Absolutely Hertfordshire October 2021

HERTFORDSHIRE

Hertfordshire OCTOBER 2021 / £3.95

SPECIAL

SILVER SERVICE The Harpenden pub

38 pages of inspiration and advice

marrying past charm with modern cooking

OCTOBER 2021

Shine a LIGHT ON

EYES

on the

PRIZE

Visiting an eyewear shop like no other in St Albans

Going behind the scenes at the remarkable St Albans Cathedral

Kate

ABSOLUTELY-HERTFORDSHIRE.CO.UK

GEE-FINCH

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The former Miss Hertfordshire on future movie making magic ST YLISH / INTELLIGENT / ELEGANT

23/09/2021 11:54

01494 677727

Call us now for a no obligation consultation

Affordable, luxury, quality & style...

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Traditional shaker styles designed for modern living

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ABSOLUTELY

Contents OCTOBER 2021

72 14

C U LT U R E KATE GEE-FINCH

What it takes to be Miss Hertfordshire

18

GEMMA JONES

Takes us on a tour of St Albans Cathedral

20 CAMP BEAUMONT

All your children need this half term

FOOD & DRINK 26 KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL News from the industry

28 THE SILVER CUP

Grand plans at the Harpenden pub

30 RECIPES

The latest cook at home inspiration

FA S H I O N & B E AU T Y 38 TREND UPDATE The best of the AW21 looks

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40 THE SHOOT

A little inspiration from Amsterdam

50 EYES ON ST ALBANS

Eyewear like you haven't seen before

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HOME SPECIAL 63 NEWS & VIEWS

The latest from the interiors industry

A B S O L U T E LY-

64 RIBA AWARDS

H E R T F O R D S H I R E .C O. U K

GLOTECH

The online guide to inspirational living that helps you stay one step ahead of the crowd and gives you the chance to win exclusive prizes.

Four stand out local projects

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Solving all our kitchen conundrums

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KIT KEMP

Design inspiration from the best

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PRODUCTS

Four pages covering the latest trends: why blue is the colour, wallpaper delights and top ten lights

O N T H E C OV E R Kate Gee-Finch, photographed

by Roj Whitelock

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Are you full of ideas for transforming your home but not sure where to start?

EDITOR MARK KEBBLE DIGITAL EDITOR LAYLA TURNER EDITORIAL ASSISTANT ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND ART DIRECTOR PAWEL KUBA SENIOR DESIGNERS MIKE ROBERTS SAMANTHA SCOTT

The Essential Home Design Guide will help you enjoy the process of designing your own home step-by-step.

MID-WEIGHT DESIGNER REBECCA NOONAN MAGAZINE MANAGER HAYLEY LANT FINANCIAL DIRECTOR JERRIE KOLECI

Through a combination of printed guides and online resources, you’ll learn:

CREDIT CONTROL MANAGER ALEXANDRA HVID

• The essential preparation and thinking that goes into a design project.

• Expert tips for making the most of your space.

• Professional advice on choosing a colour scheme, adding textures and using patterns.

• There is also advice on making it happen: smarter budgeting, ordering and how to work with the trades.

DIRECTORS CRAIG DAVIES, LEAH DAY, JAMES FUSCHILLO NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALEXANDRA HUNTER MANAGING DIRECTOR SHERIF SHALTOUT

You’ll also get a designer’s toolkit delivered to your door and benefit from 1-2-1 support from Samantha as your project progresses.

ONLY

£

95 For editorial enquiries please email: mark@zest-media.com For advertising enquiries please call 07861 994435 or email: hayley@zest-media.com

Studio G06, Wenlock Studios, 50-52 Wharf Road, London N1 7EU; 020 7704 0588 Zest Media Publications Ltd. cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts and photographs. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and Zest Media Publications Ltd. take no responsibility for omissions or errors.

We reserve the right to publish and edit any letters.

All rights reserved.

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Fo l l ow Us O n Fa c e b o o k @ABSOLUTELYHERTFORDSHIRE T wi t t e r @ABSOLUTELYHERTS In s t a g ra m @ABSOLUTELYHERTFORDSHIRE We b si t e

For more information visit samanthajohnsondesign.com/ essential-home-design-guide

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a b s o l u t e l y - h e r t fo r d s h i r e . c o . u k

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EMMA BUSTAMANTE

Welcome

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As we prepare for what is set to be an important period for our high streets, Emma Bustamante from Cositas reflects on why ventures like hers need our support

THE E D I TO R’ S October issue highlights

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Nursery on the Green

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ell, we’re well and truly into autumn now; colder weather, shorter days, the beginning of a new school term. And that only means one thing for us retailers – Christmas season.

But what is Christmas on the high street in Hertfordshire going to look like this year?

I’ve worked and lived in St Albans for 25 years, and have been in retail in Hertfordshire since I was 16. Four and a half years ago, I opened my home interiors and gift shop, Cositas Home. In lockdown a year ago, Cositas Gifts was born, giving us a position more in the middle of the town centre. For me, this shop is the perfect example of a business pivoting and adapting to the new retail landscape; a few months ago I decided to rebrand as Cositas – Gifts For The Soul.

After talking to our customers and fellow business owners, I realised that I hadn’t been the only one on a wellness journey throughout lockdown.

The high streets of Hertfordshire have definitely changed and will continue to do so, but the heartbeat of them remain the same – your independent retailers who are always listening and adapting to serve their community.

This Christmas is going to be really important for all the local physical shops as we try to recoup some of the losses sustained through the pandemic, and we will be relying now more than ever on our local communities, who have supported us so far, to shop local and small. Making mindful purchases from local retailers is voting with your wallet and will help to ensure the future of our high streets.

Why children embrace the outdoors

Kate Gee-Finch

From Miss Hertfordshire to Hollywood leading lady

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RIBA Awards

Why St Albans Cathedral got the vote

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The Silver Cup

The Harpenden pub with big plans for the future

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Wish LIST 10 things we Absolutely love COMPILED BY

PENDLE HARTE

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SLIPPER S AG E There's no need to sacrifice style over comfort with Daphne, Olivia Morris' signature House Slipper, in sumptuous lime green cotton velvet trimmed with an oversized bow and grosgrain binding. £245 oliviamorrisathome.com

POP ART Nude's Rock and Pop artist collection comprises four Mirage highball glasses with striking painted motifs. £37 for four. nudeglass.com

JEAN GREENIE T WO TO N E Designed by Clara von Zweigbergk for Hay, this wooden chess set in green and black makes a colourful change from the standard monochrome. £39 royaldesign.co.uk

The Anine Bing Ramona Bowie sweatshirt is crafted from 100% organic cotton and features a David Bowie print at the front and Bowie text at the back. Expect lasting comfort as well as a distinct look. £149 farfetch.com

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ABSOLUTELY • LOVES

PRETTY GREEN These elegant stud earrings are crafted in 18ct white gold and feature a beautiful round emerald which is surrounded by a halo of diamonds with a post and butterfly fitting, £1,695. bakerbrothersdiamonds.com

GREEN C R AY O N Chinti & Parker has teamed up with Crayola to present a collection that is at once nostalgic and luxurious. It's a rainbow-bright line-up of sweaters, tracksuits, and tees crafted from wool, cashmere, and cotton. chintiandparker.com

LIME LIGHT Original BTC's classic Hector wall light in translucent bone china comes in a cool light green shade in various sizes. From £155 originalbtc.com

EYES OPEN Green eyewear by the one and only Kirk & Kirk, colours that can only be produced in strong and lightweight acrylic. eyesonstalbans.com

B OT T L E GREEN A new limited edition fluted bottle of the popular English Pear and Freesia fragrance is Jo Malone London's newest launch.

Fresh and fruity indeed. £120 jomalone.co.uk

EMERALD CITY Aubade's Toi Mon Amour nightie has a chic, glamorous look with its 16mm silk and matching jacquard lace motifs. Elegant, graceful and remarkably comfortable, it is available in a new Émeraude shade. ameliesfollies.co.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

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Brand New near Potters Bar

Potters Grange

Brand new 20 bed Boutique Residential home with Nursing • Bespoke New Build • Luxuriously Appointed • Like no other you have seen

At Potters Grange you have all the features of a large luxury Care home, without having to share it with 80 or 100 other people • • • • • •

COVID safe for residents and visitors All bedrooms feature ensuite wetrooms Freshly prepared meals and private dining.

Air conditioning in lounges and dining areas Cinema room and optional daily activities Home comes with its own fully accessible vehicle

Come and meet the team today to see just how special Potters Grange is O1707 938 938 | Potters Grange | Barnet Road, Potters Bar, Herts, EN6 2SJ | www.PottersGrange.co.uk ARDALE.indd 1

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C U LT U R E

LHOUETTE ARKLEY FINE ART

Over the last ten years the meteoric rise of British artist Lhouette has been nothing short of remarkable.

