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Welcome

W h the world awash in autumn colour, feels like the perfe moment to pause, embrace the cri air, and look ahead to what this season brings.

Stay warm and cosy while still being the talk of your friends by creating your very own home bar — the perfect way to elevate happy hour. Inside, you’ll find styling inspiration, must-have gadgets, and mouth-watering cocktail recipes to shake up your evenings. We also share expert advice on transforming your bathroom into a stylish sanctuary, creating a haven of well-being within your own home. Head Chef Jay Styler reveals the ingredients that should inspire our cooking this autumn, while Camellia Panjabi champions making vegetables the star of every meal, with a few tantalising recipes to try yourself. And for those in search of a staycation, we explore the best of Britain — from conservation-led animal adventures to a seaside town enjoying a cool revival. Plus, we take a sneak peek at Beaulieu’s new festive experience, which promises a magical journey through the story of pantomime this Christmas.

ABOUT US

House & Lifestyle is a monthly magazine with approximately 150,000 readers and available in hundreds of outlets throughout Dorset and Hampshire. Pick up a free copy each month from supermarkets, newsagents, estate agents, theatres, garden centres, shopping centres, health clubs, hotels, train stations, bus stations, bars, clubs, restaurants, garages, doctors surgeries, dentists, cafes, pubs and many other retail outlets. House & Lifestyle magazine is published by GWP Marketing Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden except with the express permission of the publisher. The views expressed in House & Lifestyle are those of the contributors and are not necessarily shared by the magazine or its staff. GWP Marketing Ltd accepts no responsibility for content and / or advertising copy supplied by third parties.

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ON THE COVER

This month’s cover celebrates GAJA. Turn to pages 28–30 for their inspiring first-year story

CONTRIBUTORS

GARY PEARCE PUBLISHER

gary@house-mag.co.uk | 01202 287165 ext #1

ROSS STALLION SALES DIRECTOR

ross@house-mag.co.uk | 01202 287165 ext #1

VICKY ANSCOMBE EDITOR

vi @house-mag.co.uk | 01202 287165 ext #2

HANNE-LISE BASSON ACCOUNT MANAGER

han@house-mag.co.uk | 01202 287165 ext #1

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New

The seaside town enjoying a cool revival

Powering a greener south coast— one roof at a time

READ ALL ABOUT IT

STARS Dorset, a leading pan-Dorset charity that provides specialist support to individuals affected by sexual violence, is proud to be supporting Bournemouth’s Safe Bus initiative—an essential part of the town’s nighttime economy safety strategy.

Located on Horseshoe Common, the Safe Bus operates most weekends throughout the year and is run by Dorset Police with the help of dedicated Volunteers. Six months ago, STARS Dorset joined the team and has since played a pivotal role in increasing both footfall and meaningful engagement with the public.

Since STARS Dorset’s involvement, the number of people engaging with the Volunteers has surged from an average of 50 to over 250 on the nights when STARS Dorset is present, highlighting the importance and growing awareness of the service.

The STARS Dorset team provides practical and emotional support, advice and guidance, drink spiking prevention tools such as ‘spikies’ for bottles and the Safe Bus Volunteers give water, medical supplies and offer support to those in need. They also share information about available support services and offer safety tips for enjoying a night out responsibly. This includes promoting drop-in sessions for

STARS DORSET www.starsdorset.org

students at local universities and handing out emergency contact cards that attach to mobile phones, ensuring help is always within easy reach.

Looking ahead to September, STARS Dorset will have a strong presence at university freshers’ nights in Bournemouth, encouraging questions and open conversations. This proactive outreach aims to set a precedent for students to understand that support is available and accessible, and to set the tone for a culture of safety, awareness, and respect from the start of the academic year.

By working together with Dorset Police and other community partners, STARS Dorset is helping to foster a culture of respect, awareness, and prevention across Bournemouth’s vibrant night-time economy.

URGENT APPEAL TO LIFT PEOPLE OUT OF CRISIS

Diverse Abilities, Dorset’s Disability Charity, has launched an urgent appeal to continue the work of it’s Advice Team to lift people with disabilities out of crisis and towards a path of stability and hope.

Last year, 1 in 5 disabled people supported by Diverse Abilities’ Advice Team were homeless. That’s 300 local people without a permanent place to live. 300 local people who must make impossible choices between food and heat, medication and rent.

Diverse Abilities’ Advice Team help disabled people of all ages, and their families, navigate benefits applications, appeals, and tribunals to ensure they receive what they are entitled to and what they need. We provide interpreters, including for British Sign Language. We make sure their voices are heard and their needs understood.

The charity is asking for donations to ensure this vital service can help as many people as possible. Donations can be made online at diverseabilities.org.uk/urgentappeal.

DIVERSE ABILITIES www.diverseabilities.org.uk

REGENERATION INITIATIVE SET TO TRANSFORM POOLE’S KINGLAND CRESCENT

Dorset-based Spetisbury Construction is proud to be at the centre of the latest regeneration project at Kingland Crescent in Poole, building on its success in Bournemouth Town Centre. Fresh from completing a highprofile regeneration in Bournemouth— including being shortlisted for Regeneration Project of the Year 2025 at the South Coast Property Awards – Spetisbury is now delivering refurbishment and commercial upgrades in Poole Town Centre. The team will work closely with The Dolphin Poole and its managing agents.

This timely regeneration of Kingland Crescent aligns with broader rejuvenation efforts across The Dolphin Poole. With both residential and commercial elements, the refurbishment aims to enhance vibrancy, improve local amenities, and foster sustainable growth across the town centre.

The plans of the centre are expected to boost footfall, support local businesses, and position Poole as a thriving destination.

SPETISBURY CONSTRUCTION www.spetisburyconstruction.co.uk

NEW FOREST FIRST AID TRAINING CELEBRATES EXCEPTIONAL FIRST YEAR OF BUSINESS GROWTH

New Forest First Aid Training is proudly celebrating a remarkable first 12 months in business, following a strategic acquisition that has propelled significant growth across the company. The training provider, co-founded by James Osborne and Joe Day, has expanded both its service offering and team, now delivering training not just across the South, but throughout the UK.

Since the acquisition a year ago, the company has almost doubled its team of trainers from 8 to 15, including a strong clinical team of 4 specialist first aid trainers. The core team has also grown, with two new staff members added and an expanded Business Manager role, which has evolved from part-time to full-time to meet the demands of the growing organisation.

Reflecting on the growth, Co-Founder and Director, James Osborne commented:

“This past year has been an incredible journey. We’ve worked hard to build a trusted, responsive training centre that supports the real needs of businesses, schools and communities. Our success is down to our passionate team and our belief in high-quality, adaptable training.”

New Forest First Aid Training has diversified well beyond its original focus. In addition to a comprehensive range of first aid courses, the business now offers professional training in food safety, fire safety, health & safety, manual handling, working at

height and specialist care. It has become a fully-fledged Training Centre, delivering essential compliance and safety training to organisations of all sizes across the UK.

Joe Day, Co-Founder and Director, added: “We’ve seen first-hand the gaps in training, particularly in schools. Since 2020, it has been mandatory for schools to provide first aid education to all pupils – but in many cases, this isn’t happening or isn’t being done effectively. The concern is that poor training can be more damaging than no training at all.”

Recognising this need, the business is working closely with schools, charities, and community groups to ensure consistent, quality training delivery. The team is passionate about helping schools meet their obligations while making learning engaging and impactful for pupils.

PITCH UP AND CARRY ON

Pitch Up and Carry On: exhibition at the National Motor Museum will explore and celebrate the role of caravans during the Second World War

The Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection, in partnership with the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, are to present Pitch Up and Carry On, a new exhibition opening 13 September 2025 through to early Summer 2026, that reveals the remarkable and largely untold story of how caravans and their owners supported the war effort during the Second World War.

Drawing on rare materials from the Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection, including manufacturers’ records, Club magazines, advertising, photographs and personal accounts, the exhibition, in the Museum’s In Focus Gallery, explores how caravans were adapted for military and civilian purposes at a time of national crisis and how the Club came in aid of its members and people taking up caravanning for the first time. From mobile RAF offices and army briefing rooms to Women’s Land Army accommodation and even air raid shelters, caravans became crucial tools in Britain’s wartime resilience.

When war broke out, The Caravan Club, as it was named then, quickly reacted by decreasing its membership fee and offering

NATIONAL MOTOR MUSEUM www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk

practical guidance and remained a key point of contact and community for caravanners across the UK during wartime. Despite restrictions, fuel shortages and the upheaval of evacuation, the Club continued to publish advice, offer support and advocate for the needs of its members. The Club encouraged the ways in which caravans could serve the nation, offering counsel and guidance to government bodies.

Similarly, caravan manufacturers altered their production from leisure vehicles to trailer bodies, supplying the War Office and exploring innovative uses of caravans as first aid posts, mobile canteens and field headquarters. The military responded eagerly, recognising the caravan’s practicality and mobility. Units of the British Army deployed caravans as mobile offices, sleeping quarters and command centres and were quick to appreciate their value in the field.

A special video section in the exhibition features period footage and a reading from the memories of a girl who grew up in a caravan during the war, bringing to life the everyday experiences of caravanners during the 1940s.

To book tickets to experience this unique exhibition, please visit nationalmotormuseum.org.uk

TAKE THE PLUNGE!

Forget the standard night out, Bournemouth’s iconic pier is serving up sky-high thrills and unforgettable memories for hens and stags looking to do something a bit... extra.

RockReef Indoor Activity Attraction and the famous PierZip are putting Bournemouth firmly on the map for action packed prewedding celebrations. Whether it’s a squad of bridesmaids out to bond in style or groomsmen looking to test their nerve, this is the kind of “last fling” that guarantees stories for the big day speeches.

The Adventure Starts Indoors…

At RockReef, groups can take on 28 themed climbing walls, the daring ‘Leap of Faith’, and the high ropes course suspended over the activity arena. Perfect for competitive fun, team challenges and a bit of gentle humiliation (yes, there will be photos).

...Then Zip into Married Life

For the truly bold, the PierZip awaits, the world’s first pier-to-shore zip wire. Soar 250 metres across the sea from the end of Bournemouth Pier and land on the beach like a hero. It’s the ultimate way to celebrate friendship, freedom and the soon-to-be newlyweds.

Group bookings available year-round, with packages including exclusive use, add-on activities, and nearby food & drink options at Key West Bar & Restaurant. So if you’re planning a hen or stag that breaks the mould, Bournemouth’s got your back — and RockReef and PierZip are ready to bring the buzz.

ROCKREEF & PIERZIP www.rockreef.co.uk

NEW OFFERING FOR OUTDOOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES

An exciting new outdoor learning experience is being launched at The Treehouse in Hurn, near Bournemouth Airport with lots of options for outdoor birthday parties.

‘Nature Nook’ is a welcoming outdoor space designed to inspire curiosity, confidence and creativity through naturebased learning.

Children can choose between three different party options:

Fairies: Step into the magic of the Nature Nook! This enchanting party is all about fairy-themed fun, including wand whittling, scavenger hunts, and nature-based crafts. Fairy parties are the perfect excuse to dress up, sprinkle some glitter, and let imaginations run wild!

Nerf: An action-packed party where the Nature Nook becomes a fully customisable Nerf Battlefield, with tire walls, camouflage tarps, and pallets to build and hide behind. Armed with our Nerf blasters – plus any your group brings along – children can choose their roles, form teams, and battle it out for victory in a fast-paced, fun-filled adventure!

Bushcraft: Perfect for adventurous kids who love a challenge. Children will explore a variety of survival skills, including firelighting techniques, tool use, camouflage challenges, and shelter building. Add in

DIVERSE ABILITIES

www.diverseabilities.org.uk

a few fun fitness trials, and you’ve got an exciting outdoor experience that’s all about thriving in the wild.

Lily Felstead, Short Breaks Deputy Manager at Diverse Abilities, commented: “We are really looking forward to welcoming people to the Nature Nook for some really special birthday parties. We’ve got some great themes as well as fun equipment in our outside area including mud kitchens, a fire pit, den building, outdoor skills and a changing place, which we can’t wait to open to the wider community.”

Birthday parties are available to book on selected weekend dates from AprilSeptember, with the option to have the party catered where children can cook their own hot dogs on the fire, and toast smores for dessert. Alternatively, you can bring your own food party food.

Find out more and reserve your party at diverseabilities.org.uk/naturenook.

LIGHTHOUSE ADULT WRITING GROUP

Building on the success of the wellestablished Lighthouse Young Writers workshops, this autumn sees the launch of Lighthouse Adult Writing Group. Delivered with ArtfulScribe writer development agency and led by writers for writers, this new group will meet weekly on Thursdays from 11 September until 27 November and offers a perfect platform for people to meet, share, and create with a community of likeminded individuals. Sessions cost £5 with one free session if booking the whole term.

“The Young Writers programme is a source of great pride, over the course of the last year, PIPELINE has been firmly established as an outlet for new writing so the next logical step is to offer a linking activity for young writers who graduate out of the programme and existing writers looking for community.” Says Martha Earley, Creative Engagement Manager at Lighthouse.

Evolving according to the collective need, participants can expect a range of activities over the course of each term, including prompts to stimulate new writing, space to feedback on existing works in progress, group critique, and networking opportunities.

To express an interest and find out more email learning@lighthousepoole.co.uk.

LIGHTHOUSE, POOLE www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

IN T R O DUCIN G

WINNER FOR BOURNEMOUTH (BH2-4)

WINNER FOR BOURNEMOUTH (BH2-4) IN T R O DUCIN G

WINNER FOR BOURNEMOUTH (BH2-4)

Winkworth Westbourne have just won the British Property Award for Bournemouth (BH2-4), for the fourth successive year.

Their team performed outstandingly throughout the extensive judging period, which focused on customer service levels.

Winkworth Westbourne have now been shortlisted for a number of national awards which will be announced shortly.

The British Property Awards provide agents throughout the UK with an invaluable opportunity to compare the service that they provide against the service provided by their local, regional and national competition.

Agents who go that extra mile and provide outstanding levels of customer service are rewarded with our accolade, which acts as a beacon to highlight these attributes to their local marketplace.

Winkworth Westbourne

LETTING AGENT IN BOURNEMOUTH (BH2-4)

Winkworth Westbourne

77 Poole Road, Westbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH4 9BB 01202 767313

www.winkworth.co.uk/estate-agents/westbourne

77 Poole Road, Westbourne, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH4 9BB 01202 767313 www.winkworth.co.uk/estate-agents/westbourne

www.winkworth.co.uk/estate-agents/westbourne

T H E B RITI S H P R OP E RT Y AWA R D S are one of the most inclusive estate agency awards providers as they do not charge to enter This has enabled their award to be structured in a manner that ensures maximum participation, on average judging over 90% of agents that meet their minimum criteria on a local level.

The team personally mystery shops every estate agent against a set of 25 criteria to obtain a balanced overview of their customer service levels. The judging criteria is

periods to ensure that agents have been rigorously and fairly judged.

The team personally mystery shops every estate agent against a set of 25 criteria to obtain a balanced overview of their customer service levels. The judging criteria is periods to ensure that agents have been rigorously and fairly judged.

Robert McLean from The British Property Awards said “Our awards have been speciﬁcally designed to be attainable to all agents, removing common barriers to entry, such as cost, to ensure that we have the most inclusive awards. Our awards have also been designed to remove any opportunity for bias or manipulation. If an agent has been attributed with one of our awards, it is simply down to the fantastic customer service levels that they have demonstrated across a prolonged period of time. Winning agents should be proud that their customer service levels provide a benchmark for their local, regional and national competition”.

BRANKSOME PARK

You Are Invited

SUNDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2025 TH 11.30am - 3.30pm

Free entry, complimentary welcome drink on arrival, free goody bag, and deals on the day.

For any enquiries, please call us on 01202 298350 or email sales@oceanahotels.co.uk www.cumberlandbournemouth.co.uk

You Are Invited

SUNDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2025 TH 11.30am - 3.30pm

Free entry, complimentary welcome drink on arrival, free goody bag, and deals on the day.

For any enquiries, please call us on 01202 298350 or email sales@oceanahotels.co.uk www.ocean-beach.oceana-collection.com

PARKSTONE | GUIDE PRICE £500,000

NEW INSTRUCTION. SOLE AGENT. A beautifully presented 3 bedroom, 2 reception room detached home with extended ground oor open plan living kitchen/dining room leading to the rear garden, reception room to the front, utility room, cloakroom, Upstairs are 2 double bedrooms, a single bedroom/study and family bathroom.

now o ers immaculate accommodation to include a lounge/dining room, kitchen, downstairs wc and bathroom. Garage, enclosed south facing patio area and driveway for 2 cars.

ALEXANDRA PARK | £450,000

NEW INSTRUCTION. SOLE AGENT. A charming, turn of the century character semi-detached family home which has been updated and modernised and bene ts from 4 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, a ground oor shower room, kitchen, large boot room, bathroom and o road parking for 4 cars. VACANT POSSESSION.

