October fullmag

The Ridings WoodďŹ eld Lane Essendon, Herts AL9 6JJ Tel : 0844 800 8439 Fax : 01707 655 718 www.thelifemagazines.com Email: peter@ďŹ shmediagroup.co.uk Editor Faye Manning Assistant Editor Katie Miller Sub Editor Alex Lux Fashion Editor Kitty Shead Contributors Maureen Cole John Ruler John Bly Bruce Edwards Jack Smith Regan Maloney

EDITORS LETTER T

Hello and a very warm welcome to the October issue. his month we are pleased to feature the world famous London Fashion Week Review on our front cover and the highlights as our main story. This sparkling show has become an increasingly important, highly regarded and greatly anticipated event. We are sure that you will enjoy our review of the Spring/Summer 2016 collections and be proud that once again British designers took centre stage.

The October issue also includes our Autumn Kitchen Life Special Supplement which has a wide variety of highly informed and informative articles. We highlight the very best local kitchen specialists who are ready, willing and very able for you to consult for advice, tips, ideas and suggestions before you decide which kitchen and kitchen accessories are right for your home.

As usual, this month we have turned the spotlight on some more superb local venues for you and your family to visit and enjoy this Autumn, including:- The British Wildlife Photography Awards exhibition in Canterbury. The Tonbridge Philharmonic Society playing Beethoven. The distinguished paintings exhibition by Rowland Hilder at Chatham Dockyards. Half term Halloween fun with the National Trust. The last Tango at the Orchard Theatre. Guided garden tours at Groombridge Place and our very popular Whats On guide. We are sure that there will something to interest you all.

I am sure that you will enjoy the October issue.

Design & Production Creative Bonfire hello@creativebonfire.co.uk Photography Adam Swaine Accounts Kathy Manning Ken Fleet Business Development Managers Tim Lees Lisa Westerman SALES Vanessa Lane Anita Hill DIRECTORS Peter Smith Rory Smith Patrick Smith

All Rights reserved. All Fish Media Group Ltd magazines are copyright and cannot be reproduced in any form either in part or whole without written permission from the publishers. Whilst Fish Media Group Ltd takes every reasonable precaution, no responsibility can be accepted for any property, services or products offered in any of our publications and any loss arising. Whilst every care is taken with all materials submitted to all of our magazines the publisher cannot accept the loss or damage to such material. The Fish Media Group Ltd reserves the right to reject or accept any advertisement, article or material prior to publication. Opinions expressed are strictly those of the authors and do not necessarily repr sent the views or policies of Fish Media Group Ltd. We accept no liability for any misprints or mistakes and no responsibility can be accepted for the content of these pages.

You will be pleased to know that you and your friends can now read our magazines online at www.thelifemagazines.com

To advertise contact: Tim Lees on 07944 129393 or Peter on 077111 43342

LOCAL LIFE

Whats On...

OCTOBER 2015

Autumn fayre Selling lots of different goods including books, jigsaw puzzles, jewellery, toiletries, cakes, plants, gifts, new and nearly new clothes, tools, knitwear, greetings cards and much more. Tombola, guess the weight of a cake and other attractions. Refreshments. This event is raising money for a pensioners club and retirees in the Bromley area.

10 am until 2pm. Free entrance. Crofton halls ( next to the station), Orpington, Kent, BR6 8PR. Sat 17 Oct 2015 Danson Park Fireworks 2015 40th Year brought to you by the Welling Round Table. Come and enjoy a great, safe family evening out in the beautiful settings of historic Danson Park and be wowed by the beautiful 25 minute spectacular firework display choreographed to music and set over the lake . Children’s fun fair, stalls, food and refreshments available. All profits go to our Charitable Trust.

Tickets go on sale via our website and in shops from 1st October.

Gates open 6pm - display starts 8pm. Advance tickets £6 adult £4 child available online or from local agents. On the gate £10 adult / £5 child (no concessions). Danson Park, Danson Road, Welling, London, DA6 8HL. Sat 7 Nov 2015. Tel: 07979 341373.

Scotney Castle - Arthur’s War In a black metal trunk, hidden away in our attic a team of volunteers have discovered a treasure trove from the personal collection of a commanding officer from the First World War. This winter we will be displaying items from his collection including his war diaries in our exhibition, Arthur’s War. Booking Not Needed.

A National Trust Event .11.00am - 16:00pm.

General Admission Prices Apply. Scotney Castle, Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 8JN. Fri 6 Nov - Mon 4 Jan 2016.

Tel: 01892 893 868. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events

Christmas Fayre in Sevenoaks A special appearance from Father Christmas in his magical grotto, your children will be wowed by it all. Raffle, Children Tombola, Silent auctions and more to entertain the whole family! A great family day to enjoy our home made cakes, pies, mulled wine and more. Finally, our local stall holders will be offering great items for those perfect S R EDITO Christmas presents.

Sat 14th Nov. 10:30am-2pm. £1 per adult and £0.50p per child. All profits to go to our School Charity. West Heath astle School, Ashgrove Road, Kent, TN13 1SR. Tel: 01732 468 993 Scotney C www.westheathschool.com - Arthur’s

CHOICE: War

Chartwell - Life and legacy trail Celebrate the life of Sir Winston Churchill through the grounds of Chartwell with a family trail full of activities and challenges. Booking Not Needed. Children welcome. Dogs on leads welcome.

10:00am - 16:00pm. General Admission Prices Apply. Chartwell, Mapleton Road, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1PS. Thurs 1 Oct - Sun 1 Nov 2015. Tel: 01732 868381. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events Oxted Operatic Society present 42nd Street A Producer puts on what may be his last Broadway Show and at the last moment a chorus girl has to replace the star.

Tuesday 17th – Saturday 21st November 2.30 Sat & 7.45. Tickets £12.00 - £15.00 available from www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01883 331400.

Glow Theatre Group present Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colours comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable.

Wed 2nd – Friday 4th Dec 7.30. Tickets £9.00 available from www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 07813 916105.

4 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

The Wheres Spot Band at St Edith Folk Club Supporting Blackbeards Tea Party.

Tickets £10. 7:30pm. St Edith Hall, High Street, Kemsing, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 6NA. Friday 16 Oct 2015 www.WheresSpotBand.com Quebec House tours. Join one of our exclusive tours before the house opens for a guided tour by one of our volunteers. Discover the stories behind Quebec House and its most famous occupant on one of our guided tours. Booking Not Needed. Children are welcome. Assistance Dogs only are welcome. A National Trust Event.

General Admission Prices Apply. Meet at the Coach House. Quebec House, Quebec Square, Westerham, Kent, TN16 1TD. Wed 21 Oct Sun 25 Oct and Wed 28 Oct to Sun 1 Nov. Tel: 01732 868 381. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events Great Comp Garden - Open Garden for NGS Skilfully designed 7 acre garden of exceptional beauty. Spacious setting of well-maintained lawns and paths lead visitors through plantsmans collection of trees, shrubs, heathers and herbaceous plants. Good autumn colour.

Early C17 house (not open). Open Sun 18th and Sun 25th Oct (11-5).

Admission £6.50, Children free. Times:11:00 to 17:00. Tel: 01732 885094.Open for charity. Great Comp Garden, Platt, nr Borough Green, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 8QS. Tel: 01732 885094

Annual Craft Fair Tatfield Come and admire, peruse and purchase crafts produced by local craft persons and trade merchants including – wooden carvings, cakes, jewellery, celebrations, paintings, charcoal drawings and much more. Refreshments.

Free parking. 11am – 4pm,. Free entry. Tatsfield Village Hall, Westmore Green, Kent, TN16 2AG. Sun 15 Nov 2015.Tel: 07845 605280 www.tatsfield,org.uk PUDSEYFEST in the aid of BBC Children in need 2015 Join us with all the fun at the fair, plus a display of birds of prey, a mini car boot fair, stalls inside the hall, refreshments and entertainment with a clown and special Guests with the minions. Last year our total raised was a fantastic £800, since 2002 we have raised altogether a fantastic £7,000.

Please come and join the Pudseyfest as this one is bigger than ever before.

If you would like to do a car boot sale? Please email me at matty158@sky.com and get a booking form. For a pitch will be £7 and you can set up at 8.30am on the day. 10am – 4pm. Free entry. St Agatha’s Hall Hurst Green, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0LL. Sat 17 Oct 2015.

Tel: 01883 818469 Vintage & Village Life Fayre Vintage, retro, homemade, hand crafted, gifts, jewellery, pictures, furniture, pet related items and country style goods. Light refreshments with teas and coffees served in true vintage style, dainty cups and saucers.

Contact: 01883 714729 donnacarman@hotmail.co.uk 10am - 2pm.

Admission 50p. St Agatha’s village hall, Hurst Green, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0LL. Sat 24 Oct 2015.

The Nutcracker. Janie Harris School of Dance are performing Tchaikovsky’s, The Nutcracker On Christmas Eve, Dr Stahlbaum and his wife are giving a party and have invited some of their daughter, Clara’s, friends who dance for the guests.

They have also invited a magician who gives a Nutcracker doll to Clara, that Fritz her brother, jealously breaks. The doll strangely mends itself. As the clock strikes midnight, magical things begin to happen.

Tickets are available from www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk or 01732 885604. 2.30 (Sat) & 7.00pm 01732 885604. Barn Theatre, 25 Bluehouse Lane, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0AA. Fri 23 Oct and Sat 24 Oct 2015. www.barntheatreoxted.co.uk Christmas Market Hospice in the Weald Come and enjoy a wealth of craft and food stalls at this year’s Christmas Market. The perfect opportunity to find wonderful presents for your friends and family while supporting the Hospice at the same time. Fun for all the family, including our very own Santa’s Grotto which is open 11am - 2pm both days.

Sat 14 and Sun 15 Nov from 10am - 4pm. £3 admission on the doors, kids go free! All proceeds go to Hospice in the Weald. Hospice in the Weald, Maidstone Road, Pembury, Kent, TN2 4TA. Tel: 01892 820527 hospiceintheweald.org.uk/fundraise/event/hospice-in-the-wealdschristmas-market-2015 Chislehurst Farmers Market includes seasonal produce On the 3rd Sunday of the month. 10am to 2pm. Free Entry.

Contact: 07775 736116. Hornbrook House Car Park, High Street, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 5AB. Sun 18 Oct www.myfarmersmarket.co.uk

CONTENTS EDITORS LETTER

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WHATS ON

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LOCAL LIFE The last Tango at the Orchard Theatre Beethoven – The Master Stunning Wildlife Photography Rowland Hilder OBE - Distinguished works Guided Tours at Groombridge Place Focus on local Autumn Walks with Adam Swaine A Look back at the River Darent A History of the Local Hop Fields

8 10 12 14 16 18 20 28

Orchard Theatre – Putting on the Ritz

30

The Luxury Property Show

32

Portico Gallery – The new online store

34

London Fashion Week Review

35

Health and Beauty A Force to be reckoned with Health’s Angels Ramsey Health – Eliminate the Inconvenience Appearances – Ist Prize at the Health & Beauty Awards

40 43 45 46

Luxury Watches at the Saatchi Gallery

48

KITCHEN SUPPLEMENT Kitchen Design of Sevenoaks – Quality and experience.

Contemporary Design Tips Grants of Sevenoaks – Bespoke Kitchens Stoneham Kitchens – Discover the Contemporary Kitchen Showroom Granite Transformations – Instant Transformations County Home – Choosing the right Kitchen Neptune – Create your own designs Tilemates – Tiles in every Style The Kitchen Doctor – A complete service Creative Interior Designs – Full project management

49 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 67

HOME AND GARDEN Décor’s new frontier C & H Fabrics – Making sure your home looks its best The Ideal Home Show Five Ways Fires and Stoves

68 72 74 77

BOOKS Review with Bruce Edwards

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Thomas Dunton Solicitors – Motorcycle and Cycle Accidents 79 TRAVEL Forging Friendships in Istanbul The Luxury Travel Fair Take a break in Lille

80 83 84

FOOD AND DRINK All Torode’s lead to Home Regan Maloney’s Restaurant Review The Bulls Head Pratts Bottom The Cow and Pig British Kitchen Bromley Riverford Farms Organic Recipe Boxes

86 90 92 94 96

LOCAL LIFE

VINCENT SIMONE & FLAVIA CACACE’S

FINAL EVER TOUR

THE LAST TANGO Britain’s best-loved dance duo perform together in Dartford for the very last time

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resh from their sell-out hit shows Midnight Tango and Dance ’Til Dawn, Strictly superstars Vincent Simone and Flavia Cacace have created their most poignant production yet as they prepare to dance in their final ever theatre show. The Last Tango will be hitting The Orchard Theatre, Dartford from Monday 26 October – Saturday 30 October.

Twenty years of dancing together has seen them become Strictly Come Dancing favourites, World Argentine Tango Champions, and create and star in their own Olivier Award nominated West End productions. The nation’s favourite dancers prepare to take on new projects and say goodbye to audiences across the UK in a brand new, thrilling live performance.

Flavia said; “We have had such a fantastic time creating and dancing in Midnight Tango and Dance ’Til Dawn. It’s an incredible experience to perform live in front of our wonderful audience night after night, but all good things must come to an end, so we’re creating our final ever theatre show. It’s going to be intimate, emotional and full of our award-winning Argentine tango. The Last Tango is going to celebrate our best work and most beautiful dance moves before we finally say farewell to theatre.”

Vincent “The last few years have been intense – we’ve loved it. It may be our final theatre tour but we’re going to go out with a bang! This is going to be our best show yet!”

Vincent and Flavia will be joined on stage by Teddy Kempner, Matthew Gent, Callum Clack, Diana Girbau, Rebecca Herszenhorn, Aaron James, Rebecca Lisewski, Jemima Loddy, Ian Oswald and Grant Thresh.

The Last Tango is directed by Olivier Award winning Choreographer and Director Karen Bruce and produced by Adam Spiegel Productions (The Producers, Dance ‘Til Dawn, Midnight Tango, Love Me Tender, The Mousetrap on Tour).

The show will be at The Orchard Theatre from Monday 26 – Saturday 30 October. Pre-show dining is also available before the show. The Orchard Theatre’s Restaurant provides a range of delicious, unique and memorable dishes, using the freshest local produce and prepared daily by the Head Chef. Reserve your table when booking your show tickets.

THE DETAILS To book tickets or for more information visit orchardtheatre.co.uk or call the Ticket Office on 01322 220000.

8 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

LOCAL LIFE

BEETHOVEN:

The Master

Tonbridge Philharmonic society will be bringing some of Beethoven’s greatest works to Tonbridge School Chapel in November, including his masterpiece Missa Solemnis, as they perform the first concert of their 70th season.

All images © David Robins/TPS

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nder the professional baton of their new music They are also available to purchase from local director, Matthew Willis (pictured left), the mass businesses: is rarely performed by amateur groups, due to the challenging nature of the work – but • Brittens Music, Grove Hill Road, Tunbridge Wells Tonbridge Philharmonic are up for a challenge • Country Garden Florist, 191 High Street, following fabulous reviews for last year’s season.

