Rutland Pride February 2015

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STAMFORD AND RUTLAND RutlandPride

RutlandPride THE

NUMBER

ONE

MAGAZINE

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 £3.70

The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes

FEBRUARY 2015

Michelin Dining at Hambleton Hall Celebrating Snowdrop Week at Easton Walled Gardens COUNTRy CLOTHiNG - vALENTiNE’S DAy - WEDDiNGS - TOM kERRiDGE - MOTORiNG

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It’s an exciting time for Stamford and Rutland, with several significant developments in terms of housing, community and education underway.

Ever since Stamford was named Best Place to Live by The Sunday Times in 2013, house prices have increased, so it’s little surprise that the town needs to grow. Not all growth is bad, and not all development threatens the look and feel of our undoubtedly pretty county.

ROB davis Editor, PridE magazinEs editor@pridemagazines.co.uk

We feel sympathetic, appropriate development is important to secure the future of both Rutland and Stamford, and think that trusting our planning officers to mitigate the area’s growth with the preservation of the look and feel of the area will create a prosperous and successful place in which to live and work.

2015 looks set to be an exciting year for both Stamford and Rutland, so we look forward to reporting on many new projects which we hope will secure the area’s future over the next year or two.

In this edition, we’ve pictures from the NSPCC’s annual concert, we enjoy a meal at Hambleton Hall, we plan weddings in the county and take a trip to Easton near Stamford to enjoy Snowdrop Week.

RutlandPride STAMFORD AND RUTLAND

THE

NUMBER

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MAGAZINE

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 £3.70

Michelin Dining at Hambleton Hall Celebrating Snowdrop Week at Easton Walled Gardens

COUNTRY CLOTHING - VALENTINE’S DAY - WEDDINGS - TOM KERRIDGE - MOTORING

This Month’s Cover: Hambleton Hall is this month’s Eating Out recommendation; see page 24.

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RutlandPride STAMFORD AND RUTLAND

RutlandPride

THE

NUMBER

ONE

MAGAZINE

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 5 £3.70

The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes

FEBRUARY 2015

Michelin Dining at Hambleton Hall Celebrating Snowdrop Week at Easton Walled Gardens

COUNTRY CLOTHING - VALENTINE’S DAY - WEDDINGS - TOM KERRIDGE - MOTORING

With best wishes from the Rutland Pride team Managing Director and Publisher: Julian Wilkinson.

General Manager: Ian Bagley. Executive Editor: Rob Davis.

Graphic Designer and Customer Care: Mandy Bray.

IT: Joe Proctor. Accounts Manager: Sue Bannister.

Sales Managers: Zoie Wilkinson, Jayne Broughton.

Sales Executives: Liz King, Roberta Hall, Abigail Colley, Carissa Clay, Emily Brown, Sami Millard, Lauren Chambers, Emma Barrett, Hayley Scott, Emily Maplethorpe and Amy Whiley.

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Enjoy Rutland Pride, read it cover to cover.

Pick it up, put it down and when you have finished with it pass it on. When everyone has had a good read, pop it in the recycle bin!

Pride Magazines Elm Grange Studios East Heckington, Boston Lincolnshire PE20 3QF tel: 01529 469977 Fax: 01529 469978

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Contents

06 22 24 44 85 100 114 122

February 2015

A round-up of News and events on our what’s ON pages, with information on events around the whole county this month.

Raising money in Rutland, the NSPCC annual concert. We’ve exclusive images on the event, which is now in its eighth year.

This month’s food section features dining at hambletON hall, plus recipes with excerpts from Tom Kerridge’s new book.

Our hOmes section this month features a quaint cottage that’s deceptively spacious, plus great ideas for kitchens and bathrooms.

Enjoy sNOwdrOp week at Easton Walled Garden this month as we meet Lady Ursula Cholmeley at the beautifully restored gardens.

There’s lots of choice this year for anyone seeking to marry in the county. We preview a few of Rutland’s best weddiNg veNues.

Wrap up warm this month, whether you’re walking the dog, mucking out, shooting or hunting, with the best cOuNtry clOthiNg. Make your valeNtiNe’s day special with lingerie suggestions from Stamford’s Chameleon, and make-up from MAC.

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County News

send your press releases and county news to: Editor via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.

norway comes to rutland thanks to fitness instructor Jo...

Fitness fanatic will begin nordic Walking courses this month as Jo promises a whole body workout and a chance to enjoy the rutland countryside Rutland fitness fanatic Jo Douglas promises a whole body workout this spring as she begins a series of Nordic Walking opportunities in the county, in conjunction with outdoor leisure specialists Get Lost, based at Rutland Village on Ashwell Road.

“My Nordic Walking poles get used almost every day.” says Jo. “They’re ‘pocket-sized gyms,’ exercising your arms, back, abs, shoulders and chest simultaneously whilst walking, unlike gym equipment, which only focuses on one part of the body at a time.”

don’t miss rutland’s good and new sale...

Rutland’s annual Good and New Sale will be held on 27th and 28th February at Barnsdale Lodge.

The event features new and nearly new quality fashions from designer names like Valentino, Chanel, D&G and YSL. The sale is now 50 years old and begins with a ticketed sale on Friday 27th for VIPs with champagne and canapés.

The event raises around £45,000 each year for local causes. Entry is £5/ticket on Saturday from 8.30am.

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Book launch celebrates village life in Barrowden...

Hardback book has 200 pages and celebrates life in rutland village from 1952-2015

“For those, who would much rather exercise in the great outdoors, instead of their living rooms, or spare rooms, or in stuffy gyms, Nordic Walking offers the optimal combination of both aerobic and muscle exercise for the entire body.”

Jo is hosting scheduled courses in Rutland, Stamford and Melton Mowbray, with seven dates in February alone, whilst Get Lost in Rutland has a range of Nordic Walking poles from £70.

For more information on the activity or to join an event, call 07949 392 018 or see www.getlostinrutland.co.uk

Barrowden villagers can find out all about the history of their village thanks to a new book. Sheila Saunders has co-ordinated contributions from Barrowden’s residents for the book, which contains photographs from 1952 to the present day.

“We have worked hard to show how Barrowden has evolved during the last sixty two years.

This important social history is brought to life by a huge number of photographs as well as a wealth of personal stories and anecdotes from villagers past and present.”

Priced at £20 and with 200 pages in a hardback format, Barrowden Past and Present is available in the village’s community shop and in the Exeter Arms pub.

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County News

send your press releases and county news to: Editor via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.

oakham wins at independent school of the Year awards oakham school’s Voluntary action activities praised as an outstanding Community initiative at independent schools awards...

Oakham school’s dedication to offering Voluntary Action activities to the community in and around Rutland has been recognised as the School won the Independent School of the Year Award for an Outstanding Community Initiative.

Oakham was one of only four schools to have been shortlisted for the category at the fifth annual Independent School Awards.

Voluntary Action is an important aspect of life at Oakham School, says headteacher Nigel Lashbrook.

“Around 100 pupils engage

a Happy new Year for rutland sports and leisure clubs thanks to £500,000 funding pot...

Rutland’s sports, leisure and community groups have been invited to bid for funding, with a £500,000 pot now available.

The money has been made available to modernise or refurbish groups’ facilities, with awards of between £500 and £75,000 set aside for each successful bid.

Money will be awarded either as loans or grants and these are available to any group serving Rutland residents.

See www.activerutland.org.uk.

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with the local community each week in a wide variety of ways,” adds Head of Voluntary Action, Kevin Beadle.

“The School has a long history of supporting local community groups. In addition to playing indoor croquet with dementia patients as part of the Through Hoops to Hope charity. Pupils also visit primary schools, help out in charity shops, and more recently have started to offer computing lessons in conjunction with Age UK.” “I am delighted that Oakham is the recipient of this wellregarded award,” says Nigel.

Wedding fair allows local brides to see greetham in all its glory

greetham Valley Hotel is this month hosting a wedding fair organised by its wedding co-ordinator Mitch Bardwell.

greetham Valley Hotel will host its wedding fair on sunday 22nd February to show off the premier venue

“Nestling in the heart of Rutland, we’re one of the premier wedding venues in Rutland, providing the perfect setting for your perfect day.” says Mitch.

“This month, you can see your yourself. Our Wedding Fairs, are fabulous. We hold them twice a year, with everything from wedding dresses to favours to stationery to entertainment, all under one roof.”

The event takes place on Sunday 22nd February at Greetham Valley Hotel, Wood Lane, Greetham, Oakham, Rutland LE15 7SN. Call 01780 460444 and speak to Mitch Bardwell for more information.

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What’s On

love’s labour’s lost

Fawlty towers

Shakespeare’s sparkling comedy plays mischievously on the study of the opposite sex. This satellite screening of the RSC’s live performance tells of events in France in 1914, with the lives of some of most beloved characters of one in the Bard’s timeless plays torn apart by the coming of war. 11th February, 7pm, £14.

Back by popular demand, this live stage version recreates the mayhem and riotous behaviour of the dysfunctional Torquay hotel with the usual comic mishaps courtesy of hapless hotelier Basil.

Appearing at The Curve from 10th-12th Feb from 7.15pm, tickets are £39.50.

www.stamfordartscentre.com 01780 763203

la Fille Mal Gardee Top: La Fille Mal Gardee.

Above: The Rubettes.

Top/Right: The Sell A Door Theatre Company - this month the group will present a contemporary re-telling of the Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde story.

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www.curveonline.co.uk 0116 242 3595

the rubettes

Performed by the Russian State Ballet and Orchestra of Siberia at Leicester’s DeMontfort Hall; La Fille Mal Gardee.

Recreated by Alexander Gorsky, this remains one of the oldest ballets still regularly performed. A gentle tale of love thwarted, unrequited and found.

25th February, tickets £17.50-£36.

It’s nearly 40 years since the Rubettes hit the charts with their epic hit Sugar Baby Love, which helped the group sell over 10,000,000 copies of their first record.

The legend lives on with founder Bill Hurd performing at Stamford’s Corn Exchange Theatre this month. Tickets £21/adults, £18/conc, Saturday 21st Feb from 7.30pm.

www.demontforthall.co.uk 0116 233 3111

www.stamford-corn-exchange.co.uk 01780 766455

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- what’s on -

burns niGht at barnsdale Barnsdale Lodge’s Burns Night is always phenomenally popular... so much so, that this year, there are two consecutive events on 23rd and 24th January.

A four course meal, traditional piper, readings of Burns’s poems and a Ceilidh will all feature. Tickets £27/person, accommodation from £65. www.barnsdalelodge.co.uk 01572 724678

rutland sinFonia Celebrate the music of blockbuster West End theatre productions next month, as Oakham School Chapel is the venue for Rutland Sinfonia’s Magic of the Musicals.

The event, on 7th March from 7.30pm, features music from West Side Story, The Sound of Music, Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Misérables and show songs including ‘Over the Rainbow’ and ‘Send in the

Clowns.’ Tickets £10/adults advance, £8/conc, from Oakham Wines; £12/£10 on the door.

Top: Love’s Labour’s Lost at Stamford’s Arts Centre Above: Fawlty Towers at The Curve in Leicester.

www.discover-rutland.co.uk 01780 752031

Jekyll & hyde The Sell a Door Theatre Company visits Uppingham next month for a performance set in an alternative future where Dr Henry Jekyll is a high-profile cancer specialist, determined to find a cure for mankind’s greatest medical challenge. Making himself the subject of his own experiments, Jekyll steps into the unknown and unleashes his inner demons. Trapped in a corporate world, Dr. Jekyll must choose to keep hold of his own identity as he revels in the freedom and chaos of his hideous alter ego; Mr Hyde. Tickets £TBC, 13th March at Uppingham Theatre. www.uppthearts.co.uk 01572 820820

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D

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BARROWDEN, RUTLAND £825,000

D L O

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TINWELL, RUTLAND £865,000

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STAMFORD, LINCOLNSHIRE £850,000

Fine & Country 2 St. Mary’s Street, Stamford, Lincs PE9 2DE Telephone: (01780) 750200 Email: stamford@fineandcounty.com www.fineandcountry.com

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STAMFORD, LINCOLNSHIRE £595,000

SOLD IN 2014 D

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DEEPING ST JAMES, LINCOLNSHIRE £599,995

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ELTON, CAMBRIDGESHIRE £625,0000

D L O

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EMPINGHAM, RUTLAND £1,195,000

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HAMBLETON, RUTLAND £1,500,000

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THISTLETON, RUTLAND £1,175,000

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BARROWDEN, RUTLAND £625,000

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LANGTOFT, LINCOLNSHIRE £685,000

D

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TICKENCOTE, LINCOLNSHIRE £285,000

LET US SELL YOUR HOME IN

2015 D

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TINWELL, RUTLAND £885,000

D

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UFFORD, STAMFORD £2,000,000

D L O

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LOWER BENEFIELD, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE £895,000

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BARROWDEN, RUTLAND £950,000

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BARROWDEN

POA

ASHWELL

GUIDE PRICE £480,000

A delightful five bed Grade II listed property on the edge of the village, dating from the mid19th century and displaying an abundance of character and charm.

