PR IDE LINCOLNSHIRE
Julian Wilkinson CEO & Publisher julian@pridemagazines.co.uk
As we approach the end of the year, we’re very much looking forward to gathering together as a team and raising a glass to another successful year producing the county’s finest magazine.
For the second consecutive month, we’re running our Big Reader Survey and inviting you to win £1,000 to spend with one of our advertisers in return for giving us some valuable insight into how to make the magazine the very best in terms of its content.
We’ve already received hundreds of responses; many more are also being collected by our website’s online form. The results are already proving very interesting and we’ll bring you a full report next month.
Our aim, though, is to begin 2026 with some valuable insight into how to continue to ensure that Pride Magazine is the very best magazine in the county.
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In this edition, we’re also looking forward to the festive season with a look at what’s happening at stately homes and county estates, plus we’ve a preview of Lincoln’s family-friendly Ice Adventure and we’ll meet the Lincoln Waites who will be performing their medieval proclamation, ‘Crying Christmas,’ on the corner of Bailgate this month.
Elsewhere we’ve our festive gift guide, we’ll visit Gareth Bartram’s Auction House restaurant in Louth and we’re making a beautiful Christmas wreath with our favourite floral designer Claire Sutton.
Our very best wishes for a great month. Please enjoy a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful, prosperous New Year!
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Lee Beel’s image of Barton on Humber’s Water’s Edge country park via Alamy. Think your photography has what it takes? Send your highquality images to our editor and get the chance to enjoy the ultimate bragging rights: your work on our front cover!
Send your very best photos to our editor Rob Davis, robin@pridemagazines.co.uk
Homes
Professionally delivered to the region’s wealthiest households
Pride Magazines engage with over 60,000 readers across print and digital. Each edition is delivered free of charge, via Royal Mail, directly into the wealthiest households – exclusively those in council tax bands F, G and H, typically valued at £500,000+.
We are the only local magazine delivered by Royal Mail directly to letterboxes. We never rely on paperboys or bulk drops. Every copy is placed with precision, ensuring your brand reaches a discerning, affluent audience.
Our circulation is further extended through carefully selected placements in premium venues including luxury dealerships, private hospitals, golf clubs, fine dining restaurants, and boutique hotels – keeping Pride highly visible across the region’s most influential spaces.
Alongside this unrivalled distribution, Pride also leads the way online, with over 36,000 discerning social media followers – more than any other local magazine. Our editions are also available via our website, app, and on Readly and Issuu, allowing readers to enjoy every issue online.
Each issue blends engaging editorial, striking design, and features that celebrate luxury living – the perfect setting to showcase the region’s finest businesses.
To promote your business in Pride, call 01529 469977, email sales@pridemagazines.co.uk, or download our media pack at pridemagazines.co.uk.
anywhere.
Local News
Back to school for Kemi and Edwina
Edwina Currie – who served in the Margaret Thatcher government – and Kemi both visited Gratham’s KGGS on what would have been the former PM’s 100th birthday
A royal visitor in Lincoln
Very Revd Dr Simon Jones, Dean of Lincoln, welcomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to Lincoln
A royal visit to Lincoln Cathedral last month as The Very Revd Dr Simon Jones, Dean of Lincoln, was honoured to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to Lincoln Cathedral.
During the visit, which included a tour of the Cathedral and a recital by the Choral Scholars, The Duke met the Cathedral’s education team to learn more about their work with school children from across the county. Visiting the Ross Learning Centre, His Royal Highness talked to Sally Bleasdale and Emma Bloys who deliver workshops to the hundreds of pupils who visit the Cathedral each year and who benefit from hands on learning activities which bring history to life.
His Royal Highness was received by Mr Andrew Clark DL, Vice LordLieutenant of Lincolnshire, and then greeted representatives from across the city, including David Chambers, High Sheriff of Lincolnshire; and Councillor Bill Mara, Worshipful Mayor of Lincoln.
Opposition leader, Kemi Bedenoch, and Edwina Currie – who served in Margaret Thatcher’s government –both visited the former Prime Minister’s school on what would have been her 100th birthday.
Both Kemi and Edwina were at Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School to speak to some of its current students and see memorabilia including Mrs Thatcher’s original school record.
Margaret Roberts, to use the former Prime Minister’s maiden name, was at the school from 1936 to 1943, serving as head girl in her final year.
She once said she would not have achieved what she did in becoming Britain’s first female Prime Minister, and the longest serving of the modern era, without KGGS. Kemi met the school’s current head girls and observed a Year 7 Science lesson.
Send your press releases & business news to us via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.
Work underway at Manor House
Now underway, work at Alford Manor House will provide a space for community and for heritage
Construction work has begun to transform Alford Manor House, paving the way for a brand new, permanent and flexible event space. The project between East Lindsey and Alford & District Civic Trust is funded by UK Government funding.
This funding will provide a new event space for concerts, and craft market stalls. It will also see the creation of a secure space for vintage agricultural equipment for the Museum of Rural Life, with work due to be completed in 2027.
Get ready for Billy Ocean
Something to look forward as winter approaches: the return of summer and a legendary Caribbean crooner!
Summer is a way off yet, but if the winter blues are setting in, console yourself by looking forward to Billy Ocean appearing in Lincolnshire on 20th June 2026 as one of the headliners of Live at Lincoln Castle. We’ve heard the Caribbean crooner performing live, and can heartily recommend you book tickets early, as it’s bound to sell out! See www.lincolncastle.com.
Humber Bridge in The Repair Shop
Historic Humber Bridge blueprint restored to former glory and shown off on BBC’s The Repair Shop...
A remarkable piece of British engineering history — the original 1930 design for the Humber Bridge — has been lovingly restored to its former splendour. The hand-drawn plan, created 95 years ago by civil engineer Sir Ralph Freeman, imagined a suspension bridge linking Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire across the Humber Estuary. Although the proposal never came to fruition at the time, the concept later inspired Bernard Wex, the engineer who finally realised the bridge five decades later.
The restored drawing, once marred by tears, discolouration and insect damage, has been conserved by Angelina Bakalarou, a paper conservator from the BBC programme The Repair Shop.
“It’s something we will always cherish as a family and want others to know as well because we’re so proud of what he achieved,” said Tillie Newnham, Mr Wex’s granddaughter.
Freeman’s vision lay dormant for many years before being passed to Mr Wex in the 1960s, who used the early concept as a starting point for his own design. The resulting 1.4-mile (2.2km) suspension bridge took a decade to complete and was opened to traffic on 24 June 1981, with a formal royal opening by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip the following month. Mr Wex, who was later appointed an OBE, died in 1990, but his family continues to take great pride in his achievement. Watch on BBC iPlayer.
And Finally... Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer expressed his gratitude to the Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance during Air Ambulance Week. The LNAA has responded to over 1,000 emergencies in 2025 and is completely funded by donations.
&
The Big £1,000 Pride Reader Survey 2025
We value your opinion – and as a thank you for taking part in our Reader Survey, you could win £1,000 to spend with any of the advertisers featured in Lincolnshire Pride Magazine
We take pride in delivering Lincolnshire Pride Magazine by Royal Mail, straight into the letterboxes of our readers. We want to continue doing a great job for you – while also keeping a close eye on our competitors!
By answering just 18 quick questions about your reading habits, favourite features, and local magazines, you’ll be helping us shape the future of the magazine. As a thank you, you’ll also be entered into our prize draw to WIN £1,000 to spend with any of our advertisers.
How to Enter:
Open only to readers of Pride Magazines. Complete all 18 survey questions.
Return the form by post to Pride Magazines (for the address please see over), or complete the survey online at www.pridemagazines.co.uk/survey (for ease you can scan the QR code on the next page).
All surveys received will be entered into the prize draw.
The winner will be chosen at random from valid entries.
The prize can only be redeemed with advertisers featured in this edition of Lincolnshire Magazine.
Good luck – and thank you for sharing your views!
LOCAL MAGAZINES
1. Which other magazines, apart from Pride Magazine, do you read?
Lincolnshire Life n
Lincolnshire Today n
Lincoln Independent n
Lincolnshire In Focus n
Simply Boston/Spalding/Your Time n
No other magazines n
Other (please name) n
2. Do you read any local magazines that are bulk delivered in cafés, restaurants, shops etc?
Yes, regularly n Occasionally n
Rarely n Never n
3. How often do you purchase a local magazine in a newsagent or supermarket?
Always n Often n
Occasionally n Never n
4. Which of the following topics appeal most to you as a reader?
Rate each topic from 10 (most interested) to 1 (least interested) accordingly
Local News
Local Events
Homes/Gardens
Food/Drink Fashion
Cosmetics
Motoring
Travel
Win £1,000 to spend with any of our advertisers!
Complete our Reader Survey by answering just 18 questions for your chance to win £1,000 to spend with any of our advertisers. Your feedback will help us make Pride Magazines even better and give us valuable insight into other local magazines in the area
PRIDEMAGAZINE
5. How often do you read Pride Magazine?
I read every issue delivered n
I sometimes read it n
Inever read it n
6. How well do you feel that Pride Magazine reflects the area?
It’s excellent n Quite well n
Very well n Not well n
7. Which of the following statements best describes your engagement with Pride Magazine?
Ilove it n Ilike it n
It’s OK n I’m not keen n
8. Including yourself, who else reads your copy of Pride Magazine, (family, friends etc)? In total, how many people read your copy?
Number of People:
Details:
COMPLETE ONLINE
If it’s easier for you to complete online: www.pridemagazines.co.uk/survey
Or, cut out and send the survey to... Pride Magazines
Venture House
Boston Enterprise Centre
Endeavour Park
Boston Lincolnshire PE21 7TW
LINCOLNSHIRE LIFE MAGAZINE
9. How often do you read Lincolnshire Life Magazine?
Every issue n Often n
Occasionally n Never n
10. How do you obtain your copy of Lincolnshire Life?
I pay for it in a shop/newsagent n Isubscribe to the magazine n
I pick it up free from somewhere n
I can’t comment as Idon’t read it n
11. If you currently read Lincolnshire Life, how would you describe the way you read it?
Ilove it n Ilike it n
It’s OK n I’m not keen n
I can’t comment as Idon’t read it n
LINCOLN INDEPENDENT
15. How often do you read Lincoln Independent Magazine?
Every issue n Often n
Occasionally n Never n
16. If you do read Lincoln Independent Magazine, how would you describe the way you read it?
Ilove it n Ilike it n
It’s OK n I’m not keen n
I can’t comment as Idon’t read it n
Your Name:
Address:
Telephone:
Email:
LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY MAGAZINE
12. How often do you read Lincolnshire Today Magazine?
Every issue n Often n
Occasionally n Never n
13. How do you obtain your copy of Lincolnshire Today?
I pay for it in a shop/newsagent n
Isubscribe to the magazine n
I pick it up free from somewhere n
I can’t comment as Idon’t read it n
14. If you currently read Lincolnshire Today, how would you describe the way you read it?
Ilove it n Ilike it n
It’s OK n I’m not keen n
I can’t comment as Idon’t read it n
ABOUT YOU
17. What is your age bracket/gender?
Under 30 n 3150 n
5160 n 6170 n 71+ n
Gender:
Female n Male n
Other/Private n
18. Which council tax band does your property fall into? A n B n C n D n E n F n G n H n
High Life
A Night in Vegas Charity Ball
Based in Lincoln, Williams Wealth Management recent held its first charity fundraising ball, with a theme of ‘A Night in Vegas’ at Lincoln’s Charlotte House Hotel, supporting Age UK, Leap and Edan Lincs
Images:Rob Davis.
Guests of Williams Wealth Management enjoyed a glittering evening at the firm’s A Night in Vegas Charity Ball, held at Lincoln’s elegant Charlotte House Hotel. The black-tie event combined sophistication and spectacle, with a sparkling drinks reception followed by a sumptuous three-course dinner, live entertainment, and a lively silent auction, all in support of three outstanding local causes: Lincoln & South Lincolnshire Age Concern, Leap, and Edan Lincs. The evening captured the glamour and excitement of Las Vegas while raising vital funds for charities that provide care, support, and safety for people across the county. Williams Wealth Management’s dedication to community and philanthropy shone as brightly as the evening itself.
See www.williamswealthmanagement.co.uk
Eat Drink & Enjoy
FIND JOY IN THE ART OF EATING WELL
ENJOY A FESTIVE TREAT WITH LINCOLNSHIRE’S TIPPLEMILL
DINING OUT AT THE AUCTION HOUSE ON LOUTH’S CORNMARKET
PLUS: RESTAURANT LISTINGS: OUR LOCAL SUGGESTIONS WITH OLD FAVOURITES AND NEW DISCOVERIES
Dining Out
Auction House on Louth’s Cornmarket
When you’ve worked at Lincolnshire’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, and appeared on TV as a Great British Chef, what do you do for an encore? If you’re Gareth Bartram, the only thing left is to establish an absolutely superb restaurant in the centre of Louth
Words: Rob Davis.
Santa Claus is set to be very busy again this month. The figures vary enormously from source to source, but a quick online search seems to suggest that he delivers to something like 250 million homes, travelling 160,000,000km and reaching speeds of 4.7m km/h. It’s hard work delivering all those presents, so by the time he reaches Lincolnshire, we reckon he’ll be absolutely starving… and probably sick of the usual mince pie and sherry that households typically leave out for him.
When he’s in our neck of the woods, we reckon he should stop somewhere for a bit, put his feet up and enjoy some really good food. This month’s suggestion should be right up his chimney.
Gareth and Lucy Bartram founded Restaurant Auction House in Louth 18 months ago and the restaurant, on the town’s Cornmarket, has enjoyed much-deserved success ever since.
Raised mainly in Cleethorpes and a graduate of Grimsby College, after working locally Gareth went to London and at the age of 19, he trained further under Gordon Ramsay at Boxwood in the Berkeley Hotel, Knightsbridge.
Returning to the area, Gareth and Lucy married in 2014 and the day after returning from their honeymoon Gareth started work at Winteringham Fields, becoming the Head Chef of Lincolnshire’s only Michelin-starred restaurant in 2018 and appearing on the Yorkshire and East Midlands heats of The Great British Menu on behalf of the restaurant in 2019 and 2021.
With a desire to establish their own restaurant though, Gareth and Lucy found a place in the centre of Louth dating back to the early 19th century and with a Grade II listing, previously trading as a café, now a superb restaurant.
Taking on the building, the two created Restaurant Auction House and a year and a half later, it’s capable of great things. It offers a ‘small but perfectly formed’ 24 covers, and dining worthy of any accolade you can think of, but with a sense of accessibility and comfort, not elitism or snobbery.
Gareth himself sums up the ethos of the place in a single quote: “I love food, I love making people happy with food, so the idea was to create a place that people would genuinely and profoundly enjoy.” >>
Opposite: Gareth and Lucy Bartram. Above: Barbecue pork chop with saltbaked celeriac, apple, mustard and sage, £29. Lindisfarne oyster with Sriracha, £6. 6oz Flat Iron Steak with Café de Paris butter and watercress, £16.
Dining Out
ON THE MENU
Restaurant
Auction House
SNACKS
Lincolnshire Poacher
crumpet with walnut ketchup and chives, £7.
Toasted rosemary focaccia, with roasted beef dripping, £6.
Alfred Enderby smoked salmon tartlets with whipped ricotta and dill, £6.
SMALL PLATES
Chicken and mushroom vol-au-vent with cauliflower purée, miso and Parmesan, £14.
Cured North Sea red bream with beetroot, wasabi and whipped cod’s roe, £13.
6oz flat iron steak with Café de Paris butter and watercress, £16.
LARGE PLATES
Pan-fried coley with fennel salad, potato, chive, smoked eel and ponzu sauce, £28.
Barbecue pork chop with salt-baked celeriac, apple, sage and mustard sauce, £29.
Roast short rib of beef, caramelised Roscoff onion and ox cheek sauce,£34.
SIDES
Bitter winter leaf salad with blue cheese, cashew and pear, £5.
Potato terrine with pickled cabbage and chicken fat mayo, £7.
SWEET
Affogato with vanilla ice cream and espresso, £6.
Pineapple upside-down cake with pineapple caramel and yoghurt sorbet, £9.
Milk chocolate mousse with malt ice cream, puffed pearl barley, orange and extra virgin rapeseed Oil, £10.
NB: Sample menu and featured dishes, subject to availability and change.
>> Another aim that Gareth was determined to fulfil right from the outset was an investment in his team’s wellbeing and their personal development. Accordingly there are three people in the kitchen – a fairly healthy number to create food for 24 diners – and the place opens from Wednesday to Sunday ensuring the team all enjoy a good work/life balance.
Unsurprisingly, this means Gareth has kept more or less the same team since the restaurant’s opening and the restaurant’s talent and creativity has remained within its walls.
Gareth’s aim was to create menus which democratise the same use of quality ingredients and chefcraft for which he was so well-regarded at Winteringham Fields.
What he and the team are offering at Restaurant Auction House is different, and more accessible, with breakfast, lunch and dinner all available and all very well-priced despite Gareth’s pedigree.
Breakfast options, served from 9am-11am, include eggs both Florentine and Benedict, plus steak and eggs, and a flagship Full English at a wholly reasonable £14, with proper local produce and a homemade toasted muffin.
Lunchtime service from noon until 2pm provides a choice of a du jour menu with two options per course and three courses for just £30. The restaurant’s à la carte menu runs during both lunchtime service and evening service from 5pm to 8pm, and evening diners can also pre-book Gareth and the team’s tasting menu which provides six dishes for £69 with an optional flight of wine for £55.
