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THE COTSWOLDS PREMIER LUXURY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
•
NOVEMBER 2016
INTERVIEWS FASHION EVENTS INTERIORS PROPERTY BUSINESS TRAVEL SPORT
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000 Contents November 2016:Layout 1
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83 40 64 48
97 NOVEMBER 2016
IN THIS ISSUE... 14
Real Life
19
Hot Property
28 40 42 44 48 56 59 60
Lt. General Tim Radford, Commander of the ARRC
We feature some of the most beautiful properties that are for sale or to let in and around the Cotswolds
The Sky’s the Limit Featuring a beautiful Cotswold property
Interiors Style Horse & Hound meet together in the home
Beyond Flanders and The Somme Remembering World War 1
Through the Garden Gate A village rich in soil and family history
Old Arabia Mixing with the New Visiting the racy side of Dubai
Mind, Body & Soul Winter Skin Saviours for your face
Awards and More
64 76 83 94 101 102 103 109 110
A year of triumphs at Laura Leigh
Gloss & Paint Key Lip Trends for the fall
104
Autumn in The Suffolks Stunning new seasonal fashion
COMPETITION Win clothing from Original Penguin
Well Being for Children Tackling modern life issues
Bake Off for Winter Creating a Chocolate Orange Drizzle Cake
Castaway With Brit-pop beauty, Sophie Ellis-Bexton
R&R for The Weekend At the Alverton Hotel in Cornwall
Presents Galore Your Christmas Gift Guide
The Open All the forms and tips for Cheltenham Races
Out and About Your guide to the very best events happening in and around The Cotswolds this month
At The HOY Seeing the horsey stars in action
SOCIAL SCENE: 77 Francesco Group 10th Year in Business 82 Arkell & Wills Launch Party 108 Countess Bathurst Charity Garden Party
4 NOVEMBER 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
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Promenade Antiques November 16:Layout 1
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Our range of jewellery and antiques is larger than you would imagine and if you are looking to source quality diamonds, precious stones, gold, silver or time pieces then look no further. We also have a large range of one off pieces and individually styled antique and vintage jewellery items.
www.carolynkingart.com A6337 Old-cut Diamond and Emerald three stone ring | £9650.00
A3299 18ct Yellow Gold certified Burmese Ruby and Diamond three stone ring | £4950.00
A3517 18ct Yellow Gold Ruby and Pearl marquise-shape cluster ring | £1795.00
I5151 Pink Sapphire and Diamond cluster earrings | £850.00
A4945 18ct White Gold Diamond oblong cluster ring | £3995.00
I3411 18ct Yellow and White Gold Emerald and Diamond cluster earrings | £2500.00
A2288 18ct White Gold Ruby and Diamond oval cluster | £2950.00
G6349 Platinum and Diamond-set cross pendant | £995.00
H4889 9ct Yellow Gold Ruby and Old-cut Diamond Horse Shoe brooch | £695.00
A4803 Certified 26.30ct Emerald and Trilliant-cut Diamond ring | POA
S5831 Cheese Knife with Silver Handle | £45.00
A4359 Old-cut Diamond and Ruby marquise cluster ring | £795.00
F6250 9ct Yellow Gold seven stone Ruby bracelet with cross link | £850.00
A1633 Ruby and Emerald dress ring with Rose-cut Diamonds | £795.00
H5801 18ct White Gold and Platinum Diamond bow brooch | £1750.00
SAX00 Large Silver and Enamel Robin | £295.00
G6315 Ruby and Emerald Bee pendant with Diamond-set wings | £250.00 S6144 Silver and Mother of Pearl handle penknife, Sheffield 1900 | £55.00
G5697 1.36ct Old-cut Diamond single-stone pendant | £2950.00
SA543 Silver and Enamel Robin on a Holly branch | £285.00
S6182 Silver Frog | £345.00
S2881 Silver and Enamel Jockey cap key ring | £215.00
A6412 18ct Yellow and White Gold Old-cut Diamond art deco ring | £3500.00
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www.promenadeantiques.co.uk
A2433 Ruby and Diamond fancy cluster | £2950.00
A6336 18ct White Gold 1.51ct Emerald and Diamond cluster ring | £3350.00
G5729 Garnet heart pendant | £150.00
SAXO1 Medium Silver and Enamel Robin | £250.00
A6332 18ct Yellow and White Gold Emerald and Old-cut Diamond ring in an ornate setting | £9300.00
I8085 18ct Yellow and White Gold Ruby and Diamond oval cluster earrings | £1495.00
S6248 Silver and Enamel Poppy with a plain stem | £375.00
A5355 Seven stone Old-cut Diamond and Emerald Cluster ring | £6850.00
I4736 18ct White Gold Emerald and Diamond halo stud earrings | £1600.00
A6335 18ct Yellow Gold Emerald and Diamond three stone ring | £3650.00
G5140 9ct Yellow Gold round locket | £350.00
A6403 18ct 1.61ct Old-cut Diamond ring with Diamond-set twist shoulder | £3850.00
H1021 Gold-plated Garnet and Pearl brooch | £89.00
E1044 18ct White Gold Ruby and Diamond cube cufflinks | £3500.00
I5725 18ct White Gold Ruby and Diamond cluster earrings | £895.00 A5375 Platinum Old-cut Diamond three stone ring with Pear-cut shoulders | £3650.00
G3822 Ruby and Sapphire Fly pendant with Diamond-set wings | £345.00 G3881 18ct White Gold Ruby and Diamond cluster pendant | £995.00
E6062 Silver and Enamel Robin cufflinks | £155.00
SA665 Silver and Enamel Tiger, 27cm long | £5425.00 A6319 Old-cut Ruby, Sapphire and Diamond ring, dated 1890 | £2250.00
S6186 Silver Mice salt and pepper pots | £450.00
We specialise in secondhand and antique watches clocks & pocket watch time pieces including a range of premier brands such as
Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Breitling, Longines and many more...
WE BUY WE SELL WE PART EXCHANGE 18 The Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1LR | Tel: 01242 524519 | info@promenadeantiques.co.uk
www.promenadeantiques.co.uk
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000 Editors Welcome November 2016:Layout 1
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Partner Mark Cuzner 07983 179225 mark@stylemagazines.co.uk Office Manager Carley Jones 01242 220239 office@stylemagazines.co.uk Production Consultant Hilary Collier 01242 220239 hilary@stylemagazines.co.uk Editorial Designer Nick Clark 01242 220239 nclark@stylemagazines.co.uk
COTSWOLD STYLE Cotswold Style: Suite 104, Eagle Tower, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1TA Switchboard: 01242 220239 Accounts: 01384 410603 Email: office@stylemagazines.co.uk Publisher: Ray Siviter
www.cotswoldstyle.co.uk
@CotswoldStyle Twitter followers
22,542 CotswoldStyleMagazine Facebook fans
6,990 Cover image: Autumn in the Suffolks Fashion Shoot Photography: Stefanie Calleja-Gera www.scg-photography.com
Cotswold Style is published monthly by Live 24Seven Ltd, based at Suite 104, Eagle Tower, Cheltenham, Glos, GL50 1TA. Reproduction of any material, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without the prior written consent of the publishers. All material is sent at the owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, Cotswold Style will not accept liability for loss or damage. Dates, information and prices quoted are believed to be correct at time of going to press but are subject to change and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. Neither the editor nor publisher accepts responsibility for any material submitted, whether photographic or otherwise. All rights reserved. ISSN no. 1756-6673.
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Welcome
This November we will ‘Remember’ all that have died for their country and continue to think of all our acting service personnel in the military and who work so tirelessly in our security services, especially in the Cotswolds. Our Real Life feature writer Nigel Aplin, had the great pleasure of meeting with the new commander of the ARRC, the British based NATO forces at Imjin Barracks near Gloucester. Lt. General Tim Radford has an extremely respected military career and we welcome him to the Cotswolds. Cotswold Style’s Fashion Editor, Yvette Brentnall and Fashion Photographer, Stef Calleja-Gera have produced a fabulous autumnal fashion shoot in Cheltenham’s, The Suffolks, which is a stylish area and could be our very own Notting Hill. They have depicted an array of new season clothing to warm up all winter wardrobes. November Racing at Cheltenham is a prestigious affair and The Open is the second biggest race meeting of the season bar The Festival. Nigel Aplin gives you all the form and some tips for a great few days on the course. We have been out and about tasting some delicious autumn menus at a few local establishments and you can read the reviews on The Royal Oak at Andoversford, Hotel du Vin and The Spice Lodge in Cheltenham to discover some culinary treats awaiting you. As we head into the month of fireworks, hotdogs, warmer clothes and racing I know many of you will be anticipating that the festive season isn’t far away. There is plenty of information in this month’s magazine to start getting prepared from diet and fitness to fabulous skin rejuvenation treatments Finally, I want to congratulate Cotswold Style’s fabulous Hairstylist, Laura Leigh who is the namesake behind Laura Leigh Hair and Beauty in Cheltenham. To add to the number of other titles her salon has recently won, she has just been presented with the Young Business Person of the Year award for Gloucestershire. Then to top it all, Laura recently became engaged in Dubai - I can’t wait to feature what I know will be her extremely beautiful wedding next year! Best wishes,
CS
Emma Logan, Editor editor@stylemagazines.co.uk
COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2016 9
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jonny-rOCKS lTD Welcome to Jonny-Rocks, your luxury chauffeur car service for Gloucestershire.
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A local evening chauffeur car service is also available inside Gloucestershire and the UK, arriving in luxury and style, in the new Mercedes S350L AMG Executive.
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www.jonnyrockschauffeurs.co.uk Campden Road, Tuffley, Gloucester GL4 0HX 10 NOVEMBER 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
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Style Interview REAL LIFE
LT. GENERAL TIM RADFORD Nigel Aplin met with Lt. General Tim Radford CB DSO OBE, Commander of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), stationed near Gloucester PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAM OLDFIELD WWW.SAMOLDFIELD.CO.UK Today I met a decent man. I don't know how many truly decent men I have ever met, I fear not many, but today I know I met a decent man. I am not sure what your perceptions of a Three Star General are but I think mine are comprised of watching a succession of war films made after the Second World War and a reasonably good knowledge of Britain in conflict. My observations have certainly been more vivid of late fuelled by the coverage of the centennial commemoration of the battle of The Somme and an acute sensitivity and passion for the war poetry as written by Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and Rupert Brooke. Such depictions of commanders in war are not always kind, both fact and fiction sometimes conspire to present a picture that is not reflective of reality. But I’m a little ahead of myself here so let’s take a brief look at the background. Most of us are aware that the Government Communications GCHQ is on our doorstep but not all of us know that the headquarters of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, (ARRC), a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation High Readiness Force [land], has its base at Imjin barracks just outside of Gloucester. With more than four hundred permanent staff from over twenty nations contributing to NATO activity every day, it was formed in 1992, based on the British 1 Corps model. In effect, the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps was built to conduct specific NATO missions in Europe under the NATO Allied Command Europe defence structure at the end of the Cold War.
Specifically, ‘it is to be prepared to deploy under NATO, EU, coalition or national auspices to a designated area, to undertake combined and joint operations across the operational spectrum.’ To a layman like me, this means that in the event of any international unpleasantness, its game on for ARRC. Its unique structure allows the ARRC to operate as a Corps Headquarters, a Land Force Component Command, a Joint Task Force Headquarters, or to augment ongoing operations with select staff capabilities. It also assumes the role of the NATO Response Force (NRF) Land Component Command on a rotational basis, which demands personnel of high levels of fitness, training, education and readiness to deploy. The majority of Deployable Forces are
held at high readiness to support both collective defence Alliance wide and crisis response operations wherever they might occur. The multinational deployable forces are commanded by air, land, maritime and special operations forces headquarters, provided by a framework nation or number of nations working in concert. Force packages are built around these headquarters dependent upon the task. These deployable headquarters can command and control forces from the size of a brigade numbering thousands of troops, up to a corps of tens of thousands, aircraft to deliver hundreds of sorties per day, or maritime task forces of varying size dependent upon the task. In April 2015, a UK Defence restructuring aligned the ARRC under the British Army to improve direct support to the HQ. Working at the ARRC affords aspiring personnel the opportunity to plan, train and deploy on missions and exercises of the highest strategic importance under the command of a British Army Lieutenant General and the leadership of several other senior officers from different nations. The fastpaced and innovative working routine is geared towards global uncertainty and applies professional education to solving the complex problems facing the UK and the NATO alliance today. ARRC is very proud that it is based near Gloucester and has a huge affinity with the local community and area. Unquestionably it considers itself as an integrated part of that community rather than a stand-alone base. It contributes both culturally and economically and >>> COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2016 15
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Style Interview the county is literally richer for it. That British Army Lieutenant General in command is currently Tim Radford. I first spoke to him by telephone to brief him on the questions I would later put to him in person. I did not sit bolt upright or feel the necessity to jump to attention or salute. I was immediately disarmed and charmed by a soft and controlled soothing voice. Lt Gen Tim Radford CB DSO OBE was brought up in Ireland and educated at Rugby School, Durham University and King’s College London. Commissioned into the Light Infantry in 1985, he spent four years in command appointments before joining the School of Infantry as an Instructor in 1989. Thereafter, he commanded extensively on operations in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. In April 2008, he took command of 19 Light Brigade and was Commander Task Force Helmand between April and October 2009. From February 2013 through to February 2015, he was the first General in charge of Force Troops Command, leading its transition into the Army 2020 structure of 10 re-designed brigades, comprising 40,000 personnel. At this time, he was also the Two Star Commander overseeing the UK’s response to the Ebola Crisis in Sierra Leone. In July 2015 he was promoted to Lieutenant General and served as the Deputy Commander Op RESOLUTE SUPPORT in Afghanistan until April 2016. He assumed command of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Gloucester in July 2016. I was affected by our first exchange on the telephone, not quite able to reconcile the above biography with the man I had just spoken with. My mind replayed to the commanders from the First World War who sent their men over the trenches to certain slaughter. I couldn’t perceive Tim Radford as being one of them. Perception was indeed reality as when I met him I was once again charmed by his easy and disarming manner. I replayed to him an initial feeling that he was rather like a surgeon whose life we are happy to put into his hands because of an instinctive confidence he exudes; their respective jobs both deal directly with life and death. Going back to the trenches, he would have been the first ‘over the top’ and I would have followed him. 16 NOVEMBER 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
“To my mind, right back to my early days as a young Lieutenant, it’s all about people. You can have a brilliant plan or strategy but if your people don’t come with you, it’s not going to work.” I was interested on his views on soldiering, how its nature had changed since the corps was conceived at the time of Waterloo in 1815 through to its service on The Somme, Dunkirk and Normandy landings, Iraq and Afghanistan. Tim Radford said, “In the last hundred years, warfare has become far more technical, quicker and the speed of soldiering and decision-making has been advanced through technology. Embracing that has been of primary importance for us, our allies and indeed, our adversaries. “As an illustration what we were asking of corps or brigade commanders back in 1815, would now fall further down the chain of command. Twenty years ago a Lieutenant Colonel’s job on operations equated to that of a Captain in Helmand. This translates to the battlefield where soldiers are taking on far more levels of responsibility. They are conducting operations that have myriad pieces of technology, to have an effect on the ground. From a human dimension, we are asking far more of our people but they have better kit and equipment and are looked after much better. “By 2017 the ARRC will have twentythree nations and is now used to fighting in a coalition, in particular in Afghanistan and Iraq. We're getting better at being a coalition. Better at working together, better at understanding each other and
we have a common NATO doctrine which we all work to.” Cultural and political considerations can also manifest themselves in other theatres of operation. Tim speaks very highly of one of his subordinates in Sierra Leone who had to convince a President that the custom of touching dead bodies prior to burial may not be effective in the control of the spread of the Ebola virus. Clearly modern warfare is much about the employment of technology but to Tim Radford, the essence of true soldiering is still about human endeavour. He explained, “To my mind, right back to my early days as a young Lieutenant, it’s all about people. You can have a brilliant plan or strategy but if your people don’t come with you, it’s not going to work. Trust and confidence in the operation and the commanders that execute it is paramount.” No more so was this true than as when, the then Brigadier Tim Radford was in command of Panther's Claw, a British-led military operation of the Afghan War in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan. It aimed to establish a permanent International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) presence in the area, linking the economic capital Gereshk to the provincial capital Lashkar Gah. At the time Tim spoke of “the
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Lt Gen Tim Radford on Exercise TRIDENT JUNCTURE 2016 in Cornwall, a certification exercise for the ARRC’s role in the NATO Response Force 2017
incredible courage and fortitude under fire” of his soldiers. Our conversation is now beginning to reach beyond the technical definition of the role a Three Star General performs. This is a man who in the dark watches of the night looks deep into his soul and counts the cost of human life. He is now talking to me as a man who understands and truly feels the impact that the consequences of war have on those that participate in it. He talks of ‘having care’; I see it as sensitivity and humanity. I have seen sensitivity and humility in a ward sister who deals in death on a daily basis. I had not expected to see the same qualities in such a senior army operative. On the eve of her execution for aiding British soldiers to escape from occupied Belgium, Nurse Edith Cavell wrote ‘patriotism is not enough.’ The same could be said of the General. There is the expected steeliness that one would expect in someone who commands, that is essential, but there is also conviction that what he demands of his men, he demands more of himself, as enshrined by Sandhurst, ‘Serve to Lead.’ Former head of the British Army and one of Tim's predecessors is General Sir Richard Dannatt, who once said soldiers need to be spiritually prepared for death and believes God saved his own life four
times. Tim tells me that, “The padre sees more of his men on the eve of battle than at any other time.” I’m not sure that he himself fully understands the spiritual side of his nature but I believe there certainly is one. Unquestionably Tim is patriotic and has been very influenced by the poet Rupert Brooke, indeed, he followed his footsteps to Rugby School. ‘If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is forever England.’
He is very drawn to classical music favouring the works of Elgar and Eric Coates and holds an equally keen interest in the history of art. He also played the trumpet and a pretty mean game of tennis. Tim met his wife in Ireland where she was a BBC newsreader and they have three young children, “I started late”. I see a content man, a loving husband and father, a man at ease with family life. With enthusiasm and pride he tells me of how love of craft and making do with whatever is at hand, inspired Tracey, his wife, to compile ‘Make Your Own Zoo; 35 projects for kids using everyday cardboard packaging’ whilst he was in Afghanistan. Apparently it’s a very good seller and plugging his wife’s
book is not beyond the remit of a Three Star General. Tim’s posting in Gloucester and The Cotswolds is a source of considerable joy to him and his family, “The walks in the beautiful Gloucestershire countryside are very special and we love shopping in Cheltenham in the midst of some wonderful architecture. It’s a very happy period of our life.” His appreciation of architecture is driven by the conjecture that he would have liked to have been an architect if not joining the army. As Tim escorts me off the base, he introduces me to people we happen upon. He knows them more than just their names; the people behind the rank, their ebbs and flows, their way of life, their families and their children. In turn I don’t just see respect for authority or position. I see a collective sense of humanity, friendship, fun and banter. I also see, that when the chips are down, a resolute force of men and women who serve willingly and with passion, an ultimate conviction that enables them to fight for what is right under a respected, exceptional commander and man. “I want you to know that I couldn’t do my job unless it was for the quality of men and women who serve with me. I am humbled and honoured to serve alongside them.” Today I met a decent man. COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2016 17
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Luxury retirement apartments Cirencester
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PROPERTY
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ENJOY OY AFFORDABLE ABLE APARTMENT RTMENT LIVING VING This exclusive, private gated development nt in the heart of Cheltenh ham is the ideal place to call home. Cheltenham apartments The stunning apartm ments enjoy an unrivalled llocation, ocation, just a short distance from the town n centre and close to a variety riety of entertainment. There is plenty to do and see in the local area and you will be well connected to a numberr of large towns and cities, with Oxford, Reading and LLondon ondon all nearby nearby..
2 bedroom m apartments from £259,000 Just £207 7,200 with Help to Bu uy* now! £207,200 Buy Imagery includ includes es optional upgrades at additional cost.
crestnicholson.com/regencyplace crestnicholso t i h l on.com/regencyplace / l
Help tto o Buy is available available on the pur purchase chase of yyour our primary rresidence eside ence up to to the value value of £600,000. You You must mu ust fund a minimum of 80% of the purchase purcha ase price. price. The Government’s Government’s lloan oan wil willl need tto o be rrepaid epaid when the pr property operty is sold or aft after er 25 years years i.e. up tto o 20% of the he pr properties operties total total sale sale price. price. During the e first first five five years years of o owning wning yyour our home, yyou ou will not pay any int interest erest on the Government’s Government’s loan loan and you you will pay a management management fee fee of £1 per month. In the sixth year, year, you you will be char charged ged a ffee ee of 1.7 1.75% 75% of the lloan’s oan’s vvalue alue and this incr increases eases annually annually with inflation, ccalculated alculated by RPI R (Retail (Retail Price Price Index) Index) plus 1%. You You will also require require adequat adequate e funds tto o ccover over e llegal egal ccosts osts and moving moving fees. fees.
*
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AT CREST NICHOLSON’S REGENCY PLACE The perfect home is waiting for you at Crest Nicholson’s Regency Place in the stunning town of Cheltenham. This exclusive, gated development is situated at the heart of the town and is set to breathe new life into the area. Regency Place is a striking collection of apartments, ideal for first time buyers and those wanting a home in the thriving town centre without compromising on style or space. The range of two-bedroom apartments offer elegant open plan living throughout, with two spacious bedrooms including a master en-suite, and a plethora of fantastic shops and restaurants on your doorstep.
Prices for a two-bedroom apartment at Regency Place start from £259,000, and are available through the government’s Help to Buy scheme from as little as £207,200. Under the Help to Buy Scheme, homebuyers are able to purchase a home for 80% of the property value with just a 5% deposit. The remaining 20% is covered by a government loan, interest free for the first five years. Situated in the cosmopolitan centre of Cheltenham, Regency Place is just a short walk from the thriving Cheltenham High Street where you can indulge in a lifestyle of luxury right on your doorstep. The popular street is filled with stylish shops, cafes and restaurants all bursting with character and charm. You will also be close to the Cheltenham Race Course and Cheltenham Literary Festival for exciting days out.