An individual & architecturally designed detached four bed family home offering spacious accommodation in the popular village of Ashwell.

A beautifully presented three bed town house full of character and charm and centrally located in the pretty market town of Uppingham.

A beautifully presented three bed stone built cottage with a pretty south facing garden well located in a most sought after Rutland village.

UPPINGHAM

GUIDE PRICE £325,000

BARROWDEN

GUIDE PRICE £320,000

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No. 2 The Square, South Luffenham No. 2 The Square is a delightful cottage constructed of stone with a blue slate roof, offering good sized family accommodation and set in landscaped gardens of approximately 0.6 Acres (0.24 Ha)

GUIDE

£695,000

• Breakfast Kitchen, 3 Reception Rooms • 5 Bedrooms, 3 Bath/Shower Rooms • Double Garage, Parking, Outbuildings • Extensive Private Gardens • In all approximately 0.6 acre ( 0.24 Ha)

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CML Tenerife Crossley Morfitt & Lennox

Tenerife Property for Sale

2 BED APARTMENT

LOS CRISTIANOS

€220.000

Beautiful 2 bedroom apartment in central Los Cristianos with probably the finest view over the harbour that is possible. Refurbished and nicely furnished. Garage included.

PLOT OF LAND

CALLAO SALVAJE

€179.000

400m2 of building land in Callao Salvaje with possibility to build this villa of 140m2 over two floors, in addition to terracing, garaging, pool and gardens.

Plot + Planning + Building . UK property part exchange considered.

2 BED VILLA

PLAYA PARAISO

3 BED FINCA

ADEJE

€273.000

Two-storey house with garden in a very quiet area near Adeje in the south of Tenerife, Canary Islands. Plot size 1600 m2, living area of 170 m2. Fantastic views of the Atlantic Ocean and mountains.

CML Tenerife is a bespoke real estate company catering for Residential, Commercial and Corporate Investment needs in Tenerife with local representation here in Rutland...

• Apartments, Houses and Villas • Land and New Developments • Exclusive and Luxury Properties

0747 998 2649

€325.000

A light, airy and spacious semi detached villa in a residential area of Playa Paraiso, offering development potential for further accommodation.

UK property part exchange considered.

To find out how we can help you, call us NOW on 0843 290 5160 or +34 922 792 952, email paul@cmltenerife or alternatively visit our website www.cmltenerife.com

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www.mooresestatagents.com/countryandequestrian

PADDOCK HOUSE

£1,250,000

Substantial six bedroom stone family home with south facing aspects over its own mature private grounds of approx. 1.5 acres. Having well proportioned and laid out accommodation with large entrance hall, drawing room and family/dining room. Recently refitted living kitchen with Aga and French doors to terrace.

A self contained area of the house gives a further reception room/ play room with its own back staircase, bedroom and bathroom. The main bedroom has both en-suite and dressing area. A further four double bedrooms, one single bedroom, two shower rooms and an additional bathroom, make this a very practical family home. Separate driveway to stable yard with five brick built loose boxes and a range of outbuildings, stores and tack rooms and garden room.

Conveniently set on the edge small picture postcard village just 7 minutes from the centre of Oakham. With excellent schools and mainline trains to London.

LAUNDE HOUSE

GUIDE PRICE £1,750,000

With idyllic views overlooking Launde Abbey’s parkland, Launde House provides substantial family accommodation, incorporating a contemporary open plan living arrangement whilst maintaining the Grade ll listed farmhouse character throughout. Set in its own 8.44 acres, with a separate driveway into its own newly built stable yard (in hacking distance to some of the best hunting) this home has been sympathetically remodelled to an impeccable standard incorporating both original and bespoke features.

The three storey accommodation gives a teenagers suite to the top floor, leaving the first floor to have a master suite, with its own dressing room and shower room, three further double bedrooms and four bathrooms (giving a total of five bedrooms and five bathrooms).The ground floor has an impressive oak built sitting room with panoramic views over its own grounds and land. Further large family games room, snug, dining room/study, luxuriously fitted farmhouse kitchen with aga.

THE GRANGE

OFFERS IN THE REGION OF £1,000,000

An attractive character property situated centrally to the village with south facing stone walled gardens and a separate two bedroom cottage. There is a large driveway with a courtyard, off of which is the detached two bedroom stone cottage, triple bay garaging, workshop, six stables and a good sized barn, all of which could be converted into further accommodation STPP. The cottage maintains a wealth of character throughout, however would benefit from modernisation. There is a small paddock area to the rear and a further five acres situated just outside of the village which is available to purchase by separate negotiation. The main residents comprises of: sitting room, dining room, farmhouse kitchen, study/snug, large utility / boot room and downstairs cloakroom. To the first floor are three double bedrooms, master with en-suite plus a family bathroom.

To the second floor are two further bedrooms.

OAKHAM 36 High Street, Oakham Rutland LE15 6AL

UPPINGHAM 2 Orange Street, Uppingham Rutland LE15 9SQ

STAMFORD 2 St Johns Street, Stamford Lincolnshire PE9 2DB

MELTON 18 Nottingham Street, Melton Mowbray LE13 1NW

LONDON 40 St James's Place, London SW1A 1NS

Tel: 01572 757979

Tel: 01572 821935

Tel: 01780 484555

Tel: 01664 491610

Tel: 0207 8390888

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to view and purchase photographs from the Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk

Seasonal Singing

at The NSPCC’s Christmas Concert Oakham’s all saints’ parish Church was once again the venue of the county’s most enjoyable seasonal event. Now in its eighth year, and raising around £18,500 each year, The Rutland NSPCC Carol Concert features poignant or humorous readings by the area’s celebrities - Tim Hart, Lars Tharp, Rosemary Conley, Anne Davies and David Farrar to name a few - as well as performances by The Harborough Singers and Foresters Brass. 2014’s event will raise money for ChildLine’s Call for Help Appeal, which aims to fund the service, at a cost of £30,000 every day. The service received over 330 calls on Christmas Day 2013, with the festive season proving an especially heart-rending time for an abused or mistreated child.

For more information on the NSPCC, see www.nspcc.org.uk.

Feature your event in our magazine.

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Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events desk...

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Purchase photographs from this event online.

Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

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- Food -

Rutland’s Finest

Dining hambleton hall is made for love; a love of good food, good wine and good company. this season brings a wealth of reasons to enjoy the hospitality of tim and stefa Hart, not to mention the efforts of aaron patterson and his brigade, as Valentine’s day brings a special tasting menu, with a twist, for February 14th...

Rutland’s most highly regarded dining room is to celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2015, and its popularity is justified not merely by its determination to offer quality, but the consistency of its welcome and its dining too.

The former hunting lodge of Walter Marshall was created in 1881 and passed to the Paston Cooper family and Lord Trent, Dr Brockbank, until the creation of the reservoir in 1976. It was in 1979 and 1980 that Tim and Stefa Hart created Hambleton Hall, with Relais & Châteaux adding the venue to its 475-strong portfolio of luxury hotels and dining rooms around the world.

Just 28 of these are UK based, putting Hambleton Hall in good company.

Words: Rob Davis.

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Head Chef Aaron Patterson was a young apprentice at Hambleton Hall before leaving to train with Mosimann, and Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, returning to head up the kitchen in 1992, helping his culinary alma mater to retain the Michelin

Main: The centrepiece of Hambleton Hall’s annual Seafood dinner on 28th January is a large platter of Fruits de Mer, with crustaceans and molluscs such as crabs, oysters, clams, prawns etc,.

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Left: Hare Wellington.

Opposite: Seared scallops with variations of onion.

Below: The hotel provides 17 bedrooms and fine dining courtesy of a brigade headed up by Aaron Patterson.

“Hambleton Hall is ‘posh’ but in context, it remains very good value for money compared with other starred venues.

For all its accolades, the hotel also remains comfortable and relaxed for its diners, too...”

Lunch for Less is an especially popular offering, with two courses for £26.50, a third course for £6.50, and two options per course.

This month, Hambleton Hall is also responsible for initiating the county’s Lunch for Even Less promotion, which will see eight of Rutland’s most renowned restaurants offering concessionary dining from January through to February or March.

Below: Hambleton Hall offers a main dining room plus two private dining rooms.

star it had earned ten years previously, during his tenure as well.

Hambleton Hall is, in a word, posh.

But never gratuitously so. With appetisers and petit fours produced in house, plus its spin-off bakery headed up by Julian Carter, and a productive kitchen garden, Hambleton Hall can comfortably justify its prices with a large brigade, the kudos of Michelin dining, fine ingredients and because it’s one of the prettiest hotels in Rutland.

It is, in context, very good value for money compared with other starred venues.

Hambleton Hall also owes part of its reputation for comfortable quality to Stefa, who has personally overseen the interior design of the hotel’s communal areas and its 17 bedrooms.

The hotel has a main dining room with a capacity of around 60 covers and two private dining rooms. Service is by way of Lunch for Less, à la carte menu, or a six course tasting menu.

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Participants include Lyddington’s Marquess of Exeter, Wymondham’s Berkeley Arms, The Olive Branch and Red Lion at Stathern, Langar Hall, The Wicked Witch at Ryall and Hambleton’s sister restaurant, Hart’s of Nottingham. Hambleton Hall’s two course lunch is £24.50 until Friday 27th February, including service.

Also this season, Hambleton Hall offers truffle-based additions to its à la carte menu and Aaron will host his annual Seafood Dinner on 28th January, too. The latter is a four course supper with carefully chosen wine to accompany each course, at £100/person.

Valentine’s Day, meanwhile, will see a variation on Hambleton Hall’s tasting menu for couples seeking to enjoy an evening of good company, good food and good wine in arguably the county’s most luxurious dining room.

If any further justification for paying a visit to the hotel this month was needed, wine connoisseurs and enthusiastic amateurs alike will appreciate the effort that Tim, in conjunction with sommelier Dominique Baduel, has taken in authoring a list of wines. Many quality options are available from under £50 and there are a few rarer and more extravagant bins amid the 600strong number of wines available in total.

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- Food -

Main: Chocolate olive oil truffle with baked banana and passion fruit sorbet.

“This month, the addition of Valentine’s Day tasting menus and of Aaron’s January Seafood Dinner provide even greater choice...” mushroom hunt with mycologist Paul Nichol, and its Osprey Night aboard the Rutland Belle which has become an annual treat since its 30th anniversary back in 2010.

Most recently, readers of Rutland Pride voting in our Restaurant of the Year competition, awarded Hambleton Hall our Restaurant of the Year title for 2014.

Comments on the entry forms we received praised its attentive service, the comfort of its dining room and its dining experience.

This month, the addition of Valentine’s Day tasting menus and of Aaron’s January Seafood Dinner provide even greater choice than diners usually enjoy. With this year’s Lunch for Even Less event, dining at Hambleton Hall is even better value, too.

Also due to make a debut this month is Tim’s latest project, an outside seating area or sitooterie which it’s hoped will provide a staging area for choral or theatrical performances during the warmer months, when Hambleton Hall’s incredibly pretty lakeside location can be enjoyed.

The new area is in line with the country house hotel’s offering of little ‘gifts’ to its customers with each milstone in its history, like the establishment of its Fungi Foray 28

For a smart venue, it’s also incredibly welcoming, with a wealth of expertise in the field of chentrate, the selection of wine, the design of the hotel - everything which contributes towards an overall excellent experience.

We’re certainly happy that the team’s efforts have earned Hambleton Hall the title Restaurant of the Year, and we’re happier still to provide our own recommendation for enjoying the county’s excellent Michelin starred dining room this month.

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Sample Dishes à la carte menu, £68/three courses STARTERS Pan Fried Foism Grasp

Served with candied aubergine and pimento.