Gareth and the team favour local suppliers where consistency and quality allow, with local butcher Woollis & Son of Louth providing butchery, local shoots yielding game and Alfred Enderby supplying smoked fish. Other local suppliers include Lincolnshire Poacher and Cote Hill.
Fish is sourced from Sailbrand and Hodgsons of Cornwall, whilst Wellocks provide fruit and veg. Gareth and the team make their own bread, desserts, ice creams, sorbets, yoghurts, sauces in-house.
Local suppliers also contribute to the restaurant’s provision of drinks too, with Luda of Louth, the South Ormsby estate, Elsham Wold and Munyard Brewery all contributing local spirits and craft beers.
Our photoshoot saw Gareth and the team creating some of the snacks and small plates from the à la carte menu, as well as a couple of main courses and one of three side dishes. At certain points, Restaurant Auction House’s à la carte options are posh, but a theme more consistently reflected throughout the dining experience is one of comfort food.
Opposite: Cured North Sea red bream, £14. Above: Side dish of potato terrine with picked cabbage and chicken fat mayonnaise, £7. Pineapple upsidedown cake £9.
A side dish of potato terrine was quasireligious, whilst a milk chocolate mousse with orange zest took familiar flavours and elevated them to the status of spectacularly satisfying.
The restaurant itself is relaxed, happy and comfortable with a huge amount of talent, and during our visit, a lovely view of busy Louth town centre through the bay window.
Perhaps it shouldn’t have come as a surprise; after all, the place has a mention in the 2025 Michelin Guide, the Good Food Guide and in Harden’s. But still, Restaurant Auction House proved to be a really good find that surpassed expectations. It’s a really exciting place to dine and home to effortless passion and talent.
The place offers a warm welcome and ultimately, some absolutely brilliant food... if Santa pops down the chimney this month, he won’t be disappointed, although we doubt he’ll be able to fit back up again afterwards!
Restaurant Auction House
The Pitch: “Offering a menu using the finest produce available in an intimate, relaxed atmosphere, ensuring every dish shines through. Expect a dynamic dining experience with plenty of laughter, music and unforgettable flavours.”
Opening Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 9am11pm (breakfast); 12 noon2pm (lunch); 5pm8pm (dinner).
Restaurant Auction House: Cornmarket, Louth LN11 9PY. Call 01507 311805 or see www.auctionhouserestaurant.co.uk.
Gingerbread House Cake
A fun festive centrepiece for the family to enjoy
A magnificent centrepiece that’s deceptively easy, fun to create with youngsters and allows you to be really creative with two tiers of sponge and warming festive gingerbread
This month’s recipe Gingerbread House Cake
Cut out and collect our great seasonal recipes each month in Pride Magazine.
Preparation Time: 2hrs
For the sponge:
450g unsalted butter, softened, 450g caster sugar, 8 large free-range eggs, 450g self-raising flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 4 tbsp milk
For the buttercream:
500g unsalted butter, softened 1kg icing sugar, sifted, 2 tsp vanilla extract
For the gingerbread houses:
350g plain flour, 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 125g unsalted butter, 175g light brown sugar, 4 tbsp golden syrup, 1 egg
For decoration: A few boiled sweets (red or yellow); White royal icing; Small candy canes and festive sugar decorations
A centrepiece worthy of any Christmas table, this stunning two-tiered creation combines the charm of a gingerbread village with the indulgence of a winter sponge cake. Soft vanilla sponge, frosted in snowy white buttercream, forms the base for a miniature gingerbread street — with glowing sugar-glass windows, piped icing roofs and a scattering of festive sweets.
Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
Grease and line one 20cm and one 15cm round tin. In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract. Sift in the flour and baking powder and fold gently. Add the milk to achieve a soft, dropping consistency. Divide the mixture between tins, level the tops, and bake for 40–45 minutes until risen and golden. Allow the sponges to cool completely.
Beat the butter until very light and fluffy, then gradually add the icing sugar. Add vanilla and milk, beating until smooth and spreadable. Use some buttercream to sandwich each cake’s layers if desired, then coat both cakes fully with a smooth layer, using a palette knife to create an even ‘snowy’ finish.
Make the gingerbread: Gently melt the butter, sugar, and golden syrup in a saucepan, then leave to cool slightly. In a bowl, combine flour, bicarbonate of soda, and spices. Stir in the cooled syrup mixture and egg to form a dough. Chill for 30 minutes. Roll out to 5mm thickness and cut small house shapes (around 7cm tall), cutting windows into some. Place on parchment-lined trays, fill window spaces with crushed boiled sweets, and bake at 180°C for 10–12 minutes. Cool before decorating with royal icing.
Assemble and decorate: Position the larger sponge on a cake board and arrange nine gingerbread houses around its edge, securing each with a little icing. Stack the smaller cake on top (use dowels or straws for support if needed) and fix seven houses around it. Finish with a couple of extra gingerbread cottages and candy canes on top for a charming snowy village effect.
Christmas with Tipplemill
The perfect Christmas gift, and a local tipple to enjoy with family and friends this season, this month we’re enjoying Tipplemill London Dry with founders Lily and James Craven on their farm...
Words: Rob Davis.
It’s all about family. Christmas, that is, although we could equally be talking about Tipplemill Distillery. Fifth-generation of farmers Lily and James Craven will be enjoying a family Christmas and raising a glass to the festive season courtesy of their London Dry Gin, produced using stonemilled wheat grown on their farm in their base spirit.
In addition, the 10 botanicals used in their product include sweet fennel and elderflower grown on the farm as well as grapefruit and orange peel, coriander seeds and juniper berries, angelica, and orris root.
“Right from the outset we had the idea of producing a product that was authentic and better than mainstream spirits,” says Lily.
“Rather than industrially-made ethanol, we’ve upheld our values of sustainability, traceability and quality with the creation of a base spirit produced from our own wheat crop and milled for us at Moulton Windmill.”
The family’s farm in the Lincolnshire Fens was founded by Frank Craven, who also operated the now-derelict mill on the land. In 2023 Lily and James decided they wanted to celebrate the British countryside and the family’s farming heritage whilst reaffirming the link between farmer and consumer.
Tipplemill London Dry Gin is distilled over a long period in a traditional copper still, and the bottle itself, its stopper (with its millstone design) and the artwork have all been created in Britain with authenticity and a desire to celebrate the countryside in mind.
Tipplemill has won a double gold award at the prestigious World Spirit Awards underwriting its authenticity, traceability and its quality...
Tipplemill is an exceptional artisan gin, but don’t just take our word for it. The family were thrilled when their spirit won a double gold award at the World Spirit Awards in New York and again the following year in San Francisco, prestigious accolades from the best trade events in the spirits world, putting Lincolnshire on the map and underwriting the quality of its ingredients, its traceability and the authenticity of its provenance.
“Christmas is a really special time, when we all look back on the farming year and spend time together as a family,” says Lily.
“We all get together by the fire and enjoy a board game or just spend time as a family around the dinner table so our ultimate aim is to be a small part of everyone’s Christmas, contributing to their gin and tonic or a festive cocktail, and helping to champion the Lincolnshire countryside.”
“We’re a bit biased, but we think it’s a great gift, and a really enjoyable treat when you put your feet up on the sofa with loved ones in the winter months!”
Tipplemill Gin is available directly from www.tipplemill.com, £44, 70cl, 44% ABV. Pride readers can benefit from free giftwrapping and UK delivery by using the code ‘PRIDE’ on Tipplemill’s website.
Mulled
Gin with a deep, wine-spiced
winter opulence
A warm, luxurious twist to your festive gin selection
How’s this for a taste of Christmas?
Burleigh’s Mulled Christmas Gin blends juniper and red wine soaked spices, from cinnamon and nutmeg to star anise, for a smooth, indulgent sip brimming with festive warmth and luxury. Ideal straight, in a G&T or stirred into mulled wine for an extra layer of Christmas magic.
Burleigh’s Mulled Christmas Gin, £39.99 / 70 cl / 40% ABV From www.vipbottles.co.uk.
The Wine Cellar
Our December picks bring festive flair to your home with an elevated festive gin, rich reds, decadent sweet wine and luxe non-alcoholic alternatives – ideal for cosy nights by the fire or dinner with friends
Three Wines to Embrace the Season
Château Liot’s Sauternes features fresh, fruity notes, of honey and passion fruit, ideal with Christmas pud! £22 / 75cl / 13.5% ABV.
Famille Perrin’s La Vieille Ferme White has elegant lemon and pear freshness. Ideal with festive canapés.
£8.25 / 75cl / 13% ABV.
Pagos del Rey ‘409’ Ribera del Duero 2022/23 features rich dark fruit and oak, excellent with roast meats.
£10 / 75cl / 14% ABV.
Wine of the Month
Château Batailley’s Pauillac delivers grandeur and warmth: generous oak, vanillatinged cassis and raspberry layers, a beautifully structured wine to pair with roast goose or fine beef. Its depth and elegance make it a splendid centrepiece for your festive dinner, offering a memorable, luxurious sip that lingers. An exceptional tread from one of Bordeaux’s oldest estates.
£75 / 75cl / 13% ABV www.majestic.co.uk.
Warming
amber spice but without the alcohol...!
Mahala Amber is a South African, alcoholfree spirit, crafted with warm botanicals such as clove, cardamom and oak.
Rich, spiced and gently smoky, it offers depth and complexity for festive sipping without the ABV. Delicious poured over ice, with tonic, or as the base for winter mocktails.
Mahala Amber Alcohol Free Spirit, £25.99, from www.drinksone.com
THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE
BOSTON
THE BALL HOUSE
A familyfriendly pub with a cosy atmosphere, offering traditional British fare. Known for its Sunday carvery and extensive menu that includes options for vegetarians, vegans, and glutenfree diners. Wainfleet Road, Boston, PE21 9RL. Call 01205 364478 theballhouseboston.co.uk.
MEET &MEAT
A distinctive fusion of Mediterraneaninspired cuisine with a modern touch. West Street, Boston PE21 8QN. Call 07723 237070 or see www.meetandmeat.co.uk.
THE MILL INN
OUR GOOD FOOD AWARDS WINNERS
Each year we ask our readers to vote for their favourite restaurants, coffee shops and food producers, revealing our winners in our January editions. We’ve highlighted our winners in buff to make sure they’re easy to see!
Promote your business in our Good Food Guide for just £15 + VAT per month! Get in touch with our friendly team on 01529 469977 or email us at sales@pridemagazines.co.uk to find out more.
Help us keep Lincolnshire Pride up to date: If you notice a change to any restaurant, pub or café featured, we’d love your help to ensure our listings are comprehensive and up to date... email any updates to editor@pridemagazines.co.uk
YE OLDE RED LION
THE CHEQUERS
A popular pub known for its warm ambiance and classic British pub dishes and Italian too.
Spilsby Rd, Boston, PE21 9QN. Call 01205 352874 or see www.themillboston.co.uk.
MONKEY & I
Conveniently located in Church Street, providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere for visitors to meet up, relax, and enjoy our authentic Thai cuisine. Church Street, Boston PE21 6NW. Call 07808 590203 or see www.monkeyandithai.co.uk.
THE ROPERS ARMS
Italian bistro serving authentic dishes, set in an early C19th public house overlooking the Maud Foster mill and river. Horncastle Road, Boston PE21 9BU. Call 07572 456110.
THE WHITE HART
Part of the Coaching Inn Group, set within a charming 19th century hotel, this restaurant provides a varied menu focused on British cuisine. The riverside views make it an ideal spot for a memorable meal.
High Street, Boston, PE21 8SH. Call 01205 311900 or see www.whitehartboston.com.
An awardwinning country pub that prides its self on producing satisfying dishes. Cosy atmosphere in the winter, with Low beams & log burning fires. For great summer dining there’s also a relaxing beer garden. Try the Lincolnshire Tapas, too! Bicker, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE20 3EF. Call 01775 821200, www.redlionbicker.co.uk.
GRANTHAM
ANGEL & ROYAL
Reputedly England's oldest inn, with the Kings Room Restaurant and Bertie's Bistro and Bar.
High Street, Grantham, NG31 6PN. Call 01476 565 816 or see www.angelandroyal.co.uk.
BELTON WOODS
Bar & Grill with a warm and welcoming atmosphere and offers an inviting selection of flavourful grilled dishes. Spa, golf course and fourstar accommodation on site.
Gonerby NG32 2LN. Call 01476 593 200 or see www.beltonwoods.co.uk.
BROWNLOW ARMS
In the heart of a picturesque village in Lincolnshire, the Brownlow Arms is a 17th century country inn formerly owned by Lord Brownlow. Providing good old fashioned country hospitality and modern comforts in a tranquil and relaxing location.
Hough on the Hill, NG32 2AZ. Call 01400 250234 or see www.thebrownlowarms.com.
Seasonal dishes from longstanding favourites to monthly changing dishes, from a team passionate about creating the tastiest and most interesting food they can.
Woolsthorpe By Belvoir, NG32 1LU. Call 01476 870701 or see www.chequersinn.net.
THE GREEN MAN
A traditional British pub offering hearty meals in a friendly setting, specialising in steaks and classic pub fare. High St, Ropsley, NG33 4BE. Call 01476 585897 or see the-green-man-ropsley.com.
HARE & HOUNDS
17th century public house promises good dining, and a friendly atmosphere. Fulbeck, Grantham NG32 3JJ. Call 01400 273322 or see hareandhoundsfulbeck.com.
PLOUGH, WILSFORD
Exceptional pub restaurant home to Paul Reseigh, formerly of the George of Stamford. Fabulous à la carte menu of satisfying dishes prepared with excellent chefcraft and imagination. Wilsford, NG32 3NS. Call 01400 664037 or see theploughinnwilsford.co.uk.
RESTAURANT JERICHO
Fine dining in the Vale of Belvoir courtesy of this fascinating 20course tasting menu based restaurant, with just 12 covers a night. Orchard Farm, Plungar NG13 0JA. Call 01949 728288 or see www.restaurantjericho.com.
The Old Bakery, Lincoln.
LINCOLN
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2024 ANTLERS AT THE WHITE HART
Lincolnshire Pride’s Restaurant of the Year for 2024, as voted for by our readers. Antlers serves seasonally inspired à la carte lunch and dinner menu. For those who are looking for a perfect way to celebrate, Antlers also serves a full Afternoon Tea menu and classic cocktails as well as offering a unique private dining option.
Bailgate, LN1 3AR. Call 01522 526222 or see whitehart-lincoln.co.uk.
THE BRONZE PIG
A stylish, modern restaurant known for its seasonal menu featuring locally sourced ingredients with an innovative Mediterranean twist.
Burton Road, Lincoln, LN1 3LB Call 01522 524817 or see www.thebronzepig.co.uk.
NO.38 AT THE TOWER
3 AA star hotel offering exceptional dining for nonresidents too, delivering satisfying à la carte dishes.
38 Westgate, Lincoln LN13BD. Call 01522 529999 or see www.thetowerlincoln.com.
THE OLD BAKERY
A notforprofit restaurant offering tasting menus that highlight seasonal ingredients.
26-28 Burton Road, Lincoln, LN1 3LB. Call 01522 244646, www.theold-bakery.co.uk.
BEST INTERNATIONAL DINING RESTAURANT 2024 OLÉ OLÉ
Familyrun authentic Spanish restaurant set in the heart of Lincolnshire’s historic Lawns. The Lawn 3 Ingleman Place, Union Rd, Lincoln, LN1 3BU. Call 01522 534222 or see www.oleolelincoln.co.uk.
THE THOROLD ARMS
KENWICK PARK
Fantastic food and drink in the family friendly Fairways Restaurant and Keepers Bar. Kenwick Park, Louth LN11 8NR. Call 01507 608806 or see www.kenwick-park.co.uk.
MANSION HOUSE
British eatery known for warm service and delicious meals, featuring an inviting open fire. Upgate, Louth LN11 9HD. Call 01507 610305 or see mansionhouselouth.co.uk.
NEWARK
TAYLOR’S FINE DINING
Familyrun, finedining restaurant in the heart of Newark. Locally sourced, seasonal produce with tasting menus and set menus. Castle Gate, Newark NG24 1AZ. Call 01636 659986, or see www.taylors-restaurant.co.uk.
PIG &WHISTLE
Locallysourced British dishes with a rustic charm and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Healing, Grimsby, DN41 7QF. Call 01472 884544 or see www.healingmanorhotel.co.uk.
SAN PIETRO
TwoAA Rosette Award winning fine dining restaurant benefitting from the Sicilian heritage of Pietro Catalano who runs the business with wife Michelle.
Scunthorpe, DN15 6UH. Call 01724 277774 or see www.sanpietro.uk.com.
WINTERINGHAM FIELDS
Lincolnshire’s only Michelinstar restaurant offering an immersive dining experience with a focus on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Winteringham, DN15 9ND. Call 01724 733096 or see www.winteringhamfields.co.uk.
SKEGNESS
GRAIN STORE CAFÉ, RESTAURANT
& BAR
Delicious breakfast and lunch served daily, with evening dining Friday and Saturday, showcasing seasonal estategrown produce, rare breed Lincoln Red beef and the finest local ingredients. Doddington Hall, Lincoln, LN6 4RU. Call 01522 243189 or see www.doddingtonhall.com.
HOBBSONS
Formerly Browns Pie Shop & Restaurant. A ‘Best of British’ restaurant specialising in home crafted pies.
Steep Hill, Lincoln, LN2 1LU. Call 01522 527330 or see www.hobbsons.co.uk.