Visit our Marketing Suite at 37-39 Winchcombe Street, Open daily from 10am to 5pm regencyplace@crestnicholson.com
01242 504922
To be eligible, you must meet the criteria set down by this Government scheme, details of which are available from the Crest Nicholson Sales Advisor. The amount of deposit required may vary depending on the scheme rules and the lender for the mortgage finance. If you are in any doubt about this scheme please seek independent advice. Crest Nicholson does not provide mortgages and cannot give any financial advice. Show Home photography. Pricing correct on 27.10.16. Crest Nicholson South West, a division of Crest Nicholson Operations Ltd, Crest House, Lime Kiln Road, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS34 8ST. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBT SECURED ON IT.
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Moorend Park Road, Cheltenham
Guide price ÂŁ1,895,000
Setting the scene: Delrey House is a handsome detached Victorian villa which has been renovated over the last 15 years and has an unusually practical layout creating a fabulous family home including some lovely period features. Why we love it: The living accommodation is arranged over the upper and lower ground floors; on the upper there is a pretty drawing room with intricate ceiling mouldings and bay window, across the hall there is a less formal sitting room and to the rear of the house a fabulous kitchen/breakfast room with recently fitted hand painted units and central island. Double doors separate the kitchen from a smaller sitting area which in turn opens onto the garden. On the lower ground floor the flag stone floors are a particular feature, there is a formal dining room, cinema room/library, guest bedroom, bathroom and utility room. Upstairs on the first floor there is a magnificent split level master bedroom suite which spans the entire rear elevation of the house, to the front there is a further large guest suite with dressing room and full bathroom. On the second floor there are 3 generous double bedrooms and a large family bathroom in addition to a separate WC. The garden is predominantly laid to lawn arranged to both the rear and southern side of the house. There are various seating areas positioned to make the most of the sunshine and a splendid Wellingtonia tree. The Coach House: This detached coach house has 2 bedrooms and a bathroom downstairs with open plan living/dining/kitchen upstairs. There is a neat private terrace to the front. nick.chivers@knightfrank.com | Knight Frank, 123 Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NW | 01242 2469549 24 NOVEMBER 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
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Style Hot Property
Wellington Place, London Road Guide price ÂŁ425,000 Setting the scene: Built in 1999 in a Regency style, this stunning apartment has undergone a recent refurbishment and now offers immaculate accommodation. Why we love it: The apartment is approached off the London Road and has an attractive facade with wrought iron gates and stone steps leading up to the pillared entrance. There is lift access up to the apartment from the secure under croft parking. The apartment, which is situated on the 1st floor offers stunning modern accommodation, which is in keeping with the period style character. Period style features include detailed coving, ceiling roses and (double glazed) sash windows throughout. Leading through the reception hall there is a study or 3rd occasional bedroom, a large storage/laundry cupboard and a cloakroom. The two double bedrooms have en suites and builtin wardrobes. In the kitchen, which is fully fitted with built-in appliances, there is ample space for a breakfast dining area. The sitting dining room is an impressive room being 19' x 18' and has a double aspect with views to the south over the pretty gardens fronting Priory and Oxford Parade and to the west towards Malvern Hills. The large communal gardens to the rear are enclosed and beautifully landscaped with various seating areas to sit and enjoy the surroundings. There is an outdoor store, secure underground parking for one car. hayley.wilks@knightfrank.com Knight Frank, 123 Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NW | 01242 2469549
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Style Hot Property
Rosemary Cottage, Brockhampton
Guide price ÂŁ450,000 Freehold
Setting the scene: A delightful detached Cotswold stone cottage with off road parking, garage and a wonderful south facing garden. Why we love it: Approached via a lobby and hall at the side leading to a character filled sitting room with Inglenook fireplace housing a wood burner and an adjoining dining room with a dual aspect outlook. The kitchen has been recently replaced with a modern units, integrated appliances and a stable door to the garden. A peninsula unit provides definition from an adjoining living area, both rooms enjoying plenty of natural light and with wide double glazed doors opening out to a glorious south facing terrace. There is a recently installed shower room on the ground floor whilst upstairs there are 2 bedrooms and a cloakroom. Outside there is a drive for 2 cars, a large detached garage with a personal side door and pedestrian side gate to the garden. the gardens are a truly outstanding feature being south facing and very private. A large terrace perfect for entertaining leads to a lawn surrounded by mature borders awash with colour and a lovely summerhouse discreetly situated at the furthermost point which backs onto countryside. Details: CJ Hole, Cheltenham. Tel: 01242 255101 cheltenham@cjhole.co.uk 26 NOVEMBER 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
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a new
way of livingâ&#x20AC;¦ very best
Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enjoying the that Cheltenham has to offer or relaxing in luxurious on-site facilities, New Court has it all. This is a unique opportunity for not just a stunning new home, but a completely new lifestyle to make your own. 7KH Ä&#x2020;UVW UHOHDVH RI EHDXWLIXO RQH DQG WZR EHGURRP UHWLUHPHQW DSDUWPHQWV in the heart of Montpellier are available to reserve now. 7R Ä&#x2020;QG RXW PRUH DQG WR WDNH D ORRN DURXQG WKH VKRZ VXLWH ERRN an appointment with Hamptons International on 01242 222 909.
New Court, Lansdown Road, Cheltenham. GL50 2JG www.newcourtcheltenham.co.uk e: newcourt@hamptons-int.com
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THROUGH THE KEYHOLE
The Sky’s The Limit Property Feature Writer, Amanda MacCaw is sitting on a cloud of stunning views in the Cotswolds pinions on bottom size vary as widely as bottom sizes themselves and fashions come and go. In the 19th Century, the bustle ensured that a lady’s curves were suitably augmented; Twiggy, the first superskinny model, heralded an age of fashion that required a non-existent derriere; and today there’s a plethora of bottom-lifting underwear available to enhance what genes have destined for us. Men’s rears are arguably scrutinised and judged more obsessively than women’s. In the equine world, it’s apparently more straightforward. Well-conditioned hind quarters are the holy grail of horse flesh, whether you’re in the local pony club, or the parade ring at Aintree on Grand National Day. Strength, power and endurance are the three major athletic goals for a horse.
O
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And the Elliott family, who live near the top of Cleeve Hill, believe that their sloping paddocks have been a significant factor in their quest to produce horses that are at their peak of athleticism and fitness. Not only is the land excellent for keeping their horses in fantastic shape, they also drain naturally down the hill allowing year-round grazing. Set within these five acres of pony
paradise is Barnfield, a lovely detached house in a very special position. Leaving the main Cheltenham / Winchcombe road just before it crests Cleeve Hill, I make my way down Stockwell Lane, and come upon Barnfield’s wide driveway well before reaching the village of Woodmancote. My tour starts with the house, but my attention is constantly drawn through the property’s large windows to the spectacular views from almost every room. While the milliondollar outlook is the view to the west, taking in a classic Cotswolds-scape that includes Tewkesbury Abbey, the Malverns, and (on a clear day) the Black Mountains of Wales in the distance; the shorter view to the north, looking up
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Style Property with Amanda MacCaw
the gradient of Cleeve Hill itself, is utterly compelling. The accommodation is substantial, totalling over 3,700 square feet, but the house feels welcoming rather than palatial. The arrangement of rooms downstairs lends itself to a large family that needs space for different pastimes – in addition to the kitchen/dining room, there are three reception rooms and a very appealing sun room – its ‘proper’ roof means that it’s useable all yearround, providing a temperate interface between inside and out whatever the weather. Upstairs, leading off a large landing, there are four good-sized bedrooms and two bathrooms. At the eastern end of the house, the Elliotts have extended the Victorian part of the property by building above the garage (now a studio) and connecting it to the house by way of one of the best
boot rooms I have ever seen. The new first floor extension is a smart twobedroom annexe, with its own entrance from the boot room, and a terrace accessed directly from the living room. It would be a straightforward exercise to connect the annexe to the main house at first floor level, providing additional bedroom space for the main house. Leaving the warmth of the house via the garden room, we arrive in the south facing garden with its gently sloping lawn and wide terraced areas. The air here tastes freshly washed, the sky is clean and huge, the view appears to have been enhanced in Adobe Photoshop. It’s easy to understand why the settlement of Cleeve Hill flourished as a health resort at the end of the 19th Century – I’m feeling good just standing here, looking and breathing. All my senses seem heightened.
At over 1,000 feet above sea level, Cleeve Hill (also known as Cleeve Cloud) is the highest point of the Cotswolds hill range. The iconic view, looking down on Cheltenham Racecourse, comes from this vantage point. Walkers and riders can crisscross the 1,000 acres of limestone grassland using the numerous footpaths and bridle paths, all of which are easily accessible from Barnfield. There are strong links with horseracing, both flat and national hunt, in this area. Racing and training began on Cleeve Hill in 1818 and lasted until 1855 when it moved to its current home, Prestbury Park. Interestingly, the champion flat racing jockey, and three times winner of the Derby, Pat Eddery, was a past owner of Barnfield, selling the house in 1977. The Elliotts show me around the extensive grounds, pointing out the >>> COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2016 29
000 Property Amanda MacCaw November 2016:Layout 1
sloping paddocks, but drawing my attention to the necessary flat areas – the manège, the barn and five stables, the terraces, children’s play areas, two very pretty summerhouses and the covered swimming pool. There is thirty years of family history in this lovely spot – and the house and grounds has been adapted over the years to suit their family needs. I can picture the day the first pony, Tinker, arrived, quickly establishing the appropriateness of his name; and Faulky, the chestnut pony who was blind in one eye, taught the Elliotts’ three daughters to ride, and lived to 30; and the string of ponies and horses who came after those first arrivals, taking the girls from pony club to equine achievements including UK Championship show jumping at Hickstead, and three-day eventing in Ireland. “Everything seems to come in threes here,” says Elizabeth Elliott. “At
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any one time, Barnfield would be home to three children, three horses, three dogs and three cats. For a long time, my parents lived in the annexe, and everyone mucked in looking after family and animals. It was wonderful chaos.” But now, Elizabeth’s parents are no longer with them, and their daughters have grown up and moved on. Their seven grandchildren all adore the house and the adventures they have in the grounds, but the Elliotts have taken the decision to downsize. “We’re simply not young and energetic enough to do it all again for the next generation,” says Elizabeth. Where will they go, and how will they replace this home that has been their lives for so long? Elizabeth wishes they could just create a mini version of Barnfield – a smaller house, less grounds and land, but in exactly the same spot. She says, “We feel as though we’re on top of the world, and in the middle of nowhere here, but Cheltenham is just a ten-minute drive away, we have local shops and pubs in Woodmancote just down the road, Bishops Cleeve and Prestbury, and for those who prefer their uphill walk before rather than after a drink, we have a great pub, The Rising Sun, at the top of the hill. “We’ll miss our home, and this place,
but I think most of all we’ll miss our views, the sunsets and ever changing skyscapes. We’ve never tired of them in thirty years, and I’m yet to be convinced that they’re replaceable.” So, for the first time in a generation, Barnfield is on the market. I ask Sue Healey of the selling agents Kingsley Evans who she thinks might buy the property. She tells me it’s hard to predict as Cheltenham buyers often buy something they never thought they wanted! She says, “There’s a huge diversity of property in and around Cheltenham, from the Regency houses in the centre of town, to village homes in Prestbury, and rural properties just a short drive away. We recently helped a buyer who told us they wanted a town property that required no work, with the
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smallest possible patch of outside space. They’ve just agreed a sale on a run-down 1950s house in an acre of land! My advice to anyone looking for a property in or around Cheltenham within this budget would be to come and look at Barnfield. They may just fall in love, but even if they don’t, it’s an interesting way of exploring the area.” The freehold of Barnfield is available for £1.65m through Kingsley Evans in Cheltenham. Tel: 01242 222292. W: www.kingsleyevans.co.uk Amanda is a freelance PR and copywriter offering a friendly and collaborative service in the Cotswolds. www.wildmaccaw.co.uk She can be contacted on 01386 700068 / 07977 238175 / amanda@wildmaccaw.co.uk
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THE JOCKEY CLUB PRESENTS
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Style Business
The Cool Way to Warm Walls If you’re looking at ways to conserve energy costs whilst bellowing up the heat this winter, then look no further than innovative new product, AeroTherm that is applied directly to the internal surface of your walls and ceilings. Emma Logan spoke to Danny McCauley from the company who explained the benefits of the technology. What exactly does AeroTherm do Danny? The product is a revolutionary new alternative to conventional insulation. It is an ultra-thin, energy reflective coating that creates warm walls, eliminates cold spots, reduces mould and provides wallto-wall ‘thermal comfort’. As it’s a reflector of heat not just an insulator, it literately reflects the heat back into the room whereas, an insulator only slows the heat down from escaping. What is in the product to achieve this? Developed by NASA it was actually designed to insulate space shuttles from the intense heat of the sun. Its a combination of millions of microscopic glass balls which act like an invisible mirror bouncing the heat back in and Aero Gel which is the best insulator known to man.
So does it act like wall plaster and if so how is it applied? Essentially yes, though before it’s applied it looks like cottage cheese! We have a team of technicians who have been highly trained in administering the product – it’s applied to your home’s walls and ceilings in a similar process to plastering, leaving a surface that’s totally smooth and ready to decorate with paint or wallpaper. How thick is it then? Unbelievably it’s only 1mm thick, which is incredible, giving you the means to create a lovely warm room. You literally only have to coat the walls and there’s no need for new skirting boards or extra width on your door linings. If you have any cornice work, its completely unaffected by the procedure. What about the outside brickwork do we need scaffolding? No, that’s the beauty of this product, as it’s applied on internal surfaces. This
means, it does not change the external appearance of your property there’s no need for scaffolding, the application is not weather dependent, it’s clean to use, leaves no mess whatsoever and the results are instant – and there’s no need for the neighbours to have any idea of what you’re up to!
Does one have to use AeroTherm on an entire building? Well that’s the other attractive thing about this product. You can do one wall at a time and just one room at a time. It’s all down to your personal budget and which rooms would really gain from its use. Who can benefit most from using it? Anybody who has a cold wall in their home, office, shop or even a school building. It should be used for structures built before 1995 when cavity wall insulation was brought in. Homes and buildings with no cavities such as Victorian terraces or a Cotswold farmhouse for example, would feel the changes immediately.
This sounds as if it’s a bit too good to be true Danny! There’s a cold room in almost every house throughout this beautiful country – sometimes it doesn’t matter what you do, you just can’t get your house warm. Once it’s applied your room will warm up quicker and stay warmer for longer and you’ll feel far more comfortable. Finally, how much does it all cost? AeroTherm is energy saving for a start, is a recognised green product and far cheaper than external insulation. It’s from £60 per square metre – while external insulation would cost you about £110 per square metre plus you would need to pay for scaffolding to have that applied. For further information, contact Danny McCauley Tel: 07780 857773 / 01242 694973 www.plastertherm.com
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ICONIC 1 & 2 BEDROO M APARTMENT S
BRITISH HANDLELESS HIGH GLOSS KITCHENS
GENEROUS PRIVATE TERRACES
WHITE VITRA/GEBERIT & HANSGROHE RAIN SHOWERS
UNDER-FLOOR HEATING AND HEATED TOWEL RAILS IN BATHROOMS
BOSCH INTEGRATED APPLIANCES
UNDERGROUND PARKING
O N LY 5 A P A R T M E N T S R E M A I N I N G
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HOMES & GARDENS
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Ask Yourself ‘Why?’ Clive Burling believes in stamping your mark on your existing interiors Last month I started my article with examples of questions young children ask on a regular basis and I observed how much easier it is to answer them now that we have Google and Siri at our fingertips. However, as any parent will know, answering the questions from a three-year-old is never that straightforward. There’s always a catch. No matter how well informed or detailed our answers may be they will always be followed by another. Yes, you’ve guessed it! ‘Why?’ An inquisitive three-year-old will continually ask questions and will always want to know more. How, when and as always, why? I’ve been thinking about this recently and started to wonder when this barrage of questions stops. Clearly once children start reading, going to school and doing their own research the life of a parent gets a little easier. What worries me though is at what stage do they stop asking ‘why?’. I believe very strongly that we should never, ever, stop asking ‘why?’. No matter how convincing the argument might be when making a decision to either buy or do something new or different we should always stop and ask
ourselves that question. As regular readers will know, I spend a lot of my time rejuvinating old pieces of furniture that would probably have been discarded a few years ago but are now saved and given a new life. I have noticed recently that I also spend an increasing amount of time transforming brand new pieces of furniture. I remember talking a few years ago to a good friend of mine, who is in the antiques business, about the ‘painted look’ and the trend for
‘upcycling’. She confidently predicted that it was a fad and would not last. Well, that’s probably true but as far as I can see the trend is more popular now, 8 years later, than it was then. So I asked myself, why? There are lots of reasons. The economy, environmental awareness and the huge number of makeover TV programmes for a start! It’s more than that though. I get the impression that we all want to be ‘different’ now. We all follow trends, of course, and are influenced in lots of ways, but we want to stamp our personality onto everything we do, especially when it comes to interiors. The fact that we also have the skills or information at our fingertips to access those skills means we have the confidence to do things differently. Most furniture made 50 or more years ago was built to last using high quality materials and timber. Once these pieces have been transformed they ‘fit in’ almost anywhere. A beautifully painted desk, for example, will not look out of place in either an ultra modern, minimalist flat or an antique filled country house. Now that those well made older pieces are becoming harder to find we are personalising newly made, good quality furniture too. I’ve recently been experimenting even more with metallic paint effects on some pieces of imported, very functional but rather dull looking furniture. The results have been well received and I will certainly be doing more, for some time to come I suspect! So the moral of this story is simple. Before you commit to buying that new piece of furniture, kitchen or whatever, always ask yourself... ‘Why?’ Clive can be contacted at: clive.burling@gmail.com Tel: 07788 257914
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Carpet Emporium is truly a family business run by Don D’Ambrosio along with his wife Mary and cousin John who have successfully built up a carpet business with a ‘difference’. We are not your normal carpet business with just lots of pattern books or samples to choose from, we actually probably stock more carpet rolls and large room sized remnants than other carpet business in Gloucestershire. When people think of a carpet remnant they think of a small piece suitable for a small bedroom, but the remnants we stock are big enough to carpet several rooms.
the difference is...
WHY CARPET REMNANTS? We also stock full rolls which will carpet a complete house. Many of these offer our customers a discount of up to 50% off normal retail prices. All remnants are perfect we do not sell factory seconds. We offer budget priced remnants to top quality 80% Wool Twist and 100% Wool Berbers, we also have many wool carpets that are now mothproof. If you cannot find what you are looking for in our extensive stock selection of over 250 rolls, we also have over 500 samples of carpets and rugs from all leading carpet manufactures in the UK and Europe. RUGS We also carry a huge range of rugs all from stock from bargain priced polypropylenes to 100% Wool Natural, plains and patterned. Many of the rugs stocked are discontinued lines which represent a big saving on normal prices. VINYLS Over 250 designs and styles of top quality vinyls available, from marble, wood, tile effect and many contemporary designs. DIVAN BEDS & MATTRESSES We have a large selection of different quality mattresses from budget priced open coil, to high quality 3000 pocket sprung, and also superb quality natural latex options. All beds and mattresses can be delivered direct from stock. WHY PURCHASE FROM CARPET EMPORIUM Carpet Emporium aim to make your carpet buying experience as easy as possible, we offer a measuring and planning service free of charge. We have experienced carpet fitters which we can fully recommend or we can deliver carpets direct to your premises for your own fitter to install. We have been providing flooring and rugs in the Cheltenham area for over 35 years.
Customer satisfaction is crucial to our business and we will always endeavour to bring our customer the best service and most competitive prices we possibly can.
01242 22 88 55
Give us a try before you buy we GUARANTEE value for money!
16-28 Bath Road, Cheltenham GL53 7HA Open 9am-5pm Tues, Weds, Fri & Sat LATE NIGHT OPENING THURSDAYS – 9am-6.30pm
carpetemporium@hotmail.com | www.carpetemporium.co.uk
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000 Interiors Caroline Berry November 2016:Layout 1
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Left: Miss Money Penny Photograph on acrylic from £425 by Henry Szwinto. Prices from www.szwinto.co.uk
INTERIORS STYLE Compiled and written by Caroline Berry November is the opening of the hunting season where horse and hound meet together country wide. The weather starts to set in and following a spectacular day in the glorious but chilly British countryside, thoughts are always about getting warm and thawing out following a great day out. Henry Szwinto produces quite extraordinary equine images – really stunning and will show your horse to be the grand master that he really is.
Caroline Berry is a well established Interior Designer. Her portfolio includes country houses, town houses, contemporary and listed buildings. She studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths and still paints and makes sculpture. Email: caroline@carolineberry.co.uk
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Below: Ghanaian Log Basket £120, Exclusive Roots, Oxford, www.exclusiveroots.com
Left: Willow Lamp Base Burnt Silver From £684, Porta Romana
Below: Woodchester Check Citrus £52.80/m, Lewis and Wood
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Above: Selsley Stripe Fabric £93.60/m, Lewis and Wood Left: Sybil Lamp Base from £528, Porta Romana Below: Sporting Life Sofa Tally Ho! Fabric by Linwood
Above: Deer Park Fabric £84/m by Lewis and Wood Below: Handmade and Hand glazed pottery from Exclusive Roots, Oxford, Tel 01865 511992
All items on this page can be supplied by caroline@carolineberry.co.uk COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2016 41
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Style Culture
Cotswolds Culture Beyond Flanders and the Somme… Susan Blanchfield examines how we ensure a modern generation remembers WW1 As dawn broke over France on 11 November 1918, a railway carriage standing deep in a remote Parisian Forest was the setting for an historic agreement that would end the First World War. Six hours later, when the agreement came into force, the guns fell silent, ending a conflict that claimed the lives of over 17 million military and civilian personnel. The November date became known as ‘Armistice day’ and King George V called for a two minute silence on the eleventh hour of that day so that, ‘in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone, may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead’. It is a tradition honoured by both British and Commonwealth countries nearly 100 years later. There is no one left now to recall the conflict. They are all dead and so are nearly all of their children. Their passing makes it potentially more difficult to ensure that the lasting legacy of the First World War; “the great seminal catastrophe” of the 20th century, as the American historian George F Kennan called it, does not eventually lapse into commemoration fatigue amongst a population for whom the WW1 means mud, barbed wire and machine guns from the trenches on the western front.
