Escape, issue 17

Win

WeeKenD For twO

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www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk Issue 17

n i O t ACBesT iNto

SeaSon’s BigGeST & ActIviTieS The

Out anD aBouT

NatUre's LarDer The neTwoRk'S FreSheSt ProDucE

Get yoUr HisTorY fIx

‹–coSplAy FamIly fuN LoaDs Of Mud PluS fAshIon

IN THIS ISSUE

G 2015 SPRIN

REACHING ACROSS OUR NETWORK – THIS IS YOUR ESCAPE ROUTE

ILLUSTRATION: KERRY HYNDMAN; EASTERN MADONNA, WALTER BIRD, C. 1935

TURN THE PAGE...

06 We’ll take you there London’s highest public garden 09 NEXT STOP The best shows, events and exhibitions, as well as our pick of the network’s top record shops 15 top five weekends Where to spend your weekend if you’re keen on culture, history or the great outdoors 23 TOP FARE Mitch Tonks takes us on a walking tour of his favourite pubs and inns 25 A to Z of curious london An unusual tour of the capital’s weirdest attractions

FIND US ONLINE

35 WHY WE LOVE...

Cardiff, a young capital with an enduring cultural heritage 36 FGW Larder We meet some of the finest local food producers from across the First Great Western network 41 KIDS’ PAGE Paddington hosts this issue’s puzzles and brainteasers 43 THE GUIDE All you need to know about travelling with First Great Western trains 50 GIVE ME FIVE Caroline Quentin tells us about up-coming play The Life and Times of Fanny Hill and her South Western roots

FACEBOOK.COM/ FIRSTGREATWESTERN

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OUR 2FOR1 PICKS

DRAWN

BY LIGHT The Royal Photographic Society’s archive at the Science Museum

The Grand Pier Weston-superMare’s Grand Pier is the ultimate theme park attraction

bath racecourse Enjoy a day at the races in the historic and picturesque City of Bath

how to get your 2for1 Take advantage of savings on attractions and days out by turning to PAGE 46

TWITTER.COM/ FGW

FIRSTGREATWESTERN. CO.UK escape | 3

WELCOME

G 2015 SPRIN

Durdle Door on Dorset's Jurassic Coast Editorial enquiries Editor Dan Panes

escapeeditor@thinkpublishing.co.uk

Managing Editor

Andrew Cattanach Andrew@thinkpublishing.co.uk 0141 375 0481 Assistant Editor

Alec Mackenzie alec.mackenzie@thinkpublishing.co.uk 0141 375 0489 Design Matthew Ball Sub-editor Andrew Littlefield Advertising Sales

Molly Matthews molly.matthews@thinkpublishing.co.uk Publisher John Innes john.innes@thinkpublishing.co.uk Published on behalf of First Great Western by think

124-128 Barlby Road, London W10 6BL 020 8962 3020 thinkpublishing.co.uk

First Great Western

Head Office, Milford House 1 Milford Street, Swindon SN1 1HL firstgreatwestern.co.uk

MAKE THE MOST OF THESE IN-BETWEEN DAYS

R

eading this, you’re likely thinking one of two things.

Either it’s a very cold day in February and spring feels like a decade away, or it’s a pleasant mid-March afternoon and you’re already anticipating a balmy summer. Either way, this issue has got everything you need for a fun-filled few months.

What better way to spend a late winter (or early spring) weekend than indulging in what you love most?

Whether you’re a culture vulture, a history hound or an outdoor enthusiast, our guide to five top weekend breaks from across the network is very likely what you’re looking for.

For those of you planning a trip to London over the next few months, and who can’t help feeling that you’ve been-there-done-that, make sure you

flip to author Gilly Pickup’s guide to curious London, starting on page 25.

It’s jam-packed full of the oddest attractions the capital has to offer.

But if you’re more foodie than freaky, take a look at our guide to some of the finest local produce available across the network, including West Country wine and Welsh waffles. For more, turn to page 36.

On top of all that we have the usual heady mix of quizzes, puzzles and prizes, as well as an interview with South West-based actress and Men Behaving Badly star, Caroline Quentin.

Dan Panes Editor

WIN WIN A FAMILY TICKET TO CREALY ADVENTURE PARK TURN TO PAGE 41

© 2015 First Great Western. All rights reserved. Every reasonable endeavour has been made to find and contact the copyright owners of the works included in this newspaper. However, if you believe a copyright work has been included without your permission, please contact the publishers. Views of contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the policy of First Great Western or those of the publishers. All material correct at time of going to press.

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

escape | 5

Z

we’ll takE you there

in the urban jungle

The Walkie-Talkie building – formally known as 20 Fenchurch Street – has opened the doors on its much-anticipated Sky Garden, a 45,000 square foot public space, offering foliage and fine dining in the top three levels of this 37-storey skyscraper. At that heady height there are naturally fantastic views to enjoy across London’s skyline, best accompanied with a seasonal cocktail from the Sky Pod Bar. WHAT The Sky Garden WHERE 20 Fenchurch St, London WHEN Visits should be booked via skygarden.london

FACTOID

Among the flowering plants in the Sky Garden are the African Lily, the Red Hot Poker and the Bird of Paradise

6 | escape

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

London’s highest public garden

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escape | 7

AN OPEN WINDOW The Wilson 13 Dec 2014 – 8 Mar 2015 PRESENT TENSE Swindon Museum and Art Gallery 14 Jan – 18 Apr 2015

bristolmuseums.org.uk/frameworks

MODERN ART IN BRITAIN

THE HUMAN CLAY 7 Mar – Nov 2015 alongside BERYL COOK: INTIMATE RELATIONS 7 Mar – 3 May 2015 Victoria Art Gallery GWEN JOHN TO LUCIAN FREUD HOME AND THE WORLD: DEXTER DALWOOD SELECTS FROM THE SWINDON COLLECTION The Holburne Museum 28 Feb – 7 Jun 2015 WIN

A HOTEL BREAK: SEE COMPETITION PAGE 11

Howard Hodgkin, Gramophone 1964 –1967 28 x 36 inches (71 x 92cm) Oil on canvas © Howard Hodgkin. On display at the Holburne Museum 28 Feb –7 June

5 DISPLAYS ACROSS 5 COLLECTIONS IN BATH, BRISTOL, SWINDON & CHELTENHAM LINKED BY THE SIGNIFICANT MODERN BRITISH ART COLLECTION OF SWINDON

REALITY QUESTIONED Bristol Museum & Art Gallery 17 Jan – 31 Aug 2015

PETER MACDIARMID/GETTY

Next Stop

Hero for a day London Super Comic Convention

Comic conventions today are a no holds barred celebration of graphic fiction, complete with cosplay enthusiasts impersonating their favourite heroes. But if spandex isn't your scene, there’s still the chance to

meet a stellar lineup of visiting comic strip writers and artists.

WHERE ExCel London WHEN 14–15 March GETTING THERE Take the Jubilee line tube to Canning Town and then the DLR line to Custom house

Do your cosplay Thing at Excel in London

YOUR GUIDE TO GREAT EVENTS HAPPENING JUST ALONG THE TRACKS www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

escape | 9

NEXT STOP

pop revival Three blasts from the past are back on the road

Spandau Ballet Various venues From 3 March

British New Romantic heartthrobs Spandau Ballet take to the stage once more for a UK tour that will visit London, Cardiff and Brighton. spandauballet.com

S Club 7 Various venues From 7 May

Book now to see the original version of the poptastic S Club 7, back together after their split in 2003. It’s what we’ve all been waiting for.

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty Alexander McQueen first rose to fame in the 1990s when, already wellestablished in the couture industry, he designed outfits for David Bowie and Björk. Known for his shock tactics, McQueen earned the title 'the hooligan of English fashion' with his skulladorned designs that implied a preoccupation with death and decay.

This is fashion at its most challenging, and should be compulsory viewing for anyone interested in visual culture.

bit.ly/sclub7tour

Fleetwood Mac Various venues From 27 May

The great Fleetwood Mac return with the full line-up that brought you such classic albums as Rumours and Tusk.

WHERE Victoria & Albert Museum, London WHEN 14 March–19 July NEAREST TUBE South Kensington

fleetwoodmac.com

best of the rest 10 | escape

^ ART

Louise bourgeois

Southampton City Art Gallery Until 18 April

^

photography

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Natural History Museum, London Until 30 August

^ art

Rubens and his Legacy

Royal Academy of Arts, London 24 January– 10 April

^ science

Forensics

Wellcome Collection, London 26 February– 21 June

^ THEATRE

Bird Song

The Hexagon, Reading 3 March– 7 March

^ music

Bristol Jazz Festival

Colston Hall 5 March8 March www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

COMPETITION

Ed Paschke: Visionary from Chicago Part of a group of artists known as the Chicago Imagists, Ed Paschke had a lot in common with his New York contemporaries, such as Andy Warhol, including a fascination with pop cultural imagery. But unlike Warhol's largely photo-realistic portraits, Paschke’s representations of Elvis and the Mona Lisa look like they’ve been refracted through some kind of 1960s image of the future and then painted on the side of a treacherous-looking fun fair ride.