POOLE | £450,000

NEW INSTRUCTION. SOLE AGENT. An immaculately presented 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom rst oor apartment with triple aspect lounge/dining room and kitchen/breakfast room. Other bene ts include Herringbone oor in hall and kitchen, plantation shutters throughout and a garage. Vendor Suited.

Renters rights bill update

The Bill cleared the House of Lords on the 21st July and is now in the ‘ping-pong’ stage, and will return to the Commons for final approvals beginning 8th September. Royal Assent is expected to be around October/November with commencement likely to be early 2026.

CRACKDOWN ON ROGUE LANDLORDS

Key reforms include abolishing no-fault (Section 21) evictions, replacing fixed-term leases with periodic tenancies, banning rent bidding wars, and limiting rent rises to once a year at market rates. A tenant ombudsman and a private-rented-sector database are also planned. Enforcement powers—like fines up to £7,000 for poor housing standards—highlight the magnitude of change ahead for landlords and renters alike.

Recent court cases highlight the growing crackdown on rogue landlords across the UK. Councils and courts are issuing record fines for unsafe, overcrowded, or unlicensed properties, with penalties often running into tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds. Offences range from failing to provide gas and fire safety certificates to running illegal HMOs, leaving tenants at serious risk. These prosecutions send a clear message: landlords who ignore housing law and tenant safety will face severe financial and legal consequences. With stronger enforcement and rising tenant awareness, compliance has never been more important for responsible property owners.

BANK OF ENGLAND BASE RATE CUT

The Bank of England recently delivered a long-awaited base rate cut, trimming borrowing costs after years of elevated interest rates. The move reflects cooling inflation and a need to support growth in a slowing economy. Homeowners and businesses are already eyeing the impact, with mortgage rates expected to ease gradually, though banks remain cautious. Looking ahead, analysts predict further cuts into early 2026, albeit at a measured pace, as the Bank balances growth with inflation risks. Markets anticipate two to three additional reductions over the next year, signalling a slow return to more affordable credit conditions across the UK.

PICTURED ABOVE

Sharon Canning. Owner of Move On Sales and Lettings

AUTUMN BUDGET

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is eyeing homeowners in a bid to plug the UK’s looming fiscal gap—without touching income tax, VAT, or National Insurance. Proposals include ending the capital gains tax exemption on primary residences above £1.5 million, imposing 18–24% CGT on any gains for those properties. Officials are also exploring replacing stamp duty with a new proportional property tax on sales over £500,000, and potentially transitioning to a fairer council tax system.

While aimed at higher-value homes (their opinion!), this could have an impact on the market. London one bed flats would fit this valuation!

AN OFFER OF ADVICE

A good letting agent can make the difference between a stress-free rental and a costly headache. For landlords, professional agents bring expertise in marketing, tenant vetting, and compliance with ever-changing housing regulations. They handle the legal paperwork, protect deposits correctly, and ensure safety checks are up to date—reducing the risk of fines or disputes. Agents also manage rent collection and property maintenance, keeping tenants satisfied and minimising void periods. In a competitive rental market, having a reliable agent means peace of mind, maximised returns, and the reassurance that your investment is managed both professionally and legally at all times.

Move On was founded by Sharon Canning in 2006 and at that time brought 20 years experience with her. Now a further 20 years down the road, this makes up 40 years! Move On are renowned throughout the local industry of being experts within the lettings industry.

For a free friendly chat, give Sharon or her team a call or email sharon@moveon.biz.

CONTACT

01202 711169

Sharon@moveon.biz

ADDRESS

420 Poole Rd, Branksome, Poole BH12 1DF

WEBSITE

www.moveonsalesandlettings.co.uk

New Forest 1600 Black Edition

showroom hours

Monday – Friday: 8 am – 5 pm

Saturday: By Appointment

Sunday: Closed location #10 Avon Trading Park Reid Street, Christchurch Dorset, BH23 2BT free parking available

Hosting ideas for elevating happy hour

Luxe up those libations and evening soirées with these stylish suggestions

When it comes to at-home entertaining, who doesn’t love to bring a little luxury to the table… or should we say bar?

Think ‘cork and fork’ parties, recreating a wine tasting experience, or convivial corner where budding mixologists can rustle up a cocktail to cheer happy hour!

And, depending on your budget, the joy of fixing your own drinks and styling out some five-star treatment for friends or family is a taste of the high life… and fixture in the social diary, as opposed to a fleeting moment.

The boutique hotel look

“There’s no reason why entertaining at home can’t feel as sophisticated as enjoying cocktails in an elegant hotel,” highlights Daniel Smith, founder of Danetti.

“Invest in key pieces like bar stools, which work on a practical level whilst injecting some glamour into your very own happy hour at home.”

Dual-tone furniture, often found in smart hotel lobbies, works really well in open-plan kitchen spaces, suggests Smith. “Especially when layered in appetising shades such as mocha, caramel, olive green and salt and pepper mixes.”

RIGHT

Wren Natural Fabric and Olive Green Velvet Gas Lift Bar Stools, £199 each, Danetti | Danetti/PA

He says upholstery detailing such as piping and buttoning has the power to elevate a core design and “transform it into an eye-catching showstopper.”

“Consider also the seat and leg combination,” Smith adds. “Sleek, powder-coated black metal legs have been hugely popular this year, as have swivel seats with curved back and armrests for extra comfort.”

The devil is in the detail

John Rastall, head of home at DFS, says: “When it comes to soirées and cocktail celebrations, the magic lies in the details. “Whether you’re curating an intimate happy hour or hosting an extravagant party, creating a designated social space can elevate the entire experience.”

Create a focal point for guests to be drawn into, says Rastall, with a luxurious space centred around a drinks trolley to draw your guests in – and entice them to gather.

“Opting for a bold backdrop – think rich paint tones, statement wallpaper, or even a large-scale print – not only defines the area, but instantly makes it feel more curated and luxurious,” underlines Rastall.

“Embrace a retro flair with floral patterns and playful uses of moody hues for a nod to old-school glamour that feels both effortlessly chic and inviting.”

To soften the space and bring a summery mood indoors, he says to introduce greenery such as large plants and vases of dried or fresh flowers.

“This seamlessly ties the decor together and is an easy way to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor entertaining,” suggests Rastall. “Perfect for those unpredictable summer days.”

Dedicated entertaining areas

Arranging chairs to create convivial spaces in a sitting room is a great way to transform a family room into a place for entertaining, suggests Gisela Lancaster, head of buying at Sofology.

ABOVE

Cherise Polished Gold Drinks Trolley, £479, DFS | DFS/PA

LEFT

The Westwood Accent Chair with Gold Feet - choice of colours and material, £799; The Westwood Designer Footstool with Gold Feet in Soft Boucle Ecru All over, £449, Sofology | Sofology/PA

“Work with pieces that complement each other, rather than match, in an easy palette of textured neutrals, with warm gold and bronze elements adding relaxed elegance.

“Informal circular groupings anchored by a generous footstool encourage lingering,” says Lancaster. “And helps create intimate zones – perfect for an evening of cocktails.”

Signature stemware

We all love to drink with our eyes and the right stemware can be make or break…

Think affordable luxuries such as glamorous vintage style goblets; generous-sized margarita glasses with space to salt the rim; or trendy stemless wine glasses for a relaxed feel, without the worry of them topping over your party platters.

Moreover, try to create a cohesive aesthetic by using the same colour palette across your scheme.

Think classy clear crystal, pink glasses for rosé wine to channel a summery vibe, or tulip-shaped silhouette for sparkling… so everything flows as freely as the conversation. Cheers!

Words by Sam Wylie-Harris, PA

LEFT

Aurielle Pink Wine Goblets, Set of 4, £18.40, (was £20), Dibor | Dibor/PA

Dartington Crystal

Wine & Bar Martini

Glass, Set of 2, £15.40, (was £22), back in stock soon; Wine & Bar Margarita Glass, Set of 2, £17.50 (was £22),

Dartington Crystal |

Dartington Crystal/PA

GAJA; A taste of passion

Our conversation with the founders of GAJA

It’s been just a year since GAJA opened its doors in Charminster, but in that short time it’s already become a go-to for flavour-packed curries, creative cocktails, and a dining experience with heart.

Born from the owners’ love of hospitality and inspired by their global travels, GAJA’s journey has been anything but easy—from licensing battles to juggling renovations, day jobs, and even pregnancy—but the result is a restaurant rooted in passion, resilience, and community.

As GAJA celebrates its first birthday, we sat down with the team to talk about how it all began, what kept them going, and where they’re heading next.

You mentioned you once owned a restaurant in London. What made you decide to open a new one here in Bournemouth?

When we sold our restaurant in London, we really missed the buzz that came with it. We went out a lot afterwards, but we couldn’t quite find the dining experience we used to offer ourselves.

When we moved to Bournemouth, I often moaned to Trevan that there was nowhere to enjoy a really good curry and cocktail. One evening, he turned to me and said, “Why don’t you open your own restaurant?”

That night we reminisced about how much fun we’d had running our previous place and how special it was. We sold that restaurant ten years ago, yet we’re still in touch with both our staff and customers today.

How did GAJA in Charminster come about?

A few weeks later, I signed up for commercial property alerts. One evening, I got a notification about a unit available to rent in Charminster. That same night we drove over, met the owner, looked at the property, and on the way back to the car we just smiled at each other—we both knew this was it. The very next morning, we waited for the clock to hit 9am, and at 9:01 I called the agent to say we wanted it.

What was the renovation process like?

Once the paperwork was done, we started renovations straight away. But we were hit with objections to our alcohol licence, which delayed us by six months. It was incredibly tough—the rent still had to be paid, our whole team eventually left because they couldn’t wait, and we had to dig into our personal savings to keep the dream alive.

You’re also Cabin Crew with British Airways—did that influence GAJA in any way?

Definitely. In my 10 years with BA, I’ve been lucky enough to visit so many beautiful places around the world. I’ve taken little inspirations from those experiences and poured them into GAJA—whether in the design, the food, or the drinks.

How long did it take from signing the lease to opening your doors?

Thirteen months in total. We officially opened on the 18th of August 2024. I was four months pregnant at the time! My partner kept working his day job, and every evening we were both in the restaurant making sure every guest had the kind of experience we’d been missing ourselves.

You kept working almost until your due date—what was that like?

I was in the restaurant every day until I was nine months pregnant. Eventually, I couldn’t even fit between the tables and the staff told me to go home and rest! In January this year, we welcomed our first son. We closed GAJA for two weeks so both we and our staff could enjoy a well-deserved break. After that, we came back with a refreshed food and drinks menu.

Tell us about the name—why GAJA?

GAJA comes from the Sanskrit word , which means “elephant.” In Hindu scriptures, the elephant symbolises strength, wisdom, royalty, and solidarity. That felt like the perfect name for us—it represents what we wanted GAJA to stand for.

Book your table

After a whirlwind first year filled with passion, flavour, and plenty of heart, GAJA has firmly established itself as one of Bournemouth’s most exciting dining spots.

Whether you’re craving a perfectly spiced curry, a cocktail with a twist, or simply a night out somewhere that feels special, GAJA is ready to welcome you. Why not celebrate their first birthday with them and book a table—you’ll quickly see why so many locals already call it their favourite place to dine.

T. 01202933165

E. info@gajabournemouth.co.uk

A. 360 Charminster Road, BH8 9RX Bournemoutch

www.gajabournemouth.co.uk

The Bournemouth Bedding Centre

Your home, our business:

Why Camerons lettings is the key to property bliss

Let’s face it—finding a new home or letting one out can be about as enjoyable as assembling flat-pack furniture with no instructions and a missing screw. Enter Camerons Lettings—your local property superheroes (minus the capes, sadly, but definitely with the expertise).

Based in Bournemouth and Poole, Camerons Lettings isn’t just another lettings agency lurking behind a glossy shopfront. No, no. These folks are the real deal—armed with decades of experience, encyclopaedic knowledge of the local market, and a refreshing lack of jargon. Whether you’re a wide-eyed tenant searching for a place to hang your hat, or a seasoned landlord in need of a nononsense letting agent, Camerons is the team you want in your corner.

So, what do they actually do?

For tenants, Camerons is like a property matchmaker. You give them your wish list (two bedrooms, close to the beach, no haunted basements, etc.), and they’ll find you a home that fits—not just somewhere to sleep, but a place you’ll actually like. They offer a wide range of flats, houses, and everything in between, all regularly updated on their easy-to-navigate website.

PICTURED ABOVE

Aleina Cameron, Owner of Camerons Estate and Letting Agents, Bournemouth

What sets them apart?

Well, it’s not just the professional service (though that’s top notch), or the local knowhow (which is encyclopaedic). It’s their people-first attitude. They’re approachable, friendly, and—dare we say it—fun to deal with. No hard sells, no robotic phone lines. Just real people who genuinely care that you’re happy in your home, or that your property is well looked after.

So, whether you’re letting or renting, pop by cameronsproperties.co.uk and see what they can do for you.

CONTACT

01202 295678

info@cameronsproperties.co.uk

And landlords—oh, you lucky lot. Sit back and relax as Camerons takes the reins. From marketing your property and finding top-notch tenants to managing the nitty gritty of inspections, maintenance, and rent collection, they do the hard work so you don’t have to. Think of them as your property’s personal concierge.

WEBSITE cameronsproperties.co.uk

ADDRESS

162 Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH8 8AS

And let’s not forget flexibility—Camerons isn’t a one-size-fits-all operation. Whether you’re a student looking for a cosy termtime base, a young professional chasing that sea view, or a landlord juggling multiple properties and wondering if you left the immersion heater on, they’ll tailor their service to fit your needs. Need fully managed letting? Done. Prefer a tenantfind-only service? No problem. Want advice on how to make your property more appealing than a Sunday roast in winter? They’ve got that too.

Because at Camerons, your next home isn’t just a postcode—it’s a new beginning.

Chester Zoo’s new safari lodges bring Africa closer to home

Claire Spreadbury and her family get up close and personal on a conservation-led animal adventure.

I stand mesmerised, camera poised and heart full, as a giant grey tongue winds its way out of the metal fence, around the foliage ball and into some juicy green leaves. Orla the giraffe is less than a metre away from us, and we’re some of the lucky few on a Giraffe Keeper Kitchen experience.

I’m at Chester Zoo with my family – husband James, Rosie, 16, and Poppy, 13. And if you thought zoos were for younger children, Chester has taken it to the next level by introducing luxury safari-style lodges.

As well as overnighters and fancy meals, visitors can take part in exclusive activities only available to those staying in The Reserve.

“Abieber’s not welcome tonight,” Hannah, one of the assistant team leaders tells us. She’s been watching the overnight footage of the new giraffe “lad pad”. It’s home to three-year-old Stanley and his dad, Meru, but they’re also trialling having zebra, ostrich and roan antelopes in the mix.

“Last night, Abieber – the zebra – kicked the giraffes out of bed at 2am,” she says, leading us into the ‘backstage’ area normally reserved for staff. “And Meru got less than an hour’s sleep.”

Hannah regales tales of the zebra waking the giraffes in the early hours, startling and causing them to jump up, then taking their bed like a cackling naughty sibling. Meru needs four hours’ rest a night, ideally, so Abieber’s off to the naughty corner.

Rosie and Poppy pull on blue plastic gloves and fill up the giraffes’ food boxes with pellets, while Hannah plucks bags of ‘maltesers’ from the ‘poo freezer’. She reveals she knows each and every giraffe by its poo, and the frozen nuggets can reveal pregnancy, as well as stress – something they’re keeping an eye on now the boys have moved into their bachelor pad.

The giraffe enclosure is part of the new Heart of Africa area within the zoo – 22 acres showcasing 57 different species. It’s available to all zoo visitors, but anyone staying at The Reserve can access it via a secret passageway an hour before anyone else is allowed in. They can also attend after hours, and wear night-vision goggles to seek out hiding animals.

The lodges directly fund Chester Zoo’s conservation work in Africa, saving animals from extinction. And with one million species at real risk, this money has never been needed more.

Each one of the 51 lodges is crafted using sustainable and natural materials. We’re staying in the stylish Lookout Lodge, where safari colours blend into the surroundings, rattan plates swirl up the wall like bubbles rising in a glass, and an enormous artisan lampshade sits like the top of a mushroom swaying over the sofa bed.

Sliding doors fill an entire wall of the lodge, leading out onto a balcony, decked with tables, chairs and a cosy bench, overlooking a stony moat and the sandy lands of the new giraffe home.

The morning sun creeps through the underside of the heavy curtains. My own lion cubs lay, wrapped up in a flurry of pillows and duvet, limbs flailing off to the side. I quietly slide open the glass doors to peek at the perfect mosaic running the length of majestic Stanley’s back, strutting his stuff just 10 metres away from our lodge.

