Kit-out your garden

COVER STORY LIFESTYLE

6Living room renovations Breathe new life into your 4 living space today A matter of time The clocks go forward this month, but what does it all mean?

PROPERTY

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Kit-out your garden Be spring-ready with the best garden furniture

16 24

About us Get to know our team a little better and see why we are your agent of choice

Our latest instructions Take a look at a selection of our latest properties on the market 10 A head-start on your garden There are certain seeds and bulbs you can now start to sow

12 The Many Saints of Newark What to expect from the film based on The Sopranos series

13 New music from old stars We look at the classic bands releasing new music

14 Beat the boredom Put some bounce into spring with a new hobby

FOOD SPORT

8A feast for St Patrick’s Day Tasty Irish recipes, perfect for 15 celebrating St Paddy’s day Reaching for the pot of gold The race to reach the Premier League is entering the last leg

WELCOME TO THE MARCH ISSUE!

The schools go back in a week and, at the end of the month, outdoor sports facilities will reopen and the rule of six will come back into place. This is obviously positive news for everyone, especially with the days getting longer.

This month, to coincide with the positive news, we want to help you get your garden up to scratch and to do so we have two great features about your outdoor space. The first includes the ‘best buys’ to kit-out-your-garden in styles, and the second is our Spring gardening guide.

At the end of the month the clocks change; lighter evenings are coming and on pages 4&5 we have an in-depth look at the process. Moving inside, we have a superb feature with some incredible, space-saving living room renovation ideas.

In the middle, we celebrate St. Patrick’s day with some traditional Irish recipes, and, on top of all these, we have a preview of The Many Saints of Newark, the best new music releases from old favourites and a look at the EFL Championship teams pushing for promotion this Spring.

The clouds are clearing and there is light at the tunnel…

Remember, Stay Safe, Stay Positive.

Jonathan Wheatley Editor Back in August, the UK recorded a record-breaking heatwave. Therefore we can be hopeful of rivalling temperatures in 2021. So, in preparation, here are some perfect DIY garden ideas so you can make the most of celebrating the

British Summer from your own home.

COOK OUTDOORS

If you want to capitalise on the warm weather this Summer, then give yourself a good excuse to cook outside, and treat yourself to a new barbecue, or, if you feel like getting hands-on, then check out how you can design a barbecue from scratch. Perhaps you would like to go a step further. In this case, look to build a whole outdoor kitchen so you can really make the garden the place to be. As well as increasing your living space, its openness provides the perfect opportunity for entertaining guests, and allows everyone to gather around whilst dinner is being prepared.

SNUGGLE UP IN THE DARK

A really stylish way to transform your garden is to install a fire pit. Through just a few easy steps, and a handful of materials, you can create a stunning visual display, which is equally as practical. On cool evenings a firepit can provide you with some much needed warmth, and add some colour to your garden. On top of this, they are the perfect crowd-pleaser. With just the addition of a few chairs, fire pits are great for socialising late into the night. They can also offer a great way of cooking food. For example, you can place a grill rack over the top in order to give your dinner the authentic taste of a campfire. And what’s more, the fire pit is the gift that keeps on giving, because it can be used throughout the year. Just grab some blankets, and experience its warmth into the winter months.

CREATING

YOUR OWN SUMMER PARADISE

There is nothing more exciting about the Summer months than the prospect of hot weather

TAKE THE PARTY OUTSIDE

If you want to take the good times anywhere you go this summer, then why not create your own home bar? For example, if there is a rustic shed at the end of your garden which is going unused, then why not dust it down and revamp it into an industrial pub shed. Or, if you fancy going for a slightly more minimalist approach, then choose to extend a bar counter onto the outside of the kitchen.

By merely switching to appropriate windows, this can transform your kitchen into a restaurant-like bar in seconds, and make it easy to transfer food and drink across, creating a link between your kitchen and patio. And if you fancy designing a bar that can follow you around the garden, then opt for a sturdy bar cart, and fill it with all the drinks of a fully-stocked bar, so that, wherever you are, the party is never far behind.

SOAK UP THE RAYS

How many times have you basked in the summer heat, and wished you had a hot tub to be soaking in? Well this year, make this dream a reality! There are so many reasons why getting one would be a fruitful investment. For example, along with a fire pit, a hot tub is not restrictive to the summer season, so you can relax in one whether it’s sunny or snowing. They also add a very bold statement to any household. They’re great for entertaining guests, or if you’d prefer to use it privately, they can act as a personal oasis, whilst simultaneously boasting health benefits, such as de-stressing and muscle relaxation. And finally, soaking in a hot tub is a superb way to feel pampered, without going on holiday. Just lie back, turn on the jets, and enjoy your own private retreat

GO ALL OUT ON A SUMMER HOUSE

If you fancy an even bigger project, then why not splash out on a summer house? As well as providing a statement for your garden, summer houses are great places to detox from the stresses of everyday life. For instance, the sanctuary of a summer house offers ample opportunity to unwind with a good book, or even to get creative with arts and crafts. And if you need some peace and quiet from the bustle of your own house, then turn this space into your own home office, and say goodbye to being interrupted during all of your important meetings. More than anything though, a summer house gives you more options for entertaining, so that you can really take advantage of the warm weather.

How many times have you basked in the summer heat, and wished you had a hot tub to be soaking in?