WHERE Ashmolean Museum, Oxford WHEN until 5 July

CROUCH, TOUCH, PAUSE, ENGAGE National Theatre Wales takes its new play about rugby legend Gareth Thomas on the road, starting at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre and ending at the Arcola Theatre in London. Thomas won 100 caps for Wales during his extraordinary playing career but his

private life came under scrutiny in 2009, when there was much media speculation about his sexuality. Thomas is now regarded as one of the world’s most prominent gay sportsmen.

The play takes a look at the man, the legend and the town that made him – Bridgend.

WHERE various venues WHEN 19 February–20 June

British Basketball League play-off final With team names like the Bristol Flyers and the London Lions, you’d be a fool to miss out on the chance of screaming such choice monikers from the sidelines.

The play-off final at the O2 Arena is the perfect way to see the best of British Basketball and find out who will be crowned the BBL Play-Off Champions.

WHERE The O2 Arena, London WHEN 10 May NEAREST TUBE North Greenwich

^ THEATRE

KING LEAR

Theatre Royal Bath 17 March– 21 March

^ MUSICAL

Dirty Dancing

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff 18 March– 28 March

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

^ Fashion

Win a modern art mini-break Frameworks: Great Art in the West is a partnership of five art collections in Bath, Bristol, Swindon and Cheltenham. This spring, they present ‘Modern Art in Britain’ – five exhibitions and displays featuring over 50 artists and spanning 100 years of paintings, prints and drawings. The displays, including work by Lucian Freud, L.S. Lowry and Barbara Hepworth, explore space, place, reality, fantasy and the human form.

For more about the exhibition (and help with the competition question), visit bristolmuseums. org.uk/frameworks

AN OPEN WINDOW The Wilson 13 Dec 2014 – 8 March 2015 PRESENT TENSE Swindon Museum and Art Gallery 14 Jan – 18 April 2015 REALITY QUESTIONED Bristol Museum & Art Gallery 17 Jan – 31 Aug 2015 5 DISPLAYS ACROSS 5 COLLECTIONS IN BATH, BRISTOL, SWINDON & CHELTENHAM LINKED

BY THE SIGNIFICANT MODERN BRITISH ART COLLECTION OF SWINDON

bristolmuseums.org.uk/frameworks

MODERN ART IN BRITAIN

THE HUMAN CLAY 7 March – Nov 2015 alongside BERYL COOK: INTIMATE RELATIONS 7 March – 3 May 2015 Victoria Art Gallery GWEN JOHN TO LUCIAN FREUD HOME AND THE WORLD: DEXTER DALWOOD SELECTS FROM THE SWINDON COLLECTION The Holburne Museum 28 Feb – 7 June 2015

WIN A HOTEL BREAK: SEE COMPETITION PAGE XX

Howard Hodgkin, Gramophone 1964 –196728 x 36 inches (71 x 92cm) Oil on canvas © Howard Hodgkin. On display at the Holburne Museum 28 Feb –7 June

TAKE FGW TRAIN TO Oxford

More exhibition details on page 8

For this competition, Frameworks has teamed up with Clifton Hotels' boutique Berkeley Square Hotel, which boasts luxurious club rooms and The Square Club, an exclusive members’ club and restaurant that holds exhibitions focusing on local and emerging talent.

Prize includes: l One night’s stay for two in a king or twin club room l Complimentary decanter of Bristol Cream sherry and fresh fruit l Breakfast l Lunch in the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery Café l A personal tour of ‘Reality Questioned’ – Bristol Museum & Art Gallery’s Modern Art in Britain exhibition l Prize can be taken between 1 May and 30 August 2015.

HOW TO ENTER To be in with a chance of winning, just tell us the correct answer to this question.

Q Which artist is selecting work for the Holburne Museum’s exhibition? l Enter at: firstgreatwestern. co.uk/greatartbreak Closing date for entries is April 22.

Bath in fashion

Various venues 21 March– 29 March

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Competition closing date 22 April 2015. Winner and guest must both be over 18. Prize must be taken between 1 May and 30 August 2015 and is subject to availability. No cash alternative available. For more information about the Berkeley Square Hotel, visit cliftonhotels.com/bristol-hotels/berkeley-square

escape | 11

NEXT STOP

ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH?

SPRING INTO ACTION WITH ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST CHALLENGING ASSAULT COURSES – TOUGH MUDDER

Imagine a school cross-country race devised by the makers of the Saw movie franchise – that’s Tough Mudder. It’s a 12-mile run across terrain best suited for pigs, over which someone has built outrageous obstacles that involve chest-deep pits of icy water, electric shocks, fire, a 12-foot plunge into a mucky pool and an obscene amount of mud.

WHERE Culden Faw, Fawley WHEN 2 & 3 May TAKE FGW TRAIN TO Henley-on-Thames

This is one giant leap for mudkind!

It makes Glastonbury look like a tea party!

12 | escape

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DID YOU KNOW?

MESSY MILLIONS Two million people have successfully completed a Tough Mudder event MUD PIE OR DIE Every competitior must sign a death waiver before they attempt a Tough Mudder course BROWN CROWN There are no troiphies at Tough Mudder, just a pint of well-deserved cider

Daredevil competitors at the 2014 event

5 record

5 shops we love

lots more on offer than just the latest releases

1

3

4

5

Rise Music

Truck Music

The Last Shop

Trade East

cardiff

BRISTOL

Store

Standing

Claiming the title of the ‘world’s oldest record shop’, Spillers began its life in 1894, selling phonographs and musical instruments.

Today, the Welsh music store stocks a wide range of musical genres on both CD and vinyl formats.

One of three branches of an independent record store chain, Rise Music specialises in indie music, cult literature, DVDs and vintage clothing. And if that’s not enough, the shop also contains a café/ bar and hosts live in-store music sessions.

OXFORD

PLYMOUTH

Oxford’s only independent music shop, Truck Store stocks all the latest indie and dance music must-haves, as well as tickets for upcoming gigs.

And if you’re looking for hipster advice, the staff are always happy to help.

Opened in 2012, this intimate record store offers a relaxed atmosphere – it's the perfect place to sit with a coffee and check out the week’s recommended music. The Last Shop Standing also stocks merchandise from local bands.

TAKE FGW TRAIN TO

TAKE FGW TRAIN TO

TAKE FGW TRAIN TO

Cardiff Central spillersrecords. co.uk

Bristol Temple Meads rise-music.co.uk

Oxford truckmusicstore. co.uk

Located just off Brick Lane, this award-winning shop is a London institution, with regular in-store gigs and a coffee shop. After checking out tunes on the try-before-youbuy turntables, why not take a snap of yourself in the photobooth?

NEAREST TUBE Aldgate East roughtrade.com

TAKE FGW TRAIN TO Plymouth thelastshop.co.uk

JUSTIN TALLIS/GETTY; CHIAKI NOZU/GETTY

Spillers

london

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2

Rough

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Joint tickets to both venues available

Welcome to Southampton Change here for history Experience Southampton’s Titanic story at Seacity Museum and discover 800 years of history at Tudor House & Garden www.timetravelsouthampton.com

IT

H

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e Our guid to the ’s network t r best sho breaks

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Get up!

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’ n i k a e r f e h t it’s

D N E K E E W We know what you’re thinking – weekends are for lying in bed until the very thought of your own slothfulness starts to hurt. And then, when you do finally get your lazy posterior out of your slumber carriage, you’re still unlikely to venture beyond the corner shop at the end of the street. Well, it’s time

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

you took a long hard look at yourself. After all, life’s for living!

Seeing as the best things in this world are likely taking place more than a two-minute saunter from your front door, it’s time you went further afield.

Go in search of knowledge, self-betterment, fresh air or just some good old-fashioned fun, using this here guide as your manual in the perennial search for what can only be described as the good life.

5

great destinations... bristol_hereford_Oxford Penzance_Plymouth

escape | 15

CONOR O’BYRNE, 39 Garda, Dublin Clipper 2013-14 Race Circumnavigator

CALLING ALL ADVENTURERS This year get ready for an adventure like no other.

Join the only global yacht race crewed by people like you. No experience required.

Train to take on the toughest oceans in the world.

Sign up for a single leg, combine several or complete a year-long circumnavigation.

NOW RECRUITING clipperroundtheworld.com/apply +44 (0) 2392 526000

THE CULTURE CLUB

BE INSPIRED IN BRISTOL Where better to get a dose of culture than in one of the UK’s artiest cities, Bristol? Be your own tour guide and explore The Banksy Trail. Although the work of this world-renowned graffiti artist has gone far beyond the Bristol underground scene, he’s still left his mark on walls throughout the city. Start on Park Street and make your way to a small bridge that crosses Frogmore Street for your first Banksy find. Follow this up with a trip to the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery for Banksy’s 'Paint-Pot Angel'.

The Little Black Box is Bristol’s boutique micro-theatre venue. From monthly comedy shows and choir singing to live music and experimental

The Little Black Box Theatre

A Bristol Banksy

performances, this is a theatre that’s run with love. Seating capacity is around 35, so get your tickets early, squeeze in and enjoy.

Take in a bit of Bristol’s unique shopping culture with St Nicholas Market, situated in the centre of the city. Split into three sections (the Glass Arcade, Covered Market and the Exchange), St Nicks hosts the largest collection of independent retailers in the city.