Tonbridge v o N 1 2 The Missa Solemnis, widely regarded as one of • Wolfit Pet Shop, 10 High Street, Tonbridge 2015 at the composer’s greatest achievements and one of m 7.30p the finest settings of a mass, will be performed by Season tickets are also available at £53 adult, £48 Tonbridge Philharmonic Society choir and orchestra, for senior, £24 Student. with some of the country’s top soloists Helena Dix, Linda Finnie, Paul Austin Kelly and Lukas Kargl.

THE DETAILS The concert also includes Beethoven’s Leonora Overture No 3 and an anthem for anyone crossed in love, Ah! Perfido For further information visit the Tonbridge performed by the impressive Helena Dix. Philharmonic website at: www.tonphil.org.uk Tickets can be purchased at www.tonphil.org.uk/tickets.

The Missa Solemnis, widely regarded as one of the composer’s greatest achievements and one of the finest settings of a mass, will be performed by Tonbridge Philharmonic Society choir and orchestra, with some of the country’s top soloists 10 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

LOCAL LIFE

Stunning

WILDLIFE

PHOTOGRAPHY IN CANTERBURY

from Saturday 26 Sept

The winners of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2015 will go on display for the first time outside of London at the Beaney in Canterbury from Saturday 26 September.

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he winners of the British Wildlife Photography Awards 2015 will go on display for the first time outside of London at the Beaney in Canterbury from Saturday 26 September.

More than 100 images and videos, including winning and commended entries, will be on display in the Beaney’s Special Exhibitions Room until Sunday 15 November.

Established in 2009, the British Wildlife Photography Awards generate an incredible catalogue of exciting, imaginative and artistic images, proving beyond doubt that the country has the richest palette of life to celebrate. In its sixth year, the awards have done more than any other to raise the profile of British wildlife.

The awards were created to celebrate the talents of both amateur and professional photographers. There are 12 separate categories, including animal behaviour, urban wildlife and marine life, as well as two junior categories and a school award.

Chairman of Canterbury City Council’s Community Committee, Cllr Neil Baker, said: “We are delighted to be bringing this hugely popular exhibition to the Beaney, especially as we are the first stop on the national tour. The show features some magnificent images as well as video, and it will be accompanied by a special learning and engagement programme, so it is well worth a visit.”

12 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham said: “Anyone passionate about protecting and preserving wildlife will be inspired by the British Wildlife Photography Awards.”

Admission to the exhibition is free but visitors are asked for a ‘pay what you can’ donation to support future temporary exhibitions. For more information, visit www.thebeaney.co.uk.

The Beaney is located in the heart of the historic city of Canterbury.

18 High Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2RA The Beaney offers an exciting programme of events and activities for schools and colleges designed to inspire young people and enrich learning. To find out more click here.

Relax and unwind over a coffee or light snack whilst admiring our fabulous Museumaker window designed by artist Laura Thomas. The Kitchen is located on the ground floor in the heart of the museum. For more information about eating and drinking at the Beaney please call 01227 8621622.

The Beaney is also home to Canterbury’s Tourist Information Centre.

All proceeds from the Museum’s commercial activity help fund our exhibitions, educational programmes and maintenance of collections and building.

LOCAL LIFE

Rowland Hilder OBE Paintings and other distinguished works

by Rowland Hilder OBE on display at The Historic Dockyard Chatham

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ontinuing its series of successful and nationally significant art exhibitions – which have included works by renowned English painters Sir John Lavery, Sir Stanley Spencer, and Billy Childish – The Historic Dockyard Chatham concludes its diverse 2015 exhibition season in No. 1 Smithery: The Gallery with an eclectic selection of fine art by leading advocate of English landscapes in winter and distinguished artist - Rowland Hilder OBE. Curated by Rowland Hilder aficionado Nettie Iles - one of the three Iles sisters who own and run the Francis Iles Gallery in Rochester, Kent - the exhibition runs from 10th October to 29th November 2015 and “strives to expose the side of Hilder that, for many, is unexplored.”

Speaking at her gallery in Rochester, Kent, Nettie Iles said; “This exhibition is going to be exceptional. It includes some of the iconic paintings which made Rowland’s name synonymous with Kentish and Winter Landscapes, affectionately known by millions as ‘Hilderscapes’: The Garden of England, First Snow and Chiddingstone are all titles that will be recognised by Hilder fans. We recognise Rowland’s passion for sailing - and a ‘useful sky’ – so the marine content will also be strong. We are very lucky to be able to show a few books from a private collection – all illustrated by Hilder, together with several original illustrations, some of which have never been on show before.

Of this, we are sure; this man was a consummate painter and his passionate enthusiasm is his gift to us.”

Alex Patterson, Collections and Galleries Manager at The Historic Dockyard Chatham said; “We are absolutely delighted that we can exhibit these Rowland Hilder works. One of the highlights of this wonderful exhibition for me is the reconstruction of part of Hilder’s studio – visitors will be able to capture the inspiring atmosphere of his studio and what it meant to him; his painting desk aside the massive French door window that led to the garden – with the rolling clouds above London providing an ever changing inspiration for his landscapes, with, mostly sonorous tones of Wagner accompanying his painting day.”

Also on show will be a selection of work from other talented Hilders; Edith, his wife, so skilled at her botanical watercolours; his son Anthony, another gifted marine painter (who has always painted under the name of Flemming, not wanting to piggy-back on his father’s reputation); Heather and Rado, his daughter and son-in-law, both of whom Rowland influenced with generous pointers in painting technique; and grandson Will, a talented contemporary artist, who mainly shows now in Thailand. All in all, a creative dynasty.

14 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

10th Oct 9 2 th Nov 2015

LOCAL LIFE

THIS AUTUMN

Guided garden tours at

Groombridge Place Explore the beautiful grounds at Groombridge Place while learning more about the estate’s fascinating history and plant life, with a series of free guided walks.

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his autumn there will be free walks every weekday, starting at 11.30am. (Admission applies to Groombridge Place).

On Mondays and Tuesdays, visitors can hear about the house’s connection to Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle and how Groombridge inspired a story featuring his world-famous detective, Sherlock Holmes.

Groombridge’s new head gardener, James Cordingley, will lead the tours on Wednesdays and Fridays. Focusing on ‘Trees and Autumn Colour’, James will give an expert insight into the colourful plants and trees to be found on the estate – highlights include the yew planted in 1415 to mark the Battle of Agincourt and a tour around the Wellingtonias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) that date back to the 1850s.

On Fridays, the walk’s focus will be the history of Groombridge Place and the interesting Packer family.

As an extra attraction, there are bird of prey displays at 12.30pm and 3.30pm daily (except Mondays and the winter months).

The walled gardens, which overlook the manor house, are perfect for a relaxing walk and the enchanted forest, reached via the canal walk, provides a longer walk with steeper inclines.

this autumn

The café offers a choice of delicious freshly prepared lunches and cream teas. The resident peacocks can often be observed nearby.

The attraction is less than 4 miles from Tunbridge Wells and accessible by road or via the Spa Valley Railway (please check their timetable before travelling by train).

Groombridge Place, Groombridge Hill, Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 9QG. The attraction is open all year from 10am. Car Parking Free.

Admission: Adults £9.95, Senior Citizens £8.45, Children (3-12 years) £8.45, Family Tickets (2 Adults + 2 Children) £33.95. Garden only ticket for Senior Citizens mid-week £6.

Groups can enjoy an extended tour, if booked in advance, at a cost of £2.50 per person.

The free walks will take place every day except on events days. See the what’s on page of the website for details of events take place at Groombridge Place.

On Fridays, the walk’s focus will be the history of Groombridge Place and the interesting Packer family.

16 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

THE DETAILS For more information call 01892 861444 or visit www.groombridgeplace.com

LOCAL FOCUS

Autumn Walk s

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Pictures: Adam Swaine 1. Knole Park NT Sevenoaks Kent | 2. Dawn on the Kentish Weald 3. Bedgebury Park Kent | 4. Walks on the Kentish Weald (Chiddingstone) 5. Scotney Castle NT Lamberhurst Kent | 6. Sheffield Park NT Sussex 7. Aylesford Village (on the river Medway) Kent

Adam Swaine Photography www.adamswaine.co.uk adamswaine@rocketmail.com | 07798 526 569

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LOCAL HISTORY

John Ruler ripples through the pages of a refreshing new look at the River Darent

Banks and bends carved out history

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t begins as a trickle in the sandstone hills of Westerham and ends in Dartford amid the marshes of the Thames Estuary.

Yet few see the River Darent, a meandering 18 miles of liquid history, in quite the same light as the Medway or the Stour – apart that is from author Rod Shelton, from Otford, whose welcome ‘I never knew that’ approach opens the floodgate to artist Samuel Palmer’s ‘Valley of Vision.’

The Romans, too, likewise regarded the valley’s forest setting as one of their top locations in which to settle; ‘ we can trace remains of their villas at regular intervals almost every mile–and–half along the course of the river,’ writes Rod in what he calls ‘his journey of adventure and discovery.’

The includes delving into what remains of a great Iron Age fort at Oldbury Hill near Ightham. Built in 75BC, it was used to hold back the invading Belgae who, in turn used it as defence against the invading Roman Legions.

And in almost Game of Thrones style, it was Jutish warriors who, under Hengist and Horsa, came not just to rule the Kingdom of Kent (Cantaware Rice in Old English) but, with their homeland in North German and the Fresian Coast (today’s SchleswigHolstein) undergoing constant flooding and tribal fighting, enticed increasingly desperate and homeless immigrants to productive and unspoiled Kent. And what of the deserted villas along the Darent ? It appears the Romans occupied them from 80AD to 180AD – then deserted them for 70 years until slowly returning in 250AD. Was this due to a plague, muses Rod, or perhaps tribal conflict at a time when Rochester became heavily fortified ?

All a far cry from the Darent – the Derva, the Oak River of ancient times – which, as the accompanying map shows, now quietly wends its way almost un-noticed through a perfect potpourri of some of Kent’s finest, and historic, villages and countryside.

Yet this was a river, while used by the Romans to row flat–bottomed grain ships up stream as far as Otford, was also renowned for trout fishing – ‘The silver Darent, In whose waters clear, Ten thousand fishes play…’ wrote Spencer in the Faerie Queen in 1590 – and by the mid –1800s powerful enough to power 30 mills producing everything from flour to paper, to gunpowder and weaving.

Thanks to Rod’s book I, for one, will look at a river, probably best seen as it ripples its way through Shoreham, through fresh and certainly more inquisitive, eyes. To say it is awash with interest is no exaggeration…

A quick glance at the map reveals key tourist spots, along with others far less well known but still blessed with ‘fancy that’ facts – as our round-up of a few reveals.

20 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

Shoreham: This seemingly timeless shot of the medieval bridge and ford sums up Scorubam (Anglo– Saxon for ‘for the village in cleft’); it was here that the talented young landscape artist Samuel Palmer discovered ‘His valley of vision’ and swam in the Darent. Oddly today’s river was diverted from the natural course to suit the needs of the old Shoreham mill.

Eynsford: Always prepared to create a splash, Aegen’s Ford of Saxon times may have provided Eynsford’s name. Look out for Eynsford Castle, a fortified home which, built by the first William de Eynsford in 1087, was surrounded by the Darent which still flows a short distance away. A paper mill, originally a corn mill, which ceased manufacture in 1952 is another reminder of the numerous vanished mills which flourished along the entire length of the river.

Westerham: Best known for the Green with apps now available for walking trails (see www. visitwesterham.org.uk) taking in ‘talking’ statues of Winston Churchill and General Wolfe; it’s the source, too, of the Darent, at this point merely a brook close to Crockham House.

DARTFORD In the spirit of Halloween is the Ghost Painting which hangs in the 500 year old Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel – that of a eight year old girl who died there of tuberculosis. Staff say she is as petulant as any other child; if she can’t get her way she smashes glasses. Nor does she like noise.

Watch out for her running across the balcony …

Jute warriors Hengist and Horsa being welcomed in Kent.

Brasted: Rescued by a local well-wisher, Brasted Cross once stood on the ‘Old road’ to Ide Hill; in 1784 Dr Turton the King’s physician incorporated it into his enlarged park at his new home Brasted Place, placing it on a rustic bridge folly.

Chevening: Away from busy main roads, the hamlet of Chevening earns its ‘fancy that’ rating for being largely overlooked – apart from Chevening House, official residence of The Foreign Secretary; likewise Chipstead where several High Street houses were built around 1450.

© Brian Aldrich

Otford: Wondered what the currently covered building is opposite the pond across The Green ? Only the North Tower of what was remarkably once home to a now vanished moated palace rivalling Hampton Court in size ! It was here that Henry VIII stayed with Katharine of Aragon and a retinue of 40,000 en route to the Field of the Cloth of Gold. The High Street Heritage Centre houses a model, created by Rod, of what it would have looked like in 1520.

With a background in advertising and film production, Rod Shelton is ideally suited to producing a book which goes well beyond just local history to include full colour sections on flora and fauna and industry and architecture. He freely admits he’s no historian simply ‘fascinated with how things work and why they have come about.’ A member of the Darent Catchment Improvement Group, he supports ways to protect and conserve the river and its communities. Either go online at www.darent.co.uk and purchase the book for £25 which includes p&p: or write to Stanhope Publishing, The Corner House, The Green, Otford, TN14 5PE, attaching a cheque for £25 (which includes p&p.) plus return address.

www.thelifemagazines.com

| OCTOBER 2015 21

EDUCATION

Charity and Community

Charity and community have been embraced at Babington House School this term.

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upils from Years 2 to 6 at Babington House School recently embraced the power of the wonderful game of rugby to raise money for disadvantaged children. Pupils clocked up an impressive 7,529 rugby ball passes in 15 minutes, raising significant funds for charities itrust, a children’s education charity, and Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby that changes the lives of disadvantaged and disabled children.

Tim Lello, the Headmaster, said “Rugby is a fantastic game for girls and boys to enjoy at every level and it has been an honour to be part of this worthy initiative here at Babington House”.

Catrin Sherwood, who helped to organise the event said “The children had a wonderful time and there was a competitive spirit among pupils; they managed a huge number of rugby passes in 15 minutes.”

The rugby ball challenge was repeated across the country by schools that are members of the Independent Association of Prep Schools. The final count at Babington House School will contribute to an overall target of 500,000 passes.

The school was also proud to host A Great War Concert. The Babington House School Chamber Choir was in fine voice, when pupils sang so professionally in this Great War Concert.

The evening, a joint venture with the Chislehurst Society, was very well attended by Chislehurst Society members, residents from the Duke of Kent Home in Shepherds Green, staff, parents and many neighbours. It provided a poignant reminder of our debt to those who lived, fought and died during the First World War. We rightly celebrated Ethel Bilbrough, who lived in

22 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

Elmstead Grange during the war, before it became Babington House School. Some of her songs were performed, her paintings admired and extracts from her diary, written during the war, which has now been published by the Imperial War Museum, were read by Joanna Friel, Vice Chair of the Chislehurst Society.