Scallops

Seared Scottish scallops with apple purée, walnut and chicory.

Wood Pigeon

Roast wood pigeon with grovel onions, salic scape and chanterelle mushrooms.

MAIN CouRSES Asserted of Rabbit

Asserted of rabbit with pearl barley risotto and a liquorice flavoured sauce.

Loin of Lamb

Loin and slow cooked breast of lamb with comfit tomato, minted pea and wild garlic.

Roast Duck

Roast Great Danby duck with caramelised endive and cherries.

Roast Pork

Roast loin of Welsh pedigree pork with cider fondant and caramelised apple.

PuDDING Banana Parfait

Banana and peanut parfait with caramelised banana, chocolate truffle flavoured with olive oil and salted caramel sauce.

Soufflé

Passion fruit soufflé with passion fruit and banana sorbet.

Chocolate Pave

Pave of white and dark chocolate served with raspberries.

Cheese option

A selection from the cheese board served with bread from the Hambleton Bakery, grapes and celery.

Find out More: Hambleton, Oakham, Rutland LE15 8TH Tel: 01572 756 991 www.hambletonhall.com 29

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OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR HIGH QUALITY PUB RESTAURANT DINING Main Street, Great Bowden LE16 7HB For table reservations call 01858 463571 www.redlion-greatbowden.co.uk

KIDS EAT FREE ON FRIDAYS BETWEEN 5.00 – 6PM *CONDITIONS APPLY

TWO COURSES FOR £12 MON-FRI 12.00 – 2.30PM / 6.00 – 9.00PM

SUMPTUOUS

SUNDAY LUNCH SERVED 12.00 – 5.00PM

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The Food of

LOVE This month Tom Kerridge releases his new book based on his popular BBc series Best ever Dishes. As the most down-toearth but high-ying chef on the food scene, Tom Kerridge has become known for his big avours and beautifully crafted yet accessible food. each of our featured recipes will make sure your February 14th really does feature the food of love...

Words: Tom Kerridge.

Photos: Cristian Barnett.

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Sea Bass with Black Grape Sauce and Celery 2 x 200g wild, line-caught sea bass fillets, skin on, pin bones removed Plain flour, for dusting Vegetable oil, for frying the fish Knob of butter squeeze of lemon juice 25g toasted hazelnuts, roughly chopped or crushed 2 tablespoons hazelnut oil salt and freshly ground white pepper For the black grape sauce 60g butter, plus a knob more for finishing 1 red onion, halved and finely sliced 175ml ruby port 75ml red wine 300g black seedless grapes, halved 30g blackberries (frozen is fine) 1 tablespoon redcurrant jelly For the celery 1 small root end of a celery head 200ml water 2 tablespoons dessert wine 75g butter 1 teaspoon thyme leaves

sea bass is a fantastic round fish with a firm but flaky flesh which makes a great contrast to its crisp, cooked skin. Poaching the celery heart is a super way to use the end of a head of celery and it pairs well with the rich and slightly sweet grape sauce, tasty fish and toasted hazelnuts.

To make the black grape sauce, put the butter into a saucepan and melt it over a medium heat. Add the red onion and sweat gently for approximately 10-15 minutes until soft, stirring from time to time.

Pour in the port and red wine, then add the grapes, blackberries and redcurrant jelly.

Bring to the boil, turn the heat down and simmer for 25–30 minutes, until the sauce has reduced by half. Remove from the heat.

Blitz in a blender or food processor until smooth, pass through a fine sieve, season, and keep in the fridge until needed if not using immediately.

To cook the celery, cut the root in half lengthways and trim any brown or dirty bits from it. Pick any leaves from the celery and reserve.

Peel any tough strings from the celery heart halves with a vegetable peeler then place the heart in a high-sided frying pan. Pour in the water and dessert wine and add the butter.

Season with a generous pinch of salt, place the pan on a medium-high heat and bring to the boil.

“A fantastic fish for Valentine’s Day supper - firm, flaky and flavoursome!”

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Turn the heat down to a simmer and cook until the celery heart is soft, the cooking liquid has reduced and the butter and water have emulsified - this should take about 25 minutes. Baste the celery with the cooking liquid, stir in the thyme leaves and keep warm.

serves two

With a sharp knife, cut a few incisions in the sea bass skin to prevent it from curling up during cooking. Don’t cut too deeply into the flesh. Dust the sea bass flesh with flour and shake off any excess. Season with salt.

Heat a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and pour in a little vegetable oil. When hot, place the sea bass fillets in the pan, skin-side down, and hold them in place with your hand until you feel that they’ve relaxed and the skin no longer wants to curl up.

Cook until the skin is crisp and the fish is cooked 90 per cent of the way through – this should take about 3-4 minutes. If you cook it over a medium heat, you will get a much better result and a crispy skin. If you cook it too high and fast, the skin will burn and cook unevenly.

Flip the sea bass over, add the knob of butter to the pan and squeeze in the lemon juice.

Baste the fish so it is ready to serve.

Warm the grape sauce - you may want to stir in a knob of butter to enrich it. Pour a spoonful of the sauce (you won’t need all of the sauce, but it freezes well so you can save any extra for another time) on to a warmed serving plate and place a sea bass fillet and a piece of celery heart on top.

Sprinkle over half the toasted hazelnuts and drizzle on half the hazelnut oil. If you have any leaves left from the celery, garnish the top with them. Repeat with the other fillet then serve immediately.

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Calves’ Livers with Sage & Onion Fritters Vegetable oil, for cooking 2 pieces of calf’s liver, about 180–200g each some plain flour, seasoned with salt, pepper and a bit of cayenne pepper, for dusting Juice of 1 lime 4 tablespoons sherry vinegar 4 tablespoons meat stock base salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 rashers of streaky bacon to finish For the bacon butter 100g bacon trimmings, from your butcher, diced as finely as you can 250g unsalted butter ½ teaspoon smoked paprika For the onion fritters 2 onions, halved and finely sliced 1 tablespoon flaky sea salt 1 teaspoon dried sage 3 tablespoons chopped sage 1 teaspoon curry powder or use a good-quality bought one 1 tablespoon tapioca flour about 1 tablespoon gram flour Vegetable oil, for deep-frying For the spinach Knob of butter 80g broad-leaf spinach, tough stalks removed, rinsed Few gratings of nutmeg

“This is a superb modern take on that well-loved dish of liver and bacon. Keep the leftover bacon butter - it’s a nice little condiment you’ll use time and again!”

serves two

This is my take on that well-loved favourite, liver and bacon. The sage and onion fritters are a bit like an Indian pakora, which gives a great crispy texture to contrast with the meltingly soft and luscious calf ’s liver. The bacon butter is a little condiment which I’m sure you’ll make again and again – you can use it in all sorts of recipes, or simply spread it on hot toast, and it freezes very well.

mixture into the oil – they should be about the size of golf balls – and cook until they are golden and crisp. Carefully remove from the fryer and drain on kitchen paper; season.

First make the bacon butter. Warm a large saucepan over a medium–high heat and cook the bacon trimmings until the bacon starts to crisp and little bits stick to the bottom of the pan. Turn the heat down, add the butter and paprika, and stir everything together.

Warm a large, non-stick frying pan over a medium heat and drizzle in a little oil.

Continue to cook until the butter starts to foam, then pass the mixture through a fine sieve into a container, discarding the bacon, and cool. When cool, seal and place in the fridge until it sets. You can freeze the bacon butter for up to 3 months.

To make the fritters, place the sliced onions in a large mixing bowl and season with the flaky sea salt and dried sage. Mix together and leave to stand for 15–20 minutes, until the onions have softened. Wrap the onions in a clean tea towel and squeeze out any excess liquid over a bowl. Reserve the liquid.

Put the onions back into a clean bowl and stir in the fresh sage.

Stir the curry powder, tapioca flour and gram flour into the drained onion water, to form a paste which is a bit thicker than double cream – you may need to add a little more gram flour. Mix this paste with the onions to make a fritter batter.

Heat the oil in a deep fat fryer to 180°C. Gently lower small spoonfuls of the fritter

You may need to cook the fritters in batches; make sure you let the oil come back up to temperature between batches. Place in a low oven to keep warm while you finish preparing the rest of the dish.

Dust the pieces of calf ’s liver with seasoned flour and shake off any excess. Place them in the pan. When coloured on one side, which will take 2–3 minutes, flip over and add 2 tablespoons of the bacon butter to the pan.

Baste the liver. Squeeze in the lime juice and baste again. When cooked – about 4 minutes in total – put the liver on a warm plate to rest for a couple of minutes. Place the pan back on the heat, and add the sherry vinegar and meat stock base to the butter left in the pan.

Season and whisk together. Keep warm.

To make the spinach, melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, add the spinach, put the lid on and cook for a couple of minutes until wilted. Grate on some nutmeg, season with salt and drain.

Cook the bacon rashers over a medium–high heat in a non-stick frying pan until crisp.

Place some wilted spinach on a warmed plate and then put a piece of calf ’s liver on top. Dress the liver with the bacon butter sauce and then garnish with the sage and onion fritters and crisp bacon rashers.

Repeat with the second piece of calf ’s liver and serve immediately.

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Strawberry Tartlets with Easy Strawberry Ice Cream For the strawberry ice cream 1kg strawberries, hulled and halved 500ml single cream 200g caster sugar For the sweet pastry 250g softened butter 120g caster sugar 400g plain flour, plus more for dusting 1 egg, lightly beaten For the crème patissière 580ml milk 6 egg yolks, lightly beaten 110g caster sugar 60g plain flour, sifted 90ml 8-year-old balsamic vinegar 11/2 teaspoons cracked black pepper For the glaze 100ml water 50g caster sugar 4 tablespoons strawberry jam 2 tablespoons 8-year-old balsamic vinegar Juice of ½ lemon To finish 400g strawberries, the best quality you can find, thinly sliced some baby basil or basil cress, to decorate

“These little tartlets look like classic strawberry tarts, but I’ve turned them up a bit... the crème patisserie is amazing!”

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preheat First make the ice cream. Put the strawberries in a large pan and gently stew them over a very low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring from time to time, until they have broken down - you don’t need to add any water. Tip them into a blender or food processor and whizz until smooth. Pass them through a fine sieve and leave to cool. Weigh out 500g of the purée (if you have any left over, it’s delicious used to dress a fruit salad or with yoghurt).

Mix it with the single cream and sugar. Place this mix in an ice-cream machine and churn until frozen. Scrape into a freezer container, seal and freeze until needed. Remove from the freezer about 10 minutes before you want to serve it.

Make the pastry. Cream together the butter and sugar in a stand mixer with the beater attachment. When smooth, reduce the speed and slowly add the flour and start to bring to a paste.

Just before it comes together completely, add the egg. When it has just come together into a paste, remove from the bowl and wrap in cling film. Refrigerate for at least one hour, or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 170°C/Gas Mark 3.

Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut out circles and line six 10cm loose-bottomed tart tins, pushing the pastry in tightly. Let the excess hang over the sides.

Line each tart with several layers of cling film or baking parchment and fill with baking beans or uncooked rice or pulses. Place on a large baking sheet and cook for 20–25 minutes, until the pastry looks crisp and golden.

makes six tartlets

Remove the beans and cling film and bake for a further 5-8 minutes to make sure the tartlet shells are dried out and have an even colour. Leave to cool.

To make the crème patissière, bring the milk to the boil in a medium saucepan.

In a mixing bowl or a stand mixer, whisk the egg yolks and sugar until light and fluffy, then whisk in the flour. Pour on the hot milk, whisking constantly, and then pour the mixture back into the pan.

Cook over a gentle heat, stirring until it thickens, and continue to cook for a further 2-3 minutes to cook out the flour.

Remove the crème patissière from the heat and pour into a stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Add the balsamic vinegar and turn on to a slow speed. Keep mixing until it cools down to a smooth paste. Add the cracked black pepper, put into a container, cover and refrigerate until needed.

To make the glaze, put all of the ingredients into a saucepan, bring to the boil and stir until smooth and emulsified. Pass through a fine sieve and cool.

To construct and finish the tarts, trim the excess pastry from the tops with a small, sharp knife and remove them from the tins.

Spoon in a generous portion of the crème patissière.

Place the strawberries in a ring around the top of the tarts, trying to ensure the slices overlap neatly, then brush the strawberries with the glaze.