With retro furniture, second-hand books, pets, local art, mouthwatering food and much more, this is a quirky, characterful market like no other.

St Nicholas Market

banksytours.co.uk thelittleblackbox.net

Bridge of Sighs

HISTORY SEEKERS

SWOT UP IN OXFORD Oxford is awash with history, so you’re unlikely to turn a corner in the city of dreaming spires without bumping into something old and intriguing.

Make a start with The Story Museum, a quirky, charming gallery that celebrates the magic of fiction – think wizards, witches and wild things. This is a relatively new attraction that hosts events for all ages, including author workshops, family story tours, talks, performances and more. You can even walk through the wardrobe into Narnia.

St. Michael at the North Gate can be found in Cornmarket Street and is so called because this is the location of the original North Gate, from back when Oxford was surrounded by a city wall.

It was first built around 1000-

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1050, making it the oldest surviving stone building in the city. Look inside the church before climbing the 97 steps to the roof area of the tower and admire the beautiful views of Oxford from above.

If you’re a design enthusiast the Bridge of Sighs, which links the main buildings at University of Oxford’s Hertford College, is a stunning corridor that's well worth a visit. Probably one of the fanciest walkways you’ll ever clap eyes on. storymuseum.org.uk

Story Museum

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ARRIVAL. PERFECTED. Fly from Land’s End, Newquay and Exeter or sail from Penzance.

WWW.ISLESOFSCILLY-TRAVEL.CO.UK 01736 334220

WE HAVE A TERRIFIC NEW SEASON AT OXFORD PLAYHOUSE THIS NEW YEAR, WITH TOP COMEDY, FAMILY SHOWS AND THEATRE. ENJOY!

Thu 5 March

Wed 1 to Sat 4 April

Mon 13 to Sat 18 April

Mon 11 to Sat 16 May

GINA YASHERE

I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS

ARCADIA

THE KING’S SPEECH

A British queen of comedy returns.

Don’t miss this thrilling adaptation of a children’s favourite live on stage – the perfect Easter Holiday treat.

English Touring Theatre are returning to Oxford with their new production of this Olivier Awardwinning comedy, recently voted one of the nation’s top five shows.

One of the most successful British films of all time comes to the stage.

After a few years away across the pond in the US, this bold and brave comic is back to showcase her brash and confident style that belies a deft comic touch.

One of the best comics in the world.

Guardian Tickets £18.50 | Discounts £16

Michael Morpurgo’s spellbinding and moving story is brought to life by Theatre Alibi.

Tickets £12 | Discounts £10 Family ticket £39

Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia is a modern masterpiece, exploring the delicate relationship between past and present.

Starring Jason Donovan as Lionel Logue and Raymond Coulthard as King George VI, The King’s Speech follows the story between this reluctant King and the maverick therapist who helps him overcome his stammer.

Tickets £11 to £24

Tickets £14 to £30

01865 305305 www.oxfordplayhouse.com

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

head outside in HEREFORD

On foot or afloat, there are many ways to explore Hereford. Start your tour of this wonderful cathedral city and its surrounding areas by taking to the River Wye. Head over to Left Bank Canoe Hire, based in Hereford city centre, where canoe and kayak hire prices start at just £20 per person. Enjoy the lovely countryside as you flow down into Ross-on-Wye and back again.

If you prefer to keep your feet Take me to the river

Herefordshire Raceway

grounded (or even elevated), Oaker Wood Leisure is an adventurous outdoor activity centre set in 175 acres of Herefordshire woodland. Try paintballing, quad bike trekking, raft building, rope assault courses and more. Visit with mates or join a group when you arrive and prepare for a full-on day of fun in the wilderness.

If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at go-karting, Herefordshire Raceway is for you. With high quality kart racing on offer, you’ll be challenged to hit the road against friends and family on a 600-metre outdoor circuit.

The track is surrounded by the luscious green Herefordshire countryside and will definitely satisfy your inner daredevil. leftbankcanoehire.co.uk oakerwoodleisure.co.uk herefordshireraceway.org.uk

Smeaton's Tower

Oaker Wood Leisure

FUN WITH THE FAMILY

GO WILD IN PLYMOUTH

Animal lovers unite. Dartmoor Zoo has 250 creatures to visit with the family, from tigers and tortoises to bears and bugs. Immerse yourselves in the daily events on offer, and in the beautiful woodland that surrounds the attraction.

Feel free to pack a picnic and tuck into your lunch in one of the many natural open spaces.

If you’re more of a crafty clan, then make sure you get your hands dirty at the ClayArt pottery studio. This children’s activity centre is small and cosy, with tables to fit everyone. Pick a blank ceramic, be it a vase, plate or mug, and paint your own design, which will then be glazed and fired for you. The kids will love channelling their inner Picasso – www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

Dartmoor Zoo

and you’ll leave with a bag full of memories to treasure.

Lighthouses are so underrated, don’t you think? Smeaton’s Tower has become one of the South West’s best known landmarks. Red-and white-striped, this beautiful lighthouse can be explored by people of all ages. Make sure you climb to the top for fantastic views. dartmoorzoo.org.uk clayart.co.uk

escape | 19

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Looking for a

EMBRACE THE UNUSUAL

Spring break?

Forage for Mushrooms in Cardiff Take a walk on the wild side with Wild Food UK. Mushroom and fungi foraging courses are taking place in Bute Park, Cardiff between March and June.

Bosinver Farm Cottages are set in acres of wildflower meadows near the sea and make a great base to explore all of Cornwall.

Ideal for kids aged 0-90! bosinver.co.uk

wild-food.net

Go Ice Climbing in London Vertical Chill offers a very real indoor ice climbing experience in Covent Garden. The wall is located in a refrigerated unit in the basement of the Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports Shop.

It’s 8-metres in height and ranges from -5 to -7 degrees Celsius. Brrrr!

Blokarting on Penzance Beach

vertical-chill.com

Sing Your Heart Out in Swansea Head over to the Bambu Beach Bar on Wind Street in Swansea.

Sip a cocktail in this tiki-themed venue before singing the night away in a pre-booked VIP Karaoke booth with up to 20 friends.

SPLASH THE CASH

INDULGE IN PENZANCE

Ever heard of Blokarting?

It’s one of the most exhilarating activities you can experience.

Strap yourself into a three-wheeled chassis and hurtle along the Penzance Beach at up to 28 knots. Feel the fresh sea air against your face and build up some speed while admiring the stunning Cornish landscape.

Speedsail UK's two-hour taster sessions for two begin at around £120.

If you’re looking to experience Penzance at a more relaxed pace, visit Polgoon Cider Orchard and Vineyard for tours and tastings of their awardwinning produce. From deliciously sweet wines to 20 | escape

bambu-bar.co.uk

crisp Cornish ciders, Polgoon is a must for those with a taste for the finer things in life.

No trip to Penzance is complete without devouring a plate of mouth-watering seafood.

Harris’s Restaurant can be found in the heart of this coastal town, serving freshly caught Cornish lobster drizzled in white wine sauce, roasted John Dory, grilled scallops and so much more. Harris’s is an internationally acclaimed restaurant that won’t disappoint, so let go of the purse strings and sample some of the most delicious seafood Penzance has to offer. bit.ly/blokartingcornwall polgoon.com harrisrestaurant.co.uk

Experience Bushcraft in Bath Carve a stool out of a log, build a yurt and make an oven out of soil! The possibilities are endless if you’re prepared to get your hands dirty at the Cherry Wood Project in Bath. cherrywoodproject.co.uk

meet a king in worcester Visit the tomb of King John, whose rebellious barons penned the Magna Carta, putting Worcester at the centre of debates around English democracy. visitworcestershire.org

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ex

s e e to s s t e Fr tr y Iv ue t g s en te S ur /03/1o5liday o 1 h Ta all /14 - c3hool r /10 ng s fo 01cludi

Spectacular & stylish self catering, offering memorable holidays in the surroundings of St Ives

superb

carbisbayholidays.co.uk/em carbisbayholidays.co.uk/vc 01736 630015 08000 122241 CarbisBay_Escape_Win_14.indd 1

02/10/2014 14:39

still small voice In partnership with:

British biblical art in a secular age (1850-2014) 17th January – 3rd May 2015

The Wilson Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum Clarence Street Cheltenham GL50 3JT Telephone 01242 237431 Open 9.30 – 5.15pm daily Closed Easter Sunday Admission free www.thewilson.org.uk

Sponsored by:

Image: Crucifixion, Pink, 2001 (oil on canvas), Aitchison, Craigie (1926-2009) Ahmanson Collection / Bridgeman Images

THE

BIG DUTCH CIRCUS IS BACK!

SWINDON March 3 to 8 SWANSEA March 10 to 15 READING March 17 to 22

www.netherlandscircus.com

TOP FARE

BY MITCH TONKS

Going the extra mile

Brixham is a great starting point for a stroll

The restaurateur and food writer finds that a long walk is best followed by a pub visit

I’ve been doing a lot more walking these days, getting out and enjoying the views here in the South West. I plan my walks with food and a pint in mind – that first beer of the day is always the best.

My favourite walk at the moment is from Brixham to Kingswear.

