across the UK, Griffiths refused to let the curtain fall on the Corn Exchange. Instead, it forced them to adopt an innovative and community-focused approach, an ethos that lies at the heart of the organisation. “When lockdown was announced we immediately launched a programme of work called Contactless Creativity; this involved our volunteers delivering 100 creative activity packs each week to those who were completely isolated or shielding, with no access to the internet,” Griffiths explains. “Local artists pulled an array of ideas together and recorded messages on dictaphones so participants could take part.” Griffiths, who was Director of the Corn Exchange from 2011 to 2017, returning in 2019, admits that leading the venue through the pandemic held its obvious challenges, but a role she was able to shoulder thanks to her familiarity with the organisation. “I knew the venue so well and it made it easier

having that history,” she says. “It was an extremely challenging time for the arts, but somehow it drew the organisation closer together and forced us to be creative while staying true to our values. We were successful in receiving three rounds of emergency government funding. “There has been a real shift in the landscape because of Covid,” she continues. “There were exciting opportunities that we were able to grow out of an extraordinary situation. We’ve always had a massive programme of creativity and engagement; getting the local community involved in activities is at the heart of what we do. During lockdown people remembered how to learn an instrument or took part in an online class. There has been a shift in understanding how this impacts on wellbeing.” Griffiths’ passion about the contribution arts can make to health and wellbeing is evident as we chat. She is a huge advocate of how creativity can meet the many challenges in health and social care associated with loneliness, mental health, and ageing. The venue’s flourishing participation programme in their Learning Centre reflects her desire to enable local people to engage, and feel better. A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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CULTURE • INTERVIEW UP & UNLIMITED

“Adapting during the Covid pandemic has really led us to focus on the benefits the arts have on wellbeing and the reduction in loneliness and isolation,” she says. “We have since been working closely with social prescribers from GP surgeries across the local district to offer referral and self-referral places on our Links to Thrive programme, free courses for adults offering creative activities, support and social connection delivered in venues across West Berkshire. “We also work with the local authority and mental health leads for the area to ensure we do the best we can to support the community. It has become an everimportant part of what we do. People know us best for performances, theatre and entertainment and having a good night

THE DOMINOES EFFECT

out. This community programme of work is one that I feel passionately about, and I am excited to move this to the next stage.” Leading the Corn Exchange is evidently a busy role, one which Griffiths seemingly manages with aplomb, overseeing more than 150 volunteers and staff across the 400seat theatre auditorium, an independent 40-seat cinema tucked away on the top floor, kitchen and bar, plus the 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space for the development of large-scale outdoor staging and residencies. “The juggle never stops,” Griffiths laughs, “people always want to do more, and my challenge is trying to bring the most value to the community and make a difference. Striking that balance is tough, but a real privilege.” The autumn programme is a good case in point. Following a packed August full of family treats including a Superhero Adventure trail around Newbury and outdoor theatrical magic from French theatre company Le G. Bistaki in Bel Horizon, the season is peppered with comedy from Milton Jones to the Crown Ballet’s version of The Nutcracker. Pantomime rounds off the jam-packed season and this year it’s Jack and The Beanstalk – a production Griffiths is excited to bring to local audiences. “We have our panto every year and it’s massive,” she smiles, “we produce it ourselves and tickets start from £15 so it’s accessible to families.

BEL HORIZON

THE CINEMA

Panto is an amazing introduction to live performance for so many, it’s wonderful seeing how it brings different generations together. We work with amazing creatives and this year comedy writers and directing team, Plested Brown and Wilsher, will create the show – it’s totally bespoke to Newbury and the surrounding area.” The Christmas magic continues with the annual Festival of Light, where Newbury town centre is transformed into a twinkling winter wonderland with hundreds of lanterns made by families, schools, and community groups. “Not only am I proud of our team and programme ahead, but it’s also the role our venue plays in the local community and the difference it makes to people’s lives,” Griffiths aptly concludes. To find out more about the autumn season visit cornexchangenew.com

CORN EXCHANGE NEWBURY

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Department Store

Now available in-store and online at: danielstores.co.uk

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CULTURE • PROFILE

Q You are a self-taught artist. How did you go about learning your craft? A I really enjoy trying new things out and learning different methods, so it’s been a case of playing around to see what I like and don’t like over the years. It’s been quite a process of elimination, but it’s helped me to focus in on doing a few things well. Taking workshops and classes has been a really fun part of this, especially at Berkhamsted Arts and Crafts and online with a platform like Skillshare. There’s been a lot of trial and error, especially with technical methods like watercolours and screenprinting, but I love the challenge! Q Why did you start illustrating during lockdown? A When lockdown started, I was in the same position as a lot of people in that I suddenly had a lot of extra time on my hands, so hobbies became very important. I’d wanted to learn how to create digital art for a while, so it seemed like a good opportunity to focus on this. It was also a good excuse to finally treat myself to an iPad and iPencil! This was definitely the first big step towards being an illustrator, and I owe a lot to Skillshare for learning the ins and outs of the Procreate app, which is where I create the majority of my designs. Q What kind of work were you creating? A I’m terrible at coming up with ideas

Get to know…

ALEX CRISP B U C K I N G H A M S H I R E A R T I ST

and rely a lot on prompts for inspiration. During lockdown there was a strong community of creators on social media coming up with different initiatives to keep people busy and connected. I personally really enjoyed following along with Artful’s daily Instagram challenges, and trying out Portrait Artist of the Year’s weekly draw-along (although the latter was short lived!). I found I enjoyed anything to do with fruit and vegetables the most and started sharing my progress on Instagram. Q Can you describe your style? A I always try and keep my style colourful

and playful – I don’t like to approach anything too seriously! My watercolour paintings tend to be a bit sketchier compared to my digital drawings, which

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SHE'S A FAN OF PRODUCE FROM GROOMS FARM SHOP

usually have bold lines and more solid shapes. The aim is to have fun and produce something that makes people smile. Q What was the response like to your illustrations? A Sharing things on social media always feels very vulnerable and scary, but once I started posting my illustrations and the process involved it was really lovely to see how much people enjoyed it. I could see what styles and designs were getting the most attention, which helped me to gradually hone in on creating a consistent look and feel. Q How does your illustrating fit in with family life and a fulltime job in communications? A I’m incredibly fortunate to have a career I love, a wonderful family and now a small business to call my own, so even though I’ve got quite a few things to juggle, it’s been incredibly rewarding so far. I’m also so lucky to have such supportive family and friends around me – without their help and encouragement I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this. Q How long have you lived in Ivinghoe and what do you love about it? A We moved to Ivinghoe nearly four years

A BURST OF COLOUR AT THE GREEN ROOM FLORIST

ago from London, and it’s one of the best decisions we ever made. We can’t believe how lucky we were to find this lovely little village and have to pinch ourselves every now and then. The people are just so friendly and there’s such a strong community feeling, and the surroundings are so beautiful. We really do love it.

HER QUIRKY ART ADDS TO PRODUCTS

“Moving to Ivinghoe was the best decision we ever made” SHE CAPTURES LOCAL LANDMARKS IN HER ART

Q If possible, can you pick out your three favourite places to go in Ivinghoe or the wider Buckinghamshire area? A My favourite spots in Ivinghoe are: The Rose and Crown pub – it’s such a great little spot and so friendly, we went in there before moving into our house and knew that we’d made the right decision; The Green Room florist – this wonderful florist and gift shop has a beautiful selection of flowers and products, and the owner Iain is one of the loveliest people you’ll ever meet! I’m very proud to have some of my cards and art prints listed here; Grooms Farm Shop – this family-run butcher and farm shop are our go-to for fresh produce and we’re very lucky to have it just a short walk from home. Karen and the team really know their stuff. Q What’s next for you? A I’ve recently started screenprinting

some of my designs onto textiles at home, like bags and tea towels, which I’m really enjoying and look forward to doing more of. A big next step will be to approach more local stockists about listing my products and really build up local awareness of the business. I always have so many ideas for new designs and am excited to have just launched a new lemon collection to coincide with summer. alexpenelopeart.com/shop @AlexPenelopeArt

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PULL A POWERPOSE

NE XT TO M ATILDA Great Missenden, Bucks, book at roalddahl.com/museum

storytelling | crafts | trails | interactive galleries

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HARRY'S BAR & KITCHEN

COUNTRY BREAK We head to Horwood House in Milton Keynes to meet the General Manager, Caroline Morrone, and ﬁnd out how a savvy HR Director shaped her career and that of the iconic venue

Q When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? A I wanted to be a teacher when I was young, then it changed to accounting, then I had a summer job in hospitality in a little hotel in the west of Ireland. The owner basically said that she felt I would be really good in hospitality and that’s where it all started. I did a BA Hons Degree in Hotel Management and the rest is history. Q Was there a particular “sliding doors” moment that shaped your career? A This was probably when I was an Operations Manager in a hotel and I was about to leave and move onto another operations role. I always had an interest in sales and revenue. So, when I handed my notice in the HR Director said would I be interested in moving into business development – to which I said yes. That really was a sliding door moment and

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“TIME JUST FLIES BY, SO NEVER LET YESTERDAY TAKE UP TOO MUCH TIME FROM TODAY” THERE ARE 160 BEDROOMS CAROLINE MORRONE

THE STUNNING EXTERIOR OF HORWOOD HOUSE

shaped the future of my career and getting into general management, providing a full 360-degree vision of the business and not being specialised in either sales or revenue. Q Tell us about Horwood House… A I have been the General Manager

of Horwood House Hotel since April 2021, a country manor house in the heart of Buckinghamshire. Purchased independently in 2019, it is an ongoing repositioning project involving the product, people and customers with a £6 million pound refurbishment investment, which is now coming towards completion. There are 160 bedrooms, 15 fantastic meeting rooms, catering for up to 270 delegates and delicious dining in our Harry’s Bar & Kitchen. We also have a brand-new spa with six treatment rooms, large stateof-the-art gym, 15 metre indoor

pool, sauna, steam room all looking onto a wonderful courtyard. Q What do you enjoy most about your day-to-day work? A I really enjoy adding value to the business, I am passionate about our team and making sure we are the best we can be. I love being amongst our customers and understanding their needs, which then helps me put the correct plans into place to make it happen! Q Outside of work, where are

you at your happiest? A With a glass of wine in my garden! I also love going home to my roots in the West of Ireland. Q How do you ensure a work/life balance? A Difficult one as hotel life is so demanding,

especially coming out of the pandemic.

But switching off is important and I always ask myself – do I choose to stay on at work or do I need to be at work? Q Where do you live and what do you love about it? A I live in Cobham, Surrey. It is a fabulous part of the country with the perfect balance between country life and being close to a town with great shops and restaurants/cafes/gastropubs. Q If you could go back and offer your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? A It would be that life just flies by and never let yesterday take up too much time from today. Enjoy the day you are in. Or focus on the things you are in control of and not to be obsessed with what is not in your control.