Gaining his pseudonym from a series of works featuring a cast of striking yet subversive female silhouettes, working closely with Arkley Fine Art Lhouette is now regarded as one of the UK’s leading urban pop artists. arkleyfineart.co.uk

Agenda 12 • Kate Gee-Finch 14 • St Albans Cathedral 18 A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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The Agenda

O CTO B E R ' S H OT T E ST H A P P E N I N G S

EV E N T

Antique & Collectors Fair 10 October & 31 October BERKHAMSTED / SARRATT Marcel Fairs will be hosting two special antiques events in Hertfordshire this month. On 10 October they head to Sarratt Village Hall, before moving on to Berkhamsted Sports Centre on 31 October. Expect some unique finds that will delight collectors out there. marcelfairs.co.uk

A RT

Arkley Fine Art O NGO I NG

Established in 2017, Arkley Fine Art has quickly made its mark as a leading gallery discovering emerging artists. The setup at Arkley has been built on their strong values of not only making sure they are showcasing the best contemporary art has to offer, but also making sure the careers of the artists on their portfolio are being properly managed. Their success is Arkley’s success. arkleyfineart.co.uk / @arkleyfineart

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EV E N T

The Gruesome Gardens 25-28 October ASHRIDGE HOUSE Ashridge House presents The Gruesome Gardens this Halloween. Enter through the Haunted Castle and make your way through to the Gruesome Gardens where your trail begins. Will you be able to locate the pirates' treasure chest and make it out of the gardens unscathed to collect your Halloween treat? ashridgehouse.org.uk/thegruesome-gardens/

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CULTURE • WHAT'S ON

A RT

Sinclair Gallery Ongoing R I C K M A N SWO RT H The Sinclair Gallery, located in Rickmansworth, celebrates Realist art and features some of the most talented Realism artists in the world.

Its founder, Esther Murphy, was inspired to open the gallery after completing her own traditional Atelier training in Classical Realism. Visit their website for latest listings. Pictured: George A Gonzalez's 'Sweet Pear'. thesinclairgallery.com

T R E AT DAY Where to enjoy Chocolate Week from 14-18 October

YVETTE'S CHOCOLATES

At Yvette's Chocolates they live to create flavour. They love to create a 'wow' taste sensation for customers by infusing flavours into their chocolate. They proudly make all their products by hand, and aim to use as many natural ingredients as possible. This is an experience all chocolate lovers have to savour. yvetteschocolates.com

EV E N T

WEAR IT PINK

This Month’s Must Visit

22 October The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on Breast Cancer Now’s ability to deliver the progress and support that people affected by breast cancer rely on them for.

People can help to raise money by taking part in their Wear It Pink day this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

On Friday 22 October, all you need to do is wear pink, raise money, and you can help make life-saving breast cancer research and life-changing care happen. wearitpink.org

EMMY'S BRIGADEIRO Brigadeiro is a delicious, luscious, handcrafted Brazilian treat. Quality ingredients are slow cooked and then hand rolled into bite sized balls of chocolate indulgence, nutty delights and fruit sensations.

This Hertfordshire business is well worth checking out for something a little different. emmysbrigadeiro.com

WA R E V I N TAG E FA I R

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24 OCTOBER • WARE

his fair has established itself as a popular destination for vintage lovers. Go and join them in a historic venue in a historic market town.

Ware Drill Hall is a Victorian barrelvaulted building constructed in iron, perfect to host 50 vintage dealers, a vintage cafe serving lovely home-made cakes, live singer, DJ Retro Radio Show, and more. 10:30am-4pm, admission £2, children free. Dogs welcome. haddonevents.co.uk

THE SECRET TRUFFLETIER

Since 1911, The Secret Truffletier have been master manufacturers of Swiss chocolate gifts. Their range of exquisite chocolates and finest truffle chocolate are all produced at their Hertfordshire factory using only the very finest Swiss chocolate. There is something for everyone from traditional fine award winning champagne truffles to contemporary flavours of salted caramel. thesecrettruffletier.co.uk

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CULTURE • INTERVIEW

Vo i c e

o f

a

C O U N T Y Kate Gee-Finch reflects on her time as Miss Hertfordshire, creating her own film project and taking on Mission Impossible

By MARK KEBBLE

F

or something that seems of another time, the beauty pageant is still very much a part of 21st century life. Not digging too deep, the idea of holding one, to me, doesn’t seem right, which is exactly what Kate Gee-Finch thought when she was approached by the team at Miss Hertfordshire. “I certainly adopted a pre-conceived idea of ladies posing in bikinis and talking about world peace,” she admits, “but then I did my research.”

Having graduated from The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with first class honours in BA Screen, Radio & Theatre Drama, the aspiring actress noted some of the illustrious names who have competed in Miss/Mr World finals in the past – such as Halle Berry and Gal Gadot – and, unlike me, did dig deep into what the competition is all about. “I learnt that charity work was a big part of the competition, finding sponsors, plus opportunities to meet other young ladies

with that hard work ethic. At the audition I didn’t realise how many girls had [such] inspiring stories. They simply wanted to gain confidence, friendship, and be a part of their community after being bullied or struggling with self-esteem. Since at the time I was personally struggling after the ending of a toxic relationship, I thought this opportunity could be something perfect.”

So it proved, with Gee-Finch holding the title of Miss Hertfordshire from 2018-2020. “I did get known as Miss Herts around town,” she laughs. “I’ve made some friends for life and really gained the confidence to embrace every part of my womanhood. Girls of all sizes, from all areas and backgrounds, make up the team of Miss England candidates.” Supporting local Herts-based initiatives, too, was inspiring. “I was invited to judge at the Garden House Hospice Strictly Come Jive event,” she recalls. “The contestants were all raising money for the fantastic charity, and I felt like Len Goodman handing out my first ‘10’! Unfortunately

cancer has affected some wonderful people in my life on a variety of levels, so charities like this remain close to my heart.

There are so many inspiring businesses, charities and individuals in the area.”

It seems apt that the born and bred Herts local – “I was born in Stevenage, grew up in Baldock, and went to Knights Templar School” – would go on to represent our county with such aplomb, and as the pandemic hit the acting industry, GeeFinch moved back to Hitchin. “In the space of three days I was emailed several times regarding my freelance bookings that were due to supply me with work for the next six months – all were cancelled,” she looks back to the start of lockdown in 2020. “I have worked self-employed since graduating, so I wasn’t used to not being busy. But I managed to get two online adverts filmed from home, new representation, and set up the voice-over business I have now. The hardest part was not seeing my family, but in comparison to many pandemic stories, I know it could have been a lot worse.”

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RUBARB IS A FAVOURITE

AS MISS HERTFORDSHIRE

CULTURE • INTERVIEW

SHE HAS HAD GREAT REVIEWS FOR HER STAGE WORK

“I'm a big believer in reaching out to those who inspire you” Gee-Finch has tackled 2021 head on, completing her first TV pilot and now looking to move to the big screen. “I plan to create a short film next year,” she explains. “I’m writing to a wonderful playwright, whose story I want to use as the base and adapt as a screenplay. It’s an important story to me after watching a previous partner struggle with drug abuse.

I have a list of crew and talent I’ve worked with, and now all I need is the funding or an investor interested in supporting the arts, which is always the hard bit.”

Is developing her own work something she sees herself doing in the future? “Ultimately the plan is to work with other like-minded female writers and directors,” she says.

“Elisabeth Moss gave a performance in The Handmaid’s Tale that blew me away, and later on started directing the series as well. What an ultimate ‘girl boss’! Writing and directing would simply be an extension of my love for the film and TV industry.”

That’s the long-term plan, but recently Gee-Finch acted out the words of one our most inspiring playwrights when she took to the stage in Shakespeare in the Park. “I travelled back to Stratford-uponAvon to play Lady Macbeth supporting the opening of outdoor theatre,” she says. “It was my second time tackling the role of Lady Macbeth. There’s nothing like playing the role of the villain, who doesn’t think they are villainous.

“My mum took a degree in English Literature as I was growing up, so my love for language, feminist and classic writers and, of course, Shakespeare grew with her,” Gee-Finch continues. “I got to represent my drama school at the Sam Wanamaker Festival at the Globe Theatre in 2015, a

stage I long to tread the boards on again.

Shakespeare is like a second language to me, and all the great actors certainly are found working closely with the RSC.” More UK stage work may have to wait, though, as Gee-Finch’s ambitions look to take her off our green and pleasant land. “I want to take my short film to a renowned film festival and visit LA,” she says on her plans for 2022. “I’d love to audition in America.

I’ve worked as a film extra on Tom Cruise’s last two Mission Impossible films, and I wouldn’t mind actually working opposite him as his leading lady. Unfortunately, I can’t get hold of his email to tell him that! I am a big believer in reaching out to those who inspire you and you wish to connect with, so I’m sure I’ll figure out how to get his attention somehow.” Mission Impossible? Perhaps not for our former Miss Hertfordshire. kategeefinch.co.uk SHE LOVES THE HITCHIN AREA

Kate GeeFinch’s H I T C H I N H AV E N S What do you love most about the area?

I find a lot of creatives and young entrepreneurs live in the area, which is great for my line of work. But mostly the fact that it’s surrounded by beautiful areas of countryside and a short train ride from London. Plus we’re close to Leavesden Studios where I’ve worked on film sets. The whole town of Hitchin is buzzing with events, boutiques and some great areas for stunning walks!

If you had to pick out some of your favourite local haunts, where would you choose?