Place a lovely scoop of strawberry ice cream in the centre of each and decorate with a few baby basil sprigs. Serve immediately.

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Extract taken from Tom Kerridge’s Best Ever Dishes published by Absolute Press, £25.00, Hardback. Photography © Cristian Barnett Tom Kerridge’s Best Ever Dishes airs on BBC2 this month.

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Treat yourself at The Marquess LUNCH FOR EVEN LESS Once again we are taking part in Lunch for Even Less with a number of other restaurants. Come and enjoy a set lunch Monday - Saturday from 12th January - 28th March.

Two Courses £12.95 & Three Courses £15.95 (excludes Valentines Day).

THE DELI SHED We look forward to welcoming all our new customers to The Deli Shed in 2015. We offer a fantastic range of weekly essentials including milk, eggs, bread & vegetables, along with our delicious pre prepared meals straight from The Marquess kitchen.

52 Main Street, Lyddington, Uppingham LE15 9LT Call for bookings: 01572 822 477 www.marquessexeter.co.uk Lunch & Dinner 7 Days a Week | 17 Modern Bedrooms | Four AA Star Rated

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SPECIAL OFFERS THROUGHOUT JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2015 Tuesday nights are Curry Nights – choose from a selections of curries, all served with rice, chips, poppadum's & mango chutney - £9.95

Wednesday nights are Steak Nights – 9oz sirloin steak, cooked to your liking & served with onion rings, chips & garden peas - £10.95

Back for another year by popular demand!

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The Thoroughly Modern

Cottage tom Cottage in Wing is not only one of the prettiest examples of a traditional 17th century country cottage, it’s also one of the most deceptively modern. simon smith has worked on the property for a couple of years to discreetly incorporate both useful technology and lots of character, too!

Words: Rob Davis.

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if you’re seeking a pretty cottage in the country, your wishlist will probably include a thatched roof, lots of nobbly exposed beams and neat whitewashed walls with mullion windows.

Wing’s Tom Cottage fulfils each of those, but it also incorporates plenty of creature comforts the likes of which you’d expect to see in much more modern executive homes.

Simon and partner Gemma’s pedigree when it comes to creating beautiful homes is wellestablished. This is the third property that Simon, who owns a logistics company in Corby, has renovated, each time with the intention of completing a project and starting all over again.

Simon’s talent has been further realised with the recent completion of a small development of five houses on Uppingham’s High Street East, each with two or three bedrooms and plenty of character - these

Above/Main: The couple installed a new oak beam when they reconfigured the ground floor layout. They also uncovered and sandblasted original beams. Meanwhile the kitchen features lots of discreetly integrated technology.

“Wing’s Tom Cottage incorporates creature comforts you’d see in executive homes, but with lots of character, too...” are currently on the market with Oakham’s Moores estate agency.

There’s a new project on the horizon too, so with too much spare time at the weekend now Tom Cottage has been restored to such high standards, it’s time to begin afresh.

The couple have put the cottage on the market, so we met Simon to find out the story behind the pretty cottage.

Tom Cottage had been home to an older couple for a number of years. Upon purchasing it, Simon and Gemma embarked upon a full restoration. Deciding that the old layout wasn’t suited to modern living, internal walls came down and a new oak beam was put in place. That meant removing some of the plasterboard which uncovered more original beams.

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A sandblaster has renovated them beautifully, whilst a new thatched roof has solved issues with the previous leaky old thatch.

With new wiring, plumbing, underfloor heating, and the installation of solid oak floors, the house now offers comfortable modern living, with all the character of a thatched cottage reintroduced.

Furthermore, despite its quaint exterior, the house is deceptively spacious, with three decent sized bedrooms plus the bonus of an attic room which would be ideal for use as a child’s bedroom or study.

To the master bedroom there’s an en suite shower room and dressing area, plus a traditional claw-foot slipper bath positioned near one of the property’s windows.

Two further bedrooms and a family shower room provide lots of accommodation, and there’s the usual characterful low ceilings, wonky walls and exposed brickwork, as Above: There are three bedrooms, the master having en suite and dressing room, plus a slipper bath in the corner. An additional attic room provides an extra bedroom or den for children.

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“Despite its quaint exterior, the house is deceptively spacious, with three bedrooms and an attic room...” you’d expect from a cottage with such provenance.

Downstairs, the kitchen features a Belfast sink, and glossy lilac-coloured Aga but, in accordance with the rest of the property, even this offers a contemporary twist; electrically powered, with a smartphone app, allowing you to turn on the oven remotely so supper is ready when you return from work.

Other comforts include a Bosch dishwasher, integrated laundry appliances and a boot room. The house also has a separate store, heated, which also contains the gubbins for a highly efficient air source heat pump, this means the whole cottage costs practically nothing to heat and power.

“We knew it was a restoration project, and we were quite keen to bring the property

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back to life, but the technology we’ve integrated, whilst making life easier, doesn’t detract from the appearance or the character of the house.” says Simon.

Another area the couple have put a great deal of thought into is the grounds.

The lawned area was large enough for an additional property, but Simon decided to retain it to ensure a decent amount of greenery to supplement the large terrace.

Semi-mature laurel hedging, a raised turfed area and an oak-framed carport provide ample space, and there’s a productive vegetable garden which the couple have nurtured, striking a good balance of low-maintenance grounds but with lots of potential if you’re a keen gardener inclined to introduce more interest.

Above: The garden is laid to lawn for low-maintenance but offers plenty of scope for the introduction of more features.

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The property’s stone frontage, thatched roof, mullion windows and oak shutters really do give the house lots of character, but what really impresses is the degree to which the couple have discreetly incorporated everything you’d expect from a modern family home.

“What we wanted to do was preserve the architecture and feel of the house, whilst modernising it in terms of features like its air source heat pump and underfloor heating, to make it efficient to run.”

“It was important to us that it functions really well as a family home, and with two reception rooms, four bedrooms, space to work and space for storage, it really does just that.”

“We’ll miss the house a great deal, but we’ve definitely been bitten by the bug once more.

We can’t wait to get started on our new project, so we really hope that we’ll find some new owners who will love living in Tom Cottage as much as we have done!”

tom’s Cottage, rutland Location: Wing.

Style: 17th century country cottage of local stone and a mix of thatch and slate to the roof.

Receptions: Two currently arranged as lounge/diner and snug.

Beds: Four with three full size bedroom, one child’s bedroom and two bathrooms; one en suite.

Other Features: Outbuildings to include stores and office.

Guide Price: £625,000.

Find out more: Estate Agency: Fine & Country, St Marys Street, Stamford, PE9 2DE Tel: 01780 695009.

Web: www.fineandcountry.com.

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New Hearts for Old Homes

if you love your property but crave more space. if you want to create a contemporary room, but still ensure your home has a heart. if you want to extend your property without the hassle. a natural timber-framed extension is the answer to all of the above. step into a light and airy space even if you’ve a listed home... so many people we see love their period properties. Homes from an age before our kitchens were crammed with technology and appliances. Homes for when country properties enjoyed the benefit of staff, and kitchens were utilitarian spaces, not spaces for families.

Homes before studies, with their computers, or living rooms, with their TVs and hi-fis.

On the whole, such properties have adapted well to new trends in terms of their layouts, but still, when the time comes to renovate such homes, or create more space, or accommodate a new kitchen, there’s nothing which can rival the practicality, adaptability and flexibility of a modern, purpose built space.

Extensions can be expensive, and it can sometimes be tricky to find a style which suits your property or to obtain planning permission if your home is listed or situated in a conservation area. The solution is a timber-framed extension from companies like Natural Structures.

The firm can add more living space to older, larger properties, allowing you to supplement the beauty of your period home with modern living space, without one area of your home looking odd next to another area.

“The advantages of timber-framed extensions are many fold.” says Simon Lewington, who has spend 25 years creating the structures in Lincolnshire and Rutland.

“We’re familiar not only with their construction, but with their design and their compliance with local planning rules.”

“When clients approach us, we translate ‘what they want’ into a design which is technically feasible, permitted in their area and affordable.”

“We then design, manufacture and install an oak-framed structure which suits their needs, extends their home with the minimum of disruption and provides plenty of valuable living space for modern families.”

Naturally Better: Natural Structures oak-framed extensions are cleaner, cheaper and quicker than conventional building methods.

That’s because they’re fabricated in the firm’s workshops before being installed on site.

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“Best of all, the buildings are all fabricated back at our workshops, so for homeowners, that means no disruption until our groundworks teams create the base on which the finished structure is installed.”

“That means our builds are quicker, cheaper, cleaner and less hassle for homeowners than conventional building methods.”

“What’s more, with high ceilings, the latest insulation and large windows with energy efficient glazing, the buildings are very light, cheap to heat and beautiful, with the kind of craftsmanship you thought had been all but lost.”

faster and less disruptive with typical build times of just three months.

“The benefits of the way we work quickly become obvious. A client doesn’t need to obtain consents or co-ordinate different teams of tradespeople. They don’t have to put up with weeks of building, or put up with a building which looks out of place.”

“We provide the customer with a free, no-pressure consultation, and then we can give answers about their budget, we can give timescales and we can advise on feasibility. We give homeowners just what they want, without the hassle that’s normally associated with extending their home.”

“Our builds are often quicker, cheaper, cleaner and much less hassle than conventional building methods...”

The firm has also partnered with a number of suppliers in the area, from interior designers and kitchen specialists, so Simon and his team can provide a turn-key service, creating not only the extension itself, but also the interior furnishings and fittings, co-ordinating all tradespeople to make the process of creating, say, a new family kitchen 60

“It’s a great way to create modern rooms that breathe new life into older properties.

Creating a building or an extension that looks good is part of our philosophy, but more than anything, we want to create spaces that work well dynamically - that is, they function well as rooms for families too.”

Find Out More: For a no-obligation design consultation in your home, call 01858 545518 or see www.natural-structures.co.uk.

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JANUARY SALE NOW ON

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Main: Ian Mankin is a UK-based sofa designer who has created this Chatburn sofa in Skye with scatter cushions in Skye check ax.

Rutland stockists include Elizabeth Stanhope Interiors.

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All Things

White and Beautiful

newly built properties smothered in magnolia paint can be so soulless. they’re hardly an ambassador for the simplicity and beauty of white and other off-white shades. this month, we pass on colour in favour of advocating light or white shades to introduce a calmer, warm hue into your home...

Words: Rob Davis.

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abacus is a collection

by London fabric house osborne & Little, which allow you to create the texture and luxury of a boutique hotel bedroom. the fabrics are designed to be used in window schemes, on cushions, on bedcovers and upholstery...

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as spring prepares to return some colour back into our gardens, our skies and our homes, it may seem a little odd to advocate the introduction of stark, plain white into your home.

But white is not just stark. It’s not boring.

It’s not flat. White can bring a sense of comfort with warm whites softening areas and bright whites sharpening workspaces like kitchens.

Your White Bedroom Creating warm white bedrooms and the use of cream next to flat whites warms up what would otherwise be a stark look.

One opportunity white does present is the ability to mix textures, and use more extravagant, tactile fabrics like linens, or throws in faux fur or chunky knits.

When using white in your bedrooms, introduce a statement-making headboard, dress your bed with throw-pillows and break up the monolithic spread of white;

One opportunity white does present is the ability to mix textures, and use more extravagant, tactile fabrics like linens, or employ throws in faux fur or chunky knits...” consider introducing another neutral shade like a warm grey, perhaps in a linen fabric or one that’s heavier and more richly textured.

Your White Kitchen White quartz or engineered stone surfaces always look clean, whilst gloss white cabinetry works well with white or timber work surfaces.

Wood finishes appear much richer against whites, whilst neutral colours make printed fabrics ‘pop.’ If you’re introducing dramatic elements like chandeliers, ceiling roses and cornices, elaborate shapes and sculptural elements work well against more neutrally coloured backdrops.

For a really dramatic look in your kitchen, white and black works well, and allows you to create either a traditional looking kitchen or one that’s more contemporary with

Top: Throw in Harlequin’s Momentum.

Above: Chair covered in Chelsea Textiles’s embroidered fabric by Neisha Crosland.

Left: Colefax & Fowler’s Leander, Colette, Silvius, Vienne Voile and Anastaisie, all in ivory.

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elements like gloss cabinetry or granite work surfaces and bold kitchen elements like stainless steel or black appliances.