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CULTURE • VENUE

Making Waves Relax, indulge, and unwind at Thames Lido

ituated a five-minute walk from Reading train station (hello Elizabeth Line!), you will find a calm oasis serving up the classy Mediterranean vibes we all so desperately need in a time when European travel is still so uncertain. With flights being cancelled and travel anxiety sweeping the nation once again, you may be seeking rest, relaxation and tranquillity that doesn’t require a passport this summer. Step forward Thames Lido. The Lido is the result of a three-year sympathetic restoration project of a beautiful, historical landmark in Reading: The Edwardian Kings Meadow swimming baths, which first opened in 1902. Tucked away behind a leafy path right by the River Thames, this urban retreat is open to the public all year round. Thames Lido started life as a ladies’ swimming baths. With no windows

looking onto the pool itself, it was built to allow Edwardian women to bathe in privacy and was originally fed with river water from the nearby Thames. Things have thankfully changed since then. You can now find their crystal-clear waters surrounded by a quirky and colourful design, honouring the building’s original architectural features. You will also find a hot tub and saunas, as well as massage rooms and an award-winning restaurant, which is featured in the Michelin Guide. The 25m (24.68m for accuracy) outdoor swimming pool is heated throughout the year to a temperature designed to leave you feeling fresh and energised. At around 26C, it allows for comfortable swimming and is a wonderfully refreshing contrast to the temperature of the other spa facilities – the saunas, ice bucket, cold drench shower and hot tub. The chlorine levels are kept as low as possible with the help of their ‘wash naked’

policy and bespoke Lido Spa products in every shower cubicle. These products are also available to buy so you can enjoy the Lido Spa experience at home. Visitors to Thames Lido will discover they’re so much more than a pool. The full Thames Lido experience is pure self-indulgence; the perfect venue to reconnect with friends and family, or enjoy quiet, restorative time alone. Forget the passport, just pack your swimming gear. As well as yearly membership, they offer a range of different packages that can include a luxurious massage and two or three course meal. At Thames Lido, they cook with simplicity and honour the seasons. Their summer à la carte menu is the perfect après-swim: fresh, seasonal vegetables, locally sourced where possible take centre stage with a strong Mediterranean and Levantine influence. If that’s not all, they can offer a bespoke event and corporate package for business workshops to unique weddings. Want to find out more? Head over to thameslido.com and follow them on Instagram @thameslido

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CULTURE • THEATRE

ABSOLUTELY reviews…

MY FAIR LADY

We take in a revival at the Coliseum B y P E A R L B OY D

ou might wonder whether My Fair Lady, with all its old-fashioned assumptions about class and gender, can be relevant in 2022. And it’s a good question, but maybe it misses the point of this new production. The Coliseum’s new revival of the classic musical brings almost non-stop tunes and dance routines, making it an impressive spectacle. Directed by Bartlett Sher, this sublime production, which premiered in the spring of 2018 at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater, was the winner of the Tony Award for Best Costume Design, five Outer Critics’ Circle Awards including Best Musical Revival, the Drama League Award for Outstanding Musical Revival, and the

Drama Desk Awards for Best Musical Revival and Costume Design. The London production features 36 musicians from the English National Opera’s awardwinning orchestra – making it the largest orchestra in the West End – playing Frederick Loewe’s ravishing score. As everyone kows, this is the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics professor who is determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady”. But who is really being transformed? With a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, the score includes the classic songs I Could Have Danced All Night, Get Me to the Church on Time, Wouldn’t It Be Loverly, On the Street Where You Live, and I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.

“This revival of the classic musical brings almost non-stop tunes and dance routines” From start to finish it's a bold, colourful spectacle, with a set that switches between Higgins' book-lined study, the steps at the opera house, a lamp-lit street and Ascot racecourse. Costumes and dance routines are lavish, the tunes are everybody's favourites and Vanessa Redgrave's appearance as Higgins' mother undelines the overwhelming sense of theatre history and nostalgia. It's an impressive production.

VERDICT

Everything that you'd hope for. THE COLISEUM UNTIL 27 AUGUST

myfairladymusical.co.uk

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Friday 22 July to Saturday 10 September

A Watermill Theatre Production by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd.

WHISTLE DO DOWN TTHE WINDD Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber LLyrics by Jim Steinman With book by Patricia Knop, Gale Edwards and Andrew Lloyd Webber Orchestration by David Cullen & Andrew Lloyd Webber Directed and Choreographed by TTom Jackson Greaves

Tickets from £15

U30 The Watermill Theatre & Restaurant, Bagnor, Newbury RG20 8AE

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CULTURE • SOCIALS

ABSOLUTELY

ATTENDS THE HENLEY FESTIVAL

enley Festival – the UK’s only black tie festival – returned for their unmissable 40th anniversary celebrations. Headliners The Script gave an epic performance to kick off the festival, with Danny O’Donoghue immersing himself in the crowd, while Boney M also joined in the celebrations with a stellar performance in the Festival Club. Henley Festival is the only festival in the UK to have a floating stage which is built on top of the River Thames and is also the only festival in the UK where festival goers arrive by boat. On the Thursday, one the most successful artists in UK chart history, Craig David, performed an epic evening of his best-loved hits, 20 years since the critically-acclaimed album, Born To Do It, changed his life. The legendary, incomparable Sir Tom Jones returned to Henley and the stunning Floating Stage on Friday evening to captivate the crowd with music from his 41st studio album Surrounded By Time. On Saturday, revered DJ, broadcaster and global dance music legend Pete Tong, together with The Heritage Orchestra and Jules Buckley, presented an unforgettable evening of iconic classical electronic music. This year’s Festival closed with an extraordinary 40th Anniversary Celebratory Evening on Sunday. Welsh superstar Mezzo Soprano Katherine Jenkins OBE – the biggest selling classical artist of the century with 14 Number One albums – took to Henley Festival’s iconic Floating Stage. Five spectacular summer nights, celebrating 40 years of magical moments, was brought to an unforgettable close by the sensational singer-songwriter Jack Savoretti, who brought Riviera glamour and Italian elegance to the Floating Stage, before a jaw-dropping firework finale.

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CULTURE • SOCIALS

ABSOLUTELY

ATTENDS SUMMER CONCERTS AT CAMPBELL PARK

housands of music fans descended on Campbell Park in Milton Keynes in July to enjoy three fantastic events staged by the Bedford-based promoter, LPH Concerts & Events. People from all over the county came out as the sun shone down on the park. Dancing crowds and smiling faces were the recipients of a weekend-long soundtrack of the world’s best-loved pop songs, belted out by some of the finest in music.

ABBA Symphonic was the highlight of Friday night. Star performers from the London West End production of Mamma Mia!, including Rob Fowler and Sharon Sexton, took to the stage to perform ABBA’s greatest hits together with a full rock band and the Heart of England Orchestra, arranged and conducted by the Grammy Award winning composer, Steve Sidwell. The Rock Choir were also a hit with crowds with audiences singing along in their masses to everything from Whitney Houston to Queen and Bastille. Internationally acclaimed artist Rag ‘n’

Bone Man went down a storm on Saturday, performing huge hits including Human, Skin and Giant, with support from BBC Radio 1 favourite, Jade Bird, and Hull’s rising star, Charlotte Jane. Closing out the weekend was the BRIT award-winning artist Paloma Faith, who looked striking dressed in a custom-made leather ballgown. TikTok star Katie Kittermaster stepped in to perform an extended set than was previously billed, as did Bedford’s fast rising star Joe Bygraves, after the original support James Morrison could not perform due to illness.

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ACCESS ALL AREAS: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A RACEHORSE

Come and meet the equine stars at Seven Barrows, the prolific training yard of six-time Champion Jump Trainer, Nicky Henderson. He will be giving some insight into how he has trained so many horses to win the biggest Jump races in the world, including the likes of Altior, Sprinter Sacre, Long Run and Remittance Man.

10th-18th September

Have you ever wondered what goes into training a thoroughbred to win a race like the Grand National or the Epsom Derby? In truth, it takes a lot of love, care and attention to detail from a large team of people. From 10- 18 September, you can come and see that first hand at a yard in your area, as part of National Racehorse Week. More than 150 yards, studs and retraining centres nationwide, will be throwing their stable doors open to the public, so you can experience the inner workings of a racing operation first hand - for free. A number of leading trainers and yards across the region are offering this exciting opportunity to people of all ages, to get up close and personal with these fabulous animals. See just how fast a racehorse gallops, how much they eat a day, how they spend their downtime and just how much time and affection goes into caring for a racehorse before, during and after their career. You can ask questions to the wonderful team who work tirelessly behind the scenes to give these horses a happy, healthy life. Eight trainers in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire have signed up to welcoming the public onto their yards, including high profile trainers like Nicky Henderson, Jamie Snowden, Pat Murphy and Oliver Sherwood.

visit nationalraceorseweek.uk

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Louise Robson runs a retraining operation called Thoroughbred Dressage and is delighted to welcome visitors to Padbury Hill Stables, where she trains former racehorses to enjoys second careers in other equestrian disciplines. Louise said: “Come and meet some of our former stars of the track and see them blossoming in their second careers post racing. We want to show you the journey from ‘Flying Past to Flying Change.’” National Racehorse Week promises a unique and insightful day out for all the family, surrounded by animals and beautiful countryside. These open days will showcase a range of activities which varies from yard to yard, but all will offer the chance to meet racehorses in training, as well as the much-loved stable stars who have retired. Some yards even have purposefully designed equine swimming pools, an activity most horses enjoy and just like with humans, it offers a great low-impact workout. Physiotherapists, chiropractors and farriers (who put the horse’s shoes on) are an intrinsic part of any trainers’ yard, and many open days will offer demonstrations and insight into this allimportant aspect of horse management and welfare. To book your visits during National Racehorse Week visit nationalracehorseweek.uk

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R.S. TROUTT & CO FINE ENGLISH BUTCHERS

Friendly, traditional Butchers offering fresh meat products with a modern gourmet twist. Master Butcher with a wealth of knowledge and over 35 years experience.

Now stocking our full range of quality meats for your summer bbq Home delivery available

Serving hot and cold food all day Dry aged grass fed beef • Multiple varieties of home made sausages Pre-flavoured chicken breasts • Rolled pork belly stuffed with haggis and blackpudding Homemade beef burgers • Kebabs • Lamb chops • Pork chops • Chicken kiev Duck • Pies • Black pudding • Cheese • Scotch eggs • Home cured bacon Aberdeen House, Hazlemere Crossroads, Hazlemere HP15 7LG Tel 01494 711803 Tudor House, High Street, West Wycombe HP14 3AE Tel 01494 526880

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FOOD & DRINK

MASTER AT WORK 137 DISTILLERY

137 Distillery is a series of independently distilled spirits produced by founder and master distiller, Pete Lumber. The distillery is fiercely independent and the first of its kind in Newbury. Every element of the 137 Distillery is unique and personal. Lumber’s vision remains at the core of the entire range and brand – and you can read our exclusive interview with him on page 50. 137gin.com

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WHAT TO DRINK

IN THE spirit Gin recommendations for the month

TASTING NOTES

The latest food and drink news from around the county By MARK KEBBLE

By PUDDINGSTONE DISTILLERY

Ultrasonic Gin 50cl 41% ABV  £35 This uses a unique ultrasonic process and pot distillation to extract flavour and aroma from the botanicals. Earthy juniper leads to the sweeter profile of elderflower and roasted barley. The light finish carries notes of apple and mint, and £2 from every bottle sold goes to the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust.

PUD PUD Cacao Gin 50cl 40% ABV  £36 PUD PUD Gin is back with a spectacular summer edition. This gin is a new version of Puddingstone’s much-loved PUD PUD Gin using organic Peruvian cacao nibs. We’re loving the combination of distilled cacao with a lightly spiced gin that has been rested in port washed ex bourbon barrels.