Music Scholars, Lilah Osman (Year 8) and Bryanna Khumalo (Year 11) sang beautiful solos. The audience joined in many popular wartime songs and it was a particular pleasure to hear Miss and Mrs Whittaker sing so beautifully, they are both professional opera singers when not running the music department at Babington. They were superbly accompanied by Miss Flatt, who is also a professional musician in her own right and plays with Sam Smith, including most recently being part of the backing orchestra for the latest James Bond theme tune.

Many members of the audience commented on how much they had enjoyed the evening but also that they had discovered new facts about their surroundings.

Babington House School was delighted to open its doors for this truly community musical event and preserve the legacy of Ethel Bilbrough.

THE DETAILS For further information please contact: Helen Balfour, Marketing Manager Email: hbalfour@babingtonhouse.com Tel: 020 8467 5537 Extn: 291

Sackville

a school for life S

ackville School’s beautiful and extensive grounds were the location for an Autumn Fair and Fun Dog Show last month. Sackville families and alumni were joined by the local community and enjoyed a wide range of activities for all ages including pony rides, a football tournament, dance workshops and a craft market. Live music was provided by students past and present and refreshments were supplied by the PTA. The event, which was highly successful and is set to become a regular fixture in the school’s calendar, is a good example of the special, family atmosphere which characterises the school.

Old Sackvillians have gone down a wide range of career paths and regularly return to share their news. Indeed, former students have been the guest speaker at the school’s annual Prize Giving for the past two years. James Benmore is the acclaimed author of a series of novels based on The Artful Dodger character originally created by Charles Dickens. James is currently working on his third book, Dodger of the Revolution. Sam Richardson, who works for

Former students Henry on double bass and Will on drums play with Head of Music, Francis Griffiths Former student, Lauren, founder of canine care business, Animal Kingdom, helps local vet, Luisa, judge the dog show

Year 8 student, Alex, with her dog

the Lawn Tennis Association developing tennis programmes throughout the country, was the guest of honour this year.

Sam is also co-founder of the charity, Big Change, which aims to raise money for, and awareness of, key issues affecting youth in the UK. Students normally join Sackville School in Year 7, 9 or 12 but applications are considered for entry at other times. The school prides itself on providing a welcoming, supportive environment which enables students to quickly become part of the family and to go on to achieve in their chosen field, whatever that may be.

EDUCATION

Sevenoaks Prep

Grandparents of Nursery and Pre-Prep children at Sevenoaks Prep thanked staff and pupils for the warm welcome they received during the school’s second Grandparents’ Day this term.

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ravelling from near and far, grandparents had a busy morning back at school! The day started with an assembly involving musical and theatrical performances from pupils across the year groups. After coffee, the older students gave guided tours of the school campus before grandparents joined their grandchildren for playtime and a variety of activities which form part of the school’s outdoor education program.

“We were very happy to have the opportunity of seeing our grandchildren in their school environment and to experience for ourselves the wonderful reports we have had from them”, remarked one relative. Another commented that “the confidence and respect the children have at such an early age is quite remarkable and can only be learned by experiencing and living that ethos”.

Nik Pears, Head of the Pre-Prep, values the relationship the school has with grandparents: “Grandparents play a significant role in the lives of many of our children and we believe it is important to recognise and honour this. It is lovely for grandparents to gain an insight into the school, how we do things and our ethos. It is wonderful for our children to have the opportunity to show grandparents the school, their work and introduce their teachers and friends.”

Girls put creativity in the frame

for History challenge

Sydenham High’s firm belief that creativity is a key skill which should be embedded in education was certainly in evidence in the school’s recent History competition entitled: ‘London Through The Ages’.

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tudents aged from 11-17 years old were challenged to think creatively and, importantly, develop their observation skills to interpret the historical theme using photography. The result was a range of 49 striking images that greatly impressed competition judge: internationally acclaimed photographer Emile Holba.

Runners-up 11-year old Olivia Tookey and 12-year old Nina Mattinson both chose very local subjects – a stone Sphinx in the remains of the old Crystal Palace in front of the modern telecommunications tower for Olivia and a collage of tunnels for Nina.

However it was 15-year old Olivia Bertie’s photo of the old and new faces of London’s iconic Routemaster bus passing each other on the street that took the top prize.

All the finalists’ images were displayed at an exhibition in the new Orangery and visitors voted for their favourite as the People’s Choice.

The winner was 12-year old Alannah Bresnihan’s image of an old style red phone box taken on a smartphone – a strong visual commentary on the changes to our ways of communicating in the capital in the last 60 years.

“I loved the fact that so many girls from across the senior school took part in this competition,” said Headteacher Kathryn Pullen. “Exploring the history of their city through photography resulted in such a variety of interpretations of the brief. The talent in this school is phenomenal. At Sydenham High creativity is a key skill that is celebrated, not side-lined.”

THE DETAILS Sydenham High School - GDST 19 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL Tel: 020 8557 7000

HOME ENTERTAINMENT

The Future of Sound: Bang & Olufsen celebrates the first 90 years with the most innovative loudspeaker to date BeoLab 90 is a state-of-the-art loudspeaker for the uncompromising sound enthusiast.

The intelligent landmark loudspeaker from Bang & Olufsen delivers an ultimate sound experience no matter the circumstances.

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eoLab 90 is a celebration of Bang & Olufsen’s innovative heritage and timeless design philosophy in the year of the company’s 90th anniversary.

The highly sophisticated loudspeaker contains a multitude of technologies. It is a perfect mix of worldclass design and acoustics in, what may well be, the most complete and powerful digital loudspeaker ever designed for use in the home.

BeoLab 90 is fitted with Bang & Olufsen’s new Active Room Compensation technology, which makes up for the impact of your room, your furniture, the placement of the loudspeakers and the location of the listening position. By this, it is able to stage the sound so superbly you can hear precisely where the individual band members or the actors in your favourite movie are placed.

“BeoLab 90 is the future of sound. This intelligent loudspeaker measures the acoustical effects of its surroundings and directs superb sound to your favourite listening position.

You do not have to be close to the speaker or even in front of it to get an excellent sound experience,” says Bang & Olufsen CEO, Tue Mantoni.

Control the width and the direction of the sound BeoLab 90 offers unique Beam Width Control, which enables you to change the width of the sound beam to suit different

26 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

listening situations. You can easily change the listening experience from a dedicated sweet spot to a party all-over the room setting, just by the touch of a button. When family and friends are gathered for a film experience, the wide sound setting will provide a great cinematic experience.

BeoLab 90 delivers perfect sound exactly where you want it. With loudspeaker drivers placed in various directions, you can use the Beam Direction Control to steer the sound radiation to your listening location.

With these ground-breaking technologies, Bang & Olufsen has created a sound experience like no one else.

A landmark loudspeaker for the future BeoLab 90 has a unique and impressive appearance with no apparent visual front, which substantiates the allembracing acoustic performance of the loudspeaker.

The 360º-design is based on a complex aluminium cabinet totalling more than 65 kg of aluminium, so the structure is rock solid. The black fabric covers hover like sails in front of the speakers, and the curved wooden base lifts up the large structure from the floor, allowing the loudspeaker to fit in with the interior design anywhere in your home.

“BeoLab 90 is our most complete loudspeaker to date. It is a committed investment in excellent craftsmanship, ideal materials and superior technology. Future Bang & Olufsen products will benefit from the innovation and know-how gained from the development of BeoLab 90 – and our customers will savour in perfect sound from the ultimate loudspeaker for their home,” says Bang & Olufsen CEO, Tue Mantoni.

BeoLab 90 can be experienced in selected Bang & Olufsen stores as of November 17th, 2015 – the 90th anniversary of Bang & Olufsen.

LOCAL HISTORY

Y Hop pickers arriving in Kent by London horse buses.

War–hit East Enders flock to hop fields

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etween the 1920s and 50s hop–picking was the prerogative of Londoners who flooded into what Charles Dickens wrote: ‘Kent, sir - everybody knows Kent - apples, cherries, hops and women.’

About 200,000 East Enders - mostly women and children - filled the ‘hopper’s specials’ trains from London Bridge station in the early hours of the morning. Those who couldn’t afford the fare walked 36 miles instead sleeping by the road when they were tired.

For many East Enders it was the nearest to a holiday they ever got. Cans of corned beef and soup, clothes bought at jumble sales, along with old cooking pots and blankets were stuffed into ‘ hop carts’ made from old prams and tea chests.

In World War Two, many preferred to take their chances in the hop gardens with their children than to face the London Blitz. Some stayed on as agricultural workers or joined the Land Army.

Concluding his history of Kentish hops, JOHN RULER brews on the role of the London’s ‘hoppers’ Town’s history hops back to 14th century

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opefully I’m not being disrespectful in describing Faversham as suffering from an overpowering odour … but like, it or not, the town’s been in brewing since the 14th century, and then as a cottage industry carried out exclusively by women.

Distribution of what was a highly variable, unstable and un–hopped ale was through two inns and a large number of drink sellers.

Dig a bit deeper, as John Owen, archivist at Shepherd Neame. (Britain’s oldest brewery founded in 1698 and featured in our April issue)

Brew house, ale and hop stores and yard 1865

has done in his history of Faversham–based brewers and it seems hops may have grown wild in Britain long before the supposed Bavarian discovery of hopped beer in the ninth century.

Hops, he writes, were used then as vegetables with the long stems made into rope and the fluffy clusters of flowers ideal packing material for a fragile cargo.

None of this would have come to light had it not been for the 1970 discovery of a boat in the mud of Graveney Marshes , possibly English, dating to around 900AD which contained large quantities of , yes, hops.

Whether this was a random event, or evidence of a hop trade, will be debated for years.

What can be reliably confirmed is that until the 19th century sterilised ale remained fundamental to health at a time when pure water was rarely available.

In 1327 there were 87 brewsters in Faversham all of them women; 65 of these were described as wives, hence the common name of ale wife. In addition to brewing by the locals, was the challenge set by the Abbey of Faversham after 1148 when 12 monks, from Bermondsey, including probably a brewer, began probably not just the most sophisticated operation in Faversham but the one with the largest output.

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ou could say William Alexander of Castle Farm, Shoreham, has hopped from one market to another. For though a fading parchment map helped trace continuous hop growing at the farm to at least 1720, production has switched from supplying breweries to more decorative uses.

These now help bring a touch of Old England to everything from pubs and weddings to television and film sets. This includes the TV version of Camelot and Vikings currently being filmed in Ireland.

Understandably so … for the past 25 years, he has been exploring the versatility of a crop known by the Romans as a culinary delicacy and by medieval monks for its herbal properties.

Castle Farm once had 35 acres of commercial hops for brewing – but their select five acres now produces what William calls ‘dramatically sized hops which grow along the full length of the bine.’ ‘These are grown at a low density so the sunlight filters through and encourages even growth.’

And while mechanisation has replaced the pickers, the sight of these vigorous perennial plants twirled round their familiar poles as high as five metres, around 16 feet, inevitably evokes a delightful picture of rural Kent today.

Talking of which the neighbouring Watercraft Wood at Halstead once provided a steady supply of hop poles, a typical order in 1865 being for 200 at 16s 6d (82 1/2 p) per hundred from the major timber yard started by John Bowen In 1846 Halstead’s own involvement in hops, however, was purely speculative and, with rows brewing over levies, fruit growing eventually took over as the major money– spinner both here and in the Biggin Hill area.

THE DETAILS englandandenglishhistory.com; favershamsociety.org; hopshop.co.uk pasttimespress.co.uk (Westerham); shepherdneame.co.uk; yaldinghistory. webplus.net; otford.co.uk/historicalsociety; Photos & books : Bromley Libraries ( The Story if Green Street Green); Thomas Alexander; Geoffrey Kitchener; Edwin Thompson.

LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT

30 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

LUXURY PROPERTY

32 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

0800 6893 451 Email: info@maidsin.co.uk Web: www.maidsin.co.uk

Telephone:

A maid service created by you

MaidsIn.co.uk was created by the experienced director of a hotelier cleaning company servicing 5***** hotels in the capital for over 35 years.

Our teams of maid have the training and experience to provide the following services: household cleaning, window cleaning, gardening services and dog walking.

The best thing about MaidsIn.co.uk is that we know the industry 100%, however this is not enough as we wish to learn what your needs and desires are. After all, no two houses are the same and so it goes with the owners. For peace of mind, all of our cleaners are also checked by a third party checking service called Onfido and trained to NVQ Level 1 in cleaning and hygiene.

Living the Dream just became reality

Portico Gallery

launches online store evakingston.co.uk Portico Gallery in Riverhead has recently launched a new online store, www.evakingston.co.uk.

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1) Archipelago – Wheatear block £37; Bearded Tit £30 2) Colleen Bowls – porcelain bowls ranging from £30 to £90 3) Janette with Animo Glass – Animo Glass ranging from £20 to £100 4) Just Trade Swallow Earrings - £9 5) Natalie Bond – Himalayan Pink Bath Salts 250ml £17.50; Rose Geranium & Patchouli Skin Balm 60ml £15; Peppermint & Spearmint Lipbalm £45 6) Royal Native Oyster Stores Whitstable by Melvyn Evans - £140 7) Tessa Oates – Black and White Indian Runner Ducks £65 each 8) Wren Necklace (Glover and Smith) £33.50

he website offers shoppers an exciting and eclectic range of art and design-led gifts, contemporary art, homeware, lifestyle and interior products. Gallery owner Malcom explains, “This is a really exciting new phase in the development of our business. My wife Janette recently left her successful career in London to join me in the gallery and pursue her vision of developing our collection and offering it to a wider online audience. The new brand and website is named Eva Kingston, after Janette’s mum.”

Malcolm and Janette are passionate about their collection. As Janette observes, “I’ve been busy finding new artists and suppliers with high quality original products for our customers at accessible prices. It’s an ongoing endeavour; I will always be on the look-out for the new and exciting additions. It’s been a thoroughly enjoyable challenge developing our website, ensuring that it is intuitive to use and tells the story behind each of our artists and brands.”

The website also has some really great features. The gift list can be used for occasions such as birthdays, weddings or Christmas. “So now our customers can be sure they are going receive the perfect gift from their friends and family!” Janette enthuses, “we also provide a gift wrap service to make purchases extra special, and of course there is a free “click and collect” so that local customers can buy online and come and collect in their purchase in store.” www.evakingston.co.uk features work from talented artists and artisans. As Janette explains, “we are so proud to represent some really fabulous artists; for example Melvyn Evans whose limited edition lino print landscapes are inspired by Sevenoaks and seascapes by Hastings and Whitstable; Lamberhurst based ceramicist Colleen Davies’ stunning porcelain and stoneware bowls and Tessa Oates who, living opposite the Chipstead lake has the perfect inspiration at her doorstep for her delightful raku fired bird pots.”

We also support small UK producers such as Glover & Smith who design and make award-winning lead-free pewter jewellery and giftware; Natalie Bond Organics who produce 100% organic natural skincare products and beautifully scented hand-poured candles and Animo Glass who hand-etch their frieze bowls in the UK”.

The Eva Kingston collection also includes the finest products from independent suppliers of quality, value for money products which are based in the UK but working with artisans in developing countries. As Janette explains; “I’m passionate about supporting brands that offer fair trade, unusual interesting products; like Archipelago, whose hand-carved and painted wooden birds and fish are designed in the UK by British artists and made in just one village in Indonesia, and Just Trade who work with artisans to produce beautiful handcrafted jewellery in India and South America.