Los Reyes is amazing for authentic tapas food, with its hidden courtyard and private dining rooms. Next up is my favourite boutique clothes store Rubarb. Every kind of funky, occasion, statement clothing you don’t find on the high street floods the shelves, and the staff certainly give you that personal shopping experience. Lastly, you might occasionally find me at the Beer Shop on Hermitage Road, with its specialist tasting room.

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Q How long have you worked at St Albans Cathedral?

A I joined the Cathedral just as the global pandemic started to hit back in February 2020. What a time to start a new job!

Q Is it an inspiring place to work?

A As someone who has lived in the

beautiful city of St Albans for ten years, the Cathedral is absolutely at the heart of life here. It’s such an inspiring place to work, no two days are the same. The Cathedral boasts over 1,700 years of history, so I’m proud to play my part in its future.

Get to know…

GEMMA JONES H E A D O F M A R K E T I N G A N D V I S I TO R E X P E R I E N C E , S T A L B A N S CAT H E D R A L

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Q What does your role as head of marketing and visitor experience entail?

A I have a great role here at the Cathedral.

One of our missions is to offer a warm welcome to all, so we make sure that people can see what we do on our website, across our social media and emails. Then if people do visit us in person, we want to make sure they enjoy their visit and learn everything that they want during their time with us.

Q What were you able to do during the various lockdowns?

A The lockdowns were really hard for us at the Cathedral as a team and financially, but with pure determination to take the church online, we launched our first live stream service on Mothering Sunday 2020 and over 1,000 people tuned in live to watch to our amazement! From there, we went from strength to strength adapting everything we did, to bring the Cathedral to our current audience and our new followers from around the world. We also launched a new 3D tour, so you can see parts of the building that are not open to visitors.

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CULTURE • PROFILE

VERULAMIUM PARK IS A RELAXING SPOT

“The Cathedral boasts over 1,700 years of history.

I'm proud to play my part in its future” Q The Light Show is returning in October and looks wonderful.

What can we expect to see?

A This year’s event will be an absolute stunner. Visitors will take a journey from sunrise to sunset, with worldthemed light projections throughout the building. Look out for the dolphin swimming across the Nave!

Q Are you always looking at how you can bring the younger generation into the Cathedral?

A Yes, absolutely. We have a Youth Chaplain that’s dedicated to nurturing the younger generations from the worship side of things. From a general visitor perspective, we have a fab dressing up area, kids’ trails and during school holidays we put on lots of events aimed at families.

INSIDE ST ALBANS CATHEDRAL

THE WAFFLE HOUSE OFFERS UP A TREAT

Q What is your favourite thing about St Albans?

A As a girl who grew up in rural Warwickshire, I love the balance of living in a city and its convenience, but with great green open spaces on the doorstep.

Q Have there been any outdoor spots that have been a godsend during the lockdowns?

A During this year’s home-schooling lockdown, Verulamium Park was our go to for fresh air and to burn off some energy. Just mentioning home schooling gives me nightmares!

Q Where are your favourite local places around St Albans?

A I absolutely love the Waffle House as a treat, and as a fan of Italian food, Per

THE FABULOUS LIGHT SHOW IS HEADING TO THE CATHEDRAL

Tutti. As a cyclist though, I’m in my happy place cycling around the Dunstable Downs.

Q Do you have a secret or any interesting stories about St Albans Cathedral you are willing to reveal?

A In August 1870, the Clerk of the Works heard an enormous cracking sound during a service. They discovered that the tower, which dates back to the 11th century, was at risk of collapsing. Extensive repair works were carried out and, thankfully, it still stands today. Now we run tower tours, so people can climb the 211 steps and on a clear day see The Shard.

ST A L B A N S CAT H E D R A L The St Albans Cathedral Light Show opens on 26 October. Find out more at stalbanscathedral.org

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Adventure PLAYGROUND Whether taking part in the Aqua Olympics or feeling like a superhero, Camp Beaumont’s many activities and expert leadership will give your child an experience they will never forget

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ith half-term just around the corner, and the dilemma of childcare approaching, Camp Beaumont, the UK’s most experienced day camp provider, is on hand to provide your child with a fun-filled adventure at over 21 locations, including Watford Grammar School for Boys, St Albans Girls’ School, Queenswood School and Berkhamsted Prep.

Their award-winning multi-activity programme will ensure your child learns new skills, makes new friends and enjoys an exhilarating and confidence boosting half-term break. From archery and tennis to yoga, each unforgettable experience will enhance their wellbeing and revitalise them for their return to school.

With over 40 activities each week, not only can your child sharpen up their social skills, but they can pursue new interests, develop new talents and unleash their creative side. Activities range from Aqua Olympics to Movie Maker to Superhero

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CULTURE • PARTNERSHIP

CAMP BEAUMONT OFFERS A HOST OF ACTIVITIES

Academy, and each activity programme is tailored by age group, including a nurserystyle Playtime Programme for 3-4-year-olds, a unique Magic Programme for 5-7-yearolds, a thrilling Active Programme for 8-11-year-olds and an exclusive club style Teens Programme for 12-16-year-olds.

Each day is structured around six key learning outcomes including challenge yourself, get outdoors, get connected, get active, relax and unwind, and express yourself, so each child is challenged, and given ample opportunities to hone important life skills such as leadership, teamwork, and resilience. Parents are able to notice the undeniable impact Camp Beaumont’s camps have, with 61% saying their children appeared more confident after attending camp.

One parent whose child attended Camp Beaumont this summer says: “It was the first time that my 4-year-old attended summer camp. I was a little worried as to whether he would enjoy it or not, but he had an amazing time! The team is so welcoming and made my son feel very comfortable.

The activities are different every day. I would highly recommend this camp.”

And another says: “I booked my daughter into Camp Beaumont for two days and she really enjoyed it. There were lots of activities for her to take part in. They also had extra activities like baking and football.

The team and activity leaders were very friendly and I was happy knowing that my child was in a safe environment.”

Camp Beaumont has a higher staff to child ratio than any other day camp provider in the UK and their team of highly qualified, enthusiastic Camp Leaders, Activity Instructors and Early Years Staff are able to support children with mindfulness, confidence and communication as well as so much more, giving each child a beneficial experience as well as a fun one.

Their delightful staff are trained by industry leaders In2action who work with the likes of Centre Parcs and Disney, and as a result Camp Beaumont is loved and trusted by parents and children alike. Their ethos to always put children first shines through and the unique team spirit their camps are famous for is not to be missed.

This half-term, parents who book their child onto Camp Beaumont will also have the added benefit of adding on Action

Extras to their child’s experience. These include archery academy, explosive science, swimming lessons, tennis lessons, soccer school, creative workshops as well as starmaker and jungle survival academy.

Camp Beaumont also caters to busy, working parents and offers both early drop-off and late-pick up as handy extended day extras. To avoid your child’s home clothes becoming muddy or worn, you can even purchase Camp Beaumont camp kits, which include camp hoodies, t-shirts, baseball caps, camp rucksacks, water bottles and wristbands by calling 01604 851 0000 or emailing customerservices@campbeaumont.co.uk.

Camp Beaumont’s October half-term camps take place from 18 October-5 November 2021. Childcare vouchers are accepted and all bookings are flexible with their COVID flexible booking promise. If there are any changes to the government guidance you can change the date hassle-free or receive a full refund.

Quote ABSOLUTELY and book by 15 October to save 10%. To book, visit campbeaumont.co.uk or call 01604 851 0000

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CULTURE • PARTNERSHIP

DI D YO U K NOW ?

The taxi trade originally began in the •1600s as a horse-drawn carriage with the

first taxi rank being situated in The Strand.

black cab has to be tall enough •toAaccommodate an individual wearing a bowler hat.

A taxi is not by law legally •obliged to give you change.

A black cab driver is expected to know •over 25,000 roads, 20,000 landmarks

and memorise 320 routes within a six mile radius of Charing Cross. All of London’s black cab taxis must pass the test called “The Knowledge”.

Black cabs are the only taxis that you can hail to stop for a ride. Minicabs, Uber cabs or any other cabs will not stop, if they do it is illegal. Your cab may be unlicensed and you may not be insured.

•

The black cab turns on a two pence •with a turning circle of 25ft.

With 25,000 black cabbies in London •most are all owner drivers. You’re technically stepping into their shop!

iconic black cab industry •isLondon’s ranked number one in the world.

THE POTTERS GRANGE LONDON CAB

GOING PLACES An electric London icon, for whatever your age

“The taxi cab has already prompted reminiscence from residents”

P

otters Grange is a new small and beautiful place to live for people in their mature years who need extra support or even nursing care. Being less than 1,000 metres from the London border, they decided to take on an iconic piece of London town.

Their brand new London cab is not only comfortable and practical for commuting, especially for those with mobility difficulties, it is also beautiful. It is completely fit for purpose, has incredible eco credentials being able to travel all the miles they need on pure electric, with a little range extender petrol engine for those rare occasions where more range is required.

So many care home and disability organisations have branded, mobility friendly minibuses which show where

cabbie’s first ‘Green Huts’ opened •inThe 1875. They are dotted all over London with only 13 now remaining. They are a great place to eat, providing proper home cooked food.

they are from. Potters Grange totally understand this concept as it is great mobile advertising. However, having significant care experience, they have involved their residents in decisions and listened and acted on their ideas and opinions. They now understand that there are many people who do not want to be advertised as living with a disability or living in a care home. For them it’s a point of dignity and self-respect.