THE JEWS HOUSE RESTAURANT
Our restaurant is housed in one of the oldest building; in our 19th year, offering set menu and tasting menu. Artisan produce, seasonal, freshness and excellent service is what we are about. The Strait, Lincoln, LN2 1JD. Call 01522 524851 or see jewshouserestaurant.co.uk.
Paul Vidic, renowned Lincolnshire chef, took over the running of a community pub, in 2021 to provide excellent food and drink in a relaxed and beautiful setting in Harmston. High Street, Harmston LN5 9SN. Call 01522 722788 or thoroldarmsharmston.co.uk.
WASHINGBOROUGH HALL HOTEL
Grade II listed, 4star Georgian Manor House hotel two miles east of Lincoln. Serving two AArosette awardwining dishes under Head Chef Mark Cheseldine. Washingborough, Lincoln LN4 1EH. Call 01522 790340, www.washingboroughhall.com
LOUTH &RASEN
ADVOCATE ARMS
Award winning restaurant serves fabulous meals created from local ingredients. The restaurant has been awarded two stars for its dining by the AA. Queen Street, Market Rasen LN8 3EH. Call 01673 842364 or see www.advocatearms.co.uk.
NORTH & NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE
FOREST PINES
Spa, hotel and golf estate with restaurant near Brigg offering bistro dining. Brigg, DN20 0AQ. Call 01652 650 770 or see www.forestpineshotel.co.uk.
HOPE & ANCHOR
Fantastic Michelin Bib Gourmand lauded pub restaurant run by Slawomir Mikolajczyk. South Ferriby, DN18 6JQ. Call 01652 635334 or see thehopeandanchorpub.co.uk.
GINGERLILY, THE VINE
Cosy, friendly atmosphere and delicious dishes including traditional English meals prepared by our experienced Chefs using local ingredients. Vine Road, Seacroft, Skegness, PE25 3DB Call 01754 610611 or see www.thevinehotel.co.uk.
SAN RUFO’S
Familyfriendly Italian eatery known for its authentic pizzas, hearty pastas, and welcoming staff Roman Bank, Skegness, PE25 1SD. Call 01754 612242 or see www.sanrufos.co.uk.
Hobbsons, Lincoln.
From cosy inns to fine dining, Pride’s Good Food Guide has your Lincolnshire dining plans sorted...
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SLEAFORD
THE BARGE AND BOTTLE
A canalside pub with a relaxed ambiance, and a wide range of satisfying food, including a good provision of Sunday lunch. Outdoor seating area with heaters. Carre St, Sleaford, NG34 7TW. Call 01529 303303 or see www.thebargeandbottle.co.uk.
THE BUSTARD INN
Beautifullypresented Grade II listed quality pub restaurant, whose awards include two AArosettes and a Traveller’s Choice award. Exceptional dining in a beautiful rural setting with private dining room and bar with flagstone floor and log burners. Main Street, South Rauceby Lincolnshire, NG34 8QG. Call 01529 488250 or see www.thebustardinn.co.uk.
THE CARRE ARMS
Charming Edwardian hotel and restaurant renowned for quality service & fabulous food. An eclectic mix of modern English and Mediterranean dishes. Mareham Lane, Sleaford NG34 7JP. Call 01529 303156 or see carrearmshotel.co.uk.
THE MALLARDS RESTAURANT
Classic British cuisine in a cosy setting, known for its Sunday roasts and welcoming service. Eastgate, Sleaford, NG34 7DJ. Call 01529 413758.
THE SOLO BISTRO
Bistro bar and hotel with traditional dishes presented in a contemporary style making the most of local ingredients. Market Street, Sleaford NG34 7SF. Call 01529 303200 or see www.thesolo.bar.
TABLEZ BISTRO
Awardwinning cafe bistro. With indoor and outdoor seating as well as a fantastic balcony, a great place to pop in for breakfast or lunch. Southgate, Sleaford NG34 7RZ. Call 01529 300922.
The George of Stamford.
THAI SABAI
Contemporary Thai restaurant specialising in Authentic Asian cuisine. Dishes are expertly prepared on the premises. Thai Chefs using only the finest ingredients along with herbs and spices which are import directly from Thailand. Millstream Square, Sleaford NG34 7RZ. Call 01529 413333 or see thaisabaisleaford.co.uk.
WATERGATE YARD
An all day and late night bar and kitchen in the heart of Sleaford. With world beers and cocktails plus a range of artisan gins. Water Gate, Sleaford NG34 7PG Call 01529 413489 or see www.watergateyard.co.uk.
SPALDING
THE BLACK BULL
Quality pub restaurant offering a wellcurated menu packed with hearty, food. Market Place, Donington, Spalding, PE11 4ST. Call 01775 822228 or see theblackbulldonington.co.uk.
JASHIR INDIAN RESTAURANT & WINE BAR
A culinary destination that offers unforgettable Indian dishes made with the finest ingredients and spices. 11 Double Street, Spalding PE11 2AA. Call 01775 423001 or see www.jashir.co.uk.
THE PARLOUR
Authentic, Edwardianstyle restaurant for lunch and afternoon tea, overlooking Springfields’ Festival Gardens. Camelgate, Spalding PE12 6EU. Call 01775 760949 or see www.springfieldsoutlet.co.uk.
STAMFORD
THE
BULL & SWAN
Everything a traditional English inn should be, with gastro food and real ales, on the magnificent Burghley Estate.
High Street St Martins, Stamford, PE9 2LJ. Call 01780 766412 or see www.thebullandswan.co.uk.
RESTAURANT WITH ROOMS 2024
CROWN HOTEL
This historic former coaching inn is now a wellregarded restaurant and hotel. A warm atmosphere and dishes with quality local ingredients. All Saints' Place, Stamford, PE9 2AG. Call 01780 763136 or see www.kneadpubs.co.uk.
MILLY’S BISTRO
Located within the Georgian William Cecil Hotel, Milly’s offers a homely vibrant feel and an inspired menu. St Martins, Stamford, PE9 2LJ. Call 01780 750070 or see www.millysbistro.co.uk.
THE OAK ROOM AT THE GEORGE OF STAMFORD
An elegant, historic venue offering a fine dining experience with classic British cuisine. Located in The George Hotel, this restaurant features candlelit tables and oakpanelled walls, ideal for special occasions. St. Martins, Stamford, PE9 2LB. Call 01780 750750 or see georgehotelofstamford.com.
WOODHALL SPA, HORNCASTLE AND CONINGSBY
THE ADMIRAL RODNEY
200 year old coaching inn
offering daytime and evening dining as well as comfortable accommodation.
North St, Horncastle, LN9 5DX. Call 01507 523131 or see www.admiralrodney.com.
THE DOWER HOUSE
Elegant country house hotel providing a range of freshly cooked dishes in a Victorian country house once home to Col Stafford Vere Hotchkin. Woodhall Spa, LN10 6PY. Call 01526 352588 or see www.dowerhousehotel.co.uk.
COFFEE SHOP OF THE YEAR 2024 KITCHENETTA
Deli and coffee shop providing freshly baked cakes and hampers as well as daytime favourites. Broadway, Woodhall Spa LN10 6ST. Call 01526 268008 or see www.kitchenetta.co.uk.
THE LEAGATE INN
Quality dining pub, run by the Dennison family since 1983 with Harry & Laura offering delicious seasonal dishes.
Leagate Rd, Coningsby, LN4 4RS. Call 07957 756495 or see www.theleagateinn.co.uk.
MAGPIES
Small family run Restaurant with Rooms set in a row of 200 year old cottages in Horncastle serving a menu of fine dining dishes created by Andrew Gilbert with Caroline Gilbert at front of house. East Street, Horncastle, LN9 6AA. Call 01507 527004, www.magpiesrestaurant.co.uk.
PETWOOD HOTEL
Serving delicious and creative food with an AA rosette award for quality and consistency. Restaurant and terrace bar, popular classic afternoon tea provision, historic links to the Dambusters Squadron which once counted the Petwood at its home, and handsome Petolandscaped grounds. Also renowned for Sunday lunches, and a popular wedding/events venue.
Woodhall Spa, LN10 6QG. Call 01526 352411 or see www.petwood.co.uk.
ZUCCHI BISTRO
Established in 2011 as a Mediterranean bistro with culinary influences. Tapas and sharing dishes as well as stonebaked pizzas, pasta and al forno dishes. Station Road, Woodhall Spa, LN10 6QL. Call 01526 354466 or see www.zucci.org.
FOOD & DRINK ACROSS LINCOLNSHIRE BUTCHERY
Boston Sausage/Mountains, home to the Lincolnshire Sausage, with a dedicated farm shop at Abbey Parks near East Heckington. Call 01205 821 610 or shop online at www.mountainsfarmshop.com.
LINCOLNSHIRE PRIDE’S BEST FOOD PRODUCER 2024
Gary Simpson Butchers, offering traceable and exceptional butchers including dryaged beef plus Lincolnshire sausages, haslet, stuffed chine and more. Sleaford, Heckington, South Hykeham and Stamford. 01529 460403, shop online at www.gsimpsonbutchers.co.uk.
BAKERY
Myers Bakery,home of the Lincolnshire Plum Loaf and artisan bakers founded by Charles Myer in 1901. Call 01507 525871 or shop online at www.myersbakery.co.uk.
Vine’s Bakery, specialise in baking artisan breads and pastries using the highest quality ingredients and time honoured traditions. Call 01522 581353 or shop online at www.vinesartisanbakery.co.uk.
LOCAL CHEESE
The Cheese Society, cheese ambassadors, retailers and cheese café in the heart of Lincoln. Subscriptions and gift boxes available. www.thecheesesociety.co.uk.
Cote Hill Cheese,home to Michael and Mary Davenport who have been creating Cote Hill White, Blue, Red, Yellow and Snowdrop from their farm since 2004, now ably assisted by son Joe, second generation cheesemaker. www.cotehill.com.
Lincolnshire Poacher, F W Read’s Tim and Simon Jones produce Lincolnshire Poacher, with a little help from their 230 Holstein Fresian cows... www.lincolnshirepoachercheese.com.
FISH
Alfred Enderby, traditional smokehouse in Grimsby specialising in drysmoking haddock, salmon and trout. www.alfredenderby.co.uk.
East Lincs Seafood, established in 1987 and providing the freshest wet fish and shellfish to consumers. Call 01205 364372.
LINCOLNSHIRE DRINKS
Bateman’s, good honest ales since 1874, including flagship XXXB ale, available in bottles or on tap in the best Lincolnshire pubs. See www.batemansbrewery.co.uk.
Belvoir Fruit Farms, the home of delicious elderflower cordials and pressés, more than 40 drinks, all with natural ingredients. See www.belvoirfarm.co.uk.
LINCOLNSHIRE PRIDE’S BEST DRINKS PRODUCER 2024
8 Sail Brewery, multiawardwinning microbrewery based in Heckington Windmill. See www.8sailbrewery.com.
Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company Multiaward winning and passionate about supplying roasted coffee, fine leaf tea, barista training & equipment with excellent customer service. Proud sponsors of The Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Typhoon Display Team. Products include Great Taste awardwinning Lincolnshire Tea. A true fresh approach. www.thelincolnteaandcoffeecompany.co.uk
Mayfield Vineyard, located in the heart of Burton Pedwardine on a 100yearold family farm, producing still and sparkling wines. See www.mayfieldwine.co.uk.
Stokes of Lincoln, artisan coffee roastery at The Lawn, Lincoln and on the city’s High Street at High Bridge café. www.stokescoffee.com.
Tipplemill London Dry Gin, dry gin with locallymilled wheat, juniper and bittersweet citrus and elderflower. See www.tipplemill.com.
The Leagate Inn, Coningsby.
What’s On
Monday 8th November to Sunday 21st December
A Fairytale Christmas at Doddington Hall
Immerse yourself in a truly mesmerising experience as you journey through a ‘Fairytale Christmas.’ Step into a land of magical fairytales as the displays unfold over three floors of the Elizabethan Hall, with a Doddington twist of course!
Doddinton Hall’s Bauble Barn is also now open, and fresh Christmas trees grown on the Doddington Hall estate will also be available as Pride goes to press, whilst Doddington Hall’s Farm Shop will stick everything you need to create a stunning Christmas lunch.
For more information see www.doddingtonhall.com
Saturday 29th Sunday 30th November Lincolnshire
Food & Gift Fair
Kick off the festive season at Lincolnshire Food & Gift, your one-stop destination for Christmas shopping, seasonal inspiration and local delights. Handmade crafts, artisan gifts and delicious treats. Cooking demonstrations to enjoy in the Lincolnshire Kitchen and festive fun for children too.
Lincolnshire Showground, call 01522 522900 or see lincolnshireshowground.co.uk.
Throughout
December
Christmas at the Cathedral
Christmas at Lincoln Cathedral, as The Christmas Orchestra performs on 1st December, from 7.15pm and 9.15pm, with a 16-piece chamber orchestra of classics from festive movies with full sound and light show.
Meanwhile on 6th December a top Michael Bublé tribute act performs a festive set including Holly jolly Christmas and White Christmas, from 7.30pm.
Finally, Hans Zimmer and Film Favourites on 10th December from 7.15pm and 9.15pm present an hour-long series of music from Hollywood’s greatest hits.
For tickets for the above see www.lincolncathedral.com or call 01522 561 600.
Send your press releases and events to us via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk
Lincoln Castle Illuminated
Saturday 20th December Christmas at Lincoln Castle
Lincoln Castle Illuminated is a magical winter celebration that transforms the building into a spectacular light display during the festive season.
This enchanting event takes advantage of Lincoln Castle’s dramatic architecture and historic walls to create a breathtaking experience that highlights the castle’s medieval grandeur.
From 4pm, for tickets see www.lincolncastle.com.
Send your press releases and events to us via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk
Friday 21st November to Wednesday December 31st Belton House
Illuminations
Explore the majestic grounds of Belton House as they are transformed into a glowing winter wonderland. Created by award-winning light trail producers, this breathtaking illuminated trail features
twinkling lights and immersive seasonal sounds. Enjoy the festive fairground, indulge in delicious seasonal treats, and sip on mulled wine or hot chocolate from our hand-picked food and beverage stalls. And of course, don’t miss a magical glimpse of Father Christmas along the way!
Call 01476 566116 or see www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
Friday 5th December to Sunday 4th January Robin Hood
This year’s pantomime at Lincoln’s New Theatre Royal is , Robin Hood, full of dance routines, outstanding vocals, ‘wow’ moments, and loads of laughter and boos!
Lincoln New Theatre Royal, Clasketgate, LN2 1JJ, call 01522 519999 or see newtheatreroyallincoln.co.uk.
Sat 6th/Sun 7th December
Open House at Harlaxton Manor
Live music in beautiful state rooms decked with Christmas trees. The perfect backdrop for a magical day out.
Harlaxton Manor, NG32 1AG, call 01476 403000 or see www.harlaxton.co.uk
Saturday 13th December Mud: Live
in Concert
That’s right, that’s right, that’s right, that’s right, you’ll really love this for a night. Iconic 70s glam rock band appear live with original members Ray Stiles and Rob Davis performing everything. from Tiger Feet to Lonely This Christmas.
From 7.30pm, Meres Leisure Centre Grantham, £27, see guildhallartscentre.com.
Friday 5th December
An Evening with Amanda
Amanda Owen, TV’s Yorkshire Shepherdess’s new live show.
Plowright Theatre, Scunthorpe, £29, see scunthorpetheatres.co.uk.
Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December
The Lincoln Ice Adventure
A brrr-illiant festive ice trail across the city with 15 finely crafted sculptures, and along the way, enjoy plenty of local retailers for a spot of Christmas shopping making your way up the famous Steep Hill to experience the magic of historic Uphill Lincoln at Christmas time.
The sculptures will be spread in various locations across the city but this year organisers have ideas to make the event even better.
Returning for its second year, the event will include visits from Frozen’s Elsa and Anna and fire dancing shows in the evening, making the event even more exciting.
n Also taking place on Saturday 13th December, visit Lincoln’s Makers Market, with a talented local group of Lincolnshire-based artists, crafters and makers on Castle Hill providing a range of gifts for your loved ones.
See www.visitlincolnshire.com
A Lincolnshire Christmas
Deck the Halls
Lincolnshire’s country estates and stately homes are pulling out all the stops (and pulling the odd cracker, too) in order to show off their beautiful interiors and provide a great day out to visitors this month.Enjoy a wonderful day out with the family and really get into the Christmas spirit!
Image: Belton House.
Doddington Hall.
Lincolnshire Showground Food & Gift Fair.
A Lincolnshire Christmas
BELTON HOUSE
There’s magic around every corner at Belton Estate this winter, as the National Trust treasure hosts its most ambitious Christmas at Belton yet. Running from 14th November to 1st January 2026, this year’s highlights include a 50-metre installation evoking the shifting beauty of the Northern Lights, and a projection transforming the historic façade with storytelling in light. Along the trail, festive aromas fill the air as visitors enjoy artisan food and drink, from mulled wine and spiced cider to indulgent hot chocolate. 01476 566116, www.nationaltrust.org.uk.
BELVOIR CASTLE
Few places capture the romance of Christmas quite like Belvoir Castle, where lavish decorations, roaring fires and stately splendour combine to create a true seasonal spectacle. The Castle’s Christmas at Belvoir celebrations promise themed rooms, festive storytelling and elegant displays that bring the magic of the season to life. Beyond the Castle itself lies the Engine Yard Retail Village, perfect for discovering gifts from independent boutiques, and its Farm Shop, with festive produce and treats. 01476 871001, www.belvoircastle.com
BURGHLEY HOUSE
The grand courtyards of Burghley House provide the perfect backdrop for one of the region’s most atmospheric festive markets –the Burghley Christmas Fair. Running from 27th to 30th November, this spectacular open-air event brings together more than 150 hand-picked stallholders offering artisan gifts, fine foods, and seasonal decorations, all set within the stunning grounds of this Elizabethan masterpiece. Later in the season, Burghley’s magnificent Carols in the Great Hall concert provides a stirring finale to the year. This candlelit evening of traditional carols and readings is a highlight of the local calendar – a festive celebration of music and history in one of England’s most beautiful houses. 01780 752451, www.burghley.co.uk.