We fill up on breakfast at Amboseli Restaurant –exclusive to The Reserve and available for lunch, dinner and drinks – before heading into the zoo. Always a great day out whatever your age, we sneak a look at a giant eagle owl – the largest owl in Africa – who turns its head 180-degrees away from us, like a celebrity hiding from the paparazzi.

The endangered hooded vultures hang out, looking like Disney villains hatching plans, while a flock of greater flamingos stand like yoga pros, peacefully still in the water, reeds waving in the wind beside them.

There’s so much to see and do, we could easily have extended our two-night stay to three, though it’s fair to say our approach has been fairly sloth-like. Staying in a lodge means you can turn what would ordinarily be a jam-packed day into a relaxing, leisurely stay, which is very welcome for many busy families – us included.

We all lean over the balcony one last time, sun beating down on our arms, watching the playful roan bounce around tree trunks. An electric blue dragonfly dances down the water and I smile smugly at how wonderfully wholesome this feels, delighted for the girls to be off their screens and immersed in nature.

Thankfully, no one is checking our bowel movements for signs of stress, but if they did, I think they’d find we left a lot more zen than we arrived.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP

The Reserve’s Savannah Adventurer package includes exclusive out-of-hours morning Heart of Africa access, a two-day zoo visitor pass, campfire stories, plus additional activities, an expert ranger-guided out-of-hours animal experience and a three-course dinner. A stay in Lookout Lodge on Saturday, August 30, 2025 costs £1,256.38 for two adults and two children. To find out more or book your stay, visit thereservechesterzoo.com.

To make your trip even more stress-free, take the train to Chester – just a 10-minute taxi journey from The Reserve. A Family and Friends Railcard can save up to four adults a third of their train travel, when travelling with up to four children, aged five to 15, who get 60% off their tickets. The Family and Friends Railcard can be purchased from railcard.co.uk and costs £35 for one year.

Words by Claire Spreadbury, PA

FAR LEFT

A giraffe at The Reserve at Chester Zoo | The Reserve at Chester Zoo/PA

LEFT

The Reserve at Chester Zoo | The Reserve at Chester Zoo/PA

BELOW

Zebra at Chester Zoo | The Reserve at Chester Zoo/PA

Affordable new builds, property refurbishment, remodelling and extensions M: 07774 559576 | 07980 564494 E: info@hiprojects co uk

Affordable new builds, property refurbishment, remodelling and extensions M: 07774 559576 | 07980 564494

| 07980

We Rise, at Lighthouse Poole

20 September – 1 November, from 10am (Tuesday-Saturday)

Global Majority artists take centre stage at Lighthouse Poole this autumn in We Rise, a vibrant group exhibition showcasing award-winning and emerging artists across painting, printmaking, installation, textiles and sculpture.

Reflecting on themes of heritage, identity, migration, nature and belonging, the work celebrates global majority artists living and working in Dorset, as well as invited guests, and is curated by Swanage-based artist Sharon James, who says: “We Rise is about visibility, representation and celebration.

Dorset’s global majority community is strong and creative, and this exhibition creates space for those stories to shine.”

We Rise forms part of Black History Month 2025 and highlights the creativity and contribution of artists whose voices are often underrepresented in the region.

“We’re used to exhibiting outside of Dorset, but to have a platform in the place that we live is really important. We all enter open calls, but that means the work is usually seen in isolation and often out of context, so I wanted to be able to put on a small, curated show that shows where we’re at.”

Several of the artists represented showed work at last year’s Connected Grounds exhibition for Access BEAF at Boscombe Arts Depot and from that have come together as Boscombe Radicle Artists Collective (BRAC), with a core group of seven augmented by associate members and invited guests. More artists are waiting to join.

“A radicle is the part of a plant embryo that grows before roots are formed and, like that plant, I’m hoping BRAC will grow and flourish. Some people might be surprised at the number of Global Majority artists living and working in Dorset, but we’re finding more all the time.”

Among those exhibiting in We Rise are Dorchester-based printmaker Georgie Moore and mixed media portrait artist Jack Dickson, who lives in Blandford and was featured this year on BBC One’s Extraordinary Portraits.

“Both were so excited to find there was an outlet locally where they could show their work – it’s like we’ve hit on something that people were crying out for. Jack said he’d been waiting to find his people on his doorstep… and here we are!”

Also showing work is self-taught painter and BRAC member Adilson Naueji who recently staged his first solo exhibition at Lighthouse having won the first ever Lighthouse Open Call in 2024.

We Rise opens on Saturday 20 September and runs until Saturday 1 November. It is free to see from 10am Tues-Sat and in the evening when Lighthouse is open.

ABOVE

Like Mother, Like Daughter by Sharon James

ABOVE

ID by Georgie Moore

RIGHT

The Body Has Memory byYeside Linney

ENJOY A GLASS ON US AT THE IVY BOURNEMOUTH BRASSERIE

Step into a world of quintessential British dining at The Ivy Collection, where style meets sophistication. Indulge in over one hundred years of British hospitality at its finest and experience unforgettable dining from breakfast to dinner, seven days a week.

Make your next visit truly special with a complimentary glass of The Ivy Cuvée. Then, savour the best of contemporary and classic seasonal flavours with our Two-Course 1917 Heritage Menu - available Monday to Friday for just £20.95.

Whether you are celebrating a milestone or simply indulging in the everyday, join us at The Ivy Bournemouth for a dining experience that is nothing short of exceptional.

Scan to enjoy a complimentary glass of The Ivy Cuvée on your next visit.

What’s in season this September and October?

Head chef Jay Styler shares his top tips for cooking and eating squid, delica pumpkin and salsify as late summer merges into early autumn.

September might still be hot and sticky, but between the back-to-school energy and the slightly darker evenings, we know the truth: autumn is coming.

Although that means the days of sweet summer tomatoes and corn-on-the-cob kernels stuck in our teeth are coming to an end, food-wise, there’s lots to look forward to, especially into October.

“September is weird. It is a change of seasons for sure, but it’s still summer,” says Jay Styler, head chef of new south London pub, The Kerfield Arms, where you can have a pint and a bowl of (excellent) chips, or order a plate of modern European cooking that’s likely touched a barbecue (“I love barbecuing!”). Then, “as soon as the weather starts turning, people start wanting heartier food”, he says.

So, what are the most exciting ingredients to start looking out for on menus and in markets, to cook at home?

BABY FENNEL

A daintier version of the hulking great bulbs you normally see in supermarkets, “baby fennel looks great,” says Styler, former head chef at acclaimed north London pub, The Baring. He buys ones that come with “loads of the fennel tops, which we use to garnish a dish. Or maybe we’ll chop it up and put that through a grain”. Baby fennel can be eaten raw. “It can be quite tough though, so my favourite thing to do with it is to lightly pickle it, so it’s not too heavy on the sugar or the vinegar, so it’s still super-crunchy but not as stringent.”

He often pairs it with cod. “It’s a really nice way of bringing some acidity and crunch into a dish,” he says. “It’s such a little flavour bomb, an aniseedy, baby fennel crunch. For me, it’s almost like a little cheat code.”

Head chef Jay Styler | Joe Howard/PA

SQUID

The Kerfield Arms might have only been open four months, but it’s already known for a particular dish: Cornish squid & lardo shish, pul biber chilli. Cornish squid is in its peak season right now going into September, and squid really can be exciting, beyond deep-frying it.

“I love squid, especially barbecued squid,” says Styler. “We have it on a skewer and get this really great lardo (thinly sliced pork fat) from Italy and we have bits of squid interlaced with lardo on the skewer. So as you cook it, the lardo is dripping fat, smoking up, crisping and caramelising, as is the squid. And then we douse it in a load of confit garlic oil – it’s absolutely delicious.”

SALSIFY

Earthy salsify roots can look very gnarled and alienlike, but don’t write it off because of its looks. “Salsify is such a weird root but I’ve always really liked it,” says Styler, who peels it and then slowly poaches it until just cooked “in a load of nice white wine, loads of aromats like thyme, garlic, bay leaf, coriander seeds” then, you guessed it, barbecues it. At home though, if firing up the barbecue is really something you only bother to do in the height of summer, you can get a griddle pan out or whack the grill up high.

Serve salsify with roasted meats, alongside other roast root veg, or for something a “little bit different”, Styler recommends trying it with “a miso emulsion, some pickled apple, celeriac and some really nice roasted peanuts.”

DELICA PUMPKIN

Masses of Halloween paraphernalia will soon be inescapable, but don’t fall for eating the classic orange pumpkins that have been grown for carving, not taste –you want delica pumpkin for dinner instead. “It’s just so nice,” says Styler reverently. However, it can be slightly trickier to cook than you might think. “A lot of people will cut it into wedges, but it’s such a fine line when you’re roasting it. It can go mushy quickly and then, before you know it, you’ve got a floppy thing on the plate, rather than a nice wedge,” he explains. “I like baking it whole with a bit of oil, a bit of salt, then letting it steam, cutting it open, taking all the seeds out and taking the skin off as well.”

“The pure flesh, when all that moisture is gone – it’s delicious with a little bit of butter,” he continues, “but I quite often put it into a buttermilk sauce, so you get a really vibrant orange buttermilk sauce, which you can use for anything, or do the classic and put some ricotta in there and make some pasta.”

Words by Ella Walker

Delica pumpkin dish Alamy/PA

A modern, country masterpiece in Avon Tyrell

Romsey, Hampshire

Sopley, New Forest

A magnificent Grade II listed detached residence set in grounds approaching 0.2 acres in the very heart of Romsey. The property offers extensive off road parking and lies within moments of Romsey High Street and the Market Place. A unique collection of three beautifully restored, semi-detached cottages - all located in the village of Sopley on the Hampshire-Dorset border. Formerly part of a historic school, the properties have been transformed into charming holiday lets with strong income potential.

New Milton, Hampshire Barton on Sea, Hampshire

£2,950,000

A Grand Designs-featured architectural retreat set in 50+ acres. Hillside Farm blends Japanese ‘haiku’ inspired simplicity with rural luxury, offering seclusion, timeless design, and a deep connection to its New Forest surroundings.

Hordle, Hampshire

A charming period cottage situated within southwest facing gardens, positioned along a desirable tree-lined avenue, within easy reach of Barton cliff top. The property has been sympathetically modernised over the years, whilst also offering offroad parking, a detached garage, and a car port. A beautifully presented detached property set on a private and enclosed plot circa 0.2 acre with the benefit of a separate two bedroom log cabin suitable for multi generational living or as a holiday let. Further benefits include a detached double garage with off street parking for 5/6 cars.

Visit your local Spencers office or contact us today to discover more about our unrivalled Spencers Service and arrange a

Visit your local Spencers office or contact us today to discover more about our unrivalled Spencers Service and arrange a free, noobligation valuation.

Spencers Spotlight

Bank, New Forest

A modern, country masterpiece in Avon Tyrell

A stunning three bedroom double fronted detached cottage set in established gardens of approximately half an acre in a prime New Forest location with the benefit of a newly constructed triple car barn ideal for

Romsey, Hampshire

£1,495,000

A magnificent Grade II listed detached residence set in grounds approaching 0.2 acres in the very heart of Romsey. The property offers extensive off

Bank, New Forest Burley, New Forest

New Milton, Hampshire

Sopley, New Forest

Ringwood, New Forest

OIEO £1,000,000 £1,250,000

An impressive detached chalet residence set within private wraparound gardens, located in a highly sought-after area within walking distance of the town centre, railway station and the New Forest. Further benefits include extensive off-road parking, a double garage and a double car port.

A superb five bedroom family residence forming part of a select and exclusive development of high quality homes bordering Fishlake Meadows Nature Reserve, on the outskirts of the idyllic market town of Romsey.

Burley, New Forest

This

Barton on Sea, Hampshire

A Grand Designs-featured architectural retreat set in 50+ acres. Hillside Farm blends Japanese ‘haiku’ inspired simplicity with rural luxury, offering seclusion, timeless design, and a deep

A beautifully presented detached property set on a private and enclosed plot circa 0.2 acre with the benefit of a separate two bedroom log cabin suitable for multi generational living or as a holiday let. Further benefits include a detached double garage with off street parking for 5/6 cars.

Where heritage meets luxury in Walhampton

A modern, country masterpiece in Avon Tyrell

Where heritage meets luxury in Walhampton

Romsey, Hampshire

and the Market Place.

Sopley, New Forest

£1,495,000 OIEO £1,000,000 £1,250,000

New Milton, Hampshire Barton on Sea, Hampshire

£2,850,000

Romsey, Hampshire Hordle, Hampshire

Stunning 7-bedroom barn conversion including a 3-bedroom annexe, ideal for multigenerational living or rental. Combining 5,850 sqft of character-rich interiors, gardens, ample parking, and a large barn for yacht/classic car storage.

A unique collection of three beautifully restored, semi-detached cottages - all located in the village of Sopley on the Hampshire-Dorset border. Formerly part of a historic school, the properties have been transformed into charming holiday lets with strong income potential. A charming period cottage situated within southwest facing gardens, positioned along a desirable tree-lined avenue, within easy reach of Barton cliff top. The property has been sympathetically modernised over the years, whilst also offering offroad parking, a detached garage, and a car port. A beautifully presented detached property set on a private and enclosed plot circa 0.2 acre with the benefit of a separate two bedroom log cabin suitable for multi generational living or as a holiday let. Further benefits include a detached double garage with off street parking for 5/6 cars.

Visit your local Spencers office or contact us today to discover more about our unrivalled Spencers Service and arrange a free, noobligation valuation.

Street

Spencers Spotlight

A modern, country masterpiece in Avon Tyrell

Romsey, Hampshire

£1,495,000

New Milton, Hampshire

Romsey, Hampshire

Sopley, New Forest

OIEO £1,000,000

£1,000,000 £1,250,000 £895,000

£2,950,000

Barton on Sea, Hampshire

£1,250,000 £895,000

Hordle, Hampshire

£1,050,000 £875,000

Hordle, Hampshire

Visit your local Spencers office or contact us today to discover more about our unrivalled Spencers Service and arrange a free, noobligation valuation.

Romsey, Hampshire

Sopley, New Forest

New Milton, Hampshire Barton on Sea, Hampshire

Romsey, Hampshire

Hordle, Hampshire

Nostalgic French desserts for you to make at home 2

Baker and food writer Edd Kimber aims to demystify French baking with his cookbook, French Bakes Made Simple.

Here’s our pick of retro treats to recreate at home.

LEMON MADELEINES

“To get that characteristic shape there are a few things you can do to help. Firstly, chill the batter for at least three hours and chill the tray for an hour before baking. Secondly, don’t overfill the mould, as this will result in a plain, domed madeleine without that classic hump. And thirdly, baking at a relatively high temperature also helps.”

CHOCOLATE FONDANTS

“Sometimes the old-fashioned recipes are the best – and you really can’t get any more retro than this dessert,” says Kimber. “At one point a chocolate fondant was on the menu at almost every restaurant around. Although it’s considered a bit of a cliché now, if you make these for friends at home, I guarantee that they will love them. You can’t help but be impressed when you cut into the dessert and the molten centre oozes out.”

LEFT

Edd Kimber | Laura Edwards/PA

Lemon Madeleines

MAKES 12

INGREDIENTS

2 large eggs

100g caster sugar

100g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

1tsp baking powder

100g unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled, plus extra for greasing

For the lemon glaze:

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

160g icing sugar, sifted

1. Put the eggs and the sugar in a large bowl and, using an electric mixer, whisk until thick and pale, about six to eight minutes. Put the flour and baking powder in a separate bowl and whisk together to combine. Sift a third of the flour mixture over the egg mixture, carefully folding to combine using a spatula, then add the remaining mixture in two additions in the same way.

2. Take a large spoonful of the batter and add this to a small bowl along with the butter, mixing them together to lighten the butter. Pour the butter mixture into the batter and gently fold together to combine. Press a sheet of clingfilm onto the surface of the batter, then put it in the refrigerator to chill for at least three hours before baking. (The mixture can be chilled for up to two days at this stage.)

3. To make the lemon glaze, put the lemon zest, juice and icing sugar in a medium bowl and mix together using a wooden spoon until you have a smooth, pourable glaze. Press a piece of clingfilm onto the surface of the glaze until needed – this will help to prevent it from forming a crust.

4. An hour before baking, grease a 12-hole madeleine tray very well and dust with a little flour, tapping out the excess. Transfer the tray to the freezer to chill.

5. Preheat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan/425°F), gas mark 7. When you are ready to bake, spoon the batter into the madeleine moulds. You don’t need to spread it out, as this will happen as the madeleines bake. Bake for eight to 10 minutes until the edges have started to brown.

6. Remove from the oven and immediately turn out onto a wire rack. Leave to cool for 10 minutes, before dipping into the glaze, coating fully. Allow the excess to drip back into the bowl before setting on the wire rack, set over a piece of baking parchment, to set.

