MANOR The Style Issue 2018

The Region’s Premium Publication Early Autumn 2018 Issue 28 | £4.50

Michelle Fairley As I See It

Fashion Revolution Changing how we shop

Cornwall from above The Photostory

Independent schools table A South West guide

CULTURE FOOD SPACE ESCAPE SCHOOL PROPERTY

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CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECT DESIGNED HOME WITH SPECTACULAR COUNTRYSIDE VIEWS

MAWNAN SMITH, FALMOUTH, SOUTH CORNWALL Durgan Cove – 1; Helford Passage - 1.5; Port Navas – 2; Falmouth – 6.5 (all distances are approximate and in miles)

Savills Cornwall

Mawnan Reach is a stunning, individually designed modern detached house in a rural village location close to the Helford River. The accommodation is on three floors and has been orientated for all three bedrooms and living areas to enjoy the panoramic views over the rural landscape. The gardens are west facing and are formed in a series of levelled lawned terraces bordered by well stocked flower beds. EPC = C. 2,149 sq ft

01872 243200

Guide £750,000 Freehold 4

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TIm May tim.may@savills.com

STUNNING FARMHOUSE WITH CONVERTED BARNS AND A RANGE OF OUTBUILDINGS

DARTMOUTH, SOUTH DEVON

Dartmouth 1.7 miles, Totnes 10 miles, Exeter 36 miles A beautifully presented south facing former farmhouse just minutes from the maritime town of Dartmouth.

4 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms and 3 bathrooms. Two substantial and well established converted holiday barns. Set in beautiful gardens and grounds. EPC: E

Guide Price: £1,750,000

Savills South Hams

Edward Tallack edward.tallack@savills.com

01548 800462

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UNIQUELY LOCATED, ENJOYING SPECTACULAR COASTAL VIEWS

SEATON, DEVON

Seaton Hole Beach about 200 metres, Beer beach about 0.75 miles, Branscombe about 3 miles A fine and commanding late Arts & Crafts house with detached guest lodge, in a prominent elevated position, enjoying outstanding and far-reaching sea views. 5 bedrooms, 4 reception rooms, 4 bathrooms and 4 bedroom lodge house with games room. Landscaped gardens and grounds, in all about 0.9 acres. EPC: D

Guide Price: £1,000,000 6

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Savills Exeter

Chris Clifford cclifford@savills.com

01392 455755

VERSATILE FAMILY BEACH RETREAT WITH TWO ADJOINING APARTMENTS

MAWGAN PORTH, CORNWALL

Mawgan Porth beach – 350 yards; Cornwall Airport (Newquay) – 3; Padstow – 10 (all distances are approximate and in miles)

Savills Cornwall

Contemporary beach house, completed in 2016 with sea views from most rooms. Expansive indoor and outdoor living areas with up to five bedrooms in the main home and two adjoining one bedroom apartments. Beautiful south-west facing landscaped gardens of around half an acre with plenty of parking. EPC = B. 3,963 sq ft

01872 243200

Guide £3,000,000 Freehold

Ben Davies bmdavies@savills.com

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C’est Magnifique!

We’re delighted to announce the new arrival of Focus Fires at Hearth & Cook.

For those who want to make a dramatic statement in their living spaces, the renowned French designers and manufacturer Focus, is not to be missed.

FINE COOKERS AND STOVES FROM LA CORNUE, WOLF, SUB~ZERO, ESSE, FOCUS & MORSØ.

Visit our showroom or call to book a personalised appointment.

Telephone 01392 797679 www.hearthandcook.com 8 MANOR | Early Autumn 2018 Showroom: 14 Oaktree Place, Manaton Close, Matford, Exeter EX2 8WA. Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Saturdays 10am to 4pm or by appointment.

Contents Early Autumn 2018

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34 Regulars 17 TOWN MOUSE, COUNTRY MOUSE Correspondence from across the divide

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CONFIDENTIAL Chagstock Festival, Bedwyr Williams launch at RAMM and Plastic Clever Salcombe

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AS I SEE IT...

Actress Michelle Fairley

Style & Beauty 18 TRENDS

44 Features 36 CLOTHES WITH CONSCIENCE

AW18 trends, heritage chic and pleat it

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QUENCH Replenishing parched summer skin

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MY FEEL-GOOD REGIME Novelist and biographer Andrew Wilson

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THE STYLE SHOOT Photographed by Remy Whiting

Fashion Revolution

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RIDING THE WAVE Surf coach Tassy Swallow

Photostory 44 HIGHER PERSPECTIVE Images by Matthew Burtwell

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58 Culture 58

ART IN ACTION Artist Tania Kovats

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90 90

SEA CHANGE The Atlantic Project, Plymouth

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SOUTH WEST MUST SEES...

What’s on around the region...

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THE EXHIBITION SPACE A guide to the region’s art galleries and exhibitions

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WORTH MAKING THE TRIP FOR...

Cultural highlights from the metropolis and beyond

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WORTH STAYING IN FOR...

Quality time on your sofa

Food 90 GREAT CATCH Chef Tom Brown

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FOOD ISLES Taste of Scilly

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BITES Food news from across the peninsula

105 THE TABLE PROWLER ...dines out at Gidleigh Park, Chagford, Devon and St Kew Inn, Cornwall

Space 108 OPEN-AIR THEATRE Landscape designer, Darren Hawkes

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112 SHOPPING FOR SPACE Rattan fever

Early Autumn 2018

Escape 116 PARADISE FOUND Villa Eden, Lake Garda, Italy

120 BOXING CLEVER Merchants Manor, Falmouth, Cornwall

MANOR school 127 FINDING THEIR FEET The Schools Travel Company

133 SCHOOLS TABLE 2018 A guide to South West independent schools

Property 140 PROPERTY OF NOTE Porloe Farm, Mylor Churchtown, Cornwall

145 THE RELOCATOR Focus on Dartmouth, South Devon

153 SNAPSHOT COMPARATIVE A selection of properties in the South West and one near London that are under £750k

Back Page 162 PRIZE DRAW Win a beautiful Gucci necklace

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First a space, then a place; a place of your own. There’s no place like home

31a East Street Ashburton Devon TQ13 7AQ 01364 653563 ashtonhousedesign.co.uk MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

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is brought to you by PUBLISHING EDITOR

Imogen Clements

imogen@manormagazine.co.uk

COMMISSIONING EDITOR

Jane Fitzgerald

jane@manormagazine.co.uk

FEATURES EDITOR

Fiona McGowan

features@manormagazine.co.uk

ARTS EDITOR

Belinda Dillon belinda@manormagazine.co.uk

FOOD EDITOR

Anna Turns

anna@manormagazine.co.uk

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Amy Tidy

amy@manormagazine.co.uk

ADVERTISING SALES

Jeni Smith

jeni@manormagazine.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS

Liz Miller Claire Wheatcroft DESIGN

Eleanor Cashman Guy Cracknell

THE COVER Photographer: Remy Whiting Stylist: Mimi Stott; Make-up: Fiona Miller; Hair: Jo at Yoke the Salon; Model: Mayara Moreno from Select

© MANOR Publishing Ltd, 2018.

MANOR Magazine is published by Manor Publishing Ltd. Registered office: MANOR Publishing Ltd, 12 Mannamead Road, Plymouth, Devon PL4 7AA. Registered in England No. 09264104 info@manormagazine.co.uk. Printed by Wyndeham Roche Ltd.

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Welcome to The Style Issue of MANOR. It is September, and that sense of new season seems never stronger than at the start of the new school year, perhaps because it’s been ingrained in us since childhood. That perennial feeling of ‘OK, we’ve had the summer holiday. Time to start a new term refreshed, recharged and determined to do better’ never fully goes away. I certainly remember thinking like that when at school, then best intentions would almost always start to go awry around autumn half term.

It doesn’t, I’m glad to say, work like that in magazines. As actors, chefs, directors, artists and creatives in every sector know only too well, you’re only ever as good as your last performance, meal, body of work, or in our case, edition, which is why we go to every effort to ensure every new issue of MANOR is at least as good as the last, or better.

This year’s Style Issue is no exception.

We have secured an interview with one of the UK’s most highly rated actresses, Michelle Fairley. Michelle is most widely known for her roles as Catelyn Stark in the phenomenally successful Game of Thrones and as Dr Ava Hessington in Suits, but also for her standout performances on the stage. Indeed, it was when she was playing Emilia in Othello at the Donmar that she was spotted by the writers and casting director of Game of Thrones. She played the Lady of Winterfell role of Catelyn Stark for the first three seasons of the show to critical acclaim. Michelle is a busy individual who rarely gives interviews, so we were thrilled that she agreed to talk to MANOR between filming for this issue’s As I See It. We live in a much more conscientious society. Fashion Revolution is a global-wide initiative begun by Carry Somers, originally from East Devon, which was prompted by the collapse of the Rana Plaza clothing factory in Bangladesh that killed more than 1,000 workers. Already running an ethical clothing company, Carry decided to take her cause far wider in an attempt to address the appalling working conditions and poor environmental record of much of the fashion industry. She started Fashion Revolution in 2013. It now has 100 members in countries around the world and is recognised as the world’s largest fashion activist movement, exponentially growing transparency and, as a result, standards across the sector.

Photographer Matthew Burtwell shoots Cornwall from above and has a remarkable ability for revealing its coastline in all its breathtaking glory. We were keen in this issue to show Matthew’s work for a number of reasons. Firstly, many of us have holidayed in the locations he’s photographed but never seen them from that angle; secondly, there have been news reports of overcrowding near the classic and popular tourist hotspots of Cornwall (Porthcurno Beach, for example) and we were keen to show quite how many other wonderful places there are to explore in Cornwall off the well-beaten track; and thirdly, because drone photography has tended to get a bad press. Done with the eye, skill and respect for privacy that Matthew displays with his work, it provides a quite stunning visual reminder of the beautiful island that we live on.

There is of course much else to interest, delight, inspire and inform you about on MANOR’s following pages but I only have a page and must leave you to discover for yourself. That is the beauty of print – its serendipity!

Wishing you all a sensational September, high on style and bursting with post-holiday vigour,

Imogen Clements FOUNDER & PUBLISHING EDITOR @ManorMagazine

@manormagazine

Sign up to the MANOR newsletter to receive special offers and see what’s coming up at manormagazine.co.uk/newsletter Subscribe to MANOR for a year for just £25. Visit manormagazine.co.uk/subscribe

The views of the writers in MANOR Magazine are not necessarily those shared by the publisher. Unsolicited manuscripts, artwork or transparencies are accepted on the understanding that the publishers incur no liability for their storage or return. The contents of MANOR Magazine are fully protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without permission.

By submitting material to MANOR Magazine, MANOR Publishing Ltd is automatically granted the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use, reproduce, edit, distribute and display such material (in whole or part) and/or to incorporate it in other works in any form, media, or technology now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in such content. The contributor acknowledges that material submitted may

be published in any publication or website produced or published by MANOR Publishing Ltd. The contributor agrees not to submit material where they do not own the copyright and where they have not obtained all necessary licenses and/or approvals from the rightful owner.

With respect to any photographs submitted, the contributor confirms that all necessary model and property releases have been obtained from any clearly identifiable person appearing in any image, together with any other relevant consents required.

Prices and details of services and products are genuinely believed to be correct at the time of going to press, but may change. Although every effort is made to maintain accuracy we regret we are unable to honour any incorrect prices or other details that may be printed.

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TOWN MOUSE, COUNTRY MOUSE Darling...

It is 8pm and I’m officially OOO. Except these days, of course, no-one is ever OOO – out of office that is, sweetie. We’re all wired, around the clock. There’s no getting away from ‘the office’ because the office has gone rogue and now surrounds us like a cloud, entraps us like a net. It’s even hijacked run-ofthe-mill nouns, for goodness sake… so I’ve come up with a plan: it’s called the DDC – the Digital Daily Curfew.

Sounds almost religious. But we must take back control, which is to switch off the means by which people can contact you. Novel, eh? Ok, there is no escaping all digital – that is too extreme; I need to google to organise my life; I need Netflix for TV; I need my iPad for the newspaper, but, aha… I don’t need to be receiving emails, messenger, whatsapp 24/7. I’ve decided to remove all of those inbound means of communication from the iPad and banish my phone (which has them all) every evening from 7pm until the following morning. If people need me they can landline me. It is a revelation. My home is back to being my impenetrable castle for a few hours each day, rather than my open-all-hours office, and I can relax again. Nothing is so important it can’t wait, and I feel it is vital for my… no, I shall go further, everyone’s wellbeing, that we impose a DDC on each and every one of us from age 10 upwards. Children need their home to be their castle like we all do, don’t they sweetie? Sweetie? Are you there?

WHAT’S HOT IN THE SMOKE? A new shopping experience will open in the centre of King’s Cross on 26 October. Coal Drops Yard will comprise cafés, bars, restaurants and shops amongst the cobbled streets and Victorian brick arches. High on style.

Sweetness...

What’s that? Sorry, darling, I was offline… in the only place I know you still can be – a static caravan in the heart of Polzeath. No phone reception, no WiFi. Quite bizarre, but I agree, rather liberating knowing that you can’t be reached. When you do climb the hill to intercept the radio wave that sends the signal to your phone, you realise you needn’t have bothered. Needless notifications should not interrupt your quality time, in the rain, in your caravan, when you can be, erm, well, drawing or playing board games or talking to one another instead.

Back to OOOs: have you noticed how much prettier the countryside is now that farmers pack hay in round bales?

A leftfield question I know, but it’s quite startling to me how much more harmonious the view of an already lovely field is when dotted with golden round bales rather than the old square variety. Go figure. Also, while you’re receiving, I’d like to comment on the cyclical nature of fashion (more of the OOO). There are few trends that don’t, within a couple of years, come back into fashion. As such, I conclude, we should never, ever, throw anything away (and never get fatter or thinner).

Take your mother’s silk scarfs that she used to hide her curlers under, sew them together to make a dress and you’re bang on trend! I shall be hoarding from here on, patching and mending, and packing things away each season for when they’re back ‘in’ in a couple of years’ time. Except for the high-waisted pink flares and ra-ra skirts – we can rest assured on those, can’t we darling?

What were we thinking?

WHAT’S COOL IN THE COUNTRY? The Appledore Book Festival is back for the 13th time, and this year welcomes guests Michael Palin, Anthony Horowitz, Michael Morpurgo and Kate Mosse. 21-29 September.

Venture to Caravan, Kings Cross or London Bridge, which serves up good fusion cuisine, Aussie style - think meatballs, cornbreads - in a giant, open-plan bustling space lined with benches and chairs busy with appreciative diners.

Lunch at the Pavilion Bakery as Newquay passes you by, with its unique combination of European artisan breads combined with delicious Sri Lankan fare of rotis and coconut sambols. Giant garage shutters open onto the street making it bright, airy, and delicious, reminiscent of street food Colombo-style.

London Design Festival returns for its 16th year, bringing together: fashion, architecture, typography, textiles and retail. With hubs in Brompton, Chelsea, Clerkenwell, Islington, Queens Park and Shoreditch.

15-23 September.

At the Riverford Field Kitchen in Buckfastleigh on 6 October, chefs will show how to prepare and cook some warming dishes using autumnal veg such as squash, pumpkin and kale. There will be a two-hour cookery demo followed by a threecourse lunch. £65 per person.

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Key Autumn Winter Looks 2018 DAKS AW18

From AW18 catwalks, we pull out the key trends that the high street will be deferring to this season. Compiled by Amy Tidy.

HERITAGE CHIC Tweed as either classic or in warm hues.

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Gabriela Hearst AW18 Altuzarra AW18

Clean cuts, lines and sharp tailoring make everyday elegance effortless.

Tibi AW18

TAILOR MADE

Jasper Conran AW18

Roksanda AW18

Mary Katrantzou AW18

The traditional vibrant silk scarf as a dress.

Roksanda AW18

SMOOTH AS SILK

3.1 Phillip Lim AW18

Self Portrait AW18

DAKS AW18

Erdem AW18

DAKS AW18

DAKS AW18

Altuzarra AW18

Emilia Wickstead AW18

Dramatic, rich and opulent, darker florals combine gothic with glam.

Erdem AW18

WINTER FLORALS

BRIGHT IDEA

Tibi AW18

Emilia Wickstead AW18

Loewe AW18

Tibi AW18

Erdem AW18

Gabriela Hearst AW18

Loewe AW18

Self Portrait AW18

Still very much a straight bet.

Silver is the metallic of the season. Simply stand and sparkle.

Max Mara AW18

Akris AW18

Acne Studios AW18

3.1 Phillip Lim AW18

Safari prints have roamed free to include snake, zebra and leopard.

Akris AW18

Jasper Conran AW18

Emilia Wickstead AW18

ANIMAL MAGIC

ALL THAT GLITTERS

PLEAT IT

Antonio Marras AW18

Bold and colourful tones to warm up a winter.

Emilia Wickstead AW18

Jasper Conran AW18

trends

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Heritage chic

Earrings, Oliver Bonas, £16

Go classic tweed with a lightweight knit or dial it up by injecting more colour. You can never be too bright.

Compiled by Amy Tidy.

DAKS AW18

Coat, Next, £85

Jacket, Marks and Spencer, £69

Top, Hobbs, £99

Coat, Hobbs, £349

Bag, Dune, £75

Jumper, Debenhams, £30 Skirt, Oasis, £40 Shoes, Zara, £49.99 Gloves, Oliver Bonas, £39

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Jumper, H by Henry Holland, Debenhams, £40

Boots, Zara, £149

Loewe AW18

trends Earrings, Oasis, £12

Cape, Zara, £99.99 Sunglasses, Zara, £15.99 Coat, Marks and Spencer, £89

Jumper, Marks and Spencer, £29.50 Top, Debenhams, £16

Dress, Zara, £39.99

Earrings, Zara, £12.99 Skirt, Marks and Spencer, £45

Trousers, Oasis

Bag, Monsoon, £39

Blazer, Next, £48

Shoes, Jasper Conran, Debenhams, £59 Bag, Marks and Spencer, £99

Boots, Hobbs, £199

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Pleat it Pleats traverse season and occasion, with rich jewel-like tones this autumn. Dress it up with a heel or go casual with sneakers and an oversized sweater – everything, and time, works with a pleat.

Compiled by Amy Tidy.

Gabriela Hearst AW18

Necklace, Oliver Bonas, £22

Jumper, Oasis

Dress, Jasper Conran, Debenhams, £99

Earrings, Next, £7

Skirt, Oliver Bonas, £65 Skirt, Next, £32

Bracelet, Oliver Bonas, £19.50

Shoes, Zara, £39.99

Skirt, Mint Velvet, £89 Top, Oasis, £25

Boots, Dune, £115 Bag, Zara, £25.99

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Jasper Conran AW18

trends

Backpack, Zara, £19.99

Leather jacket, Marks and Spencer

Shirt, Hobbs, £89

Skirt, Zara, £49.99

Skirt, H! by Henry Holland skirt, Debenhams, £35 Earrings, Marks and Spencer, £7.50

Skirt, Marks and Spencer

Top, Debenhams, £16

Bag, Marks and Spencer, £129

Boots, Zara, £95.99

Trainers, Next

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beauty

Quench Make-up artist Elouise Abbott outlines her tips for replenishing parched summer skin.

W

hether you’re looking to maintain your summer glow or just give your skin a boost, as summer draws to a close one thing is certain: your skin needs a drink. After a long mega-hot summer like the one we’ve had, skin is left naturally dehydrated and in need of a pick-me-up. So here are some of my tips for brightening, nourishing and quenching the thirst of that summer-parched skin.

Dehydration leaves skin dull and encourages premature ageing. Of course, hydration begins on the inside. Coconut water is packed with vitamins and minerals and contains important electrolytes that are lost through heat and exercise. Try freezing coconut water into super hydrating ice cubes to add a thirst-quenching twist to your drinks.

Electrolytes direct water to where it is needed most – important for ensuring optimum cell function.

When it comes to surface matters, for a smoother, brighter skin that’s ready to absorb any good product, first we need to exfoliate. While the sun is out, I tend to avoid alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and retinoids as these ingredients make the skin more sensitive to sun damage. Philosophy’s The Microdelivery Exfoliating Face Wash has a fine texture that is incredibly gentle yet effective, sloughing away any dead, flaky skin to reveal a brighter, smoother complexion. This product is gentle enough to be used daily, but I’d recommend around twice a week. Exfoliating also helps to maintain a healthylooking tan whether you fake it or tan naturally.

If you fake it, just remember to avoid any exfoliator containing oils as this will completely remove your tan.

However, if you don’t maintain your tanning routine with regular exfoliation, you will have more issues with uneven application.

Next, cleansing. These days I do it twice with Pixi Double Cleanse. This has an oil-based cleanser in one side of the container (perfect for breaking down even waterproof, long-lasting make-up), and then a traditional cream cleanser in the other side. Simply use the oil-based one first, then cleanse again with the cream to remove any oily residue. This leaves skin soft, clear and hydrated, as this product does not strip the skin, but at the same time doesn’t leave any oily residue that clogs it, so is suitable for all skin types.

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I use a face mask at least once a week. A face mask can instantly brighten and plump the skin, giving a quick dose of hydration.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm is a cult classic, brightening, smoothing, diffusing and hydrating for a super quick fix. It is very soothing and calms redness, so is perfect for sensitive skin and works wonders before make-up application, helping to prep the perfect base.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask gives a seriously thorough dose of hydration and works while you sleep, so you can wake up with soft, supple, well-nourished skin. This mask is the one that I reach for when I can see that my skin is dry and in need of nourishment.

I love a good sheet mask and I love a good fake tan.

St Tropez Self Tan Express Face Sheet Mask is enriched with hyaluronic acid so hydrates while you tan. Simply apply for five minutes for a natural glow or leave on for up to 15 minutes for a deep tan.

A good moisturiser is essential and needs to be changed seasonally. As the environmental factors change throughout the year, so do our skin’s needs and requirements. During the summer, the skin requires lots of hydration, but the formula of the products need to be lightweight and non-greasy to sit comfortably on the skin.

First Aid Beauty Hello Fab Coconut Water Cream will get straight to work on reviving your skin from over-exposure to heat and sun. Lightweight and non-greasy, this product is supercharged with those fabulous electrolytes directing hydration to exactly where it’s needed. This is great for all skin types.

Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly Anti-Pollution is a lightweight gel perfect for combination to oily skin and is infused with the hydration hero’s hyaluronic acid and cucumber.

Many of us love a spritz, but few know how versatile they are. I use a hydrating spray as a refreshing spritz throughout the day, and I also use one to set make-up, mix with pigments and to knock back a powdery finish if I have set make-up with powder. I have also discovered hydrating sprays to be an essential step in my skin-prep routine. I’m a huge fan of MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ and Caudalie Beauty Elixir and carry both in my handbag and in my kit.

To book your style refresh, complete hair makeover or gorgeous new colour call 01392 256999

2 Bampfylde Lane, Princesshay, Exeter, Devon EX1 1GQ Email: exeter@sakshair.co.uk | www.saks.co.uk/exeter

MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

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Unique.

From concept to finish, designed and built by Touch Design Group.

Bespoke kitchen 26 MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

touchdesigngroup.com Telephone: 01392 364269

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM, DESIGN STUDIO AND WORKSHOPS Tuesday - Friday, 10am - 3pm.

Or by appointment 6 Marsh Green Road North Exeter Devon EX2 8NY

Kitchen Interiors | Furniture | Media Rooms | Dressing Rooms | Interior Doors | Staircases MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

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Chagstock 2018 Chagstock, the two-day music festival near Chagford, Devon, took place this year on 19 July. Loved for its enviable hilltop location with fantastic views over Dartmoor, it also boasts a variety of acts and, at a capacity of 5,000, is a manageable size. This year brought Imelda May as headliner. Photos by Andrew Butler.

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confidential

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Bedwyr Williams launch at RAMM On 20 July, a private view of the RAMM’s new artwork by Bedwyr Williams took place. Welsh artist, sculptor, writer, and film-maker Williams brought his surreal sense of humour to the RAMM by populating the museum’s foyer with an array of human faces all found on artefacts in RAMM’s collections. The exhibition runs until April 2019. Photos by Rhodri Cooper.

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confidential

Plastic Clever Salcombe On 8-9 June, Anna Turns, as part of her campaign Plastic Clever Salcombe, with her daughter Ella litter-picked from their 14-foot stand-up paddleboard across 21.5 miles of the Kingsbridge-Salcombe estuary. More than 1,500 litres of rubbish were collected. To celebrate the completion of Pick and Paddle, South Sands Hotel hosted a canapĂŠs reception. Photos by Steve Haywood.

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Torcross, South Devon

PHOTO: JOHNNY RING

My feel-good regime Novelist and biographer Andrew Wilson grew up in Lancashire and lived in London and an eco village in rural Spain before moving to a small hamlet in the South Hams. He lives with his partner and one of the rescue cats he brought back from Spain.

One of the reasons we decided to move to this part of Devon six years ago was the peace and quiet. I love the

buzz of cities – and I often still travel to London to see friends and go to the theatre – but I adore the tranquillity of the countryside. From our house we look out over a lush valley with only one other house in sight. I can’t get enough of the view as it changes constantly during the day.

I’ve always been a mad Agatha Christie fan. I started to read

her books when I was 10 and one of the first pieces of creative writing I did, written at the age of 12, was a Christie pastiche called The German Mystery. When I moved to Devon I visited Greenway, Agatha Christie’s home overlooking the river Dart, which she bought in the late 1930s. The house, now run by the National Trust, is full of Christie’s possessions from her family home in Torquay and you get a real sense of her as a woman and as a writer. In Christie’s bedroom you can hear a tape of the writer talking about her writing method. She was so extraordinarily prolific and she still holds the record as the world’s bestselling novelist.

I love trains and one of my regular journeys is between Totnes and London. I had my idea for a series of novels 32

MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

featuring Agatha Christie on this journey. I particularly like the stretch of the train line between Teignmouth and Dawlish. Sometimes the windows of the train get covered in sea spray and at times you almost feel you are about to tip into the water.