DODDINGTON HALL
At Doddington Hall, Christmas is always a fairytale affair. This year, the historic Elizabethan mansion opens its doors once again for its Fairytale Christmas experience, running Wednesday to Sunday until 21st December.
Each room of the Hall will be transformed with enchanting displays inspired by classic tales, all beautifully decorated to reflect the warmth and wonder of the season.
The Bauble Barn is bursting with beautiful decorations to suit every style of Christmas interior – from glass ornaments to traditional garlands and tree toppers. Don’t forget to stop by the Farm Shop, stocked with delicious local food and drink perfect for Christmas feasting, and visit Doddington Hall’s Christmas Tree Yard, for sustainable trees grown on the estate. 01522 694308, www.doddingtonhall.com.
LINCOLNSHIRE SHOWGROUND FOOD & GIFT FAIR 2025
For a celebration of all things local, head to the Lincolnshire Showground at Grange de Lings, north of Lincoln, for its ever-popular Food & Gift Fair, taking place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th November.
This indoor event showcases the very best regional produce and crafts, from fine Lincolnshire cheeses and artisan gins to handcrafted gifts and festive decorations.
Visitors can enjoy cookery demonstrations, live music, and plenty of opportunities to sample seasonal fare.
It’s the perfect place to tick off your Christmas shopping list while supporting the county’s finest independent traders. General admission is £9.50/adult, £8.50/child, with a Quiet Hour on Sunday morning from 9am. 01522 522900, lincolnshireshowground.co.uk
Belvoir Castle.
A Lincolnshire Christmas
LINCOLN AT CHRISTMAS
There’s nowhere like Lincoln at Christmas.
Our city’s historic streets, from the High Street to the Cathedral Quarter, sparkle with seasonal spirit, offering festive experiences for the whole family throughout December.
The celebrations begin on Thursday 27th November, when Lincoln’s Christmas Lights Switch-On brings the High Street to life from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. With entertainment, festive food and a special visit from Father Christmas, it’s the moment the city begins to glow with Christmas magic.
On Friday 6th and Saturday 7th December, the enchantment continues with the Lincoln Ice Adventure, proudly sponsored by Lincoln BIG.
This year’s glittering attraction will transform the city with dazzling ice sculptures inspired by Lincoln’s heritage.
Wander through an icy trail of artistry,
watch live carving demonstrations, and enjoy seasonal treats from pop-up stalls. As the sculptures glisten beneath twinkling lights, the Ice Adventure promises to be a highlight of Lincoln’s Christmas calendar — a perfect blend of creativity, community and Christmas wonder.
Festive cheer also fills the city’s most iconic landmarks. Lincoln Castle Illuminated returns, bathing the ancient walls in a spectacular glow that’s simply unmissable. Meanwhile, the Carols by Candlelight concerts at Lincoln Cathedral on 8th and 9th December offer moments of peace and reflection amid the seasonal bustle.
Finally, families can enjoy The Snowman, Raymond Briggs’ muchloved classic, brought to life with live orchestral accompaniment on 13th and 14th December — a charming finale to Lincoln’s festive celebrations.
www.visitlincolnshire.com.
Crying Christmas
If you miss a unique blend of music and history this month, it’ll be a crying shame. Each December, the City of Lincoln Waites perform their Crying Christmas, and everyone is invited to see the group, who were, throughout history, the Mayor of Lincoln’s ‘official’ band, keen to spread cheer wherever they were asked to perform.
In the late fifteenth century, Christmas in Lincoln was not the restrained and reverent season we might imagine (or that we, of course, all abstemiously observe today).
Back in the 1480s, the midwinter celebration was a spirited mix of feasting, gambling and abundant ale. To herald its arrival, townsfolk would gather on St Thomas’s Day, 21st December, to hear the Cries of Christmas — a proclamation that declared the official start of the festive season.
Traditionally, it was a moment of welcome freedom, when the people of Lincoln could all make merry without fear of arrest, save by direct writ from the King. The proclamation, recorded in the city archives, announced:
“Every franchised man and denizen inhabit within this City shall have free liberty and safeguard, in honest mirth and game sports, to go or do what him please. No man will be attacked or arrested by any officers of this City without a writ from the King.”
By the sixteenth century, even as the tradition of actually performing Crying Christmas began to fade, Lincoln’s leaders still recognised its importance. The text of the Cries was written down on a flyleaf of the entries of the Common Council of Lincoln in 1565, preserving for posterity one of the country’s most distinctive festive customs.
It is thought that the original Crying Christmas was performed by members of the City of Lincoln Waites, the mayor’s own band of musicians. Records from 1571 show that three of the mayor’s officers were provided with new livery coats for the occasion — a strong hint that the Waites were already lending their musical skills to the pageant.
The Waites were, in essence, Lincoln’s civic musicians, established at least as early as 1398. They accompanied the mayor at processions, played at civic feasts, weddings and fairs, and brought music to the heart of the community and the original band survived until the nineteenth century. elby Dickinson, Lincoln’s last Waite, died in 1857 and his scutcheon, bearing a badge dated 1710 from the reign of Queen Anne, remains in the Lincoln’s Stonebow Guildhall as a cherished reminder of the city’s musical heritage.
After a silence of 150 years, the Waites returned to Lincoln in 2007 when Al Garrod, a skilled musician and historian, reformed the Mayor of Lincoln’s Band of Musick.
The revival restored not only the sound of fifteenthcentury instruments but also the ceremonial pomp and circumstances that once surrounded them. The new band was formally recognised by the Mayor and the Lincoln Civic Party on 21st April 2009, when the musicians were also presented with replicas of Selby Dickinson’s scutcheon.
In 2015, they were accorded the great honour of leading the medievalstyle funeral procession of King Richard III across Bosworth Battlefield prior to his reburial in Leicester Cathedral, a moment that connected their music to one of the most symbolic royal ceremonies of modern times.
The Waites today perform in faithful latefifteenth and earlysixteenthcentury attire, reminiscent of the reigns of Richard III and Henry VII. Their livery reflects the period’s civic dress, with colours and insignia drawn from the city’s heraldry.
Equally, their instruments are authentic copies of original which include shawms and rauschpfeifes (conical woodwind instruments), bagpipes and sackbuts (an early version of the trombone) for outdoor performances as well as softer instruments such as recorders, crumhorns and harps for indoor performances.
For the Waites, Crying Christmas remains at the very heart of what the group does.
Lincoln’s Sonorous Link with 600 Years of History
They remain proud to be keeping alive the ancient tradition of Crying Christmas, Lincoln’s unique sixhundredyearold way of welcoming in the festive season.
In the atmospheric space of St Mary Magdalene’s Church, the proclamation is read aloud once more, framed by fanfares and ancient carols played on instruments whose designs have changed little since the Wars of the Roses. The result is a piece of living history that could happen nowhere but Lincoln..
Proceeds from this month’s performance will support SSAFA, the Mayor of Lincoln, Bill Mara’s chosen charity. Founded in 1885, SSAFA (the Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association) provides lifelong support to serving personnel, veterans and their families.
The partnership between the Waites and the Mayor’s charity adds a fitting modern resonance to this ancient ceremony, supporting Lincoln’s proud civic traditions and continuing the spirit of generosity that defines the festive season. Six hundred years on from that first proclamation, Crying Christmas is still a celebration of community, music... and Christmas!
Crying Christmas will take place on Wednesday 17th December, 7.30 pm at St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Bailgate, Lincoln, in aid of the Mayor of Lincoln’s Bill Mara’s charity SSAFA (The Armed Forces Charity). Further information is available from via the group’s Facebook page.
2025 Christmas Gift Guide
Festive gift ideas for the whole family from local independent and luxury retailers
Compiled by Rob Davis.
Top Row: St Eval candles from a selection at Humber Bridge Garden Centre, from £19, 01652 637095, www.humberbridgegardencentre.co.uk. Barbour Ellison scarf, oatmeal, £34.95, Doddington Hall, Country Clothing Lincoln, 01522 812515, www.doddingtonhall.com. Middle Row: Lancôme Absolute skincare set £258, FP Watson, Bailgate, Lincoln 01522 525778. Bottom Row: Tipplemill London Dry Gin, locally made with free gift wrapping and delivery for Pride readers, £40/75cl, quote ‘PRIDE’ at www.tipplemill.com. 9ct yellow gold mother of pearl clovers necklace, £300, Hugh Rice, Hull, 0800 012 9677, www.hughrice.co.uk. Eleanor clutch bag, mulled wine, £300, Priestleys Leather Goods, www.priestleys.uk.
Top Row: Barbour cable knit socks light grey, £26.95, Doddington Hall, Country Clothing Lincoln, 01522 812515, www.doddingtonhall.com. Dubarry Bray boot, £199, e.g.: Doddington Hall, Thomas Bell of Brigg, Luck of Louth. Guerlain Aqua Allegoria 75ml EDP and Rose Glow Oil, £258, FP Watson, Bailgate, Lincoln, 01522 525778. Middle Row: Fairfax & Favor bobble hat, elderberry, £50/RRP, e.g.: Luck of Louth; Giles & Bella Newark; Fairfax & Favor Stamford. Clare Haggas’s Walk on the Wild Side 100% silk scarf, £199, www.clarehaggas.com. Bottom Row: Bishop’s Eye silver earrings (£54) and pendant (£54) based on Lincoln Cathedral’s stained glass window, from the Cathedral gift shop, call 01522 561 600.
Gifts for Him
Top Row: Pure silk ties by Claire Haggas of Lincolnshire, berry red, amethyst, £99, www.clarehaggas.com. Geo Trumper sandalwood shaving soap and simulated ivory shaving set, from a selection at FP Watson, Bailgate, Lincoln, 01522 525778. Middle Row: Joules navy mix flannel shirt, £45, Gates Garden Centre, Cold Overton, 01664 454309, www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk. Bottom Row: Novum watch, handmade by Pinchbeck of Exchequer Gate, £1,799, 01522 560550, www.haroldpinchbeck.co.uk. Self Made Man limited edition print on canvas, £95, Little Red Gallery, Bailgate, Lincoln, 01522 589134. Yeller BellyEnglish translation plaque, £16, www.dukkigifts.co.uk.
Top Row: Prada Paradigme 50ml EDP, £89, FP Watson, Bailgate, Lincoln, 01522 525778. Schöffel Brancaster shirt in navy, £90, Doddington Hall, Country Clothing Lincoln, 01522 812515, www.doddingtonhall.com. Rolex SeaDweller £17,300, Hugh Rice, Hull, 0800 012 9677, www.hughrice.co.uk. Middle Row: Baker Boy hat, £29.99, Gates Garden Centre, Cold Overton, 01664 454309, www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk. Fairfax & Favor Britannia travel bag £395 and washbag £80/RRP, e.g.: Luck of Louth; Giles & Bella Newark; Fairfax & Favor Stamford. Bottom Row: Heath gents’ bag £20; face wash £10; moisturiser £15; hair and body wash £8, Gates Garden Centre.
Gifts for Youngsters
Row: Toniebox, screenfree interactive storyteller, £99.95, Olivers
Care, Langtoft, 01778 562809, www.oliversbabycare.co.uk. Jingles reindeer stocking, £26, White Company, Stamford, 01780 769192. Lanka Kade sustainable wooden toys at Humber Bridge Garden Centre, 01652 637095, www.humberbridgegardencentre.co.uk. Middle Row: Original denbuilding kit, Gates Garden Centre, Cold Overton, 01664 454309, www.gatesgardencentre.co.uk. £60. John Deere Animal Sounds hay ride, £29.99, Gates
nightlight, £24.99, Olivers Baby Care. Bottom Row: Fred
aluminium for teenagers, £2,499, Giant Lincoln Bike Shop, Doddington Hall, 01522 812518. Pinto rocking horse, £44.99, Olivers
Top
Baby
Garden Centre. Callowesse plush bunny, cry sensor, soothing sounds,
Bear, £9.99, Gates Garden Centre. Giant road bike in raw
Baby Care.
Gifts for Pets
Top Row: Royal Worcester Wrendale dog treat jar, £24.15, Sinclairs St Mary’s Street, Stamford, 01780 765421. Drying mitts for mucky paws and bellies, £19.99, www.lordsandlabradors.co.uk. Joules dog coat, SXL, £17.99£44.99, Gates Garden Centre, Cold Overton, 01664 454309. Middle Row: Wildwash dog shampoo, conditioner, perfume, paw balm, £72.95, www.fortnumandmason.com. Barbour Marlow Fair Isle dog jumper, olive, £32.95, Doddington Hall, Country Clothing Lincoln, 01522 812515, www.doddingtonhall.com. Duck dog toy, Sophie Allport, Stamford, 01780 751044, www.sophieallport.com. Bottom Row: Sheep pet mattress, £67/small; £86/medium; £10/large, Sophie Allport. Travertine marble pet bowls, £244, www.kiwanoconcept.com.
A Family Christmas with Amanda Owen Christmas Day with Amanda
This month Yorkshire shepherdess Amanda Owen crosses t’border into Lincolnshire to host two live events as part of her tour and meet youngsters keen to learn more about farming courtesy of her new book, Christmas Tales from the Farm...
Words: Rob Davis. Image: Lorna Roach.
Christmas is good when you’ve got little ones... but even better when you’ve got middle-sized ones, reckons Amanda Owen. She should know... with nine (older) children, plus the small matter of over 1,000 sheep and cows, there’s seldom time to catch a breath on Ravenseat Farm, the 2,000-acre farm that made Amanda and her family famous.
“People say ‘oh goodness, what are you going to do when they all move out?’ and I say ‘You’re kidding, right?!?’ I can’t get them to leave: only Raven has left home so far and they all come back usually with tonnes of dirty washing, sometimes with boyfriends and girlfriends, but always with huge appetites for proper home cooking.”
“It’s what keeps you young, and I love it!” she concedes, with the warmth and down-to-earth outlook on life that made over three million people fall in love with life on the farm during lockdown.
Amanda was born in Huddersfield and fell in love with farming when she moved to her remote farm in the Yorkshire Dales. Posting on socials about her life, Amanda and her family appeared on ITV documentary The Dales in 2011 before someone at Channel 5 quite correctly reasoned that there was a big star above the shepherdess’s stable and commissioned an observational documentary series starring the family in 2018.
Especially over lockdown, when everyone was more appreciative of fresh air and open spaces, the series was a tremendous hit. Amanda’s enthusiasm for juggling bringing up nine children with farming resonated with audiences and attracted three million viewers at its peak. The popularity of the series also led Amanda to become an ambassador for women in farming and to write the first of five books based on life as a busy farmer.
This month, she’s also releasing the first in a series of seven books, this timed aimed at children between the age of seven and 11, to help inspire younger readers and farmers too.
Additionally, Amanda is currently touring the country and will reach Lincoln as Pride goes to press and Scunthorpe’s Plowright Theatre where she will host a brand new two-hour show about... well, we’re not sure. And neither is Amanda, yet!
“People always ask what the format will be, but the truth is I never know until I’m on stage,” says Amanda. “I can’t follow a script, it has to be off the cuff, interactive, and real. Sometimes audiences shout out, sometimes we laugh about farming mishaps, sometimes we talk about serious issues. It’s always different, and that’s the joy of it.”
“At the heart of everything, though, whether it’s farming, writing, or talking on stage, my message is the same: farming is tough, messy, and unpredictable, but it’s also full of joy, satisfaction, and meaning.”
And speaking of tough, messy, unpredictable events that are also full of joy, satisfaction and meaning... Christmas is nearly here, and we wondered what the festive season is like in such a busy household.
“Wonderful!” say Amanda. “And chaotic and unsentimental! Life on the farm doesn’t stop for Christmas. People imagine us sitting around with tinsel and turkey, but the truth is the animals still need feeding, drains still block, and things still break. Decorations are knocked off the tree by the dog, chocolates vanish within hours, and napkins are replaced with blue roll. There are never enough chairs, so people perch on upturned baskets, and there’s always too much brandy on the pudding, so it goes up in flames like a fireball. Sometimes guests turn up for their ‘second Christmas dinner,’ because they know we don’t sit down to eat until late. And I love it. All that chaos!”>>
A Family Christmas with Amanda Owen
Farming and family life has much in common, it’s about resilience, responsibility, and respect. My children keep me young and every morning at the kitchen table I get the gossip, the arguments, and the laughter!
>> “Farming and family life have much in common, it’s about resilience, responsibility, and respect, especially at Christmas time but all through the year. My children keep me young and every morning at the kitchen table or when we sit down together to eat in the evening, I get the gossip, the arguments, and the laughter!”
“Cooking at home happens on an industrial scale as you might imagine, but I think it’s important to share food together, certainly at Christmas but throughout the year too.”
“As a farmer I’m dismayed by the fact that we’re more distant from our food and its origin than ever. Food doesn’t magically appear wrapped in plastic and we’ve lost our sense of balance, our ability to accept that we can eat everything we enjoy in moderation.”
“We’ve come to look at the price of food in the supermarket rather than appreciating its value. People complain about butcher’s prices, but we should compare like-for-like. A joint of lamb, slow-cooked for hours until it falls off the bone, is incomparable to cheap supermarket meat. Fat carries flavour. Patience makes tenderness.”