A 2015 survey concluded that over half of 16 to 24 year olds could not remember the meaning of Armistice day; hardly surprising given the confusion around a War that, despite shaping the map of Europe and its politics as well as having a profound impact on society, is still grossly oversimplified to make it more palatable for British classrooms. Over the last sixty or so years, WW1 has been taught in a way that focuses overwhelmingly on the significance of British involvement on the fields of Flanders and the Somme (in fact, the British forces were the junior partner on the western front – they never held more than a quarter of it) and not about the campaigns that made it a true world war. The war at sea outside Europe for example, the land campaigns in the Middle East, Africa and East Asia and the one and a half million volunteers from the Indian subcontinent, receive scant attention. In addition, the impact on society, feminism and social mobility are rarely debated. Simplifying the complexity of the First World War, and reducing it to a Blackadder style ‘goodies and baddies’ battle fought in France and Belgium risks lethargy when it comes to ensuring that modern generations continue to honour and reflect on the meaning and far reaching impact of
Cadet Harry Hayes
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Above: Battle of Passchendaele Below: Celebrating Armistice Day 1921
Armistice Day. Whilst sending representatives from schools to the battlefields of the western front continues to play a crucial part, it is unlikely to achieve a long-lasting historical and cultural educational effect for the majority of the population. Encouragingly, the move to find innovative ways to draw attention to and expand consciousness around the legacy of WW1 appears to have begun. Aside from the plethora of new writers offering refreshed insight, BBC digital projects provide a more palatable lens for students through the art of powerful story telling, use of archival film, sound and images to document the profound social and economic change wrought by WW1. ended to reflect the magnitude of such There is an obligation for modern generations to remember the conflict but it is up to Government and our education system to connect the past with the present and preserve the true legacy of the first World War. Susan Blanchfield is a Patron and Trustee of Cheltenham Festivals; she is a postgraduate doctoral researcher at the University of Gloucestershire and has a life long passion for the Arts in Education. Please contact Susan at: editor@stylemagazines.co.uk
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000 Gardening Camilla Bassett November 2016:Layout 1
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Through the Garden Gate As the winter sets in, we join our Cheltenham based media horticulturalist: Camilla Bassett-Smith, in a Cotswold village rich in soil and family history….. igh up in the Cotswolds where the air is clean and the mud is good lies a little village named Taddington and it is here that my Grandfather’s roots first anchored at his childhood home of Carey’s Farm. The village’s more well-known neighbour Snowshill (or Snozzle as the locals of days gone by would have it) keeps a lavender scented neighbourhood watch but the true scent of this Cotswolds spot can be found in the comforting warmth of a lamb’s fleece or heartening waft of the mighty manure. It was 1918 when my Grandfather was introduced to this landscape and along with his parents, brother, sister, dog Nell and a multitude of animals including a rather clever cat, expert at opening the dairy door in search of milky treats, they lived the country life that today is so revered. There were fields of sheep and barns
H
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of hay and masses of mangold wurzels to keep the flocks from hunger and a hefty supply of ‘stun-um’ for the workers - a rather strong cider which would have certainly kept away the cold! Winters were so harsh that on the way home from Cutsdean School, you could walk along the frozen snow covered hedges, your mind full of anticipation of a good cut of meat and suet pudding to follow. Or in later years, motor up Stanway Hill under the branching Laburnum to return to the first new potatoes of the year. The garden was full of old fashioned favourites such as snap dragons and hollyhocks and the most delicious heritage apple: ‘Lord Grosvenor’, a variety introduced in around 1872. Step forward to the 21st century and this beautiful apple tree is still there at Carey’s Farm, small for its age with arms sagging with the weight of its large
yellow fruit. I am very lucky to have a grafted relative of this tree at home, only 4 fruits this year but we savoured every crisp bite! It is heartening in recent years, despite the decrease in our orchards, to see the increase in popularity of the old apple varieties both in gardens and community projects. It is vital to protect these stalwarts for fear we may lose them forever. The farm is now in the hands of Susanne Collett and her family. Still sheep, 700 of them, but these have been joined by a rather large collection of Muscovy ducks – collected by Susanne’s parents who previously ran the farm and still live on site. The private garden holds a rural charm of days gone by, awesomely autumnal on my visit with the seed heads of a Clematis tangutica holding on and brushing up against the Cotswold Stone walls to keep warm and rose hips
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Style Gardening Painting by Andrew Reid
“There were fields of sheep and barns of hay and masses of mangold wurzels to keep the flocks from hunger and a hefty supply of ‘stun-um’ for the workers – a rather strong cider which would have certainly kept away the cold!” with cheeks all red and jolly as if they too had partaken in the consumption of a glass or two of ‘stun-um’! Little paths surrounded by squares of earth – full of the remnants of this year’s grow your own harvest. The view from all corners is blissful, horses bow their heads, perhaps in appreciation of their high-end real estate: this really is location, location, location. The giant seed head of a spent Allium encases the cobwebs and frost as the winter sets in and a patch of pumpkins gather all snug and cosy beneath the wall, no view for them but the protection of the aged stones around. Carey’s Farm is precious, a little piece of our idyll – the perfect Cotswold Gentleman: loyal, warm and always there for you – just like my Grandfather. COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2016 45
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T R AV E L
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DUBAI
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Old Arabia juxtaposed with the modern
Self-professed adventuress and Travel Writer Lucy Garbutt visits the racy side of Dubai here can you go in the depths of winter that doesn’t require a longhaul flight? In just six hours you can be in Dubai’s deliciously warm climate where you can relax in the sunshine on mile upon mile of soft golden sands with the aquamarine waters of the Arabian Gulf lapping at your toes. My preconceptions of Dubai being all about shimmering, eye-popping skyscrapers, luxury hotels and wide modern highways were blown out of the water during a recent visit. Dubai is all of these things and more, offering a fascinating window through which visitors can glimpse both the past and the future with its exotic blend of prosperous trading city and timeless treasure trove of ancient Arabian culture. The allure of Dubai was brought alive for us with the knowledge and expertise of our fascinating and fun
W
The grand sail shaped Burj al Arab Hotel
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loving guide Yalim Tugsan. Yalim took us to beautiful old mosques and we saw sandalwood traders in bustling souks and old wooden dhows plying the waters of Dubai Creek. Yalim accompanied us as we meandered through the gold and spice souks in the old quarter and we cruised on Dubai Creek in a traditional wooden abra. Dubai is renowned for some of the world’s most stylish and sought-after hotels. The Arabian Gulf ’s balmy climate combined with the hotels’ extensive amenities and superb levels of service, have created a justifiably popular retreat for sun-seeking hedonists. During our stay we experienced beach, city and desert hotels. One of our favourite beach hotels being the One&Only The Palm an oasis of sublime tranquillity and calm in a hyperactive city. The décor is beautiful, ocean-inspired and the leafy
The Old Arabic City
XXX
gardens are tropical and secluded with white daybeds dotted along the private beach. Downtown, the Armani is Giorgio’s first-ever hotel and comes with a 24hour ‘lifestyle manager’. It is stunning, urban with polished everything, city-slick in the middle of the financial district
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Style Travel The Dubai Mall
Skyline view of Downtown Dubai showing the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain
Dubai Marina
Meydan Racecourse
with views of the famous fountains and skyscrapers merging into desert dust. Every big city needs a country retreat and Dubai’s is the stylish and secluded Desert Palm estate, which trims the edge of the vast wilderness among swathes of green polo fields which have been reclaimed from the desert. Following our fix of the city sites, Yalim drove us inland to enter a very different world – a desert land where
Bedouin and their camels still wander nomadically from wadi to oasis. We headed into the heart of this open desert for some 4x4 dune bashing which was hilarious, spellbinding and slightly terrifying in equal measures as the Toyota was expertly raced at top speed over the summits of towering golden sand dunes. I have always been enthralled with the Arabian’s love affair with horses and Dune bashing in the desert
being from Cheltenham we needed no further excuse for a day at the races, Dubai style. We happened to time our trip with The Dubai World Cup Carnival held at the iconic Meydan Racecourse and being the world’s richest horse race and the region’s premier equestrian event we were in for a horsey/people watching feast! We visited on Ladies Day which was an eye-boggling spectacle of elite Dubai society and tens of thousands of racegoers looking resplendent in their finery, limbering up and down the world’s largest racing facility (with two tracks, a stunning grandstand for 60,000, a luxury hotel and a marina!). A Carnival indeed! The end to a truly memorable trip. If you would like to get into a sunshine state of mind anywhere in the world, a holiday can be tailor-made by World Odyssey – for more information on anything to do with your next holiday please visit www.world-odyssey.com – follow us @World_Odyssey, become a fan on Facebook and/or call one of our travel specialists for advice on: 01905 731373.
COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2016 49
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Somewhere for the Weekend? Our very own Cotswoldia couple, Mrs and Mr Jones, hosts our travel section. They thoroughly investigate destinations ideal for a little trip away revealing vital tips on a glamorous getaway and also provide the inside track to ensure the destination caters for a range of tastes and wallets. From the slickest city hangouts to peaceful boltholes, you won’t waste a moment planning your travels. This month we visit LE LOIR in France Now that the children were back at school, Mrs Jones & Mr Jones decided it was time for a mini-break and to experience a few days in Le Loir, France. Mr Jones was worried about Mrs Jones’ capacity for quaffing wine and thought the lesser-known region of Le Loir, rather than the more popular and wellknown wine region of La Loire, would mean rather less time spent sampling grapes and more time spent exploring the unknown!
Getting There
They travelled on Eurostar from London’s St Pancras to Gard du Nord in Paris (www.eurostar.com standard class return tickets from London to Le Mans start from £86 per person, subject to availability.) Having to be at Eurostar at least 30 minutes before departure and surprisingly, getting through security did not take hours as expected and the journey itself was only two and a half hours to the region. From Paris Gard du Nord Mrs & Mr Jones took the metro a few stops to Paris Montparnasse where they took the train to Le Mans (For bookings visit www.voyages-sncf.com). Note: The SNCF tickets from Montparnasse to Le Mans need to be ‘validated’ prior to getting on the train. You do this by putting them into the yellow ‘composteur’ machines located around 50 NOVEMBER 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
the platform areas. Do bear this in mind as it took Mr Jones ages to spot one and actually work out how to use it!
LA FLÈCHE Mr Jones hired a car from Le Mans, exploring the region of La Vallée du Loir visiting pretty little sleepy villages and towns such as Chartre-sur-le-Loir, Beaumont-sur-Dême and La Flèche. The area is full of stunning countryside along the Loir River, with ancient woodlands and small vineyards – perfect for exploring whether by bike or car. Their first evening was spent in La Flèche, a charming village with a traditional medieval square showcasing the famous military academy school founded in the days of Henri IV. The
picturesque streets, lined with private, traditional houses with pretty shutters are perfect for an evening stroll. The next morning much to the angst of Mrs Jones who hates strenuous exercise, Mr Jones decided to hire bikes from the ‘Office de Tourisme’ in La Flèche to ride a few miles along the river to the La Flèche Zoo. She was elated to find though, these were bikes of the electric variety, which ensured Mr Jones didn’t receive the expected earful he was predicting while she speeded off into the distance. The Zoo is one of the top attractions of the region attracting millions of holidaymakers each year. Visitors can even stay overnight in one of ten lodges all individually designed and crafted around specific animal species including
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La Flèche Zoo
Château du Lude
polar bears, white wolves and even white tigers. The polar bear lodge costs over 1000 euro per night and sleeps 4 children and 2 adults in magnificent fivestar luxury. The interior resembles a 19th century artic trappers’ lodge with animal skins on sofas and antler lamps. The master bedroom has a floor to ceiling window looking out into the polar bear’s pool so you can actually watch the polar bears swimming in their pool from your bed. The lodges are so popular they are booked out until late 2017.
BAUGÉ That afternoon Mrs & Mr Jones made a visit to the Château de Baugé, an exceptional architectural treasure, crisscrossed by streets bordered with mansion houses and tufa rock houses with slate roofs. Open since 2003 to the public, the château is designed to cater for English-speaking tourists as well as French – every work of art, video, historic piece, was accompanied with a translation. Mrs. Jones was particularly impressed with this as they were to find not all the historic buildings on their itinerary were as accommodating. The Château de Baugé was built by King René, famous for being patron of the arts, between 1454 and 1465. It is said you can still hear his footsteps on the massive stairway leading to his private apartments. Also in Baugé is the Apothecary. Built
in the 17th century it has intricate, ornate woodwork, a starred vault and marquetry floor. On the oak shelves stand 650 apothecary pots, pillboxes and jars in wood, earthenware, glass or pewter. Most of them still hold medicine products from hundreds of years ago including ‘billy-goats blood’, powered woodlice, crayfish eyes even mummified human fingers!
LE LUDE Travelling 20 minutes from Baugé, Mrs & Mr Jones stayed with an English couple Simon and Susan Wachter in their charming Chambres d’hôtes situated at No 5 Grande Rue in Le Lude. They have chosen a wonderful spot and have spent the past two years furnishing their château and gardens in a delightful and eclectic way. It is a great spot to stay if you are exploring Le Loir. After a wonderful 3 course dinner cooked by Susan and Simon they fell into a peaceful sleep in Egyptian cotton sheets and a bed so comfy it was difficult to get up the next morning. (Rooms are from 75 euros with en suite facilities, secure parking and Wi-Fi. +33 (0) 2 43 94 92 77. info@5granderue.com)
Where To See Mrs & Mr Jones visited Château du Lude in Lude an impressive building showing the evolution of French architecture from the Middle Ages to the 19th
Apothecary - Baugé
century. It is currently owned and lived in by Count and Countess de Nicolay. However, there is no English translation and as they found themselves wandering around the Castle that has been visited by our own Royal Family, many of the secrets the ancient building held were lost to them. You can still walk along the dry moat and defensive towers and the extensive manicured gardens are a treat. (The château is open between 1 April and 30 September or all year for groups on request. www.lelude.com)
LA CHARTRE-SUR-LE-LOIR Continuing their adventure Mrs & Mr Jones set about exploring the east of the Loir Valley. They spent a wonderful two days around Chartre-sur-le-Loir, driving through the Forêt de Bercé, a 5,400 hectares of oak and beech trees several hundred years old. It is a stunning area to take a breath and soak in the peacefulness and stillness of an ancient forest. Later that day Mrs Jones wisely noted that Le Loir has many small familyowned vineyards which would be necessary to visit if we were to truly experience all that Le Loir has to offer. They therefore stopped at the Domaine des Gauletteries in Coteaux du Loir – an area stretching over 16 villages in the Sarthe. Tucked into the rock, the wine cellar is hundreds of years old and keeps the wine at the perfect cool, humid temperature. You can visit the caves > COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2016 51
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Style Travel and have a morning wine tasting with Madame Francine Lelais, who along with her husband and son, developed and produced these fine wines. The white wines are made exclusively from chenin blanc grapes and can be drunk young, when they are pale yellow or kept for several decades where they take on a golden hue giving rich aromas of citrus and perfumed flowers. (Domaine des Gauletteries, 41 route de Ponce, Ruille Sue Loir) Back in the car they took another short drive to Beaumont sur Deme to visit the wonderfully eccentric artist and owner of Les Jardins du Prieuré de Vauboin, Thierry Juge. Twenty years ago he sold everything and gave up his life in Paris to buy the overgrown grounds of the 14th century Priory. Since then he has created two amazing gardens using purely box. One is a formal garden and the other a wonderfully intricate and abstract garden with box sculptures that are constantly changing and evolving. Thierry has created a space for pondering, contemplating, thinking and taking time out. (Thierry Juge 72 340 Beaumont Sur Deme, 02 43 79 04 23)
Deco façade faces onto the town square and offers chic and luxurious rooms, each named after a famous Le Mans racing driver. Mrs Jones thought the bar just as lively as the restaurant and was obviously a focal point for local Chartres townsfolk as well as an eclectic mix of hotel guests.
Where to Stay
What to See
That evening Mrs & Mr Jones stayed at Le Grand Moulin in La Chartres-sur-leLoir, owned by Marie-Daniele MilletLecour. It is a late 18th century former mill sitting on the banks of the Le Loir and has been magnificently restored and furnished. This quaint town is famous for being home to the Aston Martin team who returned year after year whilst competing in Le Mans race. Today, car aficionados visit Chartres-sur-le-Loir and stay with Marie-Daniele who has been hosting car enthusiasts for years. The town is so charming and picturesque with abundant flowers and wisteria adorning every house and mansion. (Le Grand Moulin, 8 rue de Syke, 72 349 Chartres-sur-le-Loir. www.mdmillet-moulin.fr)
After breakfast on the sun-drenched terrace of Le Grand Moulin overlooking the mill and waters of Le Loir, Mrs & Mr Jones once again collected electric bikes from the tourist office in Chartres -sur-le-Loir – she found she was getting good at this cycling lark! They took a 20 km ride around the small vineyards and along the river on a route called ‘La Vallée du Loir a velo’. The Loir Valley by bicycle is well signposted and easy to follow – you don’t really need maps, just follow the arty grape sign directions and you cannot get lost. It is a wonderful way to explore the Loir Valley with sleepy villages, wooded hillsides, forests, vineyards, orchards and the slowly meandering peaceful river. Of course, you can hire normal bikes but they had the time of their life learning how to handle turbo-speed electric bikes and it was difficult to wipe the smile of their faces. Mr Jones was feeling amorous so stopped along the river at a romantic spot for an ‘artisan’ picnic prepared by lebonpicnic.com which uses local produce in economically sound containers.
Where to Eat The Hotel de France and the restaurant Le Relais de Ronsard provide an incredible meal. Each course was a piece of art on the plate that tasted just as delicious as it looked. Situated on the northern edge of the Loir Valley, the Hotel de France with its ivy-covered Art 52 NOVEMBER 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
La forêt de Bercé
Later that day they boarded the Spirit of Adventure for a fabulous slow river cruise along the Loir. Captain Michel Timer, who lives next to the river, provided a comical commentary en route and his descriptions bring to life this wonderful region. (Bateau Promenade ‘Spirit of Adventure’ 120 rue de la Charrière, Chartres-sur-le-Loir micheltimer@hotmail.fr)
PONCÉ-SUR-LE-LOIR On their final day in France, Mrs & Mr Jones had time to visit le Château de Poncé and its wonderful gardens in Poncé-sur-le-Loir, a five minute drive away. Built in the 16th century it houses an amazing neo-gothic Italianate folly. (www.chateaudeponce.com)
They finally drove back to Le Mans and visited the old medieval town for an hour before catching the SNCF train back to Paris. The old town is magnificent and well worth a visit. The gothic cathedral is one of the most beautiful they thought they had ever seen and the surrounding houses in the tiny cobbled streets are amazing examples of original sixteenth century buildings with original wood beams, intricate brickwork and tiny windows. For further information on visiting Le Loir please visit: www.vallee-du-loir.com Written by Sandra Paul
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FA S H I O N H E A LT H & B E A U T Y
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OUTLET SHOPPING WITH UP TO 70% OFF TOP NAME BRANDS
gloucesterquays.co.uk
OVER 60 OUTLE T STORES, RESTAURANTS, CAFÃ&#x2030;S AND CINEMA
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Mind, Body & Soul We discover some of the new, sensational treatments or products available in the Cotswolds and surrounding areas to recuperate your mind, body and soul
A Winter’s Peel from Monu Skincare Only a 10-minute drive out of Cheltenham, Ellenborogh Park transports you to another world. I was visiting the hotel’s spa to try the new Monu Re-surface and Peel System and I visibly relaxed walking up the tree filled driveway with stunning views over Cheltenham, into a very calm tranquil spa. I was a little anxious about my first facial peel; especially as I had visions of my face turning bright red the day before my son’s 18th birthday party. I needn’t have worried. My therapist Hannah asked me lots of questions about my skin and then suggested applying the mildest form of the peel for 2-3 minutes only, advising me that this could be increased on future visits. The peel is a mix of glycolic, salicylic and fruit acids used to eliminate dead cells and exfoliate. Suitable for all skin types, the strength can be adjusted to individual needs. Ideal for more mature skin, it is also great for blocked pores, acne and other minor issues. That aside, I’m a big fan of Monu, simply because they’re made locally, contain
natural ingredients and the company has a high level of ethical principals. My vision of an aggressive chemically charged peel couldn’t have been further from the reality. After gently cleansing, exfoliating and toning my skin, Hannah applied the peel. I felt a slight tingling sensation and after 3 minutes it was removed. Hannah then applied some recovery balm and whilst this was absorbed I had the pleasure of a head and
neck massage. I think I may even have nodded off for a while… The aftercare chat was informative and I was sent home with some recovery balm and samples. I left with soft, shiny ‘new’ skin, blemish free. MONU Re surface and Peel is 55 minutes and costs £75. Ellenborough Park Spa Tel: 01242 545454 www.ellenboroughpark.com
Derma FNS Advanced Skin Needle Remodelling at Cotswold Face and Body Clinic It's a strange truth that as you get older you need less and less makeup. This is because wearing a lot of makeup is ageing, as every 14-year-old trying to get into an over 18 nightclub knows. ‘Spend less on makeup and more on skincare’ is the received wisdom for the over 35s, but the sheer volume of insanely expensive skin care available makes it difficult for most of us to know where to start when it comes to investing in the long term well being of our skin. These days it less about slapping on a fist full of Creme de La Mer, hoping for
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the best and more about science and technology, lasers and epidermal rejuvenation. Take the Derma FNS Advanced Skin Needle Remodelling treatment for instance, which claims to have a dramatic effect on collagen production and elastin rejuvenation. Rather like ablative laser treatments such as Fraxel and IPL, Derma FNS has been developed to improve skin tone, minimalise fine lines, reduce pore size and tackle stretch marks and acne scarring. It is the new kid on the block for both results and recovery time.