Agatha Christie loved trains: they feature in quite a few of

her novels, such as Murder on the Orient Express, 4.50 from Paddington and The Mystery of the Blue Train. I have written two novels in the series – A Talent for Murder, about Agatha’s real-life disappearance in 1926, and A Different Kind of Evil, which is set in Tenerife. The next one, Death in a Desert Land, out in May, is set in southern Iraq, where Agatha travelled by herself in the autumn of 1928. She went out there on the Orient Express and the Taurus Express.

It’s been a great summer for swimming and I’ve been taking advantage of taking a dip in the waters near my home. I live quite near Slapton Sands, and even though

it’s a very popular tourist spot, the beach is so wide that you often feel you’ve got the sands to yourself. There is also a beautiful cove, which is quite secret – so secret I’m keeping the exact location to myself – where the water is

so clear and blue. This summer the sea has been so warm I feel I could have been swimming in the Mediterranean.

I’m often invited to talk at literary festivals both in this country and abroad – but one of my favourites is ‘Ways

I also love the stretch of coast for its great network of paths. One of my favourite walks is from Gara Rock to East

With Words’, held each July in Dartington. The setting is so special – many of the events are held in the original medieval hall – and it attracts such a fascinating mix of writers and readers.

Portlemouth. Even in mid-winter I enjoy a cup of tea and a sandwich on the beach and then I take the little boat across to Salcombe. The view of the estuary always lifts the spirits.

As a writer I spend hours by myself – which is very stimulating for the imagination. But I could never live

without a cat. When we moved from Spain to Devon we brought four cats with us, but three of them have moved on to the big cat basket in the sky. I am obsessed with the cat who is left, Ginger Snap, and can spend hours each day playing with him.

A Talent for Murder (£8.99) and A Different Kind of Evil (£14.99) are published by Simon & Schuster. Andrew Wilson is hosting an Agatha Christie event at the Imperial Hotel in Torquay on 20 September in aid of the Red Cross.

Tickets: redcross.org.uk/agathachristie

WHAT I REACH FOR BESIDE MY SHAVING MIRROR When I’m writing I often don’t bother about my appearance – best not to look in the mirror!

But when I do go out I try and make myself look respectable. I’ve got a few products I rely on – I have used Clinique for most of my adult life, particularly the shaving cream and M lotion, which is a great moisturiser. I like an occasional spritz of Acqua di Parma, too.

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As I see it...

Michelle Fairley is a British actress from County Antrim, Northern Ireland. She is known for her roles as Catelyn Stark in the HBO series Game of Thrones and as Dr Ava Hessington in USA Network’s Suits, but also for her standout theatre performances, most recently as Cassius in Nick Hytner’s production of Julius Caesar at the Bridge Theatre. Interview by Imogen Clements.

My approach to a character is always through the script, what’s on the page. Like a psychologist, you’re figuring out the history

of a human being in how they’ve come to be at that point that the writing is representing them.

and I remember seeing Cathy Come Home and it really affected me. I didn’t know that was drama; I was just a sucker for a good story.

You learn through listening, watching and doing. I didn’t train. I

Acting takes 90% of your brain time all the time. It’s constantly

playing around in your head; you’re walking the streets saying your dialogue and forever thinking about your character and how they live.

You can manage fame. If you want to be noticed, you’ll get

noticed, and if you don’t, it’s easy not to be. You do see people acknowledging you and it’s lovely when they come over and say something, but they know you’re private, so they’ll say it quietly.

Everyone has a shelf life. Some people I’ve worked with

employ a publicist, teams of people and spend a fortune to get their faces out there. That’s well within their rights, but I’m not that person. My work is what speaks to me – that’s how I existed before, and that’s how I continue to exist today.

couldn’t get a grant to go to drama school. I went to university in Manchester and after three months a tutor picked me out to go to London to audition for a play. I got the part so dropped out, which was disappointing at the time, but I went on to work solidly for three years and got an agent. It was all theatre, so I felt that I’d done my training.

Actors panic all the time. You’re constantly worrying about

where your next job will come from. I don’t want to say I’m lucky – I’m not lucky, I work bloody hard and I love my work – but there is an element of fate involved, of course.

Every audience is different. Some audiences are very inviting,

I don’t do social media. Much in life today has become very

some give you nothing and that’s where nerves keep you focused. You need them. Nerves can make you completely withdraw and become entirely focused - with tunnel vision yet still aware of what’s around you.

surface and I think people are beginning to tire of that one minute, self-destruct piece of information. They want more.

I don’t read reviews. I’m human. If you’re going to believe the

TV allows you to really invest in a story and a character because it’s episodic. Movies are 90 minutes; their domains often

revolve around fast action and special effects with little plot and very little dialogue. With TV there’s more emphasis on creating intelligent, living, breathing people because you’ve got more time. Look at the number of Hollywood actors now coming over to do series on TV because they’re getting the chance to show true depth to a character.

The move to TV has been dominated by women. Hollywood for too long had been all about one-dimensional people of a particular age. There are more women in significant, intellectual roles on TV. Men are in those roles too, but there’s often a woman at the centre of the plot and it’s no longer condescending.

I started in theatre and I love it. I love the time you get to work

with others in rehearsals, I love the fact that it keeps developing through every performance, and that even when you’ve finished a show it stays with you. It’s a continuous education and a privilege. There are classics out there that are still being reinterpreted – people are still discovering new things about these classic characters, depending on the personality of the actor portraying them. That’s why most people get cast in a certain way; it’s because there’s something in their personality as an actor that the director is looking for.

I’ve no idea how I was drawn to acting – no one in my family acted. There was a cinema in Ballycastle where we grew up

good stuff they say about you, then you’re going to believe the bad. As long as the reviews are good for the play, that’s the most important thing – I don’t think we need to be chasing them for our own ego. After all, you’re performing with other actors, you don’t act in a bubble.

I’ll always stop someone who says, “Oh, I love the way you do…”

The minute you tell me, then I’m conscious of it and the effect it has. I want to be able to keep doing it, building on it, keep working with it – I don’t want it to become a thing.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. This year I lost my

father and I can’t begin to explain the effect that’s had on me – it’s emphasised the true value of life and what he gave me; what I inherited. He was in his late 80s and still working; he still ran his own business. He was an honest, hard-working, unflashy man and somebody you’d try and emulate. I could see in my father that he needed to work, he needed to have a passion, he needed to have that drive to keep his brain active.

It makes you acknowledge who you are; respect it and not destroy it, but nurture it instead.

You don’t just work for the money, you work for your own selfworth. I need to work; I love the focus and the structure. It’s

like work calms the beast in many ways; calms the noise that is that constant critic in your head.

Michelle Fairley is currently filming The Feed, a 10-part psychological drama series for TV based on the novel by Nick Clark Windo. It is due to premiere on Amazon Prime and Virgin in 2019.

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Fashion Revolution sprang from a desire to drive ethics in the industry.

Aiming for greater transparency in manufacturing, its activism is making waves around the world.

Fiona McGowan speaks to co-founder Carry Somers.

The Anchal Project

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lothes have never been so cheap. Those of us who grew up in the 70s and 80s remember clothes that lasted until they literally wore out.

Jumble sales were de rigueur and most mums still sewed up holes in jumpers and put patches on trousers. Now, you can buy an elegant dress from Primark for ÂŁ8, wear it a few times and chuck it out. Those with a social conscience might take it to the charity shop or recycle it. Others will just bin it and let it go to landfill.

The fashion industry is booming, but as with all rapid growth, there is fallout. From the sourcing of the raw materials, right through the supply chain to the waste at the other end, we are slowly becoming aware of the impact our over-consumption is having. Behind much of that growing awareness is a global activist organisation: Fashion Revolution. With over 100 members in countries all over the world, Fashion Revolution is dedicated to waking us up to the world of fashion, working to alter

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the behaviour of retailers, consumers and policymakers everywhere to make the supply chain more transparent, better regulated and healthier for the planet.

The organisation was the brainchild of Carry Somers, who literally had a eureka moment in the bath. Back in 2013, the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh collapsed, killing over 1,000 workers and injuring over 2,000. The factory, like so many others in Bangladesh and in developing countries around the world, supplied major high street brands, from Benetton to Walmart and from Monsoon to Primark. It sent out shock waves and highlighted to the public the conditions in which their clothes were being made. For those in the fashion industry, like Carry Somers, it was no surprise at all.

Having been running an ethical clothing business for close to two decades, she had been quietly promoting better transparency with her products. But after the factory disaster, she knew that it was time to wake people up.

feature A few days after the event, Carry was in the bath when the idea of Fashion Revolution hit her: “The name, the idea of doing something on the anniversary of the disaster, everything. As an entrepreneur, it was definitely one of those ideas where I knew I had to get out of the bath and do something about it. I could have leaned back and done nothing, and I would have got out of the bath, thinking: ‘interesting idea’, and just done nothing about it.” Instead, she called Orsola de Castro, a fashion maker known as the Upcycling Queen, thanks to her work recreating old garments for high-end fashion brands. Orsola agreed immediately, and they co-founded an activist organisation to try to change the nature of the entire industry.

Carry’s background is one of personal passion and a sense of social responsibility. She grew up in Axmouth in East Devon, with family roots dating back hundreds of years in the bucolic village of Branstone. It is safe to say that she was not exposed to many of life’s iniquities.

After studying Languages at Oxford, it was when she went on to do a Masters in Native American studies that she discovered her passion for social anthropology.

Spending time looking at the development of the textile industry in Ecuador, she visited cooperatives which had been subjected to arson attacks because they were trying to cut out the middle man. After completing her Masters, she went back and bought clothing products directly from the cooperatives and designed knitwear for them to produce. “I brought them back to England and they were

really popular. I sold out within six weeks. I got another range made, and they sold out really quickly, too.”

Within months, she had quite a lot of people reliant on her – “They had enough money to send their children to school, to pay the education fees. So I decided to carry on with this little fledgling fashion business.” What followed were years of struggle. South America was a dangerous place to be, she admits, and she was robbed of thousands of pounds; she had two death threats, but somehow it made her more determined. She lived in a van and sold her ethically sourced Ecuadorian knitwear and panama hats at events around the South West to pay back the debt, and eventually opened a shop in Gandy Street in Exeter to sell her goods.

Her company, Pachacuti, grew wings, and when the Conran Shop spotted her panama hats at an event, Carry began to have an impact in the fashion industry. The ethical hats appeared on catwalks around the world and were sold internationally. Pachacuti became a brand that was synonymous with fair trade. But at the time, Carry was just a small voice in a big industry that was (and still is) hell-bent on production and consumption – unchecked and unbridled.

It is now five years since Fashion Revolution sprang out of the bathwater. In that time, it has become recognised as the world’s largest fashion activist movement. Fashion Revolution Day – a day of awareness-raising on the anniversary of the Rana Plaza

Supporters include Amber Valetta (above) and Stella McCartney

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PHOTO: BRYAN BERRY

Fashion Revolution, San Francisco, 2016

There were underage workers wearing no safety equipment whatsoever and nobody’s monitoring that.

PHOTO: @WEAREZRCL #WEAREZRCL

bioRe® Cotton Farmers in Kasrawad, Madhya Pradesh, India. Origin of the ZRCL Cotton

disaster – became Fashion Revolution Week, and last year, one million people in over 1,000 countries around the world engaged with the events. It is a huge undertaking.

Once Carry and Orsola started raising awareness about the conditions for garment producers, they realised that they couldn’t ignore all the other iniquities in the fashion industry – from gender imbalance to the environmental impact of our clothing, from child labour to chemicalrelated health issues for the consumer.

It is privately funded – often through collaborations with other NGOs such as Greenpeace – and through organisations and corporations in the fashion industry, most notably C&A, the Dutch clothing company which has become dedicated to improving all elements of the industry. There are only four full-time and five parttime people working in the London HQ, but there are 100 Fashion Revolution coordinators around the 38

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world, many of whom have applied for NGO status. The organisation is dedicated not just to creating awareness, but to pushing for policy changes at government level and with the retailers. It has been proactive in improving transparency: “Since we started our first transparency index in 2016, we’ve seen the disclosure of the first-tier factories – where the clothes are sewn – going up from 12.5 per cent up to 34 per cent,” says Carry with pride.

“So a third of the world’s top brands are now disclosing, with factory maps, where their clothes are sewn.”

One of the major issues, says Carry, is that while fashion brands publish an environmental and social report every year, there is no evidence that they are actually doing anything about it. “There’s a lot in there about their vision, about what they want to do, but what is the real impact? Are their policies and procedures really making a difference? Are they really driving

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A third of the world’s top brands are now disclosing, with factory maps, where their clothes are sewn.

PHOTO: MATT HOGGETT

John Moore and Kelly Slater

change for the people who are making our clothes?

That’s where we need to see more reporting. We’d like to see due diligence being brought into law, so people have to report on the impact they’re making.”

Fashion Revolution has a big remit: it represents the consumers and the producers, and to some extent the brands themselves – guiding them to show transparency.

It also works with policymakers, writing white papers and giving evidence to government committees to help change the laws: “At the moment, we are working with the Environmental Audit Committee who launched an enquiry into the fashion industry,” says Carry. The recommendations get put forward to government, and Carry is optimistic about the potential impact: “The EAC have a really good track record of getting their recommendations accepted.”

Every country has its own issues related to the fashion industry. It might be that a country has a problem with water shortage: very few people know how much water is required to make a pair of jeans or a t-shirt, explains Carry: “Places like the Aral Sea have almost dried up because of cotton production.” Many African countries are suffering because of the dumping of second-hand clothing. “When we donate to a charity shop, only

maybe 20 per cent of what is donated will actually remain within the UK. Most of the rest of it will get shipped overseas to developing countries. Everyone makes money along the way. The goods are ultimately sold in those countries. It’s destroying local textile economies.” But change is already happening: “Several countries in Africa are going to ban second-hand clothing.” And Carry thinks that the charities themselves will have to examine their procedures: “In 2019, we’ll have to think much more carefully about what we’re going to do with our waste clothing.”

It’s not just the garment makers who come under the watchful eye of Fashion Revolution. The producers themselves, from farm workers to tanners, from weavers to spinners, are often overlooked when brands talk about the transparency of supply. Carry has seen for herself some of the awful conditions around the world. She recently visited a tannery in Bangladesh: “The NGOs I talked to said that no brand ever goes to the tanneries.

The effluent was everywhere. On the streets… There were animal tails on the roads. There were underage workers wearing no safety equipment whatsoever and nobody’s monitoring that.”

Fashion Revolution, says Carry, is not about attacking particular brands: “We say the whole industry needs to change. Some brands are doing a lot of very good things, some are doing very bad things and a lot are doing a mixture of all of them. So it’s very much about being positive and trying to encourage all the brands to improve” Sometimes, just raising the price of an item by 25 pence can have a huge impact: “It could double the salary of the worker, which would bring them up to a living wage, and it would ensure that all the buildings in Bangladesh met the fire and safety standards.” Fashion Revolution is dedicated to working with retailers to improve their transparency. “Until we can see the issues, we can’t fix them. We’ve got to have transparency so we know what the social and environmental issues are and we know what needs to change.” It’s also up to the consumer.

Fashion Revolution has introduced a campaign called ‘Who made my clothes?’, encouraging people to ask the question on social media, even on the shop floor – the more people ask the question, the more the retailers will change… “Because the message will filter up eventually,” Carry insists, “if people want to dig deeper.”

From a consumer point of view, the whole industry can seem overwhelming, but when awareness is raised – just as with single-use plastics – there is no going back. Fashion Revolution is right there, with its finger on the pulse, pushing for change at the top levels and encouraging us to question our clothing. It is an optimistic message. For every technological revolution, there will be fallout, but there will always be a counterrevolution seeking to redress the balance. fashionrevolution.org

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Fiona McGowan meets Tassy Swallow, the golden girl of surfing who dared to diversify beyond competitions to coaching and empowering other young females in the sport.

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urfing is a man’s world. Yes, we’ve all seen the Roxy babes, modelling bikinis with their toned bodies – all blonde locks and golden skin. But the reality is, you can hit any surf spot in the world and the vast majority of people catching waves are men. Of course, the surf comps have men’s and women’s categories and, as in all sports, the balance is slowly edging towards equality. But, according to surf coach and competitor Tassy Swallow, there is still a long way to go before women and girls feel as though they can drop in with the best of the boys. “In a sport like surfing where it’s still very male-dominated, it’s really difficult for a girl to stand out,” she says.

Tassy herself is the epitome of beach babe – a cascade of blonde curls, blue-green eyes twinkling in a tanned face, and an athlete’s physique. It’s no surprise that she was picked as sponsorship material at the tender age of 10. By this time, the St Ives local had been surfing for three years, under the guidance of the Shore Surf school at nearby Gwithian. It was a test of resilience for the seven-year-old: “I started one autumn and it came to winter and slowly no one else would turn up for the lessons and it would just be me,” she says with feeling.

“I remember crying my eyes out to my mum and dad, saying, ‘Don’t make me go, because it’s so cold,’ but by the time summer came back around I was absolutely hooked.” Owner Laurence and the instructors became like a second family – Tassy is one of six children and her parents were both working, so when she found this allconsuming passion, “they treated it a bit like day care. In the holidays, I’d just hang down there from the morning until the evening.” Soon, Animal clothing brand offered

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Tassy teaching budding wave riders at her girls-only surf school, SurfRatz

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PHOTO: DOUG HOWARD

In a sport like surfing where it’s still very male-dominated, it’s really difficult for a girl to stand out.”

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PHOTO: BEA SWALLOW

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Tassy still competes in international surf competitions

PHOTO: BEA SWALLOW

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PHOTO: JESS PERCIVAL

her sponsorship: “Because I was a little blonde-haired, tanned girl, I looked like the perfect advert for that lifestyle,” she explains, “and I loved it because I got all the free clothes.” By the time she was around 12, she began to enter competitions…

Fast forward to today. A warm, sunny day in St Ives, we have found a corner tucked away from the hordes in the town’s perennially popular Hub bar-diner. Tassy is now 24 – still vibrant with youth, but with a maturity far beyond her years. For the last seven of them, she has been running Surf Ratz, a girls-only surf school, from the beaches in St Ives – in between travelling to surf competitions all over the world. The school is set up for girls from seven to late teens and was born out of Tassy’s experience of being on the national and international surf circuit.

Being a sponsored surfer must have seemed like a dream for a teenager like Tassy, but “it can be a doubleedged sword”. It had its plus sides, for sure. On the one hand, she was supported and included in a team that became a close-knit family; she got to do the sport she loved in some of the most exquisite locations around the world. Initially, while the trips were funded, and the youngsters in Team GB received free products, there was no financial payment, and the children had to return to their schools and studies once the competition was over. Socially and academically, being semi-pro was a bit of a struggle. “It was a tough time,” she admits. “The sacrifice that I had to make for all that amazing travelling was that I really had zero social life. Boys, parties, makeup, all that stuff – I was completely out of the loop of it.” But looking back on it, it seems as though she might have dodged a bullet.

Somehow, out of this crucible of the international surf circuit, Tassy has found a new role. When she started an all-girls surf club, it was partly for financial reasons – back in Cornwall, she needed to support herself and teaching surfing was the obvious choice. But she quickly realised that she could offer support for local girls in other ways than teaching them how to stand up on a wave or coaching them towards competitions. She wanted to mentor these girls. “St Ives is a really amazing place to live, but opportunities are quite small and the friendship groups are quite cliquey,” she says. “I try to be really honest with the girls and talk to them about things that have happened to me and the experiences I’ve had, and the travels.”

Tassy has by default become a big sister to her Surf Ratz girls. It’s partly to do with only taking a maximum of seven children out at any one time; perhaps partly thanks to being from a big tribe of siblings herself (she originally set up the club for friends of her younger sister), and perhaps thanks to her own mentors: particularly coach Laurence and her own parents. Both parents allowed her to see surfing as a career, not just a pastime. For years, they committed to driving her all

feature over the South West, with the younger two in tow, and her dad encouraged her to start doing competitions at a young age: “When I was about 11, my dad said, ‘if you do want to do competitions, you have to learn to lose before you start to become a good winner’. So, I was entering the Under-14 boys comps, because there weren’t many divisions for girls at that age. Obviously, I was always losing against the boys, but loving it.”

When she was only 20, and still representing Team GB, Tassy made a decision that has altered the current of her life. Hearing about a building that was up for lease on St Ives’ iconic ‘Island’ – the grassy hill overlooking Porthmeor beach – she decided to pitch for it as a clubhouse for her Surf Ratz. She launched a Crowdfunding campaign and raised £12,000 in four weeks, then rallied the support of locals to help renovate the derelict barracks building.

It opened its doors in 2016, and in the summer of 2017, Tassy decided to hold a mini-festival to thank the local community for their support. With local bands playing and local businesses selling food and booze, it was a hit. And Tassy discovered a new talent: event planning. 2018 saw the second ‘Summer Island Disco’ in St Ives – a ticketed event to raise money for the clubhouse. She is now focused on making the SurfHouse a venue for all sorts of communitybased events: from yoga, pilates and mindfulness to crafts, sea-school, courses and movie nights – all along the marine and wellness themes. But most importantly, it is a haven for the Surf Ratz – an old-school social club of the likes that seemed to have disappeared in the late 70s. “It’s nice for the girls, because it shows them that as well as doing something with them, I’ve also found this whole new side of things I really love doing that I didn’t know I would… or even that I’d be any good at it.”

Tassy’s ethos is to support girls and women through surfing. Teenage girls particularly often have to negotiate a minefield of so-called ‘selfie-obsessed rivalry’. But being in the sea takes all that away. The mobile phones get left on the shore. The girls instinctively empower each other – with the more experienced surfers helping the newbies. And make-up and mugging have no place in the waves. Tassy says that while the local surf schools are fantastic in supporting young surfers, “I’m constantly hearing parents say ‘my daughter went to a session there and she hated it because it was really intimidating for her with loads of boys’. But put them in a group of five, six girls, they’re full-on, feisty – raaaah,” she grins enthusiastically. “Proper sense of empowerment. And that’s what I set it up for. Making them feel like they can do anything…” While Tassy has had her wobbles since setting up the Surf House, doing a course in business for social entrepreneurs at Dartington Hall was key: “It made me realise that it’s OK to be scared shitless. There’s a lot of other people that are in the exact same position.”

Tassy is still competing – she took part in Boardmasters just a few weeks ago – but now sees her future from a more empowered perspective. Instead of being told where to compete, and being beholden to the social media requirements of her sponsors, she imagines a future where she can make enough of a success of her surf school and Surf House to pay her own way around the circuit: “I want to be able to travel where I want and compete where I want… With Surf Ratz and the Surf House, I’m not just ‘Tassy Swallow, surfer’ any more.

I think I’ve got bigger and better things to offer.” tassyssurfratz.com

PHOTO: DOUG HOWARD

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Matthew Burtwell is an aerial photographer from Falmouth, Cornwall.

“Growing up in Cornwall, I have a huge appreciation of the coast and outdoors. I first got into aerial photography in 2014 as a hobby which naturally progressed and developed into a business. I couldn’t ask for a better line of work. I get to explore this amazing coastline and capture it from fresh new perspectives.

The possibilities of aerial photography are pretty much unlimited.

Ultimately, I want people to see my photography and be inspired to get outside and explore new places.”

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Boscastle headland

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Rock, Camel Estuary

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Polruan, South Cornwall

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St Anthony Lighthouse, Roseland Peninsula

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St Michael’s Mount, West Cornwall

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photostory St Mawes, Roseland Peninsula

Matt Burtwell

Aerial Cornwall sells prints and takes commissions including commercial photography and filming for property, venues and sport events. aerialcornwall.com instagram.com/aerialcornwall

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Culture Tania Kovats | The Atlantic Project, Plymouth South West must sees | Worth making the trip for | Staying in

PHOTO: MATT AUSTIN

As part of Devon Open Studios (see page 67), you can see the work of Kate Bosence at venue 134.

Until 23 September at locations around the county.

For full listings, visit devonartistnetwork.co.uk

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PHOTO: TOM ARRAN

Tania Kovats Bleached, July 2017

Through her visually arresting sculptures and drawings, Tania Kovats shows the destructive effect of climate change on our seas and encourages deeper engagement with the issue. Words by Belinda Dillon.

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ecord-defying heatwaves, catastrophic forest fires, floods… 2018 so far has seen environmental crises of apocalyptic proportions, as if the globe is tearing itself apart at the seams.

That human-driven climate change is to blame seems undeniable, surely?

And yet, everywhere, we continue driving our cars the short distance to the supermarket, where shelves heave with overpackaged produce; we daily throw away much more than we could consume; and our increasing demands for the latest gadgets and devices of convenience 58

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fuel rampant pillaging of the world’s diminishing resources. And while most of us know it can’t go on, we persist, possibly because the problem is so huge, so overwhelming, that it’s easier to turn our faces away and continue clicking that button for next-day delivery.

For artist Tania Kovats, whose interest in landscape has increasingly led her to explore the effects of climate change in her work, the difficulty lies in the sheer size of the issue: “Any problem is often a problem of scale – as soon as it becomes bigger than you can think about, or think you can do anything about, you lose

culture your sense of agency. Art is an interesting way to access that conversation. Art doesn’t speak in statistics and figures; art engages people in ways that are non-verbal, unconscious as well as conscious. Through proximity to an artwork, and the whole chain of thought and experiences that runs alongside it, you’re hopefully getting people to connect to an issue that may seem difficult or remote.”

Increasingly, the focus of Tania’s gaze has shifted from land to its edges and beyond, to thinking about the sea, and “whether art can activate our relationship with it and our sense of responsibility towards it,” she says. Having grown up in Brighton – she now lives with her husband, the artist Alex Hartley, and their son in a converted mill house in East Devon – the sea has long been present in her life, feeding into her work through poetic, personal or psychological explorations.

The growing realisation of humankind’s impact on the environment has inserted itself more keenly into her choice of subject matter in order to drive debate.