Your White Living room Again, white living rooms needn’t mean a monolithic expanse of stark white. Using white furnishings against other neutral colours, works well; employing different neutrals and mix a plain white sofa or chair with different textures or patterns on loose cushions.

We can’t highlight strongly enough the importance of using a dedicated interior design studio which can combine fabrics from different collections or fabric houses, and can create not just bespoke window treatments and soft furnishings, but also bespoke chairs and sofas, too.

Such suppliers can also recommend ways to achieve a scheme which employs white and neutrals shades whilst introducing the necessary depth of tone and texture to turn a plain white,scheme into an inspiring room with real light, calmness and warmth.

“We can’t emphasise enough the importance of using designers who can combine fabrics and create bespoke furnishings...

Above: Bespoke sofa covered in Jane Churchill’s Arris, in an oatmeal colourway.

Right: JAB’s Soho fabric.

Far Right: Felix wing chair covered in Voyage’s Anoushka fabric in birch colourway.

Rutland Suppliers: Elizabeth Stanhope: Mill St, Oakham, Leicestershire LE15 6EA, 01572 722345, www.elizabethstanhope.co.uk.

Furleys: High St, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6AH, 01572 755539, www.furleys.co.uk.

House of Ambience: Sheep St, Kettering NN16 0AN, 01536 513181, www.houseofambience.co.uk.

J&L Ball: North St, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1EH, 01780 481416, www.jandlball.co.uk.

Sarah Harding Interiors: Market St, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9QH, 01572 823389, www.sarahharding interiors.co.uk.

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Main: Sofa in Colefax & Fowler’s natural damask colourway

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- HOMES -

Creating the Heart of Your Home Kitchens and Interior Design of Market Harborough can create the heart of your home...

Orchard of Stamford:

helping you to create the perfect room...

It’s easy to improve your home with a range of kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and the benefit of full project management courtesy of Stamford’s Orchard.

“The kitchen is such a versatile room. We cook, dine, relax, entertain, read and chat in the room. It’s where it all happens.” says the firm’s Mark Atkinson.

“It’s the heart of the home so whether you are looking for a kitchen rich in urban chic or a true country classic we have designs to complement your lifestyle.”

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Far from being a place solely for the preparation of food, kitchens are now expressive about the character of a family, and their desire to gather and socialise.

The kitchen is now becoming the most social room in the house and a very important place. For that reason you can trust the design of yours to Kitchens & Interior Design of Market Harborough, one of the finest names for kitchen design in the Midlands.

We can provide you with a written proposal and a design, free of charge that will ensure that you have every aspect of the job covered before you proceed.

Our personal approach to kitchen design means we're able to offer a great level of choice and design flexibility and ensure that you get exactly what you want For more information call 01858 465726.

“Together we’ll create your perfect living space, a kitchen you’ll look forward to coming home to.” says Mark.

“Orchard’s exceptional collection of kitchen designs, curved features, work surfaces and storage solutions that will make everyday life easier and more enjoyable.”

“We have now extended our range to include uPVC and aluminium conservatories, too.”

“We have gained a reputation as a supplier of the highest quality workmanship, designs and materials when it comes to contemporary or traditional styles of orangery and conservatory.”

“We have also added to our services, the supply of bespoke doors and windows, made to measure, to match the sizes and designs already a feature in your property. If required, we can

refurbish your existing buildings to match the design of your new investment.”

“We believe that the business has grown over the years, mainly by setting high professional standards, understanding our customers, and always remembering that they have a choice.”

For more information call 01780 481850 or see www.orchardstamford.co.uk.

Uppingham’s Super Ceramic Services has 30 years of wall and floor tile experience Super Ceramic Services has recently celebrated its 30 year anniversary, formed in 1984 by Roy Hathaway after receiving increased demand for his services in tiling and painting over several years. As well as working on commercial projects, such as the National Space Science Centre, Rockingham Motor Speedway and the Leicester Tigers Training Grounds, the company also works on many private refurbishments including new bathrooms, kitchen tiling, stone floor tiling, underfloor heating etc.

With our huge selection of British and European tiles on display along with a depth of knowledge for the customer in the showroom, we are able to provide good advice and help plan and design a new project.

Call 01572 821119 or see www.superceramicservices.com.

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Helping you to create

THE PERFECT ROOM

Quality Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms, Designed and Installed Exceptional kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms for any style of home.

Designed and installed with full project management.

www.orchardstamford.co.uk

22-23 Scotgate, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2YQ

01780 481 850

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- HOMES -

My dream kitchen came true, thanks to

Porcelanosa

Many know Peterborough’s Porcelanosa for its range of luxury contemporary bathroom suites, but with an amazing range of kitchens featuring cutting edge materials too, many satisfied customers are proudly showing off the dream kitchens they made with Porcelanosa’s expert guidance...

Left: A great kitchen begins with practical storage. Here we’ve incorporated double depth drawers. They can incorporate plate racks or can be used to store saucepans and oven dishes in drawers directly beneath your hob for easy access.

Right: A ‘pop up’ extractor behind the hob saves space and is more hygienic, with removable filters, whilst an induction hob is only hot when metal pans are placed upon it, making it safer and more efficient.

Durability as standard...

Right: Compartments built into the work surface itself keeps food preparation areas clear and ensures everything you need is kept conveniently to hand. Non-slip drawer liners and soft-close systems as standard mean an end to slamming drawers.

Left: Cuina stick tap in chrome with pull-out jet.

Porcelanosa can also install boiling water taps and filter taps to prevent appliances cluttering up your surfaces, providing great tasting water for summer drinks.

Exclusive to Porcelanosa is Krion, shown here as a worktop with back-lit decorative feature.

The material has a feel and hardness like natural stone but is easy to clean, impact resistant and durable. It’s possible to create almost any shape or curve with Krion, with seamless results leaving no visible joints, and it comes with a 10 year manufacturer’s guarantee.

Left: Cupboards with drawers on runners ensure everything remains accessible.

For more information on the products featured here, see www.porcelanosa.com or call 01733 325111.

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Fancy being inspired? Porcelanosa is known as the UK’s tile & bathroom specialist but its in-house kitchen brand Gamadecor means you can create a space that’s ergonomic, functional and very long lasting by combining Porcelanosa’s Spanish flair with exceptional German engineering.

Your kitchen will be measured by one of the company’s in-house kitchen design specialists who will work with you produce a design to suit your needs, taste and budget.

Naturally its measure-up and CAD design service is free of charge and is provided with absolutely no obligation. Porcelanosa completes its kitchens with the latest top of the range appliances to the customer’s choice and

provides a hassle-free experience by offering the dry fitting service.

“We’re often perceived to be slightly expensive though many customers who have dropped in are positively surprised at what they can achieve with their budget. We really do offer affordable luxury!” says Showroom Manager Kate Jefferies.

The company offers a huge range of work surfaces from natural stone to engineered stone surfaces and also produces its own anti-bacterial solid surface, Krion.

Krion’s best properties include its warmth, high resistance and maintenance free nature, making it a perfect solution for your work surface.

“We’re often perceived to be slightly expensive, though many customers who have dropped in are positively surprised at what they can achieve with their budget...”

For more information visit Porcelanosa at Dukesmead, Werrington, PE4 6ZL. Alternatively call 0844 481 8957 or see www.porcelanosa.com

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Nothing For Sale… …except an unfair advantage. Professional property finder Kate Vincent discusses why more buyers are seeking expert advice on their next property purchase.

With many house hunters leading increasingly busy lives, professional property search services are frequently greeted with equal levels of intrigue and scepticism.

What was once a service only used by celebrities, television shows or by London buyers is increasingly being utilised by a far wider range of property purchasers spanning the entire market. The opportunity to secure that elusive property for the best possible price, whilst in the process benefitting from a broad range of ancillary services gives purchasers the upper hand against their competition. Indeed, those who have used the service often perceive it as an essential investment in buying well.

Common misconceptions Some buyers make the mistake of likening the services of a property finder to that of a glorified ‘personal property shopper’ and whilst in its simplest form there are some similarities, the role of an experienced and professional property finder is considerably more sophisticated. As the client’s trusted advisor, a property finder’s service is far more than just a time saving device; local market knowledge, experienced negotiation skills, tenacity to progress even the most complex of transactions all blend into a tapestry of services to help smooth the buying process into an enjoyable and efficient one – in stark contrast

to most people’s experience of buying property and moving.

Whilst the services of a property finder enjoy an air of exclusivity, in reality they are becoming far more common place in the market and are used by an array of different buyers with varying budgets and range of circumstances. The services are not just restricted to buying homes, property finders also work with those who are struggling to find quality rental properties and those looking to purchase property for investment purposes. stay ahead of the competition Experienced property finders have long standing relationships with a wide range of local contacts providing exclusive information, meaning they are often able to source off-market and premarket properties. Sales agents and vendors alike value the efficiency that a property finder can bring to the home buying process, knowing that they only look after committed and reliable purchasers, thus adding credibility to your purchasing position. working with a local property finder Choosing a new home can be a complex financial and emotional decision, accordingly it is important that your local property finder fully understands your requirements and preferences.

Kate Vincent

Client and advisor working closely together is critical to success and building a strong relationship will allow them to understand exactly what you’re looking for so that they can consider every option with your best interests at heart.

Buyers are also able to benefit from the objective advice a property finder can offer at the time of making critical decisions regarding a purchase.

Their wealth of local knowledge will mean they are able to fully evaluate comparable values in the area, consider the condition of a property, the cost of improvement and even the historic ceiling value for the location. This means that any purchasing decision is a carefully considered one, ensuring you enjoy your new home for many years to come.

Garrington work on behalf of clients who wish to buy, rent or invest in property throughout the UK. They also provide a Negotiation Only and Overseeing of Sale service.

To learn more about their services or to arrange a no obligation meeting contact Kate Vincent at Garrington’s Stamford office on 01780 408 377 or email info@garrington.co.uk www.garringtoneastmidlands.co.uk 81

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- LaW -

Brief Encounter if the idea of instructing a barrister to help with your legal problem sounds expensive or you think the profession may be aloof or out of touch - think again.

Changes to the legal system over the last decade mean it’s now easy to achieve direct access to a friendly, experienced barrister - and doing so could halve your legal bills...

The word barrister conjures up images of fierce TV lawyers and large legal bills.

However, thanks to changes in the legal system over the past decade, private and corporate clients can now save money on their legal expenses by instructing a barrister directly, thanks to public or direct access.

Contrary to popular preconception, barristers are actually cheaper to employ than solicitors.

That’s because a firm of solicitors works as an entire entity, whilst a chamber sees a number of barristers working individually, each functioning, essentially, as freelance legal professionals.

service which serves both private and corporate clients’ best interests.

investigative interviews and hearings where appropriate.”

The chambers has 31 legal professionals, 26 of which work within it full time. They can engage in Alternative Dispute Resolution, or offer a cheaper, more specialised advocacy service across family, civil commercial and criminal areas of law.

“Though many cases are appropriate for public access, not all are and the barrister can advise you of this. There are still certain limits on the types of work that a barrister can do for you. It may be in a client’s best interests in some cases and situations to instruct a solicitor or another intermediary as well as a barrister.”

“If you choose to approach counsel directly then the role of the barrister is in essence the same as when they are instructed by a

“Public access work is relatively new to the bar and not all barristers accept this type of work.

However, New Walk Chambers has a strong public access team who work in various areas of law including Employment, Family, Criminal, Immigration, Chancery, Civil Law, Commercial Law, Compromise Agreements, Equine Law, Landlord & Tenant, Land Law, Licensing, Betting & Gaming, Personal Injury Law, Probate, Inheritance & Trusts, and Professional Negligence among others.”

“Barristers are, in fact, cheaper to employ than solicitors, with fewer overheads.

There’s no need to employ both legal experts.”

With fewer overheads, and the ability to allow clients to - for instance - draft witness statements and collate documents themselves, it’s probable that you’ll be paying for fewer menial tasks and will cut your legal bill in half - at least - by employing a barrister directly instead of instructing both a solicitor and barrister.

Barristers are specialist advocates, so they’re still unable to handle money in a client account or engage in some areas of the law - for instance, conveyancing.

However, sets like Leicester’s New Walk Chambers can now work directly with clients, providing an approachable, efficient 82

solicitor or any another form of intermediary.” says the Practice Manager Michael Ryan.