Cotswold Face and Body Clinic based in Montpellier is the first local clinic to offer this revolutionary treatment and I meet with Emma Beddow, the Director, who has over a decade of experience with the cosmetic surgery and aesthetic industry. Emma is all about the science of skin and her professionalism and knowledge is impressive as we sit in her cool, scandi-style, relaxing clinic. Next I meet the clinic’s lead nurse, Helen Cleland, who talks me through a series of questions designed to gauge my suitability for the treatment. Again,
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Style Health
Winter Skin Saviours Yes to tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Facial Wipes (£4.99) The perfect product for a speedy cleanse is the market’s first, sleek black wipe. Recommended for those with oily and combination skin but also ideal if you have a sudden breakout, these wipes formulated with charcoal are in a packet with a snap lid and remove impurities without over drying your skin. With no nasty parabens or silicones this is the ideal cleanser to get you through the winter especially if you are travelling or in a serious hurry for a thorough cleanse. Available from www.yestocarrots.com and all good retailers
Dermalogica’s Age Reversal Eye Complex (£59.40) Ageing eyes are more profound on these dark winter nights and we love this updated product from Dermalogica, which gets to work firming up the skin around the eye as it offers a powerful way to reverse the signs of ageing for this delicate skin area. The cream stimulates collagen production making the skin appear plumper, fuller and smoother with fewer wrinkles and consistent pigment distribution. To use, apply on alternate nights for two weeks to build up retinol tolerance level. As skin acclimates, increase to applying nightly. Available from www.dermalogica.co.uk or Dermalogica skin salons throughout the Cotswolds Vitage Age Defence Peptide Cream (£36) This is a powerful yet comforting hydrating cream that helps firm the skin fighting the signs of ageing, utilising concentrated peptides, antioxidants and soothing actives. We found it helped calm the skin, reducing redness and it offers a protective layer to help as a skin barrier function. It is ideal for oily or sensitive skins as it’s calming and anti-inflammatory and just needs 2 pumps to the face, neck and décolleté. Available from www.vitage.co.uk or www.johnbellcroyden.co.uk
Helen Cleland
the professionalism of this team shines through; she is patient and answers all my questions, checking back to ensure I’m comfortable with the process. Helen, BSc Hons, Queens University Belfast, is a Registered Nurse with over 22 years of international experience in the plastic surgery and cosmetic nursing community. She is trained and experienced in lasers, Platelet-Rich Plasma and microneedling procedures. As a Prescribing Nurse she also has specialisation in a full range of cosmetic injectables and advises patients on potential treatments for fuller lips, crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles, frown lines, nasolabial folds, tear troughs and cheek volume. By the time Helen and I have finished
going through my questionnaire, this needle phobic sceptic was ready to go. Ten minutes later, after a thorough face cleanse, the anesthetic gel is being expertly applied. It will be another 20 minutes before Helen starts her work. As she gently glides the Derma pen over my
face, it feels strangely relaxing and I start to drift off in the knowledge I am in safe hands. Another 20 minutes it is all over. My face was reddish following the treatment but this quickly died down within 24 hours. Now to the results; within a week people were commenting on how well I looked. The familiar tired wrinkles, particularly around my eyes had all but disappeared and my skin was glowing. You need to stay out of the sun for the first few weeks of the treatment and wear a sunscreen but that is just common sense. And no, it doesn’t hurt. Cotswold Face & Body Clinic Tel: 01242 370350 www.cotswoldfabclinic.co.uk
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CORN HALL, CIRENCESTER from
Sunday 20th November until Christmas Eve with Antiques on Fridays and Crafts on Saturday
Newly opened Diversitea Café in extension
10am - 5pm l Free Admittance Corn Hall, 26 Market Place, Cirencester GL7 2NY
Why not visit the recently opened Kings Head Hotel after shopping!
For information on stalls contact Augusta Wreay on 07970 859703 augustawreay@hotmail.com
www.cornhallcirencester.org.uk
cherry savidge Jucca
Annette Gortz Max Mara Transit
Lilith
Ottod’ Ame
Paule Ka Twin-Set
Porash
D Exterior
Antoni & Alison 101 East Street
Hereford HR1 2LW
01432 358944
Hat Trick
Hats
Shoes
Accessories
Opening Times: Tues - Sat 9.30am - 4.30pm 89 East Street, Hereford
01432 279900
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Style Hair
A Year of Celebration for Laura Leigh Hair & Beauty With a brand new salon in the heart of Cheltenham, more clients than ever before and two award-wins under their belt, it’s been a pretty exciting year for Laura Leigh… and that’s just the beginning of what’s to come To say it’s been an exciting year for Laura Leigh Hair & Beauty is a bit of an understatement. This November will mark the one-year anniversary of the salon’s move from their petite salon on Cheltenham’s Promenade to their brand new, big, beautiful home on Clarence Street and what a year it’s been. In the past 12 months, the team have celebrated success after success; from doubling in size and attracting over 3,000 new clients to the salon (including a host of celebrities), to clinching 2nd place in the prestigious L’Oréal Colour Trophy Men’s Image Awards. This couldn’t have been possible without the leadership of Laura Leigh, who herself has bagged a number of awards under her belt in the past 12 months, including winning the coveted Young Business Person of the Year award for the region. “Frankly, I can’t believe what a fantastic year this has been on both a personal and professional level!” explained Laura. “When I think back to this time last November, we were so excited yet admittedly more than a little nervous about the chance we’d taken with relocating to such a large salon. Those nerves disappeared as soon as we opened our doors; the attention to detail we’d paid when it came to décor and luxurious little touches across the salon was an enormous hit with our clients and soon enough we began to attract more and more; enabling me to grow the team two-fold- something I’ve dreamed of since day one. To top it all off, winning Young Business Person of the Year
and being a Finalist for Creative Businesswoman of the Year have been the absolute icing on the cake – I can’t thank my dedicated team and wonderful clients enough for making it all possible.” Laura Leigh Hairdressing was born 11 years ago back in 2005, striving to bring the luxury of the London hairdressing scene to the heart of Cheltenham. Laura’s vision was clear – to create a welcoming, luxurious environment for clients and blend this with the expert haircare knowledge she’d learned during her years as a Style Director with an international hairdressing giant. She didn’t want to become just another franchised chain; she wanted to know each and every one of her clients personally, to offer a completely bespoke level of service that’s so often missing in the hairdressing world, going the extra mile for every person who walked through the salon’s doors. Starting as a small team of 5, the salon quickly began to attract clients from all over the county, gaining an exclusive reputation
as the ‘secret salon’ thanks to its hidden position tucked away on Cheltenham’s Promenade. The success didn’t go unnoticed, with Laura being nominated for ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ in the renowned Prince’s Trust awards in 2006 at the tender age of 23; spurring her on to continue to grow the business through a tough recession and come out the other side beaming. “When I think back to where we started, I’m immensely proud of the successes we’ve achieved in the 11 years we’ve been on the Cheltenham hair scene and I couldn’t be more pleased with the salon as it stands today. Not only have we become a one-stop destination for all things hair and beauty with the launch of our new beauty salon but the services we’re able to offer our clients just keeps growing. “We’re incredibly excited to see what the next 12 months will bring and can reveal that we have some really wonderful things up our sleeves. We’re really focussing on taking our client experience up to the next level when they come to see us – really upping the ante when it comes to the boutique, personalised level of service we’ve become known for. We don’t want to give too much away just yet, but watch this space!”
For more information or to book an appointment please call the reception team, 01242 530598 or book online 24 hours a day via the website: www.lauraleighhairdressing.co.uk. Follow Laura Leigh Hair & Beauty COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2016 59
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GLOSS & PAINT A news flash of the key lip trends this autumn by Beauty Writer, Catherine Shortall oing into autumn and winter this year, we’re seeing a lot of matte and darker hues gracing the lips of models, bloggers and fashionistas alike on social media, magazines and at Paris Fashion Week. Matte lip gloss can really give a bold boost to a look and a boost to confidence too. You don't have to be a make up expert to be able to perfect the look either, although a bit of practice with the mirror helps. Most of the well-known ranges have produced a slick matte gloss or two or a lip paint for this season, so the choice is varied and gives lots of room for shade experimentation! Start by taking good care of your lips with a good lip balm or conditioner, exfoliate your lips too (yes, this is a thing!) by using a dry toothbrush on them once a week, or invest in a lip buffer (The Body Shop do a good one) and start by using a nude liner such as
G
the uber classic Mac Lip Pencil in Spice, or try one from Victoria Beckham’s exciting new range for Estée Lauder; aptly named the ‘Victoria’ shade, this is a lip pencil created by the style queen herself to reflect her trademark bare lip shades. If you wanted to go all-out fancy this autumn, splash out on one of Christian Louboutin’s lip colours in the brands coveted make up range, prices start from £65 for a gloss, packaged as opulently as expected in a gold, dazzling tube. The colour is a vibrant and alluring matte red. For those of you looking for a reasonably priced gloss, the go to and ultra on trend brands NYX and Smashbox both do excellent ranges of colours at prices starting from £5.50 and £19 respectively.
Christian Louboutin Diva Velvet Matte Lip Colour, Diva, £65, Selfridges
Here a few of the key products for the perfect matte lip this season...
Follow me at @thecotswoldbeautyblogger on Instagram
VB for Estée Lauder (Victoria Beckham), Lip Pencil in ‘Victoria’ £22, Selfridges Smashbox Always On Matte Liquid Lipstick, £19, Smashbox
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The Body Shop Lip Scuff, £8, The Body Shop
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MONU PROFESSIONAL SKINCARE Situated in Cheltenham Spa the heart of the Cotswolds, MONU is an independently owned luxury British skincare brand that champions natural skincare. MONU strives to offer unique products with proven results, by using only the most innovative ingredients and cutting edge scientific technology.
MYSTYLE20 Exclusive 20% off for Cotswold Style readers. *Offer expires 31st December 2016. Use code at checkout at www.monushop.co.uk
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Fragrance, France and The Future… A trip to the beautiful and stylish French Riviera, tours and a workshop in the world’s perfume capital marks the beginning of a journey in creating MONU’s latest product range. With over 30 years’ experience in the professional skincare industry and working closely with a world class formulator and pharmacologist, we at MONU believe that in order to create the finest possible products, we must understand and explore every aspect of skincare. Therefore, we are inviting you to join us on our latest venture with a series of insights into the world of product development within the beauty and skincare industry. Starting with our most intrinsic and natural senses we begin our journey with the sense of smell. Linked closely with how our brain processes emotion and memory we wanted
to explore the connection between fragrance and feeling as well as learning about the history and anatomy of fragrance itself.
To find out how the MONU team got on, visit www.
So where better to visit than the world’s perfume capital, Grasse. Located in the south of France and home to many perfumeries, the MONU team visited Le Maison Molinard, established in 1849. Inspired to smell and arrange over 90 different essences under the guidance of Molinard’s expert ‘nose’, the MONU team created their own perfumes that are now being used in a series of blind tests for selection that will become the scent for the new product range.
beautyunplugged. co.uk for the full article on MONU’s Fragrant Trip to France.
MYSTYLE20 Experience MONU’s prestigious and results driven products for yourself and receive an exclusive 20% off. *Offer expires 31st December 2016. Use code at checkout at www.monushop.co.uk
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Autumn in the SUFFOLKS Fashion Editor Yvette Brentnall, has been celebrating the changing season with some of Cheltenhamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most stylish inhabitants PHOTOGRAPHY: STEFANIE CALLEJA-GERA WWW.SCG-PHOTOGRAPHY.COM
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Style Fashion with Yvette Brentnall
always love this time of year with the trees, the light and smell of autumn in the air. This month’s edition is shot in the The Suffolks area of Cheltenham with its beautiful architecture, cool shops and bars - it’s our very own Notting Hill. The Suffolks is a magnet for our most artistic and fashionable residents complete with a handful of vintage clothing shops, an eclectic barber’s, a florist and interior havens. Eleanor of The Big Bloom Room was our floral guru for the day, creating a spectacular, flowery headdress for our model to wear. Eleanor has trained in London and now creates incredible arrangements with premium faux flowers so good you can’t even tell the difference by touch. Balthazar Barbers kindly loaned their barber chair for the day and Hounam and The Daffodil created some perfect backdrops for our set. Our hairdresser, Chris, is the latest talent to come out of Bristol and joins The Blushes team. Jen from Chanel at Cavendish House acted as makeup artist for the shoot and the clothing was provided by Rein London, a designer duo specialising in urban styling using laser cut satin & leather. Alongside the Rein collection I selected pieces from Law and Company of Stow-on-the- >>>
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Style Fashion Wold. Denise Law, the store’s owner, is a fashion magpie and has an incredible buying eye. Well worth a trip to Stow in return for a fantastic new wardrobe. As ever this was a very exciting shoot working alongside our star photographer Stef, while models, Jade and Autumn worked the clothes like a dream. Also thanks to local boutique Atlier 19 who provided a beautiful vintage coat and fan. And what does one do at the end of a long day’s work in The Suffolks? Head to The Retreat of course… where a few bottles were consumed. >>>
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Style Fashion
CREDITS Fashion Editor: Yvette Brentnall – yvetteb@mif-filters.co.uk – Tel: 07818 405414 Photographer: Stefanie Calleja-Gera www.scg-photography.com Models: Jade Mason and Autumn Thomas Make-up: Jen from CHANEL, House of Fraser, Cheltenham. Tel: 01242 521300 Hair Stylist: Chris Murphy at BLUSHES, Cheltenham. Tel: 01242 226644 Clothing Suppliers: LAW & COMPANY, Lifestyle Specialist, Stow-On-The-Wold. www.lawandcompany.com ‘REIN’ Specialist Leather Designers www.reinlondon.com ATELIER 19 Bridal Wear Tel: 07779 255921 Email: jan@janknibbs.com www.atelier19cheltenham.com Location Shots: BALTHAZAR Traditional Gents Barber, Great Norwood Street, Cheltenham HOUNAM Interiors, Great Norwood Street, Cheltenham THE BIG BLOOM ROOM @ Hounam Interiors, Great Norwood Street Cheltenham POP UP SHOP @ 252 Bath Road, Cheltenham (From the 12th – 25th November) DAFFODIL Restaurant, Suffolk Parade, Cheltenham
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Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve expanded and can currently take on new patients To celebrate we thought weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d simply say it with pictures Family / General Dental Care Dental Implants Cosmetic Dentistry
01242 655554
arnicadentalcare.co.uk
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Style Health
Guy Bailey joins Arnica Dental Care Emma Logan visited Cheltenham’s Arnica Dental Care to interview dentist Guy Bailey, who has recently joined the privately owned, family-run local practice Nothing quite prepares you for your first visit to the recently expanded and fully refurbished Arnica Dental Care in Cheltenham’s lovely leafy Leckhampton Road. From the outside it looks like one of the smartest mid-Victorian residences in the area, with well-tended trees and shrubs, beautiful wrought-iron railings, plantation shutters at each of the windows and very subtle signage. On the inside you get the feeling you’re entering an upmarket, yet welcoming art gallery in a fashionable part of London. I’d love to wax lyrical about Arnica’s beautiful interior however I’ll leave that to my Interiors writer Clive Burling in next month’s column, as I’m here to meet Cheltenham’s newest dental implant dentist, Dr Guy Bailey. Guy (36) is your quintessential dashing young doctor, as charming as he is confident and as I quickly discover, very easy to talk to, which is why he’s proving so popular with patients. Q: You qualified as a doctor first, then trained as a general surgeon before becoming a dentist. Tell us more about your transitions? By becoming dual qualified in dentistry and medicine and spending years in
orthopaedic surgery, plastic surgery and emergency medicine, I am able to fully understand the medical needs of patients. I enjoyed hospital life as a doctor but I wanted to become more specialised and hopefully be one of the best in my field. I switched to dentistry because I could still focus on life-changing surgical procedures but have more control and to a degree, be my own boss. Q: What do you enjoy most about being a dentist? Oral health and wellbeing is pretty essential to enjoying life. To be instrumental in not only helping patients maintain this but in many cases restoring it after they had given up hope is very rewarding. Arnica attracts patients from all over the UK and Europe for dental implants and cosmetic dentistry because we have such a good reputation and over 80 local dentists refer patients to us for specialist treatment. It’s exciting to be working as part of a team that has such exacting standards. Q: What do you think makes a good dentist? A good listener who puts the individual needs of patients first and is a perfectionist – dentists have to be perfectionists. We also have to be able to put nervous or anxious patients at their ease and here at Arnica we specialise in treating nervous, anxious and dental phobic patients with a range of techniques that few other practices are qualified to use.
skilled and caring dentist. I was fortunate enough to be contacted by her when I decided to settle in Cheltenham and we spent some time working together beforehand to make sure we gelled as a team. I joined Arnica permanently because it is very important to both of us that we create a warm, welcoming and harmonious environment for both fellow staff as well as patients.
Q: How do you and your wife like Cheltenham? We’re loving it! Bath is a hard act to follow but Cheltenham feels as if it belongs to its residents more than Bath does and it feels more like a community. We love the racing, the country life nearby and the cultural festivals. We also love places like Gusto in Montpellier where you can sit outside and watch the world go by.
Q: What do you do in your spare time? We have one-year-old son and a field spaniel, so spare time is family time. We’re moving to a village between Cheltenham and Cirencester so we will be doing lots of decorating as well as entertaining our city-dwelling friends who’ve not decided to move to Gloucestershire… yet! Arnica Dental Care 73 Leckhampton Road, Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL530BS Tel: 01242 655554 www.arnicadentalcare.co.uk
Q: Why did you join Arnica? Ellie Ledger, the owner of the practice, has an excellent reputation as a very
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Salon celebrates 10 years of success
The Francesco Group hairdressing salon at 4 Ormand Terrace in Cheltenham has had a gorgeous new makeover to celebrate their 10-year anniversary. The salon continues to be the premier location for expert hairdressing services and outstanding customer service. We take a look at what keeps the salon ahead of the game 10 years on. For him...
The salon’s most recent addition is a specialist male grooming area, ‘Frank’s’. Shaun McVay is the resident men’s expert and provides the full range of barbering services, from a quick fade to traditional cut-throat shave. Lisa Walby - Owner (Right) and Steph - MCE (Left)
Taking the lead...
Owner, Lisa Walby leads the established and experienced salon team and has been dedicated to the salon since its opening in 2006, inspiring the team with her business vision and dynamic creative flair. In 2014 she was short-listed for the title of Wales and South West Hairdresser of the Year at the esteemed British Hairdressing Awards. Opposite Page: One of Lisa’s fantastic images for her entry into the British Hairdressing Awards South West Hairdresser of the Year 2014.
Passionate about Training...
Training is something that Salon Franchisee, Lisa, is particularly passionate about. Francesco Group has an outstanding training programme for Apprentices and qualified hairdressers alike, which ensure all learners are fully prepared for salon life and are skilled and confident in delivering high-quality hairdressing. Lisa herself oversees all Apprentices in the salon, delivers cutting, styling and barbering training, whilst Master Colour Expert, Steph, ensures their technical work meets the salon’s high standards.
Celebration…
Above: Shaun at work
The salon recently held an exclusive evening to celebrate their 10th anniversary. The team, clients, friends and family came together to celebrate the salon’s success over champagne and canapés.
Enjoy 20% OFF Hairdressing Services T’s & C’s: Mention this advert when booking. Valid for new clients only at Francesco Group, Cheltenham with selected team members until 28/02/17. Not valid in December 2016. Skin Allergy Test required 48 hours prior to colour appointment for all new colour clients. Appointments are subject to availability.
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2014 Wales & South West Hairdresser of the Year
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4 O r m o n d Te r r a c e , R e g e n t S t r e e t , C h e l t e n h a m
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This treatment is said to produce excellent results and can be used to target so many issues. It reduces sagging by tightening the skin around the neck and jowls, reduces fine lines and wrinkles whilst also improving overall skin texture and tone in addition to restoring a youthful and smoother appearance. Other problematic skin conditions such as acne, acne scarring and large pores are also diminished! Beauty editors are calling it the most advanced technology for non-surgical facelift and collagen remodelling with clients seeing amazing results after treatment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the ULTRA effect by ULTRAcel!
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Style Beauty
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Latest, safest and most effective combination skin-tightening program available. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proven to lift, contour and rejuvenate all layers of the skin
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t is a revolutionary, no-downtime, triple face lifting technology, which uses the powerful but gentle focused ultrasound, grid fractional radio frequency and fractional radio frequency microneedling! These three techniques combine to lift, not just the skin, but the deep muscle layer underneath, called SMAS, which was previously only reached by surgical facelifts. Tightening of this layer has previously only been addressed by
cosmetic surgery. Now true laxity can be managed without cutting or disrupting the surface of the skin. Results are further enhanced at dermal level by boosting collagen in the dermis. Together they create the most complete non-surgical face lifting technology The Ultra-lift. You can now enhance the beauty of your skin with an array of safe and effective treatments and Ultra-lift, the latest triple lift technology, boasts to be
the latest, safest and most effective combination skin-tightening program available. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proven to lift, contour and rejuvenate all layers of the skin. ULTRAcel delivers 3 different modalities through one very clever system and can be used in combination or as standalone treatment dependent on your concerns. A tailor made treatment plan is discussed at consultation along with the number of treatments required for you personally. COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2016 75
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Style Competition COMPETITION
BE A WINNER – COURTESY OF
ORIGINAL PENGUIN American menswear brand Original Penguin is offering one lucky reader the chance to win £250 to spend at their new Gloucester Quays store
Cheltenham Town FC’s Harry Pell
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Original Penguin was created in Minneapolis in 1955, one of the Munsingwear brand’s salesmen was on his way to the airport when he spotted a stuffed penguin in the window of a New York taxidermist and bought it. What followed was a mixture of whiskey and clumsiness, which resulted in the Penguin’s head being fixed back onto his body by a helpful air steward and a spare bow tie; the iconic penguin logo was born. Before long, the penguin became the official mascot of the brand making its first appearance on the 55 golf shirt. Today Original Penguin has evolved into a complete lifestyle brand with collections across men’s apparel, footwear, and accessories.