If you are looking for something a little different for your home or Christmas and birthday gifts for friends or family, take a look at www.evakingston.co.uk.

THE DETAILS Address: Address: Eva Kingston at Portico Gallery, 25 London Road, Riverhead, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 2BU Telephone: 01732 459350 E mail janette@evakingston.co.uk

34 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

LONDON FASHION WEEK www.thelifemagazines.com

| OCTOBER 2015 35

LONDON FASHION WEEK

FASHION FAST-FORWARD Twice a year, the global fashion industry descends upon our country’s capital to preview next season’s collections, and the latest London Fashion Week has seen us halt our winter wardrobe planning to daydream about more summery outfits.

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o what does SS16 have in store for us, according to Britain’s most trend-setting brands?

From blackest black at Burberry to brightest neon at Christopher Kane, Giles’ regal gowns to David Koma’s skimpy skirts, the shows were diverse and inventive, but presented plenty of wearable trends too.

These are the looks we’ll be lusting after next spring...

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT THE SHOW: Topshop Unique THE FROW: Anna Wintour, Suki Waterhouse and Alexa Chung sat side by side.

THE LOOK: Bringing together the saucy and the sweet baby blue feminine frocks slashed almost to the hip, long jackets over short skirts - every ensemble on the Topshop catwalk had an element of what the French call ‘deshabille’.

This undressed quality extended to coats belted, but falling off the shoulders, pyjama-esque two-piece sets, and tux jackets and shirts so big they look borrowed from a City boy the morning after the night before. It was toned down with the addition of librarian tank knits and cardigans, and a smattering of bold spots.

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GOING TO WAIST THE SHOW: David Koma

THE FROW: The Britpack was out in force. Kate, Cara, Sienna, Suki and Benedict Cumberbatch, to name but a few.

THE FROW: At 11am on a Sunday, the celebs were apparently still snoozing, but a bevvy of bright-eyed bloggers were in attendance.

THE LOOK: The laser-cut show invite was the first clue to the fabric that would dominate at Burberry. From outerwear to dresses and even shirts for the boys, ornate lace and macrame bound this beautiful collection together. But, save for a handful of candy-coloured minidresses and creamy floorlengthers, this was a decidedly gothic array, complete with the chicest hoodies you’ve ever seen, a black velvet cape and a moody berry lip. Add to that low-slung backpacks alongside lots of regimental gold braiding on the house’s signature trenches and it makes sense that the show was titled ‘Function Regalia’.

THE LOOK: There was nothing subtle about the sex appeal David Koma was selling for SS16. Thigh-skimming A-line hems, flesh-toned mesh, the skimpiest of racer back straps for the pop stars and actresses who love his work (Beyonce, Rihanna and Gwyneth Paltrow, to name a few), there were plenty of monochrome frocks to choose from. For mere mortals, it’s a tougher sell, as even the trouser and top combinations were corseted or bound tightly on the waist.

Aesthetically, the collection was just as tight, and underscored the focus on the midriff that’s emerging for spring.

A LACY AFFAIR THE SHOW: Burberry Prorsum

THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT THE SHOW: Christopher Kane THE FROW: Anna Wintour sat next to director Baz Luhrmann, while fashion BFFs Alexa Chung and Daisy Lowe nattered nearby.

THE LOOK: The must-have accessory of SS16? Cable ties, according to Christopher Kane. They were used as hair bands and bracelets, fashioned into chokers and used to gather silk on a slinky black halter dress, just one of the nifty tricks employed by the crown prince of creativity in his latest show.

What else was new? Dresses pieced together from shards of fabric, spray-painted with dye; leather printed with cell-like splodges; scrawly embroidery - the collection was packed to the rafters with ideas. But there was nostalgia too, in the neon lace shirting that recalled Kane’s debut. Using black as a conduit for saturated hues has become something of a Kane signature and once again, it didn’t disappoint.

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| OCTOBER 2015 37

LONDON FASHION WEEK HISTORY REPEATING THE SHOW: Giles THE FROW: The Frow was actually eclipsed by the super-est catwalk line-up of the week, which included Eva Herzigova, Alek Wek, Erin O’Connor and Karen Elson.

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THE LOOK: After his hugely influential autumn/winter collection, no wonder Giles took the ‘don’t reinvent the wheel’ approach, with another historicallyinclined outing. So there were more Elizabethan ruffles on collars and sleeves, but spring’s colour palette was, on the whole, paler - the ivory satin and dusky pink columns were a highlight, as was a delicate recurring foxglove print.

Add to that some grand, feathered headpieces and Karen Elson (a dead ringer for a young Elizabeth I) closing in a regal, cobwebbed organza gown, and the show felt at once opulent and ethereal.

A ROARING SUCCESS THE SHOW: Daks THE FROW: Model Chloe Lloyd with pop star beau Josh Cuthbert, plus a bunch of the usual Made In Chelsea faces.

THE LOOK: From the Art Deco backdrop to the jazzy soundtrack, it was clear exactly where we were heading for summer with British heritage brand Daks. Sure enough, the collection quickly ticked off most of the major signposts to Twenties and Thirties fashion: drop-waist dresses with pleated skirts; capacious marbled gowns; a nifty deco print and sweet spectator shoes. There was a hint of the Sixties, too, in the brown suede jackets and wide-belted skirts. A historical mish-mash? Far from it, this was a retro mix that really worked.

38 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

BEAUTY

40 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH She may not be a household name (yet), but on the internet, the girl known as Fleur de Force is nothing short of a megastar.

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aving amassed 1.3 million YouTube subscribers and more than 180 million views across her two channels, the pretty blonde is one of a handful of British video bloggers - alongside Zoella and Tanya Burr - who have truly risen to the top of the ‘vlogging’ game.

The 27-year-old started posting chatty make-up tutorials online while at university and by the time she graduated, had turned her hobby it into a full-time job (thanks to online ad revenue).

“When I started, there were only a few people doing it professionally, and now it’s turned into an industry, which is really incredible,” she says.

There are downsides, however, to the busy blogger lifestyle.

“When things become more professional, you have less time to hang out and see your friends, people are suddenly saying, ‘I’m busy for the next month’, but it’s far outweighed by everything else.

Being able to do something I love is the best.”

LIPS w READ OUR r fo be plumping Six years after her first video, Northamptonshire-based ay m s er gn , While desi the catwalks Fleur is about to embark on a US tour to promote her book e-up’ look on ak ch m ar o ‘n se e re th w The Glam Guide and has just launched a capsule collection of real world, ne lipstick back in the ly a nation of al tu ac lipglosses and eyeshadow quads with FeelUnique. re e’ ch of un la e reveals w th k rvey to mar “I mainly talk about make-up, so having my own range has that s al ve lovers. A su re e r Addict rang always been a dream,” she says excitedly. “Going to the factory the new Dio ving a good ha ve lie be en t, was amazing, I’d never gone behind the scenes like that before.”

76% of wom ry importan portant or ve el fe ed lipstick is im ey But surely, with all the vlogger events and brand rv su e os th of % while 75 e and sexier collaborations she does, Fleur has picked up lots of pro make-up tiv ac tr at , confident keep artist tips behind the scenes? ng lippy. So after applyi , girls.

“Not many, to be honest,” she laughs. “Usually when I get my slicking it on make-up done, I’m not happy with it! I end up going back and tweaking it.”

Well, at least she’ll never have to go shopping, being inundated with cosmetics from brands hoping they’ll end up on YouTube, right? Nope.

“I am 100% a shopper!” Fleur insists. “I never tend to ask for anything, I think it’s really important to keep that love for products. If you love something enough to buy it, that says a lot.”

So what’s always on this vlogger’s shopping list then?

Apart from her own collection (she says the Written In The Stars lipgloss, £6.99, FeelUnique.com, is her everyday essential at the moment - “it’s like your lips but better”), Fleur has a whole raft of can’t-live-without favourites she’s more than happy to share.

Here, she talks us through her luxury favourites and hottest high street buys...

Beauty Bulletin

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| OCTOBER 2015 41

BEAUTY

&

TRIED TESTED

Our guinea pigs put three firming creams to the test on their wobbly bits... w Bliss Fatgirlslim Hide & Glow Sleek Firming and Luminous Tinted Body Spray, £30 (www.blissworld.co.uk) “The spray is easy and quick to use - and although I didn’t find it particularly ‘firming’, the added plus point of being tinted means it hides a multitude of sins. The tint is incredibly natural and requires very little blending - perfect for getting those pins out during the colder months.”

3/5 w Soap and Glory Sit Tight Super-Intense 4-D Targeted Firming and Smoothing Lower Body Serum, £16.50, Boots “The three roller balls on this chunky tube make application a doddle. The gel feels cool when it goes on, then I felt a slight tingling, warm sensation. I’ve been using it on my thighs and while I’ve not noticed a massive difference in firming, it certainly feels nice, so I will persevere.”

3/5 w Cloud 9 Body Makeover Skin Firming Body Gel & Cellulite Treatment, £35 (www.cloud9skin.com) “The cool blue gel absorbed quickly - it did leave a touch of redness and tingling feeling, but wasn’t unpleasant. I used it twice a day and spent 15 minutes massaging it into my bum, tum, and thighs. After three weeks I noticed my thighs and bum felt and looked smoother and my stomach didn’t feel so flabby.”

4/5 42 OCTOBER 2015

BEAUTY BLOWOUTS w Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in Beige 20, £32, Boots “Chanel foundation is my all-time favourite, I first got the Vitalumiere Aqua in shade B20 four or five years ago and I still go back to it now, it’s still in nearly every video I do. I’m a bit of a broken record about that one!” w Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner in Intense Black, £13 (www.stila.co.uk) “Stila liquid eyeliner is the best, it’s called Stay All Day and it really does.”

BUY IT NOW

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w Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow, £49 (www.charlottetilbury.com) “Charlotte Tilbury’s range is really lovely. Her lipsticks are great, as is the Film Star Bronze and Glow.”

w Yves Saint Laurent Volume Effet Faux Cils Luxurious Mascara, £20, Debenhams “I love YSL mascara, especially the Faux Cils effect.” w Ellis Faas Concealer, £22, BeautyBay.com “There’s a new brand I’ve found called Ellis Faas. It’s quite a niche brand, their concealer is amazing.”

BARGAIN BUYS w Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Black, £3.99, LloydsPharmacy “This is so good, it’s really similar to a lot of the high-end gel eyeliners you can get.” w Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, £3.99, Superdrug “This stuff is AMAZING!” w Barry M Sunset Daylight Curing Nail Paint in Fuchsia Generation, £4.99 (www.barrym.com) “Barry M nail varnishes are amazing and the new Daylight Curing ones are so good.

You buy the colour and a top coat separately, they last really well.” w Max Factor Masterpiece Transform Mascara, £6.99, FragranceDirect.co.uk “I love Max Factor mascaras, especially if you get them on offer.” w Soap & Glory Glow All Out Luminizing Face Powder, £11 (www.soapandglory.com) “Soap & Glory’s highlighting powder, which is called Glow All Out, is really, really good.

Rather than too much glitter, it’s got a really beautiful glow to it.”

Health’s Angels RejuvaDetox is the world’s first guaranteed weight loss and wellness system.

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f you want to lose weight we guarantee results or we give you free treatments until you do. In addition to this, if you want to tackle a health problem, our clients have achieved life changing results, many coming off long term medication (in conjunction with their GP’s consent).

Our flagship and unrivalled weight loss system RejuvaDetox is a unique and amazingly effective weight/inch loss and detoxification programme. Over the last 15 years we have seen clients achieve average losses of 12-19 lbs in 4 weeks and overall body inch loss of 16-27 inches in just one month!

The 40 minute electronic, lymphatic detox treatment coupled with a 1,500 + calorie a day food plan of natural healthy and deliciously ‘clean’ foods allows the body to purge unwanted intestinal plaque and toxins from the body. As toxins are 2.5 times heavier than fat, weight and inch loss is outstanding and guaranteed as well as helping accelerate absorption and both internal and external anti ageing!

In light of its success and efficacy, RejuvaDetox has and continues to treat many health professionals from GP’s to Nurses along with Health Practitioners to celebrities and journalists.

RejuvaDetox have even treated a Prime Minister’s wife! (A whole page of the Daily Mail was dedicated to her treatment!)]

Call now for a 20 minute free consultation and intestinal scan to see how toxic you are and how we can help THE DETAILS Health’s Angels 23 Bourne Road, Bexley ,Kent DA5 1LW 01322 555600 facebook.com/healthsangels

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury

What are cruciate ligaments?

There are two cruciate ligaments in the knee. The anterior running from front of the knee to the back; and the posterior cruciate running from back to front. They appear to be crossing each other when seen from the front hence the name. These ligaments are very important stabilizers of the knee. The cruciates are very strong ligaments and can withstand huge amounts of load before rupturing.

activities. It becomes difficult to participate in sports. Since the knee becomes unstable other structures in the knee remain at risk of further trauma.

How is this injury managed?

Management involves examination and imaging with MRI scan. Depending on the findings the

physiotherapy, muscle strengthening exercises and the use of braces.

Repair of the torn ligament is not possible and the most common method of treatment is reconstruction. Reconstruction is carried out using one of the following n Hamstring tendons from the patient n Patella tendon from the patient. n Quadriceps tendon from patient. n Allograft from cadaveric donor. n Synthetic ligament.

How are they injured?

They are damaged due to sporting accidents and other high energy trauma. Sports requiring pivoting on the knee, like football, skiing, rugby, etc, are the usual culprits.

Our choice of reconstruction is the all arthroscopic technique using hamstring tendon from the same leg. This allows us to rehabilitate patients early and graft site has minimal morbidity.

The surgery is carried out as a day case procedure and physiotherapy starts the following day.

The patient goes through an accelerated physiotherapy programme with specific goals at different points in time, aiming return to sport specific exercises at 6 months from the surgery and return to full contact sporting activities at 9 months.

What are the symptoms?

Cruciates are vascular structures. Cruciate injury presents with as a painful swollen knee due to bleeding in the joint. Subsequently the patient is left with a weak knee which gives way with twisting activities or even with normal

If you have a knee problem and wish to book an appointment with Mr George Tselentakis, an Orthopaedic Consultant based at North Downs Hospital, call on 0800 0468036 or enquire online www.northdownshospital.co.uk

cruciate ligament injury can be treated nonsurgically with specific rehabilitation or surgical reconstruction.

Non-surgical management involves

BEAUTY

Gillian Huntley picks up Gold at 1st Kent

‘Health & Beauty Awards’ Kent based Aesthetic Practitioner Gillian Huntley, owner of appearances aesthetics, wins Gold for “Aesthetic Practitioner of the Year” at the “1st” Kent Health & Beauty Awards last month. For nearly 30 years (next year) she has been transforming the lives of her clients with the variety of aesthetic and beauty treatments she is able to offer, in Chislehurst and the surrounding areas.

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y continued Industry experience ensures I provide a dedicated, passionate, professional and personalised service, focusing on delivering the highest standards for my clients.