Domestique London Dry Gin 50cl 42% ABV  £33 Domestique Gin is an exceptional London Dry style using botanicals sourced from the host nations of some of the world’s greatest cycling events. Alongside the required juniper and British coriander, Puddingstone distil Spanish orange peel, French hops, Belgian angelica, Italian rosemary and Californian raisins. These limited-edition gins are distilled alongside the four strong Campfire Gin range by founders and operators, Ben and Kate Marston, at the multiaward winning Puddingstone Distillery in Tring, Hertfordshire. See more at

puddingstonedistillery.com

In full bloom T H E I V Y M A R LOW / W I N D S O R

The Ivy Marlow Garden and Royal Windsor have launched a selection of new seasonal dishes for guests to enjoy during the warmer months. With an abundance of vibrant ﬂavour and colour, dishes include a Goat’s Cheese and Courgette Tart (£8.75), with artichoke tapenade, mixed herbs, and truffle crème fraiche sauce, and Pan-Fried Salmon Fillet (£17.25) served with asparagus spears, courgette ribbons, toasted pine nuts, and a chive velouté. theivymarlowgarden.com / theivywindsor.com

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FOOD & DRINK • NOTES

HAVE YOUR CAKE Three of the best for Afternoon Tea Week

FOOD FOR ALL RUNNYMEDE

Whether it’s inside the contemporary restaurant or outside on the terrace, Leftbank at Runnymede promises a memorable dining experience with the stunning backdrop of the River Thames. Dine from their popular buffet featuring comforting, modern British dishes, and also enjoy hearty full English breakfasts through to sumptuous Sunday lunches. runnymedehotel.com

CLIVEDEN HOUSE

Stand and deliver COOK MY GRUB

Cook My Grub, created in Maidenhead by way of India, is a gourmet home-chef delivery service, featuring food from 80 different world cuisines. Cook My Grub is like a 'Deliveroo for home-cooked food', with 300 chefs to choose from. This means you get to taste food from regions of the world you might never have visited, like the Konkan coastal region outside Mumbai, where they have great ﬁsh dishes that are hard to ﬁnd. cookmygrub.com

Indulge in a perfectly prepared selection of traditional British savoury treats at this historic venue, including delicious finger sandwiches and tempting modern touches alongside freshly baked scones with clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam, and some of the most perfect tea going. clivedenhouse.co.uk

ALL IN THE

P L A N N I N G TOM KERRIDGE

C O W O R T H PA R K Situated in the natural daylight, have a cup of tea and some delectable treats in Coworth Park’s beautifully designed Drawing Room, experiencing afternoon tea hidden away in the woodlands of the Berkshire countryside. dorchestercollection.com

M&S Food has joined forces with Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge on an exciting new partnership. Kerridge’s meal planner is packed full of products from the M&S Remarksable Value range and includes a shopping list full of great value, quality ingredients with easy-tofollow recipes. marksandspencer.com

Step forward T H E B O OT & S L I P P E R

The Boot & Slipper Amersham, having undergone a full refurb and introduced a new luxurious garden eating facility, has re-opened. Today, despite its history and traditional look, plus its local reputation as one of the most haunted buildings in Buckinghamshire, this is very much a 21st-century pub, with a modern dining menu and a familyfriendly vibe. Join them Saturday or Sunday for a cosy brunch together, with classics like smashed avocado and eggs, or smoked salmon on sourdough. chefandbrewer.com

BUCKINGHAM TEA ROOM This is an incredibly special place to enjoy afternoon tea in the heart of Buckinghamshire. They offer a host of home-made delicacies, traditional cream tea and more to make your visit a memorable one. buckinghamtearoom.co.uk

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JUMP START

Newbury has a new coaching inn to get excited about, full of equestrian nods and dining options that makes the most of the county’s produce

By MARK KEBBLE

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• XXXXX FOOD & XXXXXXXX DRINK • INTERVIEW

“Our farm-to-table menus have been based on three key pillars: fresh, seasonal and local”

he Hare & Hounds is a lovely 17th century Georgian building and, after months of restoration, now boasts a traditional pub, dining room and 30-bed coaching inn, as well as a covered garden terrace. The Hare & Hounds is set at the foot of Newbury in the pretty village of Speen in West Berkshire. The pub is steeped in history from the nearby horse racing community and lies within striking distance of Donnington and Highclere Castle. The coaching inn’s accommodation comprises 30 bedrooms named after the equestrian world and historic dignitaries. The rooms are cleverly and

comfortably furnished with nods to the local area. Some of the rooms feature roll-top bathtubs and all have powerful showers, Robert’s radios, Bramley bath products and The White Company bathrobes. There is also a selection of ground-floor, dog-friendly rooms including dog bed, bowl and ‘Bramley Dog Box’ ready for your arrival. The Hare & Hounds offers a variety of dining spaces, full of character and charm, the perfect setting for guests to sit back, relax and enjoy. Their beautiful Georgian Coaching Inn is a home from home, a place to unwind after a day out in the countryside. Absolutely wanted to dig a little deeper into their food offering, so spoke to Drew Brown, managing director of the Hare & Hounds, about the ethos behind the dining there. Q Can we start by you giving

us an overview of what the Hare & Hounds offers? A The Hare & Hounds is a 17th century Georgian inn and, after months of restoration, now boasts a traditional pub, dining room and premium 30-bed coaching inn, as well as a covered garden terrace. Q How have you approached

the dining menus?

A Our farm-to-table menus have been

based on three key pillars: fresh, seasonal and local (where possible). We spend several months leading up to each menu researching, testing and curating the dishes to ensure that we have the right balance and presentation. We also recognise

that people come out to dine for different occasions so have ensured our menus have lots of variety. Q What kind of dishes can we expect

to see on the menus this summer?

A On our menu you’ll find classic

dishes like our Wagyu burger and grass-fed British steaks cooked on a Robata Grill, which uses hot charcoal to provide a flavoursome finish with a crisp, smoked exterior. For those looking for something more original, we also have delicious dishes including our Brick Lane spiced monkfish tail and king prawns wrapped in banana leaf with South Indian sweet potato dahl and grilled flatbread. Q Are there real stand out

dishes for you right now?

A Our miso glazed 12-hour braised

pork belly, wasabi mash, black sesame purée, pak choi and fermented red chilli is a must try! With this dish we have taken a quality British cut that you might cook at home and put a creative spin on it – we want to be able to offer our customers cooking that is both exciting and delicious. Q Where do you source your produce? A We aim to source as much of our food

locally as possible, working with the amazing producers Berkshire has to offer. For more specialist ingredients, you’ll see several provenance locations on the menus including Dorset – from Cornish crab to St Ewe’s eggs and South Coast lobster. Teaming up with suppliers and telling their stories is all part of the guest experience

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more, we’ve developed the ultimate Sunday lunch menu to end all menus! Q What kind of atmosphere

does the dining room have?

A The Barn Dining Room has undergone a

and it’s something we will be doing much more of in the future. Watch this space!

with Highclere Castle’s Gin and will look to follow this with other local supplier dinners.

Q Why is it important to you to

Q Is your Newbury location

support local suppliers? A The creation of our dishes doesn’t just start in the kitchens, it starts at the very beginning – at the farms or kitchens of our partners. Our partners put an incredible amount of effort into providing the best quality produce, which is the level of detail and quality we want served to our guests. We’re hoping to host a series of gin tastings

ideal for foodie inspiration?

A The UK hospitality industry is beaming

complete overhaul creating a charming and characterful hub for the local community and visitors. The exposed beams make for a spacious and airy dining space offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. Diners can expect farm-to-table menus that roll with the seasons and which champion local suppliers and producers. hareandhoundsnewbury.co.uk

with great venues. Newbury is no different and it’s got a fantastic array of independent bars, restaurants and brewers. It’s great to see the area continue to flourish as a ‘foodie’ destination – the more reputable restaurants, pubs and hotels that pop up, the better it is for all the community. Q What other special elements are

there with your different menus?

A As well as the occasional menus, we

offer ‘specials’ on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening, but not as you know it. These are occasional specials specifically designed by our head chef to offer something different for an occasion. Sharing Beef Wellingtons, Turbot, and Cote de Beouf to name a few. We are also proud of our great Saturday brunch menu and daily breakfast menu, which provide the perfect excuse for a leisurely start to the day. If customers are looking for something lighter for lunch, then we serve a delicious lunch time menu too. What’s

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The headline act.

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FOOD & DRINK • REVIEW HEAD CHEF HOWARD GALE

Taste of the

CHILTERNS Absolutely heads to The Nags Head in Great Missenden for perfect country style cooking and outdoors entertainment

he Nags Head is a Silver AA 4-star graded traditional 15th century country pub and hotel in the Chilterns, located in the picturesque village of Great Missenden. Their six bedrooms have been designed with subtle nods to the surrounding area and its history in mind. However, we weren’t here to sleep on the job, but check out their latest dining offering. Inside the restaurant there are 84 covers, plus the option of garden dining to make the most of the last days of summer. We opted to dine inside, which was tastefully furnished throughout and offers a really lovely atmosphere. Their head chef Howard Gale takes pride in using what’s best from local, British food producers and balances a wonderful twist of modern and traditional cooking, with emphasis on foraging, pickling, curing, and hot and cold smoking using only the freshest products from our shores. The menu is extensive, so it took some time to make our decisions. My choice, eventually, was scallops, beef tomato, nduja, brioche breadcrumbs, garlic puree, followed by chicken ballotine “coq au vin”, romanescu cauliflower, and pomme puree. My guest had, to start, Maldon rock oysters, shallot vinegar, saffron mayo, sourdough. This was followed by Rebellion beer battered haddock, fries, minted crushed peas, tartar sauce. The cooking was exemplary throughout. My scallops were cooked perfectly, and the chicken’s flavours were amazing. The fish options opposite looked great and the fact my guest cleared every last morsel spoke volumes. It wasn’t protocol, but we couldn’t decide on different desserts, so both ended

THE MENU MAKES USE OF LOCAL PRODUCE

with salted caramel tart burnt apple puree, crème fraîche, apple flambe, which was absolutely delicious. Everything was washed down with a perfectly selected (by our waiter) New Zealand sauvignon blanc wine. Our visit did coincide with an event held in their garden – of which they hold plenty throughout summer – so we were eventually coaxed outside. Given our late night, perhaps we should have opted to stay too. T H E N AG S H E A D London Road, Little Kingshill, Great Missenden, HP16 0DG, 01494 862200 nagsheadbucks.com

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Be-Gin

TO DREAM Pete Lumber of Newbury-based 137 Distillery tells us about how he came to be in the drinks industry and why it’s important to follow your heart By BETHAN ANDREWS