It is a good hike with some challenging hills in the middle, but what keeps me going when confronting the incline are the spectacular views of the Devon Coast and Dorset on a warm day.

Never far from my mind is the hospitality of the Ship Inn at Kingswear. Run by Colin and Heather Lang, the Ship Inn is the real deal, full of warmth and cheer, and always with a good selection of beers and home cooked food.

Further down the coast and into the South Hams there’s a wonderful walk from Thurlestone to South Milton. It’s just a few miles, but the reward at the end – a meal at the Beachhouse – is substantial.

The Beachhouse, a warm and welcoming place, offers outstanding views across the sea. Cold beer www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

and seafood enjoyed outside on a hot day (or hot coffee, brandy and chowder on a cold day) is made even better by the soothing sound of the wind that envelops and protects you.

Getting away from the coast, there's nothing like the scenery of Dartmoor. Any of the walks up there are just wonderful and I often pick one from a guide book and do two to three hours exploring new pathways, views and landscapes.

Invariably, a trip to the Rugglestone Inn at Widecombe-in-the-Moor is planned into the walk. It is what I call a proper old pub, serving beers from the barrel and good cider. The food is home cooked and the whole experience is just what you want from a pub: a smouldering fire, a mix of visitors and locals, and a friendly welcome.

All in all, I think beer and lunch is greatly enhanced by a good walk. Lager is never colder on a hot day when you’re quenching your thirst, and a good ale on a cold day will warm you from the inside.

Proper pub the Rugglestone Inn

The warm and cheery Ship Inn

mitchtonks.co.uk

keep me posted by Tweeting all your favourite walks @mitchtonks

The Beachouse's Beachburger

escape | 23

Prize survey

Complete our online survey and you could win an iPad mini

WeeKenD Win For twO aC urIouS lOndO n

Simply visit www.firstgreatwestern.

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co.uk/escapesurveY

www.firstgreatw estern.co.uk Issue 17

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Tell us what you think about escape

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You’ve traipsed TO Tower Bridge, goggled at Buckingham Palace and can’t face the queue at TuSsauds...

Now it’s time for something different. Gilly Pickup takes you on a tour of London’s

s n o i t c a r t offbeat at

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

escape | 25

A It’s Britain’s tallest structure at 114.5 metres.

The ArcelorMittal Orbit in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park offers stunning views of up to 20 miles across the magnificent metropolis and is a testament to the legacy of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Fortunately there is a lift to whisk visitors to the top, while brave folks with a head for heights can abseil from the viewing platform back down to the ground.

NEAREST TUBE Stratford

B St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, Trafalgar Square, is home to the Brass Rubbing Centre where adults and children can have a go at this medieval pastime.

Replica brasses include medieval knights in armour, costumed ladies, dragons and William

D

Shakespeare. There are staff on hand who instruct visitors in the use of specialist materials in order to get the best results from this absorbing handicraft.

When you’ve finished, you can take your handiwork home.

NEAREST TUBE Charing Cross

C Why not cross the Thames in a Cable Car? The Emirates Air Line – that’s the official name – runs from Greenwich Peninsula to the Royal Docks. There is no better way of enjoying fabulous views of London’s most iconic sights including the Cutty Sark, the O2, the Royal Observatory and the Olympic Park.

NEAREST TUBE North Greenwich

26 | escape

Dennis Severs’ House in Folgate Street, Spitalfields, is more than a time capsule. Take an escorted tour – they’re done in silence – through the ten rooms of this ‘still-life drama’ and you will think you have been transported back in time. Objects are scattered seemingly haphazardly, as though the inhabitants had deserted the rooms only moments before.

It is a joy to visit.

NEAREST TUBE Liverpool Street

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

I

E

The Elfin Oak in Kensington Gardens is next to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground. The surface of this unique tree stump, which is around 900 years old, is carved with figures including Wookey the witch and Huckleberry the gnome. In the 1960s, the late comedian Spike Milligan raised funds for its restoration, which saw it secure Grade II-listed status. NEAREST TUBE Queensway

The Fashion & Textile Museum in Bermondsey Street is the place to go for inspiration and to find out more about the history of the fashion industry. A variety of temporary exhibitions means there is always something new to see and learn about, and there are often talks and workshops where visitors can really get involved.

NEAREST TUBE London Bridge

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Irishman Charles Byrne's 7’7” skeleton isn’t the only strange exhibit on display at the Hunterian Museum, housed in the Royal College of Surgeons in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. There's a whole range of weird and wonderful specimens, including a 10lb tumour, teeth retrieved from soldiers on the battlefield at Waterloo and a collection of gruesome 17th-century surgical instruments.

Mathematician Charles Babbage’s brain is also on view here.

NEAREST TUBE Holborn

Greenwich Foot Tunnel is a public highway that runs below the River Thames between Island Gardens and Greenwich – and is free to walk through. Opened in 1902, so that South London residents could walk to work in the docks on the Isle of Dogs, there are spiral staircases and lifts at each end, with an entrance next to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich.

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TAKE THE DLR TO Cutty Sark

H

In the Harry Potter films, Australia House on the corner of the Strand and Aldwych morphs into Gringotts Bank in Diagon Alley.

This famous bank in the wizarding world was created by a goblin called Gringott.

The scene where Hagrid takes Harry to the bank to withdraw money was filmed inside Australia House. It isn’t usually open to the public, but for your glimpse-and-gasp moment you can have a look through the main door. NEAREST TUBE Temple www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

John Soane’s Museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields is not only Britain’s smallest national museum – this self-endowed monument to London’s most illustrious architect and collector is also its most unusual. Soane passionately believed in ‘the poetry of architecture’, and every nook, niche and cranny of his house is crammed with sculptures.

NEAREST TUBE Holborn

escape | 27

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Explore over 300 years of history and more than 2000 acres of Parkland and Formal Gardens. Enjoy events, tours and exhibitions throughout the year.

Spend an inspiring day at Britain’s Greatest Palace

As the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, we will be host to a range of commemorative activities throughout 2015, as the year marks the 50th anniversary of his death.

A timeless pleasure, a precious time, every time.

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visit www.blenheimpalace.com or call 0800 849 6500 BUY ONE DAY, GET 12 MONTHS FREE* * Terms and conditions apply

Kew Gardens’ eye-catching Grade 1 listed Palm House creates conditions similar to that of a tropical rainforest.

Around a quarter of the plants displayed are threatened in the wild, as are more than half of the cycads – the tropical trees that were extremely common

during the Jurassic period. Marvel at coffee bushes, jade vines, the Madagascar periwinkle and the coco-de-mer, the world’s largest seed, which looks, it has to be said, quite a lot like a human bottom.

NEAREST TUBE Kew Gardens

K

M Moles – a glass jar containing 18 of the little critters is just one of the 1,000 plus species of rare and extinct animals that can be seen in the Grant Museum of Zoology (bizarrely, they have their own Twitter account @glassjarofmoles.)

It’s not only moles though, the rarest skeleton in the world is there, too.

The Quagga, extinct since 1883, was a South African zebra, while you can also see the remains of thylacines, dog-like carnivorous marsupials which were deliberately driven to extinction in 1936.

NEAREST TUBE Euston Square

A Lighthouse on Gray’s Inn Road?

Yes, there really is just such a bizarre building next to King’s Cross station, although you won’t notice anything unusual about it unless you look up. Built in 1875, the reason for the lighthouse on the top is something of a mystery. However, it is believed that in the days when oysters were popular, places that sold them were marked with a lighthouse.

NEAREST TUBE

O

Kings Cross

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London’s oldest outdoor statue is in New Bond Street. Look above Sotheby’s auction house, at numbers 34–35, and you will see the ancient Egyptian effigy of Sekhmet the warrior goddess.

Dating between 1600 BC and 1320 BC, it has been Sotheby's mascot since the 1880s.

NEAREST TUBE Oxford Circus

It’s certainly a weird and gruesome reminder of what surgery was like in the days before anaesthetics and antibiotics. The Old Operating Theatre, Museum and Herb Garret, a unique museum incorporating the only surviving 19th-century operating theatre, is located in the garret of St Thomas’s Church, on the original site of St Thomas’ Hospital. Rediscovered in 1956, the garret was used by the hospital's apothecary to store and cure medicinal herbs.

NEAREST TUBE London Bridge

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

escape | 29

Get away for a day trip to the beautiful & remote

LUNDY ISLAND on MS OLDENBURG - Lundy’s supply ship on MS OLDENBURG - Lundy’s supply ship

M.S. OLDENBURG ● open decks with seating ● buffet / bar / shop ● 4-7 hours on the island

For Further Information and Bookings - Tel: 01271 863636 Email: info@lundyislnd.co.uk or visit www.lundyisland.co.uk

‘Extraordinary. There’s circus, and then there’s these guys – on a whole other level!’

New York Post

Dance Consortium yn cyflwyno \ presents

TAITH FE R YN Y DU LIMITED UK TOUR

Cyfarwyddir gan \ Directed by Dave St-Pierre & Jeannot Painchaud

Ebr 8 – 11 Apr ’15 www.danceconsortium.com

P

The Queen’s House is another of Greenwich’s attractions.