“We’re pushing too hard at our planetary boundaries; what we want and demand and expect,’ she says. “I’m not an expert but because of what I do I have some platforms, so let’s use them in some way to have this conversation, even if I’m not a problem solver…”

Her latest exhibition, ‘Troubled Waters’, which opens at Exeter Phoenix on 22 September, is a stark reminder of the negative impact we’re having on the planet, demonstrated most keenly in Bleached, a sculptural response to the destruction of coral reefs. Bleached is her commission for Hull City of Culture 2017, which paired Tania with the Hull aquarium, The Deep. The piece grew out of her fascination with the surreal, dreamlike landscapes inside the giant tanks, and the sense of despair that they might be lost.

“So many coral reef ecosystems are under so much stress that they lose their colour, and coral bleaching is at record levels globally,” says Tania. “The coral becomes a ghost; bone-like rather than a living thing.

And you don’t have to think too much further to realise that as well as being an incredible ecosystem the reef provides a very human layer of protection as well – it helps with storm surges, creating a physical protective barrier in the sea as well as providing livelihoods, in fishing or tourism. I hope to draw people in to thinking about this underwater world that I’ve made with the sculpture, and connect them to this other world that may feel is a long way away, but actually they’re connected to this. Water connects one place to another.

The next question might be ‘what’s going on in the water in Exmouth?’ I’ve talked to fisherman who tell me that there used to be fish here, and now there aren’t.

How many times does someone have to tell me that before I’m really worried? These issues come right into our landscape, into our beaches.

If you can look at a reef that three years ago was full of colour, vibrant and biodiverse, and then you see something that looks like a graveyard, that’s making a striking visual point.

Bleached

Bleached

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I think what a lot of artists do is point at things, and bring them to the fore.

PHOTO: THIERRY BAL

Tania Kovats

“Climate change is so big and hard to visualise, but if you can look at a reef that three years ago was full of colour, vibrant and biodiverse, and then you see something that looks like a graveyard, that’s making a striking visual point. That interests me: trying to find things that non-verbally communicate what’s happening, so you feel it differently, think about it differently. It’s a different sort of proof of what can at times seem quite abstract. That’s one of the challenges for how people engage with climate change politics.”

Addressing those challenges around engagement is one of the ways in which collaborations between art and science can prove to be so fruitful, as Tania discovered when she recently took up a short fellowship at the University of Exeter. Talking with coastal and planetary systems scientists as part of the launch of the Global Systems Institute – a multi-million-pound centre that brings together researchers across different disciplines to explore solutions to our most pressing world challenges.

Tania has begun making a new piece, early prototypes of which will be in the exhibition. Called Reef, it takes the concept of Bleached further, and Tania hopes to make something that ends up back in the water as part of a coral reef restoration project.

“I’m amazed at some of the conversations I was able to have during that fellowship,” says Tania. “Artists often have curiosity and it was a wonderful experience to be able to have these incredibly knowledgeable experts and leaders in their field talk, and answer questions patiently.

Often in my work I’ve looked and researched things in the past, Charles Darwin, for instance, and James Lovelock’s Gaia Theory, so this was a situation that put 60

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Sea Mark (Prussian Blue IV), 2017, watercolour on paper

me in the room with people looking at what’s happening now, and what will happen, these are people who are very much looking forward… that was an exciting position to be in.”

It was also a chance for Tania to share her artistic process with scientists, and in doing so revealed interesting parallels, particularly around the act of drawing. For Tania, this is where everything starts – “drawing is how things leave my head and start

culture occupying space in the world; drawing is a very primary, generative process” – and as part of her fellowship, she asked scientists whether they drew, as part of the teaching process, or for themselves: “And lots of them used drawing,” she says. “Some of them even revealed that they think in drawing.”

It’s fitting, then, that the exhibition will also include Tania’s drawings of different copies of Rachel Carson’s 1951 book, The Sea Around Us. One of the founding voices of the green movement, Carson was a marine biologist, conservationist and a supremely gifted writer.

Her book on the agrochemical industry, Silent Spring (1962), prompted a reversal in US pesticide policy, leading to a ban on DDT. Carson certainly understood the intrinsic interconnectedness of all living systems.

“One of the reasons her writing really resonates with me,” says Tania, “is that she spent a lot of time looking at rockpools – her area of specialism was what happens at the edge of the land and sea. She understood that she wasn’t just looking at one snail or crustacean, it wasn’t about individual species, but how they occupied that space together, how they impacted on each other. That interconnectedness is not just an environmental question, it’s a very human question, about how we live our lives, and the sorts of decisions we make.”

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And while Tania doesn’t describe herself as an activist or a political artist, she very much holds to the idea of the artist as a ‘responsible witness’ – “I think a lot of what artists do is point at things, and bring them to the fore” – and vital to the power of that position is an ability to shape narratives, visual and otherwise, that draw people in and allow them to feel part of the story. As part of her University of Exeter fellowship, she met Professor Tamara Galloway, whose research into microplastics captured the world’s imagination and led to the banning of microbeads in cosmetics.

“That’s an incredible story,” says Tania. “It takes those sorts of positive stories to attract stakeholders to change the way people behave, the way they think.

A story like that generates a sense of agency, it’s something people can connect to, and feel like they’ve played a part. Making small changes that move and shift and become everyday activism. From that, you can build into expecting people and our politicians to take these things more seriously, and potentially make decisions based on that understanding.

‘Troubled Waters’ is at Exeter Phoenix, 22 September – 11 November. exeterphoenix.org.uk

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PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ATLANTIC PROJECT

Plymouth’s visual arts scene is booming thanks to major new investment.

Liz Miller eyes up what’s in store as part of the city’s cultural regeneration, launching with The Atlantic Project.

Artist’s impression of Postcommodity, Repellent Eye

Superflex, Free Beer, 2004 ongoing

IMAGE CC 4.0 HITO STEYER PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND ANDREW KREPS GALLERY, NEW YORK

Hito Steyerl, Is the Museum a Battlefield?, 2013

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F

or many years, creatives in the South West have watched other UK towns and cities being rebooted with the energy generated by investment in visual arts and culture. Now Plymouth could join Manchester, Margate, Hull and Hastings as it harnesses the positive power of a prestigious international visual arts programme called The Atlantic Project, which debuts in September.

This pilot event builds on a city-wide conversation about visual arts and culture that has been bubbling for over 10 years as various stakeholders work towards raising the profile of Plymouth and realising its under-developed potential. The Atlantic Project is the biggest step so far taken towards showcasing the city, and its historic buildings, on the contemporary arts scene. The aim is for the event to become a biennial festival, which will secure Plymouth a place on the international art calendar.

Tom Trevor, artistic director and curator of The Atlantic Project, has drawn on his connections and experience to bring together an impressive international collection of more than 20 artists who are working on pieces throughout the city. Building on the work done by Paula Orrell on ‘The River Tamar Project’, Tom has chosen to emphasise “absolutely distinctive” site-specific works, giving artists an opportunity to respond to the stories and buildings in this historic coastal city.

“The Atlantic Project aims to bring an international dimension to the visual arts and to raise the profile of Plymouth and the region,” says Tom. “There is incredible potential in Plymouth and there is nothing like this being done in the whole of the South West.”

The Atlantic Project is just part of an ambitious plan for the arts in Plymouth. It was developed in partnership with The Box, the £37 million gallery and museum complex, set to open in 2020, which will provide physical exhibition space (like the Turner Contemporary in Margate, or the Jerwood in Hastings) and with the University of Plymouth. After this pilot, which runs from 28 September to 21 October, the aim is to run The Atlantic Project again as part of the Mayflower 400 programme in two years.

culture Working on the project has enabled Tom to return to Devon, where he was raised, and help spotlight the potential for visual arts in the region. Moving from director of Exeter’s Spacex to Bristol’s Arnolfini in his earlier career, Tom has more recently been working in Osaka, Aarhus and The Whitechapel Gallery, enabling him to bring some big names to the city.

These include Japanese artist Ryoji Ikeda, who will present his first major site-specific installation in the UK outside London. The work is called Radar and will use sound, electronic media and digital data to map the cosmos in the vast, empty dance hall of the Millennium Building on Union Street, which used to be The Warehouse nightclub.

German artist Hito Steyerl, who was named most influential artist by the Art Review Power 100 in 2017, will present a video-work in the Civic Centre, which explores the contemporary status of citizenship and society and the impact of global communication technologies. Drake’s Island, which has been closed to the public since 1995, will host a work by US-based collective Postcommodity. The six-metre tethered balloon, called Repellent Eye, is a replica of a ‘scare eye’, which indigenous Americans used to repel evil spirits.

Visitors are still not allowed on the island but will be able to view the work from the Hoe and Devil’s Point.

Danish artists Superflex, creators of the One Two Three Swing! in Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall, have created an ‘open-source’ beer, The Atlantic Brew, in conjunction with the Real Ideas Organisation, City College Plymouth and local brewer Summerskills. Although the project is called Free Beer, Tom explains that this is a riff on free software, and the beer will be for sale across the city as well as in The Clipper, a community-run pub on Union Street.

Tom says the curating process involves creating a conversation with artists and seeing what transpires.

Some of the key influences have been using disused buildings and opening up a topical dialogue about immigration and identity, which plays on the upcoming Mayflower 400 celebration.

“The curating process is a strange term. In a museum, it’s about looking after a collection of objects. But for a biennial, it’s more like being a film director who is assembling a cast and giving everyone a role,” he explains. “We are able to drill down into the history of the city, so knowing about the area and knowing a bit about the artists and their practice helps.”

For example, Kiluanji Kia Henda was raised in Angola, which was run under a communist regime for several years from the mid-70s. So, Tom thought he might make a connection between the Soviet-style architecture of Luanda and the post-war buildings in Plymouth. Henda’s response was to create an installation at the Civic Centre based on a model of the city centre covered with sand.

Investment in this pilot project began with winning a bid from the Arts Council Ambition for Excellence

We are reaching out to people who might not normally engage with culture. fund, which was led by Plymouth Culture, and matchfunded by the City Council. Plymouth University, where offices are based, also put in money and Tom has won a series of grants from international funds for the individual artists involved.

“We are reaching out to people who might not normally engage with culture,” says Tom. “This is helping to realise the three tenets of Horizon (Plymouth Culture’s visual arts vision): international profile, community engagement and talent development.”

These are interesting times for the international art community as global politics induce feelings of uncertainty, says Tom. “Previously, everything was tied to modernism and the future, but now we don’t know what’s going to happen – there is a sense of drift.” The questioning this provokes works well in a wounded city that has never quite rediscovered its identity post-war, he adds.

Maybe the reboot has begun. From the failed 2017 City of Culture bid, relationships and networks have formed and flourished, resulting in The Atlantic Project as well as the successful Plymouth Art Weekender.

“It does seem like there is a genuine hunger for visual arts and we are far enough from London that there is a different energy here,” says Tom. “The City Council has understood that culture is a key part of regeneration. We hope The Atlantic Project can show what potential there is in Plymouth.” theatlantic.org

Bridgette Ashton’s piece inspired by Cattedown Bone Caves

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PLYMOUTH ART WEEKENDER Coinciding with the launch of The Atlantic Project, the fourth Plymouth Art Weekender (PAW) will be held from 28 to 30 September at sites across the city. Combining visual art, performance and community engagement, this year’s event features around 130 projects across 70 venues.

Rosie Thomson-Glover, one of PAW’s coordinators, says there is a very positive energy around the arts and culture scene and many “really, really talented people in the city”. Previously, the weekend has drawn audiences of around 17,000 people and the team are keen to reach out to communities who might not otherwise engage with art by helping to ‘handrail’ locals towards events.

“This is a high-quality platform for celebrating art and culture in Plymouth which draws artists from the South West. One of the things we are aiming to do is build the local audience for their work,” says Rosie.

PAW has commissioned three projects this year, which major on community engagement and local heritage. Cornwall-based Bridgette Ashton has produced work inspired by the mysterious Cattedown Bone Caves, which were discovered in 1886 and contain partial skeletons believed to be up to 140,000 years old.

Artist Laura Denning has put together a participatory performance piece which brings together eclectic voice artists and a large sign language silent choir. She has worked with Eggbuckland Vale Primary School Hearing Support Centre and performances will be at Plymouth Guildhall and Barbican Wharf.

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Teachers from Eggbuckland Vale Primary School Hearing Support Centre, signing for Laura Denning’s performance piece Meanwhile, Devon-based artists Go Happen are examining the 50-year anniversary of the controversial Golden Globe yacht race, which sets sail from Plymouth. Using a dinghy that will journey down Armada Way, the work references French sailor Bernard Moitessier who dropped out of the race and chose to go on his own journey.

Rosie says the energy and enthusiasm propelling both PAW and The Atlantic Project point towards a potentially exciting time in the city. “It’s Plymouth’s time. It finally feels like the gateway to culture in the South West is shifting from Bristol.” plymouthartweekender.com

culture South West must sees...

Small festival, big ideas The Shute Festival of Literature and Landscape aims to celebrate writing, film-making, exploration and landscape – local, global, physical and metaphysical.

Held in the hamlet of Shute, in the midst of East Devon’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the festival brings together a diverse group of writers and broadcasters – including botanists, biographers, explorers, documentary makers, gardeners, historians, poets, travel specialists and novelists.

Shute’s programme offers a diverse mix of local and national speakers including Adam Hart-Davis on the inventions of artist William Heath Robinson, and Lucy Malouf, who discusses her Middle Eastern travels and her life as a food writer with Bijan Omrani.

Former curator of the V&A, Stephen Calloway, provides an insight into the short life and achievements of Aubrey Beardsley, and Esther Freud considers her life as a writer.

This small, boutique festival takes place in the medieval church in Shute where Archway Bookshop will run a pop-up store. Food, provided by local chefs, will be served in the nearby village school.

28-30 September. Tickets are available online at shutefest.org.uk.

Adam Hart-Davis

Esther Freud

Unique finds Bruton Decorative Antiques Fair, now in its third year, invites visitors back to the Haynes International Motor Museum for a feast of decorative antiques and Mid-Century design pieces.

Over 50 exhibitors will showcase their wares and help guests envision how pieces can be used in desired spaces. There will be new exhibitors alongside returnees from 2017 and the BBC Antiques Roadshow expert, author and lecturer, Mark Hill, will be present on the Saturday to engage in person with both visitors and exhibitors.

19-21 October at Haynes International Motor Museum, Sparkford, Somerset BA22 7LH. See brutondecorativeantiquesfair.co.uk for full details and complimentary tickets.

Traveller’s tales Renowned traveller and adventurer, Simon Reeve, will be touring the UK this autumn on his first theatre tour, An Audience with Simon Reeve. From dodging rockets on frontlines, being hounded by the KGB, tracking lions, wearing bulletproof underwear in the most dangerous city in the world, to encountering some of the world’s most extraordinary characters, Simon’s adventures have been documented in a series of BBC programmes that have been sold to more than 60 countries. On his tour, Simon will share ‘behind the scenes’ anecdotes and tales from more than 15 years of travel to the most remote and extreme corners of the planet, and will interact with the audience in a live Q&A session.

Visit simonreeve.co.uk for more information on tour venues and dates.

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Capturing the green ‘Experiencing the Landscape – Art on the East Devon Way’ is the culmination of a year-long collaborative project between Thelma Hulbert Gallery in Honiton and the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The project celebrates 25 years of the East Devon Way, the 40-mile footpath running from Exmouth to Lyme Regis, and has included collaborations with the RSPB and the Forestry Commission. The aim of the project has been to use diverse art forms and artists to enable people to engage with the natural landscape in new ways. This exhibition showcases new work created especially for this project by local contemporary artists Angus Rutherford, Gabby Hoad and Jenny Mellings. Exhibited alongside will be a reflection of the 80 nature-based creative workshops undertaken with schools and the public.

Until 27 October at Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Dowell Street, Honiton EX14 1LX. Visit thelmahulbert.com for information about all co-ordinating art activities.

Mind the gap

Rain Curtain

In ‘Uncertain Spaces’, Sue Davis explores the notion of “the vast differences between people and the influence those differences have on the rippling of an unsettled world”, using different media to unpack shifting perceptions and uncertainties emanating as much from the paint and the construction as from the questions at the heart of the journey. Sue attributes many of her ideas to the descriptive writing in Virginia Woolf ’s The Waves.

Until 29 September at Penwith Gallery, Back Road West, St Ives TR26 1NL. penwithgallery.com

Crazy glazing Originating in 16th century Japan, raku takes fired pottery and plunges it into containers of combustible materials such as sawdust. The smoke blackens the raw clay, creating crazing in the glaze, the unpredictability of which makes every piece unique. Due to this process, the finished pottery has an aroma of ambers… This new show brings together the work of Dan Chapple, Sarah McCormack, Tim Welbourne and Christina Peters, as well as Mary KaunEnglish who creates pit-fired and burnished sculptural pieces, a technique in which clay is polished to a beautiful sheen without the use of glaze.

Dan Chapple

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22 September – 30 October at 45 Southside Gallery, 45 Southside Street, Barbican, Plymouth PL1 2LD. 45southside.co.uk

culture

Under the microscope It’s Devon Open Studios time again, offering you the opportunity to have a look around the creative spaces of the county’s artists. Head to Hartland in North Devon to lose yourselves in the glorious abstract paintings of Lisa Rothwell-Orr, whose former career in science and technology inspires her watercolours. Rather than making the small large, Lisa instead portrays large subjects in close-up and draws on her fascination with the natural world and satellite imagery of the earth and space. Lisa is exhibiting at Venue 1 – see the brochure for details.

Until 23 September at various locations around Devon. See full listings and information via devonartistnetwork.co.uk Black Hole , Lisa Rothwell-Orr

Bring on the Don Tom Burke takes time out from appearing as JK Rowling’s detective Cormoran Strike to play the Marquis of Posa in Don Carlos. A champion of the oppressed, Posa questions the iron rule of King Philip II of Spain and becomes an unlikely power broker in the duplicitous court. Written just two years before the French Revolution, Schiller’s play reveals Carlos to be caught at the intersection of passion and politics: smitten by his stepmother and seduced by Posa’s dangerous vision of freedom. The chilling work is full of Shakespearean echoes, and its themes of justice and equality, freedom of expression and conscience, religious bigotry and state persecution are as relevant today as ever.

11-20 October at Exeter Northcott Theatre, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QB. Tickets £15 – £32.50 + concessions. exeternorthcott.co.uk

PHOTO:MICHAEL WHARLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

Tom Burke as the Marquis of Posa

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The Exhibition Space YEW TREE GALLERY

MAYNE GALLERY

Keigwin, Morvah, West Cornwall TR19 7TS | 01736 786425 yewtreegallery.com

14 Fore Street, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 1NY | 01548 853848 maynegallery.co.uk Exploring and capturing the everyday life of Devon, transforming simple scenes into wonderful insights, and moments that tell such joyful tales; the annual summer show featuring new original paintings from Caroline Appleyard, in the gallery now.

Don’t miss the opportunity to view these highly individual artworks, and spend some time admiring the rich and varied range of paintings, sculpture, glass art, ceramics and jewellery on display.

Kynance, acrylic on canvas 85 x 105cm Jenny Ryrie

Wild Shores, Calm Havens | 9 September – 13 October Paintings by Jenny Ryrie and Carolyn White evoking the ever-changing weather of West Cornwall, with ceramics by Robina Jack and Jill Fanshawe Kato, glowing seaglass jewellery by Gina Cowen; silver and gold by Guy Royle,; Esther Smith’s ingenious metal automata & Helen Nock’s Cornish rag slate sculpture in the gardens.

NEW CRAFTSMAN GALLERY 24 Fore Street , St. Ives TR26 1HE | 01736 795652 newcraftsmanstives.com

Porthleven Round II, Matthew Lanyon

From 8 September to 6 October, New Craftsman presents ‘Faster Than Words: Older Than Thought’, the first UK exhibition of work by Matthew Lanyon since his death in 2016, alongside exemplary works by potter Janet Leach, and the exhibition ‘Grounding’ by respected potter Jack Doherty.

THE SUMMERHOUSE GALLERY Market Place, Marazion, Cornwall TR17 0AR 01736 711 400 | summerhousegallery.co.uk Our one woman show ‘Where The Path Leads’, follows one of Cornwall’s most exciting contemporary impressionist artists, Imogen Bone, as she makes her way along the iconic coastal path around West Cornwall.

Dolphins At The Lighthouse Caroline Appleyard

THE ROUNDHOUSE AND CAPSTAN GALLERY Sennen Cove, Cornwall TR19 7DF | 01736 871 859 | round-house.co.uk One of the most iconic buildings in West Cornwall, this unique circular gallery in the heart of Sennen Cove, has become a magnet for some of the best in Cornish art, jewellery and craft. Set on two floors, the Capstan Room and Net Loft have two distinct personalities, each a showcase for Cornish excellence.

Open daily from Easter until late October, with limited opening during the winter months.Please phone before making a long journey.

CIRCLE CONTEMPORARY Hawksfield, A39 (located between Padstow and Wadebridge) Cornwall, PL27 7LR | 01208 813 220 | circlecontemporary.co.uk CIRCLE is a Fine Art Gallery located in North Cornwall and represents a diverse group of artists who have a strong personal style. The gallery is a cool and minimal space which is continually evolving, collecting emerging and well known artists, alternating group and solo exhibitions, focusing on fresh and innovative art.

The exhibition runs from 8-22 September.

Where Will You Lead Me, Imogen Bone

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Miner’s Cottages by John Piper

Susan Bleakley

culture

TREGONY GALLERY

LIGHTHOUSE GALLERY 53, Causewayhead, Penzance TR18 2SS 01736 350555 | lighthouse-gallery.com

58 Fore Street, Tregony, Truro TR2 5RW 01872 530505 tregonygallery.co.uk

New paintings by Anne-Marie Butlin, Rachael Mia Allen and Amanda Hoskin

“The artist run Tregony Gallery… the outcome, as ever with this gallery, is something very far indeed from the ‘tourist tat’ that once used to pass for ‘art’ in many smaller Cornish galleries.”

Galleries Magazine { Presence } to 29 September ‘Luminous Ground’ part 1 opens 9 October Mark Dunford LG, Flushing Bush, oil on board, 32 x 20 cm

CORNWALL CONTEMPORARY 1 Parade Street, Queens Square, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 4BU 01736 874749 | cornwallcontemporary.com

Swing of the Tide

26 September 20 October 2018 ‘Perpetual Flux’ the first highly anticipated, solo exhibition of paintings by abstract expressionist David Mankin.

In this new body of work, David explores the unconscious forces and rhythms which underpin the perpetual flux in the Cornish landscape.

WHITE MOOSE Trinity Street, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 8HX | 01271 379872 whitemoose.co.uk Three Hares 14 September – 13 October 2018 As part of Art Trek 2018, White Moose are bringing together a variety of printmakers, glassmakers, ceramicists and textile artists, all responding to the ancient three hares motif.

Three Hares, Gold Jackie Morris

Freesias and cherries by Anne-Marie Butlin

WHITE SPACE ART

72 Fore Street Totnes TQ9 5RU | 01803 864088 | whitespaceart.com Minimal 22 September 6 October Malcolm Ashman, David Pearce & Ellen Watson Three artists strip back everything back to reveal the essence of their subject matter. It’s the old adage: less is more.

Brochure available.

Gallery member of Ownart scheme.

Mill House David Pearce

JACKSON FOUNDATION GALLERY North Row, St Just, Cornwall TR19 7LB 01736 787638 | JacksonFoundationGallery.com “It is here that I unroll my canvases and prop my boards, where the sand always gets in the paint, the wind and sun dry everything too quickly, the rain washes it all away and everything is so beautiful.”

Kurt Jackson: Scilly Until October 27 Open Wed to Fri 10am – 5pm; Sat 10am – 1pm.

To advertise your gallery, exhibition, show or event here please email advertising@manormagazine.co.uk or call 07887 556447

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promotional feature

Andrei Protsouk to exhibit new work at Host Galleries

I

Paradise Latte

nternationally acclaimed and highly collectible USbased artist, Andrei Protsouk, is to launch a new body of work at Host Galleries, the South West’s prominent new contemporary art gallery.

The Plymouth-based exhibition space will feature the ‘Love and Life – A Fine Line’ collection in a major new exhibition, running from Saturday 13 to Saturday 27 October.

This will be the first time that Andrei’s works, collected by art connoisseurs and investors globally, will be available in the South West, and the exhibition will feature many canvases, originals and limited editions, never seen before.

Classically trained in Leningrad under Evsey Moiseenko (a contemporary of Chagall and Picasso), on moving to the States in 1994, Andrei quickly became a prominent member of the contemporary art scene.

These days, Andrei’s paintings are known for their vibrant colours and the fascinating use of intricate shapes, mixed with varied textures to create spellbinding images that continue to surprise and delight with every viewing.

Andrei’s subject matter is wide-ranging but frequently focuses on the themes of love, seduction and sexuality.

With a clear appreciation of the female form, Andrei’s paintings make a bold statement and are a talking point on any wall, including those of former US presidents.

Andrei says, “I am very pleased to exhibit at the beautiful Host Galleries in October. For an artist, it is exciting to show my paintings to a new audience. I take it very seriously, which is why I have been working on a special new collection of paintings to be unveiled and shown for the very first time. I want people to be inspired by my work and experience the paintings the same way I experience them when I create them in my studio. Personally, this will be some of my best work to date. I’m a firm believer that every new painting I create has to be greater than the last.”

Alongside the works of Andrei, Host exhibits a diverse range of contemporary pieces from current, sought-after artists, based in the UK and abroad. A Grade II listed building, the gallery is a must-see and the chance to view the diversity of talent in the contemporary art world.

Gallery owner Neil Stallard and gallery manager Trevor Horswell are usually on hand to advise on the pieces they are showing, and offer a refreshing glass of prosecco...

For more information about the Andrei Protsouk and future exhibitions, please contact Host on 01752 241234 or visit hostgalleries.co.uk

Big Ben Champagne

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culture Worth making the trip for...

Take me to the river Keep the spirit of summer going for as long as possible by getting down to the Southbank and soaking up the last few weeks of Underbelly Festival. Featuring circus, theatre, cabaret, comedy, music and children’s shows beside the Thames, it’s got a great atmosphere, and there’s bound to be something to please everybody in the family, no matter how diverse their interests or tastes. Running until 27 September is House of Burlesque Revue, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary – let Queen Diva Tempest Rose take you on a series of glamorous and provocative journeys.