The taxi cab has already prompted reminiscence from residents who tell them about how they used to use the old diesel guzzling, bone shaker black cabs many years ago and how the interior has actually changed very little from these memories.

The thing they love most about their taxi is that it is fully disabled friendly with appropriate hand rails, a discreet wheelchair ramp that pulls out from under the floor and plenty of space. All that's needed now is a lovely sunny day to head off to the seaside.

P OT T E R S G R A N G E Barnet Road, Potters Bar, EN6 2SJ 01707 938 938 pottersgrange.co.uk

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Judges Restaurant offers modern eclectic British & European dining and a Cocktail Bar

There’s nothing quite like lunch in the sunshine.

We offer alfresco dining serving the finest food and cocktails.

1 Judges Hill, Northaw, Potters Bar EN6 4NL 01707 802104 www.judgesrestaurant.com

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FOOD & DRINK

HISTORY MAKER THE SILVER CUP

This 19th century Harpenden public house has been transformed since early 2020 by life-long friends Michael Singleton and Matthew Reeder.

Now welcoming guests back inside once again, their relaxed atmosphere and extensive drinks range has proved to be popular amongst locals, and their food offering is also attracting admiring glances.

Find out more about the duo’s grand plans on page 28. thesilvercup.co.uk

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WHAT TO DRINK

IN THE spirit Gin recommendations for the month

TASTING NOTES

The latest food news and most exciting openings this month

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

By MR HOBBS

Mr Hobbs 150 Gin 70cl 40% ABV  £34 Mr Hobbs 150 is a classic London Dry Gin with quintessential English heritage, which marks the 150-year anniversary of the family owned, British boating institution; Hobbs of Henley. The award-winner is bursting with nine botanicals, making a serious gin that will leave you wanting more.

Rhubarb & Ginger Gin Liqueur 50cl 21.5% ABV  £25 Blended with the very best British rhubarb to produce a perfectly balanced gin liqueur.

Summer fruits and herbs on the nose with well-rounded ginger notes and plenty of rhubarb on the palate. The perfect addition to any drinks cabinet, this is an exceptional base for seasonal cocktails, sparkling or otherwise.

Mr Hobbs Henley Gin 70cl 45% ABV  £36 Harry Hobbs’ old recipe dates back to 1870, and they have based this recipe on five of his original botanicals, one of which is still a family secret – so no telling here – and added lime flower and lemon peel to give it a citrus twist. A bona-fide thirst quencher.

The Mr Hobbs Gin range of products is brought to you by the family pleasure boating business, Hobbs of Henley, who give you the most enjoyable way to “mess about on the river’’. Today they are very proud to share their cherished family tipples with you and raise a glass to their Henley heritage.

mrhobbsgin.co.uk

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Fire up autumn SOPWELL HOUSE

The Brasserie at Sopwell House is launching a new autumnal menu this October. Regulars can look forward to a more traditional style returning to Sopwell House, with the menu largely coming from the Mibrasa oven operating from the open plan kitchen. Think burgers, steaks, and grilled sea bass cooked on a charcoal fire, accompanied by succulent sides of French fries and tenderstem broccoli with confit shallots. If that’s not enough to whet your appetite, the dessert selection definitely will. sopwellhouse.co.uk

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FOOD & DRINK • NOTES

INDIAN SUMMER Exploring some of South Asia’s finest

MUSIC TO OUR EARS GIN & JAZZ FESTIVAL

THE COCHIN

Hop to it HOUSE OF POUTINE

Cochin is the commercial capital of Kerala which is situated in south west of India. At The Cochin South Indian restaurant in Hemel Hempstead, they specialise in Keralan cuisine and like to introduce their customers to the best dishes from the region.

Kerala cuisine is unique, full of tradition, flavour and spices. hemelhempstead.thecochin.uk

Crisp golden fries. Rich gravy. Cheese curds. The three unmistakable ingredients for the most indulgent comfort dish that’s hopped across the Atlantic and now heading to Half Moon Yard, St Albans, this October when House of Poutine (HOP) opens. Chef director and partner Jamie Robertson, formerly group executive chef of Gaucho and the Gordan Ramsay Group, has designed a menu of totally indulgent poutine. houseofpoutine.co.uk

INFUSE Indian food with its vast regional cuisine offers a mesmerising blend of spices and intricate aromas.

At Infuse they bring together some of the old favourites and combine some new flavours to tease your palate. Infuse Bistro is your space to socialise over drinks and share plates of comfort food. Let the journey begin... infuselounge.co.uk

Back with a bang BISTRO GAUTIER

Bistro Gautier has now reopened. It will be open five days a week, with new menus, new events, pop-ups, brunch, steak night, Halloween parties and more...

The team are all together and have been working harder than ever to bring your favourite bistro back, so make sure you head to Harpenden to support them. bistro-gautier.co.uk

Joy comes to George Street in St Albans on 22-23 October, as the hugely popular Gin and Jazz Festival returns. The festival is a fantastic showcase for George Street retailers and hospitality venues where the historic street is abuzz with live Swing Jazz music, fabulous food, gin bars and, of course, fantastic independent shopping.

Now in its third year, the event is organised by the George Street Business community.

Sarah Gillow of George Street’s contemporary jewellery store Galio says: “We are delighted that George Street Gin and Jazz Festival is back. It’s a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on wonderful, historic George Street and to offer people a unique, boutique shopping and hospitality experience. George Street has a long-standing reputation for hosting street festivals.”

Sean Hughes, of Dylan’s on George Street, says: “Gin and Jazz is a great way for people to explore, shop, eat and drink their way along George Street. With specialist gins, cocktails and live music, the street comes alive, and people can sip and discover the many wonderful businesses this historic street is home to.”

Denise Parsons, manager at St Albans BID who have sponsored the event, adds: “Gin and Jazz showcases the many vibrant independent retailers and food and drink businesses on George Street, a street which is often under-explored.

It’s free for all to enjoy.” enjoystalbans.com

C H E Z M U M TA J Chez Mumtaj is a boutique style restaurant set in St Albans. Chez Mumtaj passionately projects itself in showcasing a unique style of haute cuisine in Modern FrenchAsian dining. The main restaurant offers elegant and intimate dining.

The interior is soothing, luxurious and opulent with meticulous attention given to detail in a classy and club-like setting. chezmumtaj.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Silver

SERVICE Exploring the latest chapter of the Harpenden pub whose doors opened back in 1838

By MARK KEBBLE

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• XXXXX FOOD & XXXXXXXX DRINK • INTERVIEW

T

he Silver Cup has probably seen quite a lot since opening in the 19th century, but a global pandemic must be up there with earth-shattering experiences. While the UK hospitality industry came to a grinding halt, two life-long friends were taking the opportunity to move into their Harpenden local and prepare it for a new chapter.

“It gave us time to deal with some of the structural issues,” says The Silver Cup’s current co-owner Michael Singleton.

“We also managed to run a takeaway burger offering, which built us a good reputation, and also being opposite the common meant people in the town came and had socially distanced picnics at the weekends, which was awesome. Whenever we were closed by the government, we changed our business model to try and make the most of our skillset.”

That skillset certainly extends to the food offering at The Silver Cup, overseen by Singleton’s friend, co-owner and chef, Matthew Reeder. “We want to offer brilliant quality food and drink with fabulous service,” Reeder states.

“Our food style is contemporary British cooking with a twist. We take pride in having a team that are passionate about what we are serving and can talk our guests through everything we offer.”

Whether serving up an open-air treat during lockdown, or welcoming guests inside the building, the food is certainly

MATTHEW REEDER AND MICHAEL SINGLETON

“We take pride in having a team that are passionate” causing a stir. “Seasonality plays a huge part in every dish,” Reeder says. “We work closely with a few local farmers and game shooters, which means we can offer some amazing local produce, so the game menu went down a storm last year.

Our steak nights have also been a big success. We butcher a whole strip loin in house, which allows us to offer a kilo sharing steak with all the trimmings.”

That should whet the appetite to venture to The Silver Cup if you haven’t already done so, but expect more to come. “It is a surprisingly large building,” Singleton says. “After looking at it properly, we quickly realised there was lots of potential.

We have already managed to complete the refurbishment of the downstairs.

Next on the list is the beer garden, and then the hotel rooms. The long-term goal is to make the hotel rooms a little more boutique-like in the future.”

How have locals reacted to what the friends have done at The Silver Cup? “The local support has been amazing,” Singleton smiles. “Growing up in the town has certainly helped, and once people tried Matt’s food they were hooked. The support through the [lockdown] closures was phenomenal and meant that we are still here today. We have managed to build a strong level of repeat business, which is brilliant, even if it does put the pressure on to keep things new and interesting.”

So far, that pressure is being dealt with extremely well. They recently featured a Mexican pop-up menu – “It was fun to bring something different to the town for a short while,” says Reeder – and have more exciting news when it comes to the menu.