Laura Edwards/PA

Chocolate Fondants SERVES

6

INGREDIENTS

200g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

1tbsp cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting

200g dark chocolate (60–70% cocoa solids), finely chopped

5 large eggs

125g caster sugar

100g plain flour

Pinch of flaked sea salt

Cream or vanilla ice cream, to serve

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (170°C fan/375°F), gas mark 5 and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Grease six 7.5 centimetre (3 inch) dariole moulds (or small ramekins) with butter and coat with a little cocoa powder, tapping out any excess. Put the dariole moulds onto the prepared tray and set aside.

2. Put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, making sure the base of the bowl doesn’t touch the water. Stir occasionally until fully melted. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.

3. Put the eggs and sugar in a large bowl and, using an electric mixer, whisk for eight minutes or until pale and thick. While still mixing, pour in the chocolate mixture, mixing until fully combined. Sift over the flour and cocoa powder, then add the salt and fold together using a spatula until you have a smooth batter.

4. Using a ladle, divide the batter evenly among the prepared moulds, then bake for eight minutes.

5. Remove from the oven and use a blunt knife to loosen around the edge of each mould. Immediately invert the fondants onto serving plates. Serve straight away with a little cream or vanilla ice cream.

The fondants can be prepared a day ahead and chilled until ready to bake. They can also be frozen and baked straight from the freezer – add five minutes to the cooking time.

French Bakes Made Simple by Edd Kimber is published by Kyle Books, priced £25.00.

Laura Edwards/PA

Sam Wylie-Harris delves inside a new cocktail book which reveals how to have your go-tos on standby in the freezer.

“What’s a freezer cocktail? It works like this: Take a full bottle of the primary liquor for your favourite cocktail and pour off just enough to leave room to add the other ingredients needed for it,” suggests an excerpt from Freezer Cocktails: 75 cocktails that are ready when you are.

“Cap the bottle, give it a good shake, then store it in the freezer. Ready for a drink? Just pour,” writes the author J. M. Hirsch, editorial director of Christopher Kimball’s cooking school, Milk Street, in Boston, USA.

“Sure, it’s not that difficult to make a cocktail the oldfashioned way: Measure out a few shots of liquor, toss in some bitters and ice, give it all a shake or stir, then strain it into a glass.”

“But there are any number of reasons to keep batched bottles of your favourite cocktails on hand,” suggests Hirsch. “Entertaining is among the most compelling. So is ease. Surely, I’m not alone in having plenty of nights when even a little effort feels like too much.”

To put you on the front foot, he says there is a “bit of science involved”.

Recipes for the home bartender to rustle up

Essentially, you need to make sure the ingredients in the bottle don’t actually freeze. “I’ve done the trial and error for you – sorting out which ingredients can freeze and which can’t; scaling up classic recipes so they still taste balanced.

“Accounting for the dilution you’d normally get when shaking and stirring with ice; determining the best way to serve each; and offering single-serve cocktail ideas for using up the extra liquor you pour off.”

Ready to whet your whistle? Grab your favourite spirit and get ready to build your cocktail in a bottle…

RUM – COCONUT-LIME DAIQUIRI COLADA

“This snappy little number straddles the line between a Lime Daiquiri and a Piña Colada,” writes Hirsch. “We start by speed infusing white rum with lime zest, producing a liquor that is bright and citrusy without being overwhelmingly acidic. Next, the infused rum is fat-washed with coconut oil, which adds a pronounced but not heavy richness that is the perfect complement to the sweet rum and tangy lime. You will need two squares of muslin.”

Starting with a full bottle? Pour off 120ml – makes 5 to 7 cocktails.

INGREDIENTS

630ml white rum, zest strips from 2 limes, 60ml coconut oil, melted, 60ml water, 60ml agave or simple syrup. Crushed ice, to serve.

METHOD

In a blender, combine the rum and lime zest. Pulse until finely chopped but not pureed. Let sit for 3 minutes. Strain the rum through a muslin-lined mesh sieve into a liquid measuring cup with at least a 4-cup (2-pint or 1-litre) capacity. Discard the zest.

Stir the melted coconut oil into the rum. Let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes, stirring often. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Strain again through a muslinlined mesh sieve into a 75cl bottle; discard the solids. Add the water and syrup. Cap the bottle securely, then shake well to mix. Store in the freezer. To serve, pour into a coupe filled halfway with crushed ice.

GIN – AVIATION

“The classic Aviation is a floral mix of gin, maraschino liqueur, crème de violette and a whole lot of lemon juice. I’ve never been a fan of the original because the lemon and crème de violette overwhelm the other ingredients,” highlights Hirsch. “My version tames the unruly elements by using lemon zest instead of juice –you keep the bright citrus notes without adding all that acid, and you put it directly in the glass, so there’s no worry about the juice freezing.

“And ditches the perfume-like crème de violette for a lightly sweet, gently spicy blend of Lillet Blanc and Bénédictine. A far more sophisticated way to fly.”

Starting with a full bottle? Pour off 330ml – makes 5 to 7 cocktails.

INGREDIENTS

420ml gin, 105ml Bénédictine, 60ml water, 53ml maraschino liqueur, 53ml Lillet Blanc, 2ml Angostura bitters. Ice cubes, to serve. Lemon zest strips, to serve.

METHOD

In a 75cl bottle, combine the gin, Bénédictine, water, maraschino liqueur, Lillet Blanc and bitters. Cap the bottle securely, then shake well to mix. Store in the freezer. To serve, pour into a rocks glass with 1 large or 2 standard ice cubes. Rub a lemon zest strip around the rim of the glass, then add to the drink.

VODKA – BITTER BLOOD MARTINI

“The combination of orange-infused vodka and bittersweet Campari creates a simple and stunning cocktail,” suggests Hirsch.

“If you prefer less bitterness, substitute Aperol for the Campari. I also add a bit of vanilla-spiced Licor 43 because the sweetness tames the vodka and Campari and delivers smooth, creamy notes.”

Starting with a full bottle? Pour off 300ml – makes 5 to 7 cocktails.

INGREDIENTS

450ml vodka, zest strips from 1 large orange, 158ml Campari, 90ml water, 53ml Licor 43, 30ml agave or simple syrup. Crushed ice, to serve.

METHOD

In a blender, combine the vodka and orange zest. Pulse until finely chopped but not pureed. Let sit for 3 minutes. Strain the vodka through a muslin-lined mesh sieve into a 75cl bottle. Add the Campari, water, Licor 43 and syrup. Cap the bottle securely, then shake well to mix. Store in the freezer. To serve, pour into a cocktail glass filled halfway with crushed ice.

Extracted from Freezer Cocktails: 75 cocktails that are ready when you are by J. M. Hirsch, is published by Hamlyn, priced £14.99. Illustrations by Lika Kvirikashvili. Photography by Thor’s Eye Photography. Available now.

LEFT

Illustrations of Coconut-Lime Daiquiri Colada, Aviation cocktail and Bitter Blood Martini | Lika Kvirikashvili/PA

ABOVE

A selection of spirits and rum cocktails | Thor’s Eye Photography/PA

The seaside town enjoying a cool revival

A growing collective of creative pioneers is reshaping Hastings as an exciting destination, says Sarah Marshall.

When amateur photographer George Woods and his family moved down to Hastings in the 1880s, they joined a legion of Victorians migrating south from the smoggy capital in search of pure, restorative sea air.

Displayed in the Fishermen’s Museum along the seafront, his black and white images document an era when this coastal town was thriving – women wearing flamboyant bustles shade from the sun with frilly parasols, and salty sea dogs fix fishing nets while puffing on clay pipes dangling from their lips.

Even more fascinating – for me – is the fact Woods lived in my house.

Six months ago, I left London for a place where properties are still relatively affordable. Initially driven by economics, I quickly discovered the benefits of waking up to sea views and listening to gulls squealing from rooftops. An even greater find, though, was the spirit of entrepreneurial optimism that’s been disappearing from London for some time.

Like so many Victorian seaside resorts, Hastings and neighbouring St Leonards-on-Sea fell into decline during the seventies and eighties. Buildings were abandoned and facades crumbled. But artists, writers and creatives have a habit of breathing new life into decaying spaces –and that’s exactly what’s happened here.

St Leonards has led the way, with bars and restaurants trailing along the Kings Road which runs from the mainline station, where trains take an hour and 20 minutes from London Bridge. A playful vibe continues along the seafront with cool cafes like the colourful Goat Ledge serving coffees, croissants and craft beers to dog walkers, joggers and locals watching waves crash along the pebbly shore.

Following suit, main town Hastings is slowly reinventing itself. Located along the pier, which was renovated and reopened in 2016 following a devastating fire, the Samphire Sauna serves anyone keen to embrace hot/ cold therapy with a dip in the English Sea. A few metres away, boards can be heard cracking against concrete in The Source skatepark. Head down to the courtyard where the local Brewing Brothers Brewery serve their beers on tap.

Look up to dig deep into the roots of this town’s evolution. Reached by a near-vertical climb are the ruins of Hastings Castle, built by William the Conqueror in 1066. The stone fortification – and several other local landmarks – feature in the Bayeux Tapestry, the famous fabric narrative of the Norman conquest of England. This autumn, the masterpiece will be loaned to the British Museum until July 2027 as part of celebrations heralding 1000 years of the belligerent Norman king’s birth. What a shame it won’t be displayed here.

Hastings pier |

Alamy/PA

Hastings Castle |

Sarah Marshall/PA

Samphire sauna | Samphire/PA

More history was made a short stroll away on West Hill, where Scot John Logie Baird conducted early experiments for the mechanical television. Pathways and tunnels once used by smugglers now trail into the Old Town, a cluster of lanes filled with cute cafes, vintage stores and rummage shops.

One thing I love most about my new home is the sea view from my study. But visitors to the area can go one step better by staying further west along the coast. A 15-minute train ride from Hastings, the Relais Cooden Beach spills out directly onto the sea. From bedrooms, the restaurant terrace or even the pool table, it’s possible to sit for hours staring at the sparkling water. A couple of minutes’ walk from the station, the mock Tudor building – which was once a family home – has been brought up to date with jolly deck chair stripes and an Aromatherapy Associates spa.

After a glass of local Kent wine, strolls along the beach are almost mandatory – walking past private homes where firepits flicker to gaze up at clear skies exploding with stars.

ABOVE

Relais

Here are a few more fine places putting Hastings on the map…

BAYTE

It’s a skill to create a space where you can hear yourself think but still be surrounded by people. This knockout convivial neighbourhood restaurant fills up fast on a Saturday night – but there’s none of that London queuing around the block nonsense needed to sit down and savour a good meal.

A compact but varied menu makes choices easy –classics like steak and sea bass are cooked with flair in an open kitchen, served alongside locally grown vegetables and leaves from the chef’s garden in Lewes. A selection of focaccia sandwiches is a gourmet lunchtime treat. Visit bayte.co.uk.

BOATYARD

The accolade of ‘best fish and chips’ is a hotly contested title in Hastings. Hands down, the winner is a palate-pleasing plate served at one of the region’s most exciting restaurants. A cider batter gives a meaty hunk of plaice a sweet flavour and crisp crunch. It’s the definition of other-worldly and a firm favourite on a chalk board menu presenting inventive new dishes with every turn of the tide. Chefs make use of as many local ingredients as possible, but draw inspiration from their travels. Other delights include gurnard with local shellfish, Pernod butter and sauteed baby gem lettuce, and Sussex green beans sprinkled with almonds, anchovies and sherry vinegar. Visit boatyardstleonards.com.

Find the restaurant in Heist, a marketplace of independent outlets close to the seafront in St Leonards.

A sister venture – the Farmyard – can be found closer to the station, serving organic meats, Sunday roasts and – very soon – some natural wines from the owners’ microwinery. Visit farmyardwine.com.

ABOVE

Farmyard | Farmyard/PA

HALF MAN! HALF BURGER!

When Rory Myers and his business partner Matt Woodhouse set up shop along the seafront a decade ago, the area was close to being a cultural and culinary wasteland. So much has changed over the years, partly sparked by their pioneering efforts. There’s no messing about with the menu here – it’s all about burgers and they’re damn good. Go for a classic Big Cheese or blow the tastebuds with a Chilli Nelson – a patty slathered with slow-cooked beef chili, pink onions and chipotle mayo.

Afterwards, pop next-door to Rory’s low-fi Ritual bar for cocktails and local craft beers. A former Londoner who spent a stint in Brighton, he firmly believes it’s the influx of creatives and a vibrant spirit that makes St Leonards and Hastings so special. Both venues can be found along the front of Marine Court, an iconic art deco block built to mimic an ocean liner. Visit halfmanhalfburger.com.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP

Doubles at the Relais Cooden Beach start from £170 per night with breakfast.

LEFT Burgers at Half Man!

Half Burger! | HMHB/PA

BELOW

Ritual bar in St Leonards | Ritual/PA

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Tina – The Tina Turner Musical

To be displayed at John Lewis Southampton until 15 September

Mayflower Theatre is delighted to be working with the Southampton branch of John Lewis to showcase costumes from the first ever UK and Ireland tour of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL, ahead of the production’s arrival at Mayflower Theatre, where it will play from 7 to 18 October 2025.

Designed by set and costume designer Mark Thompson, costumes on display at the store will give Southampton shoppers the chance to see them up close before the show takes to the stage later this year.

Sebastian Blevings, Head of Branch at John Lewis

Southampton said: “We’re very excited to be working with Mayflower Theatre to bring these incredible costumes to the store - they’re Simply The Best! The showcase will bring a whole extra dimension to our customers’ shopping experience, and is sure to delight fashion, theatre and music lovers alike.”

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is the story of legendary artist Tina Turner, the twelve-time Grammy Award winning Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Set to the pulsepounding soundtrack of her iconic hits, including The Best, What’s Love Got To Do With It?, Private Dancer and River Deep, Mountain High, the musical is an inspiring true story of a woman who dared to dream fiercely, shatter barriers and defy the bounds of age, gender, and race to conquer the world against all odds.

Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi and Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy will share the iconic role of Tina Turner alongside David King-Yombo as Ike Turner. Martin Allanson will play Record Producer Phil Spector, with William Beckerleg as record company Marketing Manager Erwin Bach,

Rushand Chambers as Tina’s father Richard Bullock, Claude East as Tina’s grandmother Gran Georgeanna (GG), Isaac Elder as Tina’s Manager Roger Davies, Georgia Gillam as Tina’s sister Alline Bullock, Letitia Hector as Tina’s mother Zelma Bullock, Kyle Richardson as Tina’s first love Raymond Hill, Bree Smith as Standby Tina Turner and Gemma Sutton as Ike and Tina’s manager Rhonda Graam.

Ensemble members are Viquichele Cross as Lorraine, Charlotte Elisabeth-Yorke as Toni, Kane Matthews as Tina’s son Craig, Daniel N’Guessan-Lopez as Tina’s son Ronnie and Richard Taylor Woods as Martyn Ware. The Ikettes are played by D’Mia Lindsay-Walker, Alana Robinson and Sedona Sky and swings are Loren Anderson, Ella Howlett, Eleanor Morrison-Halliday, Max Mulrenan, Tom Self and Toby Shellard.

ABOVE

Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi as Tina

Children’s casting includes Chloe Angiama, Chizaram Ochuba-Okafor and Sophia St-Louis as Young Anna Mae Bullock, and Shaniyah Abrahams, Lily Bunn and Mariah Martinez as Young Alline/Young Craig.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Olivier Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner Katori Hall, with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is choreographed by Anthony van Laast, with set and costume designs by Mark Thompson, musical supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting by Bruno Poet, sound by Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Jeff Sugg, orchestrations by Ethan Popp, and wigs, hair and makeup design by Campbell Young Associates, casting by Pippa Ailion CDG and Natalie Gallacher CDG.

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is produced by Stage Entertainment, Joop van den Ende and Tali Pelman, in association with Tina Turner.

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is dedicated to the memory of Tina Turner, who sadly passed away in May 2023. Tickets are on sale at mayflower.org.uk or 02380 711811.

RIGHT & BELOW

Jochebel Ohene MacCarthy as Tina

This Year Keep It Hot

Chatting with Ross Stallion

Thinking of going down the holiday let route? We chat with Ross, a seasoned expert from Stallion Property Management. Ross brings a wealth of knowledge on optimising holiday lettings in Dorset, with a focus on maximising rental income through platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com.

Today, he’ll share valuable insights into the strategies Stallion Property Management employs to boost property visibility, manage guest turnovers seamlessly, and ensure property owners enjoy a stressfree experience. Get ready to uncover tips and tricks for successful holiday lettings as Ross answers key questions about Stallion Property Management’s approach to full-service property management in the vibrant landscape of Dorset and Hampshire.

How can Stallion Property Management help property owners in Dorset and Hampshire maximise rental income through holiday letting on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com?

At Stallion Property Management we think outside of the box, we make your property stand out from the rest giving you a larger piece of the holiday booking cake, and the best thing about it is we live in an area that millions of people want to visit every year so its a win win situation!

What sets your company apart in terms of managing holiday let properties in Dorset & Hampshire?