To win, simply email your contact details to editor@stylemagazines.co.uk and your answer to the following question:
WHAT YEAR DID THE BRAND ORIGINAL PENGUIN START? Original Penguin are also offering VIP cards giving you a month’s worth of offers and discounts to the first 50 people who bring this page into their new Gloucester Quays store. Competition closes on 30th November 2016 and no cash prize alternative.
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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk
Style Event
Francesco Group, Cheltenham celebrates 10 years in business The Ormond Terrace salon has recently had a stylish new makeover and achieved 10 years in business. To celebrate and thank clients, friends and family for their support over the years, the salon hosted an exclusive evening with plenty of bubbles to toast their continued success! Photography by www.imaginephoto.co.uk
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Style Views
Unbelievable! Too much change, make it stop! Sandra Paul Paul reflects on the nuclear stratosphere of our political parties Two years ago we still had a coalition Government. It seems like eons ago because in recent months the Lib Dems, the once crucial element of the coalition success story, have descended into the depths of our memories, no longer particularly relevant to mainstream politics. Two years ago, UKIP was considered by the ‘intelligentsia’, as the latest incarnation of the Monster Raving Loony Party. Ed Milliband was the nice, posh leader of the Labour Party who stabbed his brother in the back but failed to be a heavy weight in the ring of Westminster. And David Cameron had been Conservative leader for nine years in 2014 and promised his Party an outright win in the 2015 general election. Shockingly, he did just that but largely through promising a referendum. How he shot himself in the foot! In just over a year we have seen David Cameron triumphantly opening the doors to No 10 and then quietly leaving as his bet on how the British people would vote went disastrously wrong. Ed Milliband has all but disappeared from Labour politics, like his brother David before him and Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems bleat quietly and ineffectively in Parliament about oversight on BREXIT. UKIP meanwhile, who steadily made inroads into the minds and hearts of those fed up with simpering Westminster politics has imploded. What is happening to British politics? If someone had told me in January, that UKIP would have successfully helped steer the country to a BREXIT vote, which would lead, in turn, to their jubilant leader Nigel Farage resigning to ‘get a life’; then a new leader lasting less than 3 weeks, before the next expected leader ended up in hospital having been thumped by a fellow MEP (breathe), I would have laughed and said that’s completely unbelievable. Certainly, it seems to be taken straight from a ‘House of Cards’ script. UKIP, having succeeded in obtaining its main objective – to leave the bureaucratic structure of the 78 NOVEMBER 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
European Union - is disintegrating before our eyes, as little known representatives battle it out to maintain a position on the political (and expense-laden) gravy train. Whilst I’m not shedding a tear over UKIP, I am unhappy at the farce of the current Labour Party. I’m not sure whether the Labour Party has been ‘infiltrated’ by the hard Left or the hard Right – or both. But I am sure that it no longer represents the working and middle class voters that it purports to do. Their individual ‘Shadow’ Ministers certainly do not warrant that title, given historically to a powerful, democratic opposition. The Labour Party has turned into the ‘nasty’ party where dissenters have their positions withdrawn and their reputations
dissed. Jeremy Corbyn reminds me of my old lecturers who drilled into me with evangelical zeal, the principles of Trotsky and Lenin, over pints of ‘snake-bite’ in the Student Union. Although very clever with laudable ideals, they were never part of the real world where getting a job, buying a house, sending your children to grammar schools, was considered worthwhile objectives. The Labour Party is so obsessed with its own internal problems it no longer represents traditional working people, allowing the Conservative Party led by Theresa May, to make huge strides in taking both Labour and UKIP voters to her side. Theresa May took office quietly and effectively, and in just over three months she has taken control of the centre ground with an inclusive agenda. She has unsettled some Tory old guard, including Norman Tebbit, who are scared that she really might want to interfere. For
example, she has promised to put an end to the immoral, yet legal, bad practices of big business. This really should be ‘Labour-land’, yet with the infighting foremost in the minds of the Labour elite, actually changing our society is low down on the Labour Party agenda. However much I admire Teresa May – and not just for her shoes – I am sad at the demise of an effective opposition. Democracy is at its best when challenged. If it isn’t challenged effectively it is in danger of becoming autocratic and arrogant, wherein lies the inevitable creep of corruption. The historian and moralist, Lord Acton, expressed this opinion in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." This could have been written about Donald Trump or Putin but I’m not going to get started on them. Suffice to say that this year of endlessly unpredictable events in British politics has been interesting to people like me, but a complete turn-off to most voters. It means that genuinely good legislative Bills will not get the attention they deserve as the media and the ‘great and the good’, instead continue to concentrate on the ‘Game of Thrones’ of Westminster. As a footnote, I would like to add that I support Alex Chalk’s Bill to strengthen protection for victims of stalking. The Private Member’s Bill, which has attracted cross party support, seeks to double the maximum sentence for stalking from five to ten years’ imprisonment. As MP for Cheltenham he is a practical example of when politics gets it right and I hope he gets your backing for his Bill. Sandra Paul has been in the communications industry for over twenty years working for Prime Ministers, Presidents and CEOs. Sandra lives and works in Cheltenham. Contact her on sandra@sandrapaulcoms.com
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Call 01242 588107 or email john.finnigan@ctfc.com
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WESTMINSTER IN THE COTSWOLDS Emma Logan has asked the county’s MPs to inform Cotswold Style readers what they have be doing to represent their constituencies both locally and from Westminster
Neil Carmichael
NEIL CARMICHAEL, MP FOR STROUD As ever, the Frampton Country Fair turned out to be a great day; the weather was almost perfect, plenty of people were able to attend and the range of activities and stands continues to exceed expectations. This is a fabulous community operation with all organisers and helpers deserving maximum thanks and appreciation. Regular readers will recall that a year ago I joined local students on a battlefield tour of the Somme. The tour was part of a centenary event commemorating the Great War, organised by the Institute for Education. The Battlefield tours programme is an extremely worthwhile event for students. It was marvellous then to see at the
Neil Carmichael with Rose Hewlett at the Frampton World War One stand at the Country Fair
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Country Fair how the Frampton World War One Centenary project has progressed. The well-informed – there are good records of local family histories – and the beautifully produced book “Frampton Remembers World War I” by resident author Rose Hewlett was on display and available to purchase. The stand also had a range of fascinating photographs and documents. This project, like some others in the District, was inspired by the Heritage Lottery scheme. The purpose, methodology and engagement of Frampton’s operation were all, exactly, as the Heritage Lottery prescribed which is one of the reasons that it has been so successful. Congratulations to all involved. The fair has many other attributes including the classic tractor display, traditional rural crafts, country pursuits and, of course, opportunities for ‘retail therapy’. Some amusing activities also took place in the main ring, including the now traditional ‘Big Round Bale Push’ – this time enhanced by the introduction of water bombs (a good opportunity to target the local Member of Parliament!) and various exercises for dogs. Neil Carmichael is the Member of Parliament for Stroud and Chair of the Education Select Committee. Contact Neil at neil.carmichael.mp @parliament.uk or his constituency office on 01453 751 572. GEOFFREY CLIFTON-BROWN, MP FOR COTSWOLDS I am delighted to say that despite all of the negative forecasts for post-Brexit Britain, the national economy is performing strongly – particularly in the Cirencester area. A quick examination
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
of the monthly unemployment rates in the Cotswolds constituency show that in the previous six months unemployment has dropped by 3.7% month-on-month. Naturally, this is excellent news for local businesses and for those working in them. A strong, regional economy relies on a comprehensive transport infrastructure. The issue of the A417 Air Balloon improvement rightly continues to bubble to the surface. I, along with thousands of other motorists have been caught recently in the twicedaily congestion. Last week I had a conversation with a Minister from the Department of Transport who confirmed that the new Government under Theresa May are determined to bring about a solution as soon as is practical. However, the design, planning and consultation phase will of course be extensive for this complex project costing around £250 million and will therefore take time. The Government continues in earnest to negotiate the terms of Brexit. In my view two things must happen. First, we do need to negotiate with our EU partners a stricter regime of who can
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Style Politics and cannot come into the UK. The Brexit vote irrefutably proved that large numbers of British people are scared about the pace of population growth in this country and the effect that it has had on our public services. Second, we need to negotiate the trading relationship with the European Union in the future. After 40 years, we have a vast amount of legislation on the statute book regulating the internal market. In my view, even with the best will in the world, Parliament will not be able to review all of that legislation within the two year period after Article 50 is triggered – whenever that may be. The pragmatic solution would be to remain in the single market until the EU and the UK wish to negotiate something different. Even if we were to opt out of the single market we will still have to comply with its terms if we wish to export our goods and services into it. With this solution, businesses would have a valuable degree of certainty to move forward and make their own decisions for the future. www.geoffreycliftonbrown.co.uk
Alex Chalk
ALEX CHALK, MP FOR CHELTENHAM I count myself as a moderate Conservative. And for thousands of people like me, Theresa May’s speech at the Party Conference in Birmingham was hugely welcome. Crucially she anchored the Conservative Party firmly in the centre ground of British politics, spelling out a determination to stand up for the many, not the few. She clearly believes, like me, that there is so much more to life than individualism and self-interest. What matters most is the strength of our society around us, and the care we take of others. I was inspired by the powerful metaphor of British triathlete
Alistair Brownlee sacrificing his chance of personal glory to help his collapsing brother over the finishing line. So, whilst we all know that the road to Brexit will have its bumps in the road, we now know too that Theresa May’s post-Brexit vision of our country is of a great meritocracy – one where what matters is not your background or your accent but your talent and capacity for hard work. That’s the kind of country I want to fight for. So I welcomed the focus on workers’ rights, including the announcement of the appointment of Tony Blair’s former policy chief to examine conditions in
to forge our local ‘cyber’ vision to generate jobs and opportunity. It is time to face the future with confidence – and to make Britain postBrexit a country that truly works for everyone. www.alexchalk.com
Laurence Robertson
the flexi-contract economy. Flexibility and competitiveness are vital but cannot be allowed to lead to employee exploitation. I was also pleased to hear of the decision to rein in the human rights lawyers who persecute our brave soldiers. This is not about putting our armed forces above the law. They wouldn't want that. I wouldn’t either. They have to comply with the criminal law of this country and of course, with the Geneva Convention. This simply means it will be more difficult for spurious claims to gain traction. I listened to all the speeches with an ear out for the impact on Cheltenham. So it was good to hear the PM declare her readiness to use Government financial muscle to identify and back industrial sectors of strategic importance. That creates a positive climate as here in Cheltenham we seek
LAURENCE ROBERTSON, MP FOR TEWKESBURY October was busy with Party Conferences and a return to the House of Commons, as well as plenty of constituency work. November is very busy as well, as we grapple with major issues - road, houses, the NHS, schools - the list goes on! November also sees the second biggest racing festival take place at Cheltenham. Many people prefer this meeting to the Festival in March, though I can't quite go along with that! Both meetings bring much business to the area and showcase the best National Hunt horses in training. November also, of course, sees the commemoration of Armistice Day on 11th November and all the ceremonies on Remembrance Sunday. A number of such ceremonies take place throughout my constituency and it's unfortunate that I can only attend one of them as they take place at the same time. Last year I attended Churchdown and this year I'm at Tewkesbury. I should, though, like to pay tribute to all the people who organise these events, which rightly remember those who gave their lives fighting for our freedom and democracy. It's my privilege to be involved in these events and I look forward to continue to meet as many people as possible as I go round to them. As ever, if constituents would like to contact me about anything they can reach me on laurence.robertson.mp @parliament.uk or at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. COTSWOLD STYLE NOVEMBER 2016 81
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Style Event
Steph Harries and Isobel Rutt
Maddie Webster and Lucy Pinfield
Gill Douglas and Lee Moulson
Kathryn Albutt and Charlie Richards
Nicky Wills and Debz Critchley (nee Arkell) Emma Crisp and Zoe Rudin Mike Crisp and Darren Hiscox
Arkell & Wills launches new clothing brand Arkell & Wills were delighted to celebrate the launch of their ladies luxury cashmere clothing brand. Debz Critchley (nee Arkell) and Nicky Wills hosted a fun & informal evening at Parabola Arts Centre. The online brand offers bespoke cashmere beanies and sweaters, together with the range of â&#x20AC;&#x153;off the pegâ&#x20AC;? sweaters and cardigans. Photography by Angus Bethune
Louise Simpson and Paul Reichle
Maddie Webster and Lee Moulson
Don and Tina Osborne with Tom Rose
Sarah Jane Ingrey and Sarah Farrier
Zoe and Tim Bawtree Emma Bulley and Zoe Rudin
Imogen Plaskitt, Kerry Simpson and Melissa Verlaque Louise Jenner and Susie Watkins
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Style Education
WELL-BEING Bradley Salisbury, Headmaster of Dean Close School , tackles modern life issues in a child’s education ‘Here is Edward Bear, coming downstairs now, bump, bump, bump, on the back of his head, behind Christopher Robin. It is, as far as he knows, the only way of coming downstairs, but sometimes he feels that there really is another way, if only he could stop bumping for a moment and think of it. And then he feels that perhaps there isn’t.’ This small excerpt from A A Milne’s book, Winnie the Pooh, is used by one of the leading educationalists on Well-Being, Ian Morris, to describe how life can feel. Modern life can sometimes leave young people feeling like they are being dragged down the stairs, but with the sneaking suspicion that there must be a better way. Many people seem to have a view on how we should tackle the growing wellbeing issues in schools and in wider society. One recent suggestion was that there should be a category in the school league tables for well-being on the assumption that only if schools are being measured by it will there be any chance of them taking it seriously. But this seems to fall into the same trap as publishing exam results, in that exam success can so easily become the aim of education and not simply a measure of it. To quantify happiness may make it an attribute of life rather than a consequence of the way we live. There are some great side effects of
Bradley Salisbury
exception, I find these young people to have all of the qualities I listed above. They may not always be feeling that happy and yet I am willing to predict that many of them would score highly on any well-being scale. So what should we be seeking to do in schools and at home to raise the wellbeing of the young people we live and work alongside? The New Economics Foundation suggests five areas for us to work on:
Connect – engage with people around you. I would urge this to be physical as opposed to a virtual or digital connection. Take real interest in the lives of others.
being in a positive mental state. Our focus and attention is better, we are more creative, more resilient in stressful situations, and more generous and tolerant of others. However, this is not about well-feeling, but well-being. One group of young people that I am often impressed by are those who have responsibility for caring for a sibling or a parent at home. Their daily life is one of constantly giving and having to fit their own lives around those of the person they are looking after. Almost without
Be Active – there is growing evidence of the correlation between physical health and mental health. Take Notice – be curious. Stop to look at the beauty of your environment and savour moments with friends. Keep Learning – try something new. Learn a language, try your hand at painting, experiment in the kitchen.
Give – make saying thank you a priority and a habit for life. Do something for a friend or give time to support a cause.
Young people need to know that they do not have to be dragged down the stairs, hitting every step along the way. My experience in schools tells me that there is another way, that they do not have to accept the way things are and that they can engage with a whole host of activities to help them develop a strong sense of well-being. www.deanclose.org.uk
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The Value of Design is in the Relationship with the Designer Cotswold Style met with Fiona Huck of Wabbey Design based in Cheltenham hen you need to appoint a graphic designer, what should you look for? With the number and range of options available it can be a daunting task. From freelancers based 5,000 miles away to internationally acclaimed design agencies based in major cities and everything in-between, the choice can sometimes be overwhelming. Yet those who select a graphic designer, generally do so based on the following criteria and in this order of importance:
W
1. Budget 2. How quickly the job can be achieved 3. Portfolio 4. Sector experience 5. Testimonials
Whilst all of these are important, it is perhaps interesting to note that the single most important criteria about hiring a graphic designer is overlooked time and time again, personality and relationships. When organisations are looking to make a permanent hire, they rigorously focus on a ‘personality fit’ to the organisation, yet any criteria they use when successfully adding people to their team can be completely overlooked when it comes to hiring a freelance designer. Inexplicably they use a different set of rules. But personality is so important. Yes of course budget has to be matched and the designer needs certain skills, but accepting those are a given, the success of any design project comes from the relationship between designer and client. It is something that is not lost on Cheltenham based designer, Fiona Huck. The owner of Wabbey Design feels that the relationship between designer and client is key, “Rapport and understanding is incredibly important and can actually be
seen in the final designed artwork. Working closely with your designer and having a great relationship will always lead to a better result than would otherwise be achieved.” It starts at the hiring process. “I’m always amazed that people seldom pick up the phone before awarding a job, preferring to rely on email” says Fiona, who has over 15 years’ experience. Yet this is a fundamental flaw. Some of the most important things about your relationship with a designer is do they understand your ideas, can they translate that into design and can they appreciate your views during the refinement process? “This can only be judged if you speak to a designer and get the mark of them before awarding them the work,” clarifies Fiona. The anecdotal evidence is strong. Fiona explains, “Wabbey Design has procured many clients who have been disappointed by their previous choice of designer. This ranges from the client who got a cheap deal with a freelancer in a different continent but they didn’t understand the instructions, they design for a different culture and are never available during the working day, through to clients who have turned from the London agencies who want to design for themselves and not the client, who charge exorbitant rates and though technically have excellent designers, they were found to have a lack of commercial acumen.” Having worked for the in-house design team of a corporate blue chip company for 9 years, Fiona not only has the technical experience but the insight and understanding of what clients really want. She inherently grasps the constraints of in-house departments and the time
sensitive nature of the work. She is also used to working with people who have competing objectives and who may not be available at the designer’s convenience. Above all, Fiona, who founded Wabbey Design over 5 years ago, understands something else. “A Marketing Manager or Director is judged by their employer and wider organisation on the output they oversee. I work with them as an extension of their department and not in isolation, approaching their project with as much enthusiasm and importance as they do. This can only be achieved if there is a strong working relationship.” Wabbey Design also works with a lot of owner managed businesses and start-ups, “They want someone with commercial appreciation and who can hold their own in a conversation. They don’t want ‘yes’ people,” explains Fiona, “But they need someone who will listen and react.” Graphic designer options are many and varied. In the same way you wouldn’t select a builder to construct an extension based on pictures of their old work and the price quoted without speaking and meeting them, the same should be applied for your choice of graphic designer. Relationships, trust and personality are every bit as important. As Fiona says, “Wabbey Design has the portfolio and pricing structure right but where we make a tangible difference is through relationships. By truly partnering our clients, we develop designs that not only work artistically but more importantly work commercially and that is reward in itself.” Fiona Huck from Wabbey Design can be contacted at: Tel: 01242 260790 Mobile: 07816 784337 www.wabbey.com
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EXPLA N THE MARKET Guy Shone looks at ‘The Brands Behaving Badly’ Over Brexit Blames Inflation started to rise last month – hitting 1%. Some economists are predicting that the increase in cost of things we buy every day could hit 3% by the end of 2017. But even if 3% arrives sooner than expected UK inflation will remain very low by historic standards. Inflation levels were much higher during the mid nineteen eighties and positively eye watering during the 1970s, when the UK experienced several years of double-digit price rises. In 1975 prices shot up 24.2% in that single year alone. Brexit obsessed doom mongers have been quick to declare this another apocalypse spawned of the EU referendum vote. There is a grain of truth in the latest bout of Brexit related scaremongering. Brexit concerns have impacted the value of Sterling and our falling pound has contributed to our return to inflation. Foreign firms exporting goods to the UK will continue to charge the same amount for them in other currencies, which will then cost more in sterling when the prices are converted. However, for many firms this is simply an irresistibly convenient opportunity to make a quick buck. The scale and nature of the impact is being twisted and exaggerated by brands, which ought to be behaving more honourably. Last month during the infamous Tesco row, Unilever claimed price rises had been forced upon them by Brexit impacted import costs. In reality 75% of its products are actually made here in the UK.
Many high street names with very deep pockets are poised to try similar tactics over the coming months and I think we should call them out. Being critical or despondent about leaving the EU is each person’s prerogative but blaming Brexit as ploy for sneaky price rises feels to me like a distinctly un-British way to behave. Where Unilever started now it seems other well-known brands might be set to follow. Nestle has been making noises about inflating the price of a Kit Kat. Cadbury’s who for years have appeared to be shrinking the size of our favourite chocolate bars have claimed a falling pound is forcing them to consider increasing prices. Their American parent company announced last month, “We have tried to carry those costs as far as possible but we have a business to run”. It seems even the price of a cup of tea might end up costing us more over the coming months. Tetley Tea and Yorkshire Tea have also revealed they are looking closely at raising prices – blaming Brexit related currency issues. If the same businesses were well known for passing on price cuts when currency market trends went the other way customers might have more sympathy. But as Unilever discovered recently - people and even retail giants are not stupid. As a nation we should and will be cautious about rising inflation. The Bank of England takes it seriously and
Guy Shone is one the UK’s leading economic researchers. He appears regularly on BBC News, BBC Breakfast, BBC World, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 5 Live. He also appears on BBC Radio 4, Reuters TV, Sky News and ITV News. Guy is the former City & Business columnist for the Metro newspaper and now runs the international research business ExplaintheMarket. Guy spent most of his 17 year career in the City. His previous jobs were the Head of Research for global investment group Old Mutual plc and Research Director for the government backed Money Advice Service. In 2012, he was commissioned by the UK government to produce the largest study ever done into the financial behaviour of UK families. Guy’s work brings together the City and The Cotswolds. He is ‘economist in residence’ at BBC Radio Gloucestershire and also the City based investor show on Sky TV. Guy has recently been announced as judge for the 2016 Santander National Financial Media Awards.
will use interest rates and a range of other techniques to prevent things skyrocketing out of control. But those in authority also need to be realistic and honest about cause and effect. There is absolutely nothing wrong with competing aggressively to charge the best price you can. But when you draft PR statements telling the public you had no choice thanks to Brexit - that leaves a bad taste in the mouths of the many who know it is disingenuous. It is at best exaggeration. That’s the type of inflation no one appreciates. Guy can be reached on twitter @GuyShone
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WINING
& DINING
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JOHN FINNIGAN SAYS...