“We are moving to a five-course tasting menu on Thursday-Saturday evenings, with Sundays still offering our fabulous roasts,” Reeder adds. “Before we took over together, I was offering a Supper Club to 12 people, three nights a week. It was a real success and we want to be able to deliver great seasonal British cooking consistently. By offering a tasting menu on reduced days, we can also give our current and future team a better work/ life balance. We believe that this is key for us to be able to continue to operate and still deliver on our vision of the business.”

“We want to grow a hospitality business that delivers brilliant food and drink with great service,” Singleton concludes. “We believe there is lots of scope for different concepts in the local area – our list of ideas for new businesses grow every time we see something interesting elsewhere. We love the idea of building our business locally.”

T H E S I LV E R C U P 5 St Albans Road, Harpenden, Al5 2JF 01582 713095, hello@thesilvercup.co.uk thesilvercup.co.uk

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Japan

ST Y LE Fun and simple Japanese recipes to cook at home Wo r d s T I M A N D E R S O N

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

WasabiMarinated Octopus with Okra Serves 2

One of the very first izakaya meals I had in Japan was somewhere in Tokyo, fresh off the boat en route to my tour of duty as an English teacher in Kyushu.

My Japanese language ability has never really been more than rudimentary, but at that point I couldn’t even read most menus. So I ordered basically just the few things I could read – one of which was tako-wasa, written in the simpler hiragana orthography, as opposed to kanji, which is highly complex. I had no idea what tako-wasa was, but I correctly guessed it contained octopus (tako) and wasabi.

It turned out there wasn’t much more to it than that: just raw octopus, chopped up, then marinated in a generous amount of piquant wasabi and other simple seasonings. It’s pretty hard to source octopus that’s fit to serve raw in the UK, so in this recipe, the octopus is cooked.

Raw octopus also has a delightfully slippery-slimy texture, so to replicate that, I include a bit of okra. But if you can get sashimi quality raw octopus, by all means have a go with that. Also, if you can’t get octopus at all, this would be quite good with squid or cuttlefish instead.

INGREDIENTS •2 large or 4 small octopus tentacles, raw or cooked (this is about 300 g (10½ oz) raw or 150–200 g (5–7 oz) cooked) • 4 okra pods • 1 tbsp prepared wasabi • 1 tbsp mirin • 1 tbsp sake •¼ tsp dashi powder (kombu rather than katsuo, if possible) or MSG •½ tsp sugar •2 –3 pinches of salt •½ dried red chilli, finely snipped with scissors, or 1 pinch of red chilli (hot pepper) flakes (optional) •¼ lemon • 1 small handful of chives, chopped

METHOD 1 If your octopus is raw, cook it.

Bring a large pan of water to a high simmer, then lower in the octopus and cook for 45 minutes-1 hour until tender but not soft (it should still be slightly chewy). Drain well, then transfer to a roasting tin and leave to air-dry for 10 minutes or so.

2 Mince two of the okra pods and cut the other two into slices about 5 mm (¼ in) thick. Combine the wasabi, mirin, sake, dashi powder, sugar, salt, minced okra and chilli, if using, stirring well to dissolve the sugar.

3 Place the octopus under a very hot grill (broiler) and cook for a few minutes on each side until lightly charred.

4 Dice the octopus into bite-size chunks and mix with the sauce along with the sliced okra. Enjoy straight away or leave in the fridge to marinate for a few hours, up to two days.

5 Serve at room temperature or cold, garnished with the lemon wedge and chopped chives.

SakeSteamed Clams Serves 2

Just like sashimi, clams steamed in sake boast an enormous deliciousness-to-effort ratio; they are so simple they almost don’t require a recipe, and the resulting broth of clam juice and sake is like an umami supernova. But also like sashimi, they rely on good-quality fresh ingredients; in this case, you need to make sure you get good, fresh clams that are free of grit.

The only way to really guarantee this is to buy them from a trusted fishmonger.

There are only three places where I trust the clams in London. Which is

not to say there aren’t more sources of good clams, it’s just that now that I’ve found three, why would I take a risk on anywhere else? So find yourself a reliable clam guy and hold onto him forever.

Nira, or garlic chives, are an excellent alternative to leeks in this recipe, if you can get them. They are sold at any Asian supermarket, usually under their Chinese name, kow choi.

INGREDIENTS •4 00–500 g (14 oz–1 lb 2 oz) clams • 1 00 ml (3½ fl oz/scant ½ cup) sake •½ leek, cut in half and thinly sliced at an angle, or 2 stalks of nira (garlic chives), cut into 2 cm (¾ in) chunks • 1 garlic clove, minced or finely grated •A few sprigs of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

METHOD 1 Wash the clams under running water; if you can see or feel any dirt or grit on them, scrub it off.

Check that all the clams’ shells are closed and intact; discard any that are broken or that are open and don’t close when you tap them.

2 Place the sake, leeks or nira and garlic in a frying pan (skillet) and bring to the boil, then tip in the clams and place a lid on the pan.

3 Steam for about 4 minutes until all the clams have opened up. Remove the lid then add the parsley and toss it through, cooking for another minute or so. Remove from the heat and discard any clams that have not opened.

4 Serve piping hot, and make sure you have some rice or bread on hand to soak up the juice.

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FOOD & DRINK • RECIPES

METHOD

ProsciuttoWrapped Crab and avocado sushi roll Serves 2

Top-tier sushi is not really achievable for home cooks, nor even for most professional cooks. But Japan is full of sushi found at more accessible settings and price points, from convenience stores to kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi) shops, as well as home kitchens. This is not the stuff Jiro dreams of – but it’s still pretty tasty. What’s more, I don’t think it can be reasonably be denigrated as ‘inauthentic’. While sushi containing odd ingredients like cream cheese or chilli sauce is generally considered the domain of Americanised Japanese food, in Japan they can get a bit silly with sushi, too. I recall one kaiten-zushi place I went to in Tokyo that served gyoza nigiri – literally an

overturned gyoza on top of a little pillow of rice. Other places serve things like pork cutlet sushi and Korean barbecue sushi. Kura Sushi, one of Japan’s most popular sushi chains, sells sushi topped with cheese tempura. Cheese tempura!

Global discourse on sushi is so focused on elite chefs that it’s easy to lose sight of this more plebeian and arguably more fun side of sushi. Are spicy tuna rolls or nigiri topped with tiny cheeseburgers going to win any Michelin stars? Probably not.

But they will make loads of people happy.

Hopefully this particular ‘B-grade’ maki will as well – basically a California roll, but with salty Italian ham in place of the usual nori.

1 Cook the rice according to the instructions below. While the rice is cooking, stir together the vinegar, sugar and salt until the sugar and salt dissolve. Once the rice is cooked, spread it out in a large bowl or tray and sprinkle over the seasoned vinegar.

2 Mix the vinegar through the rice using a rice paddle or spatula with slicing and turning motions. Let the rice cool to room temperature before making the rolls.

3 If you have a sushi mat, wrap it in cling film (plastic wrap). If not, you don’t need to get one – just wrap some sturdy card or a few sheets of paper together in a few layers of cling film; this will be an adequate makeshift rolling mat. Lay three slices of ham down on the mat or paper, slightly overlapping so they form a solid layer of ham.

Wet your hands, then gently spread and press half of the rice out in an even layer on the ham, leaving a gap of about 1 cm (½ in) uncovered along the far edge of the ham (you will use this to seal the roll).

4 Lay the crab meat out in a tidy row along the near side of the ham, about 1 cm (½ in) from the edge, then top with the avocado and lettuce. Use the paper or mat to curl up the edge of the ham, tucking in the fillings with your fingertips and tightening the roll as you go with gentle pressure.

5 When you’ve rolled to the far edge of the ham, squeeze the roll together to seal. Transfer to a cutting board and slice with a sharp, wet knife. Repeat with the remaining ingredients and serve with ponzu or soy sauce and wasabi.

INGREDIENTS • 150 g (5 oz/¾ cups) rice • 1½ tbsp vinegar • ½ tbsp sugar • ¼ tsp salt • 6 slices prosciutto or similar cured ham • 50 g (2 oz) crab meat • ¼ ripe avocado, cut into long slices about 3 mm (⅛ in) thick • 2 leaves little gem lettuce, halved lengthways • Ponzu or wasabi and soy sauce, to serve

Extract taken from our Home Izakaya by chef and MasterChef champion Tim Anderson, published on 14 October by Hardie Grant

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CAMPFIRE GIN

From the Distillery of the Year 2021 The multi-award winning gin range to share with friends around the campfire.

Visit Puddingstone Distillery on Fridays & Saturdays for gin tastings FREE delivery on orders over £50 at puddingstonedistillery.com Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 4NT

ENJOYSTALBANS.COM

ENJOYSTALBANS.COM

ENJOYSTALBANS.COM

ENJOYSTALBANS.COM

6-10PM

2-10PM

Plan your visit at enjoystalbans.com or scan me

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FOOD & DRINK • DRINKS

DRINKS CABINET What to drink this month

By PENDLE HARTE

SPOTLIGHT

IN THE PINK PA L E F OX

Puddingstone Distillery

By MARK KEBBLE

Pink Prosecco is rapidly gaining in popularity around the world, with Kylie Minogue recently adding a rosé prosecco to her wine range.