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XXXXXXXX • XXXXX

DISTILLING REMAINS AT THE HEART

THE FOOD IS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LEWIS SPREADBURY

ometimes, it just takes one brave moment to begin to follow your dreams and then the rest is history. For Pete Lumber, founder of 137 Distillery, this is most certainly the case. He’s a man with incredible passion and a real determination to get going on ideas. With such tenacity to combine his passions with work, it’s possible that this is why his self-taught gin distillery has been a success since day one. It all began at the Newbury pub that Lumber had run for years at 137 Bartholomew Street. Lumber decided, in 2018, to launch a distillery in the courtyard. From there, he created a diverse range of Lumber’s Bartholomew gins. “In 2015, I was thinking I can’t be doing this pub game for too long, so I thought about finding something else to do,” he says. “I was having a drink

with a friend who said he was making gin and I thought, well, I’m drinking a gin and tonic, maybe I should give it a go.” Lumber credits his struggles in life as one of the driving forces of his journey. “I’m self-taught in everything I do because I’m dyslexic, so I've always taught myself anything I've done in life,” he says. “Rather than dyslexia being one of my weaknesses, it’s my strength.” Self-taught means that Lumber spent a long time visiting distilleries across the country, watching what they were doing, doing tastings and then experimenting with his own techniques and flavours. “It’s all about quality for me,” he states. “It’s about creating something and the challenge of doing it well.” Fast forward to today and Lumber has recently opened his new venture – Eat, Drink, Distil – and his gin and vodka creations are winning award after award both nationally and internationally. How did Eat, Drink, Distil come about? “Like everyone, particularly in the pandemic, I’m always thinking to the future and my lease was due to run out this year,” says Lumber. “I thought about setting up a distillery somewhere else, but I’ve been in the food and drink industry for 15 years and

it’s a part of what I do that I couldn’t leave behind. The concept of Eat, Drink, Distil is three of my main loves: I love drink, I love food, and I love the experience of distilling.” The concept, which has also all been designed by Lumber himself, brings together food, drinks and a unique experience to Newbury high street. There’s a brand-new menu of fresh treats, run in partnership with local chef Lewis Spreadbury of Bread & Butter, and the opportunity to sip on morning coffee, afternoon drinks or cocktails headed up by London-trained mixologist Daniel Jorge Alvarez. Then, of course, the award-winning distillery has fully relocated to the new site and you’ll no doubt catch a regular glimpse of Lumber hard at work on the copper stills. To accompany this, there will also be a brand new gin school onsite. On his career highlights, Lumber says: “To get the recognition of over 60 awards in two years, which is the most of any craft distiller in the UK. What makes me really proud is that the awards are from all across the board and are blind tasted, which is amazing.” It’s clear how much love he has for the process of distilling. “It’s like a switch with me, as soon as I start talking about it, I light up as a person,” smiles Lumber. With such a snowball of success over the last few years, what’s next up the sleeve of 137 Distillery? “I hope that there will be a Bristol and London Eat, Drink, Distil in the future,” says Lumber. “I’m not sure when it will be, it’s about getting the first site right.” It’s good to keep dreaming big. 137gin.com PETE LUMBER

DRINKS REMAIN A KEY PART OF THE OPERATION

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25/05/2022

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www.shopatparkway.com

TAKE A STEP IN THE NEXT DIRECTION at Parkway this Spring Summer

MODEL CLOTHING BY FATFACE

CMY

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FA S H I O N

S HI NI N G LI G H T BERRY’S JEWELLERS

One of the most iconic collections from Scandinavian jewellery brand, Georg Jensen - Moonlight Grapes in sterling silver or gold, combines the Art Nouveau heritage of the house with a bold contemporary style. The jewellery from the collection has a bold and sculptural presence that makes it the perfect choice for women who have a strong sense of their own personal style. Browse the collection at Berry’s Windsor. berrysjewellers.co.uk

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JO TUTCHENER-SHARP

Bold new

BEGINNINGS As their new shop in Marlow opens, it’s time to shine bright and beat the heat with the latest collection from Scamp & Dude

THE LATEST SS22 COLLECTION

ndependent fashion brand Scamp & Dude welcomes its community and online empire to a new flagship store in Marlow. The British fashion brand has seen exponential growth as it continues to build a loyal community through womenswear and charitable partnerships, and as the evolution of the high street continues, Scamp & Dude moves into a physical retail space to bring to life ‘The World of Scamp & Dude’. Scamp & Dude, the purpose led fashion brand with the power to change the way you feel, has now opened its doors to its permanent bricks and mortar retail flagship, offering the only fully immersive destination for the brand’s fast growing and joyful community to come together and experience the world of Scamp & Dude.

INSIDE THE NEW MARLOW SHOP

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FASHION • FEATURE

“We are hugely excited to bring our joyful world to the already vibrant Marlow high street” The 1,569 sq ft space has opened on the vibrant high street of Marlow, and will be an immersive retail space to showcase the brand’s growing collection of stylish and responsible womenswear, and also a space to celebrate the power of community, something that sits at the very heart of Scamp & Dude – from ongoing charity campaigns and give back programmes to experiential events for the local community and loyal customers to demonstrate and bring to life the brand’s generosity and vision to bring positive and joyful clothes to every wardrobe. Following an intense growth period for Scamp & Dude and a new focus on the womenswear division, which recently launched into Liberty London, womenswear now makes up over 90 per cent of all brand sales. Now into its sixth year and with womenswear and community at the forefront of the

business, the shop opening will also reflect the brand’s recent refresh with a new logo and new brand slogan for the adult collection, ‘we’ve got your back’, which will sit alongside the original kids slogan ‘a Superhero has my back’, reflecting Scamp & Dude’s desire to continually give back and help others. Founded by Jo Tutchener-Sharp in 2016, Scamp & Dude was created after she was separated from her children during a lengthy stay in hospital undergoing life-saving brain surgery, which made her feel determined to create a philanthropic business that continuously gives back. Originally launching with kidswear and charitable products, Scamp & Dude was led by the slogan ‘a Superhero has my back’, to tell kids that someone is watching over them, and over the past five years, Scamp & Dude has donated over 5,000 Superhero

Sleep Buddies and 6,500 Super Scarves to women with cancer and families of a child with cancer, an area of the business which will continue to drive the brand’s vision and core brand values. Tutchener-Sharp says: “I am incredibly proud to be taking this next step in our Scamp & Dude brand journey through the opening of our new flagship store, after our exponential growth in the business over the past five years. As our local town, Marlow means so much to us and we are hugely excited to bring our joyful world of Scamp & Dude to the already vibrant local high street and to welcome a community of new and existing customers.” As a sneek peak, these pages also show the latest from their summer collection. Happy shopping. scampanddude.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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FASHION • JEWELLERY

Elegant Enamel Wear something fun this summer B y R AC H E L H O G G

FRY POWERS

BOOCHIER

BAKER BROTHERS DIAMONDS

Unicorn Rainbow Silver, Enamel and Topaz Ring, £580 net-a-porter.com

Purple Fruit Hoops Bangle, £9,405 boochier.com

Shaun Leane Rose Gold Vermeil Cherry Blossom Pendant, £350, bakerbrothersdiamonds.com

CARRIE ELIZABETH

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ANNA + NINA

Eivissa Enamel Ring in Orange, £60 carrieelizabeth.co.uk

Tiered Gold, Enamel, Sapphire and Morganite Earrings, £4,675 net-a-porter.com

Gold-Plated Green Twirl Enamel Hoop Earrings, £60 libertylondon.com

KURT GEIGER

BOTTEGA VENETA

ALICE CICOLINI

Enamel Eagle Bangle in Fuschia, £99 kurtgeiger.com

Enamel and Sterling Silver Triangle Earrings in Wave, £715 matchesfashion.com

Memphis Candy Gold and Enamel Ring, £950 alicecicolini.com

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MIX &

M ATC H

Atterley is a fashion destination that celebrates the boutique experience, supporting shops like Amelie in Berkhamsted. Here’s a snapshot of their summer collection AT T E R L E Y. C O M

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The perfect gift in this extraordinary year

Every homeworker deserves a Varier Chair from backinaction BE AUTIFUL DESIGN LED ERGONOMICS On-line, by telephone, over Zoom and in 4 fabulous stores www.backinaction.co.uk/bucks or call 01494 434343 For Your Perfect Chair BACK IN ACTION.indd 64 Untitled-4 BIA.indd 11

29/07/2022 16:12 14/12/2021 12:10 14:29 21/10/2021

HEALTH & BEAUTY S

In this sect ion P R E S S P A U S E p66 E M M A Y O R K C L I N I C p7 1 S P F G U I D E p73 T H E C A V E N D I S H C L I N I C p75 W E L L B E I N G A P P S p80

MIND & BODY Never has our physical and mental wellbeing been so important. It's been two years like no other and we are still suffering the consequences of a pandemic that refuses to go away. Work is harder, the days seem shorter, and happiness feels a distant dream for some. Hopefully the following pages will help to put a smile on your face and show how you can relax a little.

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Slow

DOWN

Absolutely interviews Dawn Fable, co-founder of the female-focused CBD brand Press Pause By R AC H E L H O G G

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • PROFILE

PRESS PAUSE FOUNDER, DAWN FABLE

Q Why do you think so many women struggle to prioritise caring for themselves? A Well, frankly, because we are too busy looking after everyone else. As women we do it all, and are often so busy ensuring everyone around us is taken care of that we do not prioritize taking care of ourselves. In doing so, we compromise our own health and wellness. The mission of Press Pause is to change this narrative, even if it's helping just one person.

“When a woman takes charge of her wellbeing, she impacts everything she touches”

Q What advice would you give to women trying to build a self-care ritual? A It is single-handedly the most important thing we can do for ourselves and others. Self-care rituals serve as a reminder that we as women deserve those moments of "PAUSE" to recharge. When a woman takes charge of her wellbeing, she impacts everyone and everything she touches. In our opinion, a well woman can do just about anything.

Q What separates Press Pause from other CBD brands? A Press Pause is more than a CBD brand. Not only do we have high-quality lifestyle products that appeal to several important pillars of women's health, but Press Pause represents a movement, a community, and advocacy for women's wellbeing. A brand, for women, by women, with a very important mission of starting important conversations around taboo topics.

Q Who did you have in mind when you created Press Pause? A I wanted to create a lifestyle brand that addresses a number of issues we as women struggle with. Many CBD products, including ours, are crafted to boost women's wellbeing and support us through the different pillars of women's health. Whether that's something to soothe when the to-do list seems to run the show or a remedy to actually unwind and rest, it's the opportunity to Press Pause and appreciate ourselves.

Q Can you describe your personal journey with CBD? A As a working mother of three, drowning in my own beautiful disaster I never prioritized myself. I was introduced to CBD and it had life-changing effects on my overall wellbeing. Like many women, I found myself silently struggling without a safe space to open up about topics that were not being discussed. This inspired me to create a community where I could share my very real and raw struggles as a woman while educating about the healing benefits of CBD.

Q How do you incorporate CBD

into your daily ritual?

A Our products are very ritualistic in

nature to help a woman throughout her day and life cycle. Our SOOTHE comforting body balm is incredible, I just toss it in my bag and use it throughout my day to help ease sore muscles, inflammation and tension headaches. The SOAK lavender bath salts also make for a great end-of-day relaxation ritual. Q Do you have any advice for

nervous first-time CBD users?

A I always encourage others to do their

research, fortunately this industry has come a long way and there are some tremendous resources out there. When considering what brand to use, as there are so many options, it's important to check the credentials and quality of the products. I always recommend topicals as an easy entry point to experience the benefits. presspauseproject.com

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A s o in S re G s c

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Available at: KINGSTON FITZROVIA KENSINGTON PARSONS GREEN SLOANE SQUARE EDINBURGH GLASGOW MILTON KEYNES SOUTHAMPTON CAMBRIDGE

At Cavendish Clinic we believe that your skincare should be as unique as you. Backed by science, our treatments are tailor-made to suit your individual needs with a customisable SkinCeuticals HydraFacial ensuring optimal results no matter what your skincare goals. Get in touch today to book your complimentary skin analysis, and let our experts help you feel conﬁdent in the skin you're in.

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HORWOODHOUSE.CO.UK 01296 722222 | ENQUIRIES@HSPAHORWOOD.CO.UK

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES

BEAUTY NOTES

The latest in luxury makeup and skincare B y R AC H E L H O G G

EDITOR’S PICK

Reduce

FOCUS

& REUSE

FACE OF THE BUSINESS

PAC I F I CA

Love pampering yourself, but hate harming the planet, Pacifica has you covered. The brand has released a range of eco-conscious face masks that you can feel good about using. The innovative silicone patches are designed to be reused up to 15 times and can be applied alongside any of your favourite serums, £15.