“We’ve overcomplicated food, stripped it of its honesty, and now we try to reinvent what our grandparents already knew: cook simply, waste nothing, eat better quality but less of it. When it comes to food, I definitely believe less is more.”
“During Covid, people suddenly valued food, farming, and resilience — and just as quickly it’s been forgotten, we’ve gone back to being reliant on imported food, big retailers with their complicated national and international supply chains, and those retailers’ determination to produce food that’s as cheap as possible, not as good as possible.”
“Farmers (and especially British farmers) are often criticised from all sides. One decade it’s ‘produce more, the next it’s ‘cut back.’
First we’re told to prioritise food security, then wildlife, then carbon. Policies change with the wind, but the job remains the same: tend the land, care for animals, feed people.”
“We can’t be everything to everyone. We’re not villains, but we can’t be saints either. We do what we can, as responsibly as we can.”
“The rural/urban divide is sharper than ever. A generation or two ago most people had a family link to the land — parents or grandparents who farmed. Now that connection is gone. People come to the countryside and tell me they’d prefer the fields were woods. They mean well, but they don’t see the balance of climate, food, farming and livelihoods. It’s become too convenient to criticise farmers while booking cheap flights abroad. The hypocrisy of that is really quite staggering. ”
“And alongside our lack of respect for food, we’ve lost qualities like seasonality. We try to live by making use of what’s in front of us. This year there’s been a glut of mushrooms, so I’ve been drying them by the Aga. The freezers are full of stewed apples, plums, and whatever else we can preserve. Leaner times always come, so you prepare.”
“We’re lucky to live in the countryside, and I accept that not every aspect of our lives can be adopted by people in towns and cities.”
“We’ve got Buttercup our house cow, for example, who’s part of the family. She grazes outside with her calf and when I need milk, I pen the calf and milk her. She gives us raw milk, cream, and even clotted cream if I leave a pan in the bottom of the Aga. It’s the lazy farmer’s system, but it works beautifully!”
“But even if you live in an urban area, I still think it’s important to understand and appreciate what happens in food production, and I think that begins with educating and inspiring children, hence the reason my next book is aimed at them.”
“People often ask how my children cope with raising animals for meat. They cope because it’s normal. If lamb prices are high, the lambs are sold. If they’re low, they go in the freezer. Instead of guilt, there’s pride. We know those animals were cared for and had a good life. Eating food you’ve reared yourself isn’t betrayal, it’s respect. Your conscience is clear if you can vouch for the happy life that the animal had and the way it was treated.”
“That’s why I want to write more books for children. Christmas Tales from the Farm is full of real stories — animals, kids, farm life — written honestly but in a way that sparks curiosity. There’s even a glossary so that young readers can learn more if they want to.
“There’s no fantasy, nothing magical, and it’s honest, imparting the joy of what’s around us. Children don’t need sanitised stories; they can handle reality better than adults sometimes think.”
“Part of that is being truthful with children and acknowledging that farming isn’t just about happy moments. Animals thrive, but they also die. Calves are born strong, others are lost. You can’t pretend otherwise. I wouldn’t insult children by pretending life on the farm is all sunshine. That said, it’s full of joy too, and that’s what I want them to take away — that balance, that resilience.”
“We need to relearn how to live well, and to pass good habits on to our children, from budgeting properly, to cooking and taking responsibility for our health and our children’s health. That’s not about lectures, but about encouragement and getting back to basics. Enfranchising children in farming, in food and in cooking can really help that, and farmers in my experience are always keen to show people where our food comes from and what it takes to produce it.”
“Despite everything — the politics, the pressure, the criticism — I’m proud of what we do, like all farmers. The profession today is tough and it needs more resilience than ever. We’re expected to feed people, protect the environment, absorb criticism, and still make a living. That’s why many of us diversify, whether with tourism, dog-walking fields, or in my case writing and television. It’s survival. But at the heart of it, I’m still a farmer.”
“I sometimes laugh when people say nature is where they go to heal. For me, nature means spotting another broken gate or another escaped sheep. But it’s still a privilege. Exhausting, yes, but I wouldn’t swap it.”
“Whether I’m talking to an audience of adults or writing for youngsters, imparting that message of resilience, responsibility, and respect (for the land, for the animals, and for each other) is a great message, and if I can pass on even a little of that, then I’ll be happy.”
Amanda Owen is The Yorkshire Shepherdess, and will appear as part of her autumn tour at Lincoln’s New Theatre Royal on Wednesday 12th November (for tickets see www.newtheatreroyallincoln.co.uk, and at Scunthorpe’s Plowright Theatre on Friday 5th December (See www.scunthorpetheatres.co.uk).
Amanda’s new book Christmas Tales from the Farm is aimed at children from seven to 11 years of age, published in hardback by Puffin, an imprint of Penguin, £4.99, see www.penguin.co.uk.
Frosted Dawn Glow
A Lincolnshire sunrise transforms a frozen lake into a breathtaking winter painting.
Image: Sunrise at the Water's Edge Country Park in Barton-upon-Humber. Lee Beel Photography via Alamy.
Lincolnshire’s countryside takes on a rare kind of magic in the depth of winter, when frost and snow cloak the land and even the air feels hushed with stillness. This striking image captures that fleeting moment just as the sun rises, spilling soft pinks, purples, and gold across the surface of a frozen lake and the icy banks that frame it.
Although the exact location isn’t immediately identifiable, the scene is unmistakably Lincolnshire – a county defined by its wide skies, open landscapes, and quiet waters. In winter, these lakes and ponds become places of extraordinary beauty. The skeletal trees stand like delicate silhouettes against the painted dawn, while the grasses and reeds are encased in silver frost, each stem sparkling as if dusted with crystal.
This is the Lincolnshire many people rarely see – not the bustling market towns or rolling farmland, but a wilder, quieter side of the county that reveals itself at daybreak. At this time of year, when nights are long and mornings are sharp, only the keenest walkers, birdwatchers, and photographers witness such views. The cold is biting, the ground crunches underfoot, and the world feels poised between stillness and awakening.
There’s also a symbolism in such a scene. Just as the solstice promises the return of longer days, this wintry sunrise speaks of hope, light, and renewal. It reminds us that even in the darkest season, beauty is everywhere – in the shimmer of frost, the colour of the sky, and the simple rhythm of nature.
For those who call Lincolnshire home, it’s a timely reminder of the quiet grandeur on our doorstep, and of the way winter landscapes can stir the soul.
Think your photography has what it takes to appear on our cover? Send your highquality images to our editor and get the chance to enjoy the ultimate bragging rights: your work on our front cover and our Cover Story double page spread!
Send your very best photos to our editor Rob Davis, robin@pridemagazines.co.uk
On the Farm Farming
What’s happening in the fields of Lincolnshire with farming correspondent Andrew Ward MBE
What’s that? A combine harvester, in mid-October? Has someone turned the alarm off and gone back to sleep? No! Whilst the cereals harvest was wrapped up a few months ago and our Capulet beans, which will be used to produce the first UK-grown baked beans, have already been harvested, the two remaining varieties (a Godiva blonde bean, and a darker Olivia) have only just been taken out of the ground.
Last year’s weather was a disaster for the crop, so this year’s production is an exercise in seed multiplication before our first full commercial crop this time next year. It’s been a long journey, but in partnership with the University of Warwick’s Professor Eric Holub, we’re really pleased that our patience and determination is beginning to yield some positive results.
What could be more surprising than a combine in the fields in October? How about “farmer in ‘reasonably happy with the weather’ shock.” In fairness though, I really can’t complain about the conditions for lifting sugar beet – which is now complete – and for the drilling of winter wheat.
It’s been dry on the beet pads which has ensured it’s been easy to clean the beet prior to it being taken to Newark’s British Sugar factory. It’s a little on the small size but I’m hoping the moisture it’s managed to take on will have kept the level sugars in the crop high, compensating for its modest (but not terrible) size and leaving both us and other growers reasonably hopeful about their returns.
The crop has certainly passed the Nala test, with both my German Shepherd and our Dachshund Frankie both equally keen to find
a sweet bit of sugar beet to carry about and nibble on... they absolutely love this time of year!
Elsewhere around the farm, things are looking nice and neat, with hedges well-maintained, tidy yards and all of the bird feeders around the farm topped up to keep wildlife well-fed throughout the colder months.
One of the nicest things about being a farmer is to walk the dog in the morning or to be out and about during the daytime, seeing so much native wildlife, from coveys of English partridges to families of pheasants, deer and hares galloping across the fields.
As we go into winter, there’s already a long list of jobs to do, from maintaining and servicing machinery to blocking off the odd entrance through which, sadly, hare coursers are still inclined to trespass onto land, damaging crops and creating wheelings in fields.
We have a good relationship with the Rural Crime Action Team of Lincolnshire Police and they’re really proactive, but the county will always be a county prone to this very problematic activity.
On a more positive note, both for farming and for wildlife, our congratulations to North Lincolnshire’s Colin Chappell who won the Regenerative Farmer of the Year title in this year’s British Farming Awards. Bourne farmer Zara Dorrington also took the Dairy Farmer of the Year Award and Takara Comrie of Gainsborough took the title of Farm Worker of the Year... congratulations!
Watch Wardy’s Waffle:Our farming correspondent Andrew Ward MBE is an arable farmer in Leadenham growing wheat, barley, sugar beet, beans and oats. Andrew has his own YouTube channel, Wardy’s Waffle, which is enjoyed by over 22,000 subscribers. Watch his updates Wednesday evenings from 7pm and Sunday mornings at 8am. Search YouTube for @WardysWaffleAndrewWard.
Above: Bourne farmer Zara Dorrington was thrilled to take Dairy Farmer of the Year Award at this year’s British Farming Awards. Takara Comrie of Gainsborough and North Lincolnshire’s Colin Chappell also took awards at the ceremony which took place in Birmingham last month.
Professor Eric Holub is a plant scientist at the University of Warwick’s Crop Centre, and was keen to see our farming correspondent Andrew Ward’s crop of Capulet beans, which will produce the first batch of Britishgrown baked beans!
Homes & Gardens
Above: Lincolnshirebased Sophie
All You Want for Christmas
If space for the family, a great location and some of the most impressive views in Lincoln are all you want for Christmas, this month’s beautiful property in Uphill Lincoln really ought to be on your Christmas list!
Words: Rob Davis.
“A handmade kitchen by Hill Farm Furniture features granite worktops and a central island with breakfast bar, plus dual Belfast sinks and a range of appliances that create a space as practical as it is lovely...”
This month’s featured property is not merely a family home... it’s also a place to enjoy (and to show off to guests) the most spectacular views of Lincoln Cathedral, especially in the evening!
Located at the end of James Street, a cul-desac yet just moments from the Bailgate and Castle Square, few homes offer as much privacy or craftsmanship, to say nothing of the Cathedral-framed panorama.
A wide solid oak door sets the tone from the first instant, opening into a reception hall lined with bespoke oak panelling, Porcelanosa tiles underfoot and underfloor heating throughout.
On the ground floor lie two double bedrooms, each served by a shared Jack & Jill en suite — ideal for accommodating guests or older children — plus a cloakroom/WC and a study tucked to the front, its oak flooring warmed by underfloor heating.
The study might serve as a quiet writing room, library, or contemplative retreat; it is generous in scale, with built-in wardrobes and views toward the front aspect.
Step through to the heart of the home and one finds a handmade kitchen by Hill Farm Furniture. Rich granite worktops, a central island with breakfast bar, dual Belfast sinks and a full suite of premium appliances — from a range cooker to steam and microwave ovens — define a space as functional as it is lovely.
A double set of French doors opens to the side, and a fine spiral staircase rises to the upper levels, giving vertical movement to the interior’s flow.
Adjacent lies the dining room, with bi-fold doors to the orangery and a stone archway that tucks the kitchen and dining realms together with elegant rhythm.
The orangery, added in 2022 by Prime Oak, is a luminously beautiful space: an oak frame, a vaulted ceiling lantern, motorised Velux windows and blinds, and bi-folding doors opening onto the rear garden.
James Street Lincoln
Location: James Street, Uphill Lincoln. Bailgate is a five minute walk.
Rooms: Five reception rooms current arranged as breakfast room, dining room, orangery, plus sitting room and living room on first floor. Four bedrooms with three en suite.
Guide Price £2,000,000
Find Out More: Currently on the market with Mundys of Silver Street, Lincoln, call 01522 510044 or see www.mundys.net
Ascending via the solid oak staircase to a hallowed galleried landing, one arrives at a living room that breathes.
A vaulted ceiling soars overhead, and a large picture window (with motorised blinds) frames spectacular views of the Cathedral. Next door, a second sitting room opens via bi-fold doors onto a balcony from which the cathedral seems almost within reach.
The principal bedroom suite has a dressing room and en suite whilst a fourth bedroom also has a shower room, making it perfect for guests over the festive season.
Outside, the garden is both striking and low maintenance. A raised ornamental Koi pond sits at its centre, water filtered and controlled, while artificial lawns combine neatness with practicality.
As the evening draws in, the garden becomes a theatre: from here, the cathedral towers through the trees, its illuminated stonework reflected in still waters.
The house is approached via electric gates, ensuring secure vehicular access whilst offstreet parking is also really generous. The property’s location is just a short distance from Bailgate with its restaurants and independent retailers.
This house is rare in every meaningful way: modern yet timeless, intimate yet spacious, private yet intimately connected to the city’s heart.
With the property now on the market, the next owners of James Street will enjoy a ‘happy new year’ in a property that’s really quite special, both in terms of its space, layout, and especially its Cathedral views!
Devereux Way, Horncastle LN9 6AU
Tel: 01507 527113
W: www.peterjacksoncabinets.co.uk E: info@peterjacksoncabinets.co.uk
Peter Jackson Cabinet Makers Ltd
VELVET ARMCHAIR
Plush Emerald velvet chair brings cosy sophistication to your lounge, £695, vintagesofa.co.uk.
SHETLAND WOOL THROW
Wild and Wool Deer Wool Throw brings warmth and elegance on winter evenings, £74.99, thewoolroom.com.
CRYSTAL CHANDELIER
Dazzling pendant perfect for a festive dining or sitting room, £4,469.90, lights.co.uk.
REGAL FESTIVE WREATH
Evergreen wreath with blue velvet ribbon, gold leaves and festive shatterproof ornaments, £565, mackenziechilds.co.uk.
MARBLE LAZY SUSAN
Elegant marble lazy Susan for festive entertaining spreads, £125, layeredlounge.com.
SCENTED FESTIVE CANDLE
Handmade festive holly candle with gold accents, creating a warm, inviting glow, £95, fortnumandmason.com.
CRYSTAL WHISKY DECANTER
Cut crystal design perfect for serving single malts in style, portable, £239.99, takumiart.com.
NUTCRACKER FIGURINE
Traditional festive figure adds playful charm to a living room or mantel, £238, villeroyboch.co.uk.
Polished silver ice bucket keeps bubbles perfectly chilled for guests, £585, christofle.com.
ICE BUCKET
Homes & Gardens
DECORATIVE CUSHIONS
Embroidered cushions bring festive charm to sofas or beds, £129, janconstantine.com.
HOLLY CASSEROLE LUXURY
Festive castiron casserole moulded with holly pattern, cerise enamel and gold, £329, lecreuset.co.uk.
FESTIVE BEDROOM CHARM
Festive robinprinted bedding, bringing seasonal warmth to your bedroom, £75, saramiller.london.
Festive Home Luxury Edit
Celebrate the season with elegant furnishings, décor and statement pieces across every room in your home.
NOEL SIGNATURE DIFFUSER
Rich festive scent of roses, smoky woods, leather and spice fills your home, £499, hollandcooper.com.
Festive garland of faux citrus, pine and berries for seasonal luxury, £579, balsamhill.co.uk.
GRAND SPRUCE STATEMENT
Realistic 9ft prelit tree with 1,559 tips and 390 warm LED lights, £795, thewhitecompany.com.
NOËL TABLE CELEBRATION
Porcelain Noël dinnerware in festive red, green, gold motifs—perfect for refined holiday tables, £various, bernardaud.com.
CITRUS SPICE FOLIAGE
Create a Beautiful Wreath for Christmas
This month Louth florist Claire Sutton of Fig & Fern is inviting you to spend an enjoyable day creating a bespoke luxury festive wreath for your home... and to make her workshops even more enjoyable, Claire has partnered with Wootton Hall at Ulceby to provide guests with a delicious festive afternoon tea too!
Words & Images: Rob Davis.
There’s no better way to welcome visitors to your home over the festive season, than by hanging a wreath on your door, and happily, you’ve everything you need to design a beautiful, bushy and entirely bespoke wreath growing in your garden and in Lincolnshire’s hedgerows.
This month, our favourite floral artist Claire Sutton is inviting you to attend one of her professionally-guided luxury wreath making workshops surrounded by the truly elegant Georgian architecture of Wootton Hall, a Grade II* listed country house near Ulceby.
“I held several workshops last year and they really were a joy,” says Claire. “The feedback we received was wonderful; everyone had great fun and we’re hoping that we’ll have lots of return visitors as well as welcoming people for the first time.”
“This year our workshops on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th November will also feature a festive afternoon tea with finger sandwiches on artisanal breads plus warm homemade scones, handcrafted patisserie and a pot of loose-leaf tea too.”
Claire is based near Louth and is a keen advocate of sustainable floristry.
A member of the British Flowers Movement, Claire is keen to ensure that, in all of her events and in her work with Lincolnshire couples, her floristry reflects seasonality and supports British growers.