We believe that communication is paramount. Each landlord and property has its own WhatsApp group with our team so communicating with us is a breeze and issues dealt with immediately.

We use professional staging and photos to showcase each property ensuring more bookings and ultimately profit. We provide end-to-end management, including providing our own linen during changeovers, ensuring properties are wellmaintained and ready for the next guest – enhancing the overall guest experience and less headache for the owners!

How do you handle the process of guest turnover for holiday let properties?

Our team takes care of everything from cleaning and restocking essentials to promptly addressing guest inquiries, these come through as push notifications between our team, this means all enquires from guests are dealt with within 3 minutes of receiving them. Cleanliness is the key with any changeover so its extremely important to make sure our properties are looking showroom ready for the next guests arrival.

Can you elaborate on the marketing strategies employed to increase property visibility on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com?

We place our properties on three of the main platforms - Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo. As we are lucky enough to live in such a beautiful place, from April to September our properties are almost fully occupied. The key is keeping those properties full

during the winter months, for these we use other platforms targeting workers and contractors who may be coming to the area for work and need short-term lets. Every property is monitored and we always adjust our prices in accordance with the demand. Keep in mind we also educate our guests on different things they can do and see in the area giving their stay a more personal touch to ensure the booking.

Can property owners customise the level of service they receive?

Absolutely, some of our landlords like to be a bit more involved than others and have access to not only the calendars but also the messaging service so they can see all communication between ourselves and the guests. The great thing about this is the landlord can always block dates out in the calendar if they wish to use the property for themselves or even friends and family. Then some landlords just want us to deal with everything and don’t want the stress and hassle of running a holiday let, everybody’s different, which is why we tailor make our service to our clients needs.

In what ways do you handle unexpected issues that may arise during a guest’s stay?

The guests can contact us 24 hours a day seven days a week, we recently had a guest who was flooded from the flat above them during their stay and this happened at two in the morning! Our team were there straight away and ended up putting them into another property whilst we dealt with the leak and help them move their belongings. These things happen and guests can get stressed so staying calm and friendly is key to ensuring everyones stay is a positive one, no matter what incidents may occur.

What’s the overall goal of Stallion Property Management when it comes to holiday letting in Dorset and Hampshire?

Our goal is to alleviate the burden on property owners, maximise their rental income, and ultimately create a seamless and positive experience for both property owners and guests. We take pride in our delivery and you only have to look at our

Google reviews from our owners and our guest reviews on platforms such as Airbnb and booking.com to see that the proof is in the pudding! If you’re thinking of going down holiday let route or even having somebody help manage your current holiday let feel free to give us a call, even if you just want some advice or help to manage your own property, we will be happy to help!

www.inspirationagency.co.uk

The rise of soft elegance and how to update your bathroom scheme

Create the most calming layout with these expert styling tips. By Sam Wylie-Harris.

Made to relax and unwind in… think mini spa treatments with indulgent body ranges and a place to pamper, our bathrooms have become a haven for wellbeing. Especially with our desire to escape the stresses of everyday life, investing in a little self-care, and creating the most calming environment with a luxe aesthetic is very of the moment.

And this is where the allure of soft elegance comes in, bringing your bathroom bang-up-to-date, and more characterful and charming than a minimalist approach which can sometimes feel clinical and harsh.

“Soft elegance focuses on creating spaces that feel inviting yet sophisticated, offering a softer lens through which to view minimalism,” explains Emma Freeman, brand and communications manager for Hansgrohe UK.

“It’s not about being showy or ornate, but rather subtle, luxurious, and warm – an ideal ambience for a bathroom that will help you end your day in a calmer way.”

Start with colour

Soft elegance bathrooms are about serenity over statement, highlights Freeman. “They’re designed to make you feel relaxed and refreshed, using tactile materials, subdued colour schemes, and quietly luxurious finishes.

Blush Pink Bathroom with Xarita S Mirror, RRP from £1,630; Xelu Q Vanity Unit in Natural Oak, RRP from £1,100; Xelu Q Wash Basin, RRP from £375; Tecturis S Single Lever Basin Mixer Tap in Chrome, RRP from £169, Hansgrohe. Visit Hansgrohe to find your nearest showroom partner | Hansgrohe/PA

RIGHT

“This is where spa meets minimalism… soft elegance creates an aura that’s calm and space-enhancing, ideal when you want a bathroom that embraces overall wellness.”

What’s great about this trend is it can work just as well in large bathrooms, as it can in cloakrooms and en suites, says Freeman. “The cornerstone of soft elegance is a calming colour palette. Muted tones like soft whites, creams, pale greys, blush pinks, and gentle blues all create a serene backdrop that promotes relaxation.”

She continues: “Avoid harsh, bright colours that can feel jarring. Soft colours create a more spacious feel and provide a backdrop for soft textures and shapes.”

Tone-on-tone layering with subtle shade contrast can also add depth without being too overstated, suggests Freeman. “To incorporate a little more personality, you could also use muted pastels as accents, such as lavender or a dusty blue.”

Lighting is important here too, she says. “Choose warm-toned LED bulbs that mimic natural light to create that cosy atmosphere, which is so key to the soft elegance trend.”

Thoughtful design choices

Under-consumption has been creeping into our vocabulary for some time now, notes Freeman, and says the ‘less is more’ philosophy is central to the soft elegance aesthetic.

She encourages a thoughtful approach to incorporating different elements that support a sense of wellness and quiet sophistication.

“Minimalism is key to this trend, but it has to be done in a softer, more organic way rather than traditional minimalism which is more sterile.”

Think about tapping into minimalism by clearing away countertop clutter and opting for hidden storage, suggests Freeman. She also advises keeping the floor space uncluttered: “Floating vanity units and ceramics that are wall-hung are a great way to lean into soft elegance.”

ABOVE

Wetwall Tile Collection in Blush - Bathroom Wall Panels, POA, Wetwall. Visit Wetwall to find your nearest retailer | Wetwall/PA

ABOVE

Hansgrohe IntraStoris Drawer Interior Modules, RRP from £92, Hansgrohe. Visit Hansgrohe to find your nearest showroom partner | Hansgrohe/PA RIGHT

Como Organic Cotton Towel Collection: Facecloth, £5; Hand Towel, £15; Bath Towel, £25; Verona Cotton Towelling Bathrobe Collection, from £85, The Fine Cotton Company | The Fine Cotton Company/PA

You want every element to feel intentional, but never excessive, she explains. “For example, bathroom furniture with a handless design, as well as soft colours in matt finishes like sandy beige and natural oak fit well into this trend.

“Internal drawer separators for your bathroom furniture keep countertops clutter free and organised. While frosted or fluted glass screens, used to zone off a shower or toilet, add just enough privacy while enhancing the room’s overall sense of calm,” she adds.

To embrace soft elegance, she says to think about incorporating natural materials that will add to the serenity. “Natural stone or marble with gentle veining, will create a timeless, organic feel,” suggests Freeman.

“You can add warmth with wood accents in light oak or walnut, and opt for matt finishes on tiles and taps to create a grounded, understated aesthetic.

“Soft textiles, such as waffle-weave towels, linen shower curtains and plush bathmats will complete the look, adding layers of comfort and texture.”

Sustainably sculpted

Other elements to consider are the smaller, finer details, such as accessories, showers and taps…

“Incorporating brassware with gentle curves and smooth, rounded edges brings a sense of grace and flow to your space,” suggests Freeman. “Every detail matters, from the shower head to the drain, to create a cohesive and thoughtful design that feels as good as it looks.”

She advises opting for fixtures in finishes like brushed bronze or nickel, polished gold, and chrome, to complement muted colour palettes and soft textiles.

“When it comes to taps, steer clear of harsh, boxy designs,” underlines Freeman. “Instead, choose cylindrical taps with flowing spouts and tactile handles that exude quiet luxury.”

She says this approach isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a space that nurtures long-term wellness for both the environment and those who inhabit it.

LEFT

AXOR One 3-Hole

Basin Mixer Tap for Concealed Installation with Spout and Cross Handles, RRP from £596, AXOR. Visit AXOR Design to find your nearest showroom partner | AXOR/PA

Brass

Tap & Click-Clack Waste, £154, Sanctuary Bathrooms | Sanctuary Bathrooms/PA

Bristan Saffron Brushed

Tall Basin Mixer

“Think wall-mounted taps above oval basins, or mirrored shapes that echo across the room, creating a harmonious balance.

“For the shower, subtlety is key… select designs where nozzles are discreet, allowing water to cascade as if emerging from a cloud. A matt spray disc adds an understated sophistication, perfectly embodying this trend’s ethos of refined simplicity.”

GoodHome Kentia Bathroom Furniture, Toilet and Basin. Ribbed Effect Walnut Veneer Wall-Mounted Bathroom Cabinet, £400, Diy. com | GoodHome/PA

A wellness space

“The soft elegance trend transcends fleeting fashion,” highlights Freeman.

“It’s a lifestyle choice that celebrates sensual shapes, sustainable materials, and the enduring beauty of thoughtful design.”

“Aligning with the broader movement toward wellness and sustainability, soft elegance certainly has longevity – and likely to evolve towards the use of eco-friendly materials and modular furniture in years to come,” adds Freeman.

Words by Sam Wylie-Harris, PA

Timeless furniture, thoughtfully fitted

Bring order, elegance and warmth to your home with Custom Creations

As temperatures start to dip and leaves begin their golden descent, our homes quietly shift into a new season. Autumn’s arrival invites us to nestle in, refresh our interiors and embrace comfort — a moment perfectly timed to explore how Custom Creations can transform your space with bespoke craftsmanship that lasts a lifetime.

With over forty years of combined experience and a reassuring 25‑year guarantee, Custom Creations makes delivering your dream furniture its mission. This family run company, based in Verwood, Dorset, blends tradition with ingenuity: skilled in house joiners and fitters craft and install bespoke fitted furniture — wardrobes, bookcases, media units, home studies, even clever under stair storage — with precision and care.

Imagine stepping into your home and feeling that crisp autumn breeze settle among pieces designed just for you. Picture a cosy media unit in earthy tones, glowing beside a flickering hearth — every book, piece of tech or treasured memento neatly tucked away, yet effortlessly accessible. Custom Creations’ bespoke TV and media units exemplify this blend of practicality and elegance, complete with clean cable management and thoughtful storage solutions.

Or perhaps your hallway needs reimagining for the season — autumn is the perfect moment to clear out summer gear and install a fitted wardrobe that welcomes

your woollens and outdoor wear with quiet sophistication. With over 500 finishes on offer, from muted greys to rich autumnal woods, you can coordinate perfectly with your existing décor.

Those awkward corners we often neglect?

Custom Creations thrives on turning unusable spaces into efficient storage. Whether it’s an angled loft, under stair nook or a study bathed in late‑season sun, their tailored solutions craft warmth out of every cranny.

Let’s take dinner in the lounge — the air filled with cinnamon and spice — while your surroundings harmonise with the season. An oak‑toned fitted dresser, complete with hidden drawers for entertaining essentials, anchors the space with both form and function.

What sets Custom Creations apart is more than their craftsmanship — it’s the whole experience. From a free, no obligation design consultation where they listen (not sell) to your vision, through to smooth installation using dust minimising equipment — the process is as seamless as their finished pieces. And with decades of experience behind every project, you can breathe easy knowing your investment is built to last.

So, as we sip our spiced lattes and watch leaves tumble past our windows this September, why not begin your own seasonal re‑design? Whether you envision

a snug home office, an elegant media wall, or a custom wardrobe, Custom Creations brings your dream to life with enduring style.

Custom Creations: where design is inspired by you — handcrafted, fitted, and perfect for the season ahead.

01 Ways to weave rattan into your interior scheme 9

With warm tones and textured interlacing, these cane accessories and homewares will elevate your space, says Sam Wylie-Harris.

Looking to renew your space? Rattan makes a timeless, natural choice when you’re creating a capsule collection of furnishings, or foundation for a neutral aesthetic.

Drawing inspiration from colonial times, the Victorian-era and exotic locations, rattan elevates the everyday with its artistry, versatility, sustainability and relaxed feel.

Check out these decorative pieces for a laid-back layout…

01. NATURAL GLOW

M&S Collection Wicker Scallop Shade Table Lamp, £69; rest of items from a selection, Marks & Spencer | Marks & Spencer/PA

Instead of a classic, ceramic lamp base, this wicker model with attractive scalloped edge shade will cast a warm glow – and makes a key feature.

02. VELVET CHARM

Emmeline Olive Green Velvet Armchair, £429 (was £579), Atkin & Thyme | Atkin & Thyme/PA

With its curved silhouette, cane weave and plush velvet seat, this accent chair makes an elegant statement… and lends texture to a room.

03. REFLECT STYLE

Indoor Outdoor Rattan Mirror, £195, Cox & Cox | Cox & Cox/PA

A faux wicker frame in a circular shape brings character and texture to a garden wall, bare hallway or living room wall; especially one as lovely as this, with soft tones and decorative loops.

04. BASKET HACK

Rattan Stepped Basket, £65, Cox & Cox | Cox & Cox/PA

How many times do you get to the top of the stairs and realise you’ve forgotten something? Or if you are after a clever storage solution for cosy throws you sometimes take to bed… step in this stylish rustic basket. 02 03 04

05. RETRO CHIC

Frances Woven Rattan 3-Door Sideboard, Natural, £209.99, Daals | Daals/PA

A showpiece for sure, this swish sideboard with a vintage vibe features attractive cane cabinet doors with internal shelves for storage… and smooth, surface for displaying collectibles and curios.

06. BASKET BLISS

Market Baskets, from £12; rest of items from a selection, Bohemia Design | Bohemia Design/PA

A favourite find for sorting and storing, these hand-woven Moroccan baskets made from natural palm leaf will help clear the clutter.

07.

BOTANICAL DISPLAY

Bali Natural Rattan Triple Plant Stand, £125, Oliver Bonas | Oliver Bonas/PA

When you’re short on space and vertical planting best aligns your indoor oasis, this bamboo stand with three baskets loves leafy trailing plants alongside peace lilies and succulents.

08. MODERN RUSTIC

Lena Rattan Book Shelf, £129.99, Von Haus | Von Haus/PA

Keeping it natural with wooden shelving, this industrial-style black metal frame sets off the pale timber and rattan-fronted cupboard, complementing the neutral palette.

09. TRAY CHIC

OHS Rattan Detachable Round Top Tray Table – Natural/Black, £19 (was £25), Online Home Shop | Online Home Shop/PA

With a detachable woven tray and black frame, this table taps into rustic charm and can be styled either side of a sofa –perfectly placed with wood effect flooring and ivory furnishings.

Where Beautiful Kitchens Begin

At Cricklewood Kitchens, we don’t just design kitchens — we craft the heart of your home.

Whether you’re dreaming of sleek modern lines or timeless classic charm, our expert team will work with you to create a space that’s both beautiful and brilliantly functional. With outstanding craftsmanship, top-quality materials, and a personal service from start to finish, it’s no wonder so many of our customers say they love their kitchen more and more each day.

✔ Bespoke Designs

✔ Expert Installation

✔ Exceptional Value

✔ Built to Last

Visit our Cricklewood showroom and see why our kitchens are some of the most recommended along the South Coast.

Showroom: 3D High Street, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1AB.

www.cricklewoodkitchens.co.uk

At Cricklewood Kitchens, we don’t just heart of your Whether you’re dreaming of

Looking for expert double glazing repairs in Bournemouth?

The Window Man specialises in comprehensive double glazing repairs and replacements in Bournemouth and surrounding areas. With extensive experience in the industry, we efficiently address issues such as misted or foggy double-glazed units, restoring clarity and enhancing energy efficiency in your home. Our skilled team is adept at resealing windows and doors, repairing or replacing window handles and hinges, as well as fixing leaking or draughty windows and doors. We also offer replacement services for PVCu door panels, cracked double glazing units, and conservatory roof panels.

Lighting the season

From soft pendants to glowing lamps, find your autumn comfort in every room

As the nights draw in and a chill drifts through the air, there’s no better time to cast your home in a warm and inviting glow. This September, turn to Poole Lighting Factory Shop—a haven for discerning homeowners seeking quality, variety, and value under one roof.

Nestled in Poole, Dorset, this long‑standing lighting emporium has expertly served the UK for nearly three decades. As the UK’s leading supplier of domestic lighting, it launched its factory outlet to offer fantastic end‑of‑line products that are no longer available on the high street— at incredibly low prices. Think pendants, chandeliers, flush fittings, table and floor lamps, bathroom and outdoor lighting, bulbs, smart lighting, and accessories— all designed with passion in the UK and ethically sourced worldwide.

Autumn is the season for layering: rugs, throws, coffee mugs, and sumptuous lighting that wraps rooms in softness. Whether you’d like a soft brass pendant to hover above the dining table, a warming floor lamp by the armchair, or outdoor lanterns that cheer the dusky garden— Poole Lighting Factory Shop has it all, at prices that feel comforting to your wallet as well as your home.