This was the first classical style house in England, designed by Inigo Jones in the 17th century. It was modelled on the Italian Renaissance style. A mysterious presence is said to linger on the Tulip Staircase and has been captured on film. Besides spooky goings on, there are maritime paintings and royal portraits to see.

Q

TAKE THE DLR TO Cutty Sark

Paddington Bear’s Statue isn’t that easy to spot, because it is quite small and almost always hidden by people sitting around it on Paddington Station. This marmalade-loving bear is everyone’s favourite and his statue is burnished to gold by regular attention from children of all ages. Paddington Station connects the capital to South West England and South Wales with FGW. NEAREST TUBE Paddington

If you’re still in touch with your inner child, Pollock's Toy Museum in Scala Street is just the place for you. This comforting treasure house, crammed with childhood objects, occupies two 18th-century houses. The museum's mind-blowing collection of toys dates back to the 16th century. Besides dolls of all types – fabric dolls, china dolls, celluloid dolls – there are old time merry-go-rounds, vintage train sets, puppets and a 4,000-year-old mouse made from Nile clay.

The Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park has to be London’s best place for stargazing. Part of the National Maritime Museum, the Planetarium is housed inside a 45-tonne truncated cone.

Its state-of-the-art projection technology means you can fly into the heart of the sun, be transported to distant galaxies, see the birth of a star or land on Mars.

TAKE THE DLR TO Cutty Sark

R

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

NEAREST TUBE Tottenham court road

T

S

Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park is where inspiring orators – or those who like to air their views, hear the sound of their own voice, or even rant and rave – can have their say every Sunday. Since 1872, after a riot about laws against buying and selling on a Sunday, it has been permissible to speak on the corner about whatever you like, but mind your language! NEAREST TUBE Marble Arch

escape | 31

In the bustling Underground Station at Piccadilly Circus in central London, a Linear World Clock takes pride of place in the ticket hall.

The time band moves across the central line at the same pace as the world rotates. An arrow is fixed on Greenwich so you can also check the current local time. The clock was added as part of a £1.5 million refurbishment in 1925.

V

NEAREST TUBE Piccadilly Circus

U

There is a whopper of a Walrus at the Horniman Museum that weighs in at just under one tonne. The poor thing was overstuffed by a Victorian taxidermist who is thought never to have seen such an animal.

Praised by Queen Victoria when she saw it on display at a South Kensington exhibition in 1886, the 130-year-old walrus is one of the Horniman’s most popular exhibits.

GETTING THERE The horniman is a five to ten minute walk from forest hill train station

The Vault at the Hard Rock Café on Old Park Lane got its name because it was once part of Coutts bank and now holds valuable music mementoes. Items in the collection include Buddy Holly’s glasses, John Lennon’s hand-corrected lyrics for ‘Imagine’ and perhaps rather bizarrely, one of Madonna’s old credit cards.

Jimi Hendrix's custom-built Flying V Guitar is there too, as well as the first guitar owned by Sex Pistols’ guitarist Glen Matlock.

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NEAREST TUBE Hyde Park Corner

And staying with the Horniman, there is a Xylophone Wall in an outside area called the Sound Garden.

Besides xylophones, this musical play area features an array of large instruments including drainpipe drums, chimes and pipes. Inside the museum, music lovers might like to know there are around 8,000 other instruments from around the world.

GETTING THERE a five to ten minute walk from Forest Hill train station

X

Z The most famous Zebra Crossing in the world, and probably the most instantly recognisable music location in London, is the one that has a Grade II heritage listing. The zebra crossing on Abbey Road, St John’s Wood featured on the cover for the Beatles’ Abbey Road album in 1969. Together with the nearby Abbey Road studios, also listed at Grade II, they remain a Mecca for Beatles fans the world over.

NEAREST TUBE St. John’s Wood

Y Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, a Fleet Street pub rebuilt shortly after the Great Fire of 1666, lacks any natural lighting, giving it a certain gloomy charm.

Some wood panelling is from the 19th century, some is believed to be original, while the vaulted cellars are thought to belong to a 13th-century Carmelite monastery which once occupied the site.

Regulars included literary figures like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens.

NEAREST TUBE London Blackfriars

32 | escape

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

DISCOVER A SMALL CORNER OF PARADISE AT THE END OF THE LINE...

Visit Swansea’s Gower Peninsula, Britain’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With over 200 holiday cottages and apartments in our portfolio, we can help you discover the magic of Swansea Bay, Mumbles and Gower for yourself.

THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF HOLIDAY HOMES IN MUMBLES, GOWER & SWANSEA MARINA

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T I E V I G A GO!

Chorus!

Featuring Lesley Garrett and the WNO Chorus

indoor climbing rs e ld u o B t a g in b m Try cli just £6.99* centre Cardiff from booking en Quote FGW2015 wh

Opera’s greatest moments

ays) school holid rves ay (Excluding ulders rese onday-Frid M Bo 9 y. .9 pl £6 ap : *Give it a go e. d conditions ds. Terms an aw this offer at any tim dr £15 weeken end or with am to ht the rig

A fully staged extravaganza of some of opera’s greatest moments Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff 7, 14, 22 February wmc.org.uk | 029 2063 6464 Birmingham Hippodrome 4 March birminghamhippodrome.com | 0844 338 5000* Venue Cymru, Llandudno 11 March venuecymru.co.uk | 01492 872000 Milton Keynes Theatre 18 March atgtickets.com/miltonkeynes | 0844 871 7652 Mayflower Theatre, Southampton 25 March mayflower.org.uk | 02380 711811 Theatre Royal Plymouth 31 March theatreroyal.com | 01752 267222 The Bristol Hippodrome 8 April atgtickets.com/bristol | 0844 871 3012

visit

MORETON-IN-MARSH the rail gateway to the Cotswolds

Spring 2015. WNO also performs Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel.

w visitmoretoninmarsh.com facebook.com/moretoninmarsh @MoretonMatters

wno.org.uk

Registered Charity No 221538 Photos by Simon Fowler (Lesley Garrett) and Robert Workman (WNO Chorus)

*calls cost from 5p a minute

Moreton in Marsh_Escape_Spring_15.indd 1

29/12/2014 15:39

Cool Cymru: The Millenium Centre

Sound city: St David's Hall

WHY WE9

Hang out: Boulders Indoor Climbing Centre

cardiff

Visit the Welsh city that combines culture with contemporary class Why go there?

It may be Europe’s youngest capital city but Cardiff has a vibrant past both as an industrial powerhouse, supplying coal and steel to the world, and as an artistic hub that has successfully mined the best talent around.

Where do I start?

Stroll around the diverse waterfront attractions that surround Cardiff Bay, such as the mindexpanding Techniquest Science Discovery Centre and the arts flagship that is Wales Millennium Centre, home of Welsh National Opera.

Historically Cardiff’s dockland district was exotically known as Tiger Bay, and was home to sailors and workers from over 50 different countries.

Where should I kip?

Cardiff Bay still welcomes canny mariners and pleasure seekers from all over the world at the magnificent St David’s Hotel & Spa, the only AA rated 5 Star hotel in the city. Those looking for shuteye in style could also try Sleeperz Hotel, just a one-minute walk from Cardiff Central train station.

What’s hip?

90s kids will enjoy the nostalgia on tap at Retro Cardiff, the bar that doesn’t look back in anger at Cool Britannia. You can bring things back up-to-date with a meal at the Potted Pig restaurant, a stone’s throw away from the stunning Cardiff Castle and Millennium Stadium.

If I do one thing?

Take the family for a session at Boulders Indoor Climbing Centre, where there are activities suitable for all ages, including a soft play area for under sevens and beginners courses for adults and kids alike.

world’s first £1million cheque did you know? The was signed in Cardiff’s coal exchange

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

only in cardiff 1 Make an

appointment with the perennially popular Timelord at Cardiff’s Doctor Who Experience.

Come out from behind the sofa and enjoy a celebration of more than fifty years of adventures in the Whoniverse.

Siren song: Mermaid Quay Music Festival

doctorwho.tv/events/ doctor-who-experience

2 Budding time

travellers will also enjoy a visit to St Fagans National History Museum. Traditional crafts and activities are kept alive in the many workshops surrounding the magnificent castle and gardens, and you can satisfy an appetite for the past by

sampling bread and cakes from the Derwen Bakehouse. museumwales.ac.uk/ stfagans

3 Visit the 10-day

Mermaid Quay Music Festival at the heart of Cardiff Bay this Easter, from 3–12 April, for tons of music and family fun. mermaidquay.co.uk

Doctor Who Experience: timeless

escape | 35

The First Great Western

Larder I THE FGW NETWORK IS NOT ONLY Blessed with some of the finest countryside in the UK, IT ALSO HAS SOME of the BEST LOCAL PRODUCE

t's difficult to think of the South West without considering its regional cuisine.

Cornwall and Devon are as much famed for their cream teas as they are for their exceptional seafood. And while Somerset is best known for its cider, the region can just as easily turn out some of the best dairy products around, including authentic West Country Farmhouse Cheddar.

Meanwhile, South Wales has the peerless Caerphilly cheese – a key ingredient in the delicious Glamorgan sausage – not to mention the traditional Welsh cake.