From her studio adjacent to her 1840s farm cottage, in an area of outstanding natural beauty in the Wolds, Claire also mentors
Opposite: Claire’s floristry studio adjacent to her home in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
other florists hoping to pursue a similar style, providing tuition for professionals.
But this month, she’s just as keen to help non-professionals to discover the pleasure of floristry, and will host her two workshops in order to impart a few techniques that can be adapted to empower anyone to create beautiful bespoke floral designs in their own home, with much of the materials already growing in their own back garden.
“There are no rules as such, but definitely some techniques and guidance to help you get a head start and to allow your creativity to flourish... the most important thing that I can provide though is my enthusiasm for creating something beautiful and my love for using flowers and natural materials straight from the garden, of which there’s an abundance not just in high summer but at this time of year too!”
We were keen to learn a few of Claire’s techniques, so first off, she offered some guidance on how to create a festive wreath for the door. Decent scissors are a must, as is some floristry wire, which can easily be found at good local florists, craft shops and DIY stores... everything else can be found in the garden!
Christmas wreaths have been a familiar sight on front doors since the pre-Christian era. The circular form without a beginning or end symbolises eternity, an unbroken cycle of life, hope and renewal. Evergreens were traditionally cherished during the winter solstice as a sign that life would endure through the darkest days.
By the 16th century, Lutherans were crafting Advent wreaths from evergreen boughs, each candle representing a week leading up to Christmas. The door wreath, a later adaptation of these, became a gesture of welcome and goodwill and a way to invite the spirit of Christmas into the home.
Fir, holly, ivy and eucalyptus are all very good candidates for use, and are sufficiently woody to ensure your wreath can be tightly bound together with floristry wire.
“In terms of your wreath base, you can use a metal frame, available at any decent floristry
Festive Floristry
Below: Create a festive decoration for anywhere in your home, with some inspiration from Claire.
supplier or garden centre,” says Claire. “Some bases are made from vines, others are packed with sphagnum moss, and if you’ve a metal frame you’ll need to secure some moss to it in order to provide some material which will retain moisture.”
“Floristry wire, likewise, is a really good way to bind moss to your wreath frame and to tie-in foliage and decorations, but you can also use strong twine.”
Claire created our wreath using eucalyptus, hydrangea heads and flowers dried in her garden as well as seed heads and slices of orange that she dried at a low temperature in the Aga for a few hours.
“My starting point is usually a preferred colour scheme and I do like to see where a wreath will be hung before I start working which is a good way of informing about colours and different decoration.”
“Black doors are fairly easy to work with as they’ll take most colours, but a deep red is my favourite. I’d choose sage for a grey door and for a sage green, lilac, purple or soft pink and so on.”
“Having explored the garden with a pair of secateurs and decided on the material I want to use, I tend to add mosses and broader leaves first, working my way around the circumference and making it as bushy or as neat as you want according to the style you’re hoping to achieve.”
“At this point it’s a good idea to secure your hanging twine or wire and keep in mind which is the ‘12 o’clock position’ of your wreath. I then add decorations from pine cones or orange slices, berries like hips for colour, or seed heads, usually at twelve, three, six and nine on the clock face.”
“I’m a bit of a magpie and tend to look out for ribbon or strips of fabric that I can incorporate too, and it’s possible to incorporate some battery-powered LED lights into a wreath or decoration too.”
To prove this, Claire’s next walkthrough was the creation of a pair of decorations for her kitchen shelves. Using a length of ribbon we attached some twinkly lights on a thin wire with hips, and some eucalyptus and orange slices.
“Not everyone has huge mantelpieces that require a great big bushy swag, so it’s a fairly compact decoration, but one that enables you to bring a festive touch to the kitchen or to style a dresser or bookshelf,” says Claire. “Living kitchens are popular in country homes. but they tend to be neglected in terms of decoration, so it’s a nice way of continuing the Christmas theme you’ve used in your reception rooms into the space where you spend much of your time.”
“I try to make sure that the techniques I suggest are as transferable as possible, so once you’ve got to grips with handling wire and collecting material from the garden, you’ll feel inspired to approach any space in your home and give it a festive feel!”
Claire Sutton is the founder of Fig & Fern, providing floral design from her studio in the Wolds. Claire’s festive wreath making courses take place on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th November from 1pm with afternoon tea and materials included, £98/person, prebooking essential, call 07976 974568 or see www.figandfern.co.uk.
Fresh Christmas Trees
Christmas trees were popularised by Prince Albert, husband to Queen Victoria, during the 1840s, introducing the German custom of bringing a tree into the home to Windsor Castle. Today, Britain’s love affair with real Christmas trees shows no sign of fading. Between seven and eight million are sold in the UK each year.
The most popular variety is the Nordmann fir, which accounts for around 80% of sales nationwide. Its glossy, dark green needles and superb retention make it ideal for homes that like to decorate early.
The Norway spruce, by contrast, is more traditional and its sharp pine scent fills a home beautifully, though its needles tend to drop sooner.
To keep your tree looking fresh, start by sawing an inch off the base before placing it in water — much like fresh flowers, this allows it to absorb water effectively. Keep the stand topped up daily and avoid positioning the tree near sources of heat.
For those looking to buy a real tree this year, Lincolnshire offers a fine selection of growers and suppliers:
n Doddington Hall, Lincoln: Beautifully grown Nordmann firs and spruces, available in all sizes, with a magical festive atmosphere: 01522 688868.
n Roxie’s Roots Christmas Trees: Locally grown trees, strong eco credentials and friendly service: 07796 214325.
n Fillingham Trees, near Gainsborough: Quality Lincolnshiregrown trees direct from the grower: 01427 667152.
n Snowbird Christmas Trees, Grantham: Traditional family business supplying freshly cut firs and spruces: 01476 563008.
n Pennells at Sleaford North Hykeham: Wellstocked selection of premium trees and stands: 01522 880033.
n Gates Garden Centre, Cold Overton:
A wide choice of real and artificial trees in a lovely festive setting: 01664 454309.
n Bay Tree Garden Centre, Spalding: A good range of trees alongside seasonal gifts and decorations: 01775 760868.
Jockey Bridget Andrews at Market Rasen Races, image
Mick Atkins
Boxing Day Racing
Jump for joy this month as one of the most popular fixtures in Market Rasen Racecourse’s calender returns to provide Boxing Day racing the whole family can enjoy
Words: Rob Davis.
It’s as much of a tradition as turkey and tinsel. If you’re experiencing cabin fever after feverish preparations for Christmas Day, take joy in the idea that on Boxing Day, you can get out in the fresh air and enjoy a day at the races. Best of all, you don’t need to venture too far, because Market Rasen Racecourse has a 100-year history of bringing the excitement of jump racing to Lincolnshire audiences, and its 26th December fixture is among its most popular both with seasoned fans of racing and novices.
Each year, nearly 100,000 racegoers make their way to the course on Willingham Road, not just for the sport but for the convivial atmosphere that has defined the venue for over a century.
Market Rasen Racecourse, now part of The Jockey Club, has been at the heart of county life since 1924, and remains one of the friendliest places in Britain to enjoy a day at the races.
As Jack Pryor, General Manager of the Jockey Club-owned racecourse explains, Market Rasen is one of fifteen racecourses operated by the organisation, which has shaped the sport for over 250 years. “The Jockey Club was originally founded as the regulatory body for British racing,” he says, “But since the 1960s it has also owned and managed racecourses as custodians of the sport’s heritage. Everything we earn is reinvested, whether into prize money, facilities, and the welfare of horses and riders. We’re not a commercial enterprise in the usual sense because all of our profits go back into racing.” It’s a structure that keeps the focus on the sport rather than shareholders, and one that allows courses such as Market Rasen to retain their individuality and rural charm.
Racing first came to Market Rasen almost a century before the racecourse’s permanent home was established. From 1828, meetings were held on makeshift fields on the outskirts of town, before six locals, Harry Abraham, Wilfred Cartwright, Robert Bygott, William Frearson, Robert Fletcher and James Henry Nettleship purchased the land at Willingham Road in 1923. >>
>> The first official fixture took place on Easter Monday, 21st April 1924, with Have a Clue taking the inaugural win. Early years saw modest facilities, comprising a wooden steward’s hut, an ambulance room, and stabling for about thirty horses.
During the Second World War, the racecourse was requisitioned by the military and became temporarily home to several regiments, as well as the Italian prisoners of war who later helped restore the grounds.
Racing resumed in 1946, and under the stewardship of Victor Lucas the course flourished. He oversaw its modern layout, the construction of new grandstands, and the expansion of the fixture list to twelve meetings a year.
Market Rasen Racecourse
In the decades since, Market Rasen has evolved into a year-round venue and a key player in British jump racing. Red Rum won two novice steeplechases here before his legendary Grand National victories, and in 1993 returned to open the Red Rum Bar.
With over twenty fixtures each year, from Easter and Ladies’ Day to Boxing Day, it remains one of the country’s premier summer jumping courses and a proud part of Lincolnshire’s sporting landscape.
Jack believes part of Market Rasen’s enduring appeal is its accessibility. “You don’t have to be a racing expert to have a brilliant day out,” he says.
“It’s a family occasion. You can wrap up warm and enjoy the atmosphere, or dress to
the nines and sip Champagne... either way you’ll fit right in. Boxing Day in particular is such a great tradition. It’s a chance to get outdoors, see some sport, and spend the day together before the New Year.”
The course offers three enclosures (these are named County, Tattersalls, and Lawn) with hospitality options ranging from coffee and cake to fine dining, and under-18s admitted free of charge at almost every meeting.
Behind the spectacle, the welfare of horses remains paramount. “The wellbeing of our horses and riders is at the heart of everything we do,” Jack says.
“We invest constantly in best practice, veterinary care, ground management and safety. There are no compromises.”
Market Rasen Racecourse from 11,00ft, photography © John Fielding.
Jack believes the horses themselves share a sense of purpose.
“You can’t make a 500-kilo animal run if it doesn’t want to. They’re athletes; they know when they’re on the course. You can see their ears prick up when they return. It’s a wonderful thing.”
From its humble beginnings to its place today as one of Britain’s most admired smaller courses, Market Rasen continues to embody the spirit of Lincolnshire — proud, welcoming and full of tradition.
Whether you study the race card carefully or simply back the horse with the nicest name, there’s no better way to spend Boxing Day than in the company of family, friends and the thrill of the turf.
Jumping for Joy: How to enjoy a flutter
For those who enjoy a day at the races, having a small flutter is all part of the fun — though the mechanics of betting can sometimes seem a mystery to the uninitiated. In truth, it’s easier than it looks, and even a modest wager can add a spark of excitement to the day.
When you arrive at the racecourse, you’ll see bookmakers setting up along the rails, each with a board showing their odds for the next race.
You can bet to win — backing your chosen horse to come first — or you can bet each way, which doubles your stake but pays out if your horse finishes within the top few places.
So a £2 eachway bet will cost £4 in total: £2 on the horse to win and £2 on it to place. If it wins, you’ll be paid out on both halves of the bet; if it comes second or third, you’ll still collect a smaller return.
As for choosing your horse, some racegoers swear by studying the form — the set of statistics listed in the race card. Each horse’s previous performances, distances run, jockey and trainer are shown there, along
Upcoming Fixtures
Thursday 4th December: Pricedup Christmas Jumper Raceday
Friday 26th December: Rand Farm Park Boxing Day Racing
Friday 16th January: County Raceday
Sunday 5th April: Easter Sunday Racing
Sunday 5th July: Family Extravaganza Raceday
Saturday 18th July: Ladies Day 2026.
Market Rasen Racecourse is based at Legsby Road, Market Rasen LN8 3EA. Call 0344 579 3019 or see www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/marketrasen.
with details of the going (ground conditions) and any weight carried.
A little time spent studying can be rewarding, and even casual punters soon get a feel for what might make a strong contender. Others take a lighter approach, choosing a horse with a favourite name, a lucky number or the bestlooking animal in the parade ring.
As Jack Pryor says though, “You can go as deep or as lighthearted as you like. Some people study form for hours, others pick the one whose silks they like best — and other just pick the best looking jockey... happily, any approach can result in a win. That’s the fun of it!”
Whether you’re placing a serious bet or just having a cheerful punt for a pound, betting at the races is about the thrill and the fun, not the risk, so if you’re out on Boxing Day with friends and family, remember it’s the one who has been luckiest of all who has to get the first round of drinks in afterwards!
Back a horse, cheer it home, and enjoy the shared excitement that’s made racing a beloved British pastime for generations.
Market Rasen Racecourse’s General Manager Jack Pryor.
BRANSTON
• Detached three storey residence • High quality finish
• Four reception rooms • Bespoke cabinetry open plan kitchen/breakfast room
• Six double bedrooms • Five bathrooms
• Gated access • EPC: C
GUIDE PRICE: £925,000 - £950,000
SOLD
LITTLE HUMBY
• Detached Residence
• Formal Sitting Room
• Premium Finish Throughout
• Snug/Dining Room
• Kitchen, Utility & Pantry
• Three Bathrooms
• Four Double Bedrooms
• EPC: D
GUIDE PRICE: £750,000 - £800,000
WELLINGORE
• Detached Self-Build • Drawing Room
• Sitting Room • Dining Room
• Kitchen & Utility
• Five Bedrooms
• Vale Garden Room
• EPC: D
GUIDE PRICE: £750,000 - £800,000
PICKWORTH
• Barn Conversion
• Vaulted Kitchen & Utility
• Principal Reception Room • Formal Dining Room
• Four Bedrooms
• 0.98 Acre Plot
• Two Bathrooms
• EPC: D
GUIDE PRICE: £700,000 - £725,000
• A Rare Blend of Heritage, Home & Business with breathtaking Trent Valley Views with sweeping panoramas from every angle.
• Step into an extraordinary lifestyle with this four-bedroom detached residence and fully working historic windmill, complete with a charming; fully operational bakery and tearoom business, available as a going concern.
MOUNT PLEASANT WINDMILL NORTH CLIFF ROAD | KIRTON-IN-LINDSEY | GAINSBOROUGH | DN21 4NH FOR SALE FREEHOLD WITH VACANT POSSESSION
• Spacious Grounds – approximately 0.75 acres of landscaped gardens with ample customer parking.
• Generous Living Space – just under 5,000 sq ft featuring three reception rooms, four bedrooms, three en-suites.
• Exceptional Architect Designed Barn Conversion Set in 2.3 Acres with Equestrian Use
• Luxurious Four Bedroomed with Spectacular Open Plan Living
• Secluded Formal Gardens with Water Feature
• 5 Paddocks, Manège, Stables, Solar Array with Battery Storage
£875,000 Subject To Contract
• Superb 3-Bedroom Barn Conversion with a spacious open-plan kitchen and living area, blending rustic charm with contemporary style.
• Over 540 sqm (5,800 sqft) of versatile open-plan workshops, currently arranged as an impressive private museum.
• Licensed Café & Touring/Camping Site - a ready-made income stream with huge growth potential.
• A Rare Opportunity to live, work, and earn in one exceptional countryside setting.
Subject To Contract
Hundleby
A stunning five-bedroom contemporary home with luxury interiors in a sought-after setting, backing on to open countryside. Oakmont is a stylish modern home completed in 2021 by renowned local builders W J Holmes, offering spacious luxury living with elegant bespoke fittings and abundant natural light throughout.
Lincoln Road
This impressive detached residence with accommodation spread over three floors has stunning far reaching open field views. The property has been extended and refurbished to a high standard throughout including bespoke cabinetry, cornicing, ceiling roses, along with feature paneling and exposed beamwork, along with oak doors, oak parquet flooring and underfloor heating.
Guide Price £925,000 - £950,000
Branston
Elm Barn
Morton
Elm Barn – a charming four bedroom home - presides over the peaceful neighbourhood of Knotts Close, a haven of calm in the heart of Morton, just a few minutes from the market town of Bourne. Private, poised and effortlessly elegant, Elm Barn is a home designed for those who appreciate both beauty and balance, blending luxury with comfort, for a refined way of living.
Guide price £800,000
Pelham James 3 Saddler’s Court, Oakham LE15 7GH. Call 01572 497070 or see www.pelhamjames.co.uk
An outstanding, substantial home with luxury accommodation and refined, elegant fittings and décor, plus a three-bedroom cottage, situated in an exclusive Sleaford setting. Royal Oak Cottage offers almost 6,000 square feet of beautifully appointed living space with elegant contemporary styling and high-quality fittings throughout, including in the impressive reception hall with its light, airy lobby with skylights overhead, central staircase with doors leading to the ground-floor reception rooms.
Guide price £1,150,000
Savills Olympic House, 995 Doddington
Royal Oak Cottage Sleaford
Luxury Homes
Eastgate
Sleaford
A rarely available opportunity to purchase probably one of the town's most impressive period homes set within an elevated, private plot of some 0.8 acres (sts) of landscaped gardens.
Price £1,100,000
Pygott & Crone 19 S Gate, Sleaford NG34 7SU. Call 01529 414333 or see www.pygott-crone.com
The Oaks Barnoldby-Le-Beck
Originally built in the 1920s, this substantial family home has been totally renovated for the modern day over the last 10+ years by the vendor, to create a stunning executive home with all the expected conveniences.
Guide price £1,150,000
Savills Olympic House, 995 Doddington Road, Lincoln LN6 3SE Call 01522 508908 or see www.savills.co.uk
Eagle Moor
Lincoln
Executive five bedroom family home plus a self contained annexe occupying a generous plot within the semi-rural hamlet of Eagle Moor.