The new Pale Fox vintage Prosecco Rose contains a blend of white Glera and red Pinot Noir grapes that work harmoniously to create a structured, complex sparkling wine reminiscent of red berries, pomegranate and white flowers.

£29.95; palefoxprosecco.com

MIRROR IMAGE H AC H A Hacha's award-winning Mirror Margarita looks like a glass of water, but is in fact a stunning Margarita with the perfect balance of sweet and sour notes. And now you can buy it by the bottle for delivery.

£35; hachabar.com

PARTY TIME YO U N G ' S September marked Young’s 190th birthday and to celebrate the pub group hosted a series of events, giveaways, and surprises across their Hertfordshire venues. With a little help from their friends at Beavertown and Two Tribes, Young’s celebrated all things beer, marking the big 190 with burger parties and more.

youngs.co.uk

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Drink to success

T

his autumn sees the launch of Herts based Puddingstone Distillery’s new bottle design for its multi award winning Campfire Gin range. The refreshed design retains the simplicity and strong identity of the original Campfire bottle, but the distillery has increased the volume from 50cl to 70cl.

This latest development forms part of their growth strategy and bid to further improve their green credentials as they look to celebrate the company’s fifth anniversary later this year. Founded in 2016 by husband and wife team Ben and Kate Marston, the Campfire Gin range has received international recognition and multiple accolades since it first entered the market. Despite the obvious challenges of the past 18 months, 2021 has been an incredible year for the brand. In recent months Puddingstone Distillery’s products have received an impressive eight International Spirits Awards and the ultimate accolade of ‘Distillery of the Year’ from The Gin Guide. Moving forward the core Campfire Gin range will use the Italian glassmaker Vetroelite’s 70cl Chiara bottle which is made from 40% recycled glass. The newly redesigned labels are made from 30% recycled fibre and the stoppers are made from recycled cork with wood, both from FSC certified suppliers.

The Distillery has also removed all plastic from its online delivery process in its bid to go green. The new increased capacity bottle design is now available across the Campfire Gin range including: Campfire London Dry, Campfire Old Tom, Campfire Cask Aged and Campfire Navy Strength.

puddingstonedistillery.com

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FA S H I O N

FLOWER POWER PUMA X LIBERTY

Using bold visuals and bright colors, the Puma x Liberty collaboration plays on the enduring heritage of both brands, bringing them together to create a unified story. Using the famous Liberty floral prints in a wild garden theme, the collection brings a very fresh and feminine look to Puma silhouettes. puma.com

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OYUNA Earth cashmere sweater, £365 oyuna.com

SEASON CHANGE The nights may be drawing in and temperatures dropping, but on the plus side it’s time for a whole new wardrobe B y L AY L A T U R N E R

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FASHION • TREND

STONE & MASON Baileys Lennox, £235, stone-and-mason.com

ALESSANDRA RICH Crystal Button Dress, 4 Day Rental, £114, alessandrarich.com

FOREVER NEW Check blazer, £38, forevernewclothing.com

A

s the nights grow shorter, we bid farewell to our summer wardrobes and welcome transitional pieces. The new season brings with it a darker colour palette, as well as an emphasis on textures and prints. Harrods have partnered with MY WARDROBE HQ just in time for party season, offering covered wardrobe musthaves on a rental basis – favourites include the silhouette hugging Crystal Button dress

by Alessandra Rich as well as The Attico Zebra Wrap mini dress. Blazers remain a key element of winter dressing, with the Forever New Olivia check blazer set to be a firm favourite for formal wear.

ALESSANDRA RICH FOREVER NEW Indigo wide leg trouser, £24.75, forevernewclothing.com

Puff Sleeve Mini, 4 Day Rental, £92, alessandrarich.com

REINEREN THE ATTICO Zebra Wrap Mini Dress, 4 Day Rental, £61, theattico.com

Textured leather panel houndstooth reversible jacket, £593, reineren.com

EDITOR’S PICK

STONE & MASON Dravite Stamford, £425, stone-and-mason.com

EACH X EVERY Balm boot, £230, eachxevery.com

REINEREN AW21 dress, £POA, reineren.com

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D E C A D E o f D E C A D E N C E POM Amsterdam is celebrating its tenth anniversary, and their latest collection at Fabric in Amersham will set you up for the new season FA B R I C FA S H I O N S TO R E .C O. U K

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FASHION • JEWELLERY

Mother of Pearl

The natural beauty of the jewellery world that stands the test of time

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

ALIGHIERI

BUDREVICH FINE JEWELLERY STUDIO

AMALILY

La Calliope choker, £250, alighieri.co.uk

Pear drops, £3,050, budrevich.co.uk

Louvre Baroque pearl black earrings, £165, amalily.co.uk

THE DRESSING ROOM Enamel Copenhagen Viola Freshwater pearl chain bracelet - Gold, £75 the-dressingroom.com

LEBRUSAN STUDIO

GALIO

Marie Pearl ring, £POA, lebrusanstudio.com

Beautiful Tahitian pearls, large necklace, £2,029, galio.co.uk

VAXA

BAKER BROTHERS DIAMONDS

OLIVIA AND PEARL

Falla earring, £POA, vaxajewellery.com

14ct White Gold Diamond & Freshwater pearl drop earrings, £450, bakerbrothersdiamonds.com

Keshi choker necklace, £225, oliviaandpearl.com

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FASHION • FOCUS FRENCH CONNECTION

Autumnal FEEL Why Absolutely Hertfordshire is embracing the new season collections at Christopher Place

WHISTLES Abounding with a new perspective in a period of emergence, there is plenty to sink your sartorial teeth into this autumn/ winter at Whistles. For the season ahead, we’re ready once more for clothing that will empower us with a strong sense of independence and individuality. A billowing, sweeping silhouette care of fluid knitted slacks, silk slips, voluminous coats and trapeze-shaped separates demands others to take notice.

FRENCH CONNECTION French Connection are stepping into autumn energised and with great appetite for all the styles and trends that have piled up over the year and are waiting for their re-emergence. From soft-but-stylish knits, practical jackets and vibrant tees and trousers, it's time to show off your layering game and celebrate the return of getting dressed.

HOBBS Hobbs has given us an elegant take on autumn/winter, with a rich shade of red present in outerwear, separates, knits and contrasted with monochrome pieces. Clean-cut, collarless outerwear is teamed with modern styles such as form-fitting leather leggings. Hobbs are also emphasising their sustainable fabrics: wool certified by the Responsible Wool Standard is used throughout the collection, dresses are made from sustainable viscose, while dresses, skirts and jackets use responsibly produced wool.

PHASE EIGHT This season, Phase Eight is embracing the feel-good fun of fashion again.

Their new collection is full of versatile pieces that let you do exactly that.

HOBBS

From dresses and jumpers to coats and boots, you'll find autumn style solutions for every date in your diary.

One of the most confident and feelgood shades you can wear – red is a key colour trend for now, and it’s available across four brand new dresses.

C H R I STO P H E R P L AC E SHOPPING CENTRE Upper Dagnall Street, St Albans, AL3 5DQ 01727 832889 christopher-place.co.uk

PHASE EIGHT

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

W RA P P E D I N COT TO N WO O L SOPWELL HOUSE

Everybody needs a haven. Somewhere you know you can escape to that will always feel like a sanctuary. Cottonmill spa membership at Sopwell House caters for every side of you. Whether you’re feeling mindful or mindless, dynamic or restful. From yoga classes to PT sessions, relaxing in the gardens or lunch with friends to massage treatments, it's all available here. cottonmillspa.co.uk

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d i f f e r e n t LO O K

Absolutely Hertfordshire meets Jez Levy, the man behind EYES on St Albans, which offers a refreshing approach to your eyecare needs

By MARK KEBBLE

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • INTERVIEW

Q What is your background in eyecare?

A My background in the eyewear and

eyecare business spans 38 years, starting as a spectacle frame warehouse lad in St Albans after being refused Sixth Form entry into Verulam School. I soon progressed to be an ‘on the road’ salesman at the ripe old age of 17, and I entered the retail sector working as a glasses dispensing assistant for a large eyecare chain. Over the years I have been involved at both retail and wholesale/ distribution together with frame designing.

Q How long was EYES on St

Albans in the making?

A For pretty much 30 of the last 38 years.

Q And why St Albans?

A St Albans has been my hometown since

1974, having been schooled at both Killigrew and Verulam. Having lived and worked in various parts of the UK, I was keen to ‘come home’ and create what is the most funky yet professional eyecare experience possible.

Q When you opened in 2018, how

did you want to be different?

STRIKING PLACES PHOTOGRAPHY

A Whilst ‘difference’ is in the eye of

the beholder, I was keen to create an environment that was so totally different to the run of the mill retail environment – not just different to the High Street Opticians, but to offer excellence from a complete retail experience. Pre-Covid, wine, prosecco, beers and quality coffee were offered, and rock music plays in the background. Every individual entering the shop will always be welcomed with warmth and a smile, whether that be for a simple adjustment, a chat or just to say hello.

Q What kind of experience do you

offer when people visit your shop?

A EYES on St Albans offers the ‘best

of the best’ in terms of eyecare, with a comprehensive examination using all the very latest diagnostic equipment with highly skilled and trained Optometrists.