Why choose them? First, there’s their sheer breadth of stock. From statement ceiling pieces to energy‑efficient smart bulbs and practical wall lanterns, every corner of your home can benefit from intentional lighting. Second, the thrill of discovery—browsing end of line items means scoring unique or discontinued models that won’t overwhelm the high street.

Visiting their Poole showroom is part of the experience. Surrounded by lighting lovingly displayed, you sense the craftsmanship, imagine shadows dancing on autumnal walls, and sense how each element could transform your living room, kitchen, or hallway.

Picture this: walking into your lounge at dusk, the settees layered with cheery cushions, a cinnamon scented candle flickering, while a dimmable pendant — chosen from Poole Lighting’s eclectic collection — casts a reassuring glow overhead. It’s the little details—clean cable design, thoughtful finishing, mood‑enhancing warmth—that elevate everyday comfort.

Plus, thanks to their unbeatable value, you can refresh multiple rooms rather than patch up one. Illuminate your hallway with an elegant flush fitting to greet you like a warm embrace, or dispense soft bedside reading light with a stylish table lamp. All while knowing you’ve made a smart investment that won’t break the bank.

In short, Poole Lighting Factory Shop is more than a retailer—it’s a seasonal ally. From the first golden leaf to the crisp whisper of autumn mornings, the right lighting can carry a home’s energy from chilly to cosy. Visit their showroom to experience everything from their indoor pendants to outdoor bulkheads, bulbs to smart accessories—and brace yourself for an autumn that feels as lit from within as it does from without.

01202 690945

online@poolelighting.com

Prepare your garden is autumn

Tips on harvesting and saving your home-grown herbs

Air-drying and freezing can help you enjoy your garden herbs for months

If you’ve been snipping away at your homegrown basil to throw on tomato salads, enjoying mint in your cocktails and adding sprigs of rosemary to your roast potatoes, it’s time to think about preserving the best of your herbs to last into the months ahead.

“August is the perfect time to start harvesting some of your herbs,” says Manoj Malde, TV and radio presenter, author and RHS ambassador who will be joining the Garden Theatre stage at this year’s Malvern Autumn Show .

“Herbs like mint, lovage and chives will die down for the winter and should come back next year, but herbs like rosemary, sage and other woody varieties become a bit straggly through autumn.”

“Cut herbs such as basil just above the nodes, which will keep the plant fresh,” says Didrik Dimmen, co-founder and CEO of indoor smart indoor garden company Auk. “Cutting just above the nodes, where the new shoots spring out, will allow the plant to refocus its energy, making it grow more bushy.”

Harvest the leaves regularly when they are young, he advises. “If you wait too long to harvest and the leaves get really big, they also lose a bit of taste.”

Herbs which are harvested will last between a day and a week in the fridge, Dimmen estimates. Alternatively, you could put them in a jar of water on a sunny windowsill, to last a week or two in summer. Some more delicate plants, such as coriander, won’t stay fresh in the fridge for long, he notes.

So, how can gardeners save their herbs now to use in dishes in the months ahead?

Air-dry

“Gather and prepare your herbs by harvesting them, removing any dead leaves and then tying the stems together in small bunches, then hang them upside down in a warm, well-ventilated place out of direct sunlight,” Malde advises.

“The drying process can take a couple of days to a couple of weeks, so keep an eye on them to make sure they are drying properly. Once the leaves on the stems have dried, remove them from the stems and store in an airtight container and keep them in a cool, dark, dry place.”

He says that sage, rosemary, mint, bayleaves, thyme, tarragon and oregano are all suitable candidates for drying. Drying herbs such as oregano can actually boost their flavour.

Freeze

Wash your harvested herbs, dry them and put them on a baking tray or a sheet of baking parchment and put them in the freezer, says Malde. Once they are frozen, transfer them into a freezer bag and store them in the freezer.

He warns that frozen herbs tend to lose some of their flavour. Dimmen adds: “The leaves of plants contain a lot of water and when water freezes it expands, so it basically destroys the structure of the plant.”

Put herbs in ice cube trays

“Blend your herb in a bit of oil (olive or sunflower oil) or water, turn it into a paste and then put the paste into an ice cube tray to freeze through the winter. Then, when you don’t have herbs in the garden, you can take a couple of cubes out of the ice tray and put them into your pan to thaw out and use for cooking,” Malde suggests.

Take cuttings

You can grow herbs indoors if you take cuttings and propagate them on a bright windowsill. That way, they should carry on growing, but ease up on watering during the winter and water very lightly in the morning.

“The last thing that any plant wants is wet, freezing cold roots,” Malde observes.

Harvest seeds

Once a plant has bolted, such as coriander or nigella, you can harvest the seeds and either use them whole in cooking or grind them into a powder to add to different dishes.

“Coriander plants might start producing flowers in August and then it will run to seed. Let it bolt if you want to harvest seeds,” Malde advises.

Preserve in oil

Herbs like rosemary and other ingredients such as chillies can be submerged in olive oil in a jar or bottle to create a flavoured oil in cooking.

Make herb butter

Flavour butter with herbs using soft butter, salt, herbs and optionally garlic, which will last in the fridge as long as the butter does, says Dimmen.

Create a spice mix

Spread your freshly picked herbs evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and dry them in a cool oven, checking regularly to make sure they don’t burn. Once they are dry, you should be able to crumble them in your fingers and then crush them with a pestle and mortar.

Store your spice blend in an airtight container in a cool, dry, dark place, where they can last up to a year, although they will taste better in the first six months, says Dimmen.

Make your own sauce

Make sauces such as pesto with your fresh basil, suggests Dimmen. “You can freeze the pesto in ice cube trays and then take them out when you need them.”

Hannah Stephenson, PA Photos credit Alamy/PA

Tuscany Blinds & Shutters Ltd has a wide selection of shutters & awnings to suit any situation. We have over 30 years’ experience supplying and fitting shutters and awnings. Our expert staff can advise you on all aspects of supply and installation, so you can be sure you’ll be happy with the results. We guarantee customer satisfaction! We only source the best products, offering you traditional and contemporary solutions for every taste.

SLC Solutions: Powering a greener south coast—one roof at a time

Smarter energy, lower bills, and a cleaner future—delivered with expertise you can trust.

SLC Solutions is a Bournemouth-based company helping homeowners and businesses across Dorset, Hampshire, and Wiltshire embrace cleaner, smarter energy. From solar panels to electric vehicle charging and full electrical services, they are making sustainable choices not just attainable—but part of everyday life.

Whether you’re curious about solar or determined to reduce your bills, SLC has tailored solutions that deliver. Their solar panel installations are designed to cut energy costs, increase property value, and can even reduce bills by up to 94 per cent. With optional battery storage, you can conserve surplus power and use it whenever you choose—day or night.

Looking to drive into a greener future? SLC also installs EV chargers that blend convenience and reliability for both homes and businesses. On the electrical side, their certified electricians cover everything from wiring and safety checks to stylish upgrades, with professionalism and peace of mind built into every project.

01202 028985 | 07872 606987

What sets SLC apart is not just what they do—but how they do it. With recognition from MCS certification, NICEIC approval, CPA-backed guarantees and membership of RECC, the company brings integrity and reassurance to every installation.

Whether it’s a single home looking to save money or a large business project, their finance options are flexible—making green energy accessible to more people.

If reducing your carbon footprint while boosting comfort and savings is part of your plan this autumn, SLC Solutions should be your first call.

MOTORING NEWS

Mark Slack tells us the latest news on all things motoring.

NEW CHERY TIGGO 8 PRICING AND SPECIFICATIONS CONFIRMED

CHERY has confirmed that its first sevenseat SUV for the UK market will go on sale with prices starting from £28,545.

As CHERY confirms its UK operations and expands its national dealer network, the brand is set to take on new challenges with the arrival of its first seven-seat SUV.

Customer deliveries of the TIGGO 8 begin this month, with the order book now officially open. Tailored specifically for the UK market, the TIGGO 8 will be offered with a choice of two electrified powertrains, two high-specification trims – Aspire and Summit – and a diverse colour range.

The pure ICE 1.6-litre Turbocharged Direct Gasoline Injection (TDGI) engine produces

147 PS and 275 Nm of torque, enabling the CHERY TIGGO 8 in its pure petrol variant to accelerate from 0-62 mph in 9.8 seconds with a top speed of 118 mph. Meanwhile, the Super Hybrid – the plug-in hybrid model with both self-charging and fast charging capabilities – offers a total range of 745 miles, including 56 EV-only miles, and is capable of a 0-62 mph time of just 8.5 seconds, with a top speed of 112 mph.

Two interior trims – Aspire and Summit –feature heated seating, ergonomic controls, panoramic sunroof, hands-free automatic tailgate, plus an upgraded 12-speaker SONY audio system.

Both trims feature 15.6-inch Quad HD central console display, multi-function steering wheel, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. With the top-line Summit specification lumbar and electrically adjustable, heated and ventilated seats, with passenger massage function in the front row, and heated outer second row seating, alongside a head-up display is standard.

Priced from £28,545 OTR for the 1.6-litre TDGI and from £33,545 OTR for the Super Hybrid, both variants have a 7-year/100,000mile warranty, with unlimited mileage in the first 3 years, and RAC Home Start cover as standard. The TIGGO 8 Super Hybrid will have an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty.

I need the perfect car. Good ﬁnance, low mileage, clean history, available now.

Sourced, ﬁnanced, managed, delivered. That was… suspiciously easy.

We’re suspiciously good at this.

Think of us as your car’s personal assistant.

AUDI A5 AVANT – PREMIUM AND STYLISH ALTERNATIVE TO AN SUV

In an age where the SUV rules there are few alternatives, but there are some thanks to manufacturers like Audi who still build proper estate cars. The A5 Avant range is one of those proper estates and offers practicality, style and a wide range of power options including petrol, diesel and hybrid.

Estates are much more practical than you may imagine, as despite their usually larger size SUVs don’t offer the same spatial package as a traditional estate car. For example, longer loads can generally be better accommodated in an estate car rather than an SUV.

The A5 Avant range starts at £45,285 for the sport model with a 150PS petrol powerplant under the bonnet and a generous slice of standard equipment. This includes heated front seats, heated, powered, dimming and folding door mirrors, LED lights, navigation, high beam assist and cruise control on the lead-in model.

Although as with all car makers costs have been cut Audi still manage to produce cars that not only feel premium but drive premium too. As ever there’s the usual touchscreen but at least the A5 still has some buttons. The dreaded driver annoyance, sorry assistance, features are easier to turn off than many cars but still require you to repeat the process every time you restart the car.

On the road my Edition 1 model proved quiet, efficient, economical and very comfortable. Priced at £58,425 it comes with niceties such as heated front and rear seats, power front seats, heated and electrically adjustable

steering wheel, head-up display, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, wireless charging and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system as standard.

All models come with the 7-speed automatic gearbox that provides some well-chosen ratios. The ride does feel on the firm side but not uncomfortably so and the A5 Avant manages to smooth out the roughest of roads. Although diesel is a dirty word amongst some the 204PS, 2.0-litre power plant under the Audi’s bonnet is a delight. With mild hybrid electric power the Audi returns an average of 53.3 mpg and emits 138 g/km with the benchmark 0 to 62mph in just 7.7 seconds with a top speed of 149 mph.

If you’re looking for a stylish automotive holdall with a difference then the Audi Avant line-up, especially the A5, should be on your shopping list. It offers a great mix of power options, impressive levels of standard equipment, a distinctly premium feel and performance to match.

GWM UK LAUNCH NEW DOUBLE CAB PICK-UP

GWM has announced the upcoming launch of its POER300 double-cab pick-up truck. Globally, GWM is a technology company, whose business includes automobile and parts design, R&D, production, sales and service. Its UK business, formally known as GWM ORA, officially launched in 2022 with the all-electric ORA 03.

Scheduled to arrive in UK dealerships from this month the POER300 (pronounced “POWER”) double-cab pick-up will be powered exclusively by GWM’s robust 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine, delivering 183ps of power and 480 Nm of torque. This efficient yet powerful engine will return 32.7mpg in combined driving and is paired with a new nine-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4×4 system with low-range capability.

A braked towing capacity of 3,500kg and a payload of 1,000kg means the POER300 is capable of towing livestock trailers, generators, heavy equipment or a caravan.

In Australia, the POER300, known in some global markets as the Cannon Ute, has established itself amongst its well-known and established rivals from Europe and Japan in a short space of time. The vehicle consistently ranks in the top 10 best-selling pickups and has quickly gained a reputation amongst owners for its overall performance and value for money. GWM are hoping for a repeat here in the UK.

There’s a bold exterior design with softtouch materials, a simplified console layout, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and

Android Auto inside the cabin alongside a 7.0-inch digital driver’s display and wireless charging area for a mobile device.

The vehicle offers multiple intelligent allterrain modes (Normal, Eco, Sport, Snow, Mud, Sand), and an electronically activated rear differential lock (standard), for enhanced off-road capability. There is an off-road approach angle of 27°, departure angle of 25°, and 230mm ground clearance.

A three-tier trim range offers Lux, Ultra and Vanta with all variants carrying a 5-year/125k warranty. Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloys, leatherette seats, keyless entry and rear parking sensors. Moving up the range sees heated/ventilated seats, ambient lighting, privacy glass, sunroof, tailgate step, 360° camera and at the topof-the-range a blacked-out exterior trim, wheel arches and black alloy wheels.

Prices start from £31,495 for the lead-in Lux variant and GWM showrooms will have the vehicles from later this month.

KGM ACTYONMUCH TO LIKE IN THIS NEW SUV

Sometimes a car can turn out to be somewhat of a quandary. Take the new KGM Actyon, KGM was formerly SsangYong and the Actyon is an SUV that sits between the Torres and Rexton.

There’s much to like about the Actyon including excellent build quality, including a superb paint finish, standard equipment levels and, although subjective, a striking and stand out style. However, there’s also a couple of things that would irritate longer term.

Power comes from a 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol unit mated to a 6-speed automatic. This is the first of the irritations in that the normal refined drive

is rather broken under acceleration. The engine has a lot to haul and the transmission seems to take an age to catch up pushing the engine revs high. It just doesn’t seem, or drive, like a good match.

This is a shame as under more relaxed driving it’s a smooth and refined machine. That engine and transmission combination would also account for the poor fuel consumption which during my time with the Actyon averaged, in mixed driving, 27 mpg. Not great!

Thankfully there’s much more to like than dislike with the Actyon. The paint finish on my test car was superb with the flake in the metallic black finish popping. The interior is extremely well finished from the leather upholstery to the suede trim.

Standard equipment is generous to say the least with heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, auto lights and wipers, powered seats, keyless entry and start, power tailgate, intelligent cruise control, TomTom navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with wireless phone charging and more. Even given the £38,649 price tag it’s a voluminous list.

To say there’s space inside the Actyon is an understatement, it is extremely spacious and with the comfortable seats it’s a rather nice place to be on any journey. The slightly curved touchscreen is much more integrated than many of the ‘bolt-on’ looking iPads we’re used to seeing on most cars and the Actyon dash looks far classier than rivals as a result.

The touchscreen is annoyingly slow to react but on the plus side it’s easy to switch off the driver annoyance…sorry assistance… features. Leave them switched on and there is more bong than Big Ben, and they’re far too sensitive often giving little idea why the car doesn’t like what you’re doing.

All told the Actyon feels nicely premium despite some reviewers thinking it variously cheap to okay, certainly I’ve seen worse on equivalent priced rivals. Add the build quality, striking style and the fact it will be a rare sight and it will appeal to those tired of lookalike cars. The downside is likely to be residuals but even more so the poor fuel consumption. I’m sure KGM will address the touchscreen issues and hopefully the engine gearbox combination and poor fuel consumption.

NEW E-POWER IN BRITISH-BUILT NISSAN QASHQAI

Nearly a decade after its global debut, Nissan is launching the next generation of its e-POWER technology on the British-built Qashqai crossover.

Claiming better fuel efficiency, lower emissions and greater refinement it is set for production in Sunderland UK. The new e-POWER is aimed at helping the transition from fuel towards zero emissions.

First launched four years ago, e-POWER was developed to deliver an electric-drive without the need to plug in - combining the smooth, effortless acceleration and refinement of an EV with the everyday convenience of traditional combustion power.

At the heart of e-POWER is that the petrol engine is used only to generate electricity which is then distributed directly to the electric motor to drive the wheels, as well as to charge the battery if needed.

Unlike traditional hybrids, there is no complicated gearbox and coupling to combine petrol power and electric energy to drive the wheels, meaning response is instant and the drive is always smooth, just

like an EV. And like an EV, the regenerative braking system on e-POWER converts kinetic energy into electrical energy, fed back into the battery.

Fuel consumption is reduced to 62mpg (WLTP), equating to a potential range of 745 miles, CO 2 emissions lowered from 116g/ km to 102g/km a 12% reduction compared with the current model and a 10kW boost in Sport Mode.