The Butchers Arms YOUR CLUB
NEEDS YOU! LOCAL BUSINESSES CAN SUPPORT CTFC FROM AS LITTLE AS £150 PER SEASON CALL JOHN TO DISCUSS VARIOUS PACKAGES ON 01242 588107 / 07432 602892
The Butchers Arms public house is a stunning 18th century building complete with stone walls and oak beamed ceilings. The pub is nestled in the picturesque village of Oakridge Lynch amidst glorious Cotswold countryside. The large beer garden is perfect for whiling away the hours on a sunny afternoon and in winter you can cosy up next to roaring log fires. The local area is renowned for stunning countryside walks around the Golden Valley area, including the Cotswold and Severn Canal. Oakridge Lynch, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 7NZ
01285 760371
We are a family run, freehold public house dedicated to the finest drink, food and service But don’t take our word for it, please come and try for yourself
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Exciting new winter menu crafted by our talented Head Chef Phil, launching October 5th.
j Now taking bookings for Christmas j Christmas Day - 5 courses for £65 Christmas Parties - 3 courses for £35
Open for drinks all day every day Restaurant opening times Monday – Thursday 12-3pm 6-9pm Friday – Saturday 12-3pm 6-9.30pm Sunday 12-7pm Please note we are closed for food Tuesday evenings.
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The Royal Oak | Gloucester Road | Andoversford | Gloucestershire | GL54 4HR
Tel: 01242 821 426 | www.theroyaloakcotswolds.co.uk 90 NOVEMBER 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
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The Royal Oak, Andoversford Reviewed by Sandra Paul The Royal Oak has been under new ownership for a year and to celebrate that and the change in season, they have enhanced their menu, which now includes old favourites but some delicious new items, moving this pub from ‘good’ to ‘I wish I could eat there every night!’ The pub was built in 1628 and retains many of its original features including a warming wood fire that invites one to take an armchair or stool at the bar. The pub has an interesting grazing menu to wet the appetites of those popping in for a quick pint, from chorizo in red wine to pork belly bites and crispy squid. Locals, customers from the surrounding villages and people from Cheltenham and Gloucester frequent the pub, which is known for its great food, sourced locally and cooked by an inventive and talented chef. I began with the Smoked haddock Scotch egg with pickled red cabbage, pea and new potato salad – and that was just the starter. The Scotch egg was lovely but what really made the difference was the pickled red cabbage. Phil Brown was formerly chef at an AA two star Hotel and Restaurant in Windsor and has created a wonderful pickling mix using star anise, cloves, cinnamon, coriander and some secret ingredients he would not reveal to me. My friend’s starter was a beautifully cooked pigeon breast with black pudding and quail’s egg – the black pudding adding extra depth to the dish. It’s that game time of the year and I chose pheasant with game chips for my main course. It was a beautifully presented whole bird accompanied with the most intense flavoured jus with juniper berries. Sat on a smooth puree of parsnips, I am actually salivating at the memory. It is easy to overcook game and many times I’ve ended end up with a dry, tasteless bird, hacking away to find an edible morsel amongst all the small bones and often musing about the point of it. Not so here. It was juicy, roasted simply and reminded me what a treat good game can be. Phil sources his birds from local hunts although he promised me that partridge would be on the menu in a
couple of week’s time from his great aunt’s farm in Birdlip. Yum yum. My friend had the slow roasted pork belly, pig’s cheek, bubble and squeak cake, accompanied by an amazing apple puree and honey and mustard jus. It was melt in the mouth pork with none of the fatty aftertaste that comes with much pork belly and got 10 out of 10 from my friend. I tasted the pig’s cheek and was amazed at how meaty and tasty it was. Both dishes really were feasts for the eyes, with the apple puree providing a vivid green on the plate. Phil gets his meat from Martin’s Meats, the award winning Cotswold butcher. Here they age their meat in a Himalayan salt chamber, which enhances the flavor and tenderness of the meat. The service at the Royal Oak sets it apart from other village pubs. They aim to provide a professional yet warm and personal service that is not visible in other restaurants let alone pubs. They really care that you are enjoying the food and make an effort to check whilst you are eating, that everything is to your satisfaction. While we were there, I heard several tables complimenting the waitress on the food and service and promising to make a return booking. After a breather we decided to push on and just look at the desserts with the menu as equally as inventive and delicious as the mains. We had the peanut butter
cheesecake mousse, chocolate brownie with Cotswold Irish cream ice-cream. Yes really, this is just one pud! To complete our research, we also had the pain perdu with homemade apple mincemeat, cinnamon ice-cream and toffee apple sauce. It was sublime and Phil’s apple mincemeat was a revelation. We could have had the cheese board with local cheese including a single Gloucester and Cotswold organic Brie and Blue and homemade chutney. However, we had to leave room for the liqueur coffees, which was a perfect ending to a really wonderful meal but needless to say we staggered home after an evening of pure indulgence. Although the Royal Oak seats 24 upstairs and 14 downstairs I would recommend booking for dinner especially on Friday or Saturday evenings. The pub is also open each day with a paired down lunch menu. Andoversford’s Royal Oak should be on your list of places to visit for food this autumn and once you visit you will be sure to come back time and time again. The Royal Oak Gloucester Rd, Andoversford GL54 4HR Tel: 01242 821426 www.theroyaloakcotswolds.co.uk
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Spice Lodge, Cheltenham Emma Logan and her children reviewed The Spice Lodge in Cheltenham As a mother of two, nearly teenage children, I am constantly astonished by the amount of food they consume in what seems like a relentless, feeding frenzy. Wednesdays are particularly ravenous afternoons as they both participate in heavy duty sports matches for their school and therefore their postmatch tea has to be an enormous concoction of protein and carbohydrate rich food to fill them up again. Like many working mothers, sometimes I just don’t have the energy (let alone inclination) to be able to cook such a meal and am bored rigid of the normal offerings for children of this age such as the bog standard Italian restaurants that our towns are adorned with. My son is really ‘getting into’ curry, though my daughter is reluctant. I decided therefore to have an experimental evening with them and visited the famous Spice Lodge on Bath Road in Cheltenham, which offer an extensive menu of both Indian and Thai Pan Asian cuisine. Spice Lodge has introduced an Early Bird Menu from 5.30pm-7.00pm which is ideal timings for after-school feeding especially if there is a pile of homework still to do. The menu comprises of a choice of starters such as Samosas, Sheekh Kebab, Tom Yom soups and Chicken satay to a large array of main courses with a choice of chicken, lamb or vegetable bases. The Indian curries suffice those who want all strengths of heat, from the very mild Korma and Masala varieties, to medium Saagwala and Bhuna (all with veg in them parents!) and for the more adventurous, a spicy Kolapuri or Madras whilst there is a choice of Thai green and red curry or a delicious stir fry. All the main courses come with a potato side dish plus either a rice or Naan bread to fulfill the carb craving.
Left: Emma’s children with Mohammed owner of Spice Lodge and some of the waiters
Our delightful waiter Raj welcomed us – he has the utmost charm synonymous with Nepalese people where he is originally from and both my children warmed immediately to his encouragement of what to try and sample. I had anticipated my daughter being apprehensive and was soon expecting the sound of “It’s too spicy Mummy” but sitting in the Spice Lodge’s opulent surroundings I could see she was enjoying being treated like an adult and gave every dish a go, which in all honesty to me was incredulous as she can be the most fastidious of eaters. The three of us tried a mixture of Indian and Thai starters and the Satay chicken with a peanut dipping sauce was highly rated as were the Vegetable spring rolls – probably because they couldn’t see any chunky veg due to them being perfectly shredded and therefore with the light, crispy pastry, they melted in our mouths. My daughter looked at the main courses with trepidation and though she wasn’t mad on the Thai curry (but she tried it), she absolutely loved the Korma as the creamy sauce had a sweetness to it and virtually no spice heat. Thai food on
the other hand was a revelation to my son and he devoured his Panaeng curry as if it were a bag of Quavers! He then proceeded to demolish the medium heat Indian curry and for once, declared he was ‘stuffed’; though also managed to wolf down the delicate Indian ice cream adorned with pistachio nuts. The joy of our experimental dinner was that as a family, we were taking so much interest in all the different tastes and ingredients (as well as interrogating poor Raj about Nepal with everything from the Gurkhas to Mount Everest), we never stopped talking and as a mother it was such a pleasure to have my children’s undivided and even charming company for a whole two hours without Pokemon Go, Instagram or any other horrible modern-day distraction interrupting us. This was undiluted family time where we laughed, explored the culinary East and ate like kings and queens. And for £15.95 pp including a muchneeded glass of wine for me and soft drinks for the children, this was the best domestic investment I have made in a long time. The Spice Lodge Montpellier House, Montpellier Drive, Cheltenham GL50 1TY Tel: 01242 226300 www.spicelodge.com
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Bake Off for Winter Food Writer Rachel Cappuccini spent a morning with Pia Cato from Vanilla Pod Bakery learning how to perfect a Chocolate Orange Drizzle Cake ooking fills me with pleasure; baking on the other hand fills me with fear. I would never have made a pastry chef, I am simply not patient or precise enough and having a wonderful pastry chef at Gusto has made me even lazier at baking. My dilemma however is that I love eating cake. I have huge admiration for cake makers, particularly wedding cake specialists. So this month I asked Pia Cato of Vanilla Pod Bakery to help me create a fairly foolproof cake with a slightly Christmassy theme and fun for all the family to get involved with. Pia, a stunningly beautiful young lady, came to Cheltenham to study marketing at Gloucestershire University and later won a business competition enabling her to set up Vanilla Pod Bakery in 2009; perfectly timed just before the first series of Great British Bake Off was released and our interest in home baking was reignited. Although Pia has struggled with ME since the age of 13 and had to take a year out of school as a consequence, she managed to complete her degree, set up the business with the funding she received and now not only runs Vanilla Pod but has also recently launched a new venture: Make Money with Cakes, an online advice service for professional cake bakers. Her biggest passion is wedding cakes and I am quite simply in awe of her work.
C
Orange Cake Ingredients
8x Medium Eggs Self-Raising Flour Soft Unsalted Butter Caster Sugar Zest of 2 x Orange 1tsp Vanilla Paste
Equipment: 2 x 8” round cake tins
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Chocolate Orange Drizzle Cake
Pia Cato One of Pia’s first questions to me was: ‘what flavour would you like your cake to be?’ As Christmas is approaching fast, I decided to make a chocolate orange cake reminiscent of those Terry’s Chocolate Oranges mum used to put in our Christmas sacks each year. I must ask her why she stopped! I also wanted to try and attempt a drizzle cake having recently seen a fabulous ‘Spillled Red Wine’ drizzle cake on Instagram. My Chocolate Orange Drizzle Cake makes a super change to a traditional Christmas cake and doesn’t need making weeks in advance. Sprinkle it with a little gold Method:
Step 1: Turn the oven on to 160°C Fan – 180°C Convection. Step 2: Grease and line the cake tins. Step 3: Crack the gets into a bowl and make a note of the weight (roughly around 400g). Step 4: In separate bowls weigh the caster sugar, self-raising flour and unsalted butter to the same weight as the eggs. Step 5: Place the caster sugar, butter, vanilla paste and orange zest in a bowl. Whisk until light and fluffy.
fairy dust and you have the perfect seasonal cake. I spent a wonderful few hours with Pia and learnt so much about cake baking in just that short time. Moreover, I enjoyed spending time with such an enthusiastic and gifted cake-baking businesswoman. Maybe I will now attempt the Spilled Red Wine cake! Thank you Pia for igniting in me a passion for baking, decorating and of course, eating cake! We all deserve a treat in life and I will just have to work harder at the gym. Step 6: Add the eggs to the mix and whisk together. Step 7: Next add the flour and lightly whisk until just combined, then fold in with a spatula. Step 8: Divide the cake mixture into the two tins and place in the pre-heated oven. Step 9: Bake for 40-45 minutes. Test the cakes with a skewer to see if they are cooked, if the skewer comes out clean the cake is perfect, if not pop back into the oven. Step 10: Take the cakes out of the oven and cool on a wire rack.
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Chocolate Buttercream Ingredients
600g Icing Sugar 300g Unsalted Butter 4-6 tbsp Cocoa Powder 1tsp Vanilla Paste 3-4 tbsp Hot Water
Orange Syrup Ingredients
100g caster sugar 100g Juice from oranges (plus a little water or extra orange juice to make up the weight).
Method:
Step 1: Half melt the butter. Step 2: Mix with the icing sugar and then whisk until light and fluffy. Step 3: Add the cocoa powder (you can always add more to taste), vanilla paste and hot water. Whisk until lovely and chocolatey.
Method:
Heat the caster sugar and orange juice until bubbling. Make sure the sugar has completely melted.
Dried Oranges Ingredients 1 x Orange Method:
Step 1: Preheat oven to its lowest setting Step 2: Thinly slice the orange and place slices on a wire rack. Step 3: Bake in the oven for 20-30mins or until the oranges have dried out.
Chocolate Ganache Drips Ingredients
150g Milk Chocolate 75g Double Cream Method:
Step 1: Weigh ingredients in separate bowls. Step 2: Heat the cream until just boiling. Step 3: Add the milk chocolate and mix until combined. Step 4: Cover the bowl with clingfilm until needed (if chocolate starts to set place over a bowl of hot water to keep warm, you want it to just drip off a tea spoon).
Chocolate Truffles Ingredients
100g Milk Chocolate 33g Double Cream 2-3 tbsp of Cocoa Powder Edible glitter Method:
Step 1: Weigh ingredients in separate bowls. Step 2: Heat the cream until just boiling.
Step 3: Add the milk chocolate and mix until combined. Step 4: Cover the bowl with clingfilm until set. Step 5: Place the cocoa powder into a little bowl Step 6: Scoop out a tsp of the chocolate mixture and then shape into a little ball with your hands. Step 7: Coat the truffle in cocoa powder and edible glitter. Step 8: Keep in fridge until needed (will last 2-3 days).
Meet Rachel... After moving from London to the Cotswolds to bring up her family, Rachel Cappuccini bought and ran the legendary Lamb Inn in Burford, before relocating to Cheltenham, where she set up and still runs highly acclaimed Gusto cafĂŠ and its catering business, now in its tenth year. Contact Rachel Cappuccini at: rachel@gusto-deli.com; www.gusto-deli.com Follow Rachel on instram: gusto_chef
Step-by-Step Guide:
Step 1: Bake the cake and cool Step 2: Dry the oranges Step 3: Make the chocolate truffles Step 4: Prep the chocolate buttercream Step 5: Create the chocolate ganache Step 6: Make the orange syrup Step 6: Once the cakes have cooled, cut each cake in half so that you have four slices of cakes. Step 7: Paint the orange syrup on all of the cake slices. Step 8: Pop a little buttercream on the display plate and place the first cake slice on the plate. Step 9: Pipe, spoon or pallet knife the chocolate buttercream on the first cake slice. Step 10: Add the next cake slice and repeat with buttercream and all the layers have been used. Step 11: Glaze the cake with chocolate ganache drips. Step 12: Dress with your handmade chocolate truffles, edible glitter and dried oranges. Step 13: Enjoy!
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Cotswoldia The Cotswolds are smokin’ hot this Autumn Angela Chancellor has been digging out some hot Cotswold venues he Cotswolds are not short of some very decent restaurants and there is an abundance of wonderful pubs but I am always thrilled to have some new dining experiences to share. My current favourite is Upton Smokery’s new barn, which hosts the most fabulous BBQ's for Saturday and Sunday lunch. If there are any male readers out there, you may fancy yourself as a bit of dab hand at the good old family favourite the BBQ but let me assure you, no matter how good you think you are, come to the Upton Smokery and you will have to think again. This is the big daddy of all BBQ's and the wines on offer are from the shop, fairly priced and jolly good. We went along with another family and I was glad to have rung ahead and booked because despite being a newcomer on the local gastro scene, the Cotswold bushdrums had obviously been mightily busy as there was not a spare seat in the house, in fact extra tables had to be pulled in to accommodate walk ins. Apart from the food, the charm of this new venue for me is that it feels like you are joining a party. Being with friends who are fairly old hands in these parts, we found ourselves chatting away with at least half the tables and the kids, always grateful for an informal setting, were soon whizzing around having a blast. Prices are fixed, currently at a very reasonable £15 a head for all you can eat with drinks extra and booking is recommended. Themes for the food on the barbie will vary weekly and seasonally and I am already looking forward to this November's 'All Things Wild' theme, featuring game and mushrooms and all things autumnal as well as some more regular choices to keep the kids and unadventurous happy. There is even mention of going the whole hog with some wild boar to be hauled onto the coals. Watch me channel my inner Obelix and count me in!
T
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The other great thing about barns is that they make the most glorious space to party. There are currently whisperings of a roller disco potentially in the offing, not for the little ones, they have plenty of places to blow off steam, this will be for us; the 'taxi drivers', the 'cooks', the 'laundry maids' and the 'bank clerks' who will reclaim a little bit of play time for ourselves! If you are one of those overly sensible sorts and wouldn't dream of dusting off those rollerskating skills there is always the food market on 3rd Dec, with additional gifts and crafts to ensure you start prepping for Christmas ahead. If you are thinking of getting something for your favourite columnist, I have my eye on their 'goliath' bottle of sloe gin, which should keep me jolly warm, or rather warm and jolly, through the bleak winter months. The smokery is not the only gig in town that is tapping in to the unconventional dining vibe. Another local favourite in the Burford area is 'Thyme', part of the
Southrop Manor Estate in the delightful village of Southrop. The Tythe barn has taken to hosting pop-up dinners on a Saturday night with a varying roster of visiting chefs. Also, if you don't know the local boozer yet, you need to brush up, as The Swan at Southrop is one of those rare pubs that still has an actual bar and does not cater exclusively to diners and has one of the best private dining rooms in the area. Whether it's a pub supper at The Swan or booking with Thyme's Table, if you are hankering after something a little less traditional to start of your evening, pop in to The Baa for a kitchen garden inspired cocktail and try my favourites 'The Herbalist' or 'Hedgerow Bramble'. The accommodation is also dreamy, whether it a room, cottage or whole house or if you are feeling really flush you can take the whole lot, invite all your friends and pretend to be lord of the manor for the night. Imagine...all the fun of a delightful hideaway in the country with none of the responsibilities. Pure bliss!
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Style Review FOOD REVIEW
Hotel Du Vin, Cheltenham Samantha Noguera visits Hotel du Vin in Cheltenham On a mid-week night when the English evening air has that chill to it and a scent of bonfire night, we visited the Hotel Du Vin for dinner. Once inside this splendid 18th Century building we were transported from the autumnal Cotswolds to the glamour, ‘ambiance’ and ‘charme romantique’ of a refined French Restaurant. It sits majestically amongst impressive neighbours in the Montpellier district of Cheltenham, tempting you in with its grand facade and warm twinkling lights from inside; you won’t regret venturing in. Despite its apparent grandeur and high ceilings, the low lighting, tasteful and cool furnishings create a surprisingly relaxed atmosphere that the bar exudes in bucket loads and makes you really feel like hanging out there for a while, À la mode. We walk or rather I try my best to glide down the beautiful sweeping spiral staircase that gracefully transports you to the large, lower ground floor restaurant ‘Bistro Du Vin’. We are greeted by Stefan who courteously shows us to a delightful table for two in the window. From here I can see the pretty walled courtyard and snug cigar shack, complete with blankets for anyone who fancies. Very cool. Hotel Du Vin can provide for all your needs; Breakfast, Afternoon tea, Sunday lunch and private dining. In addition there’s the beauty treatment rooms ‘Health Du Vin’ and 49 exquisite bedrooms and suites; on this occasion, sadly I am only reviewing the Bistro! A tall gentleman quietly assists tables between restaurant and bar with all the quintessential savoir-faire of a Sommelier that you’d expect, ready to advise on all things ‘La carte des vins’ has to offer – a rather splendidly thick leather bound wine menu, more like a book, offering hundreds of inspired wine and Champagne choices. We opted for a favourite of ours, forecasting the likelihood of fish, The Picpoul de Pinet £27.00, one of the oldest Languedoc grapes and splendid with seafood. Tonight we could choose from the À
la carte or Prix fixe menu, 2 courses for £16.95 or 3 courses for £19.95. Both menus offer 4 choices of each course and they all sound incredible and bursting with new seasons produce. We decided to sample from the À la carte. Verity took our order, she was smiley and helpful with a natural and unflustered way about her, despite having other tables and a party of 12 next to us to look after. I simply couldn’t help but order the Provençal Fish Soup with rouille (spicy garlic sauce) and crouton £5.95. I was really looking for that taste, a taste that would take me back to childhood holidays in France - the Soupe de Poisson I remember, with its deliciously salty taste of the sea. I was not disappointed, it was gorgeous and smooth with a Provençal style garlicky flavour and presented with an impressive and tasty spear like cheesy crouton. That said, I had serious food envy after trying my partner’s starter of Roasted Tiger Prawns with chilli butter £7.95, six lovely large plump king prawns all drenched in finger licking buttery loveliness. For my main course? Salade Niçoise, boring right? Wrong. It is a kaleidoscope of freshness and colour, with soft amber yolks, nutty new potatoes, chunky hunks of White Albacore tuna, fine green beans and fresh peas glugged with peppery olive oil. Go large for £15.50! Délicieux! ‘Plat principal’ for John was Sole
Meunière, which is served with a caper and parsley beurre noisette. There are plenty of side dishes at £3.95 to accompany the mains; he chose pomme purée and sautéed spinach. The dish arrived beautifully presented and tasted as good as it looked, delicate lemon sole cooked in a skillet with butter, a coating of flour lightly protects the fish maintaining the texture and integrity of the soft white flesh. Magnifique! Instead of ‘Live well’, the French say, ‘Eat well’: ‘Mangez bien’ and I think I agree. So, embracing that philosophy we forced ourselves to squeeze in a dessert. Good advice. We ordered an Affogate £4.50; Vanilla ice cream served with a strong espresso and the Pear and Almond tart £6.95; Pears fanned out in a golden brown buttery pastry, I could taste the frangipane layer and toasted almonds, served with a generous dollop of vanilla ice cream hiding little gems of honeycomb, c’est superbe! This restaurant oozes French style; Beautiful food, great service and stylish surroundings. I have one word for the Bistro Du Vin; Class. Or should I say Chic. French cuisine is a palateexpanding experience, take a look at the website, download a menu and let your taste buds do the rest. Bon Appétit! Hotel Du Vin Parabola Road, Cheltenham GL50 3AH Tel: 01242 370584 www.hotelduvin.com
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FESTIVE DINING & CHRISTMAS PARTIES IN LE MAZOT BRASSERIE LE MAZOT FESTIVE A LA CARTE MENU SERVED FROM 1 ST DECEMBER – 3 RD JANUARY 2017 Please visit our website for exclusion dates.