My secret skill is to able to style individuals with simply awesome eyewear not seen on the high street chains or indeed other independent businesses.

Q Tell us about EnChroma…

A Eyewear for colour blindness, which is

the only product globally that is proven to assist people with red/green colour deficiency. I identified this Californian product many years ago and persuaded the company to bring it to the UK. In January 2019 EYES became the first authorised retailer for EnChroma and the product popularity has mushroomed with people travelling from throughout the UK and beyond to experience the consultation.

EnChroma lenses are available in various iterations and can be in prescription and non-prescription versions.

Q What kind of eyewear collections are

hot right now in EYES on St Albans?

A Most of the eyewear collection available at EYES on St Albans are hot – each individual designer collection has been fashioned for a particular look, feel and lifestyle. EYES does not carry the run of the mill high street ‘mass produced’ licensed designer brands.

Hot collections include TAVAT eyewear, Kirk & Kirk, Blake Kuwahara, MOSCOT (from New York), DITA and VAVA eyewear.

Frames that are ‘the best of the best’.

JEZ LEVY

Q What about your lenses range?

A EYES on St Albans is not tied to any

particular lens brand and will recommend the very best and highest grade lens solution for the individual’s needs. All lenses supplied come complete with UVa & UVb absorption, computer blue light filters, multi anti-reflection coatings (14 layers front and back), hard coatings, water repellence, dust repellence making for easy cleaning, and, most importantly, all lenses come with a no quibble 18 months scratch warranty, allowing for one pair replacement in that given warranty period.

Q You also do a lot with the

local community – why?

They say charity begins at home, and whilst this may be true for educational reasons, charity and good cause work actually begins and ends in our wider community. I identified prior to creating EYES on St Albans the need for doing and not talking about some of the issues our community faces on a daily basis.

Q What does the future hold

for EYES on St Albans?

A Throughout my short 54.5 years, I

have learned not to forward plan too much, nobody ever knows what is around the corner. ‘Live by the day and wake up tomorrow’ and then go again!

eyesonstalbans.com

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Perfectly private, perfectly personal Combining the serenity of a spa with the benefits of a membership , Cottonmill is a vibrant haven designed to be woven into the fabric of a better life

Apply today for membership of the country’s most discerning spa society at cottonmillspa.com Sopwell House, Cottonmill Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 2HQ | membership@cottonmillspa.com

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • NOTES

BEAUTY NOTES

The latest in luxury makeup and skincare

By ELLIE-MAE HAMMOND

FOCUS

FOREVER

Amber

EDITOR’S PICK

Kayali Invite Only Amber, the new fragrance designed by Mona Kattan, is sensual and addictive.

Described as seduction in a bottle, this irresistible scent envelops amber resin and Madagascan vanilla mixed with black cherry, honey de provence and tobacco leaf. £98, hudabeauty.com

Soul soother THE MIND HUB

The Mind Hub was set up in 2010 and offers a range of mental health and wellbeing courses in both a virtual and in person setting. They offer courses across a wide range of topics including: the MHFA First Aider qualifications, Introduction to Mindfulness, Building Resilience and more. They also support organisations to build a wellbeing strategy.

Discover more at themindhub.co.uk

H E A D M A ST E R S

With the AW21 catwalks in full swing, we asked Headmasters’ creative director, Andrew Barton, about the hair style trends complementing them. “The bob takes centre stage as one of the must-have cuts this season. From sweeping side lengths to full straight cut, the fringe the biggest hair story this season. And big glamorous blow drys and curls are back for the party season.”

Marianne Gautier, of Tria Woman, on taking a break

H

M O N A K AT TA N

THREE FORM

AND BREATHE ow can we become the best version of our self?

We may strive to be fit and healthy, to keep our bodies fit and to feel good about the way we look, which improves confidence levels and has a positive impact on self-esteem.

Looking to the food we eat and how active we are will help to achieve this as we know the benefits of a healthy diet to give us energy and nourish our bodies; while taking regular exercise will tone and build muscle, which keeps our bodies strong and fit and our minds alert.

All good so far - but what happens if we are still feeling low after all this effort? Often we see this as a failure, deciding we need to train harder or eat less calories, which creates an increased burden on the body, which can lead to feeling depleted or even illness.

So how can we achieve our goals and maintain equilibrium? What we need is to regain balance to allow the body to repair and function optimally, sometimes this means changing the type of food we eat or how we exercise, often it means learning ways to relax and rest properly and developing an understanding of what we need and how to apply it. Sometimes, by putting on the brakes and listening to our body, we are able to move forward in a way that meets our needs. Learning the holistic approach to becoming the best version of our self is a journey that Tria Woman are ready to join you on.

TRIA WOMAN

The Stables, Penn Street, Amersham, Bucks, HP7 0PP, 07792 972943 marianne@triawoman.com triawoman.com

50% off colour sale from 2-30 October, headmasters.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • TREND AESOP Hair calming shampoo 500m, £33, aesop.com

THICK TAILS Root stimulating daily serum, £17.99, uk.thicktails.com

KRISTIN ESS Beach wave spray, £12, kristinesshair.com

FOAMIE Shampoo bar with argan oil for frizzy hair, £7, lookfantastic.com

MADARA Repair and dry rescue mask, £22.25, lookfantastic.com

EDITOR’S PICK

CHANEL Hair mist, £48, chanel.com

KAYALI Hair mist déjà vu white flower, £34, hudabeauty.com

ROOTS TO SUCCESS

FOAMIE Dry shampoo brunette, £6, lookfantastic.com

Absolutely’s round up of our favourite haircare products this month

AESOP Hair sage & cedar scalp treatment 25ml, £25, aesop.com

By ELLIE MAE-HAMMOND

THICK TAILS Exfoliating scalp scrub, £19.99, uk.thicktails.com

KRISTIN ESS Curl Defining cream, £12, kristinesshair.com

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HEALTH XXXXXXXX & BEAUTY • FOCUS XXXXX

“What do you know about the person wielding sharp implements around your ears?”

HAIR RAISING Why the salon director of Cienté Hair & Health Spa in Berkhamsted is campaigning for state registration of all hairdressers

By TRISHA BULLER

W

ho does your hair? What do you know about the person who is wielding sharp implements around your eyes and ears? What do you know about your hairdresser’s training, qualifications and – heaven forbid you should ever need it – professional indemnity insurance?

Hairdressing is a multi-billion pound industry employing many thousands of creative and ambitious people. This heady mix of creativity and ambition is what keeps driving our industry forward. But this very strength can work against the profession, too. Hairdressing is plagued by what the human resources professionals call churn – the movement of stylists from salon to salon and in and out of the industry.

Fortunately, at Cienté we retain our top stylists far longer than most; I’m sure salons up and down the country would love to sign up the creative talent we have here in Berkhamsted. Our good record in retaining our hairdressers is not just down to luck. We constantly and assiduously develop their skills to another level, understanding your hair from within.

Our in-house training works closely with our professional brand companies such as Unite, Joico and Philip Martin’s, who actively encourage and support our stylists to reach the highest professional standards.

Still, the chronic skills shortage is like the leaky pump of a stylist’s chair, with most salon owners pedalling furiously to lift the quality of service, only for it to sink down again the moment they take their eyes off the ball. But hairdressers come and go from salon to salon, or set up their own unsupervised businesses.

No-one keeps track of who’s doing what.

Back in 1964, an Act of Parliament was passed enabling the registration of hairdressers. Yet, unlike the registration of dentists, nurses and doctors, registration for hairdressers was not made a legal requirement, so the Act was ignored and the backstreet barbers of the 60s were allowed to carry on wielding their scissors, blades and chemicals, with no-one keeping an eye on them. I’m afraid to say this hasn’t changed to this day. It is a serious problem and, if you think I’m overstating it, you should see the plight of some of the patients who visit my trichology clinic with butchered and damaged hair and disfigured scalps.

The Hair Council, the hairdressing industry’s trade association, is also calling for compulsory registration of all hairdressers, and our campaign is already supported by enlightened MPs who are trying to update the legislation, so that it gives the public some proper protection. We’ll get there, but it’s taking time. In the meantime, don’t be afraid to ask questions of your salon and find out who really does your hair.

CIENTÉ Trisha Buller (MIT SRSH), salon director at Cienté, is a fully qualified trichologist and a City & Guilds certified trainer and assessor. To speak to one of the Cienté team, call 01442 877273 or visit 169 High Street, Berkhamsted, HP4 3HB; ciente.co.uk

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ONE TO ONE YOGA F O R M E N TA L W E L L B E I N G Discover how a regular practice can transform your life  Reduce stress  Ease pain  Improve emotional wellbeing  Manage PTSD symptoms... and more

PHILIP MARTIN - EXCLUSIVE TO C I E N T E H A I R H E A LT H S PA BERKHAMSTED Trauma-Informed, Private Yoga Specialist I have worked extensively with busy professionals, those with burnout, victims of childhood/domestic abuse, war veterans, socially-minded organisations, studios and many more.

Experience the difference , because we care about you and you hair

For your free telephone consultation, please contact:

REFILL NOT LANDFILL

www.helencooperyoga.com 07740 823 230 | helencooperyoga@gmail.com

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Whether you’re looking to lose weight or control your Type 2 Diabetes Our 800 calorie a day, low sugar weight loss plans feature recipes created by our Executive Chef to ensure you lose weight quickly and still feel satisfied.