Guide price £1,075,000
Martin & Co 33 The Forum, North Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8HW. Call 01522 503727 or see www.martinco.com
Bailgate Court
Lincoln
Perfectly positioned in the heart of Bailgate Court, this exceptional Penthouse Apartment boasts arguably the finest views in Lincoln, overlooking both the iconic Cathedral and Castle.
Price £1,350,000
Mundys 29 Silver Street, Lincoln, LN2 1AS. Call 01522 510044 or see www.mundys.net
Luxury Homes
Juniper Court
Woodhall Spa
Set to the fringe of mature woodland stands this beautifully crafted home of some considerable appeal providing thoughtfully designed accommodation.
Price £1,100,000
Robert Bell & Co 19 Station Rd, Woodhall Spa LN10 6QL Call 01526 353333 or see www.robert-bell.org
The
Manor House Sotby
Presenting itself to the market after a long awaited and extensive renovation this spacious and historic family home ideal for equestrian lovers, only a stone’s throw from the glorious Lincolnshire Wolds.
Offers in Region of £1,345,000
Perkins George Mawer & Co Queen St, Market Rasen LN8 3EH Call 01673 843011 or see www.perkinsgeorgemawer.co.uk
Aisby Grantham
Nestled in the tranquil conservation village of Aisby, this exceptional stone-built residence offers a rare blend of character, space, and lifestyle flexibility.
Guide price £1,150,000
Moores Estate Agents Barleythorpe, Oakham, LE15 7FS Call 01780 484555 or see www.countryequestrianhomes.com
Eastgate Louth
Set within 3.5 acres of landscaped parkland on the edge of Louth’s vibrant town centre, The Priory and The Dower House offer a rare opportunity to acquire two substantial and historically significant properties.
Guide price £1,250,000
Fine & Country Northern Lincolnshire 72 Wrawby St, Brigg DN20 8JE Call 01652 237666 www.fineandcountry.co.uk
Sparkle Season Fashion
Sequins shimmer brightly, adding glamour and festive flair this December.
There’s something about sequins that feels inseparable from the festive season. As soon as December arrives, so too does our appetite for sparkle. Whether you’re preparing for a Christmas party, a black-tie ball, or simply want to elevate an evening dinner look, sequins never fail to make a statement.
The magic of sequins lies in their ability to transform the simplest silhouette into something extraordinary. A plain black dress becomes instantly striking when dusted with shimmering embellishment, while a tailored blazer adorned with sequins moves effortlessly from smart to spectacular. Even a subtle touch, a sequinned camisole layered beneath soft knitwear, can inject instant glamour into an otherwise casual outfit.
This season, sequins are appearing in every guise, from the daringly dramatic to the quietly understated. If you love to go all-out, a floorlength gown that catches the light with every step is a natural choice, creating a look that’s both timeless and unapologetically festive. For those who prefer something more versatile, separates offer the perfect solution. A sequinned skirt paired with a crisp white shirt feels effortlessly chic, while sequinned trousers, styled with a simple silk blouse, strike a balance between modernity and elegance.
Daytime doesn’t need to be entirely sequin-free, either. Subtle touches, like a sequinned clutch or a pair of shimmering shoes, bring a festive edge to your everyday wardrobe without feeling overdone. Sequins in muted metallic tones – think soft pewter, champagne gold, or even deep midnight blue – work especially well for this, providing sparkle without overwhelming your look.
When styling sequins, balance is key. Let them take centre stage and keep accessories minimal. A pair of simple earrings and a sleek updo will allow the light-catching detail to shine without distraction. Equally, mixing textures can prevent an outfit from feeling too heavy, sequins
with velvet, satin, or even chunky knitwear create a rich, layered effect that feels both luxurious and wearable.
Ultimately, sequins remind us that fashion should be joyful. They sparkle in the candlelight, dazzle under party spotlights, and make us feel part of the celebration before the festivities even begin. So, whether you choose a gown that glitters from head to toe or add just a hint of shimmer to your outfit, embrace sequins this December. After all, ’tis the season to shine.
Opposite: Hester Sequin Jumpsuit, £380, www.cefinn.com. Right: Black Sequin Midi Skirt, £140, matching top available, www.mintvelvet.com.
Above: Florentine trouser suit, £99, Phase 8, www.phaseeight.com.
Left: Victoria sequin mini dress, £399, www.hollandcooper.com.
1. Trudy sequin dress, £299, phaseeight.com.
2. Velvet sequin one shoulder woven maxi dress, £149, www.karenmillen.com.
3. Long dress with sequin embellishment, £1,740, www.missoni.com.
4. Lexington sequined trousers, £1,490; Rappalo sequined blazer, £2,390; Fame sequin dress, £4,690, www.suzannah.com.
5. Brown sequin bow maxi dress, £550, www.selfportrait.com.
6. Sawyer sequin dress, £199, hobbs.com. Below: Esra sequin maxi dress in black, £657, www.reiss.com.
£375, nadinemerabi.com
£119, phaseeight.com
£180, reiss.com
From sleek minis to sweeping gowns, the black dress is fashion’s ultimate icon. Perfect for any Christmas party, it’s versatile, flattering, and endlessly chic— ensuring confidence, sophistication, and a touch of timeless drama this festive season.
£430, macduggal.com
£159, hobbs.com
£119, karen millen.com
£77,250
TIMELESS
Rolex women’s watches embody precision, luxury, and sophistication, blending heritage with modern design. Sleek and exquisitely crafted, they make a statement of effortless elegance—perfect for daily wear or special occasions. This festive season, why not treat yourself, or hint to Santa, by adding one to your Christmas list? A Rolex is more than a watch; it’s a treasured piece of jewellery and a symbol of enduring style.
£42,400
£295, rixolondon.com
Step into winter with neutral sandy suede boots, perfectly fur lined for warmth. Whether ankle or mid they blend comfort and elegance e them ideal for fes outings, country walks, or cosy city strolls in style.
£1,250, uk.louisvuitton.com £52, fatface.com £124, jayley.com £136, stellamccartney. com
COZY CHIC COLOUR POP
Vibrant clutch bags in bold hues and playful textures add instant joy to any festive outfit. Perfect for Christmas parties, they’re the ultimate statement accessory this season.
£299, kurtgeiger.com
monsoon.co.uk Festive Knitwear Celebrate the season in style with chic Christmas jumpers— cosy, colourful, and effortlessly glamorous, perfect for winter gatherings, fireside moments, and sparkling holiday soirées £99, boden.com £575, jimmychoo.com
£145, veranohill.com £195, embassylondon. co.uk £149, dunelondon.com
HUNTSMAN EPITOMISES the enduring elegance of Savile Row, crafting garments that embody refinement, confidence and heritage. From impeccably cut suits to indulgent cashmere coats, every piece is designed to transcend fleeting trends, offering a wardrobe of lasting sophistication. Huntsman’s tailoring blends traditional craftsmanship with contemporary finesse, ensuring flawless fit and uncompromising quality. Whether for the boardroom, the season’s social calendar or an elegant evening out, Huntsman is the name discerning gentlemen trust when only the very best will do.
1. Pink Cawdor Tweed Wool Slipper, £525. 2. Damson Merino Wool Rollneck Knitwear, £230. 3. Wine/Navy Cashmere Four Point Star Scarf, £350. 4. Navy Quilted Cashmere Lined Gilet, £1,250. 5. Huntsman Jo Malone Amber & Patchouli Cologne, £152. 6. Fawn Peck Silk Pyjamas, £600. 7. Houndstooth Spot Silk Tie, £175. 8. Light Blue Linen Shirt, £275. 9. Brown Hand Sewn Peccary Leather Gloves, £375. 10. Cashmere Glen Check Jacket, £3,295. Herringbone Single Cuff Shirt, £275
Purveyors of Luxury Eyewear
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43/44 Wrawby Street, Brigg, North Lincolnshire DN20 8BS
Tel: 01652 653595. Web: www.obriensopticians.co.uk
Call for an appointment or pop in to view our latest designer eyewear
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Call 01572 490950 or see www.calveo.co.uk
10 Festive Fragrances
Gorgeous scents for her
EauNarcisoRodriguezAllOfMeFloral deParfum,90ml,£120. narcisorodriguezparfums.com
Parfum,TomFordBlackOrchidReservetomfordbeauty.co.uk50ml,£135. EauChanelChanceEauSplendide chanel.comDeParfum,100ml,£149.
£75.ElieSaableparfumabsolu,50ml, eliesaab.com.
There’s nothing more thoughtful than the gi of fragrance at Christmas. A beautiful scent feels indulgent, personal, and longlasti daily reminder of your affection. This season, we’re drawn to both timeless classics and modern icons, from elegant florals to rich, warming notes perfect for winter evenings. Whether she loves something delicate, bold, or utterly glamorous, fragrance is a gi always delights. Discover our edit of this year’s deLancômeAbsolueLesParfumsRosefromtheDarkEau Parfum,100ml,£230.lancome.co.uk
Parfum,GuerlainAbsolusAllegoriaFlorabloomEaude 125ml,£143.guerlain.com.
Red-Hot Festive Picks
Flawless festive radiance for your winter skin
Carolina Herrera Highlighter delivers soft, iridescent radiance while the Kabuki Buffer Brush ensures flawless blending and sculpting. This duo elevates your festive makeup to couturelevel polish.
Nude Couture
Highlighter £49; Kabuki Buffer Brush £42 www.carolinaherrera.com.
Bold, Radiant, Unapologetic: Prada’s Paradoxe
Couture Nail Statement
Dior Vernis delivers couturecolour, shine and longwear with a gellike finish. Infused with peony and pistachio extracts for protective, glossy nails, perfect festive polish. £30/10ml, www.dior.com.
Hydrating Festive Elixir
Rodial’s Dragon’s Blood Water Serum soothes and hydrates stressed skin with a featherlight formula that plumps, protects and restores radiance: perfect for Christmas glow. £130/30ml, www.rodial.com.
Glossy Lip Indulgence
Celebrate ten years of Clarins Lip Comfort Oil, a nourishing formula with plant extracts that hydrates, softens, and enhances lips with luminous colour. A festive beauty essential. £27/7ml, www.clarins.co.uk.
Prada Paradoxe Radical Essence is a daringly vibrant fragrance, perfect for the festive season. With intense floral notes, sensual depth, and radiant warmth, it’s a confident, modern scent that makes a striking Christmas gift for the woman who shines brightest. £117 for 50ml. Available from www.prada.com.
The Ultimate Men’s Grooming Gift
Bolin Webb’s X1 Matte Red Razor and Stand combines awardwinning design with a superior shaving experience. Sleek, stylish, and engineered for performance, it’s the perfect Christmas present for the man who has everything. Don’t forget the men this festive season, a luxury grooming has never looked so good! £160 available from www.bolinwebb.com.
All our beauty products are available from local independent stockists unless otherwise stated, note that prices stated are RRP and may vary.
Sunset Promise
A decade of love led to the perfect day for Lincoln sweethearts Alex and Tess, who tied the knot surrounded by family, friends and sunshine at the beautiful Doddington Hall & Gardens
Images: Lauren May Photography, info@laurenmayphotography.co.uk, www.laurenmayphotography.co.uk.
High school sweethearts at heart –though they met a little later –Lincoln locals Tess and Alex have shared a love story filled with laughter, loyalty and laid-back romance.
After first chatting through a mutual friend back in 2013 on social media, the pair hit it off instantly and made it official in June 2013.
Ten years to the day after they got together, the couple jetted off to the Dominican Republic to celebrate. Although it turned out that Alex had a very special surprise in store.
On a golden beach at sunset, he invited Tess to take part in a heartfelt quiz about their decade together before delivering a beautiful speech and dropping to one knee.
With her dad’s blessing, Alex proposed with a dainty, sparkling ring that was ‘everything she’d dreamed of.’
Planning the big day began with one of the couple’s favourite places –Doddington Hall & Gardens – which set the tone for their romantic, relaxed wedding on a beautiful late summer’s day.
The stately home near Lincoln dates back to the late Elizabethan era and has been in the Jarvis family since 1830. It’s now under the custodianship of Claire and James Birch who host a select number of weddings at the hall each year.
The bride found her dream dress at Bride Vibe in Ulceby; a fitted, low-cut gown with delicate beaded lace detailing and a lace train, paired with a simple, medium-length veil.
“The girls at Bride Vibe were really amazing and I felt absolutely incredible in my dress,” says Tess.
Tess and Alex’s bridesmaids wore elegant olive-green multiway dresses from Style Cheat, while makeup was expertly done by Bec Marshall and hair styled to perfection by Charlotte from Hair & Feather Company.
Alex and his five groomsmen were dressed by Coneys of Lincoln, looking sharp in classic formal wear tailoring that nicely complemented the timeless surroundings of the venue.
The couple opted to keep their décor and details simple and personal. Flowers were sourced online and from local retailers, whilst a close friend lovingly created their wedding cake, a semi-naked cake with two sponge tiers.
During the drinks reception, live singer Georgia Roe provided the soundtrack – her stunning vocals earning high praise from guests.
Capturing every joyful moment was Lauren May Photography, who the
couple described as ‘the best decision we ever made.’ “She made everything feel so easy and fun – we were laughing the whole time,” says Tess.
The day was also documented by Zoe Kendall Creative, whose content creation added another layer of memories to relive.
From the emotional first look down the aisle to drinks, dancing, and heartfelt speeches, every moment was a highlight.
“Being surrounded by our favourite people made it all so special,” says the bride.
The couple are full of thanks for their parents and their entire bridal party for the love and support in the lead-up to the day, and on the day itself. Their advice to other couples planning a wedding in Lincolnshire? “Enjoy the planning and don’t worry about the small stuff as it really does go by in a flash. Soak it all in because it’s the best day of your life!”
Local Suppliers
Venue: Doddington Hall & Gardens, Lincoln, 01522 694308, www.doddingtonhall.com.
Photographer: Lauren May Photography, 07932 210274, www.laurenmayphotography.co.uk.
Content Creator: Zoe Kendall @zoekendallcreative. Makeup: Bec Marshall facebook.com/becmarshallmakeup.
Hair: Hair & Feather Company, 07595 739001.
Dress & Veil: Bride Vibe, Ulceby 01469 589647. Bridesmaid Dresses: Style Cheat, www.stylecheat.com.
Groomsmens’ Suits: Coneys, High Street, Lincoln, 01522 511187, www.coneysdesignerwear.co.uk.
Singer: Georgia Roe, tiktok.com/@geeroe_
Olivers Baby Care
New Year, New Arrival
If you’re expecting a new addition to the family in 2026, you’ll be relieved to learn that there’s a one-stop retailer with the largest selection of the best baby products in stock, offering demonstrations, car seat fitting, free parking and free local delivery... all you need now is to choose a colour for the nursery!
Words: Rob Davis.
If your plans for a happy new year include welcoming a new addition into the family, we’d like to introduce you to Olivers Baby Care. The company is close by with the largest range of quality baby products, and all of the expertise you need on site to choose the best pushchairs, car seats, nursery furniture, baby monitors, and more.
Whether you’re expecting your first baby, celebrating the arrival of a new grandchild, or helping a close friend prepare for parenthood, Olivers Baby Care has been trusted by parents since 1993.
In spring 2021, the company established its physical store to supplement its online retail, with over 5,000 products available.
Taking the risk out of ordering products like nursery furniture, pushchair systems, and car seats online, at Olivers Baby Care you can feel, try out and determine quality for yourself, checking that products aren’t too large, too small, unwieldy, or too complicated, with free demonstrations and car seat fitting for example.
As a dedicated specialist Olivers Baby Care has the most experienced staff for miles around, offering insightful and unbiased advice.
Getting Around in Safety
The first months of parenthood are filled with adventures, from the first trip home from hospital to family walks in the park. A reliable, easy-to-use travel system is every parent’s best friend, combining a pram, pushchair and car seat into one versatile package. Olivers stocks a curated range from
trusted brands such as Silver Cross, MaxiCosi, Joie, Axkid, and Cybex, all on display and each designed to blend comfort, safety and effortless style.
Silver Cross’s Cove Travel System, for example, offers RideTech wheels, advanced suspension, a bamboo-lined carrycot for overnight sleeping and coordinated accessories. Practical, durable, and beautifully designed, it’s an investment that grows with your child.
Filling Up Tiny Tummies
Whether you’re breastfeeding, bottle-feeding or doing a little of both, Olivers offers expert advice and products to make the process as smooth as possible. From Fraupow breast pumps and feeding bottles from MAM and BIBS, to ergonomic nursing pillows and sterilising kits, every item is chosen to support parents through those sleepy earlymorning feeds. For weaning, Olivers Baby Care’s collection of MAM and Munchkin feeding accessories brings colour and fun to baby’s first tastes.
Sweet Dreams
Olivers Baby Care can also help families to create calm, comforting spaces that encourage sleep for baby, and peace of mind for parents. Joie Roomie cribs, and Callowesse’s Dreamy Willow remain firm favourites, allowing little ones to sleep safely and in comfort.
A Beautiful Nursery
Creating a nursery is one of the most exciting parts of preparing for a new baby, and Olivers’ beautifully crafted furniture makes it easy to blend style with practicality. Choose from timeless Tutti Bambini and Obaby
collections, featuring cots, wardrobes, and dressers built to last beyond babyhood. Many of Olivers’ furniture pieces are convertible, evolving as your child grows; a thoughtful investment for modern families who value both sustainability and craftsmanship. Complement the look with soft furnishings, mobiles, and lighting, all carefully chosen to create a peaceful, nurturing environment.