The Director of Emma York Clinic explains what she offers

cultbeauty.co.uk

Smoother Summer S E R E I A S K I N CA R E

Sereia Skincare’s smoothing duo is perfect for creating a sleek silhouette this summer. The exfoliating body cleansing bar is packed with powerful marine nutrients and has been developed to work exclusively with the ergonomically shaped body mitt to stimulate blood flow and help create smooth and glowing skin, £32. sereiaskincare.com

EVERYDAY S KINCA RE BONDI SANDS

One of the most trusted tanning brands has recently expanded to skincare, with the release of their ‘Everyday Skincare’ range. Bondi Sands has designed a range of products that are packed full of a combination of active ingredients and their trademark natural Australian botanicals, from £8.99.

y nursing career began in A&E before I went on to become a fully qualified Nurse Prescriber. I have 14 years’ experience specialising in advanced aesthetic treatments and skincare. This includes a full range of injectable and non invasive treatments. I was trained and worked with world-renowned plastic surgeons on London’s elite Harley Street. This knowledge and experience led me to expand into my own exclusive private clinics. I am passionate about providing all the benefits of the Harley Street experience and quality, with the addition of that added bespoke and personalised service, in more discreet and relaxing clinic settings. I am passionate about creating an experience for my clients which is truly as unique as they are. My core values are based on strict ethical and professional codes of conduct, where safety is paramount. Before embarking on any treatment journey we will begin with a thorough medical consultation to determine your individual needs and how we can achieve your desired outcome. My Beaconsfield clinic is based at Wycombe End, Beaconsfield Old Town, HP9 1NB.

EMMA YORK CLINIC Beaconsfield / London 07799 475733 info@emmayorkclinic.com

emmayorkclinic.com @emmayorkclinic

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • TREND

CLINIQUE Superdefense City Block SPF 50, £23 clinique.co.uk

KATE SOMERVILLE Daily Deflector Mineral Sunscreen, £46 katesomerville.co.uk

LA ROCHEPOSAY Anthelios Ultra-Light Invisible Fluid, £18 laroche-posay.co.uk

GLOW HUB Defend Yourself Sun Silk, £12 glowhub.com

EDITOR’S PICK SISLEY

KIEHL’S

All Day All Year Protective Shield, £304 sisley-paris.com

Ultra Light Daily UV Defense, £40 kiehls.co.uk

SUPERGOOP! Glowscreen SPF 30, £32 cultbeauty.co.uk

SAVE FACE Enjoy the sun, and avoid the damage, we've found our favourite SPFs

GLOSSIER Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen, £20 glossier.com

CLINIQUE Superdefense Moisturiser SPF40, £43 clinique.co.uk

REN SKINCARE Clean Screen Mineral SPF 30, £33 renskincare.com

B SLO T E LY. A BA SO UL TU E LY m aLgOaNzD i nOeNs

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • PARTNERSHIP

are central to the Cavendish ethos, with specialist, qualified practitioners who provide a safe environment for those wanting to explore their treatment options for feeling refreshed and confident - be that through skincare, facials or more advanced treatments, including: • Advanced ‘cosmeceutical’ skincare (SkinCeuticals, HelioCare, Dr Levy) • HydraFacial Skin Treatments for face, body and scalp • CoolSculpting and EMSCULPT • Consultations for dermal filler and anti-wrinkle treatments (over 25s only and administered by doctors)

HYDRAFACIAL TREATMENTS NOW AVAILABLE AT SELECT JOHN LEWIS STORES

ADVANCED BEAUTY The Cavendish Clinic is providing Aesthetic & Beauty Treatments within clinic settings inside John Lewis Stores

he Cavendish Clinic has announced a first-ofits kind collaboration with John Lewis & Partners, providing expert skincare, facials and advanced aesthetic treatments with specialist, qualified practitioners using its clinics within John Lewis stores nationwide. Research from John Lewis shows that a high proportion of customers are interested in advanced beauty treatments, ranging from laser hair removal to hightech, bespoke facials and anti-wrinkle treatments. Following a successful pilot with Cavendish Clinics in five John Lewis stores in 2021, the collaboration has now been extended to launch across further stores nationwide throughout 2022.

“We know there’s increasing awareness and demand among consumers for advanced beauty treatments and after careful consideration, we were keen to collaborate with a trusted, medical clinic brand which would deliver this service,” says Jason Wilary-Attew, Head of Beauty at John Lewis. “In the last two years, we’ve seen an at-home beauty tech boom and launched our first ever beauty tech department with LED light masks and facial toning devices. Our collaboration with the Cavendish Clinic is an acceleration of these services, where customers can visit a clinic in selected John Lewis stores to experience Cavendish bespoke skincare plans and consultations.” Founded by leading clinicians in the UK, The Cavendish Clinic has over a decade’s worth of expertise in medical aesthetics. Patient safety and ethical approaches

Michelle Cochrane, Omni Channel Education Manager “SkinCeuticals is delighted to be a part of this exciting new partnership. We are pleased to be providing our scientifically-proven cosmeceutical ingredients to enhance the treatment offering. At SkinCeuticals, our mission is to improve skin health by offering stateof-the-art clinically and professional treatments – we believe the best results are integrated and this partnership helps us continue to achieve that.” “We are delighted to be partnering with John Lewis on this exciting journey - we are fully aligned on our beliefs and values about providing the highest quality treatments in an ethical, medically-led environment and we look forward to helping consumers discover more about advanced skin, beauty and wellbeing treatments and decide what is right for them,” says Dr Matt James, co-founder of the Cavendish Clinic.

T H E CAV E N D I S H C L I N I C Currently, the Cavendish Clinic is hosted within the Edinburgh, Milton Keynes, Southampton, Peter Jones and Kingston stores, with Cambridge newly opened in 2022. cavendishclinic.co.uk

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • FOCUS

HOW CAN VEINCENTRE HELP?

SIMPLY

VEIN

Exploring the specialists who can make unsightly varicose veins disappear

f you are suffering with varicose veins, look no further as the UK’s largest varicose veins treatment specialists Veincentre provide modern treatments that are accessible to everyone.

WHAT ARE VARICOSE VEINS? Varicose veins affect one in three people, so are much more common than you might think. They do not discriminate, and although they can be hereditary, they can affect anybody at any age. Veins carry blood back to the heart, using the muscles to act against gravity. Inside the veins are tiny valves that prevent blood flowing back to the feet. When those valves fail, blood refluxes inside of the vein, causing excess pressure in the veins that are close to the surface, which leads to them bulging outwards.

Veincentre are the UK’s largest varicose veins treatment provider, with 22 clinics nationwide. All their treatments are minimally invasive, walk-in, walk-out procedures, meaning no surgery is needed, and no time off work is required. Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA) is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence as the gold standard treatment for varicose veins, and this is the most commonly performed treatment at Veincentre. This is laser treatment and uses heat to destroy the faulty valves. This treatment restores healthy blood flow to the legs, and in turn gets rid of any symptoms associated with varicose veins in the first couple of weeks. As well as using EVLA to treat the underlying medical problem, Veincentre use another technique called foam sclerotherapy to treat the visible veins. Veincentre’s number one goal is to provide safe and proven treatments which are accessible to everyone, and they pride themselves on giving the highest quality of care to all patients who walk through their doors. Veincentre are on hand to help you start your journey to healthy veins and happy legs. If you suffer from varicose veins, you don’t need to suffer in silence.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF VARICOSE VEINS? Varicose veins develop over time, and the signs can vary from person to person. Some people may notice prominent veins developing, other people may notice symptoms like aching, burning, throbbing, heaviness and itching. Over time, unsightly, bulging veins can appear as the pressure within the vein increases.

CAN YOU PREVENT THEM? Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to prevent the onset of varicose veins. There are ways that you can help relieve the symptoms of varicose veins, including wearing compressions stockings and elevating your legs, but it will not fix the problem long term. Undergoing treatment is the only way of fixing the underlying medical problem and improving the appearance of the legs.

VEINCENTRE If you’d like to find out more about the specialist treatments Veincentre provide, please contact the team on 0333 363 76 59

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Emma York Clinic of London - now open in Beaconsfield The unique experience of the Harley Street service in a more relaxed, boutique setting.

Treatments perfomed by Clinic Nurse Director - Emma York (RGN, INP)

Treatments available: •

Dermal fillers

•

Anti wrinkle treatments

•

Medical grade skincare & treatments

(See website for full list of treatments)

ILC_HILL_EMMA.indd 78

•

Specialist in injectable treatments delivering natural, rejuvenating results

•

Trained by world renowned cosmetic surgeons on London’s Harley Street

•

14 years experience

BOOK YOUR COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION NOW. Visit www.emmayorkclinic.com or contact: info@emmayorkclinic.com

29/07/2022 16:14

HEALTH & BEAUTY • PARTNERSHIP

BEAUTIFYING, NATURAL, SCULPTING AND ENHANCING YOUR BEST ASSETS

SKIN DEEP Visiting the multi-award Buckinghamshire clinic with over 20 years’ experience

The Cosmetic Skin Clinic have established a bespoke approach to beautifying, sculpting and subtly enhancing your best assets. Through their unique consultation approach, they tailor-make a treatment plan for completely natural and understated results using premium products. These include a leading range of dermal fillers, muscle-relaxing treatments, skin lifting and tightening Ultherapy treatment, Morpheus8, Thermage, Silhouette Soft Thread Lifts and body contouring treatments like CoolScupting and EMSculpt. Their expert medical practitioners focus is to restore, enhance and maintain the health of your skin. “Our aim is to enhance and beautify, rather than alter looks.” All this in a warm, friendly, and relaxed environment.

EXPERT MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, TATLER TOP DOCTORS

s a multi-award-winning clinic, The Cosmetic Skin Clinic is the ultimate destination for innovative and gold standard treatments. Founded by Dr Tracy Mountford, The Cosmetic Skin Clinic continues with her successful ethos of taking a holistic approach to create bespoke yet natural results. This involves combining decades of aesthetic knowledge, experience and innovative technology with the mantra of ‘minimal intervention for maximum gain’. With over 20 years’ experience, their clinic is the first and final stop for beautification. “Some of the most beautiful women in the world look like they have had nothing done. They just look stunning; this is our mantra.”

Their industry leading practitioners have been featured in Tatler’s Beauty and Cosmetic Surgery Guide as top doctors for injectables, thread lifts and non-surgical facelift. The Cosmetic Skin Clinic has also been named the UK’s No 1 clinic for Ultherapy for the eighth consecutive year and the ‘No1 clinic for CoolSculpting’. It all begins with a simple consultation. From beginning to end, their trusted team of doctors and advanced practitioners are there for you. Their highly experienced practitioners are committed to providing the very best innovative techniques, technologies and results.

THE COSMETIC SKIN CLINIC For more information visit cosmeticskinclinic.com or call 01753 942 347 for a consultation. The Cosmetic Skin Clinic, 84 Rogers Lane, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire SL2 4LF. On-site parking is available.

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • PARTNERSHIP

JOE WICKS IS HELPING TO KEEP US ALL IN SHAPE

QUICK YOGA CLASSES AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON

app specifically designed to help those who find it difficult to nod off. It works by listening to your night-time sounds and tracking your sleep cycle, giving you real-time data on how you’re sleeping and what you can do to improve it.