Until 30 September at Southbank, London. See underbellyfestival.com for full details and to book tickets for individual shows.

House of Burlesque Revue

When the sun goes down Soak up some culture after dark with Museums at Night, as museums and galleries across London throw open their doors after hours during the three-day biannual festival. With late-night exhibitions, Halloween-themed events, quirky workshops and torchlit tours, Museums at Night is a fantastic opportunity to enjoy London’s culture and history in a new, spookier light. London Transport Museum will be continuing its celebration of women designers through time with ‘Power, Play and Politics’ (26 October), which focuses on the 80s, a decade of contrasts that shaped contemporary society, and revealing its passionate protests, underground, and pop culture. For something darker, there’s ‘Craven Street Bones’ at Benjamin Franklin House (27 October), where you can explore the darker side of the 18th century’s pursuit of knowledge with staff members. As you make your way through the House, you’ll discover why over 1,200 bones were unearthed in the basement…

Benjamin Franklin House

25-27 October at various museums across London. See museumsatnight.org.uk for full listings and ticket info.

Border crossing

18-29 September at Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN. Tickets £15£30. bac.org.uk

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PHOTO: ANDY BELL

Adam was born in a girl’s body in Egypt, but always knew that he was really a boy. Trapped with no way to describe this feeling, in a deeply conservative society where falling in love with the wrong person can get you killed, he knew that he had to escape. With a borrowed laptop, he types in a question: “Can the soul of a man be trapped in the body of a woman?”

What followed was beyond Adam’s wildest dreams. A catalyst to begin the epic journey for the right to change his body, to the boy he knows himself to be. Directed by award-winning theatre director Cora Bissett (co-creator of Glasgow Girls, Rites and Roadkill and director of Room) with music composed by Jocelyn Pook (Stage Works British Composer Award winner in 2012 for her soundtrack to DESH) and written by playwright and dramaturge Frances Poet, Adam features an acclaimed performance

by Adam Kashmiry, the real person on whom the drama is based, who made a notable professional stage debut in the production last year. For this run, he is joined on stage by Rehanna MacDonald. Featuring a score sung by a virtual choir of trans and non-binary individuals from across the world who are projected onto the stage, Adam is both a bold exploration of the experience of a young transgender person and an ambitious experiment with theatrical form, blending storytelling, classical composition and mass digital elements from participants from around the globe.

Lines of beauty

Until 4 November at House of Illustration, 2 Granary Square, King’s Cross, London N1C 4BH. houseofillustration.org.uk

PHOTO: JOHN VERNON LORD

An illustrator, author and teacher, John Vernon Lord’s creative output is remarkable by anyone’s standards, let alone as someone who has spent the past 57 years lecturing, including being Professor of Illustration at the University of Brighton since 1986. This new exhibition, ‘John Vernon Lord: Illustrating Carroll and Joyce’, features 80 gorgeous pen and ink drawings for five classic books Lord has illustrated in recent years: The Hunting of The Snark, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-glass by Lewis Carroll, as well as Finnegan’s Wake and Ulysses by James Joyce. Twelve personal sketchbooks will also reveal Lord’s working process, which is steeped in pattern and code. They include meticulous records of the time spent on every illustration, amounting to 499.25 hours on Finnegan’s Wake and 622 hours on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Lord’s distinguished career as an author and illustrator was marked this year when he was named the V&A’s Illustrator of the Year 2018.

His 1972 picture book, The Giant Jam Sandwich, has become a modern classic, while other well-known works include his award-winning editions of The Nonsense Verse of Edward Lear (1984) and Aesop’s Fables (1990), for which he won the V&A/WH Smith Prize for illustration.

Illustration from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Rock Pool Cave Panorama, oil on linen

Views of the Camel Although landscape painter Sarah Adams has lived and worked in Padstow since 2006, her new body of work is for the first time devoted entirely to the Camel Estuary, a subject close to her heart and right on her doorstep. The exhibition features vistas from Stepper to Padstow and from Rock to Pentire, and showcases Adams’s characteristic fascination with rock formations, detailing the vivid mauve and turquoise banding that crops up in various places around the estuary. There will be 20 works in the exhibition: six large paintings in oil on linen and 14 smaller oil studies on board. All works will be for sale.

3-13 October at The Maas Gallery, 15A Clifford St, Mayfair, London W1S 4JZ. Private view: 2 October 2018, 6-8pm. maasgallery.co.uk

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culture Worth staying in for...

Page turners I don’t know about you, but all this glorious sunshine has meant that any spare minute has seen me dashing out into the garden – or to Budleigh Salterton, when more hours are at hand – in my bikini with lashings of Factor 50 and a good book. And since I’ve no time to scour the bookshelves, the Man Booker longlist has provided me with a conveniently curated selection from which to pluck all my reading material.

And there’s some corkers on there, including a mesmerising debut from Daisy Johnson (Everything Under, published by Vintage/Jonathan Cape), about a fraught mother-daughter relationship, and the latest from some big hitters, including Michael Ondaatje’s Warlight (Vintage/Jonathan Cape), a swirling tale of spies and personal intrigue set in post-war England, whose atmosphere completely envelops you. For some darker thrills, pick up Belinda Bauer’s Snap (Penguin Random House): set in 1998, it tells the story of 11-year-old Jack, waiting in a hot, broken-down car by the side of the M5 with his younger sisters while their mother, Catherine, goes for help.

When she doesn’t return, Jack is forced to step up and care for his siblings, whatever the cost… Bauer is masterful at depicting the confusion and fear felt by children trying to fill in the gaps left by adults, and this is a gripping and unsettling read. But the one that had me in its grasp from the start was Rachel Kushner’s The Mars Room (Vintage/ Jonathan Cape). Set in Stanville Women’s Correctional Facility in California, where Romy Hall is about to begin two consecutive life sentences, it’s a bleakly realistic portrayal of the prison-industrial complex, and a startling dissection of the systemic disadvantages to being poor and female in America.

The shortlist for the Man Booker Prize 2018 is announced on 20 September, and the winner on 16 October.

Mind games With very little to go on but a rather opaque trailer, Netflix’s new show, Maniac, has a lot to live up to – at the helm is Cary Fukunaga, who directed all eight episodes of the acclaimed debut season of HBO’s True Detective, and the cast includes Emma Stone (Birdman, Crazy Stupid Love, La La Land), Jonah Hill (Superbad, The Wolf of Wall Street), and grande dame of American cinema, Sally Field (Forrest Gump, Steel Magnolias, Mrs Doubtfire). Billed as a dark comedy (based on a Norwegian TV series that had something of the Walter Mitty about it), Maniac stars Stone and Hill as strangers united by a strange trial for a drug treatment that will supposedly cure any mental illness or anguish. That’s got to be a good thing, right? Hmmmm...

Maniac arrives on Netflix on 21 September

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We shot after dark in the North Devon haven of Hayne Devon, renowned as a top events venue but also for its wild and woodland garden setting. The night time backdrop allowed us to accentuate the rich colour spectrum that is this autumn’s wardrobe, accessorised here exclusively by a range of jewellery from Michael Spiers, including pieces by Rolex, Patek Philippe and Gucci.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY REMY WHITING STYLED BY MIMI STOTT MAKE-UP: FIONA MILLER HAIR: JO AT YOKE SALON MODEL: MAYARA MORENO FROM SELECT

Gucci Garden Ring, £255; Gucci Silver Gatto Aureco Bangle, £450; Gucci Silver Interlocking G Necklace, £620; Patek Philippe Ladies World Time Watch 7130R, £39,070; dress, Zara, £39.99

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Gucci Garden Ring, £255; Gucci Silver Gatto Aureco Bangle, £450; Gucci Silver Interlocking G Necklace, £620; Patek Philippe Ladies World Time Watch 7130R, £39,070; dress, Zara, £39.99; shoes, Zara, £99.99

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Bow waist trousers, Ted Baker, £129; top, Zara, £19.99; bag, Zara, £25.99

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Michael Spiers Brilliant Diamond Crossover Ring, £8,950; Patek Philippe Ladies Calatrava Timeless White Watch 7122/200G, £20,840; Michael Spiers 18ct White Gold Rosabel Sapphire and Diamond Drop Earrings, £1,295; blazer, Zara, £49.99; top, Zara, £15.99; trousers, Zara, £29.99; boots, Zara, £95.99

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Michel Spiers 18ct Yellow Gold and Diamond Scatter Ring, £2,250; Rolex Datejust 36mm in Oystersteel and Rolesor Watch (olive-green dial), £10,150; Gucci 18ct Yellow Gold Horsebit Bracelet, £6,440; Fope 18ct Gold and Diamond Mialuce Earrings, £5,260; top, stylists own; satin pleat front culottes, Ted Baker, £139; shoes, Zara, £99.99

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Rolex Datejust 28mm in Oystersteel and Rolesor Watch (diamond dot dial), £6,950; Michael Spiers Pearl and Diamond Ring, £1,550; Michael Spiers Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings, £2,720; Dress, Ted Baker, £189

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Patek Philippe Ladies World Time Watch 7130R, £39,070; dress, Whistles, £189; shoes, Zara, £99.99

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Open 7 days per week, the shops can be found just 2 miles from Totnes. Shinners Bridge, Dartington, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 6TQ. Tel: 01803 847500 Web: dartington.org/shops Online shop: shopsatdartington.co.uk The Shops at Dartington are owned by the Dartington Hall Trust and all contribution supports the activities of the Trust [a registered charity] 88

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Food Tom Brown | Taste of Scilly Bites, the latest news and events from across the region Signature Dish | The Table Prowler

Lamb shoulder Kiev, anchovy, peas and mint. Dish by Tom Brown (see page 90) cornerstonehackney.com

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PHOTO: CEDAR FILM

Roast monkfish, spiced aubergine, basil and ginger dressing

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Learning from some of the best chefs in the South West laid the foundation for Tom Brown’s new seafood restaurant in East London. Words by Fiona McGowan.

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PHOTO: CEDAR FILM

Tom Brown

PHOTO: CEDAR FILM

ackney Wick has a bad rep. The Overground station is a building site. The streets around it are graffiti-daubed and the roads are full of grinding trucks, scaffolding and noisy construction work. It is typical of the workaday outskirts of East London. But it’s only one stop away from Stratford, which has been transformed to a des res location partly thanks to the London Olympics in 2012. Gentrification might be a mixed blessing, but it is as inexorable as the tide – and like Shoreditch, Hoxton and Hackney before it, Hackney Wick is already well on the way to becoming a district for the well-to-do with hipster inclinations.

Tucked into an elbow of narrow streets is a collection of modern buildings, one of which is the unassuming grey-brick frontage of Cornerstone restaurant. Tall glass doors open up into a resin-floored restaurant with a big central island in the style of a high-end sushi bar. Chefs are bustling in the middle of the island, their crisp whites contrasting with the muted charcoals, blacks and greys of the décor. It is industrial chic – the only softness offered by dark teal drapes and the curves of French bistrostyle bentwood chairs. Presiding over it all is chef Tom Brown, a 30-year-old prodigy who has been making a splash in the world of seafood for some years.

Cornerstone opened its doors in April this year and it has already wowed the reviewers (no mean feat in London). Tom is from a new generation of chefs. The ego-ridden screaming bullies that made such good TV in the 90s have given way to a different style of kitchen management. The young guns of today are very much of the social media era, where they are being judged not just by the professional critic, but every sod on Instagram, TripAdvisor and Twitter. Their careers are honed in the crucible of reality TV – from MasterChef and Great British Bake Off to Great British Menu and Hell’s Kitchen.

Tom is tattooed, ginger-bearded and generally looks like a younger version of his hero and mentor Nathan Outlaw. He believes in the craft and provenance of his gastronomy above his ego and dominance of the industry. His trajectory to this up-and-coming niche of London has been one of beautiful simplicity and hard bloody graft. Brought up in Redruth in West Cornwall, Tom is no stranger to the post-industrial, economically

Cornerstone

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You wouldn’t go and play for Barcelona and then decide you want to be a rugby player. If you learn from the best seafood cook in the world, you’re obviously going to go into that.

PHOTO: CEDAR FILM

depressed environment here in Hackney Wick. Seafood, however, is in his blood – some of his best memories are of fishing with his dad and cooking their catch in the evening: “Although it was more catching than cooking,” he admits.

Tom’s career as a chef started as a kitchen porter in a pub near his home. When he realised that A levels weren’t for him, he got stuck in, helping the chef out and completing an apprenticeship at Cornwall College Camborne. “I liked the creativity. It’s like an instant gratification,” he says. “You make something and then someone says they like it and that’s that. It’s very shortterm.” With the confidence of youth, he decided he “wanted to do something different” so he took it upon himself to send handwritten letters to all the chefs who had appeared on Great British Menu at the time. One of them, renowned Welsh chef Bryn Williams, rang him back and invited him to his restaurant in Primrose Hill for what was essentially a day of work experience. Tom grins at the memory: “I was so out of my depth, seeing it all. But I thought – there’s a big world out there.”

He was inspired to apply to bigger and better restaurants in Cornwall, and ended up working with Rick Stein’s original head chef, Michelin-starred Paul Ripley.

In him, he found a mentor who taught him not just about high-end cooking but about how to manage a team. “The chef I’d been working for was a bit of an idiot,” says Tom. “He was one of those shouty chefs. But Paul said to me – you know, it doesn’t have to be like that. You shouldn’t come to work and feel bad.” It was through Paul that he met Nathan Outlaw, who took him to work at the St Enodoc Hotel in Rock in 2012, and who quickly became his boss, mentor and friend. Soon, Tom became head chef for Nathan at the hotel’s fine dining restaurant. Four years later, Nathan had the opportunity to open a restaurant at The Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge, and invited Tom to join him. He accepted, knowing that this would be a turning point in his career.

Nathan is reputed to be one of the best seafood chefs in the country, so it’s no surprise that Tom’s new creation is a seafood restaurant. “You wouldn’t go and play for Barcelona and then decide you want to be a rugby player,” says Tom with fervour. “If you learn from the best seafood cook in the world, you’re obviously going to go into that.” The critics have been nothing less than glowing about the food at Cornerstone, but Tom is just as keen on making the restaurant a positive experience. The Capital, he says, is one of the top fine dining restaurants in London: “It’s very old school, a very grandiose, wonderful place. But that’s not where I’m from. That’s not my roots.” Hackney Wick is a friendly community, he says, where you can go to the shop around the corner and see 10 people you know, and they’ll all say hello. Just like Cornwall, in fact. He is determined that his restaurant will be welcoming to all: “Hospitality is called that for a reason – what we are in is

Raw mackerel, lime pickle, coconut, coriander

Potted shrimp crumpet

food

PHOTO: CEDAR FILM

Pickled Porthilly oysters, celery, dill, horseradish cream

the business of happiness,” he says with genuine passion.

“We’re the facilitators to make that happiness. It’s not about our egos.”

It’s a fine line to walk. While Tom clearly wants to make people feel comfortable, he is also a purveyor of gastronomically exclusive food. Seafood itself is an expensive commodity, and his determination to source the best, most sustainable fruits of our oceans means that he can’t charge rock-bottom prices. In spite of the rough-looking surroundings, he also knows that there is a discerning local clientele with a disposable income (“I can’t even afford the rent in Hackney Wick,” he admits).

So he has conjured up a menu with an option of small plates. “We have people who come here and spend £25 a head and those who spend £200.”

Almost all the seafood at Cornerstone is sourced from the West Country, and one of his main suppliers is the Wild Harbour Fish Company based in Hayle near St Ives – a tiny company that has become one of the top seafood suppliers in the country. Tom lights up when he talks about the provenance of his seafood – it’s clearly an obsession. As an emerging celebrity chef (he’s now done two seasons of Great British Menu and has a big social media following), he knows he has a platform to influence not only other chefs but the wider public as well. Almost all the fish that Tom buys is caught on a day boat. It is line-caught and transported up to London – often delivered in the middle of the night (the delivery drivers have a key and put the fish in the fridge).

Because Cornerstone is dependent on whatever is caught the day before, the menu can sometimes change two or three times in a day. “The front of house love it,” chuckles Tom, as he explains how he can interchange certain species with the same recipe throughout the day and the evening. There are four chefs including Tom – a relatively small number for a fine dining restaurant with up to 100 covers, he says. He has so much faith in them that he often finds himself spending more time in the office than in the kitchen. “It’s much more progressive to step back. These three are amazing. The job they do is unbelievable and they work so hard.”

I wonder what Tom dreams of when he looks at the future. Is it a Jamie Oliver or Rick Stein brand of Tom Brown Cornerstones? He is dismissive of that business model: “I wouldn’t think – oh yeah, we can roll out another 10 Cornerstones and retire and go to the Bahamas.

That’s not how I would want it.” He is sure that there will be many opportunities for other interesting projects in the future, but for now he is keeping his gaze firmly in Hackney Wick. “What we would like is to establish this restaurant as one of the top restaurants in London. Our focus is very much on making this a viable, sustainable business that turns over good money every year and has a very happy, very loyal staff.” cornerstonehackney.com

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PHOTO: MATT CARDY/GETTY IMAGES PHOTO: MATT CARDY/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO: ADJ BROWN

PHOTO: ADJ BROWN

This September, the Scillies showcase the very best of their seafood, artisan produce and wild food. MANOR meets Bryher’s fishmonger, a chef from St Agnes and the man behind the Scillies’ own seasalt. Words by Anna Turns.

Low food miles and slow food culture are both prevalent all year round across the five inhabited islands in Scilly. Island-grown produce is a particular highlight on the menu throughout September, with foodie experiences and events taking place across this small archipelago, 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall. For the third Taste of Scilly festival, there are lobster feasts and Scillonian produce markets, surf and turf beach 94

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barbecues and an island-hopping supper safari, as well as pop-up crab shack evenings, paella nights, seafood chowder chow downs, Scillonian taster menus and wine pairing dining experiences – plus working family-farm tours and tastings across St Mary’s, Bryher, St Agnes, Tresco and St Martin’s.

Taste of Scilly: Until 30 September. visitislesofscilly.com/tasteofscilly

food AMANDA PENDER Fishmonger and owner of Island Fish, Bryher Our family has been fishing here on Scilly as far back as we can trace. My parents have been selling lobster and crab to

people knocking at the front door and supplying restaurants and hotels in a very traditional, small scale way since 1972.

Both my father and mother are from local Scillonian families. I was brought up on Tresco, the island opposite Bryher. I moved back to Bryher 18 years ago when my son was born so I now live in the house where my grandmother lived and where my father was brought up.

We set up Island Fish in 2015. My brother Mark and I

decided to take the plunge, quit our jobs and invest in growing this business. We bought a boat, converted the front of my house porch into a tiny shop and made my utility room into a crab picking room.

We aim to make shellfish accessible and affordable for everyone, so that in Scilly you could walk in, buy some local lobster, crab or fish and take it away with you. Now

we are building something here for the next generation to make a living on Scilly. In the past three years, our business has been amazingly well-received and we have won various new business awards, too.

At Island Fish, we’re all one family clan. My brother

Mark, my father Mike and now my 18-year-old son Shamus all have small 26-foot fishing boats and they all fish March through to December, weather allowing. I give my brother a shopping list – 25 crab for one of the hotels and a bucket of lobster for another, for example – and he brings it in every day. We do everything – we catch the fish, prepare it, sell it and also cook some of it to sell.

When we drop fish off to Hell Bay Hotel on Bryher, the fish is still flapping! Very few people can achieve that.

We’re talking zero food miles and a very sustainable product. I know when and where something was caught and how it was caught, it is incredibly fresh and it tastes delicious. We’ll get an order on the phone, my brother will go and catch it at 3pm, then it will be cooked and delivered to Tresco for 5pm.

Amanda’s brother, Mark

...and her dad, Mike

Shellfish doesn’t have to be expensive. We sell half a

grilled lobster with potato wedges and coleslaw for £10 which is cheaper than fish and chips in some places. Our recipe mixed with a lot of hard work is very successful.

We often work 16-hour days. It is very intensive, hard

labour to do what we’re doing. There are no quick fixes, but it is very rewarding to show people the quality of the seafood here.

Pot fishing for lobster and crab is very sustainable.

There’s no bycatch and we donate £1 to Padstow Lobster Hatchery for every lobster we sell. My brother is head of the Fisheries Association here and we do what we can to put back into the community.

In a howling gale, people still wonder why we haven’t got any fish. We have definitely noticed a more increased

disassociation between customers and seafood and a more hands-off approach. We sell lots of whole lobster and live fish to French visitors, but most Brits want everything prepared for them.

Scilly has an abundance of lobster and brown crab.

It is a fantastic local product and really doesn’t need anything doing to it. We also buy wet fish off local dayboats to sell here on Scilly. We aim to sell everything we catch here and have better control of the whole supply chain – there’s no middle man, so it isn’t about catching lots of fish, it’s about adding value by handpicking crab, filleting fish by hand or making potted crab or cooking up the lobster and selling it direct to the consumer.

Throughout September, Island Fish will serve up seafood paella takeaways (£8 per portion) every Thursday and lobster and slaw takeaways (£10) every Sunday (6-7pm). To preorder call 01720 423880.

28 September: Hands-on shellfish picking demo: Learn how to hand pick crab and lobster professionally with the award-winning Shellfish Fisherman of the Year Mark Pender and sister, Amanda. Includes a crab sandwich and cup of tea. 3-4.30pm. £20. Call 01720 423880 to book. islandfish.co.uk

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PHOTO: MATT CARDY/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO: MATT CARDY/GETTY IMAGES

ANDREW WALDER Founder and owner of SC Seasalt, St Martin’s SC Salt is made using almost exclusively the power of the sun, so it has a low carbon footprint. Like most activities

on the Isles of Scilly, we are tied to the tides and the weather – so production rate varies depending on how much sunshine and dry weather we have.

Our salt has a clean, fresh, salty taste. Each batch has a

subtly unique taste and texture, which is defined by the weather, the time of year the seawater is harvested and how kind the weather is to our evaporation rates.

Carron Farm was originally one of about 12 flower farms on St Martin’s that grew narcissi. Flowers were sent

to wholesale markets on the mainland, such as Covent Garden, but over time the tourism industry became the mainstay of the Scillonian economy. So, in truly innovative Scilly style, I established SC Salt in 2009 whilst looking for a way to make better use of some of our lesserused farm land, building on past knowledge I had picked up during a visit to the Cape Verde islands and various other avenues of research – including a book written by William Brownrigg (The Art of Making Common Salt).

We produce sea salt using a traditional method of solar evaporation with a modern, low-tech twist. Our salt pans

are covered by a conventional agricultural polytunnel, rather than exposed to the open air, because we receive a higher level of rainfall. Our salt pans are in production from April through to October each year.

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Our salt is produced by evaporating sea water which is pumped from the east end of Par Beach on St Martin’s at English Island Point. The evaporation process results in

the formation of salt crystals which sink to the bottom of the pan and are then harvested. We generally harvest early in the morning to avoid the high temperatures in the tunnel during the day, sweeping the salt into heaps and allowing the bitterns to drain from the sea salt crystals.

Once these mounds are drained, we move the salt to food grade containers using snow shovels. These containers are then transported back to the farm where we further drain the salt and dry it out completely. The next stage is to weigh it before packing it up. We also produce flavoured salt which we do by hand, using a combination of locally grown flavours and bought-in spices.

Each of the islands has its own unique character and charm. Among the Scillonian community, St Martin’s

people used to be known as ‘Ginnicks’. The meaning is thought to be a synonym for neat, although it has mostly been lost now. I can only but guess that we were so named because St Martin’s, in years gone by, was heavily farmed and not a leaf was out of place! Now farming is less intensive and the island is less neat and a little more overgrown as it has returned more to its natural state, maintaining a rugged, un-manicured feel which certainly differs from each of the other islands.

Slow food and low food miles mean that the food on the Isles of Scilly is some of the freshest, and finest, you will taste. sc-salt.co.uk

PIERS LEWIN Author of An Island Food Mile, St Agnes Descending here as a cook 20 years ago was like waking up on Christmas morning. On this island one mile across,

pretty much everything was available locally as a matter of course – shellfish, dairy, eggs, fruit and veg, wild foraged stuff as well. So right from the start, it was very clear it was a great place to be cooking. I trained as a chef many years ago in London before moving to Scilly with my wife when I was 25. We ran a guesthouse where I cooked and over the years I have developed a range of recipes that hopefully make the most of all this amazing local produce.

September is always a fantastic time for apples and blackberries. We have one apple tree in our garden that

provides me with almost enough apples for a whole year and Scilly has its own apple variety called the ‘Scilly Pearl’.

Local produce and food miles are very much built into everyday society on St Agnes – these are not buzz words here. It’s not all about producing the finest quality products which is how it is often thought of in the modern food world. Here it is simply about providing food for the table and some of it is amazing and some of it is fine. It’s more everyday life than the gloss of a London farmers’ market. That’s not to devalue it, it’s an extraordinary fact that I’m able to cook so much from island produce. It’s more real.

have of course been times that were very tough indeed economically. Historically, Scilly has always been a very creative, inventive, resourceful place.

These producers are my friends and neighbours. I

love speaking to them direct – I can request specific ingredients or adapt and use more of something they have a glut of. It’s lovely having that immediacy and that’s where St Agnes is unique – these are people trying interesting things just because they need to find something different to do with their land or their stock.

Scilly is so free of noise pollution, so it has this amazing natural soundscape, and very quickly I became inspired to write music about this place. My band, The Rough Island Band, has recorded about 10 albums of original music inspired by Scilly in the last decade.

My book is less of a recipe book and more of a scrapbook with essays about local food issues, sheet music and poems about food and local life. I’ve called it a

commonplace book and this diverse collection of my personal archives gives a rich portrait of this place, the people and the food of this island.

6 September: An Island Food Mile book launch with St Agnes high tea. Author and cook, Piers Lewin, reads extracts from his new book of recipes, essays and poems celebrating the food of St Agnes.