At the core of the new e-POWER is a newly-developed powertrain unit, which integrates the electric motor, generator, inverter, reducer and increaser into a compact and lighter package. Combined with improvements to engine calibration

and sound insulation, the system reduces both noise and vibration under load.

Despite having a similar three cylinder 1.5-litre turbo configuration as the outgoing version, the engine is all-new. A new, larger turbo has been fitted which also brings efficiency gains, allowing a 200rpm reduction in engine speeds during motorway driving.

For many drivers, moving to a fully electric vehicle still comes with questions - about charging, range, infrastructure, and habit change. That’s where e-POWER comes in.

With its fully electric motor drive and no plug-in requirement, new e-POWER offers a different and potentially easier route.

And because the engine never powers the wheels, the driving feel is entirely electric, with no gear shifts, no power lag, and minimal engine noise at low speeds. Yet, unlike a battery electric vehicle, refuelling takes place at any petrol station.

The latest Qashqai equipped with new e-POWER will be available in European markets from September 2025.

Sail into life’s greatest memories

Celebrate love, success, and remembrance on the South Coast’s only vintage motor yacht.

There’s something undeniably magical about celebrating life’s most important moments out at sea. Dorset Cruises, based on Poole Quay, offer a truly unique experience aboard the elegant Dorset Queen, the only vintage motor yacht of her kind on the South Coast. Whether you’re planning ahead for a wedding in 2026, organising a corporate event, or arranging a celebration of life, Dorset Cruises promise an unforgettable occasion surrounded by history, beauty and charm.

WEDDINGS

If you’re newly engaged and dreaming of a wedding with a difference, look ahead to 2026 with Dorset Cruises. The Dorset Queen hosts some of the most enchanting weddings on the water. Imagine exchanging vows against the backdrop of Poole Harbour, celebrating with Champagne on deck, and dancing into the night as

CONTACT

01202 844 199

the sun sets over the water. This spacious vessel can accommodate up to 80 guests comfortably, allowing your wedding party to witness the beauty of Poole Harbour in all its glory.

CORPORATE EVENTS

Dorset Cruises offer award winning corporate boat trip packages for up to 80 guests aboard the vintage vessel, Dorset Queen. For businesses looking to inspire their teams or impress their clients, Dorset Cruises offers a premium corporate hospitality experience. The Dorset Queen is the perfect setting for everything from client entertaining to team rewards, away days, and incentive programmes.

EMAIL info@dorsetcruises.co.uk

WEBSITE www.dorsetcruises.co.uk

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Living in Great Britain, most of us have an affiliation with the sea and what better way to remember the passing of a loved one than by cruising around Poole’s beautiful harbour and out to sea. The 1938 vintage vessel, Dorset Queen, is available to charter should you wish to remember a loved one during a wake or funeral, alongside family and friends in a private, beautiful setting. They are also able to allow ash or flower scatterings from the top deck of Dorset Queen. The team have hosted many of these events over the years and understand the importance of compassion

A S K T H E E X P E R T

From Summer Glow to Winter Radiance –

Shikha Rishi’s

Guide to Seasonal Skin Renewal

From Summer Glow to Winter Radiance – Shikha Rishi’s Guide to Seasonal Skin Renewal

At Elegant Clinic, I’ve always believed that healthy, radiant skin isn’t just about looking refreshed – it’s about feeling confident in every season This time of year, the focus shifts from simply maintaining your summer complexion to actively replenishing and protecting it.

The cooler months are, in fact, the perfect time for more advanced rejuvenation treatments Without the constant exposure to strong UV rays, your skin is in an ideal state to heal, restore, and build resilience for the months ahead

Here are some of my go-to seasonal treatments at Elegant Clinic:

• Sculptra® – Sculptra works beneath the skins surface, encouraging your skin to produce its own collagen The result? A subtle, natural lift and long-lasting firmness that feels like you – just more luminous

• Sculptra® – Sculptra works beneath the skins surface, encouraging your skin to produce its own collagen The result?

A subtle, natural lift and long-lasting firmness that feels like you – just more luminous

・The Perfect Peel - This is a medical grade treatment that unveils, brighter, tighter skin with reduced pores and fine lines It really does blow lots of other peels out of the water The results are incredible It’s a personal favourite

・The Perfect Peel - This is a medical grade treatment that unveils, brighter, tighter skin with reduced pores and fine lines. It really does blow lots of other peels out of the water. The results are incredible. It’s a personal favourite.

• Polynucleotides – This innovative treatment harnesses the power of regenerative science to repai r, hydrate, and revitalise areas like under the eyes Perfect for tackling the dryness and dullness that can creep in during colder weather

• Exosome Therapy – The future of skin rejuvenation Exosomes act like messengers, delivering powerful signals to boost repair, reduce inflammation, and restore youthful vitality Think of it as a winter wellness plan for your skin cells

Exosome Therapy – The future of skin rejuvenation Exosomes act like messengers, delivering powerful signals to boost repair, reduce inflammation, and restore youthful vitality Think of it as a winter wellness plan for your skin cells

• Advanced Lynton Lase r Treatments – Autumn and winter are prime seasons for laser work, whether it’s improving texture, reducing pigmentation, or giving your skin a fresh, even-toned canvas With less sun exposure, results are enh d d d ti i i i d W h l f i l t t thi t S ll iti !

Perfect Peel & Perfect Peel Super Blend was £250 now £150 per treatment

The Perfect Peel & Perfect Peel Super Blend was £250 now £150 per treatment

The Perfect Peel is an advanced, medical grade treatment designed to unveil ・ luminous, youthful skin with unparalleled results

・Brighten skin tone

・Improve texture

・Reduce age spots and pigmentation

・Reduce pore size & fine lines

・Improve acne & acne scarring

・Improve acne &

・Improve acne & acne scarring

prove skin texture, appearance and overall skin quality.

Advanced skin rejuvenation with LYNTON LASER at Elegant clinic The UK’s leading laser machine for IPL facials and hair removal

Advanced skin rejuvenation with LYNTON LASER at Elegant clinic. The UK’s leading laser machine for IPL facials and hair removal

Improve skin texture, appearance and overall skin quality.

Improve skin texture, appearance and overall skin

Improve skin texture, appearance and overall skin quality.

3 for 2 Offer

Buy

two laser treatments for any body nd receive the third one for free! motions cannot be combined with any other offer.*

3 for 2 Offer

Buy any two laser treatments for any body area and receive the third one for free!

These promotions cannot be combined with any other offer *

Key West supports local music artists

Bournemouth Pier’s Key West champions local artists amid grassroots music venue crisis

With grassroots music venues across the UK closing or cutting back on live performances due to spiralling costs, Key West Bar & Restaurant on Bournemouth Pier is stepping in to give local talent a platform, and the promotional support to match.

As part of the Arts by the Sea Festival, Key West presents an evening of original live music on Friday 19 September, showcasing some of Bournemouth’s brightest emerging acts in one of the town’s most iconic seaside settings.

Grassroots venues have long been the lifeblood of the UK music scene, giving artists a place to develop, connect with audiences, and carve out their careers. But rising rents, utility costs, insurance premiums, and reduced funding are pushing many to the brink. Key West’s initiative goes beyond simply hosting artists, it’s about helping them be heard, both on and off the stage.

MORE THAN A STAGE

Adventure Attractions, operator of Key West, is backing the event with full marketing support, including prime promotion on the giant LED screen at the pier entrance and across their social media, website, and in-venue channels. This means thousands of residents and visitors will see and hear about the artists before the night even begins.

CONTACT

01202 237902

THE LINE-UP

Velour, Formed in 2021, synth-pop duo Brandon Moss (vocals) and Joe Grist (synthesizers) combine modern electronic structures with 80s-inspired nostalgia. With live credits alongside Black Marble, CLT DRP, and Discovery Zone, plus collaborations with producers Darren Lawson (White Lies, Spiritualized, Bloc Party) and Pete Maher (Depeche Mode, U2, The 1975), Velour deliver atmospheric, heartfelt performances that linger long after the last note.

The Daisy Chains, Bournemouth’s indie-folk storytellers, whose nature-inspired, fairy tale-like melodies bring a touch of magic to every set. Their whimsical harmonies and evocative songwriting promise a captivating close to the night.

“We wanted to do more than just give artists a space,” said James Balcazar, Group Marketing Manager for Adventure

Attractions. “We’re using our platform, from our marketing reach to the pier’s huge LED screen, to raise awareness, attract new audiences, and help these acts grow beyond one night’s performance. It’s about investing in the future of live music in Bournemouth.”

ABOUT ADVENTURE ATTRACTIONS

Adventure Attractions is a leading developer, operator, and consultant for visitor attractions, theatres, and live productions. Founded in 1992, the company blends innovation with decades of industry expertise to deliver world-class experiences.

Adventure Attractions operates unique destinations such as Bournemouth Pier, home to RockReef, an indoor adventure attraction, and the world’s first Pier-toBeach zip line, the PierZip.

With a commitment to safety, sustainability, and operational excellence, Adventure Attractions applies its firsthand experience to consultancy projects globally, optimising returns economically, socially, and environmentally to bring “Discovering Adventure in Every Experience” to life.

For more information, visit www.AdventureAttractions.co.uk

Camellia Panjabi’s top tips...

How to make vegetables the showstopper of every meal

Make your plate colourful, try some new root and sun vegetable combinations and eat in season, recommends Camellia.

Bestselling author and renowned restaurateur Camellia Panjabi MBE, celebrated for transforming the UK’s perception of Indian cuisine through her stylish London restaurants and iconic cookbook, 50 Great Curries of India, is now setting her sights on a new culinary mission: inspiring Brits to fall in love with vegetables.

Drawing on decades of experience as a hotelier managing restaurants across various cuisines, Panjabi observed that vegetables were too often relegated to the sidelines.

“One of the facets of my job was to help set up restaurants for the different hotels, and they covered all kinds of cuisines,” says Panjabi, who has shaped London’s food scene collaborating with her family to create celebrated restaurants like Veeraswamy, Amaya, Chutney Mary, and the beloved Masala Zone chain. “When I left that job, I then began to reflect on the past and thought how come in every menu that we ever designed vegetables were always in the section called sides? They were never part of the starters, they were never part of the main course.”

Determined to change this narrative, Panjabi has made vegetables the true ‘hero’ of every plate with her brand-new cookbook, Vegetables: The Indian Way.

“The majority of food on anyone’s plate is normally two or three kinds of vegetables, and we had failed to take that into account

when we served the public,” reflects the restaurateur, who is often referred to as ‘the Queen of Indian cuisine’. “I thought, I’m going to do a 90-degree turn and say the hero of these dishes is going to be the vegetables.”

Pulling together her own experiences in the food industry and her upbringing in Mumbai, alongside extensive research into traditional Indian cooking, Panjabi asked herself: how do you make a cauliflower a hero vegetable dish? How do you make potatoes a hero dish, rather than a little bit on the side?

“I discovered this whole world of stuff which can be made very sophisticated as well, because vegetarian hostesses have been having dinner parties celebrating their cuisine in the most attractive ways,” says Panjabi. “I found that it was possible to make the most beautiful compositions and the most beautiful colour combinations.”

While this legacy cookbook contains a plethora of fantastic vegetarian recipes, Panjabi wants to emphasise that this book is for everyone.

“This book is not addressed to just vegetarians – it’s addressed to the whole universe, because everybody is a vegetable eater,” highlights Panjabi. “Some eat less as they don’t know how to handle it best, and many people have a repertoire of six to seven vegetables, and maybe two ways to make each vegetable, and over time that can get quite boring.

“I hope each person will re-examine their beliefs before they read the book and after, and how it changes their perspective. Because I think what will happen is that people won’t think of vegetarian food as something to be consumed by small bunch of people, but as the mainstay of everybody’s way of eating.”

Here are her top tips for making vegetables the star of every dish…

ABOVE

Vegetables: The Indian Way by Camellia Panjabi | Penguin/PA

Try a new root vegetable and a “sun” vegetable combination

While researching for the book, the restaurateur noticed a common theme in many traditional Indian vegetarian dishes –they regularly paired a root vegetable (such as cauliflower or carrots) with a “sun-grown” vegetable (like tomatoes or beans).

“One easy way to identify a good vegetarian meal is to choose a dish that attains vegetables which grow underground and those which grow in the sun,” says Panjabi. “Often in the West, especially in winter, you would have a meal with carrots and potatoes, for example, but both are underground vegetables. So, I noticed that this consciousness was not there. I don’t think among Indians it was conscious, more of a habit which they have inherited from previous generations, but there seems to be logic to this.”

Learn the health benefits of every vegetable

The 120 authentic recipes in Panjabi’s new cookbook are all organised by vegetable and are accompanied by notes on their nutritional values and unique wellness benefits. “It’s very important to understand the health benefits of each and every vegetable and what it does for you,” says Panjabi. “In this book we have tried to

extend the confidence and knowledge of different vegetables to understand what role they play in health, and how they affect our gut, metabolism and absorption, and also bring in the Ayurvedic ancient belief systems about each of the vegetables.”

Make your plate colourful

“The colours are very important – it’s almost like fashion. It’s like putting together an ensemble,” says Panjabi. “You have to decide what the handbag, shoes, top and coat are going to be. So, when you assemble a meal, you say, okay, I have orange carrots – now I need something green. And what about purple cabbage? You can assemble it all in a great mix stir-fry, or individually in little bowl and have a kind of a symphony.”

Don’t be afraid to be eclectic and mix cuisines

If Panjabi had to sum up her cooking style in one word it would be “eclectic” –and she encourages others to be bolder with their flavour combinations.

“I don’t worry about which ingredient comes from which cuisine. If I want to add Thai lemon leaf to a stir fry, which would normally be Western, then I do that,” says Panjabi. “Similarly, I don’t restrict a Za’atar to just Middle Eastern food, I would use it wherever I thought it would blend. It’s like writing music. You put different notes together, and you don’t know what the end sound will be, and it comes with trial and error.”

Buy and eat vegetables that are in season

Eating food in season is often cheaper and encompasses a better taste and a higher nutritional value. “We have got so used to eating so many foods out of season, and this has been made possible by the fact that things are now grown in plastic poly tunnels and atmosphere and everything is controlled,” says Panjabi. “It means a tomato looks like a tomato, tastes something like a real tomato, but is living on water filled with chemicals. It’s not the real thing.

“I think the consciousness of how to buy vegetables which might have been grown in soil, which might have seen the sun and are in season is a very good way to start.”

Don’t throw away the greenery, use the whole vegetable

“Almost all vegetables have plant material attached – like a cauliflower wrapped in wonderful dark green leaves – and we tend to throw that away,” acknowledges Panjabi. “I think the consciousness of how to eat carrot greens, turnip greens, cauliflower greens, and take the whole vegetable in its whole form has been lost. Of course, supermarkets don’t give us that possibility, but farmers markets and small vegetable vendors do.”

ABOVE

Stir-fried peppers with paneer | Jonathan Gregson/PA

Vegetables: The Indian Way by Camellia Panjabi is published in hardback by Penguin Michael Joseph. Available now.

ABOVE

Camellia Panjabi | Ursula Sierek/PA

Jonathan Gregson/PA

INGREDIENTS

150g paneer, store-bought

6tbsp oil of your choice

300–350g peppers, a mix of red and green

1tsp whole peppercorns

1tbsp coriander seeds

1tsp cumin seeds

1½tbsp chopped garlic

1 heaped tbsp chopped ginger

2 green chillies, chopped

1 large onion, sliced

½tsp ground turmeric

1tsp red chilli powder

2tsp ground coriander

1tsp garam masala

2 puréed tomatoes

½tsp sugar

½tsp salt

2tsp lime juice coriander leaves, for garnish

INGREDIENTS

1 large or 2 small beetroots

1tsp finely grated ginger

½tsp salt

1½ fresh green chillies, finely chopped

400g yogurt

⅓tsp cumin powder

¼tsp red chilli or red pepper powder

2tbsp coconut oil, or other oil of your choice

3 broken pieces of a dried red chilli, seeds removed

10–12 curry leaves

¼tsp ginger, chopped really fine

Stir-fried peppers with paneer

SERVES 4

1. Slice the paneer into batons, about 1cm thick (if the paneer you buy is firm, you can soak it for a couple of minutes in a little water before using). Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a deep pan and fry the paneer for about 2 minutes, until crispy brown on the outside. Set aside, but keep the pan as you will need it again.

2. Cut the peppers into similar-size batons to the paneer. In the same pan in which you fried the paneer, fry the pepper batons for 2 minutes, then remove and set aside.

3. On a griddle or in the same pan, without additional oil, roast the peppercorns and coriander seeds for 2 minutes. Remove, and when cooled pound to a very coarse powder. Set aside.

4. Add 3 tablespoons of oil to the pan, and when it’s hot add the cumin seeds, garlic, ginger and green chillies. After a full minute, add the onions and sauté for about 5–6 minutes on a medium to high heat. Add the turmeric, red chilli, coriander and garam masala – and continue to sauté for 2 minutes, then add the puréed tomatoes (the reason the tomatoes need to be puréed or even grated is so that they will coat the paneer properly). Add the sugar and salt and stir.