And that’s not the half of it. As well as being home to some of the best-known household products on the market, the South West has played a key role in the shift towards more organic, sustainable produce. Less interested in turning out huge quantities of cheap goods, many of these producers are focusing on making exceptional ingredients that cater for a more discerning palate. That’s why we’re taking this opportunity to look at just a handful of these exceptional producers.

36 | escape

Former racing driver Jody Scheckter

Taste of Italy Laverstoke Park Farm

Laverstoke Park Farm Hampshire

Laverstoke Park Farm is a one-stop shop, selling everything from sirloin steaks and pork chipolatas to buffalo mozzarella cheese and organic lager. But it hasn’t always been this way and in fact owner Jody Scheckter first set up his organic farm only to provide his family with food he could rely on – food he knew would be the very best of quality.

It wasn’t long before Jody decided it was time he branched out, making the same produce he was serving at home available to the public, by opening an impressively diverse shop selling eggs, meat, fruit and veg, as well ice cream and meat pies.

Restaurateur Mitch Tonks commissioned Laverstoke Park Farm’s very own cheese guru Margaretha Herman to produce burrata exclusively for First Great Western’s Pullman service.

Made from mozzarella and cream, burrata is an Italian classic that would normally have to be imported. Already producing an artisan mozzarella, Laverstoke were the perfect company to help with making our burrata, which is now served as a starter on trains from London to Plymouth and Penzance.

Margaretha says: "It’s a world-class cheese. It’s like a product you’d find in Italy, and because it’s made in Hampshire, it doesn’t travel very far. You’re going to get the best product that you can possibly get."

Cheese guru

For more about Laverstoke Park Farm and how to buy their products, visit laverstokepark.co.uk

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

Chunk of Devon Ottery St Mary, Devon

Fresh meaty chunks

Chunk of Devon owners Simon and Suzi BryonEdmond just love pies and pasties. So much so, in fact, that they now produce some 30,000 of them every week.

Simon and Suzi like to keep things simple, producing their pastrybased snacks in their signature ‘rustic gourmet’

style: good ingredients with as little pomp as possible. As well as serving up their best-selling steak and kidney pie, Chunk of Devon also produce an award-winning steak and stilton option.

To find out how you can lay your hands on one of Simon and Suzi’s pies or pasties, go to takeachunk.com

St Austell Brewery

Cornwall

Like all good businesses, St Austell started off small, with brewery founder Walter Hicks mortgaging his farm to set up the company way back in 1851. Now a household name, St Austell’s beers and pubs can be found all around the country – and particularly in Cornwall. But the family tradition remains strong, with many of Hick’s descendants involved in the brewery as directors, shareholders and staff.

TEST E T S A T Tribute

4.2% ABV

This Cornish Pale Ale was first produced to commemorate the 1999 solar eclipse, but such was its popularity that it’s now the company’s flagship beer. It’s light and hoppy and very easy to drink. www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

St Austell headquarters

Proper Job 5.5% ABV

If you’re looking for something with more of a kick, then this Indian Pale Ale is the one for you. Proper Job was voted the South West’s Champion Golden Ale and Champion Bottled Beer by CAMRA in 2013.

Trelawny 3.8% ABV

Made using hops imported from South Australia, this excellent St Austell ale is named after Cornish hero Jon Trelawny, who was imprisoned in the Tower of London during the English Civil War.

escape | 37

Top ten tipple

Knightor Winery and Restaurant

Knightor Wine Trethurgy, Cornwall

There's been a lot in the press over the last few years about British wine-making. One South Cornwall producer in particular has been making waves: Knightor’s Madeleine Angevine 2012 made it onto The Independent 's list of the top ten English wines.

Knightor focus on making premium quality, limited production wine, so their small number of products are amongst the very best you’ll find being produced in the UK. And if that’s not enough, Knightor also run a restaurant serving good quality local food.

Smoked salmon

Delighted diner

Brown and Forrest Smokery Hambridge, Somerset

A family-run business, Brown and Forrest was first set up 31 years ago, specialising in smoked eel. Now producing some of the finest smoked salmon, chicken, duck, lamb and trout using only wood-fired smokers, Brown and Forrest make all their products on a small scale, smoked to order.

In 1999, the family decided to convert the farm’s dairy and 38 | escape

granary into an adjacent restaurant. It now serves up simple, affordable and delicious meals, all made from the produce that they smoke on the premises, including smoked eel on rye, smoked lamb fillets and oak roast pork and cider sausages.

To find out more about the restaurant or to order your smoked goods, visit brownandforrest.co.uk

Smoke bloke

Smoke Signals Brown and forrest smokery

Brown and Forrest’s smoked salmon, served with capers, cornichons, Blackmore Vale Dairy cream cheese and rye bread, is just one of the many treats served on First Great Western’s Pullman service.

Brown and Forrest’s Chief Smoker Tim Towill says: "The most technology we use is a fire-lighter, so there’s no electricity, there’s no gas, there’s no temperature gauges. It’s all done by eye." www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

Tregothnan Tea Tresillian, Cornwall

If growing grapes for wine in Britain's only blustery Blighty seems a little homegrown tea far-fetched, then brace yourself. Tregothnan tea Tregothnan, an estate near Cornwall Truro, Cornwall, has its very Now, if growing grapes for wine in blustery Blighty seems a little far-fetched, then brace yourself. Tregothnan, an estate near Truro, Cornwall, has its very own tea plantation, producing Britain’s first and only blend of tea. own tea plantation.

There have been tea plants growing on the estate since 1334, but it wasn’t until 2005 that Tregothnan sold the first cup of There have been tea plants growing on the estate since 1334, its Classic Tea. Now available on First Great Western trains, as well as 200 Waitrose stores, Tregothnan is going from strength to strength, leading the way in this unique market. but it wasn’t until 2005 that Tregothnan sold the first cup Tregroes Waffles of its Classic Tea. Now available To get your hands on Tregothnan’s wide selection of teas, including herbal infusions, got to tregothnan.co.uk Teifi Valley, South Wales on First Great Western trains, as Family-run bakers Tregroes well as in 200 Waitrose stores, Tregroes Waffles Waffles believe in keeping things Tregothnan is leading the way simple, focusing efforts on one Teifi Valley, South Wales excellent product.

It allproduct. started It30 Family-run bakers Tregroes Waffles believe in keeping things simple, focusing efforts on one excellent all started in this unique market. ago when Huysmans 30 years ago when Kees Huysmans, made a batch of waffles at home to be soldyears on bonfire night Kees in Henllan.

It was a To get your hands on Tregothnan’s wide made a offer batchaof waffles at homeincluding now range of waffles, selection of teas, including their herbal surprisingly successful venture and marked the beginning of Tregroes Waffles. They infusions, go to tregothnan.co.uk in Tregroes to be sold locally on milk and dark chocolate and butter toffee waffles.

Bonfire Night. It was a surprisingly successful venture and marked If you’d like to order some Tregroes Waffles, go to tregroeswaffles.co.uk the beginning of Tregroes Waffles.

They now offer a range of waffles, including milk and dark chocolate and butter toffee waffles.

If you’d like to order some Tregroes Waffles, go to tregroeswaffles.co.uk

“...simply one of the best places to live in Britain”.

The Sunday Times

Celebrate Bristol’s year as the UK’s first European Green Capital For the latest events, visit bristol2015.co.uk

/Bristol 2015

/@bristol_2015

war games From battleground to playground

7 February - 10 May 2015, SeaCity Museum, Southampton SO14 7FY

A major exhibition from the V&A Museum of Childhood exploring the link between children’s toys and war seacitymuseum.co.uk

Kids’

page

Get in touch Send us

all your fun facts, drawin gs and photos. Our favourites w ill be featured in fu ture issues!

Here are some fun activities for you to do while you make your way from A to B

spot the difference

ANSWER: WHICH ONE…? 1) JUPITER 2) GORILLA

© P&CO. Ltd./SC 2014. Licensed on behalf of Studiocanal S.A. by Copyrights Group

There are 6 differences between these two pictures of Paddington baking, can you clean up and spot them all?

fun facts

MOST PEOPLE BLINK MORE THAN 14,000 TIMES A DAY

rrr

WE HAVE EXPLORED LESS THAN 5 PER CENT OF THE WORLD’S OCEANS

Send your emails to

escape@thinkpublishing.co.uk We’d love to hear from you!

for the fun of it Q How do you beat a pig in a karate match?

A Use a pork chop!

µµµ

Q What do you call a man with no shins?

A Tony

Take a look at these two animal pairs and then try and answer the questions

which one...

Is bigger?

Is the strongest?

jupiter

A gorilla

nepTune

A grizzly bear

OR

win! www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

You could win a family ticket to Corwall's Crealy Great Adventure Park by sending us the correct answer to the following question:

Q

OR

timetres How many cen etre? m a are there in Send your answer to: Escape Competition Suite 2.3, Red Tree Business Suites 33 Dalmarnock Road Glasgow, G40 4LA escape | 41

St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall

Torquay Wheel, Devon

Royal Crescent, Bath

Clifton Bridge, Bristol

BE A GREAT WESTERNER. Discover over 270 destinations waiting for you this spring.