Afternoon tea is served, using only ingredients sourced on this selfsufficient island. Island Hall, St Agnes. 2.30–4pm. £10. To book, call the Tourist Information Centre 01720 620600.

St Agnes is so complete in terms of food production. It

is one of the smallest islands on Scilly, about one mile across with a population of 80 to 90 people. We have a dairy, gin distillery, herb farm producing essential oils, organic veg plot and much more. There is a real ethos of self-sufficiency and independence and there

23 September: Gin and Icecream party. 6-8pm. Free entry. Gin and tonic and ice cream for sale. St Agnes Island Hall. Sample delicious flavours of Westward Farm gin and Troytown Farm ice cream and celebrate the island’s local food and drink with Piers Lewin.

Piers Lewin

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Devon’s Seafood Feast…

Top Devon chefs, including Marine Stewardship Council ambassador Mitch Tonks and Michelin-starred chef Simon Hulstone, are headlining a new seafood festival taking place across the English Riviera from 22 September to 7 October. “I’ve eaten seafood all over the world,” says Mitch, “and the quality of the fish caught off our coast is the finest anywhere in the world.”

Inspired by Brixham’s legendary fish market, famous for landing the highest value catch in the UK, England’s Seafood Feast includes special dining events, fish market tours and ‘catch and cook’ fishing trips across Brixham, Torquay and Paignton. theseafoodfeast.co.uk

…and a Cornish Seafood Celebration Falmouth Oyster Festival, held at the start of the oyster dredging season, brings together local chefs, hardworking oyster fishermen, food and drink enthusiasts and an eclectic mix of musicians. With sustainable methods that have changed little in the last 500 years, only vessels powered by sail or oar can catch the native Fal Oyster. Experts are on-hand to divulge their tips on choosing, preparing and cooking the great variety of fresh sustainable seafood readily available in Cornwall, and events include working boat racing, a grand oyster parade and a fiercely-contested oyster shucking competition.

11-14 October. Daytime entry is free, after dark tickets cost £5. falmouthoysterfestival.co.uk

Brew your own Fans of Salcombe Brewery’s new Pale Ale can now see how craft beer is made first-hand with a two-hour brewery tour. The Pale Ale uses ingredients that would have been imported into Salcombe by the citrus fruit trade in the 19th century, such as orange, pink grapefruit and anise. Owner of Salcombe Brewery, John Tiner, says: “Our brewery tours are a fantastic way to learn about the brewing process plus you can sample beers in the tap room and for those keen on actually brewing their own beer, we run a full Brew Day.” This 20-barrel brewery with four fermenting vessels is capable of producing 350 casks per week and has its own borehole which supplies the brewery with its own source of pure Devonian water.

Brewery tours take place from 3-5 pm on Thursdays, £10. Book online: salcombebrewery.com

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Italian fusion New owner of Sparkwell’s The Treby Arms, Jamie Stevenson, promises a more relaxed Italian air at Elements at The Treby Arms, with all the ingredients that have made a success of his boutique hotel and restaurant, Elements, and his Italian restaurant La Bocca, both in Bude. Jamie says: “Italian food is perfect for families who want an affordable meal in an easy-going setting, and we’ll be combining fresh, sustainable, local ingredients with the Italian knowhow of chef Leo from Naples.

“A lot of people know the Treby and have a perception of how it is,” he continues. “We need to change the perception from an upmarket gastropub to something fresh and affordable and great for families.

We are a Westcountry business and it’s all about sustainability. Our whole ethos is about quality food, friendliness and a great experience. We love what we do and we’re looking forward to connecting with the community here.” thetrebyarms.co.uk

Holiday in style Chef Ben Tunnicliffe has teamed up with Cornish Gems to offer their guests his very special Private Dining Experiences, allowing them to enjoy the finest Cornish produce (focusing on fresh seafood) in the comfort of their holiday property. Masterclasses in fish filleting, oyster shucking or sommelier-matched wines can also be included.

Email ben@tolcarneinn.co.uk to enquire about prices and availability. bentunnicliffe.co.uk

Exmouth’s food village From Thai-inspired ice cream, to locally bred pork, the new food village on Exmouth sea front is open until the end of September.

The new attraction, which is being run by Taste of the West, is based at the Queen’s Drive Space area. John Sheaves, Chief Executive of Taste of the West, said: “Five years ago, I was lucky enough to visit one of the

PHOTO: ALEX WARD STUDIOS, EXMOUTH

world’s greatest authentic food villages in Singapore. I was so inspired that I vowed to bring this concept back to the south west and showcase the best food and drink from the region. When East Devon District Council approached me about managing a new food village at the revamped Queens Drive Space on Exmouth Seafront, it was the perfect opportunity to put my plan into action.”

Taste of the West have also launched a new ‘Food Finder’ map. Using the latest cutting-edge geolocation technology, the map tells you where the nearest quality food and drink establishments are: ‘‘We aim to increase awareness of where this region’s great food and drink comes from and to highlight the integrity of food from the region. The new ‘Food Finder’ map enables people to access our best restaurants, pubs, cafes and shops, wherever they might be in the South West,” adds John.

Access the Food Finder map at tasteofthewest.co.uk/food-finder

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A plethora of chefs to descend on the Castle PHOTO: MATT AUSTIN

The Countess of Devon, A J Langer, with Judi Spiers

This year’s Powderham Food Festival will see Michelinstarred John Burton-Race and Peter Gorton make their debut alongside broadcaster Judi Spiers, who will be hosting the chefs’ theatre throughout the weekend. They will be joined by patisserie chef Colin Bennett; Ashley Wright, head chef at the award-winning Horn of Plenty; and Darrin Hosegrove, chef director at the Ashburton Cookery School. The two-day celebration of South West food and drink will feature a varied programme of foodrelated activities for the whole family including: The Great Devon Chilli Challenge, demonstrations in the Theatre of Fire and Smoke, plus kids’ cookery led by The Fun Kitchen. Festival director, Bob Small, is looking forward to it: “This year is set to be the best yet, with so many of the region’s top chefs, well over 150 exhibitors, plenty of live music and great demonstrations to enjoy.”

6-7 October. 10am-5pm. Powderham Castle, near Exeter, Devon. £9 adults, £3 under 16, £20 family, children under 5 go free, advance tickets available online: powderhamfoodfestival.com

Going global The team behind organic charcuterie company, Good Game, and barbecue smokehouse, The Pig and Pallet, have taken over the helm of The Globe Inn, a traditional pub in Lympstone, near Exmouth.

Best known for producing naturally dried game and cured meats, as well as running popular beer and smokehouse restaurant The Pig and Pallet in Topsham, Steve Williams and Pete Woodham-Kay are keen for The Globe Inn to continue operating as a community watering hole, serving the thirsty needs of locals and visitors alike with craft ales and fine wines.

Co-Director Steve Williams says: “As our first Good Game pub, we wanted to launch the sort of place where we would go ourselves. I have been drinking in The Globe Inn for 15 years and it has always had a relaxed atmosphere, with great food and drink. We’ve got a terrific team on board who are all equally passionate about warm hospitality and service.”

Bringing Good Game’s much-loved approach of food with integrity to the menu, diners can expect a combination of bold flavours, with gutsy mains alongside creative side dishes. Dishes include macaroni cheese, charcuterie platters, venison burgers and handmade pies.

Pete Woodham-Kay adds: “Renowned for being a wildlife haven, a fishing destination and for its lively sailing club, the village of Lympstone is set in the most breathtaking location, just a 20-minute train ride from Exeter down the dramatic Avocet Line. We’re very much looking forward to joining the community and championing the best of the River Exe.” globelympstone.co.uk

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On the hunger trail A new Exeter Food and Drink Trail, created by Visit Exeter, embraces businesses that celebrate local produce, both in the dishes that they create, and the artisan produce that they harvest, craft or sell. Quicke’s Farm Shop, Exeter Brewery, Pebblebed Wines, Darts Farm, Hotel du Vin, Exeter Gin, and the Exeter Cookery School are all excited to be part of the trail. Trail ambassador Mitch Tonks comments: “Devon is a serious food destination, there’s no doubt about that, and to have a trail like this in one of the county’s biggest and most influential cities is so great. This trail showcases what we in Devon already know – Exeter’s absolute best, the hidden gems, the independent and artisan producers and growers.”

This self-guided trail, based around a beautiful map created by illustrator Aylwyn Bowen, gives followers the opportunity to sample fabulous produce and exceptional dining experiences that celebrate this area’s rich larder of food and drink as well as tours and classes. exeterfoodanddrinktrail.co.uk

Lucy and Jim Fisher (Exeter Cookery School) with Karen Skerratt (Exeter Gin)

Eat Your Words

PHOTO: JONATHAN BIRCH

Freddy Bird

Naomi Devlin

Is goat meat the new kid on the block? Ever dared to bake gluten-free cricket flour brownies? Are you craving to find out how to make your own foodie venture a stonking success?

The new Eat Your Words yurt welcomes a host of inspiring experts, food writers and change-making chefs to Dartmouth Food Festival who will open your mind to new ideas, fresh challenges and bust some myths along the way.

This feast for the mind begins at 10am on Saturday 20 October with a lively discussion between Mitch Tonks and Bristol Lido’s Freddy Bird (Channel 4’s Hidden Restaurants) about how much customers shape and influence restaurants, chaired by ITV Westcountry’s Kate Haskell. Next up, it’s Clash of the Carnivores – goat meat advocate James Whetlor, recent veggie and eco-chef Tom Hunt, and Peter Greig from Pipers Farm wonder how we can all become better meat eaters or if vegan is healthier altogether.

Food writer Christine McFadden (author of Flour) and cookery teacher, fermenter and nutritionist Naomi Devlin (author of River Cottage Gluten Free) praise the pros of ‘free from’, challenge your preconceptions and prove that avoiding gluten needn’t be a chore when you can make cricket brownies or experiment with coffee flour. And an all-female panel of food entrepreneurs share their recipes for success - chef Romy Gill MBE (Romy’s Kitchen), cookery writer and founder of Field & Fork School, Charlotte Pike, and Julie Waddell (Love Moorish) talk to Kerry White (BBC Radio Devon’s foodie hour host) about the trials and tribulations of working in an everchanging food industry.

20-21 October. Royal Avenue Gardens, Dartmouth. Free. For full programme details, visit dartmouthfoodfestival.com

The Bar

PHOTO: PETE ROBINSON

Salcombe Dairy have launched a new single-origin chocolate, handmade on site. Named The Bar, after Salcombe’s famous sand bar at the mouth of the estuary, the flavours include dark chocolate with ginger, and white chocolate with honeycomb, reflecting their popular ice cream flavours. The chocolate is made using roasted cacao nibs from Peru and customers can watch the process of grinding, conching and tempering through the factory windows. “In the 1800s, ships used to import cocoa into Salcombe, so this new direction for us is also a nod to Salcombe’s heritage,” says Dan Bly, Managing Director of Salcombe Dairy. salcombedairy.co.uk

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Voyage with Michael Caines Salcombe Gin have launched the first in its limited edition Voyager Series of gins, each developed with a world-renowned chef or iconic winemaker to reflect their individual personality and style. Lympstone Manor’s Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines MBE has created ‘Arabella’, a gin named after one of Salcombe’s famous citrus fruit schooners: “I chose to work with Salcombe Gin because, out of all the gins on the UK market, I believe that Salcombe Gin produces gins of exceptional quality. They share an understanding of how to layer complex flavours and aromas, and share my focus on utilising the finest local and regional produce,” says Michael.

With a strong backbone of traditional juniper, English coriander seed, fresh citrus peels and warming spices, further layers of complex flavour have been added through the use of almonds and green cardamom with fresh notes of lemon thyme and hibiscus on the nose and a lingering dry finish. Michael recommends serving it over ice with a premium tonic water and garnished with

a sprig of lemon thyme and a slice of green apple.

Salcombe Gin Voyager Series ‘Arabella’: a collaboration with Michael Caines MBE, is priced at £65. Available at salcombegin.com

Top start-up Pretty Local – an online marketplace for food and drink producers in the South Hams – has been announced as the winner of this year’s Devon Business StartUp Award. The annual competition, organised by Dartmouth Food Festival, is open to new food-related businesses in the county that use local ingredients, products and suppliers. The prize package includes marketing support, business guidance and promotional opportunities. Andrea Wilson, owner and founder of, Pretty Local, launched her business in February 2017 as a new and convenient way for shoppers to support local food and drink producers.

“The South Hams offers a fantastic array of high quality food and drink products, but they can be complicated to get hold of on a weekly shopping trip, and buying local produce can soon become an arduous task,” said Andrea. “Pretty Local offers a solution by bringing local producers together under one virtual roof, creating an online marketplace that is quick and easy to use, and I’m thrilled to have won.”

Sheila Shribman, Chairman of Dartmouth Food Festival, said: “Congratulations to Pretty Local! Our judges were won over by owner Andrea Wilson’s enthusiasm for

helping people to engage with where their food comes from and her firm commitment to sustainability. We are delighted to offer Pretty Local a free three-day exhibitor pitch at the Dartmouth Food Festival in October as part of the prize and look forward to seeing the business go from strength to strength.”

The prize package also includes a marketing healthcheck with the marketingshed, advice from a business start-up and financial expert, a tailored marketing and PR campaign run via the Dartmouth Food Festival social media and other channels, a half-day photo shoot with Original Image Photography and a double-page spread in Taste Buds magazine.

Visit Pretty Local’s stand at Dartmouth Food Festival from 1921 October. prettylocal.co.uk

Correction PHOTO: STEVE HAYWARD

Last issue, we stated that our Food Pioneer Malcolm Church rears his own pigs until they reach a weight of 8kg. Oops! We meant 80kg. thebearandblacksmith.com

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Save the date TASTE OF SCILLY

ABBFEST

The vibrant food scene across five inhabited islands comes alive with workshops, masterclasses, special menus and foodie experiences.

Music, food and drink plus chef demos from Dez Turland (Saunton Sands Hotel), Sue Stoneman (South West Home Cook of the Year 2017) and Darrin Hosegrove (Ashburton Cookery School).

Throughout September. visit islesofscilly.com/tasteofscilly

21-23 September. Isaac’s Field, Newton Abbot, TQ12 5TN. abbfest.org

BUDELICIOUS This new festival includes a restaurant trail, masterclasses, artisan food hall and street food galore.

22-23 September. Falcon Hotel, Bude. budelicious.org

GREAT FOOD AND DRINK SHOW PHOTO: MATT CARDY/GETTY IMAGES

Headline acts on the chef demo stage include Tom Kerridge on the Saturday, plus a live Celebrity Ready Steady Cook event.

22-23 September. Westpoint, Exeter. £10 (£12 on the door). thegreatfoodanddrinkshow.co.uk

TASTE OF THE TEIGN NEWQUAY FISH FESTIVAL

Foodie delights in Teignmouth, Shaldon and across the valley, celebrating the provenance of the River Teign.

Showcasing stunning seafood in this 300-year-old working harbour.

22-30 September. For the full programme of events, visit tasteoftheteign.org.uk

7-9 September. newquayfishfestival.co.uk

END OF SUMMER MENU The final al fresco dining event of the season with delicious food cooked by Serin Aubrey.

9 September. 12.30pm. £36. Nkuku Lifestyle Store, near Totnes, TQ9 7PS. nkuku.com/events

EAT, DRINK, DEVON – A HARVEST CELEBRATION Enjoy a farm tour and talks from the producers including Quicke’s Cheese, Pipers Farm and River Cottage, followed by a three-course feast with Devon’s finest artisan food and drink, cooked by River Cottage chef Connor Reed.

6 October. 7-10pm. Sandford Orchards’ Cider Works, EX17 1HJ. £40. sandfordorchards.co.uk

CULLOMPTON FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL An autumn country fayre with artisan food stalls and chef demos, plus the hunt to find the best cream tea in the Culm Valley.

13 October. From 10am. Across Cullompton.

Follow @CullyFoodFest on Facebook.

DARTMOUTH FOOD FESTIVAL

LITTLE ORCHARD CIDER AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

With more than 100 of the finest food and drink exhibitors from across the South West and an exciting line-up of guest chefs including Mark Hix, Matt Tebbutt, Jane Baxter and Mitch Tonks.

19-21 October. Royal Avenue Gardens, Market Square and Embankment, Dartmouth. Free. dartmouthfoodfestival.com

From the Wurzels to the Fratellis, plus a silent disco, with plenty of ciders to taste from around the UK and secret cider walks, too.

NORTH DEVON FOODFEST

14-16 September. Healeys Cyder Farm, Penhallow. Day tickets from £30. cornwallciderfestival.co.uk

21 October. Barnstaple Pannier Market. barnstaple.co.uk/north-devon-foodfest

North Devon’s biggest celebration of food and drink is back.

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Signature Dish The Scarlet Hotel’s pan-fried brill with saffron and shellfish sauce, mussels and crushed potatoes Head chef Mike Francis has worked at the Scarlet Hotel, near Mawgan Porth, North Cornwall, since 2010: “Nothing beats the Scarlet for scenery and fresh produce,” he says. “You’ve got every kind of fresh produce you could possibly want on your doorstep and it’s all local. It’s also great to be able to take 10 minutes to walk on the beach during your working day. Not many chefs get to do that.”

Mike first got hooked on cooking as a child, helping his Mum and Nan out in the kitchen, and from them he’s inherited a preference for letting the produce speak for itself, rather than get caught up in fancy foams and elaborate gelling techniques. His menus champion fresh, local produce which he cooks simply, allowing the ingredients to really speak for themselves. Mike loves to cook seafood both at work and at home and believes the abundance of it in Cornwall makes it particularly

appealing. Much of the fish he cooks is supplied by Fish for Thought, based in nearby Bodmin, but who also deliver nationally. Brill is often on the menu, but when it’s not so readily available or out of season, he recommends cod, hake or pollock as excellent alternatives for this dish.

This autumn, the Scarlet Hotel teams up with Appleton’s at the Vineyard near Padstow to create a two-night Cornish wine adventure.

This bespoke break includes a glass of Camel Valley sparkling on arrival, a two-night stay with sea views, a five-course tasting menu created by Mike Francis, with wine flight, a three-course meal at Appleton’s at the Vineyard, again with paired wines featuring a selection from Trevibban Mill and other favourite producers, plus return taxis. So treat yourself! scarlethotel.co.uk

Serves 4 INGREDIENTS

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1 side of brill – 4 equal portions 500g mussels and clams – washed and de-bearded 1 bottle white wine 3 sprigs of tarragon 2 shallots – peeled and diced 2 lemons 1 pinch of saffron 500ml double cream 10 new potatoes – cooked 1 bunch of chives – finely sliced 10g butter 2 tomatoes – peeled, deseeded and diced 1 bag baby spinach – washed and dried 8 spring onions

METHOD

To make the sauce, place a thick-based pan onto the heat with a very little vegetable oil. When very hot, add the mussels, clams, one shallot, one lemon cut into quarters and the tarragon. Stir for 30 seconds. Pour in half the bottle of white wine and cover with a lid and leave for three minutes or until all the mussels and clams have opened. Strain through a sieve, keeping the cooking liquid. Place the shellfish into a blast chiller/fridge to cool. In a thick-based pan, pour in the rest of the wine and saffron and reduce by half, add the shellfish stock and reduce by half again and then add the cream. Bring to a simmer to allow to slightly thicken. Take the mussels and clams out of the shells and leave to one side until needed.

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and place into the pan skin side down first. Once golden brown, gently turn over, add a small knob of butter and a squeeze of lemon juice and baste the fish with the butter and lemon. Leave on the side on a plate to rest.

Crush the potatoes and add to a pan, add the remaining butter, half the chopped chives and remaining shallots and give a good mix until hot. Wilt the spinach down and drain. Gently pan fry the spring onions.

To finish the sauce, add the mussels, clams, tomato dice and remaining chives and let simmer for one minute to make sure the shellfish is hot.

To plate: place the potatoes into the bottom of a bowl/plate in a cutter and stand them tall, pour the sauce around, ball up the spinach into three piles per plate and place in the sauce, and put the brill on top of the potatoes with the spring onions on top of the brill.

food

The Table Prowler Gidleigh Park, Chagford, Devon Gidleigh Park, the restaurant, has been through a lot of change in recent years. After 21 years of thriving stability under the two Michelin-starred chef Michael Caines, his departure two years ago to launch his own luxury hotel brought in Michael Wignall, (also two Michelin stars) whose style saw a shift away from Caines’ French/ European finesse. Added to this was a new world exoticism that wowed the critics although to some, certainly to this prowler, it seemed a little small on portion size. Wignall left abruptly at the start of the year and was replaced by the lesser known chef, Chris Simpson, who’d spent the previous seven years working as head chef at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw. Simpson, relatively unknown and not a publicity seeker, quietly came in, donned his apron and got on with the job. Some seven months in, we decided, as we have perennially for years, to lunch at Gidleigh Park for a special treat. The hotel, after all, is a refined, tranquil haven set in the depths of Dartmoor, known for its culinary excellence, and we were yet to sample the wares of this third head chef in as many years. We were greeted warmly by the long-standing consummate professional, restaurant manager and sommelier, Alex Barrau. He seated us on the terrace overlooking the babbling brook and served up champagne along with amuse-bouches of tuna tartare and fish mousse along with a crab bisque that all raised the eyebrows on tasting, they were so good. Our appetites whetted, we were shown to the dining room, where we chose from the a la carte (there was no set lunch menu).

Reassuringly for the more traditional amongst us, the menu was free of unrecognisable ingredients from far flung corners of the world and we ordered a range of starters that included sweetbread (with bacon, pickled mushrooms and sourdough crumb), crab (Salcombe, with asparagus in a tart, with Exmoor caviar and hollandaise) and Pork belly (with soused carrots and pear). The menu may have

been devoid of pretention, but when the food arrived it blew us away. Not only did each plate look as good as anything we’d had in 10 years of dining at Gidleigh Park, they tasted phenomenal: the braised sweetbread arrived firm and nutty, in a sauce laden with a generous variety of dark and white wild mushrooms; the tart comprised large chunks of crab encased in melt-in-the-mouth pastry coated in creamy hollandaise and crowned with fresh green spears of asparagus topped with a teaspoon of black caviar; and the belly pork was a succulent meaty cube, topped with crackling alongside a picture of sliced carrot, watercress and pear puree, that looked as beautiful as apparently it tasted. What followed was the lamb and the cod. Again, neither could be faulted. The lamb was tender and rich in flavour without being overpowering. The cod was a thick fillet of fresh flakey fish on a bed of green vegetables and braised leek. It was all deliciously wholesome and, with an absence of potatoes, left us pleasingly sated but not stuffed.

When a chef does an appetiser, starter and main course so well, you’d assume dessert would let him down. Not so.

The desserts of chocolate tart, with yoghurt sorbet, banana espresso with chocolate and walnuts, and the strawberry panna cotta were in every case a divine way to end what was a faultless meal. A perfect 10. We will soon see if Chris Simpson is as highly rated by Michelin as his Gidleigh predecessors, but he deserves to be. The only dampener was the cost. The three-course lunch for four with a glass of champagne and wine by the glass came to around £360, which will prevent many who really should from delighting in Simpson’s culinary expertise.

Food 10 | Service 9 | Ambience 8 | Location 9 | Value 8 gidleigh.co.uk

St Kew Inn, St Kew, Cornwall The St Kew Inn is an ancient pub nestled in the pristine valley hamlet of St Kew. Giant slabs of slate flagstone line the floor, weathered by centuries of thirsty punters and there’s an enormous inglenook filling the facing wall as you enter a bar. It’s busy with friendly locals mixed with visitors, all here for the food in a pub known for its gastronomic standards. It is big with around 60 covers split over three rooms and was fully booked, but the inn didn’t disappoint. Although booked up, the guy suggested on the phone that we come for a drink and they’d try to fit us in on the couple of tables kept as first come, first served. They were as good as their word and we weren’t kept waiting at all for what was a very good gastro meal: half lobster in garlic butter with a generous sprinkling of samphire and

frites for me; beef short rib with homemade slaw for him, both of which we loved. The lobster was not spartan but kept me amused for a good hour cracking and probing it for more meat. The rib, cooked slowly over night, fell off the bone whilst retaining a crisp edge and was, I quote, some of the best beef he’d ever had. It was the formula we’d been looking for – great food, served up by friendly staff in a warm, welcoming, atmospheric environment.

This is a pub that keeps them coming in droves all year round. It’s easy to see why.

Food 9 | Service 8 | Ambience 9 | Location 8 | Value 9 stkewinn.co.uk

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Space Darren Hawkes | Q&A with Jo&Co | Shopping for space

Slate sculpture feature in garden designed by Darren Hawkes, RHS Chelsea, 2015 See page 108 darrenhawkeslandscapes.co.uk

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Pond, RHS Chelsea, 2017

When it comes to landscape design, Darren Hawkes is one class act, striking gold from Chelsea to Cornwall. Words by Fiona McGowan.

I

am trying to describe a game that my children play in a local sculpture garden. A platform made up of thousands of slices of slate abuts a large pond encircled by reeds and beech trees. The light catches the slate edges to reveal a chequerboard of light and dark squares. The game involves running around, stopping, then adding or subtracting scores according to the colour of the square you have landed on. It is further complicated by the fact that the participants do not know whether they have landed on ‘light’ or ‘dark’ – only the umpire can call it. For some reason, they can spend hours doing this.

I am waffling away about this to the man who designed the said platform, wondering how he will react to this somewhat bizarre interpretation of his RHS Chelsea Gold Medal-winning sculpture which now resides in Tremenheere Sculpture Garden near Penzance.

Darren Hawkes beams (which is a bit of a relief ). “That’s everything that garden design should be,” he enthuses.

“I’ve designed something, and it’s used for a purpose which I hadn’t thought of, but in a subliminal way.

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What’s happening is your children are interacting with the designed space, and with the most amazing planting around it, and the natural world…”

Darren’s name is on the rostrum of some of the UK’s top garden designers – as his two Golds and a SilverGilt from Chelsea Flower Show attest. He has been designing gardens for nearly two decades, although he really fell into it by accident. His early passion for acting led him to study at the Drama Centre London – famed for method acting and an intense psychological teaching style. After graduating, he supplemented his acting jobs with a bit of labouring work for a landscape gardener. “I was totally into theatre,” he reminisces, “it was my life.”