THE BODY COACH APP

AN ‘APPY LIFE

How technology can be a brilliant guide on your path to personal wellbeing

he internet and smart phones have made personal wellness more accessible than ever. Apps, blogs, YouTube videos and social media have all helped people take better care of their physical and emotional health in the postpandemic world, without forcing them to splurge on personal trainers or nutritionists. To help you join this trend, Swish Fibre have found six of the best wellbeing apps available, so you can keep healthy and happy this summer without breaking the bank.

each one consisting of a few simple yoga poses to help beginners work on their form and find a few minutes of focus each day.

5 MINUTE YOGA

SLEEP CYCLE

Yoga shouldn’t be all about expensive retreats and time-consuming classes, and thanks to apps like 5 Minute Yoga, it no longer is. You’ll find quick daily workouts,

It’s one of the most important parts of staying healthy, yet an estimated one in three adults in the UK struggle with getting enough sleep. Sleep Cycle is an

HEADSPACE Meditation can be challenging to get into. The ancient practice can still be intimidating for beginners, particularly if they’re lacking guidance. That’s where Headspace can help. The hugely popular app is a cheap and simple way to start your journey into meditation – known for its easy-to-use interface and welcoming tone. Plus, it was founded by a former Buddhist Monk, so you know it’s legit!

He kept us fit during the pandemic, and now national treasure Joe Wicks has taken another step (or lunge) forward in making wellbeing affordable for everyone. His Body Coach app includes everything Joe Wicks has become so well known for – healthy recipes, a fitness tracker, home workouts and even weekly live workouts with the man himself.

APPDETOX While your phone is a great source for wellness (as this list can attest), we’re all aware that staring at our little rectangular screens too much isn’t good for us. Thankfully, and somewhat paradoxically, there’s an app to help with this. AppDetox lets you set ‘rules’ for certain apps, allowing you to lock them and set reminders that tell you to put your phone down. Reducing your phone usage by just one hour a day can make you ‘happier and less anxious’, according to a recent study from the Ruhr University Bochum, so unless you’re using personal wellness or health apps it’s worth trying to step away from your phone from time to time. You don’t want to suddenly switch to 4G mid-meditation session or deal with video lag during a Joe Wicks live workout. With Swish Fibre, you can rely on lightning-fast broadband speeds and a reliable network connection. Visit swishfibre.com today to see how faster broadband can help you on your health and wellness journey

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The Hadeland lighting portfolio, and in particular the Archive Collection, is rooted in and informed by midcentury influences that speak to a timeless Scandinavian aesthetic. The heritage and craftmanship associated with the brand ensures an authenticity that is present in every design. hadeland.com

Interiors News 84 • Hannah Heys 88 • Real Home 92 A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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INTERIORS N OT E S Ideas, designs and styles for your home By PENDLE HARTE

LEARNING CURVE DAVID HUNT LIGHTING

Scallop is a two-tone, hand-ﬁnished pendant with a scallop-edged detail in a pretty palette of contrasting colours. Choose your own bespoke version from a ten colour paint palette. Each ﬁnish offers a vibrant style that creates a fresh new lighting design. £390 davidhuntlighting.co.uk

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Diptyque continues its expansion into homeware with a new tabletop collection named Artist’s Palette featuring beautiful marbled glass vases and candle jars. The brand has also launched a new range of luxury cleaning products. diptyqueparis.com

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TA K E FIVE Coffee essentials KITCHENAID Artisan espresso machine, £449 kitchenaid.co.uk

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HANNAH HEYS

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nterior trends come and go, but there are some age-old design techniques that buck the ‘fast fashion’ influences of today’s popular culture and instead have sustainability at their core. Punch needle embroidery, or rug hooking, has a long history dating back to medieval times – possibly even as far back as the ancient Egyptians – and was traditionally used to decorate clothing with fine embroidery floss. However, its popularity has blown up in recent years thanks, in part, to social media, which modern crafters have used to showcase videos of how they have adopted the technique to create beautifullytextured home décor using thicker yarn. Buckinghamshire artist, Hannah Heys, began using the technique alongside tufting (a similar skill, but which uses a machine called a tufting gun) and latch hooking – to create textile art for the home around four years ago. While the explosion of these art forms on Instagram and TikTok may end up being short lived, Heys has made them the focus of her Cheddington-based business and believes high-quality works created using the techniques should become a permanent fixture in people’s homes. “They’re great for people who want to add bright and bold contemporary pieces to their home that will not only liven up any space, but add an element of texture and interest,” says the 34-year-old, who used to run an illustration and pattern design business, but pivoted to full-time textiles in March 2021. “Every piece is an investment designed to adorn your walls and floors for many years to come – it’s very different from mass produced art.”

TALES

o f te xt ure Cheddington creative Hannah Heys is bringing ancient art forms back into our homes through her colourful textile art By R E B E C CA P I TCA I R N

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“Sustainability is at the core of my brand and so I strive to be as conscious as possible”

Heys Presto

Hannah Heys’ top tips for adding texture to your home

I may be a little biased, but I think that textiles art is the perfect way to add texture and colour to the home. The texture and interest that can be created cannot be rivalled by other mediums. Wall hangings, whether as a part of a gallery wall or as a standalone piece, are always a great addition.

their doorstep. “I am really lucky to be a part of many fabulous local art communities, such as those who exhibit at Queens Park Arts Centre, the creative hub of Aylesbury, and Bucks Art Weeks,” Heys says. “Not forgetting my closest community, Creative Buzz, a small group of fabulously supportive artists, who meet once a month in the Black Lion in Leighton Buzzard, either sharing knowledge or learning a new skill.” Heys’ most recent textiles collection draws inspiration from her love of typography, particularly that found on circus and theatre posters, and features bold text, simple shapes and bright colours. It is these eye-catching designs and the fact she only uses reclaimed yarn and, where possible, British wool, that, she says, draw people to her designs, which range in price from £120 to £2,500. “I’ve always only used reclaimed yarn, but since the pandemic it’s been harder to get hold of, so I started to explore using British wool, which is only spun in this country so not only is it more eco-friendly, but it’s a real selling point,” Heys explains. “Sustainability is at the core of my brand and so I strive to be as conscious as possible during every stage of the production process. This can limit my colour palette somewhat, but this forces me to think carefully about the designs I want to produce.” HANNAH HEYS To view Hannah Heys’ latest collection or book an in-person appointment at her Cheddington workshop, visit hannahheys.com

Statement cushions add great textural interest to a room and can give it a great focal point, without committing to repainting or replacing the furniture.

Pull together an overall colour palette that you are working towards and stick to it. If you have a clear palette, all elements should complement each other perfectly, from your textural textiles to your curtains, they all have a part to play in pulling a room together.

Heys began her textiles venture by making wall hangings, but has since added a range of rugs and cushions to her portfolio. “I love creating textiles art and tufting is a wonderful way to translate my designs into both homewares and wall art,” she explains. “I love the variety of textures you can create, how my pieces showcase the versatility of yarn and how textiles art can be used as a modern way of decorating a space.” Heys designs and makes all her pieces from a workshop in the garden of her cottage in Cheddington, which she and her partner Ben, a furniture maker and woodcarver, moved to in 2020. “We love village life. When we’re not working, we enjoy walking along by the local canal and usually stop off at a pub or two on the way,” she says. She and Ben have also found lots of support from the thriving creative community on

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A second home for a family partly based in Windsor has been completely transformed by interior designer Jimmie Martin By NICK LEE

he homeowners of this recently extended Victorian house in Windsor are originally from Slough, but they now live mostly in Connecticut, USA. With two young boys, aged 8 and 10, Lee and Sarah wanted their Windsor home to include some of the Jimmie Martin furniture pieces that they love. The style and aesthetic of these pieces have shaped the interior design of their Connecticut home, and they wanted the same for their UK abode. The couple also wanted the property to be a home from home, with dedicated space to entertain family and friends. With this in mind, Lee and Sarah picked a number of key pieces from Jimmie Martin and started

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planning the interior with furniture that would connect the lounge and middle room. After this initial planning, the couple soon realised it would be better if Jimmie himself took over the whole project for a completely cohesive look and feel, as the house was completely empty, and they needed all the rooms filled with furniture and decorated ready to move into and enjoy. They also had just six weeks to try and get all the work done and furniture in place. When Jimmie first visited the property, the house was dull, plain and beige, lacking any style and personality. Lee and Sarah knew they wanted something different, so starting with some of the items they had on their wish list, Jimmie added and mixed in new products so that the design looked layered and multifaceted. Then he guided

Lee and Sarah through the key design decisions, taking them out of their normal comfort zone. For example, painting the double reception room walls, shelving, and fireplace almost black. Lee didn’t like green, but Jimmie had a vision, so with the help of a computer-generated image, he showed his clients his design and with their approval, installed a whole green themed room, which became a “library bar” space. “Jimmie’s vision was to create a green room, a totally green room, including a library of green books,” says Lee. “He used The Little Greene Lamp Black in both rooms with matching glass chandeliers, letting colours play a big part. The contrasting colours and textures and focal points like the green books, the Cole & Son wallpaper and green design classic velvet chairs on the round rug, create a warm and welcoming space to socialise or simply sit down A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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“We decided to give Jimmie Martin free rein on designing the whole house – this was the best decision we made”

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY: RICHARD GOODING

and read a book rather than just a walkway to the kitchen. This is now our favourite room in the house.” Their sons’ bedrooms are also colourful, but fun too. Archie’s bedroom features a monochrome rug with his name in wooden letters spelled out above his bed and a comfortable and child safe Jimmie Martin bean bag chair. Some signature Jimmie Martin cushions complete the room. His older brother Frankie got a graffiti headboard wall, set against putty grey painted walls. The master bedroom is a more tranquil grown-up space with a luxurious green velvet bed paired with Timothy Oulton glass bedside tables, and an oversized floor standing, glass, dressing mirror also from Timothy Oulton, which can be lit up when needed. This room's colour scheme and style is in keeping with the rest of the house.