I achieve this through Permanent Cosmetic Tattooing of Eyebrows, Eyeliners, Advanced Medical Tattooing for creating new Areolas and Nipples. Advanced Electrolysis for the removals of many skin lesions, skin tags, moles, veins Mesotherapy for improving scars, pitting, fine lines and wrinkles.

“I am thrilled to win this Award. It covers a life time of achievement for me” said Gillian.

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illian originally built/owned Award Winning Salon GEMS in Bexleyheath, and after researching semi-permanent make-up back in 1999, a treatment virtually unheard of in the UK during that time, Gillian trained in the UK and USA to become one of the first Semi-permanent make-up technicans in the UK. Although anyone can book in for her tattooing treatments, it is especially suitable for people who have lost their hair, cancer sufferers who are or who have undergone chemotherapy, alopecia, trichotillomania (a compulsion to pull ones hair out particularly from the head, eyebrows and eyelashes) It is one of Gillian’s passions to see more cosmetic tattooing become available on the NHS and bring confidence to so many people.

To win this award is great recognition for Gillian. She also gives up her time outside of work to speak at support groups for cancer, alopecia, trichotillomania, burns and scar sufferers and victims. She also is proud and happy to be able to “give back” with offering on complimentary eyebrow or areola treatment each month to Cancer, Alopecia or trichotillomania sufferers.

Gillian is currently a “Double” Finalist for the Bromley Business Awards being held on Thursday 15th October at The Warren

THE DETAILS To find out more about the treatments and services on offer through appearances aesthetics, contact Gillian on 07711 067 789 or via email her at appearances4u@me.com appearances4u

WATCHES

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KITCHEN LIFE THE QUALITY KITCHEN GUIDE • OCTOBER 2015

LOCAL EXPERIENCED KITCHEN PROFESSIONALS CONTEMPORARY KITCHEN DESIGN CHOOSING THE RIGHT KITCHEN KITCHENS THAT REFLECT YOUR STYLE www.thelifemagazines.com

| OCTOBER 2015 49

kitchens

Who are

Kitchen Design of Sevenoaks?

We’re a family run partnership offering a wealth of experience developed over 35 years along with a passion for good design and attention to detail.

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ur aim is to provide a complete package to suit each and every customer’s needs. Whether it is a project requiring a total refurbishment of the whole room or a kitchen to be installed into a new build house or extension. Happy to liaise with builders and architects we have professional and experienced fitting teams who can adapt to every situation.

Clients generally have an idea of what they want to achieve and it’s our job is to develop those ideas, advise and guide the client throughout the process. Our specifications, plans, elevation drawings(drawn by hand) and computer generated visuals are all provided to give clients the best chance to be totally involved in the various stages of design for their own project. We genuinely enjoy what we do and that’s how it should be.

Who are your main suppliers?

Firstly let’s say that we like to use local suppliers wherever possible. Our main furniture supplier, Stonehams are based at Sidcup. Also a family run business, now celebrating their 151st year. From painted shaker style traditional furniture through to high gloss finish contemporary and everything between.

Our suppliers for Granite, Quartz and Corian are all local and that means we can work closely with them to ensure the best end result.

What about appliances?

We rate German engineering so Neff, Bosch, Siemens, Gaggenau and Miele are a good starting point. We then cherry pick from various other manufacturers around the world such as Fisher & Paykel, Quooker, ISE and others for specific solutions to suit each customers requirements.

Anything else?

To complete a project we can supply and install decorative

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glass splashbacks, under floor heating systems, floor coverings (porcelain, stone, wood or Amtico), LED lighting, radiators, sound systems and generally anything else the client wishes to add. The list goes on.

What’s the single most important part of the project?

That’s an easy one to answer. The single most important part to ensure customer satisfaction being the fitters. They are key to the whole project. Our experienced fitting teams realise that happy customers mean recommendations, so they give a lot of time and effort to ensure customer satisfaction.

Arriving on time, being courteous, respecting people’s homes and producing an installation we can all be proud of. Nothing beats the satisfaction of seeing a beautifully finished project and customers telling us how pleased they are with the finished job.

What happens if things go wrong?

In the real world mistakes happen (it proves we’re human) and it’s for this reason we like to deal with local suppliers wherever possible. The support we get from our suppliers is exemplary and they too realise that sometimes when things go wrong it’s how you handle the situation that can actually impress clients. We like a challenge.

THE DETAILS Showroom Address: 118 London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1BA www.kdofsevenoaks.com Tel: 01732 741100 E-mail: info@kdofsevenoaks.com

kitchens

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kitchens

Grants of sevenoaks

John Grant has been creating high quality, bespoke kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, studies and free standing furniture for over 30 years.

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ach piece of furniture, whether free standing or fitted is created to my client’s individual design and personal needs. I am keen to listen to your ideas, and advise on all wood types and their benefits, as well as paint finishes and the resulting appearance. “I combine traditional hand crafted joinery methods, and hand finishing to the highest standards with modern high quality fittings, accessories and appliances.

I encourage my clients to view each commission as it takes shape at my workshop in Seal, to ensure that their needs are met, even if they change as the work progresses. I arrange and coordinate the whole process from design to completion.

THE DETAILS Unit 3, Chart Farm Seal Chart, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0ES Telephone: 01732 763610 | 07809 504251 info@grantsofsevenoaks.co.uk www.grantsofsevenoaks.co.uk

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Kitchens

r e v o c s i D design in the

contemporary kitchen showroom

At the heart of the home is the kitchen. It takes a central position in our lives, not merely as a space for food preparation but an area for living and entertaining. This is reflected in how kitchen design is approached and the attention paid to individual features.

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he hunt for inspiration now often begins online, on Pinterest, Houzz or kitchen retail sites; yet, the showroom remains an important resource in the quest for the perfect kitchen.

On Trend The showroom is where you, as a customer, can discover the latest trends. At Stoneham Kitchens we regularly refresh, modify and add to our showroom, so it always exhibits the latest in kitchen design and technology. In the showroom you will find, for example, islands fitted with integrated appliances, such as a Miele tepan yaki or a pop-up extractor fan, as well as extended breakfast bars designed to accommodate guests. Such features represent the contemporary kitchen, which is defined by clean-line designs

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and a desire to integrate with the surrounding living area.

We also give showcase the latest materials; for example, glass, and we have played with its place in design, incorporating it into breakfast bars or creating innovative glass splashbacks. Trends in decorative relief and smooth or textured, painted cabinetry are elements brought together and exhibited in the showroom for your detailed evaluation.

A Tactile Experience The kitchen showroom is like an interactive swatch book presenting a myriad of finishes for your personal consideration. It enables you to experiment and learn if you prefer the feel of polished Corian or porous Granite.

The small finishes, which add that final element of luxury, are also best experienced in the showroom. You can

The showroom is where you, as a customer, can discover the latest trends. At Stoneham Kitchens we regularly refresh, modify and add to our showroom, so it always exhibits the latest in kitchen design and technology.

assess how to optimise your storage space and experience the pleasure of soft close hinges. With everything at your fingertips, a trip to the kitchen showroom is an ideal time to evaluate the dimensions, heights and widths of different units and furniture, become aware of weights and assess what will fit with your lifestyle.

Triumphs of Technology Beneath the sleek surfaces and accented edges of the contemporary kitchen is some seriously innovative technology. New appliances are always being introduced, and a good kitchen showroom is the best place to discover them as they hit the market - with the added benefit of unbiased advice from people who know kitchens. The installation of functioning appliances in the showroom, for example steam combination cookers or pyrolytic multi-function ovens, induction hobs, or extractors or a quality coffee machine, enhances your experience and understanding - and having a fresh cup of coffee in your hand can only assist the kitchen selection process.

Meet the Team You won’t be surprised to learn that the showroom is a great place to speak to industry experts – retailers, designers and maybe even manufacturers – all well equipped to advise. It’s an opportunity to meet the people that you’ll be working with, define your vision and receive guidance on how best to achieve the kitchen that you have envisaged.

The kitchen showroom is where ideas come together, where, as a customer, you can see and, importantly, feel the best on offer. At Stoneham, our factory showroom in Sidcup is intended to inspire and with our network of appointed kitchen centres nationally we are there every step of the way to help you realise your ideal kitchen.

THE DETAILS Stoneham Kitchens, www.stoneham-kitchens.co.uk, 020 8300 8181, kitchens@stoneham.plc.uk.

Or find us on social media.

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| OCTOBER 2015 57

kitchens

Instant Transformation

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erving customer in Kent & South East London is Granite Transformations a owner operated company offering the ultimate in Kitchen Makeover solutions.

The multi award winning company is celebrating its 14th year of business, with its unique offering of granite, quartz and glass worktops that fit directly over your existing kitchen surface. With our exclusive 6.5mmm engineered stone fitting is achieved in just one day and often includes the upgrade of appliances such as sinks, taps and ovens at the same time and offered at trade pricing.

In addition, we offer a complete kitchen door replacement service from stripping back to the bare carcass and changing doors, panels, cornice & pelmets to give you that truly new kitchen look for a fraction of the cost of a new kitchen and without the mess and demolition.

With many styles of new and contemporary doors and over thirty colours to choose for the design possibilities are endless and all fitted by our own long serving professional fitting staff. Every item is made bespoke to your exact requirements and all the worktops are manufactured in our head office in Tunbridge Wells, Kent

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As members of Checkatrade we also boast an impressive 1100+ reputation reports posted on line with an average score of 9.9 for its remarkable service and attention to detail to provide the customer with a swift and hassle free service with stunning results. To see the very latest on what our customers are saying about us visit: www. checkatrade.com/ granitetransformationstunbridgewells We have showrooms in Tunbridge Wells, Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in Sidcup and Polhill Garden Centre, Sevenoaks where you can see our product and speak to one of our staff to discuss your requirements. We offer free in home consultations with one of our designers to show you exactly how we can transform your kitchen to suit your desired style and budget.

With many styles of new and contemporary doors and over thirty colours to choose for the design possibilities are endless

THE DETAILS Alternatively, visit our website at www. granitetransformations. co.uk to see how our product and service can help you or simply call 01892 517385 for more information or to book an appointment.

kitchens

Choosing the right

kitchen

Baffled by the wide range of kitchens for your home? Let us help you through the maze…

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uying a new kitchen is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make for your home. And yet selecting the one that’s right for you – your tastes and your demands – can be bewildering in the face of so much choice. From traditional styles through to ultra modern, from handmade to flatpacks – there really is a mind-boggling range to choose from, which could entail making many trips to a variety of manufacturers to see which is the one for you.

That’s where one local supplier has an advantage. By having a variety of kitchen roomsets made up and on display in their head office supercentre in Heathfield, East Sussex, County – The Home Improvers can show you exactly what’s available and demonstrate the wide range of styles, along with all the small details that can make such a big difference.

See for yourself things such as the method of construction – is it solid timber with traditional joints; or man-made materials? How robust are the drawers and cupboard hinges? How durable and easy to keep clean are the work surfaces? No matter how fabulous the pictures are in a glossy brochure there is nothing like touching the items themselves to evaluate them.

County have expert in-house designers to offer invaluable guidance to ensure the new kitchen you choose will be one that you’re proud of for many years to come. They’ll help you prioritise your requirements: are you

looking for practicality for cooking? Or style for entertaining? Traditional style or contemporary?

Large or compact? Low budget? Or is money no object? Because County offer such a wide range of kitchens they can tailor your kitchen to achieve exactly the effect you desire. Current trends in design include glass splashbacks behind

sinks and work surfaces. These are available in a variety of finishes including pearlised, metallic, matt or sparkly! County supply kitchens from manufacturers such as Mereway Town and Country Collection, Cucina Colore, English Revival, Crown Imperial, Trend Interiors and Prentice Furniture, thus covering everything from the most prestigious through to lower

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budget kitchens. They also display a full range of materials for finishing work surfaces, walls and floors, including granite, quartz and marble as well as traditional timber.

County have their own trained fitters but are happy to supply only. Having established an enviable reputation for cost-effectiveness which has made them attractive to many builders and tradesmen County’s showrooms are ideal for trade customers as well as retail customers, so they too can see what they are getting. And that applies to other products such as bathrooms; again, County have room sets made up so that you can see exactly how the furniture will look and work for you. Famous brands on offer include Kohler, Matki, Hans Grohe, Aqualisa, covering everything from bathrooms through to showers, wet rooms and cloak rooms.

So if you’d like some hand-holding while you negotiate the maze of options available to you when choosing a new kitchen (or bathroom) get in touch with County – The Home Improvers.

THE DETAILS County – The Home Improvers have showrooms in Heathfield, Tunbridge Wells, Haywards Heath and Hailsham. For further information call them on 0800 542 6102, or visit www.thecountygroup.co.uk

kitchens

The festive season is on its way!

Creating the warmest of welcomes has been our inspiration this season.

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hat makes an English home unique is the clever combination of elegance and informality. A home where great love and attention goes into creating beautiful, practical rooms but where a warm welcome is always the most important consideration. A home with a heart and soul, rather than perfectly kept spaces.

Rooms in which to live well and laugh often!

We’ve designed hallways to invite people into, built tables ready for guests, created kitchens perfect for parties, found lighting to set the mood and mixed colours that exude warmth.

So whether you are opening your door to friends or closing it to stay cosy inside, make your way to NEPTUNE TONBRIDGE, to make your home the only place to be this Autumn.

THE DETAILS Neptune Tonbridge, 1-2 Tannery Road, TN9 1RF, 01732 351866 info@neptunetonbridge.com

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KITCHENS

Tilemates for kitchen tiles in every style

In recent years grey has emerged as the colour of choice for kitchens and it would be hard to find a better combination than grey kitchen units paired with a glossy white tile.

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lossy rectangular white wall tiles are a design classic and have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent times, largely due to their versatility and the ease of pairing them with strong hues.

Timeless and fresh, white tiles can be a great way to make a kitchen feel clean, light and more spacious. Whilst large format white floor tiles with rectified edges laid closely together with minimal grout lines, further enhance the sleek and seamless look.

The trend for pretty, vintage-inspired pastel kitchens is also going strong and rustic edge white wall tiles are an ideal accompaniment for kitchen cabinetry in quaint candy hues. Where kitchen units are painted in soft pastel shades of lavender, mint, duck egg blue, lemon or rose pink, fresh white wall and floor tiles are sufficiently neutral to stop them from overwhelming the kitchen scheme whilst still allowing them to sing.

In recent times we have also seen a real resurgence in the popularity of retro-inspired interiors, this look can work especially well when translated into a kitchen setting.

Vintage-influenced floor and wall tiles paired with painted cabinets and decorative flourishes, deliver a real statement for the kitchen.

Crisp, chic and versatile, our glossy Metro subway wall tiles will add a subtle retro feel to your kitchen scheme. In a traditional rectangular brick format of 7.5cm x 15cm, and with a crackle-glaze surface, choose from a neutral palette of classic white, stone or cream - an ideal base, whether you have a vintage pastel or retro bold colour theme in other parts of the kitchen.