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THE GUIDE

TICKETS TO SUIT YOU

GET THE MOST FROM YOUR JOURNEY At First Great Western, we believe every journey should be an enjoyable one. Whether you’re going away for the weekend with loved ones, doing extra work on your laptop or taking some time out for yourself, we’re here to help

BUY BEFORE YOU BOARD

First Class For added luxury, see if your train offers exclusive First Class carriages.

First Class offers more spacious seats, complimentary refreshments and newspapers and use of our dedicated First Class lounges.

Season Tickets Season Tickets are the best value for customers regularly making the same journey. There’s a choice of tickets lasting seven days, one year, or any number of months in between.

Night Riviera Sleeper Arrive rested and relaxed with our Sleeper service. Our ‘moving hotel’ offers fully air-conditioned private cabins, personal TVs, complimentary travel accessories, free refreshments and even a morning wake-up call.

London Day Travelcard Visiting the capital for a short break?

The London Day Travelcard offers unlimited travel on all forms of public transport across the whole of London.

To qualify for the best value tickets and offers, buy your ticket in advance. Here’s how to buy before you board ONLINE firstgreatwestern.co.uk

BY PHONE 08457 000 125 (0700–2200 Mon–Fri, 0800–1900 Sat–Sun) AT THE STATION From ticket offices. Most debit and credit cards are accepted. Don’t forget to pick up a mini timetable or download one from our website.

Please make sure you buy your ticket before travelling.

Heading for Heathrow?

Banbury

As co Ch tt-u ar nde lb ur r-W y yc hw oo d

Pe rs Ev hore es h Ho am ne yb ou rn e

Kings Sutton

Tenby

Manorbier

Severn Beach Barnstaple

Umberleigh

Bu rn ha m

Penryn

Totnes Ivybridge

Penmere

S Fe t Bu rry de Ro au a x Ke d y Do ham c De kya vo rd np or t

P

L ar Bo ost dm wit hie in l Pa rk w ay

St Au st ell

Perranwell

Coombe Junction Halt St Keyne Wishing Well Halt Causeland

Falmouth Town

Sandplace

Falmouth Docks

Looe

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

Plymouth

G re en fo rd

So ut h

Ac to n

Ea lin g

Br oa dw ay Lin e

W es tE ali ng

So ut ha ll Ha nw ell

M ain

Ca st le

Dr ay to n

Ha rlin gt on &

ye s

La ng ley Ive r W es tD ra Ha yton

G re en

Ba rP ar k

En d

Co ok ha m Pla tt Fu rz e

e Ta plo nh ea Bu w d rn ha m

M aid

Be tc hw or th Re iga te

Sh a Ch lford ilw or th G om D Do ork sha ing ll rk ing W es (D t ee pd en e)

Pa dd Lon in do gt n on Gatwick Airport

Polsloe Bridge

Br ig ht on

Sh or eh am -b ySe a Ho ve

W or th ing

Chetnole

Digby & Sowton Topsham

Portsmouth & Southsea

Maiden Newton Lympstone Commando Lympstone Village

Paignton

Fratton

Yetminster

Exton Torquay

Ch ich es te r

Thornford

Ba rn ha m

Ye ov il P en

Southampton Central

’P ar k

Newton Abbot

Salisbury Romsey

Ha va nt

Tiverton Parkway

Ce Exe St nt ter Ja ra m l es

Lis ke

Tr ur o

Starcross Dawlish Warren Dawlish Teignmouth

Torre

Penzance

Guildford

Warminster

Exeter St Thomas S Be Vic t B re to ude Fe ria a rre Ro ux rs ad

ar M d en h St enio t G er Sa ma n lta sh s

Ha yle Ca m Re bor dr ne ut h

St Erth

Castle Cary

Taunton

Exeter St Davids

Calstock

Redhill

Wanborough

Dilton Marsh

Crediton Newton St Cyres

Lelant Saltings

North Camp Ash

Bruton

Fa re ha m Co sh am

Okehampton

Luxulyan

Lelant

Sampford Courtenay

Gunnislake

Bere Alston

Basingstoke

& Hig Br id hb gw rid at ge er

Yeoford

Bugle

Di d

Westbury

Copplestone

Carbis Bay

Blackwater Farnborough North

Frome

Morchard Road

Roche

Bramley

Pewsey

Trowbridge

Lapford

St Columb Road

Kintbury

Weston-super-Mare

Eggesford

St Ives

Sandhurst

Hungerford Bedwyn

Weston Milton

Kings Nympton

Newquay

Heathrow Terminal 4

Crowthorne

Worle

Portsmouth Arms

Quintrell Downs

Pa rk

Yatton

Chapelton

Mortimer

Newbury

Bradfordon-Avon

M ill

Pembroke

Pembroke Dock

Newbury Racecourse Melksham

Avoncliff

Nailsea & Backwell

Heathrow Terminals 1-2-3

Windsor & Eton Central

Wokingham

Midgham

Parson Street

Lamphey

Slough Winnersh

Thatcham Freshford

Bedminster

Theale Aldermaston

Keynsham

Bristol Temple Meads

St Andrews Road

Penally

Ch co o t G lse P or y ar ing kw Pa & ay ng Str Til bou eatle eh r ur ne y st

Pa tc hw ay

Lawrence Hill

Avonmouth

Chippenham

Sp a

Filton Abbey Wood Stapleton Road

Sea Mills Shirehampton

Saundersfoot

Sw in do n

Ju nc tio n Tu nn el Pil nin g

Se ve rn

Montpelier

Ba th

Kilgetty

Appleford Kemble

Stroud

Reading West

C Do lifto w n n Re dla nd

Br id ge nd

Lla ne lli

Newport

Swansea

O ld fie ld

First Great Western summer only service

Narberth

P Pa ort rk Ta w lb ay ot

Ca r

Fe ma rry r sid the Kid e n w e Pe lly m br ey & Bu rry Po rt

Neath

Bristol Parkway

W Sh ar ip gr lak av e e

Stonehouse

Yate

Re ad in g

Culham

Cam & Dursley

Whitland

Bo ur ne

Radley

Gloucester

Cardiff Central

He nle yon -T M h ar low am es

Oxford

Cheltenham Spa

Tw yfo rd

Ashchurch for Tewkesbury

G re en fo rd

Tackley

Fin st oc C k Ha om nb be or ou gh

W or G ce re at st M er alv er Fo M n W a or reg lvern at ce e Link st S er t Sh ree t ru b Hi ll

Hereford

Take RailAir - the dedicated non-stop coach service from Reading.

FIND OUT MORE AT www.railair.com

Heyford

M in- ore M to ar ns Kin h gh am Sh ip to n

Le db ur y Co lw all

FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE NETWORK

Exmouth

Dorchester West

Portsmouth Harbour

Upwey

Weymouth

escape | 43

THE GUIDE The Morriston Orpheus Choir

TRANSPORT LINKS FROM STATIONS

first class tenor

FGW staff member Gareth Matthews leads a double life as a member of a prestigious all-male choir As well as working as a Customer Host for First Great Western, serving passengers in the First Class carriages between Swansea and London, I am also a member of the Morriston Orpheus Choir.

Based in Swansea, the choir is well known all round the world, touring to Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

I’ve always been interested in singing and when I was a young lad, back in the 70s, I was in a children’s choir that entered a

lot of competitions, released records and even had a couple of television appearances. But it wasn’t until the year of my 50th birthday that I thought to myself that I wanted to get back into choir singing.

After successfully auditioning with the Morriston Orpheus Choir, I was placed in the appropriate section – I’m a top tenor – and began singing in the choir in January 2014. Since then, I’ve made friends with a lot of my fellow choir members, and when my mother recently

passed away the support the choir gave me was incredible.

I sang on the recording for the choir’s new CD, which will be available in the New Year, and performed on the soundtrack for the new film adaptation of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood. In April this year, the choir will celebrate its 80th anniversary, travelling to France and Belgium for the occasion. I am very proud to say that I am a member.

TO FIND OUT MORE about the Morriston Orpheus Choir, visit morristonorpheus.com

WHEN YOU’RE ON BOARD LUGGAGE can be stored on the overhead shelves, in the racks at the end of carriages, or under the seats.

SIGN UP FOR TOP FGW OFFERS

Be the first to hear about all the latest news, competitions, special offers and top tips from First Great Western, as well exclusive Nectar rewards.

Simply sign up for your regular updates by visiting firstgreatwestern.co.uk/enews 44 | escape

POWER POINTS are available to use for free on all our High Speed Trains.

Look between the seats in front of you in Standard, or on the walls in First Class.

FIRST CLASS can be found in Coaches K and L on High Speed Trains, and on some selected local services.

THE QUIET CARRIAGE offers peaceful travel, free from phones and music players.

Head to Coach A in Standard on our High Speed Trains.

By bus PLUSBUS is a ticket that can be added to most types of train ticket.

PLUSBUS gives you unlimited bus travel around town at the start, finish, or at both ends of your train journey.

Together with your train ticket, it’s a great way to get directly to your chosen destination.

By bike We support green travel and bicycles are a fantastic way to make your way from A to B, not to mention the health benefits of pedal power. Don’t forget to reserve a place for your bike on board, where possible, or take advantage of bike hire schemes or parking facilities.