“The barrister can advise you in writing or face-to-face in conference on your problem and help you reach a solution.”

“You can instruct your barrister to draft and send documents for you if required. They can also represent you in mediations, courts or tribunals. You can also instruct a barrister to negotiate on your behalf and to appear on your behalf at employment or

“The barrister may need a preliminary meeting or discussion by phone before deciding whether the matter is suitable for public or direct access and may wish to see any relevant documents before making the decision. The barrister will advise you whether or not you will be charged for this meeting or for considering the documents.”

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I’ll Contact My Brief: You can now contact - and instruct a barrister directly, rather than via a solicitor. Doing so could halve your legal bills, as barristers tend to have fewer overheads and allow clients to save money by completing menial tasks (e.g: collating documents) themselves. Nicholas George is a barrister specialising in commercial and contract law. Based at New Walk Chambers, he was called to the bar 30 years ago and is a member of Inner Temple.

“You may also instruct a barrister directly even though you have already instructed solicitors. If you do so, the barrister will still have to consider whether he or she should accept your instructions.”

“However, the fact that you have retained a solicitor is not of itself a reason for refusing to accept your instructions; nor may the barrister contact your solicitors without your permission. However, there may be cases (for example, where your case involves existing litigation) where a barrister will refuse to accept your instructions unless you give him or her permission to contact and liaise with your solicitors. We would expect you to inform your solicitor if you do instruct a barrister.”

The changes which have brought about the right to public or direct access mean greater choice, greater flexibility and greater efficiencies both for individuals & companies.

These changes genuinely can save you money on your legal expenses, with friendly, approachable and direct advice.

New Walk Chambers is a chamber of 31 barristers to whom private and corporate clients now have public or direct access, based at: 27 New Walk, Leicester LE1 6TE. Tel: 0116 255 9144, Email: clerks@newwalkchambers.co.uk, or see www.newwalkchambers.co.uk.

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- gardens -

The Lost

Garden

easton Walled gardens were very nearly lost forever until Lady Ursula Cholmeley embarked on their ambitious restoration. attracting 16,000 visitors a year, we catch up with the accidental galanthophile who has put the tudor village back on the map...

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- gardEns -

“It was totally abandoned.

There was a path going through the middle of the garden to get to the south park. It was all brambles and rusty gates...” married and moved to the Cholmeley’s family home nearby, back in 1993.

Ursula’s own family home had a more modest garden which she enjoyed tending, but she was fascinated by what remained of the 12 acres of grounds which used to surround Easton Hall, and despite having two very young children, embarked on an ambitious restoration project which has yielded ever-increasing benefits for the gardens, and its 16,000 annual visitors.

“It was totally abandoned. There was a path going through the middle of the garden to allow access to the south park. It was all brambles and rusty gates.”

Even all that remains of the property today is the former laundry, stables and the gatehouse. The property’s former site can still be traced with a degree of accuracy though, thanks to a wealth of old photos, including those from Country Life.

Fate intervened for the survival of Easton Walled Gardens back in 2001, ably assisted by romance... which, with Valentine’s Day approaching, is especially apt.

The village of Easton nestles on an escarpment just a few miles from Grantham, mentioned in the Domesday book, with a replacement of its Tudor Hall created in 1805. It was a grand and beautiful property with grounds that were commensurate to a property which bore more than a passing resemblance to nearby Stoke Rochford Hall.

Main: Easton Walled Gardens this month hosts its Snowdrop Week from 14th22nd February, 11am-4pm. When most gardens look bleak, Easton will look at its most impressive in Spring, with a profusion of snowdrops, aconites and crocus.

Above: The vegetable garden adjacent to the site of the Hall.

“We’re very lucky that we have such an unusual layout.” says Ursula. “The original Tudor enclosure over the river survived, but during the 1800s, when the hall was being refurbished, Capability Brown-inspired planting schemes tended to move gardens closer to the halls and move kitchen gardens away from properties. Easton escaped that trend with a kitchen garden that was part of an ornamental arrangement, it harks back to an earlier time, in the style of a French potagére.”

The hall was not to survive a stint as a wartime des res for the 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment of Arnham fame.

Easton suffered considerable damage and was finally demolished in 1951, its grounds then suffering subsequent neglect, except for the occasional intervention of a farmer’s flail mower, when time allowed.

Above all, Easton is famed for its snowdrops, with accidental galanthophile, Ursula inheriting two naturally occurring varieties - galanthus nivalis and pleniflorus Flore Pleno.

She planted, in addition, more than 13 varieties from the green-leaf woronowii, the yellow Lady Elphinstone and the much larger Fred’s Giant variety which, despite its nomenclature, does not refer to Fred Cholmeley.

Fortunately, all that changed as Sir Hugh John Frederick and Ursula fell in love,

The proliferation of so many snowdrops has given Easton its unique selling point, but was, 87

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- gardEns -

“Currently Ursula and the team are improving the four acres of wild flower meadows...” in fact, serendipity. Rabbits hate the taste of snowdrops, and despite the number of the creatures running wild around the gardens, left Easton’s drifts alone whilst munching everything else in sight. Still, their culinary loss is our visual gain, and this month Easton Walled Gardens will hold its annual Snowdrop Week from 14th-22nd February from 11am-4pm, which will not only see the garden in its spring glory, with a variety of snowdrops, aconites and hellebores, but plantswoman Jackie Murray giving free talks, plus a display of the heritage of the gardens in the history room.

Easton’s bridge was the subject of the first part of Ursula’s restoration. Ably assisted with friends and family, she literally pulled all of the broken fragments of the bridge from the Witham - which cuts across the gardens - and pieced them together like a giant jigsaw puzzle to reveal how it looked.

“We had lots of help from family and friends. It was like that in the earlier part of the restoration. Also, we needed heavy equipment to chop down and uproot trees before we could re-seed the area.”

Main: The bridge was the first element of the 12 acre gardens to be restored. Ursula was in the river, pulling out each block of stone to piece together the bridge.

Below/Right: Aconites are just one of the treats at Easton month.

The adjacent terraces were mowed and re-seeded, bringing back to life the grand stone steps flanked by wildflower terraces which lead down towards the bridge, past the long borders and through the yew tunnel, with the rose meadows and orchards on either side.

2008 saw the creation of the vegetable garden and the pickery, 2010 saw the establishment of the orchards. Most recently the team, which now comprises three full time gardeners, have created the White Space gardens, inspired by Charles Jencks ostensibly it’s a white coloured garden but with a few contemporary twists to incorporate a theme of nature and the universe.

Ursula concedes that the restoration of the garden will take another 20 years, but claims her greatest pleasure is hearing visitors say they’ve visited Easton before and have returned to see what further progress has been made on the garden’s development.

Currently Ursula and the team are improving the four acres of wild flower meadows, gently encouraging the inclusion of unusual species such as sulphur clover - the furthest northerly occurrence of the species - plus the creation of alpines beds adjacent to the

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The Cholmeley Family at Easton

There has been a property on the site of the current gardens since 1592 when Sir Henry Cholmeley purchased the manor of Easton from Gilbert Bury.

The property was altered and enlarged in 1805 by Sir Montague Cholmeley, first baronet. Much of the property was replaced by Victorian additions, and in the early C20th, the property was let to various families before being requisitioned as a second world war home to The 2nd Battalion Parachute Regiment made famous at Arnham.

The family name was established as Sir Henry Cholmeley succeeded to Manor of Burton-le-Coggles in 1590 and subsequently purchased the Manor of Easton in 1592.

There have been 13 additional generations including Fred’s father Sir Montague John Cholmeley ‘Monty,’ who married Juliet Auriol ‘Sal,’ in 1960.

Fred and Ursula married in 1993 and have two children, Montague, 17, and Isabella, 15.

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- gardEns -

Summer: The Long Border is an 80m display of colour in summer, even though Easton has its charms in spring too. This image was taken in June.

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pickery and potting shed, with its views over a turf maze, created in the shape of a wheat sheaf - the family’s crest.

Ursula and the team are also completing the winter sowing of 100 varieties of sweet pea.

If Easton is famous for its spring snowdrops, it’s nearly as well-regarded for its varieties of sweet peas. July’s Sweet Pea Week event, along the same lines as Snowdrop Week, will see lots of varieties offered for sale.

Other highlights of this year include the willow weaving courses which take place in May with instruction on how to create everything from rudimentary sculptures to elaborate willow animals.

Another highlight of Easton in the summer is the availability of its Meadow Retreat, a beach hut which families can hire for £25 a day in which they can relax, share a picnic and enjoy views over the gardens.

Children, during the summer, can always enjoy a game croquet, play on the swing or with the balls that are provided by Ursula, who hopes the gardens will appeal to all ages.

From an initial romantic walk with her new husband, through the rusty gates of the forgotten gardens, Ursula discovered a project that will take a lifetime and beyond to realise. She remains, however, sufficiently pragmatic to admit that right from the outset of the restoration of the gardens, they would rely on tourism and the site had to be able to ‘wash its face.’

“I can’t imagine what possessed me to think we could restore it.” says Ursula. “About five years into the project some of the larger walls collapsed in a pretty major way.

So, I think if we’d had five more years of neglect, we’d have been too late.”

“About five years into the project some of the walls collapsed. If we’d had five years more of neglect we’d have been too late,” says Ursula...

Fortunately, Ursula and the family intervened just in time. What the team probably didn’t expect, though, was the venue becoming one of the most renowned gardens in the area at this time of year, with lots to see and enjoy at a time when other gardens look comparatively bleak.

This month, if you’re seeking a walk in the crisp winter air, or you’re feeling the effects of cabin fever following a long stint indoors over the holidays, we highly recommend a visit to appreciate that a garden can be beautiful not just in high summer, but all year round, too.

Easton Walled Gardens is based near Stamford just two minutes off the A1; NG33 5AP. The site is open from 14th-22nd February, 11am-4pm, then from March 1st until October.

Admission £6.95/adults, £2.95/children.

Tel: 01476 530063.

Web: www.easton walledgardens.co.uk.

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- naturE -

A very busy time in the

Natural World...

From cold weather to coltsfoot, the coming of spring is something to look forward to. this month, Richard Owens tells us how to look after birds in our gardens, how to begin learning different bird species’ calls and which wild flower to look out for in February too...

although traditionally February can be one of the coldest months of the year, it can also be surprisingly busy in the natural world.

As the days start to get longer and you venture out into the garden at daybreak, you may notice that the morning birdsong is starting to become slightly more audible, both in volume and variation.

If you’re not sure which species are singing you could learn their calls by purchasing a bird song CD, or in this modern era you could possibly even download an ‘app’ for your smart phone!

“On the ground keep an eye out for the year’s first Snowdrops, a sure sign that Winter is almost behind us!”

However, never be tempted to play any bird song outdoors as this could potentially be misleading to any local bird life and potentially harmful to the natural balance.

Even at this early stage in the year, male birds will be starting to mark out their territory in preparation for mating and the nesting season ahead, indeed if you have not yet cleaned out your bird boxes, you’re possibly too late.

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Blue Tits and Great Tits will more than likely already be investigating the boxes and will possibly begin lining them out with moss later in the month. If you do not have any bird boxes, there is still time to either buy or make some to put up. It’s worth bearing in mind that the Tit species are highly territorial, so a small garden may only have space for one. If Sparrows are a common visitor, then consider putting up multiple nest boxes, as they will happily nest communally.

If cold weather persists, natural food for the birds may be in short supply so it’s important to keep the feeders filled. It will also be beneficial at this time to scatter some bird food on the floor for the ground feeding species such as Blackbirds and Starlings.

However, it would be best to avoid this if cats are a regular visitor to the garden, for obvious reasons!

On the ground keep an eye out for the year’s first Snowdrops, a sure sign that Winter is almost behind us.

Look for them in particular along hedgerows and woodland edges as well as in the garden.

Another key plant species to look out for in February is one of my personal favourites called Coltsfoot. It’s quite an easy one to find and identify, particularly on waste ground or in damp areas around the waters edge.

Coltsfoot is quite an interesting perennial as it is one of the few plants to actually have flowers before leaves.

The flower is superficially similar to the Dandelion with a stem that I always describe to people as looking similar to Asparagus.

Once seeded the leaves start to develop and are equally as impressive growing to the size of cabbage leaves! Foliar emergence of Bluebells should also be visible this month.

Personally, I love this time of year so I shall be wrapping up, getting out and enjoying the great outdoors.