With a muted palette of cream, stone, terracotta, brown and blue, our highly patterned Hexatile also draws on a number of historical influences including Victorian and art deco with geometric and floral motifs blending 20 different

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combinations for a patchwork look for kitchen walls and floors.

If you are looking for a floor tile that combines the aesthetic qualities of real wood with the practical, lowmaintenance benefits of porcelain - then porcelain wood floor tiles are the perfect choice. In the interior design world, realistic wood-effect porcelain tiles emerged a few years ago as a trend, and their popularity has remained constant ever since.

Porcelain wood tiles are exceptionally easy to clean, as well as being hardwearing, durable and low-maintenance – no need for sealing or treating.

Porcelain wood floor tiles capture all the character, beauty and warmth of real wood in a kitchen but with the qualities and benefits of porcelain tiles.

Large format neutral porcelain floor tiles which closely resemble stone are also an appealing option as they are hard-wearing, durable and easy to install, and don't require the commitment of treatment and maintenance that natural stone demands. They are also compatible with underfloor heating systems which makes them an excellent choice for kitchens and open plan living areas.

With five showrooms in South East England - in Brighton, Crayford, Petts Wood, Tunbridge Wells and Welling – Tilemates offers customers a variety of ceramic and porcelain wall and floor tiles to suit all homes, budgets and interior styles. If you would like to find out more about our tile ranges, please speak to a member of the Tilemates team at your nearest showroom.

THE DETAILS For more information and for local branch details please visit www.tilematesgroup.com

KITCHENS

Creative Interior Designs Creative Interior Designs are based in Kent with showrooms in Beckenham and central London

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e specialise in the supply and if required the installation of quality German kitchens.

Our handless kitchens have been a huge success with a large choice of door fronts including glass, 3 internal carcass colours and many different internal storage solutions, all of course soft closing.

We have several options for the led intergrated lighting, with some ranges able to change fromm cool white to warm white to combine perfectly with other lighting systems.

Our designers will work with you either from architects drawings or a home visit to take measurements and then produce a design and quote based on your specifications.

We are able to supply all types of worktops and appliances.

We partner to Neff and Siemens and many of their models can be seen on display along with sinks and taps from various manufacturers includings Blanco, Quooker and Franke.

As well as quoting for the supply of your new kitchen we can also offer full project management with all aspects of the installation taken care of.

THE DETAILS If you would like some more information on our products and services please call or email: Creative Interior Designs, 71 High Street, Beckenham, Kent BR3 1AW 020 8663 3393 | info@creative-iduk.co.uk

HOME & GARDEN

“Mixing motifs sourced from the natural world, heavy plaids and Argyll knits, the feel is textural and tactile.

Wood and leather finishes and a warm colour palette add to the authentic, aged feel, while enamel and ceramic pieces help create a crisp, contemporary version of country style.�

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DECOR’S r e i t n o r f w ne

Play-it-safe decorators may already be hunkering down for Autumn in that time-honoured way - piling on old and familiar cosy throws and cushions - but the adventurous should explore decor’s wild side.

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here’s a new rugged and real ‘wilderness’ look sweeping into style, which is either evocative of Wild West plains and cowboy ranches or, for the more intrepid, conjuring the dramatic Arctic tundra.

But don’t fret if your wanderlust only extends to taking a short trip to the countryside. A traditional rustic woodland theme, with a style landscape teeming with creatures great and small, is still featuring strongly in collections.

“Warm and cosy in essence, ‘Tundra’ takes its influence from the distinctive timeless native traditions and breathtaking wilderness of the Arctic Circle,” explains Fiona Lambert, vice president of brand design and development at George Home, which is rapidly gaining a reputation for slick on-trend ranges and is embracing both looks.

“We see ‘Hibernate’ as a softer, more tranquil country look, capturing autumn and narrating its colour changes through a subtle print and colour palette, and enhanced by key woodland characters and iconic images of forests and falling leaves for photographic wall prints.”

Whichever way you journey - far and wide or closer to home - it’s nature, tame or wild in tooth and claw, that’s ruling in rooms.

It’s your choice whether you seek refuge with nothing more threatening than squirrels and those ubiquitous stags, or bravely strike out and shelter with bears and wolves...

WOODLAND WAY While tranquil rustic sanctuaries reflect a traditional country landscape, there are two trend trails to follow. Take to the Highlands with hunting-lodge style tartan touches and stags heads, or opt for whimsy with quirky animal motifs.

“Combining a sense of adventure and escapism, this trend stems from a love of the outdoors and a back-to-basics approach to rustic living,” says Andrew Tanner, head of home design at Sainsbury’s.

“Mixing motifs sourced from the natural world, heavy plaids and Argyll knits, the feel is textural and tactile. Wood and leather finishes and a warm colour palette add to the authentic, aged feel, while enamel and ceramic pieces help create a crisp, contemporary version of country style.”

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| OCTOBER 2015 69

HOME & GARDEN

SETTLER SPIRIT Nomadic, pioneering and free-spirited, this look evokes the rolling prairies of the Wild West, or for those with real decor wanderlust, the chilly, wintry beauty of a snowbound vista.

“We’ve embraced a raw, innate landscape and underpinned it with a characteristic colour spectrum of brown, charcoal and neutral hues, complemented by rusty orange and golden tones, to add warmth and richness,” says George Home’s Lambert.

“Add texture with rustic linens, chunky knits, faux fur and mohair for luxurious comfort and detail, in designs featuring tribal prints, animals and embroidered landscapes. Carved imitation bone accessories are a perfect finishing touch.”

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FREE HOME MEASURING SERVICE

candh.co.uk

C & H are specialists in bespoke curtains, blinds and shutters, with more than 80 years of experience in home furnishings. Give us a call on 01892 522618 ext. 50 to book your appointment.

Dawn, our design and colour consultant, will come out to your home with a variety of samples, where she can discuss your requirements, and measure for any room.

113-115 Mount Pleasant Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1QS email: TWellsfurnishings@candhfabrics.co.uk

At C&H autumn is always a busy time of year for home furnishings. Make sure your home is looking its best for the busy festive season ahead. are available in any of the thousands of fabrics we offer.

We also specialise in all other types of blind, be it vertical, venetian, or roller, as well innovative blinds like the Horizon, or Plisse from brand leaders such as Luxaflex.

All our bespoke curtains are made locally by experienced makers, to exacting C&H standards, with a number of heading style choices, to your exact measurements. We still believe in make curtains in our traditional handmade way that not only improves the way they drape but also means they will last longer than those made by machine. With accounts from leading brand name suppliers such as Sanderson, Harlequin, Jane Churchill & Designers Guild, your fabric choice is endless. Our vast array of pattern hangers and sample books are available to borrow, with style and price to suit everyone.

It has been exciting recently with so many new build projects in and around Tunbridge Wells. We have worked with many of these customers to ensure their new homes are professionally furnished and on time. At C&H we love the challenges that come with new properties, and take great satisfaction in the process of helping customers turn their houses into homes.

Our local fitters are experts in installing blinds, shutters, tracks and poles, as well as hanging & dressing your curtains to ensure they look worth every penny.

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e pride ourselves on providing top quality window decoration, combined with excellent customer service.

C&H offer a FREE Home Estimating Service. From the initial contact in store, followed by a visit to your home by our experienced Design & Colour Consultant, Dawn, we will discuss your requirements and look at initial options for fabrics, colours and sampling and give advice on suitability of different solutions. Dawn will bring any preselected sampling with her and can advise the best finishes for every scenario and room. Not only that, she will also remove the hassle of measuring. The team have many years of experience within the industry. Our Furnishing Manager Fay, leads the team with her knowledge and expertise. Beth will keep you informed about your order from start to finish from our Furnishing Office.

Our local fitters are experts in installing blinds, shutters, tracks and poles, as well as hanging & dressing your curtains to ensure they look worth every penny. We are wellestablished within the window shutter market, and with such a variety of windows types and housing styles around the town, we believe we have seen and overcome almost every challenge. We are also a leading retailer of tracks and poles, with solutions for even the trickiest bay windows, and are local suppliers of Silent Gliss, a well renowned specialist curtain track brand. We have seen a significant trend for Roman Blinds recently and hand-make ours in store. These

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THE DETAILS Let us help you to create your dream home. Call in to our showroom in Tunbridge Wells town centre, or contact us either by e-mail or phone on 01892 522618 extension 50, or TWellsfurnishings@candhfabrics.co.uk

HOME & GARDEN

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Fiveways Fires & Stoves

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pened in November 2013, Lee and Sharon Humm took over the lease of an old fancy dress shop on Sidcup Road and after much hard work, Fiveways Fires and Stoves was born. More of a prized showroom than a shop, this retail venture boasts impressive product displays that include fire accessories, live wood burners, beautiful mirrors, gas and electric fires, stoves, multifuel stoves, beams made to measure hearths and much more.

However although this flourishing family run business may be a young business, this duo maintain decades of experience to lend to the trade.

Lee first got into the fireplace installing business by fluke, after having had a fireplace fitted in the family home, after labouring for the installer, Lee eventually became Gas Safe

registered and in 1998 along with Sharon, set up a reputable fitting business. This company is Magnilees (www.maginlees.co.uk) a fitting company that specialises in fireplace and stove installation across London and the South East.

Having built up a repertoire of clientele, including many well-respected building contractors, property developers and celebrities, the couple were finding they were frequently asked as to whether they could supply a supply and fit service. Realising many customers prefer the entire job to be completed by one person or company, Lee and Sharon decided to (literally) set up shop on the retail side-hence Fiveways Fires and Stoves.

Gas Safe registered and a Hetas registered installer, Fiveways Fires and Stoves prides itself on its friendly and helpful team, while upholding a high level of customer satisfaction. Competitively priced, all clients are offered a full service, from an initial free site survey , through to installation, often with a supply and fit deal.

Fiveways Fires & Stoves is open Monday to Saturday, 10am-6pm THE DETAILS

Fiveways Fires & Stoves 743-745 Sidcup Road, New Eltham, SE9 3SA Tel: 020 8127 4747 www.fivewaysfires.co.uk

Fiveways Fires & Stoves Experienced, Friendly.

Family Run Showroom.

Hetas and Gas Safe engineers.

Multi fuel stoves all Defra approved, Gas Fires and Mantles, The New Optimist range of Electric Fires and Stoves.

Open 6 days a week: 10 until 6.

743-745 Sidcup Rd, New Eltham, SE9 3SA (located along Sidcup Bypass)

Tel: 0208

127 4747

BOOK REVIEWS

The

BookShelf

“As we head towards the November Armistice Commemorations, we consider how different authors view conflicts - always a rich source of inspiration.”

WORDS by Bruce Edwards

The Soldier’s Wife Pamela Hart Pub. by: P/b:

Flashman and Madison’s War Robert Brightwell Pub. by: P/b:

FeedAReed.com n/a

Wars never seem to go out of fashion.

There’s always some excuse to assume one set of ideals must be inflicted in place of another and historians will pick over the bones of past conflicts to endeavour to make us understand why. In this, the last instalment of a saga of exploits by the notorious Flashman we’re taken back to the 1800’s and the war with a fledgling America keen to demonstrate new found prowess in battle. Apart from any concerns over historical accuracy, here is a real tale of adventure with battles a-plenty, soldiers doing what soldiers do, a version of derring-do akin to an old-fashioned ‘Cowboys and Indians’ (sadly, our current two-dimensional youngsters exert their warrior instincts in a far less exuberant fashion on small screens). Pleasantly readable and stuffed full of anecdotes, this will certainly keep the Boy’s Own readership happily immersed in manly exploits. One self-publishing product that is worth considering amongst many that are less worthy. Try it.

ISBN:

Piatkus £7.99

We move on. It’s 1915, and the Australians are drawn into the Gallipoli conflict with the well- documented disastrous consequences. There’ll be many an emotive trace of sad reflections in the archives, true stories of soldiers lives wrapped up in suffering, loss and tragedy. One such has been taken by our author and given a new life of its own, an admixture of real life with a fictional twist of difficult relationships.

Jimmy leaves Ruby’s bed and goes to war. She gets a new job, in a timber yard, and finds a woman’s role has to deal with many odd aspects, not all pleasant. She even has to stand in for the boss! However, her ongoing relationship with Jimmy is purely a correspondence course and when he’s injured, there’s an element of stress building. How does one manage with a rewarding job but a crippled husband who has a war veteran’s hangover?

Do you abandon him to his perceived fate or hold out for better things? There’s one way to find out . . .

ISBN:

978-1-785-10841-9

978-0-349-41018-0

Edge of Eternity Ken Follett Pub. by: P/b:

Pan £8.99

This one’s complicated; it’s a Follett trademark, several stories intertwined from different aspects, different counties even. There’s plenty of room too, at over a thousand pages, yes, a thousand pages, when most authors are more than happy with a third.

Stamina is needed when you’re discussing the intrigues and horrors of the Cold War and the nastiness of human actions encouraged by dictatorial regimes.. It’s not a nice period of history, and Follett gets right down to its vivid description. He tells the story well, despite the subject matter and you can’t help feeling the pain, the emotions; shudder at the desperate plight of people caught up in East Germany, in Russia, and even colour-prejudiced America at war in Vietnam. It’s a far cry from the, dare we say it, straight-forward wars used as backdrop to the other choices and this is a mammoth undertaking. His characters are drawn well, some likable, others less so. Wars tend to de-humanise so it’s nice to find at least one girl survives. He must like Rebecca.

ISBN:

978-0-330-46061-3

“As we approach the book buying bonanza period, remember to ask us for the best in romantic and historic fiction.

Send an address to “writerselect@gmail.com” for choices not always available in the high street or on line.”

78 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

TRAVEL

Forging

friendships in

ISTANBUL The glamour and excitement of Rick’s cafe, from the classic film Casablanca, is all around me as I dine at the Kervansaray nightclub in Istanbul.

I

have come to the legendary city as part of a 36-strong group on a three-day trip for single people - my first experience of this type of travel.

Unsurprisingly, some of the ladies in our group do not share myenthusiasm for the display of traditional Turkish belly dancing. I’mseated right next to the low stage and my appreciative response to the beautiful girls undulating only a few feet away earns me some bleak looks from my companions.

I closely observe how the dance is performed. Anyone who wants to try it out - and doing so in front of a mirror would add to the fun - should rotate their bottom in a circle, while simultaneously trying to do the same

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| OCTOBER 2015 81

TRAVEL

the boundary between Europe and Asia, and connects the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea to the north.

It’s a shoppers’ paradise and a delight for gourmets. Small shops sell beautiful ceramics, jewellery, tapestries, carpets, cushion covers and leather goods, all of a high quality. The window displays, which according to custom do not portray any living thing, are a riot of colour and a feast for the eyes.

Turkish cuisine is beautifully flavoured and served up in generous quantities in restaurants.

Lamb, beef and, above all, fish, plus vegetables such as green peppers, lentils, beans and tomatoes are staples, as are generous bowls of mixed salad.

Istanbul’s architectural jewels include magnificent mosques, such as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, which is still used as a place of worship, and the Hagia Sophia, which, through the centuries, has been used as a Christian church, then a mosque and is now a museum.