But he needed regular paid work. His first job was hardly inspiring: “I spent six weeks digging a hole because they couldn’t get a digger in to build a basement.”

Over time, the anxiety of finding acting work was counteracted by the labouring work. “Gardening built my self-esteem. It was healthy,” says Darren. “In the acting world, I had friends who were drinking too much, taking drugs, leading a nocturnal life. But I had to travel

space

With more creative garden design, there’s this lovely opportunity to think of a material that may express your thoughts better than a plant, and you weigh up whether that’s appropriate. for maybe an hour and a half to get to a job for 8am and work really hard all day. I LOVED it. It was really, really rewarding.” He was lucky enough to work with some exceptional garden designers and effectively got himself an apprenticeship in landscaping. He lists some of the greatest influences of that time: Charles Chesshire, Robin Williams (not that one), Pamela Bulmore.

It is interesting to meet someone whose passion was so ignited by a sideline – so often, successful people can trace their path directly back to some youthful desire. And while Darren says there was nothing in his childhood experience of gardens to hint at his current passion, he does have some subtle drivers from the landscape where he grew up. “Somerset has these big flat open spaces, you’ll often find the solitary or small groups of Lombardy poplars. The way those strong verticals exist on a big landscape – they’re so bold... If you fuzzed your eyes, you could be looking at a Franz Kline or a Clyfford Still painting.” He also spent a lot of time playing in unkempt fields right next to the M5, which might well have given him a feel for a more natural style of planting. Or it may not. He certainly suspects that at the starting point of design – “when you sit down with a blank piece of paper and think about how you’re going to divide a space” – he defaults to an abstract idea of “those big marks and then lots of space” in an echo of the stands of poplars on the wide Somerset landscapes.

Without formal training, Darren spent his labouring years absorbing knowledge of garden design as if a cactus in a drought. He now prides himself on being a professional garden designer who is still capable of building pretty much anything a client throws at him (although he doesn’t need to these days). But it was the Chelsea Flower Show that altered his direction. Having upped sticks from London, he and his family had settled in Fowey – where he literally went back to his gardening roots: sticking flyers in people’s doors, offering gardening work. It wasn’t long, however, before local clients realised that his skills extended way beyond a bit of hedge-trimming and lawnmowing. Cornwall being what it was, business began to thrive thanks to word-ofmouth recommendations. But in 2013, with Coutts private bank as a sponsor, Darren experienced another side to garden design.

“Winning my first award at Chelsea made no difference to my business in that I didn’t get loads of lovely

Darren at Chelsea

Family garden, Penzance

enquiries afterwards, but it changed how I felt about the work. I began to ask: ‘How can I take a space and use it as a canvas to create something that is an artistic expression for myself?’ So it became a lot more rewarding, and hopefully more exciting for a client. It also makes business sense that you start differentiating yourself from other designers.” Although he admits that it was terrifying, and he made mistakes on that first show garden, many of the elements that he incorporated became something of a trademark. The chequered slate platform that featured in his Gold Medal-winning garden for Brewin Dolphin two years later had a precursor in the stone and brick sculptural forms in his original one. He says that he thinks that there’s a frustrated sculptor in him: “I see everything as a sculptural element. With more creative garden design, there’s this lovely opportunity to think of a material that may express your thoughts better than a plant, and you weigh up whether that’s appropriate.” He is keen to keep using manufactured materials like concrete or metal: “It’s that interplay between soft and fragile plants and something that is hard and manufactured. That’s what excites me.”

Perhaps because of his background in acting, Darren has a strong sense of empathy, eking out an understanding of a client before putting pen to paper.

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space

RHS Chelsea, 2017

are an extrovert (who might like an elevated terrace), or an introvert (who might prefer a secluded garden with tall, cascading plants and deep borders), looks at their interior design and even their taste in music to get a handle on the initial style. In fact, he says, it is probably his favourite thing about his work – meeting and understanding his clients. The technical design process itself doesn’t get his juices flowing in the same way. It’s for this reason that he likes to be hands-on with his projects from start to finish – not just to ensure that the designs stay on track, but to maintain the relationship with the client. He now has two businesses – a garden build service called Wheelbarrow for clients in Devon and Cornwall, and the high-level design business providing garden designs for clients all over the country.

That empathy also gives Darren a strong social conscience. Perhaps his most impactful work to date has been the designs he created for Maggie’s – a pioneering cancer care charity that fuses architecture and landscape design to create tranquil environments for those coping with cancer. His 2017 entry for RHS Chelsea was sponsored by Linklaters and focused on creating an outdoor environment that is subtly soothing to people who may be struggling with any number of issues connected with a cancer diagnosis. It was about providing space where people can be solitary and feel protected or can gather privately in family groups. Darren worked on designing “a landscape that is uplifting, supporting, calming, that provides a space where you may be able to sit on a bench and take five minutes to breathe and think…” With famed architects from Richard Rogers and Norman Foster to Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry and Thomas Heatherwick chosen to design Maggie’s Centres around the world, Darren Hawkes was in revered company, and determined to live up to their standards.

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garden for the Maggie’s Centre in Scotland and one at Barts Hospital in London. It clearly means a lot to him.

“Our working life is so selfish and driven by aesthetic and money – particularly in the work I do – that to be able to do something that is really helping is such a gift.”

Could this be a turning point in his career? The passion is certainly there to transform our public spaces: “In our capital cities and large towns, there is an understanding that we need to create more green corridors,” he says with passion. “We need more trees planted in our cities and towns, for wellbeing: people need more community-based spaces that can be adaptable and aren’t prescriptive.”

However, not one to get ahead of himself, Darren explains that public spaces tend to be created by landscape architects, rather than garden designers – a distinction which he says is largely to do with an understanding of regulations and experience in the ‘desire lines’ of the way that people move through a public space versus a private garden. While the experience of working with Maggie’s was clearly transformative and he sees the need for improving communal spaces, Darren also thinks that private space has never been more vital: “I suspect that in a world that is so busy, in real terms of us running around and driving fast and working long hours, but also in terms of input from media and our phones and technology, the need to escape to a space which is yours – however small – which is private and calming is probably greater than it has been for a very long time.”

This is clearly the stage for which Darren Hawkes was destined, his acting skills re-directed into producing an open-air theatre that relies on nature for its drama. darrenhawkeslandscapes.co.uk maggiescentres.org

promotional feature

Q&A Jo Eldridge reflects on her first three years in business, and shares her knowledge of how her store has become the go-to shopping destination in Cornwall.

When did you open Jo&Co and what kind of store is it?

I opened the store in December 2014. I always had the plan to open a lifestyle store, selling a wide range of goods but to start with, I played it safe by selling just a few interior pieces. Once I knew our market, we began to expand our collections. Now we sell a great mix of things I love, whether it is homeware, beauty, womenswear or gifts. In May 2018, I opened a brand new Furniture Showroom, and we now sell a beautiful range of upholstered furniture.

What is the store known for?

I have some really lovely customers who return to us again and again for a particular brand, such as American Vintage or Neom, but in general people come to the store for a good browse, to get some inspiration whether it be fashion or for the home.

What have you learnt in the past three years?

A huge amount. With the experience behind me, I have become much more aware of what our clients are looking for. I have adapted our store in response to this and I feel we supply a much wider selection of products now that we know customers love.

What makes you unique?

Jo&Co really is different from anything else out there.

The store is always evolving and changing. I think that is why people love to come back here again and again.

New clothing collections arrive weekly, so there is always something new to see. Also our location is unusual – we are located at Hawksfield on the A39 between Padstow and Wadebridge and alongside cafés, galleries and other stores with a similar contemporary ethos as ours. As a result we attract a regular Cornwall clientele as well as passing traffic from visitors and holiday makers, curious to discover us.

And what’s next for Jo&Co?

I feel we have achieved so much with the store over the last few years. One day, we may expand and open a new store but for now, we are concentrating our efforts on our family and building our new home. We start in December 2018, so it is an exciting new project for us.

Hawksfield, A39, Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 7LR. Tel: 01208 895058 joandcohome.com @joandcohome

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Rattan fever Usually associated with outdoor, garden furniture, rattan has been finding its way inside.

A style that is natural, earthy, organic and complemented by pops of greenery and foliage, and as the nights draw in, softer textures in throws and rugs. Compiled by Amy Tidy.

House Doctor large planter, Amara, £85 Lamp, Tinekhome, £187.50 Cushion, Next, £14

Throw, Marks and Spencer, £39.50

Vase, Tinekhome, £77

Rug, Jo & Co Home, £260

John Lewis

Wooden Platter, The Grey Lurcher, £21.95

House Doctor baskets (set of 2), Amara, £175

Double seat, Tinekhome, £714

Bloomingville Log Store, Amara, £69 Throw, The National Trust, £90

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space

Cushion, Marks and Spencer, £15

Cushion, John Lewis, £30

Next

Lantern, Debenhams, £28

Side table, Amara, £119

Bloomingville Footrest, Amara

Basket, Home Sense, £24.99

Planter, Cox & Cox, £75

Large fern, Marks and Spencer, £59 Bloomingville Rug, Amara, £73

Bloomingville plant mister, Amara

Plant, Marks and Spencer, £29.50

Chair, The Orange Tree @ Darts Farm, £510

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“We are committed to developing beautiful historic buildings in a way that demonstrates our sensitivity to and celebration of architectural heritage. We strive to set new standards in design and finishes to create genuinely unique products that set us apart from volume providers.� www.BurringtonEstates.com 114

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Dean Clarke House, Southernhay East, Exeter EX11AP

Escape Villa Eden, Lake Garda, Italy | Merchants Manor, Falmouth, Cornwall

The pool at Villa Sphere Ovest, Villa Eden, Lake Garda See page 116

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Imogen Clements finds lots to like on Italy’s Lake Garda as she explores the luxury hideaway of Villa Eden and muses over the architectural innovation within which it stands.

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here’s an irresistible allure to water – particularly large calm expanses that are fringed by lush mountains, and whose end seems to stretch on infinitely into a deep azure horizon.

Lake Garda is the largest of Italy’s lakes – 32 miles long by 10 miles wide – and I’m standing to the west of it on the terrace of one of the seven villas at Villa Eden on the lake’s Gardone Riviera. I’m mesmerised.

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shoreline. It’s close to the town of Salò on Lake Garda’s western bank, and just under two hours from the airport of Verona. The wide stretch of water before me is bordered either side by undulating hills whose overlapping silhouettes make them seem a mirage. Its expanse is punctuated by the occasional verdant island, and tall deep green cypress trees growing on the terraces below pierce my lower frame of vision as if to crown the spectacular view before me.

This has to be the primest of prime locations and I’m reminded just what a stunning country Italy is.

View of Lake Garda from Villa Eden

The Clubhouse

‘Eden’, as a name, seems entirely pertinent – the resort’s site stretches across 78 hectares of a former olive grove and now comprises luxury villas, a clubhouse with suites, and luxury apartments. The buildings are all of the very highest standard, each of the villas being four or five bedroom architectural works of art, distributed throughout the site along with the apartments around the centrally positioned clubhouse. It’s done in such a way as to afford space, privacy and generosity of view to each. It wasn’t always planned thus.

Some ten years ago, planning permission had been granted on this very site to build around 130 holiday apartments, the construction of which foundered early on, prior to foundations being laid. Enter René Benko, the 41-year-old founder and chairman of upscale Austrian developer, The Signa Group. Signa, which Benko founded in 2000, has built a notable business, primarily in the acquisition and development of commercial and retail sites, mainly in German-speaking countries, but more recently the company has extended its portfolio to luxury hotels.

This then as yet undeveloped site on Lake Garda was brought to the attention of Benko by an acquaintance as a potential addition to their company’s portfolio. Signa secured the site but took an entirely different tack to the previous developer. Instead of planning numerous small apartments, Benko chose a ‘less is more’ approach: to create a resort comprising seven luxury villas, a clubhouse with just nine suites and to the west of the plot, four luxury apartments. The clubhouse would be the complex’s hub, with a fine dining restaurant that opened onto an open terrace. There would be a swimming pool and spa, and the clubhouse’s facilities would be available to all – villa, suite or apartment occupants.

To bring his idea to fruition, Benko then did a brave thing. Foolhardy or ingenious, depending on how you look at it, he contacted six of the most prominent architects in the world and asked them each to design a villa within the resort. The architects in question were the highly respected David Chipperfield, British and trained by Richard Rogers and Norman Foster; German architect Marc Mark; the Italian Matteo Thun; renowned American architect Richard Meier; the Italian Kurt Steurer; and the Swiss architect Enzo Enea.

Each came and designed a luxury villa to best complement the plot allotted, and in their own style.

The result is impressive, and a fascinating exercise in comparison: each building’s angles and perspectives, the varying degrees of space given over to individual rooms, and the nature with which each has celebrated its prized location.

There are obvious areas of commonality in each architect’s floorplan – the lion’s share of space is given over to the living areas, indoor and out; each boasts an infinity pool to connect water to water (pool to view), and an equal degree of wow exudes from each. Each, MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

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Villa Richard Meier

Villa Sphere Ovest

Villa David Chipperfield Ovest

Castle San Felice

Villa Richard Meier

however, is distinct in its plan, style and finishing, with Richard Meier’s one of futuristic grandeur: tall, square, extending over three floors connected by a central glass elevator, its outer walls predominantly glazed to allow views from every angle and its interior a cool white throughout. Marc Mark’s Villa Sphere Ovest is planned across, for the most part, one level, as a ‘U’ surrounding the pool, its open end extending to the terrace and garden with uninterrupted views of the lake. Its western arm 118

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accommodates all the key living areas, open plan and double aspect to ensure each room enjoys a lake view; the other arm of the ‘U’ housing the gym and spa areas.

Unsurprisingly, designed by architects of this standing, and doubtless benefiting from a healthy dose of professional rivalry (presumably part of Benko’s masterplan), each of the villas is spectacular in its own right, and each for sale, at a not insubstantial bracket of €12m-€15m (the apartments are also for sale,

escape

“…a level of accommodation that comes as close as is humanly possible to complementing one of Europe’s most breathtaking spectacles of outstanding natural beauty.

priced between €3.5m and €9m). Villas of such a high specification, in such a glorious location, created by architects recognised as among the best in the world, means that even at this price they are being snapped up; indeed, two were sold off plan. Sold or not, there is still the opportunity to rent them. These are not primary residences – buyers have the benefit of a full management arrangement, such that their lakeside home can be looked after and rented out when not being used by the owners.

Rental prices start at €4,000 per night, depending on time of year and the villa in question, and renting, of course, is the best way to trial a property you may well be interested in purchasing.

There are, as well as the villas and apartments, the suites from which to enjoy all the benefits of Villa Eden’s luxury resort hospitality (room prices start at €300 per night with breakfast). Dining at the clubhouse’s La Terrazza Segreta courtesy of head chef Peter Oberrauch is of the very best quality, and meals can be cooked for villa guests on site, should they not wish to leave their accommodation. Venture to the shoreline and there are further very good restaurants such as the Ristorante Casino; Salò (with its famous long promenade) is a short excursion and boats can be hired to cruise to any number of Garda’s jewels, including the magical Castle San Felice, or simply as a way to get onto, and into, that water that keeps beckoning you.

Indeed, it was all sublime – a veritable paradise enjoyed from Villa Eden, itself an opportune project whose other-worldly location attracted some of the finest architects from across the globe. Each tasked with creating a level of accommodation that comes as close as is humanly possible to complementing one of Europe’s most breathtaking spectacles of outstanding natural beauty, that of Lake Garda. villa-eden-gardone.com

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The Master Bedroom in Lookout

The new self-catering residences at Merchants Manor in Falmouth provide the perfect luxury getaway with the added benefits of a four-star hotel experience.

Belinda Dillon takes relaxation to the next level.

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on’t get me wrong, I love Falmouth: the harbour, the foodie culture, the buzz that comes from being home to two topflight universities… It’s an alluring place, no doubt about it. But if you’re staying at Merchants Manor, and especially if you’re in one of their ‘Bert’s Boxes’ – Lookout and Landlubber – then you are unlikely to venture even the 10-minute walk down the hill into town, however myriad its charms. You are staying put, because everything you need – everything you could imagine you might need – is right here.

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May, they are essentially pre-fabricated modular ecohomes that are billed as ‘plug and play’ – constructed in Hull (the pre-fab capital of Europe, FYI), they are transported ready-made and arrive good to go (assuming the requisite foundations and utilities are in place). In December 2017, Lookout and Landlubber made their cross-country journey to Merchants Manor on the back of lorries, demanding the closure of 34 roads in the process, and were craned into the space formerly occupied by the hotel’s large function room. With two sizeable bedrooms and shower rooms, an openplan kitchen-dining-lounging room that’s ideal for entertaining, and full-height Crittall windows and doors

escape

View from the hot tub down to the harbour

Open-plan living space in Lookout

that flood the space with light, they are ingenious and homely. The solution to the housing crisis? Very possibly.

Perfectly self-contained luxury getaway? Absolutely.

For Sioned and Nick Rudlin, owners of Merchants Manor, Bert’s Boxes were the perfect solution to offering guests the comfort and luxury of the main hotel and its facilities – indoor heated pool, aromatherapy steam room, barrel sauna and high-tech gym, plus the Linen Rooms Spa and yoga/fitness suite – but with the added privacy and independence of a self-catering residence.

But it’s not just about offering a home from home: “It’s about being somewhere that’s better than home,” says Sioned. “It’s about escapism.”

And if the Lookout is anything to go by, colour me escaped. The décor – by award-winning interior designer Helen Hughes, who’s also responsible for the eclectic chic of the main hotel – is subtly nautical, with pops of vivid orange in cushions, an armchair and bedside lights to keep the style contemporary. (Downstairs, Landlubber is dressed in greens and blacks to conjure a country vibe, enhanced by the private garden filled with tropical plants.) Walls are pallet-panelled, floorboards are natural, and the kitchen units are finished with bitumen-black doors that evoke a DIY aesthetic of the kind only the supremely gifted could achieve. Not in the slightest DIY, the herringbone tiling (Bert & May’s origins are in high-end reclaimed and reproduction materials) in the shower rooms is worth a stay in itself: I spent a long time under the guise of washing my hair appreciating the corner confluence of white and black geometry. Across the board, it’s all about the detail, and nowhere does fashion overshadow function; everything is in perfect harmony. The one purely functional item is the chlorine dispenser in the hot tub. Now, if it were shaped like a shark, or a jellyfish…

Oh yes, there’s a hot tub. On the full-length balcony, with views down through palm trees to Falmouth Harbour, so you can sip your fizz – a delicious drop courtesy of Trevibban Mill Vineyard, based outside Padstow, would be my recommendation – while looking out to sea. And let me tell you: hot tub in the sunshine?

Fantastic. Hot tub in the rain? Glorious. Night-time, day-time? Perfect, whatever the occasion: wedding night and/or honeymoon (the hotel is licensed, with a focus on small and exclusive), girls’ pamper weekend, group of friends for the Oyster Festival in October, family gettogether… A wet Wednesday is reason enough for me, to be honest.

With such comforts on hand, the temptation might be to squirrel yourselves away for the duration, but you’d be missing a trick if you didn’t head into the hotel’s restaurant, Rastella. Currently awarded two AA Rosettes, chef patron Hylton Espey and his exemplary team are gunning for a third – and I’ll suspect a conspiracy if they don’t get it. Foraging is big on the agenda, and the seasonal menu plays to the strengths of the terroir. To start, morsels of lobster in a rich, creamy MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

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escape

Rastella

Rastella

While raising the profile of the food and drink offer is clearly something that Sioned and Nick are focusing on, it’s not to the detriment of the general atmosphere of relaxation that exudes from every corner of the place.

The Master Bedroom

Kitchen area

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The bathrooms boast tiling to die for

smoked corn velouté are like little sea-bursts on the tongue; a duck confit is dressed in a nutty crumble that’s the perfect amount of crunchy sweetness against the rich meat. A main of Looe veal, from Bocaddon Farm, is a pale delight, succulent and glistening; the lamb and crab combo that seems a paradox on paper becomes a love match on both plate and palate, fused by a splendid black onion and garlic aioli (Hylton is all about invention, experimentation and tweaking to perfection). To end, three homemade chutneys are paired with local cheeses, bringing out their individual subtleties, and a decadent chocolate torte zings with summer berries. Restaurant manager Sam recommends a Yealands Pinot Noir that complements our choices. It is a truly outstanding meal.

While raising the profile of the food and drink offer is clearly something that Sioned and Nick are focusing on, it’s not to the detriment of the general atmosphere of relaxation that exudes from every corner of the place, including in the manner of all the attentive and calmly efficient staff – your wellbeing is everything to them.

And never more so than in the Linen Rooms spa, the only place west of Bristol to offer luxurious Temple Spa products and treatments. Having spent a large portion of the previous day reclining on the balcony, dipping in and out of the hot tub, generally drifting about the place in a robe and slippers, I nevertheless felt in need of a full body massage, asking therapist Kelly to not spare the horses on the pressure front. Starting with a light brushing to get the circulation going, Kelly found points of tension I hadn’t realised were there, but she soon ironed them out with her skilled hands (and possibly elbows). I floated out of there, quite unable to string together a coherent sentence but with my equilibrium recalibrated and reserves of calm topped up.

And Sioned and Nick know exactly what’s required to ease their guests into just that state of relaxed contentment, having spent their careers in the business (they met while at Manchester University studying hotel management), and finally deciding that if they were going to work all the hours, they might as well do it for themselves. Since they took over the hotel in 2012 (when it was called Green Lawns), they’ve refitted and refurbed, lifting the wall-to-wall carpets to reveal gorgeous original parquet, gradually bringing it back to how it must have been when it was home to the Carnes, the merchant family who built the house in 1913. Only better, because when you’re staying here, whatever you suddenly think you might need, Sioned, Nick and their fantastic team will have already thought of it, guaranteed. And that ticks all my holiday boxes.

An overnight stay at Lookout, with breakfast, costs from £300, or from £1,900 for a week.

Merchants Manor, 1 Western Terrace, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4QJ. merchantsmanor.com

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Latitude50 prides itself in offering self-catering accommodation in some of Cornwall’s most sought after locations.

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here are few places like Polzeath. A coastal wonderland where white rollers meet soft sand; a place for simple and joyful pleasures – sand between your toes, wave riding and sundowners. Polzeath is where rugged coastline meets hidden coves and bustling restaurants meet secret rum bars.

This tantalising North Cornish village epitomises laid-back coastal chic. A typical day can start with a relaxing morning yoga session on the sand or with the equally meditative simplicity of wave riding on a wooden bellyboard. There are endless undulating coastal paths to ramble before unwinding beside the flickering flames of a beach fire bathed in the legendary Polzeath sunset.

Latitude50 offer stylish coastal accommodation in and around Polzeath, Rock, Daymer Bay and Port Isaac.

Based in the heart of North Cornwall, the team are specialists in the local area and have detailed knowledge of the self-catering properties they represent.

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An example, perched above the sands of Polzeath beach and epitomising the Latitude50 collection, is Carn Mar, a salt-kissed clifftop hideaway. With three floors of beachside luxury, you will be blown away by the sublime interiors, dreamy backdrops and proximity to the wild surf of the North Cornish coast.

Latitude50 references Cornwall’s geographic coordinates, reflecting the founders’ love for, and dedication to, this most beautiful of regions. Each property is carefully handpicked. Each is bursting with individuality but with a common thread: a beautiful coastal location close to the Latitude50 team, should you need them. Every property is of the same high quality as the service you can expect to receive.

Satisfy your wanderlust and be beside the sea in 2019 with a chic Latitude50 property as your base. Availability is now being released so get in touch to secure your Cornish home-from-home. latitude50.co.uk

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Salkantay Trek Expedition, Peru

Dedicated to protecting the environment and exposing children to a world beyond their comfort zones, STC Expeditions organises expeditions and educational journeys. Owner Adrian Ferraro has a passion to educate young people to embrace the diversity of our planet. Words by Fiona McGowan.

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ountains. Rainforests. Oceans. Ancient cultures. Some of the most fragile places on Earth are those that are the most remote, once only accessible to hardened explorers who were prepared to risk death for their aim. But where the lone explorers hacked through the undergrowth, paddled dugouts along far-flung tributaries, or sailed across vast seas, others would follow. And with air travel and ever more sophisticated modes of navigation,

our planet shrinks while our human imprint expands.

Add to that our intense consumption of resources, and the spitting out of untenable waste, and the very idea of longhaul travel often seems worryingly unsustainable.

Sure, there are hundreds of ‘ethical holidays’ on offer – but responsible tourism is a bit of a minefield, when you examine it closely. There are only a handful of certifications for tour companies and hotels to prove that they have good sustainability levels. One MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

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such organisation is Travelife – which certifies travel companies for their low impact on the environment, as well as their positive involvement in local culture.

This year, a small Exeter-based tour operator became the only British company to achieve accreditation from Travelife – one of only 87 worldwide. With a mere seven members of staff, STC Expedition is dedicated to providing expeditions and adventure travel for schoolchildren.

This tour operator has been providing ethical school trips since 2006. The brainchild of Adrian Ferraro, he originally saw it as a pure business opportunity.

“Thirteen years ago,” he says, “I was working for a small adventure travel company. I walked past a school and thought, ‘I wonder if there’s a market out there for school travel.’” He discovered that there were very few tour operators exclusively running trips for schoolchildren.

And not just your average Geography field trip to Swanage or the Lake District. Andrew decided to go big, and go far. He also decided that responsible travel is a vital part of the education. With a small team of adventure travel specialists, he began to put together packages that would take youngsters on trips that would not only educate them about the geography, biology or religion of a place, but leave an indelible mark on them as citizens of the world.

What started out as a pragmatic business idea quickly became a deep passion to educate the next generation.