Richard has spent his career promoting bio diversity within the world of turf and is currently the UK's Golf Course Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year.

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Coltsfoot: Tussilago farfara, commonly known as coltsfoot, is a perennial herbaceous plant common at this time of year.

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- motors -

Estate

of the Art

audi’s firebreathing Rs6 is the car that can’t decide if it’s a motorway cruiser, a cosseting executive model, a capacious load-lugger or a 911-demolishing sports car. it’s all things to all drivers... as long as you can live with the aggressive styling...

Words: Rob Davis a menacing motor to put fear into any driver who sees it in their rear view mirror.

The sheer styling of Audi’s RS6 makes it obvious to those who spot it approaching from behind that the driver means business. Sporty Audi’s have become more aggressive of late, and the RS6 is no exception.

Based on Audi’s civilised and much more understated A6, Audi’s RS6 has been around since 2002, launching a year after the release of the third generation A6. The latest version is the RS6’s most potent incarnation, available in both four door saloon and now an estate - badged Avant - derivative.

RS6 may be extremely fast, but it’s also practical and easy to live with on a day to day basis.

Consider, for a second, the Porsche 911, a very well-respected sports car. In Carerra S form, the 911 will reach 60mph in 4.3 seconds. It has two seats, and will set you back £86,000.

An RS6 Avant, meanwhile, is a full five seater. It has a huge boot, more standard equipment (Porsche will charge you extra for electric seats, seat heating, cruise control, and front parking sensors!), yet it still outpaces the 911 by reaching 60mph in 3.9 seconds. It’s also cheaper than the Porsche at £77,995.

The 911 is renowned for being a great driver’s car, but the Audi can counter with its excellent Quattro 4x4 system, mated to a dual clutch eight speed automatic gearbox that makes accessing its performance a cinch.

All this means the RS6 Avant is an estate when you need an estate car, an executive saloon when you need to cruise along an A-road, a five seater family car for taking the kids to rugby at the weekend and, on the day when you’ve left the family behind, a storming car that can shame even the most well-regarded of sports cars.

Firebreathing: The 4.0V8 engine in Audi’s new RS6 is smaller than the engines of previous RS6s.

The new car has cylinder shutdown technology so it effectively halves the size of its engine unless its 552bhp is called upon.

An eight speed dual clutch auto gearbox makes harnessing its performance a cinch.

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- motors -

Right: The RS6 Avant is based on conventional A6 estates with 565 litres of space with rear seats in place, and 1680 litres when they’re folded.

Our car’s optional 21” gloss black wheels cost £2,000.

Standard equipment is very generous, with heated electric leather seats, sat nav and eight speed auto gearbox all standard.

The RS6 looks the part externally, with twin oval tailpipes, 20” alloys wheels and a body kit. Inside there’s carbon fibre style inlays and a flat-bottomed perforated steering wheel.

Also standard are heated, electrically adjustable leather seats, sat nav, BOSE stereo, DAB radio, auto lights and wipers, parking sensors all round, four zone climate control and a Drive Select system which allows you to set up the car’s air suspension, gearbox and throttle responses for sport or comfort.

It’s incredibly well-equipped, but that’s not to say the options list for the RS6 is slim.

Specifying one of the 15 coloured leathers, six wood inlays or the gloss black alloy wheels shown in our photos will all cost extra, £2,000 in the case of the latter.

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A Dynamic pack comprising unlimited top speed, ceramic brakes and LED headlights costs £10,000, whilst adaptive cruise, TV and night vision are all optional too.

providing effortless performance there’s something about the RS6 which isolates the driver from the true danger of such performance.

The car’s standard equipment should be enough for any driver, and if not, you’ll probably be too pre-occupied by the car’s blistering performance to notice.

It handles with scalpel precision, it has ferocious acceleration and the RS6’s roadholding is nothing short of impeccable.

The RS6 is epic. Deceptively so. It may look like a family estate car, with some fancy wheels added and a full on body kit, but even so, no spoiler or front splitter can accurately express just how much performance the 4.0V8 car with its 552bhp and 700 Nm of torque possesses.

On the other hand, there’s no burble from the V8 at idle; with cylinder shutdown technology as standard, the car operates as a four cylinder car until it’s put under pressure.

What’s more, with the dual clutch gearbox

Whether you want a premium estate, an executive car, a 911-destroying sports car or a family shuttle, the RS6 has the capacity to be all of the above. What’s more, for a car of its size and spec, it’s also thumping good value.

“It handles with scalpel precision, it has ferocious acceleration and the RS6’s roadholding is nothing short of impeccable...”

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Power and Provenance: BmW’s m division To any true driving enthusiast, the simple mention of the letter M instantly captures their attention and evokes feelings of excitement.

Established in May 1972, the BMW M division began a tradition of taking learnings from the race track and applying them to the road, with all BMW M models being tested and tuned on the world-famous Nürburgring circuit in Germany.

Now, the BMW M range consists of several exhilarating and luxurious models, including even a four-wheel drive. No wonder then that this one simple letter has the power to inspire such extraordinary passion.

seamlessly: every detail is built around the driver, offering the best possible control and an uncompromising motorsport character.

M Differential bring the power of the M drivetrain to every journey, and ensure maximum safety and control in any situation.

Earlier this year, the division launched BMW M4 Coupé. Even at a glance, it is clearly a car that delivers high performance. A classic BMW M model, its powerful, sporty look is enhanced with athletic lines and an elongated silhouette. The interior blends in

The BMW M4 Coupé puts an impressive 431hp at your command. When the M TwinPower Turbo six-cylinder petrol engine accelerates to the limit in next to no time, you immediately realise just what the car is capable of. Adapted motorsport technologies like the Active

With its forward-looking technologies the BMW M4 Coupé guarantees maximum safety and pure driving pleasure. Which is something that can be experienced only first-hand so visit your local BMW M Certified Centre: Sycamore (Peterborough) Ltd.

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- WEddings -

More choice than ever

For Rutland’s

Brides & Grooms For those seeking to marry in Rutland, there’s now greater choice than ever, thanks to a partnership between oakham’s Barnsdale lodge and exton park. the partnership means a wide choice of venues for absolutely every bride and groom...

your wedding should be the happiest day of your life, and it goes without saying that whatever a bride wants on her special day, she should be able to have it. Weddings are personal, they’re about choice. Neighbours Barnsdale Lodge and the Exton Park estate have worked closely together for a number of years, but this month they’ve formalised that working relationship and, working in partnership, can now offer brides an even greater range of options for their wedding.

“We want to offer brides as much choice as possible for their day.” says Paul Freeman of Barnsdale Lodge. “No matter how many guests are attending, no matter what the wedding budget, a bride should have plenty of choice, and should be able to create the day of her dreams.”

Barnsdale Lodge is a civil licensed, 45 bedroom country house hotel with eight function suites and 12 luxury self-catering retreats, which enables it to accommodate weddings with anything from 10-180 guests.

The venue’s personal events organiser Jane Hales liaises with brides and grooms to ensure completely bespoke weddings, working to any reasonable budget.

Meanwhile, Exton Park is the family seat of the Earl of Gainsborough, a 5,000 acre country estate.

The estate comprises Exton Hall which offers a limited number of marquee weddings each year. Religious ceremonies can be accommodated in one of only two Roman Catholic churches within Rutland; St Thomas of Canterbury, which adjoins Exton Hall, or in Exton’s C of E church, St Peter & St Paul, only a short walk through the Hall’s grounds.

Images: Deans Street Studios, Oakham 01572 757643, www.deansstreet photographers.co.uk.

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- WEddings -

Images: Deans Street Studios, Oakham 01572 757643, www.deansstreet photographers.co.uk.

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Right: Fort Henry has been fully renovated and is now available for weddings.

Below: Exton Hall.

Right: Fort Henry is Exton Park’s gothic fishing now licensed for civil weddings and receptions.

An additional option for 2015’s civil weddings, though, is the newly restored Fort Henry, the Grade II listed fishing folly with a lakeside location now available for civil weddings and receptions.

“The fort looks great.” says Paul. “It’s like marrying in a castle, and during the summer months the lake is covered in water lilies, a pretty venue flanked by ancient trees.”

“The folly looks great. It’s like marrying in a castle, and in the summer months the lake is covered in water lilies...”

Barnsdale Lodge’s proximity to Exton Park, being just one mile away, makes it the perfect base for your weekend wedding.

“What’s more, our chefs have a great deal of experience providing restaurant quality dining for up to 300 guests at a time, ensuring your wedding breakfast menus and drinks packages are designed to suit your tastes, your guests and your budget.”

Teaming up with Rutland based Three County Marquees (www.eventsandtents.co.uk), Barnsdale Lodge can also provide marquee weddings adjacent to the Hall, and at Fort Henry, and can liaise with companies offering wedding decorations such as Lily King to provide a single point of contact, but a wealth of expertise, simplifying your wedding planning immeasurably.

“We regularly work with some really great partners, and Exton Park is one of the best examples.” says Paul. “Working with us, you can design your day from significant details like the venue and wedding breakfast right down to finishing touches, decoration and entertainment packages for a stress-free, enjoyable wedding planning experience that’s worthy of the happiest day of your life.”

Find Out More: Contact Jane Hales for Barnsdale Lodge Weddings; Barnsdale Lodge, The Avenue, Exton, Oakham LE15 8AH. Tel: 01572 724678 or see www.barnsdalelodge.co.uk.

For Exton Park Weddings including events at Fort Henry and Exton Hall, please contact Paul Freeman; pfreeman@barnsdalelodge.co.uk or the Estate Office info@extonpark.co.uk Don’t miss Barnsdale Lodge’s wedding open day on Sunday 25th January 2015 from 11am.

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The best of

both worlds T

he only private hospital facility in Lincolnshire, where profits are returned to the NHS for the benefit of all local NHS patients. Patients enjoy privacy and individual attention whilst having the reassurance that The Bostonian is adjacent to the sophisticated services of The Pilgrim Hospital, with its expert diagnostic and emergency medical and surgical facilities.

H Award Winning Sleep Apnoea Service Please visit our website to view the full range of services we offer

www.the-bostonian.co.uk Comfort & Peace of Mind The Bostonian is the private wing of Pilgrim Hospital and is set in its own grounds and gardens. There are 19 en-suite single rooms with digital TVs and telephone. Our dedicated housekeeping team ensure continually high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.

Professional Expertise Almost any condition can be treated at The Bostonian by our dedicated team of professionals – most of our Consultants live only minutes away.

We welcome self referral and provide 24 hour medical cover.

Range of Payment Options Available We deal with all the major insurance companies and also offer Fixed Price packages for the uninsured.

The Bostonian Private Wing, Pilgrim Hospital, Sibsey Road, Boston, Lincs PE21 9QS Telephone: 01205 360606 / Facsimile: 01205 311442 www.the-bostonian.co.uk • ISO 9001:2008 accredited

Pilgrim Hospital’s Private Wing

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- WEddings -

Summer Weddings for Barnsdale Hall’s most

Beautiful

Brides

rutland’s Barnsdale hall offers a beautiful parkland setting for your wedding with a choice of rooms, packages and decoration.

This month, to discover the options for summer weddings for yourself, you can meet the county’s best wedding suppliers at the hotel’s wedding fair on 22nd February... it’s the happiest day of your life, and you deserve a wedding that’s personal, special and flawlessly conducted.

That’s why Barnsdale Hall Hotel has gathered together around 20 of Rutland’s best wedding suppliers for an event on Sunday 22nd February where the county’s brides can plan their wedding.

“We host around 80 weddings each year, and from the moment a bride comes to look around Barnsdale Hall they’re always enamoured with the estate.” says Russell Waters.

“Its oldest and grandest part dates back to 1890, and is at the heart of an estate which enjoys probably the best location in Rutland, on the shores of Rutland Water with its stunning backdrop - wonderful for wedding photographs.”

“Being so popular with the county’s brides, and hosting as many weddings as we do, 106

we’ve built up a great relationship with a number of wedding suppliers, so it seemed only fitting that we host an event that would save brides trailing around the county to find the best suppliers.”

Licensed for civil ceremonies and with dedicated wedding co-ordinators, Barnsdale Hall has a number of rooms for weddings from 30 to 120 guests, plus three venues for your wedding breakfast - the Edith Weston suite, Lakeview and Osprey. Each offers the option to seat guests in different configurations, and six different menu

“We host around 80 weddings each year, and from the moment a bride comes to look around they love Barnsdale Hall...!”