At night, the mosques, which stand on the hills overlooking Istanbul, are floodlit, sometimes creating the illusion that they’re actually floating above the city.

The Topkapi Palace, the administrative centre for the Ottoman Empire for almost 400 years, contains wonderful treasures, and the amazing underground and pillared Basilica Cistern, built

with their stomach. A flabby midriff would undoubtedly be an advantage.

The other star of the evening is a brash and very funny Turkish singer and comedian called Ercu, who can belt out songs in 200 languages.

He begins by calling out the names of various countries, to find out whether people from there are in the audience. The responses reveal it to be an extremely cosmopolitan crowd.

Whether Japanese, Chinese, Albanian, English or Indian, Ercu has a song for all.

When he calls out “England”, I respond with “Great Britain”, in acknowledgement of the Scots in our group. Ercu shouts back “United Kingdom”, and then delivers a rendition of The Beatles song Yesterday. He makes our group reprise the same number.

Normally I recoil from any form of audience participation, but Ercu is so persuasive that I - and virtually everyone else present - get happily engaged in mass tomfoolery under his direction. I laugh more than I have for years and later ride home on cloud nine. And i n case anyone is wondering, I must point out that I am a teetotaller and only drank mineral water all evening!

Ercu’s greatest achievement was the way in which he welded his audience of so many foreigners into a single unit, full of fun and amity towards each other.

Istanbul’s architectural jewels include magnificent mosques, such as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque Afterwards, I muse (rather pointlessly) how wonderful it would be if such a situation could exist permanently in the world, because I cannot forget that while we were singing and enjoying ourselves, people were being killed by warfare in Syria, just across the Turkish border.

Of course, Istanbul - like all great European cities - has been no stranger to violence, siege and conflict through the ages, and also some severe earthquakes.

Modern Istanbul is a huge, noisy, overcrowded Middle Eastern city, which is conspicuously Muslim. It sprawls around the Bosphorus, a strait that forms part of

82 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

by the Romans, is a thrilling experience.

Our short visit to Istanbul only gives us time to view some of the most outstanding sights, but there is, of course, a great deal more. As with so many great historical cities, one would need months to see everything.

And so I part from my newfound friends, agreeing we’ll stay in touch.

Travelling in a group provides one with the company and joy of a joint experience, which are absent when travelling alone.

As our evening with Ercu had demonstrated, memories are far longer-lasting when you have someone to share them with.

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| OCTOBER 2015 83

TRAVEL

Fancy a taste of Flemish flair?

Take a break in lively Lille !

B

Feeling guilty at savouring the spring sun rather than the must–see Museum of Fine Art I was rewarded by a worthy alternative – the sight of a rainbow shimmering amid the building’s magnificent courtyard fountains.

ut that’s Lille for you. A chameleon of a city which can quickly create a canvas of colour and character, be it drawn from the high brow or the café culture of its vast population of students.

Where else would you find one of Europe’s liveliest flea markets – culminating with last month’s two annual days of rummaging, swilling beer and guzzling mussels and chips – cheek to jowl with some of France’s finest designer shops? But, beware, Lille’s large. The best way to explore the Old Town is on foot, preferably after a scene setting coach tour through a confusing pattern of increasingly narrow cobbled streets formerly canals serving what was originally the Island (L’Isle) of Flanders. Even the tourist office admit the only way to discover Lille is to get lost !

Yet before becoming European Capital of Culture in 2004, Lille (Rijsel in Flemish as befits its location in Flemish France) ) was no tourist town, but one frighteningly losing it centuries old role as a textile and industrial city. In the 1980s even the local coal mining industry was collapsing.

Thanks, however, to considerable perseverance by civic leaders and Eurostar’s timely arrival – establishing Lille as the crossroads of northern Europe – the city’s get–up– and-go attitude created a self-confident cultural and commercial hub. Now it’s more a matter of what exciting new project will they come up with next. ?

The Metro alone, opened in 1983 with its extraordinary driverless trains, is the only one of its kind. It routes include links with Roubaix and Tourcoing, blurring the distance between the city and other towns that make up Lille Métropole. Both old textile towns, the former is brimming with factory shops earning a reputation as the capital of bargains.

All of which puts Lille in the short break category, of which you may need more than one, or even a longer stay, to soak up a city for all seasons – and tastes.

Round up of the main attractions INDOORS: n Palais des Beaux Arts: Ranking second only to

84 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

the Louvre Paris, the imposing 19th century galleried building includes paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck and Goya (www.pba-lille.fra) Metro : République/ Beaux-Arts Bus : Line 14 – Place de la République, 10 – 15 minutes on foot from railway stations. * Museum of the Comtesee ( Musée de l’Hospice Comtesse) Rue de la Monnaie. Former hospital founded in 1237, it traces Lille’s history from the Middle Ages to the 18th century; some rooms inspired by Flemish and Dutch interiors. n Beffroi de l’hotel de Ville (town hall belfry) : Dubbed Flanders sky-scraper when it was built in 1932, and now a World Heritage site, the red brick 104 metres (341 feet) art deco-cum- Flemish style belfry gives a great overview of Lille. n Maison Natale Charles de Gaulle: What was his birthplace and now a museum to the great leader, born in Lille on November 22, 1890, his maternal grandparents’ house at 9 Rue Princesse, recreates a typical late 19th century home of the Northern French industrial middle class.

Greater Lille: n Lille Metropole Musee d’Art Moderne: known as LaM, the surrounding sculpture park which includes Woman with Outstretched Arms (1962) by Pablo Picasso, provides a link with three outstanding collections of 20th and 21st century work hanging on the walls inside. Take the Metro link to Villeneuve-d’Ascq. n La Piscine Musée d’Aart et d’Industrie (museum of art and industry) Roubaix: It took five years to convert this former municipal swimming pool into a certainly distinctive temple for the arts, complete with art deco stained-glass windows. The orginal pool, along with several showers and changing rooms remains as decorative artefacts, as do several ‘swimmers’. A collection of some 20,000 worldwide items trace the history of textile, design and fashion. Metro Line 2 links Lomme to Roubaix and Tourcoing.

OUTDOORS: Join the courting couples and swans in the Jardin Vauban whose oh-so-English style paths, complete with shady oak, hornbeam and beech trees, features a former shelter for goats, now a puppet theatre; a small grotto and waterfalls also contributes to its charm. Parc de la Citadelle, Lille’s largest, has a zoo, play area, mini train tours and other family attractions. Tropical greenhouses in the Jardin des Plantes are joined by a vast rose garden and an Orangerie.

QUIRKY Enjoy a nostalgic guided tour through the cobbled streets in a class 2CV (the ubiquitous deux chevaux), www.tradibalade.com;

CITY COACH TOUR From £9, with audiovisual system, leaving regularly close Lille Tourist Office Place Rihour SHOPPING From luxury to specialist and department stores in the city centre or in the old town: start from Grand Place, the main square, for pedestrian streets with the likes of Galerie Lafayette or Le Printemps; the most famous are rue d Bethune rue Neuve and rue du sec Arembault; Old town goodies include wines from La Cave à Manger de Jacques Dumas rue des Bouchers, waffles and chocolates at Meert rue Esquermoise, cheese Delassic Frères, pl des Patiniers and for English pastries Elizabeth’s rue Basse, a wonderful lady whom I first met in her Le Touquet shop. There is also branch of Carrefour if you want to buy in bulk.

NIGHTLIFE Pretty eclectic from discotheque style night clubs to revues and cabarets; alternatively soak up a student style life at lively bars and cafés, some attracting up and coming rock and jazz artists: www.worldtravelguide.net/ lille/nightlife provides a handy round-up. For cabaret cum dining try La Bonbonnière www.cabaretlabonbonniere.com Opéra de Lille, rue des Bons Enfants, a neo-classical opera house, built from 1907 to 1913 and officially inaugurated in 1923, is highly rated both for its performances and architectural interest, likewise the Théâtre du Nord, pl Charles de Gaulle.

EATING OUT When in Rome etc… sample the robust Franco–Flemish fare in an estaminet, basically a bar-cum-café, often rustic in décor and snugly tucked away (not the rather staged version offered in hotels etc) Typical dishes include carbonnade de boeuf (beef stewed with beer and the unpronounceable potjevleesch

HOTELS Greater Lille is studded with a variety of hotels, from two to five star, including groups such as Ibis and Novotel; the choice inevitably depends on location and cost; for convenience try an all inclusive short break such as the three nights Eurostar Super Breaks from £150 per person.

For four star comfort and historical interest I would cite l’Hermitage Gantois centrally located in rue de Paris (Founded in 1462 as a hospice taking care of the soul as much as the body); the same can be said of the tranquil Couvent des Minimes Quai du Wault the rooms arranged around a courtyard in what was a 17th century monastery, just outside the Old Town but within walking distance of shops and restaurants. Easier on the pocket is the Novotel Grand Place, rue de l’Hopital Militaire which is comfortably close to the Old Town and the main tourist action.

WHO CAN HELP The Lille Tourism and Convention Bureau, pl Rihour: www.lilletourism.com email:contact@ lilletourism.com; T: +33 359 579 400 Open: Mon – Sat 9.30 am 6 pm; Sun and bank holidays: 10 am - 4.30 pm.

Offers handy €25 24 hour city pass with free entry to 20-plus museums, sites and services including transport. Short breaks also available.

GETTING THERE Eurostar (eurostar.com or ring 03432 186 186) operates up to nine daily services from St Pancras to Lille International, with return fares from £7; though the same price from Ashford , it at least saves the journey to St Pancras. Check timings. Tickets offer 2-for-1 entry to museums and galleries.

JOHN RULER, our local historian, is author of the Bradt Guide to Nord–Pas de Calais and joint author of their top-selling guide to the World War I Battlefields.

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| OCTOBER 2015 85

PICTURES: JOHN RULER

n Notre-Dame Cathedral: Hidden away in the old town, rather than the city centre, legend says it was founded in 1066. Reconstructed, after its destruction in the French Revolution, it took 155 years from 1854 to completion just 12 days before the end of the 20th century.

(a layered meat and vegetable terrine), also fish and shellfish dishes from Boulogne and Dunkerque.

alternatively rent a Boris style red hire bike: contact wwwlilletourism.com.

FOOD & DRINK

All Torode’s

LEAD TO HOME

Forget coffee, tea or an icy shower, if there’s anything guaranteed to give restaurant owners Mitch Tonks and Mat Prowse a boost in the morning, it’s their breakfast grappa.

“What are you like in the kitchen?” asks MasterChef ’s John Torode at the beginning of our cookery masterclass.

“I’m OK,” I grunt, a mental carousel of burnt biscuits, teeth-extracting pork joints and soggy bottoms whirling to mind.

“Did anyone tell you that you had to be brilliant at cooking?” despairs the 50-year-old, with a world-weary sigh.

“People forget that their friends love them.

They come around to your house for dinner not because they want you to show off to them.

They come round your house for dinner because they love you.”

My nearest and dearest might be more inclined to come round for dinner if there was less chance of the usual tortured pasta dishes I foist upon them.

And evidently, I’m not the only one to feel coy about my cooking skills (or lack of) because Torode’s new cookery tome My Kind Of Food explores just that.

A deeply ‘personal’ collection of recipes (complete with pictures and cards made by his four children proudly placed alongside the acknowledgements), the emphasis is on getting us back in the kitchen and having some fun there. And if that means using shop-bought condiments, so be it.

“You don’t make your own vinegar,” he reasons. “You don’t make your own honey.”

Correct, John. So after starting off with

banana bread (“Everybody in Australia has banana bread”), we move swiftly on to Pesto and Tomato Tarts and Pesto and Pods, made with peas.

“Look, here are the escape-peas,” says the MasterChef judge, pointing at a few rogue frozen peas.

While the tarts are in the oven, the surfaces are wiped down (the Aussie chef is very much a mucker-inner) and the dad-style puns flow, Torode receives an unexpected delivery of

“I’m not after Michelin stars, I’m not after praise in that way, what I really like is when people taste my food and say, ‘That’s delicious’ flowers to celebrate the launch of his book.

“I know who those are from... my lovely girl,” he smiles. A check of the card and a quick phone call confirms they are indeed from Torode’s “lovely” girlfriend Lisa Faulkner.

The two met back in 2010 when actress and now cook Faulkner won Celebrity MasterChef.

After a few years of friendship, they fell in love.

Very much personally unified, the couple like to keep things separate professionally.

86 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

“I think the prospect of Lisa and me doing a cookery show together is very slim,” says the keen cyclist.

“We’d be very happy, but the fact is we’re very different cooks. We have our own lives and that’s what good about it.”

Recently, Torode had to come to terms with his oldest son, a third-year ecology student, flying the nest to Sydney where he is doing a placement.

“He loves it, absolutely loves it... but I now know how my father felt 25 years ago,” he says.

“But the good thing is, he’s been packed off with his Le Creuset pot my father bought him, which he uses to cook for himself, and a foldaway knife which he knows how to keep sharp... and he’s done.”

That all his brood leave home knowing how to “iron a shirt, buy a bus ticket and cook a couple of bits of food” is something Torode holds dear.

“Good food should be accessible to everybody and that’s what I’ve done with the book,” he says.

“I’m not after Michelin stars, I’m not after praise in that way, what I really like is when people taste my food and say, ‘That’s delicious’.

And if that word comes out all the time, that’s fantastic. I’m really, really happy.”

If you fancy trying some of Torode’s delicious dishes, here are three from My Kind Of Food...

ROAST CHICKEN WITH CREME FRAICHE, NEW POTATOES AND WATERCRESS n 1 large chicken, about 1.5kg n 200g creme fraiche n 1/2 lemon n 4tsp vegetable oil n 500g new potatoes n 100g watercress n Salt and freshly ground black pepper n 1tsp mustard (optional)

Serves 6

Heat the oven to 200C/gas 6. Season the inside of the chicken with salt and pepper, then spoon the creme fraiche into the cavity. Plug the end of the chicken with the lemon half. Rub the chicken with some of the oil, season well and then place in a roasting tin, breast up.

Roll the potatoes in the remaining oil and then scatter around the chicken. Place the chicken in the oven and roast for one hour 10 minutes without opening the oven door. Leave it.

Pick the largest stems off the watercress and put the lot into a large bowl filled with cold water. Push the watercress under the water and place the bowl in the fridge. The clean watercress will float to the top while all the dirt will sink to the bottom.

Take the chicken out of the oven. Pour the creme fraiche out of the chicken over the potatoes in the tin, then turn the chicken upside down onto a board and leave it to sit for 10 minutes so that all the juices flow back into the breast. It will be done.

Meanwhile, place the tin over a medium heat and bring to the boil, stirring the potatoes around the tin so all the lovely sticky bits come off the sides and make the sauce. Take it off the heat.

Lift the watercress out of the bowl and shake off the excess water.

Put the chicken and potatoes onto a large platter, scatter over the watercress and pour yourself a congratulatory vat of wine.

Add a spoonful of mustard for a bit of spice in the creme fraiche.