STARTERS Seasonal salad Endive, apple, celery, stilton and candied walnuts
Roasted beetroot soup Topped with a horseradish cream Plate of smoked salmon Served with egg, capers, parsley and brown bread Game terrine Dressed with a hazelnut, celeriac, carrot and raisin coleslaw Traditional Swiss style cheese fondue Served with new potatoes, crusty bread and pickled vegetables Chicken liver parfait Served with red onion marmalade and toasted onion bread
MAIN COURSE Braised beef blade Dressed with green beans and confit shallots, garlic mash and red wine jus infused with thyme
DESSERT Whatley Manor Christmas pudding Served with brandy butter and clotted cream
Braised duck leg Served with braised puy lentils, smoked sausage and spinach
Eggnog crème brûlée Dressed with nutmeg ice cream
Fillet of cod Roasted, dressed with linguini pasta and served with a shellfish, brandy shallot sauce Fillet of bream Steamed, topped with a lightly spiced Thai broth scented with coriander Turkey, chestnut, sage & onion pie Served with Brussel sprouts
Bûche de Noël Filled with griottine cherries, kirsch and chocolate mousse Spiced mulled wine pear and apple trifle Swiss Engadin tart Topped with orange ice cream Cheese plate A selection of various cheeses with grapes and savoury biscuits
Caramelised baby artichoke With gnocchi, sage butter and butternut squash
FESTIVE A LA CARTE MENU PRICES £32.00 includes three-courses. For bookings of less than nine people please contact Reservations on 01666 822 888 or email reservations@whatleymanor.com. For parties of nine and above please contact Events on 01666 834 026 or email events@whatleymanor.com. We recommend that you book your Christmas party well in advance to avoid disappointment. The set lunch menu will not be served from the 1st December and will be available from the 3rd January 2017. During December two-courses may be chosen from the festive à la carte menu for £26.00 per person.
Call Events on 01666 834 026 or email events@whatleymanor.com to book your Christmas party A 10% discretionary service charge is added to your bill and shared amongst the team at Whatley Manor.
Whatley Manor Hotel and Spa Easton Grey Malmesbury Wiltshire SN16 0RB Telephone +44 (0) 1666 822 888 Email reservations@whatleymanor.com Web whatleymanor.com @Whatley_Manor
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Style Local
Claire in the County Kick on! Claire Thayers has been working up a sweat on the Twiston-Davies gallops with her daughter, Miss Cheltenham t last, the National Hunt season begins and a much-needed fix for me – how I have missed it! This year, fortunately, I haven’t had to wait quite so long as my youngest is the current Miss Cheltenham and had to represent the town in the Miss England final ‘up North’. As part of this, she had to do a talent video, which was tricky as she was brought up as a tomboy and played rugby in Cornwall – she never took to a tutu, tried the drums but gave up and is not the best singer. Her only talent (sorry Luci!) is her love of riding, having ridden all her life, so time to get creative... She came up with a genius idea – her talent video could be of her riding out on the gallops. This she knew was a perfect way to combine her passion for riding and racing and a great way to promote the town…but the next bit wasn’t so easy – who to talk to? Being brave, I summoned up the courage to contact the legendary Cotswolds trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies and I can tell you I felt a little sick picking up the phone… thankfully he couldn’t have been nicer. The first visit was hilarious. On arrival we met Sparky, the head ‘lad’ who took us around the yard and showed Luci her mount, who was relaxed with head
A
down. As he threw the tack on I said, “Oh this is the schoolmaster of the yard then?” He looked a little put out and replied, “Not all – this won last week.” Oops... Undaunted by the size of the little racing saddle, the stirrups being pulled up so short and the thought of being legged up onto a racing fit Thoroughbred horse, Luci took it all in her stride – even though her 5’11” height is not really conducive to riding that short but off she went with the string, with just a shout to remind her to bridge her reins. As I walked out to the gallops, I was impressed by what I saw – not only the quality of the horses, but the quality of the staff, all busy, painting stables, riding out… fit, young, muscled up and ready for action… (as were the horses!). A few instructions were shouted to Luci as she galloped by, overtaking several on her way to the top of the field with one comment from Sparky, “You must have an electric arse – never gone that fast before!” The wonderful Tom Wakefield from Cotswold TV, who was so patient, so placid and so professional, captured the whole morning. The horses were washed off and as always, mother assumed the role of
groom and before long I had worked up as much of a sweat as the horses! We enjoyed more banter over a full English in the Black Horse at Naunton with Chris Coley and Fergal O’Brien, which was delicious and hilarious – the whole experience was amazing and I thank everyone! Nigel, Sparky, the T-D team and of course Tom – who were all so friendly and lovely. So sitting here now, with Chepstow on the TV watching Ryan Hatch win for Nigel, we have discussed the possibility of Luci taking part in a charity race before she hands over her crown at the end of March 2017, but her diary is pretty manic, so we shall just have to see. In truth, I wish I were 5 stone lighter (ok 8), 6 inches shorter and 25 years younger; I would LOVE to take part in a charity race. Oh to have my time again – my mother wouldn’t let me ride point-topoint; she was convinced it was too dangerous, whereas I would be the first to encourage my girls to do so. BUT… if I can’t ride, I can follow Nigel’s yard and Fergal’s and shout my encouragement from the stands at Cheltenham and other local courses and have nearly as much fun BUT with a glass of bubbly in my hand…. Kick on!! You can see Luci’s Miss Cheltenham video at: www.cotswoldtv.com/1729 Claire Thayers & Associates Email: claire@clairethayers.co.uk Tel: 07870632093
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Style Interview
Castaway COLLECTION
Brit-pop Beauty, Sophie Ellis-Bextor has topped the charts for over 20 years with smash hits including Murder On The Dancefloor, Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love) and Take Me Home. Alongside a vibrant music and modeling career, Sophie is also Mum to 4 boys (Sonny, Kit, Ray and Jesse) and wife to fellow pop pin-up Richard Jones of The Feeling. Ellie Mainwaring interviews the vintage inspired vixen ahead of her appearance at Macmillan Cancer Support’s Celebrity Christmas Stocking Auction. person that wrote about food in a way that made me want to cook. Nigel’s was the first proper cookbook I bought when I left home at 18 as he thinks along the same lines as me – he says he doesn’t agree when people say they can’t cook. He says if you can make yourself a cup of tea, you can cook. It’s all about confidence, ingredients and timings.
Where in the world would you choose to be castaway to and why?
Italy’s got a lot going for it. London is my favourite place in the world, but I think if we’re looking for somewhere to spend long days looking at beautiful sunsets not really worrying about anything, Italy is the place. What item of jewellery or accessory would you take?
The locket my husband gave me for our 10th wedding anniversary that’s got a picture of us getting married in Italy inside it.
What’s your most treasured wardrobe item?
My Nicole Farhi patchwork wool coat, affectionately named by my Mum as the ‘car blanket’. I look forward to wearing it whenever it gets cold and feel fantastic whenever I wear it.
You can take the entire works of one musician to your desert island?
David Bowie. While Castaway, you want something with a lot of complexity. Bowie’s got such a broad range of feels and emotions – stuff for the big stuff, stuff for the small stuff. His catalogue would include thoughtprovoking things and songs for when you want to strut around pretending you’re on a catwalk.
What movie would you take?
My cats – brother and sister, Kenickie and Rizzo. Cats are cool because they’re low maintenance but you always feel better when one comes and sits on your lap.
What would be your last supper before departing for your desert island?
What animal or pet would you take?
A bottle of tequila. You’ve got to find a way to jazz up the long evenings spent alone and I might as well make some cocktails as the sun goes down. What would be your luxury item?
Biggest memory item and what’s the story behind it?
The Sound of Music. I’ve always found the sound of Julie Andrews’ voice incredibly reassuring. There are lots of songs about feeling happy even when you feel sad and not being worried about stuff. That would give me strength.
Fish & Chips with a Gherkin. That’s easy.
You can take one celebrity companion, dead or alive, who will it be?
Nigel Slater. He was the first
A play table from our playroom that I bought for our eldest son, Sonny’s first birthday. We still have it as our fourth son Jesse is coming up for his first birthday. All four of our boys held themselves up on it when they were becoming independent and learning to walk. It reminds me of the time when my husband Richard and I bought our first house together and had just had our first baby. Life was all new and exciting, overwhelming but lovely. The table has seen me through a lot. Sophie is performing at Macmillan Cancer Support’s Celebrity Christmas Stocking Auction at The Park Lane Hotel, London, on 6th December. www.macmillanstockingauction.com
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Style Review
R&R A monthly column exploring the perfect location to clear your head and spend quality time with the ‘lovely one’ in your life This month Caroline Berry reviews the The Alverton Hotel in Truro, Cornwall A city break, close to the sea and no flights - then may I suggest Truro? Truro, the capital of Cornwall is a lovely surprise! It nestles in the centre of the county, yet is within striking distance of both the north and south coast, allowing for day trips with consummate ease. And it really does have everything. Whether you are looking for art, culture or surf, just set your compass and go. Twenty minutes to the north, you will find big skies, big seas, big surf and a landscape by turns, magnificent and wild. Fabulous stretches of beach with white sand and yet twenty minutes to the south, it feels softer, not as exposed and has gentle contours and the same beautiful light. The water seems calmer and it lends itself to simply messing around on the river or getting onto the water to sail. As part of the thriving art scene, one must visit nearby St Ives for the spectacular light and palm trees nurtured by the gulf stream, which has inspired painters and sculptors for centuries and houses the coastal outreach of the Tate Gallery. Or perhaps the Minack theatre perched on the coast or maybe the extraordinary, renovated Victorian Gardens of Heligan or the Eden Project to while away a day. Cornwall is identified as a peninsular reaching out into the sea and fishing remains central to its economy. The food scene is exceptional and we were lucky Truro hosted the Cornish Food festival on Lemon Quay during our stay. Demonstrations by Stein’s Seafood Restaurant, Paul Ainsworth and Paul Ripley were an unexpected extra and alongside, there were countless stalls with the very best that Cornwall has to offer; handmade breads, home cured sausages, organic meats, chutneys, Cornish cheese, delectable jams and crusty Cornish salt. Truro has the most glorious Georgian architecture built in a honey coloured local stone that would not look out of place in the Cotswolds. We started at the Thomas Daniel at the top of Lemon 102 NOVEMBER 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
Street. Thomas was a local, well heeled, mine owner and merchant and made a very smart move by opening his doors to provide a hostelry for the naval officers where they could entertain the nurses from the hospital next door - you can imagine the scene! We had a very simple but utterly delicious lunch with locally brewed ales and an excellent choice of gin and tonic. It is a delightful building with views down Lemon Street and beautifully designed with a spectacular tiled and copper ale pump matching both great engineering and production of an excellent brew. Our base in Truro was the magnificent Alverton Hotel, which would not be out of place in any Daphne du Maurier novel. A tall, Victorian gothic stone building, it perches up on the hill in Truro and the silence of its original incarnation as a convent is now replaced with a very warm welcome from delightful local staff, providing comfort that is not generally associated with a convent! It has a series of fabulous rooms where the architecture has been treated with respect and the views from the dining
room over the garden are simply lovely. The arresting Chapel, which adjoins the main building, was commissioned by the nuns in 1883 and was built by John Loughborough Pearson who also built the iconic cathedral in the centre of the City. We were guests in the newly restored, grade II listed Courtyard, which is stone built and retains lovely original features but has been renovated with contemporary luxury in mind. The architects have retained many original features including some ancient drying racks which formed part of the washrooms in the late 18th Century and serve as a spectacular feature. Areas of exposed original wall with simple linens formed a delightful balance, the bathrooms superb, with acres of hot water and waterfall showers combined with a large, very comfortable sitting area where you could have a quiet drink or read the papers over coffee. The head chef, Simon George and his team are superb. We had delicious local crab dressed with wild flowers (almost too pretty to eat), followed by outstanding rib steaks, seared beautifully but still meltingly tender. A good bottle of Rioja sent us to bed very happy. Salty Kippers for breakfast the following morning were excellent. All in all, it was unexpectedly lovely, not a million miles away and simply celebrates the best that this corner of England can offer. PS: A tip for Mr Smith - please order a bottle of Sancerre and some macaroons for Mrs Smith in your room – she will thank you! The Alverton Tregolls Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1ZQ Tel: 01872 276 633 Email: stay@thealverton.co.uk www.thealverton.co.uk
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Style Christmas 2 Pack Underwear RRP £25, Outlet price £17.50 2 Pack of Socks RRP £20, Outlet price £14 Cufflinks RRP £25, OUTLET £17.50 www.originalpenguin.co.uk
The Orion Scent Hub, £30, Ashleigh & Burwood
Pure cashmere waterfall cardigan with Swarovski crystal Stag, £230, www.arkellandwills.co.uk
The Cotswold Style
Christmas Gift Guide Pop one of these on your wish-list to make sure Santa remembers you this month...
Classic Runners FlipBelt, £25, www.flipbelt.co.uk
Beautiful Christmas Cards using Original Artwork, gift box of 10 cards, 2 of each design. £15 including delivery. www.clareshaw.gallery
Sea Salt and Sage Yankee Candle, £21.99, www.yankee.co.uk
Hand-decorated half pint mugs - £19.95 each from dorisandco.co.uk
Dune Rum Derby Shoes, £100, John Lewis
London Bus Wooden Stacker, £14, JoJo Maman Bebe
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Style Pets
Want to treat your pet this Christmas? Animal advice from our friends at Vets on the Park Christmas is a time for gift giving and since pets are part of the family, then make sure they do not miss out on their own perfect present. In fact, us Brits are so passionate about our pets it is estimated we spent £47 million on gifts for them last year with 95% of us buying our own pet a seasonal gift.The ‘Observer’ has already run an article about the “Best Pet Gifts” available this year. From personalised pet beds that look like tipis to hand made tree decorations, GPS pet trackers and “dog sacks” (which are ruck sacks that fit on your dog so he can carry all his own gear when out walking for the day!), you really can get it all this year. So, if you are thinking of getting a gift what would we recommend. Well, high quality toys that are robust to stand a good long chew are always welcome. Kong do a great range of toys as do Green and Wilds. Treats and chews in moderation are easy pocket money ideas for gifts, this year antlers and tree root chews are very popular. A new cosy bed, cat play centre, light up collar and lead are also welcome gifts. If you are looking for a special gift for the animal lover in your life then have you considered commissioning a pet portrait of their beloved furry friend? This year Vets on the Park will be attending The Crippetts Christmas Gift Fayre on 9th and 10th December at Crippetts Lane, leckhampton so if you happen to be free why not pop along and pick up the perfect present for the pets in your life. We hope to see you there. For more information on our services visit www.vetsonthepark.co.uk
for your pets in your life - your vet for life
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000 Intro Entertainment Motoring and Sport November 2016:Layout 1
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E N T E R TA I N M E N T M OTO R I N G & S P O RT Specialists in Pothole Damage
01684 291 900
www.ReinventingTheWheel.co.uk
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Style Charity
FOCUS – transforming the lives of local cancer patients t has recently been predicted that 1 in 2 of us will experience cancer in our lifetime, which is a sobering thought. But the potential to treat cancer patients successfully is greatly improving due to a focus on early diagnosis and advances in cancer treatments. In the local area we have a leading Cancer Centre, with a team renowned for their dedication, innovation and patient care. Based at Cheltenham General Hospital, the work of the Oncology team reaches a population of 1 million people, not just in Gloucestershire but also through clinics in surrounding counties. Many of us will know first-hand, or through family or friends, the outstanding care they give to local people fighting cancer but not all of us will know the impact made on their work by donations to their Focus fund. Focus is part of Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity, which enables people to directly support any ward or area at our local hospitals. Donations to Focus benefit cancer patients in many ways, from providing portable devices for continuous pain relief to rise and recline chairs which give comfort to those receiving chemotherapy for long periods. Focus also provides a Cancer Information Centre, where the team provide an invaluable resource for cancer patients, their carers and families. “When I was diagnosed, I felt like the bottom had dropped out of the world. At the Focus centre, with your never-ending supply of tissues, you made me smile again when I thought I never would. You’ve been inspirational” A Patient Over the summer, Focus engaged the community with their work through a campaign called ‘Hit Cancer for Six’ in partnership with the Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival. “We wanted to raise awareness of how donations to Focus support local cancer patients receiving treatment in the Oncology Centre through our Focus fund – and the partnership with The Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival was the perfect way for us to do that. “It was wonderful to make the connection between the Hospital and the
I
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Above: Cheltenham FC Players Hit Cancer for Six Below: Alex Chalk visits Glos Oncology Centre to back Hit Cancer for Six with Brewin Dolphin Directors Ed Mawle and Paul Nurden and Consultant Oncologists Sam Guglani and Nick Reed
Festival as two neighbouring organisations which both have a long and proud history in the local community.” Nick Reed, Consultant Oncologist and Chair of Focus. The campaign was well supported by the local community and companies including Cotswold Style, who together helped to raise vital funds toward an innovative new cancer project which will make a real impact on patients receiving treatment for Thyroid cancer. These patients, often aged in their 30s or 40s, receive an intensive form of treatment in which a radioactive form of Iodine circulates in the body. Due to the radioactive nature of the treatment, the patients need to be kept in isolation at the hospital until their levels of radiation have fallen – which usually last 4 days. It can feel like a long time to be away from friends and family, but thanks to the funds raised by Focus, development is beginning on two new purpose built suites for patients. Each suite will provide the best possible facilities, with access to a kitchenette and wifi helping to create a reassuring environment for the patient which enhances their wellbeing. The next fundraising appeal will help
local breast cancer patients, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the UK. The charity is aiming to provide new Gamma Probes, a life-saving technology directly used in surgery to trace the location of cancer and to stop it spreading. “It’s vital for our surgical team to know precisely where cancer could be located, and whether it is spreading, in order to treat it in the most effective way possible. “The Gamma Probes will give us new technology which will greatly help our work, and we’re really hoping that everyone gets behind this appeal which can make such a difference to local people. “We’ll be grateful for every penny given and anyone can get involved; whether they want to organise a cake-bake, run a half marathon or make a donation; their support will be greatly appreciated!” Richard Smith, Head of Fundraising.
If you would like to find out more about the Focus fund, or their Breast Cancer Appeal, then you can get in touch with Richard Smith, Head of Fundraising, on 0300 422 3231 richarda.smith@glos.nhs.uk or visit www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/charity
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Style Fitness
What’s Scarier than Ghosts and Clowns? How about Type 2 Diabetes! Fitness Expert Luciano Kydd, warns of the perils of too much sugar The Halloween month has passed and with Christmas down the road you know what that means: sweets, chocolate, tasty treats and more sugar! If you visit most high street stores you can see their use of clever marketing in taunting and tantalising us with prominently displayed festive treats conveniently packaged in small, easy to eat servings, regardless of what time of the year. All holidays have their peculiar food traditions, but the festive periods perhaps wins the prize for being the most focused on sweet treats as the centre of attraction, especially for the younger members of our families. And no matter how hard you try to avoid it, you will undoubtedly find yourself staring down a confectionery stand before all is said and done. Will you give in? While one piece of chocolate won’t make or break you or your child’s health, few of us stop at just one. In fact, most of us see the festive occasion from Christmas to our summer BBQ, as a perfectly good time to indulge in whichever kind of sweet temptations are presented to us. But that indulgence can takes its toll and is manifesting itself more and more in the current epidemic of Type 2 Diabetes; it is called an epidemic because of the shocking increase in new cases. In the UK it is estimated that more than one in 16 people has diabetes (diagnosed or
undiagnosed), which accounts to 3.9 million of us. Around 700 people a day are diagnosed with it, which is the equivalent of one person every two minutes. Since 1996, the number of people with diabetes in the UK has more than doubled from 1.4 million to 3.3 million today and by 2025, it is estimated that five million people will have it. Don’t be part of the statics. What is diabetes? Much of the food that you eat ie. Carbohydrates (sweets are part of that category of food) are turned into glucose for your body to use as energy. After a meal, your pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which helps the glucose or sugar, move from your bloodstream into the cells in your body where it can be used for energy. When you have diabetes, your body either does not make enough insulin or it cannot use the insulin that it produces. The result is a build up of glucose or sugar in the bloodstream. High levels of blood sugar cause extensive damage in the body such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and even amputations. Adults with diabetes are twice as likely to die early as those without. Where there might be a connection? The connection between the festive periods and Type 2 diabetes is the increase quantity of the sweet treats: the more sugar you eat, the harder your pancreas has to work to produce insulin and keep your blood sugar within a safe range. But the cells in your pancreas that produce insulin are the only cells in your body that actually wear out from use. If you overwork them, they will eventually cease to perform in a way that can keep up with the demand. Your body can also become resistant to
the insulin that your pancreas produces. The more resistant your cells become to insulin, the more your pancreas has to make in order to have an effect. When these situations develop, you have Type 2 diabetes. Prevention at hand The good news is that Type 2 diabetes is completely preventable. By adopting a healthy lifestyle starting today, you will never have to experience this lifestyle disease. And if you already have Type 2 diabetes, you can surely do something to control it naturally. The best strategies is to keep your overall bodyweight within normal range, eat a healthy diet full of whole foods and reduce your refined sugar intake sugar on a regular basis; start by including regular exercise that lasts between 30-60 minutes, 5 days per week, depending on current fitness levels. These simple lifestyle changes are your defence too Type 2 Diabetes, if action is taken. This festive period, choose future health over short-term pleasure. Enjoy one or two treats and then stop. It’s not worth the price you may have to pay later. If you or your friends are looking to improve your overall health and fitness, why not try my FREE 1hr lose weight, get toned and look great consultation/taster session, limited spaces available so first come first serve. Ring today on (07737347854) or visit www.kyddfitness.co.uk for more info.