By plane Leave the car at home when flying from Bristol, Cardiff or Exeter International Airports, each a short bus ride away from the city’s station. Travel with us direct from Reading to Gatwick Airport by train or to Heathrow via the RailAir coach service from Reading.

By car Most of our stations have pay-as-you-go car parks. Pay over the phone using our cashless payment system. To use, register your contact details, car registration, where you have parked and your card details, by calling the number advertised at car parks. www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

TURN UP, TUNE IN

on the Waterfront in Cardiff Bay

2015 April 03 Sunday 12 April Friday

Live music over Easter weekend plus music workshops, street theatre & loads of family fun.

Visit www.mermaidquay.co.uk for details

Find us on:

Find us on:

Mermaid Quay_Escape_Spring_15.indd 1

24/12/2014 09:09

THE GUIDE

2FOR1 DAYS OUT

First Great Western is offering hundreds of fantastic 2FOR1 savings on top attractions, hotels, restaurants and more when you travel by train. So what’s your next stop going to be?

A trip to SEA LIFE London Aquarium? A visit to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard? Or a tour of Salisbury Cathedral?

HOW TO GET YOUR OFFER To take advantage of these offers all you need to do is

1 Visit daysoutguide.co.uk

2 Browse the list of offers

3 Click ‘Claim offer’ on the one you like

4 Print your 2FOR1 voucher

5 Present the vouchers together with your National Rail train tickets at the attraction. (For full details visit daysoutguide.co.uk/faq)

The cross at the top of Salisbury Cathedral's spire is 12 feet in length

SPECIAL OFFERS First Great Western offers a range of great special offers.

Check them out on our website at firstgreatwestern.co.uk Railcards Railcards offer value for money if you travel by train, saving you one-third off most standard rail tickets (time restrictions may apply).

There are different types of Railcard, starting from £10, and they are valid for 12 months.

46 | escape

Eurostar We’ve teamed up with Eurostar to offer you the chance to buy a ticket from your UK destination through to the Continent, making it easier to travel and giving you the best value for money.

SuperBus The First SuperBus ticket offers inclusive onward bus travel in the Bristol area for holders of certain train tickets with a destination of Bristol Parkway or Temple Meads, at no extra cost.

HOW ARE WE DOING? Contact us at fgwfeedback@firstgroup.com or call us on 08457 000 125 (0700 to 2200 every day) with any questions, concerns or feedback.

We’d love to hear from you.

National Rail Enquiries To find out all the latest service updates on all Train Operating Companies, call National Rail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50.

Or you can check online at nationalrail.co.uk

Customer Panel First Great Western’s Customer Panel provides us with valuable customer feedback.

Contact your local Customer Panel member, who will help convey your comments. Email: customer.panel@firstgroup.com Passenger Focus The independent National Rail consumer watchdog can be contacted at passengerfocus.org.uk www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

CORNISH FARM HOLIDAYS

QUALITY CORNISH HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION Cornish Farm Holidays offer quality bed & breakfast and self-catering accommodation throughout Cornwall.

Whether it’s a romantic getaway for two, a memorable family holiday or just a break from everyday life, there is a Cornish Farm Holiday that is just right for you.

Traditional and contemporary cottages & converted barns Rural & coastal locations Friendly owner run properties Many family & pet friendly properties Delicious home cooked produce Real Cornish hospitality Book direct with the owners

Make your holiday a Cornish Farm Holiday.....

www.cornishfarmholidays.co.uk

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year

Discover Trebah, a beautiful sub-tropical paradise with a stunning coastal backdrop.

Enjoy adventure play areas, children’s trails and special events all year round. Visit our award winning Planters Café for seasonal home-cooked food.

2014 Silver

2 5 Ye a r s i n Tr u st

We

love dogs...

Trebah’s B each Giant Gunn era

Performance

Trebah – it’s excitingly different.

Cultural cinema and digital creativity centre Our Café/Bar is the perfect social space overlooking Bristol’s Harbourside serving delicious fresh, local and ethical food all day long.

G ard en Trails

www.trebah-garden.co.uk

BOOK PUBLISHING Authors invited to submit manuscripts all categories including poetry

New Authors welcome A.H. STOCKWELL LTD Dept. 833, Torrs Park, Ilfracombe, Devon, EX34 8BA. Highlights coming soon: Filmic, Impact of Conflict, Festival of Ideas Find out what’s on today: watershed.co.uk Box Office: 0117 927 5100 Watershed 1 Canon’s Road Bristol BS1 5TX

Tel: 01271 862557 www.ahstockwell.co.uk Publishers for 100 Years

SAFETY INFORMATION FOR PASSENGERS SEATED IN COACHES A, K AND THE BUFFET CAR, PLEASE CHECK YOUR NEAREST SAFETY POSTER FOR ADDITIONAL EVACUATION INSTRUCTIONS IF IT IS NECESSARY TO MOVE FROM YOUR COACH AND IT IS SAFE TO REMAIN ON THE TRAIN, MOVE TO ANOTHER COACH

These instructions are provided for your safety in the event of an emergency.

If there is no immediate danger, await instructions from on train staff.

It is important that you familiarise yourself with the location of emergency equipment.

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES EMERGENCY ALARM – TO STOP THE TRAIN IN AN EMERGENCY Locate the red emergency alarm handle and pull sharply towards you. This will immediately apply the train brakes. Please locate a member of staff and explain your reasons for operating the alarm

LIGHT STICKS – DURING AN EMERGENCY, IF THE LIGHTING ON THE TRAIN FAILS

Locate the 'Emergency light sticks' box

Pull sharply on the box where indicated on the label

Light sticks will then be removed as OR be activated, which required can either remain in the boxes

EMERGENCY ESCAPE – INTERNAL SLIDING DOORS If it is safe to remain on the train, move to another coach.

Do not take personal belongings with you

If the internal sliding door will not open, lift the emergency release cover where marked (situated in the top corner of the door

SAFETY DIAGRAM FOR COACHES B, C, D, E, F, L, AND M

Using the Pull Tab, pull the locking strip to the opposite bottom corner of the door

IF IT IS NOT SAFE TO REMAIN ON THE TRAIN Once the train is stationary, leave through the coach doors

Using the horizontal panel, push the window fully out

BEFORE LEAVING THE TRAIN Be aware of other moving trains and any potential hazards

ONCE OFF THE TRAIN

Move to a safe location, away from the tracks.

Await instructions from train staff.

Do not step on or touch any rail

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

Strike cover of emergency release with fist

Remove cover and pull handle

Open the door fully, then leave the train

Use the offset steps or sit on the edge and lower yourself to the ground

escape | 49

GIVE ME FIVE

Caroline Quentin The Men Behaving Badly actress on her new play, favourite hot spots and hidden Cornish gems

1

You’re in a play called The Life and Times of Fanny Hill – what’s it about?

This is a version of Fanny Hill written

by April De Angelis, based on the original novel written in the 1700s by John Cleland. As well as dramatising bits of the book, April also researched the real life experiences of women at the time. I play Fanny Hill at a period in her life when she is narrating the story about her past exploits – as if Fanny is looking back over her life and writing her own story.

d

: AND ALSO

50 | escape

K

23 Sounds like fun – when does it all kick off?

We start rehearsals on 5 January and then it opens on 5 February.

The cast is made up of four women and two guys and there will be a period in rehearsals where we’ll be working quite loosely with the script, with music and dance and all sorts.

It will be really good fun, exploring some interesting topics. I’m really looking forward to us all dragging as much comedy out of the script as possible. I mean it is quite funny anyway – darkly funny. But we are hoping to make it a really fun experience for the audience.

You’re a big Cornwall fan – where’s your favourite spot?

I spend all of my holidays on the Helford River, and in my mind it is not just the best place in Cornwall, it’s one of the best places in the world. The Ferryboat Inn is there as well, it’s a seafood restaurant so there’s wonderful fish to eat, as well as a ferry that you can cross the river on.

The beaches are really beautiful and you can hire boats from a place called St Anthony-in-Meneage.

4

I hear you are a South Westerner?

I live in Tiverton and I use Tiverton Parkway two or three times a week. My mum’s family are Cornish and I have relatives in Devon so I’ve always known this part of the world. My husband and I moved down here with the kids about 12 years ago.

K

South Westerner Caroline Quentin

5

Would you recommend anywhere to visit in the South West?

I always take visitors to the Tarr Steps in Exmoor National Park. There has been a crossing there for a long, long time and it’s got 18 or 20 big slabs that go right across the River Barle. It’s really beautiful.

There’s a pub called the Tarr Farm Inn, too, which is one of the best pubs I’ve ever been to and the food is perfect.

K

When she was 16, Caroline performed at the Hippodrome in Bristol, playing Judy in Paddington Bear the Musical.

Caroline spends a lot of her time at home with her two kids and watches her 11-year-old son play rugby for a local South West team.

The Life and times of Fanny Hill is on at The Old Vic Theatre in Bristol from 5 February – 7 March 2015. Tickets are available at bristololdvic.org.uk

www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk

Illustration by Aquarium Volunteer James Marsh

Forget Sheep…have you tried counting sharks?

Sleeping with sharks family sleepovers for ages 5-16.

www.national-aquarium.co.uk 0844 893 7938