TOM AT O AN D PES TO TA RT S n 500g block puff pastry (all-butter, if possible) n Plain flour, for dusting n 1 egg, beaten n 2tbsp pesto (home-made or just use a jar) n 8 plum tomatoes, sliced n Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Makes 4 tarts

To serve: n 100g watercress n 10ml peppery olive oil Heat the oven to 220C/gas 7. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.

On a lightly floured worktop, roll the puff pastry out until it is about 2cm thick. You will need to cut four circular discs from the pastry, so find a small plate or saucer that’s about 16cm in diameter to use as a template. Place the plate over the pastry and run a sharp knife around the edge to cut out the first disc. Repeat until you have four.

Now you need to lightly score a margin about 1.5-2cm in from the edge of the pastry discs, so find a smaller plate or bowl that you can use as a template. Place the smaller plate in the centre of each pastry disc and lightly run a sharp knife around the edge, being careful not to cut all the way through.

Lift the disks onto a baking sheet and brush with the beaten egg. With a fork, prick the inner circle but not the outer edge - this will stop the pastry from rising in the middle, but will allow the outer edge of the tart to rise up.

Take a good amount of the pesto and spread it over the inner circle of each tart. Place the tops and bottoms of the tomatoes in the centre of the tarts, then start to lay the slices on top of the pesto so they overlap and create a swirl effect - it should look a bit like a Catherine wheel. Season with salt and pepper.

Place the tarts in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, until well risen and coloured. Mix the watercress with the olive oil and serve with the tarts.

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| OCTOBER 2015 87

FOOD & DRINK

3BEST... of the

Porridge toppers Fairtrade Chilean Clear Honey, £3.29 for 340g (The Co-Operative)

STICKY ORANGE POLENTA CAKE For the syrup: For the pannacotta: n Juice of 2-3 Seville oranges n 2 Seville oranges (about 150ml) n 2 lemons n 75g caster sugar n 180g blanched almonds n 4 eggs n Big pinch of salt n 170g caster sugar n 80ml olive oil, plus extra for greasing Makes 1 n 150g polenta cake n 10g baking powder Heat the oven to 180C/gas 4. Grease a 23cm springform cake tin.

Put one orange and one lemon into a large pan, cover with water, and place a circle of greaseproof paper over the top so the fruit sits under the water. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. Take off the heat.

Delicately fragrant, this easy to drizzle honey makes a sweet addition to your morning bowl of oats. Add bananas and brazil nuts to make an energy boosting full house..

Yeo Valley Apple And Berry Compote, £3 for 450g (Waitrose) Plump and juicy, this autumnal fruit compote livens up porridge and is also delicious swirled into plain yogurt.

Meridian Smooth Almond Butter, £3.99 for 170g (from Tesco, Ocado and independent health food stores) Health food blogger Ella Woodward swears by porridge with almond nut butter, but if you don’t fancy whizzing up your own, this silky spread adds a nice savoury hint to the oats.to salads and fish or chicken dishes.

Toast the blanched almonds in a dry frying pan. Put them in a food processor and blitz until finely ground. Set aside.

Take the cooked orange and lemon out of the pan. Cut them in half and pick out the seeds. Juice the other fresh orange and lemon (throw away the shells). Put the cooked fruit (skins and all) and extra freshly squeezed juice in the food processor and blend to make a paste.

THE DETAILS

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the salt until foaming. Add the sugar and beat again, then add the orange paste, almonds and olive oil. Beat again.

In a separate bowl, mix the polenta and baking powder, then gently fold this into the orange mixture until it is all mixed together.

Pour the mixture into the greased tin and bake for 50 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Meanwhile, make the syrup. Put the orange juice and sugar in a pan and simmer over a low heat until you have a glossy syrup.

Turn the cake out of the tin onto a serving plate and pour the syrup over it while it’s warm.

88 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

My Kind Of Food by John Torode is published in hardback by Headline, priced £25. Available now.

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FOOD & DRINK

Restaurant Review This month, Food Editor Regan Maloney has visited two restaurants in Kent to give you her verdict on their menus. Full reviews of both restaurants, along with other great recommendations, recipes and dinner party game ideas can be found at www.whatiatelastnight.com

Cow & Pig

39 East Street, Bromley

Blue Harbour

250 High Street, Bromley

Cow and Pig is a new addition to the Bromley dining scene.

Offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails in a ranch-style setting, they work with local suppliers to provide a twist on British classics.

Stepping in to Blue Harbour is like walking in to holiday – fishing nets, shells and pictures of the seaside don the walls with a long bar and raised seating area to the back.

We were welcomed by a very friendly and warm assistant manager, and taken great care of all evening by a waitress who helped talk us through the menu and informed us of all of the great local suppliers that Cow & Pig have built a relationship with.

We were greeted by the very friendly and welcoming owner and restaurant manager Yuksel. He took us through the menu and specials board and talked us through his recommendations for the fresh fish and seafood that he’d chosen and collected himself from Billingsgate that morning.

Food

Don’t be fooled by the name – although clearly a meat eater’s heaven, Cow & Pig also have a great selection of fish and vegetarian dishes to choose from. To start, I had the English Charcuterie board made up of a selection of delicious cured meats from Cannon & Cannon – a local supplier of artisan meats from England, Wales and Scotland.

The meats had a good spicy kick that was offset nicely against sharp pickles and sweet delicious homemade chutney from the owners Mother-in-law! For main, I chose the crowd pleasing ‘Lobster Shepherds pie’ – a creamy, utterly indulgent dish that contained parsnip, carrots, onions, and was packed full of lobster supplied by B&J Fishmongers just up the road. For dessert, we shared the ‘Lemon drizzle Eaton mess’ – creamy, sharp and not to be eaten alone!

Although a fish and seafood restaurant, Blue Harbour also has vegetarian and meat options. Once seated we were presented with some deliciously spiced olives and fresh bread. To start, our favourite was the octopus - melt in the mouth tender pieces of octopus tentacle cooked in a homemade Provencal sauce and served with mixed peppers and spring onions. For main, the wing of skate, grilled and served with a caper and butter sauce literally filled the plate and was cooked to perfection. For dessert, the classic crepe served with berries was sharp and sweet and accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Drink

There is a well stocked bar with an impressive wine list and cocktail menu. To start, I had the rhubarb and custard cocktail which packed a punch with gin, advocaat liqueur, rhubarb syrup and a fine dusting of nutmeg. To accompany the meal, we selected a bottle of English, Chapel Down Wickham Estate red – a spicy, rich red number that went well with my starter and the ‘C&P plate of meat’ that my partner ordered.

We started with a glass of ice cold Lunetta Prosecco and upon Yuksel’s recommendation, we drank white wine by the glass to accompany our fish starter and mains – a light, dry Sicilian number that accompanied the food extremely well.

A great local restaurant serving good quality locally sourced food.

A taste of the seaside in Bromley.

Ambiance

Service

Overview

90 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

NeonwOn

Op ndays Mo

Indian Essence, situated in the heart of Petts Wood, celebrates the best of traditional Indian cuisine with a contemporary approach by Chef Patron, Atul Kochhar.

New Autumn A la Carte Menu now available

CHRISTMAS @INDIAN ESSENCE We are now taking Christmas party bookings.

Party Menus from @22.95 Onwards Christmas Day Special Lunch Menu for just £65 per head with a glass of champagne Boxing Day Menu four course for just £29.95 + New Years Eve – Usher into the new year in style, gala celebration with live entertainment (in-house DJ) and a special menu tailor made by Chef Patron Atul Kochhar New Years Eve : Two Seatings 1st Seating – 6:00 p.m till 8:45 p.m (A la carte Menu) 2nd Seating – 9 p.m Onwards (Special Menu@ £70 per head) New Years Day – Special Menu, 2 course @£24.95 , 3 Course@£28.95 For further details please visit our website www.indianessence.co.uk/christmas

Indian Essence @ Home We have launched our new take away menu, created especially for you to enjoy at home.

Delivery Available, T&Cs apply.

Proudly awarded a prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand 2015 and 2016

FOOD & DRINK

THE bulls head The village of Pratt’s Bottom gets its odd name from the Pratt family, who lived in the valley from the 14th century onwards

T

he village was unremarkable until it became a key stopping off point for stagecoaches on the toll road from London to Hastings or Tunbridge Wells. The Bull’s Head has stood on its current site for roughly 400 years, so was perfectly placed to take advantage of passing trade.

The stagecoaches were a unique selling point, but also had negative consequences, as the village soon became the haunt of smugglers and highwaymen. It is even rumoured amongst locals that the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin frequented the Bull’s Head Inn until he was caught horse stealing in 1739 and hanged for his crime. Local folklore has it that he slept in Pear Tree Cottage in the village, and moved between it and the pub through a tunnel which was long since bricked up.

The pub suffered a series of disastrous image changes, from trendy wine bar in the late eighties/early nineties to dowdy old boozer throught the latter part of the 90’s with as many as 10 different Guvnor’s coming and going. Then in early 2003 ex headmaster and long time thespian Vernon Leese took over the reigns, and turned the pub into a village meeting point, and a wonderful place to come for a drink, until selling the pub’s lease to two locally based businessmen who loved the pub so much, they got together to buy it. So, in mid August 2013 Matthew Coady and Andy Harding literally took the Bull by the horns, and bought the place.

The Bull’s Head is currently getting a much needed refurb, repaint, and rebrand.

And so, another chapter in the Historic life of the village pub has begun.

The name is first recorded as Spratts Bottom in 1773 and by 1791 it had changed to the present form. The meaning is likely to be valley of a family called Pratt. (One or two Pratt’s are certainly still in the village..The Ed.) It formed part of the ancient, and later civil, parish of Chelsfield in Kent, and was part of the Bromley Rural District from 1894. The parish was abolished in 1934 and the village became part of Orpington Urban District In 1965 it was transferred to Greater London, to form part of the London Borough of Bromley.

A tollgate stood in the village for many years. The turnpike cottage was demolished in the 1930s but is still seen as emblematic of the village, so much so that it is the basis of the recent village sign placed on the green.

Local Historian, and super nice lady Sue Short has written a book about the history of the village titled Pratts Bottom: A Journey Through Life.

You can still pick up a copy, and its certainly worth a read.

THE DETAILS Rushmore Hill, Pratts Bottom, Kent BR6 7NQ TEL: 01689 852 553 e-mail: info@thebullsheadpub.net

92 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

17th CENTURY PUBLIC HOUSE

The hidden jewel in North Kent’s crown WHATS ON GUIDE:

OCTOber

Fri. 18th The Bulls Head Girl Tribute act Sun. 20TH Quiz night Fri. 25th Damien Singer

Fri. 6th Turkish night in restaurant with belly dancer Sat. 7th Fireworks night Fri. 13th ABBA girls - Live Musix!

Sun. 15th Quiz Night

Sun. 1st Quiz night

Fri 27th Live entertainment with a superb Neil Diamond tribute!

Wed. 4th Killer Pool

Sun. 29th Quiz Night

November

CHRISTMAS MENU STARTERS Minestrone Soup with croutons.

Chicken liver pate with red onion jam and toast.

Succulent Crab and prawn cocktail with whole grain mustard dressing, gem lettuce and lemon for squeezing.

Stuffed Mushrooms with caramelised red onion and Welsh rarebit.

MAINS Traditional roast turkey with stuffing, chipolatas wrapped in bacon, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, winter vegetables, cranberry sauce and pan jus.

Pan fried Duck Breast with spiced red cabbage, fondant potatoes and red currant jus.

Oven roasted salmon with fricassee and green cabbage, bacon and potato.

Goats cheese tart with new potatoes and salad.

SWEETS Christmas pudding with brandy sauce.

Bailey’s crème brulee.

Apple crumble with whisky custard.

Double chocolate cheese cake.

TO FINISH Mince pie and coffee.

Cheeseboard £2.00 extra

Rushmore Hill, Pratts Bottom, Kent BR6 7NQ 01689 852 553 | www.thebullsheadpub.net | info@thebullsheadpub.net

FOOD & DRINK

C

ow and Pig British kitchen was a labour of love created by Gavin, Steve and Elaine. A group of friends with a passion for good quality food, cooked well, locally sourced and without any silly price tags. Not to mention their huge love of a good steak!

The mission behind cow and pig British kitchen is to utilize the best and freshest produce found throughout neighboring London, Kent and Surrey and most importantly through local suppliers. Our whizzes in the kitchen will then take classic British dishes which have adorned every household and muddle them together with a contemporary twist, to produce tasty dishes for everyone to love.

Cow and Pig British kitchen aims to have a polished yet causal atmosphere, making it ideal for either celebrating a special occasion or just stopping by after work. With our emphasis on locally sourced food and a scratch kitchen, everything is made in house, from our thrice cooked chips, through to smoking our own fish in house to our homemade puds.

To bring you the best quality we source our ingredients locally and place special emphasis on supporting local businesses. Why not check out our fab suppliers so you can have a taste of Cow and Pig at home too!

So come along and let us take you on a journey of the Best of British!

Rest assured that alongside the house favourites, there will always be something new to whet your appetite and keep you coming back.

THE DETAILS T : 02084648877 | E : info@cowandpig.co.uk 39 East Street, Bromley BR1 1QQ www.cowandpig.co.uk

94 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com

FOOD & DRINK

RIVERFORD The concept of Recipe Boxes, which contain all the necessary cooking ingredients and a step-by-step guide, is growing in popularity as the nation seeks to eat more healthily and adventurously.

Consumers can now enjoy cooking at home, balance their precious time and their need to be careful with money.

T

he number of new suppliers is also growing, many of these suppliers have large marketing budgets so it can be difficult to compare providers just on the quality of produce alone.

Riverford Organic Farms have recently entered the market and have taken a different approach to other suppliers, not only is their entire range organic, but it builds on the success of their existing network of local deliveries and produce grown on their four farms across the UK. You’ve probably already heard of Riverford, they have been delivering organic vegboxes straight from their farms for over 25 years and now deliver almost 50,000 a week to a loyal band of customers. They also have two organic restaurants, one on their farm in Devon and also the Duke of Cambridge in Islington. This is Britain’s first and only certified organic pub and it’s from these restaurants that many of the recipes are replicated to go into the recipe boxes.

Such is the success of their organic vegboxes, that they have recently been voted Ethical Product of the Decade by the Observer.

As farmers Riverford put the same produce into their recipe boxes as they use in their restaurants. Riverford firmly believe that combined with their own local delivery teams they can get the freshest, most interesting and flavoursome recipe boxes possible to your door in the shortest amount of time.

As farmers, Riverford put the same produce into their recipe boxes as they do in their vegboxes which are used in their restaurants. Riverford firmly believe that by using their own local delivery teams they can get the freshest, most interesting and flavoursome recipe boxes possible to your door in the shortest amount of time Riverford clearly feel they have hit on a winning formula by taking this approach and so do Veggie and Vegetarian Living magazines who have both voted Riverford recipe boxes the best after trailing and tasting boxes from all of the major recipe box schemes.

If you would like to try a Riverford Recipe box then they are offering Life readers the opportunity to try one of their recipe boxes with a 25% discount, delivery is free and there are no ties or contracts.

THE DETAILS Telephone: 01803 227227 www.riverford.co.uk/bromley

96 OCTOBER 2015 | www.thelifemagazines.com