Learning Through Fun
At Olivers Baby Care, play is never just play. Every toy, puzzle and activity centre in the range has been selected with educational value in mind, helping little ones develop coordination, curiosity and confidence from day one. Little Big Friends cuddly toys are soft and safe, whilst wooden toys from Speedy Monkey inspire imagination while reducing plastic waste. Meanwhile, sensory toys and activity gyms are designed to stimulate young minds.
These early moments of discovery lay the foundations for a lifetime of learning. And at Olivers Baby Care, you’ll find the perfect tools to nurture that growth.
From pregnancy to playtime, Olivers Baby Care provides everything today’s parents need, with expert advice, trusted brands, and a reassuring focus on quality and safety.
Understandably, parents-to-be travel for miles around to enjoy the service, range of products and expert advice of a team which offers an unsurpassed in-store experience.
Whether you’re shopping for your own little one or searching for a thoughtful gift this Christmas, you’ll find inspiration in every hand-picked product.
Walking in a Winter Wonderland
Snow-dusted peaks, opulent chalets, fine dining and thrilling pistes define the ultimate luxury Alpine winter escape...
The Alps in December shimmer with an unrivalled allure, promising snow-dusted peaks, crisp mountain air, and a certain quiet grandeur that has long lured Britain’s most discerning travellers.
When one speaks of luxury winter escapes, the conversation inevitably turns to chalets – those private, exquisitely appointed sanctuaries where your every whim is attended to, from a roaring fire and Champagne on ice, to a personal chef creating tailored menus with the best of Alpine produce.
Getting There
Ease is key. From East Midlands Airport, regular flights whisk you to Geneva in just under two hours, or Innsbruck in under three. Chauffeur-driven transfers are readily arranged, ensuring that you step from plane to piste without delay. Helicopter transfers are also an option – a spectacular way to begin your Alpine sojourn, with snowy ridgelines spread beneath you like a Christmas card come to life.
Where to Stay
For accommodation that embodies the pinnacle of sophistication, consider Chalet N in Lech, Austria. Often described as one of the world’s most luxurious chalets, it offers ten sumptuous suites (hosting up to 22 guests), a vast spa with ice fountain, private cinema, wine cellar, and a team of staff at your beck and call. If you seek a slightly more restrained yet still resplendent
experience, the Cheval Blanc in Courchevel 1850 or The Chedi Andermatt in Switzerland are equally captivating choices, with Michelin-starred dining and ski-in, ski-out convenience.
Your Alpine Itinerary
Wake to the aroma of freshly baked brioche wafting from the chalet’s kitchen, a discreet breakfast prepared by your private chef. Slip into your ski gear, stored overnight in heated boot rooms, and glide out for a morning of pristine pistes.
Courchevel offers wide, immaculate runs ideal for building confidence before tackling more challenging terrain. Verbier’s sweeping descents, meanwhile, are the stuff of legend, while Lech remains a favourite for its genteel charm and reliably soft powder.
Return by midday, where lunch is served al fresco on your sun-dappled terrace: perhaps a velvety cheese fondue paired with a crisp Chasselas wine. Afterward, indulge in a few hours of spa time – a hot stone massage to ease skiweary muscles, a plunge into the indoor pool, or perhaps simply reclining with a book as snowflakes pirouette outside the panoramic windows.
“From snowdusted peaks to roaring fires, the Alps embody winter luxury at its finest...”
“Wake to fresh brioche, ski pristine pistes, and dine on Alpine delicacies by candlelight...”
Evenings in the Alps are made for glamour. Slip into something elegant and join fellow guests for après-ski in Courchevel’s La Mangeoire piano bar, or sip cocktails by the fire at Verbier’s W Hotel.
Dinner might be a multicourse tasting menu in your chalet, designed around your tastes – local venison, black truffle risotto, or delicately smoked Arctic char.
If you prefer to step out, La Table de l’Ours in Val d’Isère and Le 1947 at Cheval Blanc in Courchevel both boast Michelin stars and a devotion to culinary artistry.
The days unfold in a rhythm of exhilaration and repose. Try heli-skiing for an unforgettable adrenaline surge, or perhaps a horse-drawn sleigh ride through twinkling
Top: Lech, Austria, is a popular ski resort and winter holiday destination. Austria Alps from Kitzbuehel ski resort. Above: Horses in Lech am Arlberg, St. Moritz.
forests for something more tranquil. Culture abounds too –St. Moritz hosts polo on snow and art exhibitions, while Zermatt charms with cobbled streets and its iconic view of the Matterhorn.
And of course, no Alpine escape is complete without shopping: boutique jewellers, couturiers, and chocolatiers line the promenades of the most exclusive resorts.
By the week’s end, you’ll have been immersed in the best the Alps offer: thrilling skiing, restorative relaxation, fine dining, and the unmistakable sense of being thoroughly, gloriously spoiled.
Flavours of the Alps
Fondue Savoyarde – molten cheese with crusty bread.
Raclette – melted cheese over potatoes and charcuterie.
Tartiflette – potatoes baked with Reblochon cheese.
Rösti – golden, crisp potato pancake.
Venison stew with red wine.
Käsespätzle – Alpine macaroni cheese.
Bündnerfleisch – airdried beef from Graubünden.
Sachertorte – rich Viennese chocolate cake.
Apfelstrudel – apple pastry with cream.
Vin chaud – mulled wine with spice
Ten Unmissable Experiences
Ski Courchevel’s perfectly groomed runs, ideal for beginners and experts alike, offering breathtaking Alpine scenery.
Dine at Le 1947, Courchevel, savouring Michelinstarred artistry paired with exquisite French wines.
Explore Zermatt’s charming old town, with cobbled streets, boutiques, and iconic Matterhorn views.
Take a horsedrawn sleigh ride in Lech, gliding through snowy forests beneath twinkling stars.
Indulge in spa treatments at The Chedi Andermatt, where East meets West in serene luxury.
Heliski in Verbier, descending untouched powder slopes for the ultimate Alpine adrenaline rush.
Sip cocktails at La Mangeoire, Courchevel, surrounded by piano music and glamorous aprèsski revelry.
Attend St. Moritz polo on snow, an extraordinary spectacle of sport, style, and society.
Shop designer boutiques in Gstaad, from jewellers to couturiers in a chic Alpine promenade.
Savour fondue overlooking snowy valleys, accompanied by crisp mountain air and local white wine.
Left, from top: Mulled wine, raclette and sachertorte.
Flying Spur by Bentley
The Bentley Flying Spur combines peerless comfort, hushed refinement, and formidable performance, offering a supremely tailored interior, a potent twin-turbo V8, and effortless presence that defines modern-day luxury
Words: Rob Davis.
Time flies. But not half as quickly as a Bentley... especially this one, thanks to its 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 which produces a whopping 550bhp.
Whilst some cars make an entrance, others simply glide in, commanding attention without ever asking for it and the Bentley Flying Spur is firmly in the latter category. Whilst it’s capable of achieving a 0-60mph dash in 4.1 seconds, and surging to 198mph, that really isn’t the point.
Designed to be a luxury saloon that perfectly blends power, refinement and handcrafted detail. Step inside and the world outside fades to a hush. This is not just an interior, but a sanctuary. Every surface is handstitched, every piece of wood veneer polished to perfection. You notice the familiar Bentley touches of knurled metal, deep carpets, leather so soft you’d swear it was tailored for you personally.
It’s a reminder that true luxury is about detail, and Bentley’s detail is unmatched.
Bentley’s engineers have really fine-tuned the Touring Specification to ensure composure. The car’s air suspension smooths out imperfections, while rear-axle steering gives this large saloon an agility you’d never expect. You glide effortlessly at low speeds and remain poised at high ones. It’s both driver’s car and passenger’s paradise—rarely do you find a machine so adept at excelling in both roles.
Technology, much like the car’s performance, is discreet but it’s definitely present in abundance. A rotating display lets you swap between modern touchscreen, classic dials, or a veneer panel, depending on your mood. It’s this flexibility, blending modern convenience with timeless tradition, that makes the Flying Spur unique.
Then there’s the practicality. A car like this might seem destined for grand occasions, but it’s equally suited to everyday life. Long journeys are consumed with ease; short trips are an event in themselves.
At this time of year, it’s particularly easy to see the Flying Spur’s appeal. It’s a car that doesn’t just get you to your destination; it enhances the entire journey. From festive dinners to black-tie occasions, from winter getaways to quiet evenings out, it ensures you arrive in the right frame of mind: calm, composed, and quietly confident.
The Flying Spur is, ultimately, a statement of traditional Bentley values, incorporating the latest technology and a wealth of performance. For those who expect their car to offer more than just transport, it represents the pinnacle of what a luxury saloon should be.
The Details
Bentley Flying Spur
Price: £163,715 (£157,300–£184,800 range across V8 to W12 variants).
Engine: 4.0 litre twinturbo V8, 550 bhp
Performance: 198mph, 060mph 4.1 secs.
Economy: 24.4mpg (combined).
Equipment: 21" ten twinspoke wheels, handfinished fluted Nappa leather in a choice of five colours, with Dinamica headliner and rear headrest cushions in matching colour. Crowncut walnut veneers on the cabin’s hard surfaces, bright chrome interior switchgear and metal detailing. Seats with heating, ventilation and massage functions (24way adjustment front; 14way adjustment rear).
See www.bentleymotors.com.
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FIND JOY IN THE ART OF LIVING WELL IN DECEMBER
HELLO DECEMBER
Poetry & Literature
Winter Words
In DrearNighted December, John Keats (1817):
KEats captures the stillness and sorrow of winter: “The feel of not to feel it, / When there is none to heal it.” A quiet reflection on nature’s endurance as the year fades.
In the Bleak Midwinter, Christina Rossetti (1872): Rossetti evokes the frozen season and the Nativity’s humble grace: “Frosty wind made moan, / Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.” Its stark imagery has become a cornerstone of British Christmas poetry.
The Oxen, Thomas Hardy (1915): Hardy recalls childhood faith and rural folklore: “Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock… ‘Now they are all on their knees,’ an elder said.” A nostalgic glimpse of old England gathered by the hearth.
A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens, (1843): Ebenezer Scrooge vows redemption after his ghostly visits: “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” Through Scrooge’s transformation, Dickens defined the spirit of generosity and goodwill that still shapes the modern Christmas ideal.
Going Wild Redwing Visit
In December, the redwing arrives in large flocks from Scandinavia to spend the winter in Britain, including across Lincolnshire and Rutland. Easily recognised by its creamy eyestripe and warm reddish flanks, it feeds hungrily on berries and fallen fruit, often alongside fieldfares and blackbirds. Redwings gather in hedgerows, orchards, and field margins, bringing movement and colour to the frosty landscape. Their thin, highpitched calls carry through the cold air as they wheel overhead, restless and alert, a sure sign of the changing season.
December Facts
Zodiac signs: Sagittarius (up to 21st December) then Capricorn.
Birthstone: Turquoise.
Birth flowers: Holly and narcissus. Full Moon: The Cold Moon takes place on 19th December 2025).
Seasonal Food: Christmas fare includes Brussels sprouts, chestnuts and turkey.
In The Garden Protect, Prune, Prepare, Plant
December is a quiet but vital month in the British garden. Protect tender plants with fleece and check stored bulbs or tubers for signs of rot. Winter pruning of apples and pears can begin now, shaping trees before spring growth, and whilst you’ve the secateurs in hand, snip some holly and mistletoe for the house. Evergreen shrubs provide structure and colour, while hellebores and winter jasmine bring welcome blooms. Clear fallen leaves from lawns and paths, and mulch borders to insulate roots. It’s also a good time to plan next year’s planting schemes, order seeds, and enjoy the calm of the winter garden.
Sound & Vision: In 1965, Thunderbirds aired its first Christmas special. Do They Know It’s Christmas? by Band Aid remains the most successful Christmas Number One of all time, selling over 3m copies. It went straight to number one on the UK Singles Chart it was the fastestselling single in British history at the time and holding the top spot for five weeks over Christmas in 1984.
TRIVIA, FOLKLORE AND HISTORY FOR DECEMBER
Folklore & Traditions
December’s Rituals and Revelry
December in Britain is steeped in folklore, blending ancient Pagan and Christian traditions. The winter solstice, usually on the 21st, was marked by our ancestors with fire festivals, celebrating the rebirth of the sun and the promise of longer days. The Yule log, originally a whole tree gradually fed into the hearth, symbolised warmth and protection; its ashes were kept to guard against evil. Holly and ivy were brought indoors as evergreens of life in the dark season, later absorbed into Christmas customs.
Medieval communities celebrated ‘The Lord of Misrule, appointing a figure to preside over games, feasts, and revelry, reversing social order for a day. Wassailing was another December rite: villagers sang and toasted
apple orchards to ensure a good harvest.
St. Nicholas’s feast on December 6th inspired giftgiving traditions, eventually merging into Christmas, while candlelight and carols carried messages of hope and renewal through the long winter nights.
Boxing Day, originally when churches opened alms boxes and masters gave gifts to servants, became a firmly British holiday.
Mumming plays—comic dramas with themes of death and rebirth—were also performed across villages during the festive season.
These rituals remind us how communities once sought light, luck, and unity in the darkest month, finding joy, laughter, and meaning amid the turning of the year.
December in History
25th December 1066:
William the Conqueror was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey, ushering in Norman rule and reshaping the nation’s monarchy, language and architecture.
25th December 1642:
Sir Isaac Newton was born in Woolsthorpe, near Grantham, Lincolnshire. His pioneering work in mathematics, optics and physics laid the foundations for modern science.
17th December 1903:
The Wright brothers made their first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina — just 12 seconds that changed the course of human history.
24th–25th Dec 1914:
Amid the horrors of World War I, British and German soldiers laid down their arms for the Christmas Truce, meeting in No Man’s Land to exchange greetings and even play football.
1st December 1919:
Lady Nancy Astor took her seat in Parliament, becoming Britain’s first female MP and paving the way for women in politics.
5th–9th Dec 1952:
The Great Smog of London shrouded the capital in thick, toxic fog caused by coal smoke. The deadly conditions led to thousands of deaths and prompted a new era of clean air legislation.
2nd December 1982:
American patient Barney Clark became the first person to receive a permanent artificial heart – a medical milestone watched closely by researchers around the world, including here in Britain.
20th December 1990:
The world’s first web browser was launched, marking the birth of the internet age. British computer scientist Sir Tim BernersLee would go on to revolutionise how we live, work and connect.
THE QUIET JOY OF CHRISTMAS
The first dusting of snow had just begun to settle across the rooftops of a small Lincolnshire market town when Jonathan realised something magical was happening. He had been bustling about, helping his wife, Lillian, with Christmas preparations in their Georgian home just off the High Street, when he noticed the sound: children laughing as they skated across the frozen village pond, neighbours greeting each other with warm smiles, and the smell of freshly baked mince pies drifting from the bakery on the corner.
Jonathan, a man known for his quiet efficiency and meticulous planning, had always thought of Christmas as a checklist — cards, gifts, turkey, lights. But that morning, as he watched Mrs Clarke wrestle with her overflowing shopping bag and instinctively stepped forward to help, he felt a shift. That small gesture sparked a ripple: Mrs Clarke offered him a warm mince pie in thanks, and soon the marketplace seemed to hum with goodwill.
Later that afternoon, Jonathan found himself helping Lillian prepare for their annual festive tea, a tradition they had hosted for neighbours and friends for over twenty years. The table, polished to a soft glow, was set with fine china, silver cutlery, and sprigs of holly. Yet it wasn’t the gleaming tableware or carefully arranged centrepiece that made the moment memorable. It was the gathering itself: families chatting across generations, old friends reconnecting, children leaning in to hear Lillian recount tales of her mischievous youth, Jonathan quietly soaking up every smile and every laugh.
As the day drew on, he ventured out to the market square, where the snow had deepened into a soft white blanket. Stalls glimmered beneath strings of golden light, selling wreaths, hand-knitted scarves and jars of homemade jam. The air was rich with the scent of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine. He spotted the choir from the church gathered on the steps, their voices lifting in harmony, and for a moment Jonathan simply stood still, letting the sound and the glow of the evening wash over him. The familiar streets, lined with Georgian façades, seemed more beautiful than ever — not grand, but graceful, perfectly at ease with Christmas.
Then it happened. Young Edward, the shy boy from next door, shyly offered Jonathan a small wrapped parcel. “For you, Mr Jonathan,” he said, cheeks pink from the cold. Inside was a handmade card, edges slightly uneven, with the words: “Thank you for helping me when I slipped on the ice. You made my Christmas happy.” Jonathan’s throat tightened, warmth flooding his chest. In that instant, all the planning and preparation had led to this single, perfect moment.
As dusk fell, Jonathan slipped outside once more. Snowflakes swirled under the glow of the old street lamps, the town square twinkling with garlands of light. From the church came the faint sound of carols, the familiar strains of Silent Night, and in the shop windows, ribbons, candles, and wreaths made every street feel like a scene from a Christmas card.
He thought of Stamford, with its Georgian streets and honeycoloured stone, where he and Lillian sometimes wandered in early December to admire the windows and sip mulled wine in the market square. There was something timeless about the town at Christmas — the way its graceful façades seemed to lend dignity to the season, as if Christmas itself had always belonged there. It wasn’t the grandeur that charmed him, but the sense of continuity — people coming together, year after year, in the glow of shared tradition.
When Jonathan returned home, Lillian was waiting by the fire, a pot of tea steaming gently beside her. They sat in companionable silence, watching the snow gather on the sill. “You know,” she said softly, “I think this might be our happiest Christmas yet.”
Jonathan smiled. Outside, the church bells began to ring, marking the hour. Inside, surrounded by warmth and the quiet contentment of a life well-shared, he realised what Christmas truly meant — not the perfect day, but the perfect feeling.
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