5. Add 60ml of water and stir well. Cook for a further 5 minutes, then add the paneer and 2 teaspoons of the coarsely ground spice mix. Add the sautéed peppers, stirring gently so that the paneer doesn’t break.

6. Let it cook on a low heat for 3–4 minutes. Add the lime juice and coriander leaves and stir. Taste for seasoning and serve.

Beetroot raita SERVES 2

1. Put the unpeeled beetroots into a pan and add enough water to cover them. Add the grated ginger, ¼ teaspoon of salt and ½ a green chilli, bring to the boil and cook until tender. When cooked, remove the beetroots from the pan and leave to cool, then peel. Throw away the water. Cut the beetroot into long strips or as you prefer.

2. Whisk the yogurt, add ¼ teaspoon of salt, the cumin, chopped red chilli or pepper powder, and stir. Put into a serving dish, add the beetroot and stir.

3. For seasoning, put the oil into a ladle or a tiny pan over the heat. When it is very hot, add the rest of the chopped green chilli, curry leaves and chopped ginger and fry for 7 seconds on a medium heat. Pour this into the yogurt bowl.

4. The raita is ready to serve, without stirring.

Jonathan Gregson/PA

Masala mango curry

SERVES 6 AS A CONDIMENT OR WITH RICE

INGREDIENTS

30g tamarind

1kg just-ripe cooking mangoes

6tbsp coconut or other oil of your choice

2tbsp coriander seeds

1½tbsp white urad dal

¼tsp fenugreek seeds

1tsp raw rice grains

1tbsp white sesame seeds

3tbsp grated coconut

5 dried red chillies, soaked in hot water

½tsp mustard seeds

4 cloves of garlic

3 dried red chillies, broken into pieces

20 curry leaves

65g jaggery

1tsp salt

1¼tsp mango powder (amchoor)

2tbsp coriander leaves, chopped

1. Soak the tamarind in 125ml of warm water and set aside.

2. Cut the mangoes downwards into 2 slices and the middle seed part. Cut each slice into 2 pieces. Peel. Cut the sides off the seed. Discard the seed. If the mango is very large, cut each cheek into 4 pieces.

3. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet, and add the coriander seeds, urad dal, fenugreek seeds, raw rice, sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons of grated coconut and the 5 soaked red chillies. Sauté for 3 minutes on a low heat, then set aside to cool. Once cool, grind to a paste in a spice grinder.

4. Heat another 4 tablespoons of oil in a sauté pan, and when very hot, add the mustard seeds. After 6 seconds add the garlic and after a minute add the 3 broken red chillies and the curry leaves and fry for a minute. Add the jaggery, the masala paste and the tamarind water, squeezed out and strained. Then add 1 cup (235ml) of water and the salt, and bring to the boil. Taste for seasoning, balancing between sourness (tamarind), sweetness (jaggery) and saltiness.

5. After it has boiled for a minute, add the mango pieces and cook until tender. Now taste again. Add the mango powder and stir. When serving, sprinkle with the chopped coriander leaves and the remaining tablespoon of grated coconut.

Jonathan Gregson/PA

November & December 2025 & January 2026

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Please note our Christmas Party Nights and Tribute Nights are for over 18’s only

TRAIN ELITE: BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE FITNESS COMMUNITY

Embrace personal growth, connect with likeminded individuals and achieve your fitness goals

Are you looking for more than just a gym? A place where you can thrive in a supportive and inclusive community while working towards your fitness goals? Look no further than Train Elite, the thriving fitness haven in Bournemouth that has redefined the meaning of a fitness centre. Here at Train Elite, we have made it our mission to create an environment that fosters personal growth, lasting connections, expert guidance, and, most importantly, a sense of belonging for everyone who walks through our doors.

Strength in Numbers: Power of Community

At the heart of Train Elite lies the incredible power of community. We firmly believe that shared goals and unwavering support can drive remarkable transformations. Whether your aim is to shed pounds, gain strength, or improve overall fitness, our community members uplift and motivate each other on their unique fitness journeys. Witness the unparalleled synergy that arises when individuals with a common purpose come together.

Join the Train Elite community today

We invite you to come and experience Train Elite first hand. Step inside our facility, meet our passionate team, and take advantage of our complimentary 3-session trial. Discover a fitness community that goes beyond the ordinary, where personal growth, lasting connections, expert guidance, inclusivity, and fun converge to help you achieve your fitness goals.

La Mia’s celebrates success on Poole Quay

Family-run restaurant celebrates triple wins and community partnerships at the heart of Poole.

OUR AWARD WINS

BCP Business Award 2025 – Family Business Award (Silver and Gold) and Business of The Year.

The biggest accolade of the BCP Business Awards 2025 was given to Carly JervisGoode, founder of La Mia’s, who was crowned overall winner of winners. She said: “We are absolutely blown away by these awards… to win is everything to us–we are delighted.”

PARTNERSHIPS

La-Mia’s continues to play an active role at the heart of Poole’s community through a series of valued partnerships. As a proud supporter of Poole Town Football Club, the restaurant embraces the town’s sporting spirit, while its collaboration with Lighthouse Poole helps champion the arts and local culture. La-Mia’s is also honoured to stand alongside Lewis-Manning Hospice Care.

WEDDINGS

CONTACT

01202 072831

hello@la-mias.co.uk

www.la-mias.co.uk

In addition, its partnership with Poole Audi reflects a shared commitment to excellence and creating memorable experiences. Together, these relationships highlight LaMia’s passion for bringing people together, both at the table and across the community.

A SUCCESSFUL SECOND SUMMER ON THE QUAY

As La-Mia’s wraps up its second vibrant summer season on Poole Quay, the team is celebrating another year of warm welcomes, bustling service, and unforgettable moments by the water’s edge. Behind the scenes, a dedicated and hard-working team, led by passionate management, works tirelessly to keep the restaurant running smoothly, from creating delicious dishes to ensuring every guest leaves happy.

ADDRESS

La Mia’s, Quayside, Hennings Wharf, The Quay, Poole BH15 1GZ

As a family-run restaurant, La-Mia’s prides itself on delivering bespoke planning tailored to each couple’s vision. With flexible capacity to host up to 150 seated guests or 500 standing guests, it beautifully balances the grandeur of a full wedding with the warmth of a close-knit celebration. La-Mia’s offers more than just a venue, it’s a complete experience by the water’s edge. With sweeping views over the quay and that signature touch of care, it’s a perfect setting for couples longing for the perfect celebration. To enquire, email events@la-mias.co.uk

Picture below credit Carl Martin Photography

HARBOURSIDE RESTAURANT & BAR

Picture above credit Lighthouse, Poole

Picture above credit Marketing West

Beaulieu launches A Palace House Christmas

A magical journey through the story of pantomime.

Beaulieu is doing something different for Christmas this year as it launches a new festive experience with designers extraordinaire Charlotte Lloyd Webber and Adrian Lillie at CLW Event Design. In A Palace House Christmas, the story of pantomime will be told through a series of theatrical installations taking visitors on a magical journey around the stately rooms bedecked with immersive soundscapes and multi-colour projections.

Masked Harlequin mannequins will ‘greet’ you at the entrance, while their midnight banquet is already laid with sugary treats and jewel-themed glassware in the impressive Dining Hall. Look ‘outside’ to see their travelling cart overspilling with props, costumes and musical instruments in the Fountain Courtyard.

See the life-size Pollock theatre set around the magnificent fireplace in the Lower Drawing Room, which is being created with artwork by Lord Montagu’s mother, Belinda, Lady Montagu. And discover weird and wonderful panto animals in the Portrait Gallery, from the time of Mummers right through to the modern-day pantomime horse.

Then follow swags of lavish, colourful decorations as you climb the grand staircase to take a peek in the backstage dressing rooms above – where feathers, floristry and glamorous gowns fill the rooms.

Spot Pierrot sitting in a crescent moon at a window in the newly-opened private wing, and be amazed by the towering 14ft pantomime dame and mirrored catwalk of principal boy mannequins in the Upper Drawing Room.

ABOVE

Stately rooms bedecked with theatrical installations are part of CLW’s designs

LEFT

Swags of lavish, colourful decorations will climb the grand staircase at Palace House

No Christmas at Beaulieu is complete without a Christmas tree – and you will be spoilt for choice by the 20ft centrepiece dressed in the Harlequin theme and shocking pink faux creation, with jewelled fruits and gemstone-inspired decorations.

Be the first to experience the festive spectacle of A Palace House Christmas when it opens from Saturday 29th November - Sunday 4th January (excluding Christmas Day).

Lord Montagu said: “Pantomime has become a part of Christmas at Palace House in recent years and we are delighted that Charlotte Lloyd Webber and her team will be telling that story through the installations.”

Charlotte Lloyd Webber, from CLW Event Design, said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to design for Beaulieu’s

A Palace House Christmas. The beautiful array of rooms have an inherent theatricality and the theme of the story of pantomime has lent itself perfectly to the house and its many treasures, allowing for surprise and delight at every turn.”

CLW Event Design’s team of theatre designers and artists has created award-winning installations at heritage properties across the UK, including Kensington Palace, Belvoir and Bamburgh castles and Treasure House Castle Howard.

A Palace House Christmas – a magical journey through the story of pantomime is included in a ticket to Beaulieu, which also includes entry to the National Motor Museum, new exhibition We Had One Of Those, fun adventure playground Little Beaulieu, 13th century Beaulieu Abbey, the Secret Army Exhibition, unlimited rides on the treetop monorail and beautiful grounds and gardens. Just book your on or off-peak time slot to see A Palace House Christmas during your visit.

Complete your festive day out by booking a special festive afternoon tea in the historic abbey Domus, where a stand of delicious sandwiches, homemade cakes and scones will be brought to your table with a warming cup of tea or coffee and the option of a celebratory glass of Prosecco.

You can even take a little of the Christmas magic home with you, from the tempting range of A Palace House Christmas themed baubles and decorations which will be on sale in the Palace House gift shop.

For details and tickets to A Palace House Christmas at Beaulieu in the New Forest, Hampshire see www.beaulieu.co.uk or call 01590 612345.

ABOVE

A flavour of A Palace House Christmas with former CLW event

Wassmuffin Martial Arts Academy; Building stronger bodies, stronger minds, and stronger communities!

At Wassmu in Martial Arts Academy in Boscombe, we believe martial arts is more than just fighting — it’s healing.

We’ve seen what anxiety, depression, and isolation can do to people. We’ve also seen how stepping onto the mat can change lives. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to serve the community, o ering real support through real action.

Here’s what we’re doing right now to help our community — and it’s all FREE:

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Classes – Wednesdays at 7pm & Fridays at 6:30pm These sessions are open to the public, o ering self-defence skills, fitness, and mental clarity to anyone who needs it — no strings attached.

Mental Health Martial Arts Program –6 Weeks of Free Support

This special program is for individuals battling severe anxiety. We’ve created a calm, safe, and empowering environment where people can train, connect, and heal.

Class times (Limited to 16 participants for personal attention):

• Mondays at 9:30am

• Wednesdays at 6:30am

• Fridays at 9:30am

At Wassmu in, we don’t just teach Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu — we build warriors in mind and body. We believe no one should be left behind due to financial struggles or emotional hardships.

Whether you’re looking for a way out of anxiety or a way into fitness — we’ve got your back.

Join the movement. Be part of something powerful. Message us to get started.

Instagram @wassmu inmartialarts

CONTACT

01202 729 270 | 07766 090116

info@fitterthanfit.co.uk

WEBSITE

www.fitterthanfit.co.uk

LOCATION

Wassmu in Mixed Martial Arts Academy, 686 Christchurch Rd, Bournemouth, BH7 6BT

Two

Friday 14 November to Sunday 16 November 2025

Friday 21 November to Sunday 23 November 2025 £259 per person (based on double occupancy, minimum age 18)

Photos:

What’s on IN SEPTEMBER

With a vibrant mix of countryside, beaches and attractions, there is always plenty to do in Dorset & Hampshire. Here is a selection of events happening across the counties over the coming weeks.

A CHITTY CHITTY BANG

BANG ADVENTURE

19 JULY - 2 NOVEMBER

Take off on a magical family adventure this summer through imagination, illustration, and invention! Discover the world of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang like never before in our new exhibition, celebrating Ian Fleming’s iconic story.

Explore over 80 original illustrations that bring the tale to life, featuring artwork by John Burningham, Steve Antony, and Thomas Gilbert. And the adventure doesn’t stop there – enjoy our free family trail, packed with interactive fun and adventures for all ages!

MOTTISFONT

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

LITTLE WOMEN

15 - 20 SEPTEMBER

Experience the enduring journey of the March sisters – tomboy Jo, beautiful Meg, sensitive Beth, and spoilt Amy – as they as they navigate the challenges of the Civil War era, forging unbreakable bonds of love and family. Step into the world of sisterhood, courage, ambition and follow them as they progress into womanhood.

Still as relevant today Little Women is a celebration of women proving they can be heroes of their own story, can be bold, and self-assured, to stand strong in who they are.

LIGHTHOUSE, POOLE www.lighthousepoole.co.uk

MARY POPPINS

27 AUGUST – 20 SEPTEMBER

Acclaimed Australian stars, Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers reprise their roles as Mary Poppins and Bert, having both received critical acclaim and nightly standing ovations for their performances in the recent Australian production.

Based on the stories of P.L. Travers and the Walt Disney film, the story of the World’s favourite nanny arriving on Cherry Tree Lane is even more magical than ever before featuring dazzling choreography, incredible effects and unforgettable songs.

MAYFLOWER THEATRE

www.mayflower.org.uk

CREATIVE CREATURES TRAIL

18 JULY - 07 SEPTEMBER

Avon Heath is home to some amazingly creative creatures. Discover some of the different things they get up to here at the park. Match the clues to the creatures in the activity sheet and count the ants along the way.

Pick up your trail pack from the Visitor Centre every day between 10am and 4pm. Trail packs cost £4 and include a prize.

AVON HEATH COUNTRY PARK

www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

KNEES UPP

12 - 13 SEPTEMBER

Knees Upp Lymington will take place on Vicars Hill, Undershore Road on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 September, in aid of Lymington Hospital.

The lineup is headed by The Zipheads, whose brand of 50s rock ‘n’ roll and 70s punk has won them fans all over Europe and the USA, and Hampshire-based ska travellers New Tonic.

They’ll be joined by some of the region’s finest live music rabble rousers including Two Man Travelling Medicine Show, Quinn’s Quinney, Tray Cats, Hawkeye & Hoe, the Emma Hardy Band and The Corsairs.

Tickets for Knees Upp Lymington are on sale now at https://wegottickets.com/f/13751.

KNEES UPP, LYMINGTON www.wegottickets.com/f/13751.

VELOUR

19 SEPTEMBER

Key West open the Arts By The Sea Fringe Festival with FREE live music. Featuring local south coast-based synth-pop duo, Velour, supported by Bournemouth’s indie folk band The Daisy Chains. Round up your mates for a night filled with music, food, and drinks.

Founded in 2021, Velour are a local south coast-based synthpop duo consisting of Brandon Moss on lead vocals and Joe Grist on synthesizers. Their music blends contemporary synth-pop concepts and structures with the familiar and nostalgia-drenched sounds of previous decades, and bring a sense of heartfelt emotion and melodrama to their sound.

KEY WEST

www.keywestbournemouth.co.uk

STICK MAN TRAIL

NOW - 31 DECEMBER

MOORS VALLEY COUNTRY PARK

www.moors-valley.co.uk

CINEMA UNDER THE STARS

05 & 06 SEPTEMBER

THE BLUE POOL NATURE RESERVE www.purbeckfilm.com

SWANAGE FOLK FESTIVAL

05 - 07 SEPTEMBER

SANDPIT FIELD www.swanagefolkfestival.com

BOURNEMOUTH

BRICK FESTIVAL

06 SEPTEMBER

BIC www.brickfestivalevents.com

SEAFOOD AND SOUNDS

13 - 14 SEPTEMBER

POOLE OLD TOWN AND POOLE QUAY www.seafoodandsounds.co.uk

It is time to TAKE A BREAK

Pop the kettle on, put your feet up and take 10 minutes to engage your brain and solve these simple puzzles.

7. Angry (5)

8. Unavailing (7)

9. Cautious (7)

10. Express (5)

12. Colony (10)

15. Teenager (10)

18. Claw (5)

19. Open-air (7)

21. Let off (7)

22. Throng (5)

CRYPTIC CLUES

1. Sorcery (10)

2. Hirsute (5)

3. Unhearing (4)

4. Vent (6)

5. Sky-blue (8)

6. Pagan (7)

11. Backward (10)

13. Regularity (8)

14. Gather (7)

16. Overcast (6)

17. Engine (5)

20. Pleat (4)

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