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- WEddings -

options from £35.50/head to £42.50/head, as well as three drinks reception packages, enabling you to create a wedding to suit, whilst keeping your wedding budget in check.

Ceiling swags, fairy lights, uplighters and topiary provide everything you need to decorate the venue, whilst starlit dance floors, a choice of table centrepieces, props and furniture can really help to personalise your day to create a bespoke look and feel to your event, no matter how classical or quirky you’d like your reception to look and feel.

locations in the Grade II listed hotel to ensure you get some great photographs.”

In the summer the hotel looks particularly beautiful, but Barnsdale Hall is popular for winter weddings too. A complete wedding package for up to 60 people can cost as little as £3,750 with ceremony room, function suite, wedding breakfast, welcome drinks for guests and honeymoon suite all included, allowing you to retain more of your budget to personalise your day.

“We always provide the attention to detail and commitment to a wedding that a bride should expect...”

“Barnsdale Hall is also popular with brides planning their day because we’ve a spa on site that’s great for pre-wedding pampering.” says Russell.

“We’ve a dedicated studio for hair and make-up, a spa day beforehand, or a few his ‘n’ hers treatments the day after.”

“With 66 bedrooms too, there’s plenty of room for guests, and if the weather isn’t as kind as you’d like, there are still plenty of 108

“Having the facilities is all well and good, but we pride ourselves on being able to provide the attention to detail and commitment to a wedding that a bride should expect.”

“Our popularity as a venue is underwritten by the many Rutland couples who have chosen to marry here. It’s always a pleasure to see our couples return to where they married on anniversaries and other occasions, and it’s wonderful to think we helped to make their big day truly special.”

Find Out More: To find out more about weddings at Barnsdale Hall Hotel, visit the venue near Oakham, Rutland, LE15 8AB. Alternatively call 01572 757901 or see www.barnsdalehotel.co.uk

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Sunday 22nd February

Barnsdale Hall Wedding Fair all of the local suppliers you need to create your wedding can be found in one place this month as Barnsdale Hall Hotel hosts its spring wedding fair...

20 wedding suppliers in one place will this month help any local bride to plan her wedding, no matter what the budget, no matter what the style of wedding.

“We’ve tried to include suppliers from the whole range of wedding experts, rather than just having a number of suppliers all offering the same service.” says Russell.

“That’s why our fair allows brides to plan their whole day from just the one event, taking business cards and trying samples with photographers like Alan Walters, cake artists like Country Kitchen, and seeing the work of Pollen Florist and bridalwear designer Martin Charles.”

“Best of all, admission to the event is free of charge, and you can see Barnsdale Hall Hotel for yourself, and get a good idea of how our rooms look when they’re set up for a wedding.”

The event takes place on Sunday 22nd February from 10.30am to 3pm in the hotel’s flagship Edith Weston suite.

For more information about the event or for a personal tour of the hotel, on an alternative date, contact wedding planner Julie McRoberts on 01572 757901.

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- BEautY -

Red Seeing

this month, premium make-up brand mac releases its new red, red, red collection. the bold palette encompasses everything from soft pink eyeshadows to fiery glassy lip gloss and unabashed nail colour with bold shades, with or without metallic sparkles....

MAC Reflects Glitter can be applied directly to the skin or combined with products to create high-level glitter and sparkle effects on all areas of the face, skin and hair. Shown here in Blackened Red shade; £17.

MAC Dazzleglass Lipcolour dazzles with light and shine to bring an exciting dimensional pop to your lips.

Non-sticky, non-tacky, lightweight and moisturising. Glides on. Wear alone, or layer over lipstick or Lipglass for dramatic effect, shown here in Love Alert shade; £17.50.

MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencil defines the lips with an instant release of rich, saturated colour, shown here in Kiss Me Quick; £15.

MAC Cream Colour Base can be applied directly to bare skin, or layered over foundation, moisturiser, or powder. Shown here in Casual Colour; £15.50.

MAC Lipsticks are shown here in matte, satin and lustre.

Colours are Alarm Lustre, Russian Red Matte and MAC Red Satin; £15.50.

For more information or to find Rutland stockists see www.maccosmetics.co.uk or telephone 0800 054 6076.

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Modern

dentistry

provides limitless possibilities Restoring mouths and replacing missing teeth have been the basis of modern dentistry for many years but since the introduction of dental implants, patients have been able to enjoy restorations that feel, function and look like natural teeth.

are also more tolerated by the body. With proper care and good oral hygiene, a replacement teeth solution such as a denture or a bridge will last for many years. A dental implant can actually last a lifetime.

Today’s methods of replacing missing teeth provide a range of possibilities enabling a more tailored approach to your treatment that better reflects your needs, lifestyle and budget.

The stable, implant-supported tooth replacements offer strength, reliability and durability similar to that of natural teeth. Crowns, bridges or dentures are securely anchored to dental implants.

This eliminates some of the main problems of conventional dentures: poor fit, gum irritation, pressure points, speech and taste impairment. The result is an aesthetically comfortable, reliable and stress-free solution.

The latest denture solutions are very durable. They are more stable, more comfortable, and more functional than conventional dentures. And because dental implants are made of biocompatible materials, they

The dental health Centre, 3 avenue Road, grantham, lincolnshire, Ng31 6Ta. Tel: 01476 594480, or see www.dentalhealthcentre.co.uk

Modern dentistry is undergoing a rapid advancement of solutions and products to satisfy all patient requirements, improving daily chewing function and improving personal appearance.

Colin Sutton and his implant team at The Dental Health Centre

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- FasHion -

Main: Complete AW14 range from SchĂśffel, including Ptarmigan tweed coats and shooting coats.

Opposite: Barbour Country Weekend collection, including NetherďŹ eld half zip and tweed jacket.

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Keep it

Country From on-trend tweed to technical clothing designed for the county’s hardest working farmers or those who muck out daily, we present the newest country clothing from names like Barbour, schöffel and Joules...

Words: Rob Davis.

From tweed to technicals, from the vintage style of brands like Joules to hard-working clothing for outdoors types from Schöffel and Barbour, keep it country this season and shop at local independent retailers.

This month we showcase some of the best brands for those who work and play outdoors, from shooting to farming, dog walking to mucking out the horses.

The days of country clothing being fit only for working life are long gone.

These days, country brands have made the transition into mainstream fashion, and, paired with Dubarry boots, Joules tops & jackets and other accessories, the look has travelled well from the countryside into the city as this month’s selection of country clobber proves...

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Above: Dubarry Galway Boots, RRP £299.

Right: Dubarry New Wilde quilted ladies gilét, in blue, verdigris or gold, £169.

Far Right: Barbour for Land Rover range - she wears a Penchford waxed jacket in olive, RRP £399 he wears Otterdon quilted jacket available in olive, Merlot and navy £199.

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- FasHion -

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- FasHion -

Above: Barbour Grenlaw jumper from the Estate Tweeds collection, £89.95 in Rosewood.

Right: Barbour Stornoway tweed coat in wine, RRP £299.

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- FasHion -

Above: Barbour Rynie waterproof jacket from the Classic Collection in olive, £269.

Right: Barbour Cranbourne waxed jacket from the Country Weekend collection in olive, RRP £269.

stockists across stamford & rutland: Cavells Country The Old Mill South Street, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6BG Tel: 01572 772477. www.cavellscountry.co.uk.

Fords of Oakham: Church St, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6AA Tel: 01572 722654. www.fordsofoakham.co.uk.

T&C Robinson: St. Mary’s Street, Stamford Lincolnshire PE9 2DE Tel: 01780 755378. www.tandcrobinson.co.uk.

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e s

Bespoke & Made to Measure Suits

n

Andrew J Musson

n

by a Savile Row Tailor, Andrew Musson

Bespoke Tailor of Lincoln

CALL TODAY TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A BESPOKE OR MADE TO MEASURE SUIT. 39 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8AS

Tel: (01522) 520142 info@andrewjmusson.com www.andrewjmusson.com

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The Perfect

Fit

High quality lingerie flatters the body, makes you look good and ensures you feel confident. this month we’ve asked Chameleon’s giselle Branning to predict which looks will be popular in spring and summer... every woman understands the importance of lingerie - it flatters the body, makes you feel good and provides both comfort and confidence.

This month we’ve asked Chameleon Lingerie’s Giselle Branning to provide suggestions for spring and summer’s lingerie trends. In general, every woman 122

should have a staple white, black and nude bra, then one or two ‘fancy’ bras for special occasions.

Overlays of lace, pastel blues and pretty florals are all trends for spring/summer 2015, so Giselle has picked her suggestions for what are likely to be the most popular designs and flattering products this season.

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- FasHion -

Main: Marie Jo’s Tilda in porcelain is a fragile combination of grey-blue and off-white, subtle, sophisticated and elegant, A-E cups £85/bra.

Opposite: Gracious, by Prima Donna, shown here in Krokus, features subtle embroidery for a pretty, feminine look £79/bra.

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Below: Prima Donna Soirée shown here in Paradise, cup sizes C-H £95/bra.

Right: Marie Jo’s Axelle in Giardino, available from March, combines a pretty floral print with lace trim. Cup sizes B-C £81/bra.

Opposite: A white, nude and black bra are staples which every woman should own. Prima Donna’s Couture is available in all three, plus blue and red, from B-J cups. £call.

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- FasHion -

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Right: Marie Jo’s Avero, available from April, is especially supportive with a high gore between cups.

Sizes A-E, ÂŁ66/bra.

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- FasHion Right: First Lady is Prima Donna’s nude bra with floral embellishment, cup sizes F-I £call.

stockists: Chameleon Mill Street, Oakham LE15 6EA Tel: 01572 720222 www.chameleon boutique.co.uk

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RutlandPride ONE

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0 1 5 £3.70 FEBRUARY 2

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Crosswords CRypTiC CROsswORd test your lateral thinking skills with this month’s Cryptic Crossword. Each puzzle has a set of perplexing clues to unravel, and as every lover of logic knows, the frustration is all part of the fun!

aCROss 1. Bearer of wine giving a service in church (6) 4. In the interests of man to cut fat back? (6) 9. Round sound? (4) 10. Lesser jobs returning Mexican food in French planes (10) 11. Sport screened by covering feature in Chamonix, for example (3,3) 12. Loud 6, not the first as 6 (8) 13. Elitist admitting western soprano dazzled (4-5) 15. See 16 down 16. Communist movement? (4) 17. Get seaman ordered for Boy George, perhaps (5,4) 21. Why attention given to pudding in the distant past (5,3) 22. See 1 down 24. McDonald's given foot, one gathered, on every strip in Florida (5,5) 25. See 7 26. Having backed horse, shame non-starter given total exposure (6) 27. My boss is working to become an inventor (6)

dOwN 1,22 6. showing yellow wee (7,6) 2. See 14 3. Queen in decline without a cleaner (7) 5. Raise some genial, educated girl (6) 6. Paul's in a state — that's life! (9) 7,25. 6 where wild dog gobbles pieces up after bit of fish (7,4) 8. Useless oaf Clinton cavorting with nun (3-10) 14,2,20. Partial 6 doctor put in the picture, OK to go on (3,6,5,6) 16,15 6 like nothing else (3,4,4) 18. Party laid on for knight (7) 19. He has the bottle to exploit isle (7) 20. See 14 23. In which beer is capital (5)

dOwN

1. Copy made by pouring mixture into a mould — art class pet (anag) (7,4) 9. Sympathetic vibration (9) 10. Vex (3) 11. Growing organism — industrial buildings (5) 13. Juliet's family name (7) 14. Unsmiling (6) 15. Part of speech (6) 18. High-speed keyboard piece (7) 20. Italian food (5) 21. Choose (3) 22. Grouped again on a new basis (9) 24. British prime minister (6,5)

2. Boy's name (abbr) (3) 3. Room safe from disturbance (7) 4. Castrated man (6) 5. Inexpensive (5) 6. Immobility (9) 7. Part of speech (11) 8. (Moves on) wheeled contraptions (11) 12. Assigned (9) 16. Take from (7) 17. False rumour (about a duck?) (6) 19. A rota (anag) (5) 23. Hair louse (3)

QuiCk aNsweRs

CRypTiC aNsweRs

QuiCk CROsswORd

aCROss

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