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000 Social Lady Bathurst November 2016:Layout 1
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See more socials at www.stylemagazines.co.uk
Style Event
Chris Fagan, Siobhan Fagan, Dominic Lodge, Martin French-Blake, The Countess Bathurst, Tim Dobson, Matt Simpson, Harry Tucker and Rupert Aspey
Carole Brennan and Deborah Heal
Mrs King and Cynthia Dowty
Garden Party raises valuable funds for good causes Over £10,000 was raised for charity at a recent Garden Party hosted by the current High Sheriff of Gloucestershire. The event was held at Cirencester’s polo club and was hosted by Countess Bathurst who took over the role of the counties High Sheriff from former Pied Piper charity boss Roger Head in April.
Jono Rooke and Georgia Pawlak
Trevor Dawson, Helen Worth and Countess Bathurst
Photography by GlosPics
Mary Blackburn and Anne Cadbury OBE Ian McNeill and Judy Hancox
Anna and Rupert Phelp
Tim and Deborah Heal
Natalie Sallis, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Maureen Parker and Peta Hoyle
108 NOVEMBER 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
Cllr Paul James, Cllr Pam Tracey MBE and Dame Janet Trotter
Jacqueline and Colin Dhillon with Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen
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THE OPEN PREVIEW Racing Expert Nigel Aplin takes us onto the course for the November meeting he Open Meeting at Cheltenham starts on Friday 11th November through to Sunday 13th November and kicks off with Countryside Day, a tradition dating back over two decades where money is raised for the Countryside Alliance and Injured Jockeys Fund. There will be pre racing activities in the paddock to raise awareness of these important organisations as well as a silent auction for racegoers to support. There will be live music throughout the day on the Best Mate Plaza from the Hip Cats as well as The Chip Shop Boys performing live in the Final Flight Bar after racing.
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The shopping experience at Cheltenham’s Open Meeting in November offers an ideal shopping opportunity with plenty of shops ready to sell a diverse range of goods with something to suit every taste and budget. Saturday sees the highlight of the meeting sponsored by BetVictor for the first time, the BetVictor Gold Cup. Run over a distance of two and a half miles, this race brings together battle hardened handicappers with younger, unexposed horses in their second season over fences. The clash produces a fantastic spectacle and is always one of the keenest betting heats of the season. Course experience is almost always essential around Cheltenham, and the vast majority of winners of this race had run at least once around the Prestbury Park course. Young horses (by jumps standards) are definitely favoured by the trends, with six and seven year olds
having a far superior record to all other age groups. As with many of the major handicaps, weight plays a big part in the outcome, with lighter weights being at an obvious advantage. The race is often won by a fancied horse and horses towards the front three in the betting almost always do well. The nature of these high class handicaps means that very few horses that are truly ‘under the radar’ qualify to run any more, meaning that the form almost always stands up. Above all else, class is required to win the BetVictor Gold Cup and many of the horses who win it go on to bigger and better things in open company later in their careers. The current favourite is the sevenyear-old Garde La Victoire trained by Philip Hobbs who had a pleasing return at Ffos Las when running out a comfortable winner. He fell at Cheltenham in the JLT Novices’ chase with every chance and did the same at Aintree when looking like he was feeling the effects of his Festival run. David Pipe has revealed recent recruit, King’s Socks as ‘very exciting’ and says the unexposed four-year-old is being aimed at the BetVictor Gold Cup, for which he is co-second favourite at 16-1. Pipe won the BetVictor Gold Cup previously known as the Paddy Power Gold Cup - in 2011 with Great Endeavour, while his father Martin won the feature race at Cheltenham’s Open meeting a record-breaking eight times. Pipe said of King’s Socks: “He’s a very exciting recruit who we picked up at the Arqana July Sale. He was one of the best four-year-old hurdlers in France with a couple of wins to his name. He’s also won over fences but is rated slightly lower in that sphere and we’ll probably start him out over the larger obstacles. We’d like to think he might be one for the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham’s Open meeting if he makes the cut and he’ll not be seen before then.” Should King’s Socks take his chance he will be the first four-year-old to attempt to win the BetVictor Gold Cup since it was opened to horses of that age in 2006. He could be joined by the Paul
Nicholls trained four-year-old Frodon, who is also a 16-1 chance after putting in an impressive round of jumping to score at Fontwell last time. King’s Socks and Frodon will receive a generous 9lb weight-for-age allowance from older rivals. Nicholls also has the five-year-old Obasa entered which should be noted if he runs. Tom George’s Double Shuffle reappeared at Chepstow and whilst running an in and out race, stayed on strongly to suggest he will improve for that run. Bryan Ellison has a promising sevenyear-old in Definitly Red who won well at Ayr at the back end of last season. He’s improving and has attracted recent market support. As always this is an intriguing race and as open as it has ever has been. At the time of writing, I am not sure who Paul Nicholls’s main representative will be as he has also entered Art Mauresque and former winner Caid Du Berlais. Willie Mullins has Balleycasey entered whose horses should never be ignored, probably racing’s biggest cliché and also understatement of the year. On balance I shall be viewing a modest each way investment on Double Shuffle. Sunday’s biggest race is the Greatwood Hurdle and I shall keep loyal with Ben Pauling’s A Hare Breath who I featured in my October column. Nigel Aplin, formally Head of Broadcast for William Hill, is founder of www.betliveradio.com, which features a daily digest of betting banter.
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t u o ab ENTERTAINMENT
MASTERCHEF DINING SHOWCASE, ECKINGTON MANOR 4th and 5th of November A series of evenings showcasing dishes featured on screen during Head Chef Mark Stinchcombe’s winning appearance on Masterchef the Professionals. Each evening will see guests enjoying a six-course taster menu of dishes only previously tasted by the Masterchef judges. £75 per person, or from £299 per couple including accommodation www.eckingtonmanor.co.uk THE SONS OF PITCHES AT CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Saturday 5th November, 7.30pm
2015 winners of BBC2’s The Naked Choir hosted by Gareth Malone, this multi-award winning British vocal group combines soaring solos, impeccable harmonies and sensational beatboxing to stunning effect. With over one million YouTube hits and a growing international reputation, The Sons of Pitches have “given a cappella a kick up the backside”. Tickets: £24.50 www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk
FOREST FORAGING AT TUDOR FARMHOUSE, CLEARWELL Saturday 13th November With the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley on its doorstep, boutique rural retreat Tudor Farmhouse offers bountiful foraging trips with local expert Raoul Van Den Broucke. Dubbed "the Carluccio of the Wye Valley" Raoul supplies the multi award-
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winning restaurant with handpicked produce and runs foraging expeditions that take guests off the beaten track. On returning to the hotel, guests can enjoy a three-course lunch. £30 per person (£50 including lunch). Overnight packages are also available. www.tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk ALL AROUND ME ART EXHIBITION AT FOSSE GALLERY, STOW ON THE WOLD Sunday 6th to Saturday 26th November Lucy Pratt, a contemporary British artist, is unveiling her latest body of work in a solo exhibition. The 30 paintings in the show embrace the views and subjects that Lucy holds close to her heart, the love of the countryside, sea and landscapes, her home and garden. Many of her paintings depict local scenes of the Cotswolds. www.fossegallery.com
STEVE BACKSHALL AT CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Monday 7th November, 7pm Wildlife TV presenter and children’s author, Steve Backshall, takes us on a tour of the real life expeditions that have inspired his books, including his new novel in the series, ‘Shark Seas’. It’s a wild journey, illustrated with photos and films from the Arctic to the Amazon.
There will be extended Q and As. Suitable for all ages, but parents are advised that the content might be challenging for very young children. Tickets: £19.50, under 16s £15.50. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk
NIGHT MUST FALL AT THE EVERYMAN THEATRE, CHELTENHAM Tuesday 8th to Saturday 12th November Starring Gwen Taylor and Daragh O’Malley. A psychological thriller from master playwright Emlyn Williams with all the tension and atmosphere of the best British mysteries, which will leave you on the edge of your seat. Times and prices vary. www.everymantheatre.org.uk
SETH LAKEMAN AT CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Wednesday 9th November, 7.30pm Seth Lakeman has steered English folk music into the mainstream with highenergy performances and a series of best-selling albums over the last decade. He has played to audiences around the world. Seth’s new album Ballads of the Broken Few was released in September 2016. Tickets: £25 www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk ART EXHIBITION AT THE GARDENS GALLERY, CHELTENHAM Wednesday 9th November to Tuesday 15th November Louise Millin Inchley, known as ‘Milli’ in the art world, lives and paints in Cheltenham. Working in oils, the focus of her art is people and atmospheric lighting in street scenes and interior settings. She takes inspiration from her local surroundings of Cheltenham, as well as other cities and destinations from her travels. www.milliart.co.uk
A TALE OF TWO CITIES AT THE EVERYMAN THEATRE, CHELTENHAM Tuesday 15th to Saturday 19th November The Touring Consortium Theatre Company (Of Mice and Men, Brassed Off, To Sir with Love) returns with this bold new adaptation by Mike Poulton (Wolf Hall) of Dickens’ epic story of love, sacrifice and redemption amid
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All around me Art Exhibition at Fosse Gallery, Stow-on-the-Wold
Jodi Picoult is one of the highest-selling authors writing today. Eleven of her previous titles have been number one best sellers in the UK. This is the first time in two years that her fans will have the opportunity to hear her talk live about her latest and most important book yet, Small Great Things. Tickets: £20 including a hardback copy of Small Great Things. www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk
CANAPÉS AND WREATH MAKING COURSE AT FOODWORKS COOKERY SCHOOL, NEAR CHELTENHAM Tuesday 29th November, 10am to 4pm Warm up for the festive season by making your own natural stunning wreath for your front door, and host the best Christmas party in town by serving up a selection of delicious inspirational festive canapés, all made by you. Call 01242 870538 or visit the website. Limited places available. www.foodworkscookeryschool.co.uk
horrific violence and world changing events. Times and prices vary. www.everymantheatre.org.uk
INSTRUMENTS OF TIME AND TRUTH ORCHESTRA, ST MARY’S CHURCH, WOTTON UNDER EDGE Saturday 26th November Oxford’s only period-instrument orchestra brings world-class performances to Oxfordshire and the surrounding area. For this concert, they are bringing Mozart to Wotton under Edge, conducted by Benedict Hoffnung. www.timeandtruth.co.uk
SPONSORED BY MONTPELLIER WINE BAR
AN AUDIENCE WITH JODI PICOULT AT CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Sunday 27th November, 7.30pm
ELAINE PAIGE, STRIPPED BACK, AT CHELTENHAM TOWN HALL Tuesday 29th November, 8pm Stripped Back will see Elaine Paige perform her favourite contemporary tracks, encompassing her incredibly 50 year career as a performer and recording artist, which has included major worldwide hits, Memory (Cats) and I Know Him So Well (Chess). Tickets: start from £30.50
www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk
FEAST OF FESTIVE FLORALS, ECKINGTON MANOR Thursday 1st December, 1.45 to 4pm>>>
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t u o ab RHS Chelsea award-winning florist, Rose Hamson, will host an intimate Wreath Making Afternoon Tea at Eckington Manor this December. Guests are invited to create their own festive floral masterpieces guided by Rose’s expert hand followed by a scrumptious seasonal Afternoon Tea, as prepared by Eckington Manor’s Head Chef and reigning MasterChef: The Professionals Champion, Mark Stinchcombe. £45 per person including all materials and afternoon tea www.eckingtonmanor.co.uk
FAMILY
GIANT LEGO BRICK ANIMALS TRAIL, SLIMBRIDGE WETLAND CENTRE Until Sunday 6th November Last chance to see 11 amazing LEGO creations on show alongside their living counterparts, with the 1.5-metre animals inspired by real species at Slimbridge. The models include a
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twelve-times life size dragonfly and a large North American river otter. Normal admission applies www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/slimbridge
REALLY WILD WEEKEND, SLIMBRIDGE WETLAND CENTRE Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November Get up close to exotic animals from all over the world as we take you to see what lives in far flung habitats such as rainforests and deserts. Meet armadillos, young crocodiles, snakes and minibeasts and face your fears along the way getting hands on. Sessions are only £4.95 for members or non members can buy a special day pass to Slimbridge, which includes admission to a Really Wild session and a full day’s access to the centre and grounds. Available to book online. www.wwt.org.uk/wetlandcentres/slimbridge
ENCHANTED CHRISTMAS AT WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM Every weekend from Friday 25th November to Sunday 18th December The Westonbirt forest is lit up (every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening during the above dates) in innovative, top-secret lighting designs every year. The illuminated tree display trail is a great evening of family fun. Father & Mrs Christmas will be on hand sharing Christmas tales over a Christmas feast. Other festive treats include a gift shop, a carousel and classic carols. Tickets for this year’s Enchanted Christmas will be on sale in October for pre-booking. www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirtchristmas
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK AT THE EVERYMAN THEATRE, CHELTENHAM Friday 25th November to Sunday 8th January Tweedy The Clown and William Elliott as Dame Trott return for the Everyman’s most gigantic pantomime yet. Don’t miss Jack’s adventures in Cloud Cuckoo Land, packed with slapstick, laughs, a giant and even a comedy cow. There will be an audio described performance and touch tour for the performance on 4th January, 2pm. There will be a relaxed performance on 5th January, 10am. There will be a sign language interpreted performance on 7th January, 2pm. Times and prices vary. www.everymantheatre.org.uk SPECTACLE OF LIGHT, SUDELEY CASTLE, WINCHCOMBE Thursday 1st to Friday 23rd December After dark, for the very first time, Sudeley Castle and its grounds will come to life through a wonderful Spectacle of Light and sound. Explore this secret world as you follow a trail of light around the magical gardens and into the romantic ruins. Experience the breathtaking effect as the nighttime
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enchantment of this Castle is majestically revealed before your very eyes. A unique experience for all ages. Tickets: adults from £13.50, children 5 to 15 years from £9, children under 5 free. Family 2 + 2 from £36 www.spectacleoflight.co.uk
CHARITY
THE HOLST HARP COMES HOME, CHELTENHAM LADIES’ COLLEGE Saturday 12th November, 7.30pm Featuring the harp which belonged to Gustav Holst’s grandfather, Gustavus, the first Professor of Music at Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Learn a little about Gustavus and enjoy wonderful music by harpist Katie McClaughry, the harp’s owner. Drinks and canapés will be served in the interval. This is being held to raise funds to help reopen the Holst Birthplace Museum after a flood. Tickets: £14 adults, £5 children, £10 Holst Birthplace Museum members www.holstmuseum.org.uk/the-holstharp-comes-home CHRISTMAS SPARKLE SHOPPING EVENT, HOTEL DU VIN, CHELTENHAM Wednesday 23rd November, 12 to 4pm
To raise money for Linc, there will be an opportunity to do some Christmas shopping whilst enjoying a glass of fizz and some delicious canapés. There will also be a variety of demonstrations including make-up, fashion, present wrapping and Christmas flowers.Tickets: £15 www.linc.com
JAMES HILL AND ANNE JANELLE CONCERT, SAINT STEPHEN’S CHURCH, TIVOLI, CHELTENHAM Thursday 24th November, 7 to 9pm This Canadian Folk Music Awardwinning ukulele/cello duo has charmed audiences in over 15 countries, described as “the perfect evening of tunes, stories and musical virtuosity”. There will also be a Ukulele workshop for beginners on the same day from 2pm-3pm. Held in aid of the St Stephen’s Church roof appeal. To purchase your tickets, email pcolhead@gmail.com or call 07815 852 153. Tickets: £15 including mulled wine and minced pies. Workshop tickets are also £15, or special combined price of £25. www.jameshillannejanelle.com www.pipandjims.org.uk A VERY COWLEY CHRISTMAS, COWLEY MANOR Thursday 24th and Friday 25th November Joining forces with SpaceNK, Harvey Nichols, Wholefoods and Tattinger, Cowley Manor is opening its doors to help you curate the perfect Christmas at home. Expect festive fashions, boutique shopping artisan workshops and even a little snow on arrival. Live music and free tipples included. In support of the Cobalt Unit Appeal Fund. Admission for boutique shopping £5; masterclasses, fashion show and Christmas Feast are extra. www.cowleymanor.com/christmas/f ashion-shopping-event.htm
CHRISTMAS MARKET, LOWER FARM, RAMSDEN, NEAR WITNEY Saturday 3rd December, 1pm to 4pm The tiny village of Ramsden is the surprising venue for what must now be the biggest covered Christmas Market in West Oxfordshire. The market is held in the beautifully decorated big barn at Lower Farm, OX7 3AZ. 50 stalls will sell artisan food, hand-made clothing and gifts, books, wreaths, Christmas
decorations and a host of other goodies. Funds raised will go to the village church and memorial hall. For more information, contact Roz Danks, 01993 868996 or roz@jdanks.fsnet.co.uk. www.ramsdenvillage.co.uk/events/2 016/12/1/christmas-fayre CHARITY RACE DAY AT CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE Friday 9th December The Tewkesbury and Cheltenham Borough Mayor’s Charity Race Day is being held in aid of Winston’s Wish in the Istabraq Bar. Tickets include admission, race card, mulled wine, two-course hot and cold buffet lunch and afternoon tea. Contact 01684 272021 for more details. Tickets: £55 www.winstonswish.org.uk
SPORT
GLOUCESTER RUGBY V SARACENS, KINGSHOLM STADIUM Saturday 5th November, kick off 3pm Gloucester Rugby take on Saracens in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. Tickets: from £10 for adults and £1 for juniors in advance. www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk GLOUCESTER RUGBY COMEDY NIGHT, KINGSHOLM STADIUM Saturday 12th November, 7pm Gloucester Rugby’s Comedy Night is back with four handpicked comedians and happy hour from 7 to 8pm. Tickets: £9 if bought in advance. www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk
GLOUCESTER RUGBY V WASPS, KINGSHOLM STADIUM Saturday 19th November, kick off 4.30pm. Gloucester Rugby take on Wasps in the Aviva Premiership. Tickets: from £15 for adults and £5 for juniors in advance. www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk
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Ahoy The HOYS Kate Justice visits the holy grail of horse shows This is one of my favourite times of year. It's beautiful – the leaves are starting to turn but not yet falling - it's not too cold, not properly muddy, the weeds have stopped growing and there's the inevitable excitement in the build up to the festive season but without the pressure. There's also Halloween, a school holiday, bonfire night, both my parent's birthdays as well as my eldest child's (granted, that may not be of any interest to you whatsoever). And there's also the HOYS: The Horse Of the Year Show. This is – so their propaganda claims – the most famous horse show in the world. That's quite a title but it does seem to fit. Have you heard of it? You might never have been, you might not even know where it is but you've heard the name haven't you? Someone knew what they were dealing with when they came up with that strap line. It's usually held on the first weekend of October and these days is at the NEC in Birmingham – remarkably easy to get to, compared to some London venues and no matter how long this historic and iconic show has been going, it still remains as one of the utmost pinnacles of the horse world, especially as far as the competition goes. Ever since I was tiny – and still with as much vigour today – merely qualifying for the HOYS is the Holy Grail for riders, owners and trainers. It's almost as though, just getting there joins you tacitly to an elite club of British Equestrians. The show is fabulous. I went this year, with my daughter Libbi – her first time at HOYS. That in itself almost required bunting and a trumpet fanfare. Horsey friends from every generation congratulated her on this almost 'coming of age' event. We were there only for one day and in that time, saw a range of horses, sport and shops that was completely dazzling. 114 NOVEMBER 2016 COTSWOLD STYLE
Above: Charlotte Dujardin crowned the Arbonne Dressage Future Elite Champion Left: National Showjumping – Senior Foxhunter Championship
Champion Shire horses with a grace and presence you can't imagine until you see them in the flesh, whizzing mounted games ponies for the thrilling final of the Prince Philip Cup where the kids become the heroes – and some of the very best and most famous horses in the world in Show Jumping and Dressage. Olympic Gold Medallist Nick Skelton was there with his horse Big Star: The entire auditorium was on its feet as he was awarded the title of 'Equestrian of the Year'. Libbi was cheering, I was crying (and I was not the only one). Earlier in the week, fellow Olympic Champions, Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin put on a display and demonstration. These two are in demand worldwide and here they are, up the road, sharing some of their expertise with us. You see, at HOYS, despite the glamour of International Show Jumping and the immense prestige that leads competitors in the showing classes to prepare for years and years to get into that ring... it's the
small details that help create this unique event. The photographers in the main ring wear tuxedos, evening dress is the norm for those in hospitality, champagne is never in short supply and every champion completes the infamous lap of honour and charge down the centre line, through the iconic HOYS curtains in a magical and illuminating spotlight. This doesn't happen anywhere else. If you ask around... the one thread that ties all this together – animals, athletes, sports fans, sponsors, arena staff, retailers, judges and generation after generation of equine enthusiasts – it's quite simply the celebration and sheer LOVE of the Horse. The Horse Of the Year Show has somehow managed to hold on, to this magnificent animal and partner to man, as above all the most important aspect of a week of glorious entertainment and exhilarating competition. Book your tickets for next year: www.hoys.co.uk 4th-8th October 2017. If you would like to share your stories with Kate Justice, please email the Editor at editor@stylemagazines.co.uk
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CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE
THE OPEN 11th - 13th NOVEMBER 2016
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JUMP ONLINE NOW WWW.CHELTENHAM.CO.UK
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