“It has become a passion on two fronts,” explains Adrian. “One is the educational side of things – just the huge benefit of seeing the world and that cross-cultural understanding of people. The other is that we have a fantastic opportunity to educate the next generation in how to travel well and use travel as a positive economic benefit to the host destination, and teaching people about that while doing it.” Tourism has always been a two-way street, of course, with the tourists benefiting from their experience away from their home comforts, and locals benefiting from the financial input. But we also know that tourism is often poorly managed, with the temptation to make a lot of money in counterpoint to what the social and geographical environment can handle.

Iceland, says Adrian, is a case in point. Eight years ago, 488,000 tourists visited the country – more than the doubling the population of Iceland, which is usually about 300,000. “Last year, though, they were expecting 2.5 million tourists.” While he does not downplay the benefits of tourism on the local economy, “When you’re faced with that level of onslaught of over-tourism, it has massive problems – the infrastructure can’t cope.”

What tends to happen in places like Iceland, Vietnam or Peru is that the tourism is very ‘honeypotted’ – meaning that certain areas are overwhelmed with tourists, accommodation is hard to get hold of, and immediate infrastructure fails, while the rest of the country remains unaffected, and by and large doesn’t benefit financially.

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Tel Aviv, Israel

Jordan

Adrian Ferraro

Julius John White, Tanazanian leader

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One of our girls’ school adventures in Kenya’s Rift Valley involves meeting some very traditional Masai communities there, sitting down with women as a community to get a perspective on their way of life. And then they’ll go out tracking radio-collared lions on the back of a 4x4 in the bush.”

Dog-sledding, wilderness activity week, Finland

On the Inca Trail

Queen Elizabeth’s School Crediton, Summit of Mt Siguniang, 5025m, Eastern Tibet, China

STC has decided to pull out of Iceland, offering school trips to the Azores, whose similar geography offers more benefit to the students with none of the overcrowding.

Like the explorers of old, however, there is always a risk that a groundbreaking tour operator will open the floodgates for dozens more, less ethical companies. But Adrian hopes that his focus on engagement with local business will help to prevent destinations becoming spoiled. “If we can try to help local businesses and communities in those destinations to understand how they can develop in a long-term sustainable way, and that they can limit numbers and they can turn people away…

That’s really going to have big effects. Because then, it’s not the tourists who are in charge of the developments, it’s the local people and the local culture. Suddenly the balance of power shifts. And then you start making the whole tourism industry sustainable.”

With that sense of responsibility, the STC only uses locally run hotels, local guides and local travel companies. While the team do not accompany the children on their trips, they spend time visiting the destinations and going through a thorough list of requirements and risk assessments to make sure that their on-the-ground leaders are trustworthy and dedicated to protecting their own environment. Training is a big deal. Adrian’s company now offers destinations in 20 countries – from the high Himalaya to the rainforests of South America, and each one of these has been carefully researched, with one of the small team going out to meet the local guides and put operations plans in place. Once a client has chosen a trip, a member of the STC team flies out to give specific training to the leaders, work out evacuation plans, find out the nearest medical centre and go through the granular logistics. Like any tour operator, the vast majority of the work is based around the practicalities of overseas travel. But the commitment to responsible travel adds another layer of complexity.

And then there is the job of marketing the packages.

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Dolphin watching in the Azores

to sixth-formers. There are broadly two types of trip.

The educational ones are curriculum-based – from fiveday Geography-based visits to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, to a Biology kayaking and whale-watching trip in Mexico, or Religious Studies tours to the Holy Land.

And then there are the expedition-based ones, sometimes as long as four weeks of trekking, climbing or exploring more far-flung regions. There is about a 50:50 split overall between state schools and independent schools, says Adrian, but the shorter educational trips tend to get slightly more take-up with the private schools. The children going on the longer trips are encouraged to raise funds themselves and STC will go into the school to give them training on entrepreneurism – whether it’s cake sales, fetes or cleaning cars. The children who raise most of the money themselves, he says, tend to get more out of the expedition. They feel as though they have earned it.

Young people on their adventures learn that overseas travel is a privilege, not a right – and it makes Adrian hopeful for the future. He is always looking for ways to teach the young people more about the diversity of our world: “One of our girls’ school adventures in Kenya’s Rift Valley involves meeting some very traditional Masai communities there, sitting down with women as 130

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a community to get a perspective on their way of life.

And then they’ll go out tracking radio-collared lions on the back of a 4x4 in the bush.” He wants to teach young people that our way of life is not the only way, nor is it necessarily the best: “Because actually, when you sit down with local people in Morocco in the Atlas Mountains, they’re living by and large a very basic life.

They’re cooking on a little charcoal stove, there’s a simplicity to it. They have things that we’ve lost a long time ago. That’s something we can learn from.”

In a morass of negative news, where the focus is primarily on the damage we have done, and walls – both metaphorical and real – being built between communities, Adrian’s optimism is refreshing. “If we can educate schools about responsible tourism, and we can educate young people how to live in a more environmentally light-footed way, it’s not all lost.” He pauses and adds: “Tourism as an industry has a massive potential for bringing about good and positive change, but it has to be done well and carefully considered and thought through.” thestc.co.uk

EXETER SCHOOL

Autumn Open Evening Wednesday 26 September 5.30-8pm An opportunity to meet staff, take a tour with a pupil guide and learn about: • the admissions process • scholarships and bursaries • our impressive results • extra-curricular opportunities

An in搀攀瀀攀n搀攀n琀 搀ay sc栀漀漀l f漀爀 戀漀ys an搀 gi爀ls ag攀搀 7 ⴀ ㄀㠀 01392 273679 | @ExeterSchoolUK | www.exeterschool.org.uk MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

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Schools Table 2018

It’s always difficult choosing a school, so we’ve compiled a list of some of the top independent schools in the South West across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. This easy comparison table displays what each institution has to offer, showcasing each school’s individual personality, facilities and academic successes.

Kingsley School

Exeter Cathedral School

ADDRESS:

Exeter, Devon EX2 4NS

Bideford, Devon EX39 3LY

Exeter, Devon, EX1 1HX

HEAD TEACHER:

Mr Bob Griffin

Mr Pete Last

Mr James Featherstone

CO-ED/SINGLE SEX:

Co-educational

Co-educational

Co-educational

AGES:

7-11 (Junior) 11-18 (Senior)

0-18

2½-4 (Nursery) 4-7 (Pre-Prep) 7-13 (Prep)

NUMBER OF PUPILS:

926

403

37 (Nursery) 86 (Pre-Prep) 145 (Prep)

BOARDING FACILITIES:

No boarding.

Kingsley School runs boarding for boys and girls from Year 5, in houses on the school campus. Boarding at Kingsley School is home to a wide range of nationalities from Europe and the Far East, as well as a number of more local students who board on a weekly basis.

Exeter’s only boarding school for pupils aged 7-13.

KEY STRENGTHS:

A solid educational platform with opportunities for all children to excel, be they academic, artistic, cultural or sporting. Our pastoral care enables pupils to flourish through school and into adulthood. We offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities and excellent facilities.

Kingsley offers a range of opportunities socially, artistically and in sport, including traditional English sports: rugby, hockey and netball; but there is also a judo club, handball squad, a gymnastics team and a surfing team; and not forgetting our drama cast which recently performed The School Film by Patrick Marber on the National Theatre (London) stage.

Exeter Cathedral School is Exeter’s oldest school and offers a broad and balanced education. Our pupils go on to do great things, with 73% of our Year 8 cohort leaving with a senior school scholarship offer.

QUOTE / MOTTO:

“I am immensely proud of our community’s spirit and the strong sense of co-operation between pupils, parents and staff that enables our young people to achieve so much within and beyond the classroom.” bob griffin , head master

“Kingsley – a bespoke education for every pupil.”

“Balances academia and childhood brilliantly, and most importantly, it gives pupils and their parents exactly what they want and need.”

FEES:

£3,975 per term (Junior – includes school lunch) £4,410 per term (Senior)

Starting from £2,080 per term (Prep) Starting from £4,220 per term (Senior)

£2,375-£3,959 per term (Tuition) £2,470 per term (Full Boarding)

RESULTS 2018:

GCSEs: 74.5% of all grades: 9-7 (A*-A) Of the 110 pupils in Year 11, 66 achieved 8 or more 9-7 (A*-A)

GCSEs: not available at time of print.

GCSE and A Level results do not apply.

PHOTO: ANDREW BUTLER

Exeter School

A Levels: 100% pass rate 26% of all grades: A* 58% of all grades: A*-A 82% of all grades: A*-B

kingsley school

the good schools guide

A Levels: 27% of all grades: A* 45% of all grades: A*-A 85% of all grades: A*-C

CONTACT NUMBER:

01392 258712

01237 426200

01392 255298

WEBSITE:

exeterschool.org.uk

kingsleyschoolbideford.co.uk

exetercathedralschool.co.uk

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Schools Table 2018 NAME:

Shebbear College

St Peter’s Preparatory

Truro High School for Girls

ADDRESS:

Beaworthy, Devon EX21 5HJ

Exmouth, Devon EX8 5AU

Truro, Cornwall TR1 2HU

HEAD TEACHER:

Mr Simon Weale

Mrs Charlotte Johnston

Mrs Sarah Matthews

CO-ED/SINGLE SEX:

Co-educational

Co-educational

Girls only

AGES:

3-18

3-13

4-18

NUMBER OF PUPILS:

350

250

340

BOARDING FACILITIES:

Shebbear College has fantastic boarding facilities including Ruddle House (girls), Pollard House (boys) and Pyke House (senior boys).

St Peter’s offers a flexi-boarding option, as well as weekly boarding, for children in Year 3 and above.

Truro High School offers two onsite boarding houses with many en-suite rooms and a warm, family feel.

KEY STRENGTHS:

All-round academic success, competitive sporting fixtures across the South West, 85-acre safe rural campus, Ten Tors D of E participation, new dedicated Music Centre, new Sixth Form Centre, excellent pastoral care.

Small class sizes where children of all abilities have the attention they need to enable exceptional achievement. Year 8 children gain 100% success rate of entry to their chosen senior schools.

Top school in Cornwall for A Levels and GCSEs (Sunday Times Schools Guide 2018) where happy girls achieve and thrive in small classes.

QUOTE / MOTTO:

“A fine education for over 178 years.”

“We feed to a huge range of senior schools and are extremely proud of our independence which means that we place children in the right school for their senior years. This may be boarding, day, national or local.” charlotte johnston , head mistress

“For young adults to thrive in roles we are yet to imagine, we must provide them with not just knowledge, but skills and habits of mind that will allow them to adapt and lead change. Encouraging intellectual curiosity and independent thought, as well as providing classrooms that develop resourcefulness, the ability to collaborate and resilience.” sarah matthews , head mistress

shebbear college

FEES:

£1,745-£4,325 per term (Day) £4,750£4,995 per term (Weekly boarding) £6,250-£8,775 per term (Full boarding)

£2,550-£4,355 per term (Day) £6,645 per term (Weekly boarding)

£2,667-£4,632 per term (Day) £8,395£9,394 per term (Boarding)

RESULTS 2018:

GCSEs: Over 90% of students achieved five passes or more at grade 9-4 (A*-C)

GCSE and A Level results do not apply.

GCSEs: 55% of all grades: 9-7 (A*-A) 17.3% of all grades: 9

A Levels: Over 60% of grades: A*-B

A Level: 100% pass rate 59% of all grades: A*-A 83% of all grades: A*-B

CONTACT NUMBER:

01409 282000

01395 272148

01872 272830

WEBSITE:

shebbearcollege.co.uk

stpetersprep.co.uk

trurohigh.co.uk

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school

Schools Table 2018 NAME:

Stover School

Truro School

West Buckland School

ADDRESS:

Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6QG

Truro, Cornwall TR1 1TH (Senior) TR1 3QN (Prep)

Barnstaple, Devon EX32 0SX

HEAD TEACHER:

Mr Richard Notman

Mr Andrew Gordon-Brown (Senior) Ms Sarah Patterson (Prep)

Mr Nick Robinson (Prep) Mr Phillip Stapleton (Senior)

CO-ED/SINGLE SEX:

Co-educational

Co-educational

Co-educational

AGES:

3-18

3-18

3-18

NUMBER OF PUPILS:

450

250 (Pre-prep/Prep) 760 (Senior)

16 (Nursery) 130 (Prep) 355 (Senior) 115 (Sixth Form)

BOARDING FACILITIES:

Boarding at Stover offers the blend of the expected care, support and enrichment, along with the flexibility that one needs from a modern boarding school. With structure and activities throughout the week and trips on the weekends, the students are kept busy and engaged.

Full time and week boarding options available from age 11.

Years 7-11, Bampfylde and Boyer single-sex boarding houses. Sixth Form – Parker’s House: 70 single, en-suite bedrooms.

KEY STRENGTHS:

Stover School provides education which nurtures, celebrates, challenges and inspires each pupil. Our holistic approach combines a progressive research-based curriculum, with a resilient moral code based on sound family and Christian principles.

We are an independent school, offering high levels of academic study combined with a broad range of co-curricular opportunities, celebrating both cultural and sporting achievement.

West Buckland is a top performing school in North Devon, close to the Atlantic and Exmoor National Park with outstanding Sixth Form boarding facilities and arts centre.

QUOTE / MOTTO:

“Stover’s pupils have proven that being a sportsperson, dramatist, artist or musician is entirely compatible with, and indeed complements, achievement of the very highest academic outcomes.

We are fortunate to have a pupil body with a staggering diversity of talents and abilities, and they consistently exceed expectations.” richard notman , head master

“Our mission is to develop confident, tolerant and enthusiastic young people who enjoy working with others and are ready to influence the world.” andrew gordon-brown , head master

“The beauty of West Buckland is that children stay younger, longer. They have time and a stunning space to grow and develop at their own pace.” dr j stapleton , maths teacher

FEES:

£2,740-£4,260 per term (Day) £6,150£7,400 (Weekly boarding) £7,070£8,730 (Full boarding)

Day fees at Prep £2,965-4,330 per term (Day), Senior £4,690 per term (Day), £8,040 (Weekly boarding), £9,355 (Full boarding) £10,205 (International boarding)

£2,690-£4,085 per term (Prep) £5,020 per term (Senior, Day) £1,080 per term (Flexi-Boarding Charges) £8,115-£10,240 per term (Senior, Full Boarding)

RESULTS 2018:

GCSEs: 89% of pupils achieving 5 or more GCSEs at A*-C (grade 9-4)

GCSEs: 57% of all grades: 9-7 (A*-A) 20% of exams grades: 9 (A*)

GCSEs: 53.1% of all grades: 9-7 (A*-A) 93.6% of all grades: 9-4 (A*-C)

A Levels: 60% of all grades A*-C 14% of all grades: A*

A Levels: Over two thirds graded A*-B Over 57% of Sixth Form into Russell Group universities.

A Levels: 46.5% of all grades: A*-A 78.6% of all grades: A*-B

CONTACT NUMBER:

01626 354505

01872 272763

01598 760281

WEBSITE:

stover.co.uk

truroschool.com

westbuckland.com

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135

Schools Table 2018 NAME:

Mount Kelly

Millfield Prep School

Millfield

ADDRESS:

Tavistock, Devon PL19 0HZ

Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 8LD

Street, Somerset BA16 0YD

HEAD TEACHER:

Mr Mark Semmence

Mrs Shirley Shayler

Mr Gavin Hogan

CO-ED/SINGLE SEX:

Co-educational

Co-educational

Co-educational

AGES:

3-18

2-7 (Pre-Prep) 7-13 (Prep)

13-18

NUMBER OF PUPILS:

600

95 (Pre-Prep) 375 (Prep)

1245

BOARDING FACILITIES:

Over half the pupils at the College are boarders and there are four houses on site and within a short walking distance of all the school facilities. Each pupil joins one of the School’s Houses, serving as a boarder’s ‘home from home’ and a day pupil’s working base.

We offer full, weekly and flexi boarding from ages 7 to 13 and currently have around 135 full time boarders. There are five boarding houses; two girls’ houses and three boys’ houses. All the houses are on campus.

There are 19 boarding houses situated on or within easy reach of the campus, with separate houses for boys and girls.

KEY STRENGTHS:

The School is well known for its strong commitment to co-curricular activities and the majority of pupils are involved with at least one of the following: The Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon or the Ten Tors Challenge.

Our rigorous academic programme is supported by a strong extra-curricular programme, and our outstanding facilities include an equestrian centre, an art and design centre, music school, recital hall, golf course, 25m indoor pool, tennis courts and a Learning Development Centre.

Facilities include an Olympic-sized swimming pool, golf course, equestrian centre, concert hall, theatre, art gallery, music centre, hi-tech science block and renowned Learning wSupport department. We are recognised as a leading innovator in the use of digital technologies in learning and in the importance of sport for wellbeing and social interaction.

QUOTE / MOTTO:

“Respect for tradition and an openness to innovation are valued and we encourage our pupils to work with, and learn from each other, whilst also showing moral courage to stand up for what they believe.” mark semmence , head master

“It would be hard to find a child who would not enjoy Millfield Prep”

“Whatever Millfield does, and it does almost everything, it does exceptionally well.”

FEES:

Year 3-13 for more details please see website: £2,990-£5,840 per term (Day) £5,430-£10,190 per term (Boarding)

£3,605-£6,235 per term (Day) £9,460 per term (Boarding)

£8,535 per term (Day) £12,870 per term (Boarding)

RESULTS:

GCSEs: 10% of all grades: 9 (A*) 25% of all grades: 9-8 (A*-A) 43% of all grades: 9-7 (A*-B)

GCSE and A Level results do not apply.

GCSEs: 27% of all grades: 9-8 (A*) 80% of all grades: 9-5 (A*-B)

good schools guide

good schools guide

A Levels: 99.2% overall pass rate A Level, Pre-U and BTEC, pupils achieved 33% A*-A grades or equivalent

A Levels: 37% of all grades: A*-A 64% of all grades: A*-B 83% of all grades: A*-C CONTACT NUMBER:

01822 813193

01458 832446

01458 442291

WEBSITE:

mountkelly.com

millfieldschool.com

millfieldschool.com

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MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

school

Schools Table 2018 NAME:

The Maynard School

King’s College

Plymouth College

ADDRESS:

Exeter, Devon EX1 1SJ

Taunton, Somerset TA1 3LA

Plymouth, Devon PL4 6RN (Senior) PL1 3JL (Prep)

HEAD TEACHER:

Miss Sarah Dunn

Mr Richard Biggs

Mr Jonathan Standen (Senior) Mr Christopher Gatherer (Prep)

CO-ED/SINGLE SEX:

Girls only

Co-educational

Co-educational

AGES:

0-18

13-18

3-18

NUMBER OF PUPILS:

35 (Pre-Prep) 70 (Junior) 200 (Senior) 105 (Sixth Form)

460

706

BOARDING FACILITIES:

The Maynard is a day school, but we offer homestay facilities for international students. Our homestay scheme is managed by Global International Student Management agencies Gabbitas Education and Gateway Education.

There are seven boarding houses; four boys and three girls. King’s does not have a separate day house. All our pupils – boarders and day – live side-by-side. Our day pupils have their own bed and desk, and can take advantage of a night’s free boarding each week.

From age 11, weekly boarding is offered. We welcome pupils from the UK and all over the world and typically have boarders from more than 40 different countries. A home from home, the boarding houses are run by an enthusiastic, experienced and friendly team of resident staff.

KEY STRENGTHS:

The Maynard School is the leading independent day school for girls aged 4-18 in the South West. As well as being a top academic school, The Maynard has built an outstanding reputation for excellence in the Arts, Music and sport whilst their pastoral care is widely regarded as second to none.

Our tutor system provides regular weekly contact and offers supportive and close academic supervision, and our varied co-curricular programme ensures pupils are stretched and challenged outside the classroom.

• All-round holistic education • Consistently top of academic league tables • Extensive sport and enrichment programme • Small class sizes • Scholarships available

QUOTE / MOTTO:

“We build upon our solid foundations as the oldest girls’ school in the country to ensure we continue to provide the best possible learning experience, with the greatest fun and the brightest outcomes for all of our students. We want our students to be inspired by everything they do, both inside and outside of the classroom, so they leave school as interested and interesting people.” miss sarah dunn , head mistress

“We take a holistic view of education, which values and supports the talents and interests of every child. We are unashamedly forward-looking but hold on to traditional values of scholarship and character. Our doors are always open to those wishing to come and visit.” richard biggs , head master

“Plymouth College provides a happy and caring environment enabling pupils to flourish both inside and outside the classroom.”

FEES:

Prices per term: £4,416 (Senior) £3,670 (Junior) £2,430 (Pre-Prep, Years 1-2) £2,095 (Pre-Prep, Reception – including lunch)

£7,460 per term (Day) £11,055 per term (Boarding)

£2,560-£5,430 per term (Day) £9,145£10,480 per term (Boarding)

RESULTS 2018:

GCSEs: 90% of grades in Physics: 9-7 (A*-A) 93% of grades in Drama: 9-7 (A*-A) 70% of grades in History: 9-7 (A*-A)

GCSEs: Almost 40% of exams taken attracted grades A*-A (9-7)

GCSEs: 87% achieved 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent

A Levels: 100% pass rate 52% of all grades: A*-A 81% of all grades: A*-B

plymouth college

A Level: Almost 60% of all grades: A*-B

A Levels: 98.4% pass rate 53% of all grades A*-B or equivalent

CONTACT NUMBER:

01392 273417

01832 328200

01752 505100

WEBSITE:

maynard.co.uk

kings-taunton.co.uk

plymouthcollege.com

MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

137

Prime Waterfront & Country House

SO U TH H AMS’ L EAD I N G ESTATE AG EN T

Price on application

Grade II listed historic house - Totnes

A superb Grade II listed Georgian villa with fabulous character features, beautifully presented in an elevated position overlooking Totnes and countryside beyond. Arranged over three floors with ample parking and pretty private gardens, only a short walk from the town centre. No EPC required.

Exeter 26 miles, Plymouth 19 miles, Newton Abbot 7 miles

hotel 5 to 8 Bedrooms bathtub 4 Bathrooms furniture 4 Reception Rooms Web Ref: PWC180024

Prime Waterfront & Country House department: 01548 855590

DARTMOUTH 01803 839190

KINGSBRIDGE 01548 857588

MODBURY 01548 831163

NEWTON FERRERS 01752 873311

Totnes office: 01803 847979

SALCOMBE 01548 844473

marchandpetit.co.uk 138

MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

TOTNES 01803 847979

PRIME WATERFRONT & COUNTRY HOUSE 01548 855590

Property Property of note: Porloe Farm, Mylor Churchtown, Cornwall The Relocator: Dartmouth, South Devon | Snapshot comparative

Porloe Farm, Cornwall. On the market with Jonathan Cunliffe for ÂŁ3,250,000 See Property of Note, page 140 jonathancunliffe.co.uk

MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

139

Porloe Farm is an exquisite small private estate above the Fal Estuary with a fascinating backstory, now looking to create a new chapter. Words by Imogen Clements.

W

e frequently talk of houses having character. Some seem steeped, quite literally, in character, as if over time they’ve calmly absorbed the story of each of the individuals who have lived between their walls. “Indeed,” agrees Christopher Perkins, owner of Porloe Farm, Mylor, near Falmouth, “if only walls could talk.”

This issue’s Property of Note more than meets the description – a beautifully arranged Georgian home of considerable note, whose welcoming wall is heavy with wisteria and whose location is nothing short of fairy tale, nestled in a lush valley just a few minutes’ walk down its private track to the Mylor Creek.

To look at, you’d think this house’s character had been one of privilege. A beauty born of wealth whose stock 140

MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

was maintained and passed down through generations of nobility. Certainly, that is how it started out.

Built by a prominent 18th-century packet ship captain named Thomas Patrickson Braithwaite, Porloe Farm was to be his residence while his ship was being built in nearby Flushing. From Flushing, Braithwaite would set sail back and forth across the Atlantic to pick up wares and cargo on behalf of the state.

“An interesting character was Braithwaite,” reveals Christopher. “Packet ship captains were permitted some limited trade of their own. He somewhat exceeded that and was wanted by customs and excise for compromising transactions in Brazil. He disappeared for six months and it’s thought he hid in the house’s cellar, until eventually he reemerged and was apprehended and hauled up to London. I think he was bailed by the ship’s owner and able to continue

property of note his transatlantic voyages, presumably careful not to fall foul of the law. It’s been suggested that there’s a secret tunnel that extends from the house to the creek. It’s not something we’ve been brave enough to investigate, but it was built in prime smuggling era, so it wouldn’t surprise us.”

Christopher’s knowledge of the property and how he talks about it belies a deep fondness for the house, which is natural. He and his wife bought it 25 years ago. It was not, at that point, the privileged, well-maintained trophy home of a wealthy mariner, but more akin to a structural ‘Cinderella’, tattered and abandoned over a period of years and in need of a thorough makeover.

“We’d known the house and admired it from afar for some time. I ran a yacht chartering business from Mylor and occasionally charters would arrive when their yacht had been delayed, so we used to put them up at the farm, who ran a B&B. The farm was tenanted and subsequently sold to a private owner who began work on it but got as far as replacing the roof before pulling out for reasons of which we’re not entirely sure. The house remained empty for four years, until it came up for sale again and we bought it.”

Christopher explains that by now the house was in such disrepair that, beyond the roof, it needed a huge amount of work: “Plaster was falling off the walls, the ceilings were collapsing, and we needed to replace every single piece of external joinery.”

The full refurbishment took a year and a half, which was quick considering the scope of work required, but Christopher had worked in the building sector, built and renovated several houses, so he knew more than most. “And being from the area, I had a very good local builder on the case. He assembled a team while I acted as project manager and it was a good, productive working relationship.”

The resulting house marries 18th-century elegance with modern-day homeliness. There is a ground floor extension to the rear to provide an extra bedroom, bathroom and living area. “Because the house is Grade II listed, we had to ensure that although linked to it, the extension didn’t impose at all on the main house.” As a result, it is a separate entity, an annexe that was often used as guest quarters but could easily be a nanny or granny flat.