Pops of colours can be found throughout the entire house, from the kitchen diner velvet chairs, and the library harlequin wallpaper, to the bold blue rug under the Andrew Martin sofa, which is a focal point in the cosy sitting room. Even the courtyard garden didn’t escape the Jimmie Martin design treatment: four Jimmie Martin beach bag recliner chairs offer a place to relax on the faux grass carpet. Lee and Sarah were over the moon with the end result. Given that they already loved Jimmie's style, it made perfect sense to have him work on their home and it is a perfect example of how a designer's skills, contacts and products can be used quickly to create a bespoke space. Lee and Sarah say: “We decided to give Jimmie free rein on designing the whole house – this was the best decision we made. We tasked Jimmie with designing, sourcing and installing within weeks – with the backdrop of some significant industry supply chain challenges. With regular remote check-ins and video calls, we were absolutely overwhelmed with the end results. Jimmie and his team delivered well beyond expectations, and we have an amazing home to enjoy when we are in the UK.” jimmiemartin.com

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MALVERN GARDEN BUILDINGS

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H O L L Y W O O D

HILL Set atop Marlow, close to the town centre, is this handsome 1930s home with a glorious west-facing garden – which has a link to cinematic history

his handsome and characterful 1930s home is situated in a quiet, private position in close proximity to Marlow's town centre, but also backing on to open countryside for lovely walks. The house occupies a spacious plot that includes a large walled garden, facing west to the rear to get the best of the afternoon and evening sun. A variety of outbuildings provide a brickbuilt office, a garage and a greenhouse. Internally, many of the character features have been beautifully preserved, including exposed timber beams and wood detailing, parquet flooring and a charming and rustic country-style kitchen with blue tiled floors. These lovely additions are complemented by colourful wall coverings and a Mid Century theme, and though very well maintained some elements of the property may benefit from cosmetic updates to bring the house up to its full and considerable potential. There is plenty of space around the house for further extension and alteration, A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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“In the peaceful estate, they wrote some of Jack Clayton's most iconic ﬁlms” subject to obtaining planning permission. A double-storey extension to the rear might provide, for example, a substantial kitchen/family room to the ground floor and a new principal bedroom suite to the first floor overlooking the garden. Further highlights include the galleried entrance hall, with its split-level staircase and the very spacious sitting room with its tall windows overlooking the garden and a delightful hacienda-style fireplace. Heron's Flight was purchased by film director Jack Clayton at the beginning of the 1960s. Clayton, best known for British classics like Room at the Top, The Innocents and the Hollywood production of The Great Gatsby, resided in Heron's Flight along with his wife, the actress Haya Harareet (Ben Hur). The two found inspiration in the calming, picturesque house and surroundings, away from the hectic London life. In their peaceful estate they wrote and produced some of Clayton's most iconic films. The accommodation is accessed from the

reception hall and includes a kitchen/breakfast room leading to an office, family room and dining room, plus a cloakroom with WC. On the opposite side of the house there is a sitting room with access to the garden. Upstairs there are three bedrooms, including a principal suite with dressing room and attached bathroom, and a separate family bathroom. The property enjoys a secluded setting with off-street parking to the front and a sizeable rear garden with mature trees and a walled boundary. The garden is gloriously sunny facing west, with open fields to the rear allowing the sun to bathe the garden into the evening. There

is a stone paved patio, a detached garage and a variety of garden outbuildings providing scope for conversion (subject to obtaining the necessary consents). Highfield Park is a popular residential street close to the centre of Marlow. Heron's Flight is set at the top of the road in an elevated position with little passing traffic. Marlow is a popular location for young families, with numerous schooling options ranging from prep schools to secondary schools including Sir William Borlase's Grammar School. Marlow town offers a superb range of retailers, with an eclectic mix of local independent and national names. There are bars, cafes and restaurants dotted around the town offering destinations for any occasion. Just outside the town, the area opens out to glorious rolling countryside and a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Outdoor pursuits are plentiful, as are golf, football, cricket and rugby clubs. For commuters, the town has a train station to Paddington (via Maidenhead) and the M40/M4 motorways are accessed from the A404(M) which passes the town. Heron's Flight, Marlow, is on the market with Savills with a guide price of £2,000,000. For more information, call 01628 499900 or visit savills.com

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“Keep in mind the way you want your guests to feel when they step outside”

Great OUTDOORS Looking to get your home summer ready? Here are a few essential outdoor styling tips B y S A R A H B A R C L AY

hen approaching your outdoor area, it’s important to keep in mind what atmosphere you want to share with your guests. An afternoon BBQ setup will look different to that of evening drinks on the patio. Welcome your guests into the space by centring their attention on a focal point. This can be done by arranging your seating around a table to create a more intimate and inviting feel. A central table encourages your guests to take a seat and start getting into the party mood. Include warm colours like orange or yellow to bring in summer elements. With the heat we’ve been having, add plants to your patio or outdoor area to create your very own summer oasis. Plants add a fresh touch to the space and adapt to the different seasons making them a sustainable choice that will last you many years. By arranging plants around your

outdoor area, they can also add a sense of privacy as they encircle your seating area. Take it a step further by incorporating a water feature to add a cooling breeze to the space as well as soft pink noise to help quiet neighbouring sounds. Add dimension to your outdoor space by mixing and matching different textures and tones to create light summery layers. Layering texture can help to soften hard outdoor textiles like tile or stone. If your outdoor furniture is wooden, the natural wooden textures can be complemented with different coloured throw cushions. Try pairing simple bench cushions with a few brightly coloured throw cushions to add a pop of colour. Keep in mind that darker tones absorb more heat from the sun – rather go for cool neutral tones. Creating contrasts adds visual appeal to a space and can be as simple as utilising different textures or colours. If you have gravel, add stone pavers to lead your guests into the space. This contrast in texture is interesting to the eye, but also practical. On the other hand, throw cushions are an excellent way to add colour contrast to a space. Throw cushions can be changed out for the different seasons. In summer you can go for vibrant tropical patterns, while in autumn you could switch them out for warm autumnal colours. Don’t forget to keep in mind the way you want your guests to feel when they step outside. This impacts your final choice on colour, texture, and layout. Do seek out the input of an expert to create the perfect outdoor space. B A R C L AY I N T E R I O R S Sarah Barclay is the founder of Barclay Interiors based in Ascot – for more information, visit barclay-interiors.com

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TUB THERAPY How installing a hot tub can set you on the way to better health and wellbeing W o r d s C A S P A R D AV I D

itting in a hot tub may be a pleasurable way to spend the evening – but there are countless health benefits too. Hydrotherapy is a whole-body therapeutic treatment that can help with all kinds of conditions including arthritis, stress, headaches, diabetes, muscle and joint injuries, bursitis, tendonitis, scoliosis and fibromyalgia. Plus it’s an excellent form of pain relief too. Warm water helps to stimulate the body and release endorphins. Warmth

can help your blood vessels to open up and reduce blood pressure, while massage jets stimulate circulation. Pressure is taken off joints and limbs as you float, and muscles loosen and relax. For conditions such as arthritis, simply taking the pressure off joints in a hot tub can provide relief. Studies show that hot tub therapy can help with type 2 diabetes by lowering blood sugar, normalising blood pressure, enhancing insulin sensitivity and encouraging weight loss. Hot water helps create a balance in your nervous system and encourages your body’s

release of natural feel-good hormones such as endorphins and dopamine, resulting in feeling happier and relaxed. Additionally, the heat can help open up lung capacity for greater oxygen intake and thereby reduce the risk of heart attack.

HOT TUB HAVEN Whether it is for long relaxing evenings beneath the stars, kicking back with a glass of bubbles after a challenging day or enjoying sunny weekends of fun time with the kids, who wouldn’t want a fabulous hot tub in their back garden? A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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“HOT WATER ENCOURAGES YOUR BODY’S RELEASE OF NATURAL FEEL-GOOD HORMONES”

ARTESIAN ELITE AT HOT TUB HAVEN

ORLESTONE OAK HOT TUB GAZEBO

Hot tub owners enjoy significant health benefits. Numerous scientific studies and masses of customer feedback prove that regular use of a hot tub can reduce stress, relieve muscle pain, improve sleep, lower blood pressure, help prevent heart disease, reduce headaches, help in weight loss and even benefit mental health by diminishing feelings of anxiety. Are hot tubs costly to run? If you buy a cheap Chinese hot tub or an inflatable, you could see your electricity bills soar, but buy a genuine Americanmade, energy-efficient hot tub like the award-winning range made by Artesian Spas in Nevada and it should only cost between 80p and £1 a day in electricity. Artesian Spas are also among the most eco-friendly and easiest to maintain

hot tubs you can buy; they require no chlorine, just a small amount of the more gentle and user-friendly bromine, due to their built in Ozone sanitizers. Hot Tub Haven has many years experience in the hot tub industry, and their showroom displays the most popular models in the Artesian range; their friendly expert staff will help you choose exactly the right hot tub for you. hottubhaven.co.uk

MALVERN HOT TUBS A hot tub and gazebo make a practical combination. Putting a roof over your spa gives you privacy, shade and shelter. Malvern's premium gazebos are made from sustainable redwood in a choice of sizes, roof styles and side sections. Personalise your building by adding a bar, louvre screens, painted Hi-Lite roof finish and bespoke clear or marine grade canvas panels. Malvern Hot Tubs & Spas offer hot tubs and swim spas by four brands – Hydropool, Coven, Aspen and Garden Leisure – to cater for individual requirements and budgets. malvernhottubs.co.uk/hot-tub-gazebos

ORLESTONE OAK Orlestone Oak creates gazebos specifically to go over hot tubs. These structures feature a full handmade oak frame bespoke to customer specification and made up of mortice and tenon joints that are traditionally pegged together. Just 20 minutes immersed in warm water at around 37oC dilates your blood vessels and improves circulation, which helps move inflammatory substances away from the joints, muscles and tendons. Combining this heat with pulsating hot tub jets is the perfect recipe to relax your muscles. Today’s advanced hot tubs are even fitted with powerful massage jets that can replicate the petrissage (kneading, knuckling and wringing), effleurage (gentle, flowing strokes), and tapotement (rhythmic tapping using the edges of the hands) strokes a professional masseuse would use to relieve your muscle tension. orlestoneoak.co.uk

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Telephone: 01442 769152 www.markscottconstructions.co.uk

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INTERIORS • TREND DAR LIGHTING Klaxon 1 Light Pendant Ombre Copper Glass, £102 darlighting.co.uk

QUINCE & COOK Hobnail Glass Jug, £75 quinceandcook.co.uk

ARTBAG STUDIO Unique Art Glass solid cast ARTBAG sculpture by artist Debra Franses, £2,950 artbagstudio.com

WISTERIA TREE Glass Candle Sticks, £14 thewisteriatree.co.uk

CASA CELVA Murano Bud Vases, £32 casacelva.com

ALL CLEAR

MAISON CHERIE Bee Wine Glass in Purple, £8 maisoncherie.shop

Gorgeous glass pieces for the home By P E N D L E H A R T E

ORLA KIELY

DIBOR Coloured Glass Wine Goblets, £14.95 dibor.co.uk

MELODY MAISON

Glass Water Jug, £30 orlakiely.com

Glass Candle Holder, £8.95 melodymaison.co.uk

AROUND THE HOUSE Aditya Retro Brown and White Speckled Glass Vase, £74.95 aroundthehousefurniture.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

IDYLL HOME Pink Swirl Glass, £9.95 idyllhome.co.uk

FY Rialto Tulip Glass set of two, £85 iamfy.co

CULT FURNITURE Century Medium Coffee Table, £299 cultfurniture.com

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STATEMENT TILES FOR OUTDOOR LIVING Bring your garden to life with our ultra-modern, Grespania Ceramica designer porcelain tiles inspired by slate Visit our boutique showroom for expert advice & technical know-how on tiles inside & out or simply buy online

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INTERIORS • TREND

EVIE & SKYE Unique, bold, self assured and a little bit different. evieandskye.com

SWEETPEA & WILLOW Lime Stripe Cushion, £120 sweetpeaandwillow.com

EVIE & SKYE AROUND THE HOUSE FURNITURE

The Oscar Dark Blue, £95 evieandskye.com

Seki Large Monochrome Stripe Vase, £54.95 aroundthehousefurniture.co.uk

ABODE LIVING Ada Stripe Vase, £39 abodeliving.co.uk

WALTON & CO Tuscan Stripe Runner 40x180cm, £19 waltonshop.co.uk

POOKY

EDITOR’S PICK

LINES OF BEAUTY

ANDRASSY LIVING Stripe Laundry Bag, £16 andrassyliving.co.uk

All the most striking stripes

Robin Lamp with Candy Stripe, £62 pooky.com

By P E N D L E H A R T E

THE RUG RETAILER Multi Stripe Rug, £71 therugretailer.co.uk

MINDTHEGAP Transylvanian Roots Stripe Armchair, £1,500 mindtheg.com

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EVIE & SKYE Tiny Tots, £65 evieandskye.com