The single-storey extension preserved the uninterrupted views to the creek for the upper rooms and they also created a conservatory with a solid roof: “we thought one entirely glazed could get too hot.” The conservatory sitting room has proved to be one of the Perkins’ favourite rooms. The main house’s drawing room and dining room provides the grandeur – reception rooms for social occasions, drinks parties, dinner parties and the like, whereas the conservatory is the refuge in which to kick back and relax.

The property also has a detached home office converted from former stables, and there is a tennis court, stables and an all-weather equestrian school. “My wife was a keen rider, to the level that she competed, hence we built

The detached home office

MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

141

property of note

the school.” They also ensured early on that all the land was fenced and well maintained. “We have sheep on it currently from a local farmer.”

The walk down the track that leads from the house to the creek takes just 10 minutes and passes a lush, gently sloped valley whose banks catch the sun, making it the ideal spot to enjoy a picnic before taking a dinghy out onto the water. “You can drive down the track there should you want to tow a boat, and we have Cornwall Community Mooring rights. There is a slipway on the beach to allow you to launch a boat.”

It’s clear that Porloe House has been an extremely happy home for the Perkins. They took it on when their daughter was university age and just after their sons had flown the nest, and it’s now proven a big draw for the second generation, particularly with all the roaming and sailing adventures it offers.

“As much as we love the house, we need to face up to the fact that it’s time to downsize.” With the vibrant sailing community nearby at Mylor, the bustling design-centric university town of Falmouth a mere 15-minute drive away and numerous good schools in the area – Porloe Farm is just a 20-minute drive from Truro – Christopher hopes a new family will take residence and that Porloe Farm brings as much joy to them as it has to his own family.

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MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

We live in interesting times. A few years ago, such beautiful parts of Cornwall would have been impractical for many whose work revolved around the capital or required frequent travel abroad. Broadband and much improved transport connections have meant that the market for some of Cornwall’s more spectacular properties (built in a maritime age when the region was booming) is now considerably wider. Porloe Farm, with its unique magical position, its neatly located home office, enviable sporting facilities and a ‘swallows and amazons’ lifestyle for all the family, makes it an attractive proposition for many.

This is a house rich in adventure with fascinating and very happy stories to tell, were walls to talk. The question is, whose story will be next?

Porloe Farm has four bedrooms, four reception rooms, a separate home office and additional barns, stables and 19 acres of land comprising pasture and some woodland.

It is on the market at the guide price of £3,250,000.

Tel: 01326 617447. jonathancunliffe.co.uk

Port Navas, nr. Falmouth Landmark contemporary creekside house on the Helford River Estuary. Designed by Roger Hocking RIBA in 1985, long frontage to Port Navas creek, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, spacious open-plan living area, garage, private drive & generous gardens, field and woodland, outhaul moorings on licence. EPC G Guide ÂŁ1.295 m

MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

143

Prime Waterfront & Country House

SO U TH H AMS’ L EAD I N G ESTATE AG EN T

Guide price

Farmhouse in land with outstanding views - Near Totnes

Beautifully positioned in approximately 40 acres of grounds with woodland and river access with fishing rights. This property offers a unique blend of old and new, with the Grade II farmhouse packed with character leading to an amazing new extension with superb kitchen and media room. Detached annexe. Large 59’ x 51’ Dutch barn with gym and office. Planning permission for indoor pool. No EPC required.

Totnes 6 miles, Exeter 28 miles, Plymouth 15 miles

hotel 4 Bedrooms bathtub 3 Bathrooms furniture 4 Reception Rooms Web Ref: TOT160337

Prime Waterfront & Country House department: 01548 855590

DARTMOUTH 01803 839190

KINGSBRIDGE 01548 857588

MODBURY 01548 831163

NEWTON FERRERS 01752 873311

Totnes office: 01803 847979

SALCOMBE 01548 844473

marchandpetit.co.uk 144

MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

£1,750,000

TOTNES 01803 847979

PRIME WATERFRONT & COUNTRY HOUSE 01548 855590

property

The Relocator tours the South West on your behalf to get an on-the-ground insight on hotspots in the region in order to analyse their relocation potential. We do our research and talk to residents, businesses and estate agents to get the lowdown on‌

DARTMOUTH, SOUTH DEVON

Dartmouth is a town in South Devon. Nestled on the western bank of the River Dart, it has a big residing population both in the main town and in many of the surrounding rural areas, including the coastal villages of Kingswear and Stoke Fleming, and inland offerings Dittisham and Stoke Gabriel. It is in the sought-after South Hams district with its abundance of coast, rivers and tributaries, and hosts a number of annual, well-established events including Dart Music Festival (May), Dartmouth Royal Regatta (August) and Dartmouth Food Festival (October), which are all well attended by local residents and visitors alike. Dartmouth is considered a prime location in South Devon, through its amalgamation of maritime heritage; its lively, active community; and a uniquely imposing setting.

Given its popularity, is Padstow buying a property there still good value for Newquay Airport CORNWALL money?

M5

SOMERSET A303

M5

DEVON

A30

DORSET

Exeter Airport A30

Exeter

Dartmoor

A380 A38

A385

Plymouth

Dartmouth

St Austell Truro St Ives

Falmouth

Penzance Sennen

MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

145

AN ESTATE AGENT’S OPINION… Prunella Martin, Director of Marchand Petit, explains that Dartmouth is a premium location with an abundance of attractive attributes that are bringing people to the region. There is a fairly even split in the area regarding primary residence and second homes, with many people moving from London and the home counties because they can now work remotely and being approximately an hour from Exeter Airport, there is easy access to the capital. “We’re seeing a large influx of people, especially with younger children, moving down to the area for quality of life and the great schools that are here,” shares Prunella. “For those who are always working in cities or flying around the world on business, Dartmouth is a relaxed location, which gives people time out.”

There is a cross section of property available across the region, Prunella explains: “You can buy a quintessential Dartmouth property in the town in amongst all its vibrancy, or you take a step back and buy something that stands in its own grounds, that allows you to dip in and out of the town when you wish.”

Miles Kevin from Totnes estate agents Chartsedge, comments: “We recently sold a property to the owners of Browns Hotel in Dartmouth, who had previously sold the hotel to a home counties’ family with young teenage children. They wanted the children to have a much more outdoor lifestyle by the sea. This is a good illustration of how the Dartmouth area has changed. It used to be synonymous with older buyers retiring there from outside the area, and then filling with tourists in the summer. But we have seen a sea change of younger families wanting to move to the area now, which is making Dartmouth vibrant all year round. With great schools, a bustling town centre, a plethora of restaurants and bars and stunning countryside nearby, I can think of worse places to bring up children,” he said.

WHAT THE SMALL BUSINESS OPERATOR SAYS… In 2008, Giles and Sarah Halliwell created Distinctly Living, a business designing and supplying bespoke kitchens and furniture ranges. Having now operated from Dartmouth for 10 years, the couple share how, for them, Dartmouth is a prominent location allowing them to reach a breadth of clients in Devon and Cornwall. “Dartmouth enables us to have a diverse clientele, including families, holiday makers and second home owners,” Giles explains.

“We travel a lot for business. Within an hour we can be in the conurbations of Exeter or Plymouth, so for us Dartmouth is very well-connected.” Since launching the business, they have noticed shifts in the region: “Like many towns in the South West, tourism is playing a significant part and this expands each year,” says Sarah.

“We are now trading a lot more with our customers online, once they’ve returned home after visiting.” For those considering a move to the area and starting up their 146

MANOR | Early Autumn 2018

Shimmerings (above and top) is on the market with Marchand Petit for £1,500,000

own business, the pair advise: “We would recommend visiting your potential business place both out of season as well as in season, as mid-August and mid-January offer two very different operating experiences.”

Dartmouth has also been a prime spot for chef and restaurateur Mitch Tonks, who noticed the thriving potential of the town years ago. “I used to visit Dartmouth as a child and have always loved the area,” says Mitch.

“I moved to Brixham in 2007 and thought Dartmouth would be a fantastic location, right by the water, for a restaurant serving amazing seafood.” In 2008, Mitch opened The Seahorse, an award-winning seafood restaurant located right on the bank of the River Dart.

And in 2010, the first Rockfish was opened in Dartmouth, with its success helped by its riverside location as well as the top-quality local ingredients it offers. “The local produce is really hard to beat, the fishing port round the bay in Brixham lands some of the best fish in the world, and I think there is a great passion locally for good food. I love the mix here, the locals who live on and around the water, the fishing industry nearby, the naval college and the visitors. It’s a gem of a place whatever the season.”

WHAT THE RESIDENT SAYS… Sam Love has now lived in Dartmouth for two years and is currently working at The Flavel Arts Centre.

He explains that The Flavel is an integral part of

property

TRAVEL AND GETTING AROUND The nearest railway station is Totnes, which takes around 30 minutes to reach by car. There are regular trains to Exeter from Totnes which also offers a direct route to London Paddington, in just under three and a half hours.

Exeter Airport is approximately an hour’s drive away with flights to London City Airport, Manchester and Edinburgh, amongst other destinations.

By road, South Devon is reached via the M5, which then links to the A38 towards Plymouth, from which you turn off onto the A384 for Totnes. From Totnes, it is 12 miles to reach Dartmouth via the A381.

PROPERTY The Seahorse

the community and contributes to the personality of the town: “All year round, we have a very strong relationship with our community through our volunteers and customers due to our diverse programming and the town’s passion and love for the venue. We want to make sure there is always the opportunity for people to enjoy an abundance of entertainment in a friendly atmosphere.”

Sam moved to the region from Shropshire for the laid-back lifestyle and tight-knit community feel.

“Living in Dartmouth is like being part of a big family and even working in the town doesn’t feel like a job,” he says. “For me, there is nothing better than sitting by the river and appreciating the wonderful town atmosphere.”

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION There are approximately 30 primary schools across the region, with many having good or outstanding Ofsted reports. The South Devon Steiner School is close to Dartmouth in the Dartington area near Totnes and there are other top independents slightly further afield such as: Stover School in Newton Abbot and Trinity School in Teignmouth. Dartmouth also offers a wide selection of grammar and state schools, with also nearby Kingsbridge Community College and Churston Ferrers Grammar School in particular with great reputations.

Dartmouth, with its beautiful wide river, pastelcoloured houses, and affluent, artistic and active sailing community, is a considered a premium location and property can scale top price points. However, there are a variety of price ranges available, from pretty town houses to expertly designed multi-million pound coastal homes, complete with sea view. Property prices can vary from £250k – £5m, with some exceptional homes on the riverfront fetching much more. Prices begin to increase when they tick a number of boxes, specifically: parking spaces, south-facing gardens and estuary views, with property with all three starting at approximately £850k.

Moving inland from the sea – around 2-3 miles from Dartmouth town – villages such as Blackawton can offer more value for money. Dittisham and Kingswear are the hotspot villages and command premium prices, as do any properties on the water with direct water access.

The Relocator’s verdict…

Dartmouth offers a high-quality lifestyle with close proximity to top educational institutions, excellent restaurants and extensive sailing access, making it a strong choice for all moves. The riverside setting is unrivalled, and there are many events throughout the year organised by the community. Dartmouth is becoming increasingly popular with working families, who love the relaxed lifestyle it offers.

It does, though, remain a little less accessible compared to other locations, and this has consequently kept it fairly exclusive.

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Prime Waterfront & Country House

SO U TH H AMS’ L EAD I N G ESTATE AG EN T

Guide price

Beautiful views over the River Dart - Dartmouth Totnes 13 miles, Kingsbridge 15 miles, A38 Devon Expressway 19 miles

hotel 4 Bedrooms bathtub 3 Bathrooms furniture 4 Reception Rooms

£1,395,000

With stunning estuary views towards Dartmouth Castle, this immaculately presented Grade II listed property has spacious accommodation with many character features, ample parking and garage with planning permission for conversion to a 1 bed annexe.

No EPC required.

Web Ref: DAR110062

Prime Waterfront & Country House department: 01548 855590

DARTMOUTH 01803 839190

KINGSBRIDGE 01548 857588

MODBURY 01548 831163

NEWTON FERRERS 01752 873311

Dartmouth office: 01803 839190

SALCOMBE 01548 844473

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TOTNES 01803 847979

PRIME WATERFRONT & COUNTRY HOUSE 01548 855590

Prime Waterfront & Country House

SO U TH H AMS’ LEAD I NG ESTATE AG ENT

Guide price

Modernist style home - Near Kingsbridge Kingsbridge 1.5 miles,Salcombe 7.5 miles, Dartmouth 13 miles

hotel 4 Bedrooms bathtub 3 Bathrooms furniture 1 Reception Room

£1,000,000

An exceptionally designed Stan Bolt property with wonderful estuary views and outstanding features throughout, creating light and easy living. Beautifully landscaped gardens, all set in a private village location, with beautiful walks and estuary access nearby.

EPC Rating D.

Web Ref: KIN180159

Prime Waterfront & Country House department: 01548 855590

DARTMOUTH 01803 839190

KINGSBRIDGE 01548 857588

MODBURY 01548 831163

NEWTON FERRERS 01752 873311

Kingsbridge office: 01548 857588

SALCOMBE 01548 844473

TOTNES 01803 847979

PRIME WATERFRONT & COUNTRY HOUSE 01548 855590

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01803 505115 info@chartsedge.co.uk

Horrabridge, Devon

A fully renovated Victorian house on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.

With large gardens, a self contained coach house and a further gardener’s cottage for renovation this offers fabulous family accommodation together with income potential. Currently a successful holiday let.

• Large 5 Bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms • 4 Reception Rooms and conservatory • Utility room and usable Basement/Wine Cellar

• Stabling, coach house and stone built outhouse • Gardens with Croquet Lawn • Large Vegetable Garden with Green House and Shed

Price £850,000

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35 Fore Street, Totnes, Devon TQ9 5HN

property

Snapshot comparative Properties in the South West and one in London that are under £750k.

The Old Vicarage, Ivybridge Guide Price: £720,000

Devon

A substantial five-bedroom detached house set within approximately one acre of landscaped gardens. This former vicarage was built in 1925 and offers carefully retained period features. There is a spacious farmhousestyle kitchen/breakfast room complete with Aga. Outside, the property is approached via double timber gates to a brick-paved driveway with ample parking space leading to a detached double garage and workshop. marchandpetit.co.uk

Cornwall

Springfield, Penzance Guide Price: £599,000 This property enjoys a rural location with beaches and amenities close by. The four-bedroom home has been extended and stylishly refurbished with a generous amount of reception space. Expertly designed, a social open-plan kitchen/dining/living area has been created.

Full of light, this triple-aspect arrangement with double doors gives access to the rear garden. The property dominates a generous plot and has a secluded orchard. humberts.com

Devon

Berties Cottage, Crediton Guide Price: £595,000 An attractive four-bedroom thatched barn conversion situated in the mid-Devon countryside, in a secluded, southfacing hillside location within a beautiful valley. The property has been refurbished to an exceptional standard with character features including exposed timber beams and a well-maintained thatched roof. It also has two outbuildings, an orchard, vegetable patch, paddocks, an agricultural building and a polytunnel situated across the lane. struttandparker.com

Grove Road, Brentford Guide Price: £679,000

London

A stunning end of terrace converted three-bedroom townhouse, offering well-balanced and practical family accommodation whilst retaining much character and many unique features. Split over three floors, the ground floor has a spacious reception room and a modern kitchen/dining room. The master bedroom benefits from an en suite whilst the third floor hosts a separate family bathroom. There is also a well-presented terrace and large garden. savills.com

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promotional feature

Homefinder

Jayne Phillips-Choak combines her love and knowledge of the region with an active social life to unearth the perfect properties for her clients.

J

ayne Phillips-Choak is very much a people’s person whose success as a property finder stems from her own childhood love of Cornwall: “Bundled in the back of the car in our jimmyjams in the middle of the night to miss the traffic, I used to cry when we went home, looking out of the back window for a last glimpse of the sea.”

As an adult, Jayne moved to Cornwall in the late 1970’s. She then spent a year in Florida in the mid eighties and trained as a realtor, where her love of property began. Circumstances then found her back in her beloved Cornwall again, this time as a homeless single parent, with her and her son sleeping on a friend’s floor. She managed to secure a job at an estate agency and worked flat out to buy her first home within a year. After working for a number of estate agents, she set up her own agency in Falmouth in the early 1990s.

Jayne launched her property search agency in 2013, going on to win the ARP Property Finder of the Year in 2017. Her success has come from a personal mission to ease the stress involved in house-hunting, particularly for those who live some distance from where they’re looking to buy.

“Buying a house should be easy nowadays with the internet and property portals like Rightmove etc, but people instead feel overwhelmed by too much information. They’ll book viewings with six different agents who all have full diaries, then spend an entire weekend in the car, ultimately to be disappointed.

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“So, I will look at the properties on my clients’ behalf and they will receive a comprehensive viewing report.

This will point out any negatives or compromises to each property, along with the agent’s details to help them make an informed assessment of it. I’ll view at least 10 houses before I say ‘jump in the car and come down’ to invite them to view two or three of the best of what Cornwall has to offer within their price range.”

As many as one in four houses over the millionpound mark exchanges hands without ever appearing on the market, so Jayne ensures she is in the right place and knows the right people to hear about those properties first.

Jayne derives greatest satisfaction in matching the right property with the right individual – “I love finding that dream home for a client. On completion day I’ll rock up with a picnic hamper stuffed with local Cornish fare to celebrate” – but remains very aware of the other side of the sector in which she works. She has signed up to the Cornwall Community Foundation and donates part of her fees to St Petroc’s Society who help the homeless in Cornwall. “It seems only right, having almost been in that position myself, with a small child.”

Jayne’s top advice when house hunting? “Establish what you are prepared to compromise on. You will have to, whatever your budget, and many people buy the polar opposite of what they set out looking for.” livebesidethesea.com

Yo u r h o li day home is your retreat: fr eed o m f ound in a beautif ul place W h en yo u c an ’t be here, let us take care of it.

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RO C K I D A Y MER B AY I POL ZEAT H I PORT IS AAC l ati tude 50.c o .uk 01208 869090

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SE FALL STING

OCEAN HOUSE C A R LY O N B A Y

Carlyon Bay

SEA VIEW APARTMENTS ON CARLYON BAY Ocean House is a truly spectacular development of 32 luxurious two bedroom apartments, situated on the southern coast of Cornwall and offering breathtaking views of Carlyon Bay. Prices start from just £449,995.* Take a tour of our Show Complex Open Monday to Saturday, 10.30am - 5pm

*Prices correct at time of print

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STYLISH COASTAL LIVING Waking in the morning to beautiful sunshine and panoramic sea views is what dreams are made of, but at Ocean House those dreams can become reality.

Our collection of large two-bedroom apartments have been designed with attention to quality, longevity and aesthetics, to ensure stylish easy living.

The large living areas and modern open-plan kitchens provide light and space, whilst the high specification ensuite bathrooms and shower rooms are contemporary and easy to maintain.

Call 0800 153 3059 to book a tour Ocean House, Sea Road, Carlyon Bay, PL25 3FX mccarthyandstone.co.uk/oceanhouse

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Come along and take a tour.

Be part of the region’s premium and awardwinning publication WHY READERS LOVE MANOR...

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CULTURE FOOD SPACE ESCAPE SCHOOL PROPERTY

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The Region’s Premium Publication High Summer 2018 Issue 27 | £4.50

“We’ve just received a really strong lead for an exciting project which we know came as a direct result of advertising in MANOR. Very pleased.”

CAROLINE SHORTT, BARC ARCHITECTS Matt Haig As I see it

‘In the last year we have received a lot of interest, in particular from interior designers, which we know came as a direct result from our advertising in MANOR. We couldn’t be happier.’

Prize Architecture RIBA South West winners

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CULTURE FOOD SPACE ESCAPE SCHOOL PROPERTY

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COMMENDED BY THE UK MEDIA INDUSTRY MANOR won silver for Regional Brand of the Year; silver for Regional Editorial Content Team of the Year and bronze for Regional Company of the Year at the British Media Awards 2018.

MANOR is available throughout the South West and sold on all major routes into the region: road, rail and air including at Paddington, Bristol Station and Airport, and City Airport, London. It is placed in the bedrooms of over 150 of the region’s most premium hotels and present in the most exclusive holiday cottages in the South West.

The Region’s Premium Publication Early Autumn 2018 Issue 28 | £4.50

Michelle Fairley As I See It

Fashion Revolution Changing how we shop

Cornwall from above The Photostory

Independent schools table A South West guide

With a readership of approx. 100,000 affluent individuals and a 94% recommendation rate among readers, there is no better or more highly rated publication in the South West.

To find out more about advertising in MANOR, please email advertising@manormagazine.co.uk or call 07887 556447 or 01392 690429

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CULTURE FOOD SPACE ESCAPE SCHOOL PROPERTY

WIN a 4* trip to The Scillies

To advertise here please email advertising@manormagazine.co.uk or call 07887 556447 INTERIORS

A carefully curated selection of affordable gifts, cards, kitchen and homeware, alongside a selection of Cornish makers and designers

4 High Street, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 2AB Tel: 01326 618240

01208 812 333 cornwallrugcompany.com

INTERIOR DESIGN

EVENTS

Unit 3 Trevanson Street Wadebridge PL27 7AW

Haynes International Motor Museum, Sparkford BA22 7LH

19 - 21 October 2018 Trade Preview Friday 19 | 11am-2pm Public Entry Friday | 2pm-5pm Saturday & Sunday | 10am - 5pm

www.brutondecorativeantiquesfair.co.uk Tel: (01278) 784912 | ÂŁ5 Admission

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To advertise here please email advertising@manormagazine.co.uk or call 07887 556447 FASHION

NEW SEASON COLLEC TION OSKA 18 Fore Street St Ives TR26 1AB T 01736 797219 Mon to Sat 10 am – 5.30 pm Sunday 11 am – 4.30 pm stives.oska.com

Armor Lux, Anna + Nina, 120% Lino, Cash CA, East by East West, Eribe, Helen Moore, Just in Case, Maison Labiche, Mos Mosh, Moray Cashmere , Pyrus, Pazuki , Stella Forest, Traits Paris, True Grace, Quinton & Chadwick

15a Foss Street, Dartmouth, Devon, TQ6 9DR 01803 835 079 www.starburstboutique.com | instagram: starburst_dartmouth

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The Jewellery Box KinetIQue Jewellery

RADMORE’S OF TRURO

Fine Antique and Modern Jewellers 1 Duke Street,Truro TR1 2QE | 01872 277217 | truro-jewellery.co.uk

B317 Victoria Beacon Place, Victoria, Cornwall PL26 8LG 01208 592066 | kinetique.co.uk

Fine antique and modern jewellers in the heart of Truro. Visit our exquisite shop and discover a reflection of our past heritage and beauty.

The amazing IQ Diamond, created by Cornwall’s award winning KinetIQue Jewellery, offers a socially responsible stone for today’s socially responsible buyer. See our luxury jewellery ranges and bespoke designs all backed by a lifetime guarantee.

CAROL ANNE

ERIN COX JEWELLERY

Boutique Jewellers

14 Castle street, Exeter, Devon EX4 3PT 01392 660836 | erincox.co.uk

Featuring exciting new designs from new designers, that are fun, affordable and above all else, wearable.

From the heart of the city of Exeter, Erin Cox creates bespoke jewellery imbued with a timeless quality, inspired by the natural landscape, and the organic and molten fluidity of manipulating metal. Using carefully curated stones, and recycled or fair trade metals, Erin’s jewellery become pieces that tell a family story. Come and talk to us about your story, and let Erin create something for you.

5/6 Holland Walk, Barnstaple EX31 1DW 01271 345786 51b St James Street, Taunton TA1 1JH 01823 330242 carolannejewellery.co.uk

Kit Heath

SILVER ORIGINS

MIRRI DAMER

1 Fore Street St Ives TR26 1AB Market Place Marazion TR17 0AR silverorigins.com celticlands.co.uk

Contemporary Jewellery 8 High Street, Falmouth, TR11 2AB | mirridamer.com Mirri’s jewellery is celebrated and coveted for its timeless style and low-key luxury look.

Contemporary simplicity and stunning design, inspired by the natural beauty of Cornwall.

Handcrafted in sterling silver, finished with delicate textures and exquisite semi- precious stones to enhance the spirit of each piece.

Visit her shop in Falmouth to see a full range of her unique, contemporary designs, including bespoke engagement rings; all hand crafted on site from precious metals and set with gorgeous gemstones.

Beautifully gift boxed and exclusively designed in Cornwall. A unique collection available in stores or online.

To advertise here please email advertising@manormagazine.co.uk or call 07887 556447

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back page prize draw

M

ichael Spiers Jewellers, who celebrate their 60th anniversary this year is, in association with MANOR, giving one lucky reader the chance to win a wonderful Gucci GG Marmont pendant, worth ÂŁ465. Gucci, as a label, has always been highly sought-after, and now more than ever, with their eclectic and romantic luxury offerings created with the very best Italian craftsmanship.

This Gucci pendant features the iconic Gucci logo through its refined Double G emblem, crafted from sterling silver and on a chain with a lobster clasp closure. Made in Italy, the design incorporates round stones of mother of pearl, turquoise-coloured resin and topaz. The chain has a length of 42cm and can be adjusted to 40cm.

HOW TO ENTER To enter the prize draw to win the Gucci GG Marmont pendant, go to manormagazine.co.uk/ backpageprizedraw. The prize draw closes at midnight on 12 October 2018 and the winner will be informed within 48 hours by email along with details on how to claim their prize.

Exeter

Truro

Exeter

TERMS AND CONDITIONS : The prize cannot be exchanged for a cash alternative; nor will any negotiations be entered into regarding an exchange of the prize.

Full terms and conditions along with the MANOR Publishing Ltd Privacy Policy can be found at manormagazine.co.uk/backpageprizedraw

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www.michaelspiers.co.uk THE SOUTH WEST’S LEADING RETAILER OF FINE JEWELLERY AND WATCHES, INCLUDING:

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87 Queen Street, Exeter, EX4 3RP, Tel 01392 279994, Email websales@mortimersjewellers.co.uk MANOR | Early Autumn 2018