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INTERIORS • PARTNERSHIP

OAK PARQUET SILVER WHITE OILED FLOORING COMBINES THE BEAUTIFUL CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOD WITH A MODERN TWIST FEATURING A LIGHTLY BRUSHED SURFACE, A SUBTLE SILVER WHITE OIL HIGHLIGHTS DISTINCTIVE GRAIN PATTERNS

BEAUTIFUL OAK-AGED PARQUET FLOORING ADDS WARMTH AND TEXTURE TO A LARGE, OPEN-PLAN KITCHEN AND LIVING SPACE. EXTREMELY FORGIVING EVEN IN HIGH-TRAFFIC AREAS OF THE HOME DUE TO ITS HIGH DURABILITY, THE REAL WOOD PARQUET FLOOR SETS THE TONE FOR THE WHOLE SPACE, PERFECTLY BLENDING OLD WITH NEW FOR A TIMELESS FINISH

KNOCK ON WOOD

For weekly cleaning, a capful of wood floor maintenance concentrate mixed with water and applied with a damp mop is all that is required. To refresh the look and lustre annually in high traffic areas periodically use a concentrated polish, again applied with water and a damp mop. One of the many good things about real wood flooring is the variety available in pattern options. From straight boards to parquet, there is an option to suit any setting. Just as when choosing a colour for your walls, choosing the right shade of wood flooring should be based on how large the room is, how much natural light it enjoys and on the overall décor. Smaller rooms benefit from lighter woods, while larger spaces can more comfortably accommodate darker tones such as walnut. LACQUERED FLOORS GIVE A SUBTLE BOOST TO THE WOOD SURFACE BUT STILL RETAIN A NATURAL LOOK AND FEEL

How engineered wood ﬂooring is a durable solution for all kinds of spaces, says Natural Wood Floor

ew flooring gives any room an instant facelift. The material chosen needs to be functional of course, but such a highly visible surface also needs to have visual appeal. Real wood is an on-trend flooring option that works practically and aesthetically and due to its sheer versatility will blend seamlessly into any style of property. Engineered wood flooring creates a high-end finish and affords the room the luxury of timber, while being surprisingly simple to care for and highly durable thanks to its construction. Whereas solid wood flooring isn’t suitable for underfloor heating, high humidity areas and acoustic insulation, engineered boards can be fitted in all rooms, including most

kitchens and bathrooms where humidity may be present. It can also be floated over acoustic underlay in apartments or to insulate games/children’s rooms etc. An engineered board has up to 11 layers of plywood backing, with each layer glued at a 90-degree angle to the adjoining layer. The surface layer of a precious hardwood is then glued on top, resulting in a much more stable floor with a robust construction. It can be floated over an existing floor, making it perfect for basements or apartments when damp or noise transfer between neighbours below may be a concern. Once laid, keeping engineered wood flooring looking as good as new is straightforward too; a combination of dry cleaning to remove dirt and dust particles, and damp cleaning to protect it against scratches is all that is needed for a lacquered or oiled floors.

N AT U R A L WO O D F LO O R naturalwoodfloor.co.uk

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Enjoy the journey Based in the heart of Windsor, Upton House is a thriving Nursery, Pre-Prep and Prep School for boys and girls aged 2-11 years

With high academic standards, high calibre staff and excellent pastoral care, Upton House children blossom and have a zest for life, continually learning and developing their abilities, interests and talents within a caring and supportive environment. Our children thrive in the modern world and we invite them to think outside the box. Call 01753 862610 or email registrar@uptonhouse.org.uk

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E D U C AT I O N

KEEPING AN EYE ON So, the summer holidays are here. Children all over the county are rejoicing, whereas parents are probably thinking August will be a very long month. However, there is so much you can do to keep the little ones entertained, but also keep up their learning journey too. The back garden, for example, has a whole world to explore. What insects and wildlife can you spot in one hour? Turn over for more inspiration.

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ADVENTURE HOLIDAY At a loss how to keep the children busy over the summer? There’s plenty you can do, while learning at the same time too By S U E L A I D L AW

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EDUCATION • FEATURE

ell, another academic year is over and another long summer holiday stretches ahead. School is out for everyone. Here at Laidlaw Education, we always have questions from parents about what work and activities will benefit their children through the holidays. In other words, how do we keep the young minds of our children ticking over? For the Latin scholars amongst you, perhaps the clue lies in the word, “education”. The noun “educatio” can be translated in a number of ways obviously “education”, but also “bringing up”, “training” and “instructing”. All these translations seem excellent starting points for guidance on how to spend the summer holidays. So, in answer to the question that so many parents consider, the answer is simple

– balance all the wonderful opportunities that weeks of no school can embrace. You will, no doubt, take them out and about – to the local park, to woodlands, to the seaside – and maybe, at last, to overseas destinations. Outings and expeditions do not have to be planned, children love to explore with you. It may be as simple as playing in the garden, watching a snail, chasing a butterfly, playing in the water sprinkler. All these things are “bringing up” children in the way they should go – and educating them. I have also written, on many occasions, of the need to let children get bored. In other words, have times when you don’t organise them or make plans. Days of nothing can lead to creativity. I can still remember, as a child, playing in the garden until dusk – our bare feet could feel the evening dampness of the grass. I can remember being told to “put everything away” – the bits and pieces that had formed the obstacle course. It is much the same for my own children – the dog was constantly asked

“Sailing, kayaking, pottery... There is so much around to absorb” to be an active participant in the obstacle course, and the companion in the tent! All these opportunities are the substance of childhood, and I am sure that so many of you will recall similar happy days. And of course, there are opportunities for education, hence training. Wonderful opportunities to learn how to sail or kayak or throw pottery, there is so much around to absorb young minds. It would be naive not to address academic opportunities and, at Laidlaw, we have planned a rich, creative and varied program of courses and lessons. A morning or afternoon or a few lessons each week is a good balance amongst all the other opportunities and adventures that the summer weeks will hold. The key is to present everything in a targeted and fun way and present academic work creatively. As well as courses and lessons delivered by professionals, you might enjoy a few suggestions of how to present academic work to your children. My wonderful, non-teacher husband hit the jackpot with our children one summer. He took them on local adventure walks to aid their creative writing – one daughter was taken to the fish and chip shop, bought fish and chips and sat eating them out of newspaper with Daddy, on the church steps. “Smell, taste and listen, and then we will think of all the words that we can think of to describe everything! You know Mummy wouldn’t approve, so we will tell her when we have finished!” Such is the fun of summer – and how could Mummy disapprove of that? Enjoy all that the summer holidays have to offer to your children.

Sue Laidlaw is founder of Laidlaw Education LLP, and her team offer educational advice, lessons and courses for children of all ages through their centres, including Laidlaw Hall supporting children with special needs, and the Laidlaw Virtual Academy. Book courses and find out more by calling 020 8487 9517 or visit laidlaweducation.co.uk A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Independent Catholic day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 2 to 13

Discover our full, weekly and ﬂexi-boarding options for children in Year 3 upwards To book a visit, please email our Registrar via ofﬁce@oratoryprep.co.uk call 0118 976 6924 or visit www.oratoryprep.co.uk Rated 'Excellent' in ISI Inspection December 2021

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EDUCATION • FEATURE

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL Why Wellington College leads the way in wellbeing

ith Dr Jenny Griggs in post as Head of Student Emotional Health and Wellbeing and exciting plans for an innovative new Wellbeing Centre, Wellington College is at the cutting edge of mental health provision. Wellington has pioneered wellbeing in education since it became the first school in the UK to introduce happiness and wellbeing to the curriculum in 2006. Head of Wellbeing, Ian Morris, has developed an award-winning teaching programme spanning all year groups that covers a lot of ground from human relationships,

physical health and sex education to perspective, meaning and purpose. Alongside wellbeing on the timetable, Wellington has increased peer-to-peer support in recent years with student mental health ambassadors, mental health prefects and a mental health committee. A team of four school counsellors and a parent mental health committee ensure that wellbeing is woven into the fabric of school life. Pupil mental health rose even higher up the agenda during the last two years due to the impact of Covid-19. The College knew that re-establishing a routine was crucial for returning pupils, but was mindful to take the pace of life a little slower at first so that reintroduction didn’t feel too intense. Since the pandemic the demand for counselling has increased and

Wellington’s top priority is to identify and monitor those pupils who are struggling. The College introduced the new role of Head of Student Emotional Health and Wellbeing in September 2021 and was delighted to appoint Dr Jenny Griggs. Dr Griggs is a clinical psychologist with 18 years’ experience working in a CAMHS (Children and Adult Mental Health Service) within the NHS and subsequently in her own independent practice in Wokingham. With close ties to the University of Reading, Dr Griggs specialises in CBT and has a passion for working with teenagers and young adults. Her broad role has been designed THE COLLEGE CARNIVAL

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EDUCATION • FEATURE

SIXTH FORMERS DEEP IN DISCUSSION

to drive forward the momentum of Wellington’s wellbeing provision as the College builds the right support structures to help current and future pupils. She will have oversight of all pupils who are struggling with mental health and will ensure they receive the right care at the right time. This might be via Wellington’s expanding team of highly-trained school counsellors or through external support. Dr Griggs was drawn to the role at Wellington because it allows her to combine her previous experiences in an exciting and forward-thinking environment. “I appreciate that Wellington already places such emphasis on pastoral care and that the school’s values of developing well-rounded and happy pupils fit closely with my own,” she says. Her vision for the role is to consolidate the College’s existing mental health activities while championing new initiatives. “I also want to take a more active role when it comes to the student mental health MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING DAY

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ambassadors,” she adds. “The lower-sixth ambassadors already run some of their own initiatives like in-house talking assemblies on mental health and wellbeing, and ‘tea and a chat’ sessions, but I want to ensure that they really encourage other pupils to put coping mechanisms into practice, as well as learning about them in theory.” Dr Griggs identifies that the pressure to achieve across the board can be one of the most stressful elements of school, particularly at a public school. The wellbeing curriculum equips pupils with specific coping mechanisms such as mindfulness, meditation and identifying thinking traps. The College re-emphasises these coping mechanisms, in particular around exam season, to help pupils cope. Wellington proactively addresses potential anxiety triggers, for example spending additional time helping this year’s A-level pupils who hadn’t been able to take their GCSEs due to Covid. Dr Griggs says: “Many Wellingtonians go on to lead busy, fastpaced lives and the mental health skills and strategies that we equip them with at school will serve them well in later life. Talking openly about mental health becomes a habit from a young age.” The College also sometimes works with parents on a one-to-one basis to discuss the needs of individual students. When it comes to exams, parents are encouraged to ensure that their children aren’t studying to the detriment of other interests and hobbies, and to support their children to develop healthy study habits like regular breaks and realistic revision timetables. A major element of Dr Griggs’ role will be her involvement in the creation

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of a large, ambitious Wellbeing Centre that will be built on campus over the next few years. The holistic centre will incorporate all aspects of wellbeing. It will be a place where pupils can access counselling and healthcare, but also somewhere to learn about and put into practice positive wellbeing initiatives like exercise, mindfulness, meditation, yoga and Pilates. Bringing together counsellors, doctors, nurses and physios in one unified facility is something that hasn’t been tried in any other UK school and it’s exciting to thinking of the benefits this will give to the Wellington community. The Wellbeing Centre is being designed around the NHS 5 Steps to Mental Wellbeing, one of which is ‘give to others’. As Dr Griggs concludes: “We envision that the centre will be a space that we can share with other local schools when we are not using it. ‘Connect with other people’ is another of the steps and it will be very much a hub in which pupils can come together and interact.” wellingtoncollege.org.uk

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Now taking registrations FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS

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