All the fresh ingredients needed for your breakfast, brunch/lunch and dinner on every day of your plan.

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Clear and simple recipe cards and instructions to plan and cook your meals.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY • FITNESS

FITNESS

TOP

PICKS WINTER IMMUNIT Y BOOSTING CAPSULES

NOTES

By FELICITY CARTER

P U R E S P O R T M I N D & B O DY MUSHROOM BLEND Chaga, Reishi, Shiitake, Maitake, Lion’s Mane & Cordyceps – all featured in this blend – have all been shown to have immune balancing effects and antioxidants, which fight free radicals in the body. £29.99

I N N E R M O S T R E C OV E R CAPSULES These contain Maca, which reduces physical and mental stress on the body, Magnesium, which supports muscle function, Ubiquinone CoQ10, which supports the mitochondria (energy producing powerhouses) of our bodies, and Vitamin D. £18.95

T HE EYES H AV E I T Why you can blink and not miss out on vital wellbeing tips

I N N E R M O S T D E T OX BOOSTER This is a supergreens powder that contains ten of the most highly-regarded health boosting ingredients in an easy to use powder.

In particular, antioxidants in Matcha Green Tea helps to improve the skin. It can be added to water or a hot drink/smoothie. £24.95

S

ince the pandemic, the number of people working from home has dramatically increased, and alongside this, so has the length of screen time we are all getting – and we are also less likely to have the appropriate work from home set up to properly protect our eyes from the digital devices we use so often. Therefore, we are more prone to experience common eye conditions such as eye strain and eye fatigue.

This month, Absolutely London

has taken inspiration from Chatty Dobson, yoga teacher and owner of FLEX Chelsea, who holds sessions to combat these issues that may now be the new normal. Eye yoga is simply a series of stretches for the muscles in your eye structure.

Similar to regular yoga, each time you practice the muscles involved will become both stronger and find more length.

“Start by setting yourself up comfortably, sitting still with a straight spine – sitting in a chair’s fine if you’re uncomfortable on the

floor,” Dobson starts. “To stretch, relax the muscles of the face.

Wiggle out the jaw and eyebrows to help soften them. Gently close your eyes. Keeping the eyes closed, look all the way up and count to four, slowly look all the way down, count to four. Repeat three times.

“To strengthen, blink as fast as you can ten times, then sit with your eyes closed for a slow count of five. Repeat five times. Sit for a while longer at the end to see what sensations you may notice.” flexchelsea.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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COLOUR WATCH AUTUMN TRENDS

Sludgy shades and varied textures make up the new looks for autumn. Mix bright colours with natural materials and some fluffy comforts for a contemporary and comfortable look.

inside this section: INTERIORS NEWS p63 R I B A AWA R D S p 6 4 GLOTECH p71 KIT KEMP p72 KITCHEN KIT p87 K AT E WAT S O N - S M Y T H p 8 8

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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JOHN LADBURY Beautiful Handcrafted Kitchens

DESIGN • BUILD • INSTALLATION 40 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

01707 262966 | WWW.JOHNLADBURY.CO.UK Showroom: UNIT 11 ALPHA BUSINESS PARK, TRAVELLERS CLOSE, WELHAM GREEN AL9 7NT

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H O M E | NEWS Compiled by

PENDLE HARTE

I N T H E N E WS U P DAT E S F R O M T H E I N D U S T R Y

LEADING LIGHT

HEART OF THE HOME

BAKER B ROTH ER S D IAM O N DS

TO MA S KITCH EN LIVI N G

These stylish Georg Jensen Cobra collection candleholders are crafted from polished steel. With the gently curved design these elegant candleholders would be a welcome addition to any room. £139 for pair. bakerbrothersdiamonds. com

Tomas Kitchen Living are a British brand with a strong design identity, superb quality and a reasonable price tag. They have showrooms in St Albans, North London and Cambridge, where each kitchen is hand-built to order. tomas-kitchen-living. co.uk

SO FT FOCU S

SPIN ME ROUND

EVIE & SKYE Evie and Skye's uplifting designs are underpinned by the glamour of eras past. The unique designs complement one another, encouraging the cushions to be mixed, matched and layered. evieandskye.com

LIGNE ROSET

The Moa swivel armchair is designed by Keiji Takeuchi taking inspiration from the Japanese home with its lines and flow. Its minimal beauty and technical sophistication makes it a forever piece. ligne-roset.com

FINE FINISH ELLI OT T O F LO N D O N Elliott of London's latest finish is the Matt Black & Copper – its stunning modern twist on the "vintage" verdigris & gold finish, as shown here. The spheres are available in multiple sizes and finishes. elliottof london.co.uk

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T

he Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has been celebrating outstanding work for over 180 years. Their awards and prizes are regarded inter nationa lly as a mark of excellence, recognising the best architecture, architects, research and students. Four projects in the county have won recognition in the RIBA Regional Awards: a private house in Oxhey, by Fletcher Crane Architects; St Albans Cathedral Welcome and Learning Centre,

by Simpson and Brown; The Byre and the Garrett, Berkhamsted, by Hugo Hardy Architect; and Woodside Mews, Leavesden,

by TAS Architects. Here’s what the judges had to say about all four…

ST ALBANS CATHEDRAL WELCOME AND LEARNING CENTRE

Buildings for the

FUTURE

Taking a closer look at the Hertfordshire projects that wowed the Royal Institute of British Architects

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H O M E | DESIGN

WOODSIDE MEWS

The project is an excellent example of what can be achieved through good design and simple means Woodside Mews

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

GILES ROCHOLL

This is a project which delights throughout.

From the careful decisions on the formation of a new entrance, to the uncovering of an existing high-level walkway, the result is a new insertion to the Grade I listed cathedral and Chapter House, which enhances these heritage assets on many levels.

Some careful conservation repairs to door jambs by inserting fresh Ancaster hard white stone, along with light brick cleaning and repointing, ensures that the historic elements were respected whilst the new structure created a wonderful entrance and orientation space.

New roof light glazing butts against the main cathedral walls, allowing natural light to wash down the brick and stone in the

entrance area and shop, offering glimpses of the towering structure beyond.

The new connections to the Chapter House are neat and almost invisible despite a good deal of work to existing openings and window and door reveals. The result is a flow through to the café that makes use of a new raised floor to present level access throughout.

The project is worthy of both a RIBA East Regional Award as well as the RIBA East Conservation Award for its clever connection between the cathedral and Chapter House, its uncovering and re-presentation of formerly underutilised spaces and the inclusion of some careful conservation repair work. All of this ensures that each heritage asset is conserved, enhanced, and protected for the enjoyment of future generations. All the hallmarks of a successful conservation project.

Woodside Mews is an intelligent and subtle infill development of four speculatively built houses. Each house steps slightly with its neighbour, giving a subtle dynamism to the terrace. The step is taken up in the small courtyard front gardens, with each having curved garden walls and bespoke railings. It also allows for cross ventilation to the front of the house, with a screened opening that avoids overlooking.

The three-bedroom homes have a central stair, ground floor living accommodation with kitchen and dining spaces to the rear, opening onto the rear garden, and with a double height space that could be converted to provide a home office or additional bedroom space in the future.

The external detailing is simple and rigorous. The palette of materials is limited and the use of a single brick is a good unifying element, with an effective level of simple detailing through soldier coursing at first floor level and over the large square picture window facing to the entry court. Deep brick reveals and brick soffits give a robust, solid appearance. Roofs are of natural slate, with hidden gutter detailing. The lack of downpipes, hoppers, and penetrations through the elevation has

been carefully handled and great care has been taken to achieve such a simple external appearance.

The houses form a well-considered mini terrace in an awkward backland site. The project is an excellent example of what can be achieved through good design and simple means to produce a quality piece of architecture, for a profit, with a committed and intelligent developer.

JEREMY PHILLIPS

St Albans Cathedral Welcome and Learning Centre

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Poggenpohl St. Albans 100 London Road St. Albans | Hertfordshire | AL1 1NX phone 01727 738 111 stalbans@poggenpohl.com www.stalbans.poggenpohl.com

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H O M E | DESIGN

NICK KANE

This modest building sits up an incline at the rear of a back garden to an end of terrace house. It is visible from the street between a break in adjacent terraces and is a delightful urban surprise.

The building is a two-storey artist’s studio that has been created from the upward extension of an existing brick storage building, a coalman’s barn, also accessed from a pedestrian lane at the upper level to the rear. The ground floor is formed from the carefully restored original brick structure and is now a library/exhibition/preparation area. The first floor forms the artist studio.

The care and evident love taken in the restoration of such a modest barn, even in the more minor elements of the original building, to preserve the local history and complement it with a new structure that rests lightly upon it, visually and structurally, is a delight.

This project demonstrates how a building that formed part of the history of the area, however small, can be given a sustainable future through good design. The award was given for the positive contribution the project makes to the street and to the town

despite its modest scale, and for the careful restoration and adaptive reuse of the original, utilitarian building. It demonstrates that even a small, workaday building can be brought into sustainable use and given a new future, and is testament to the close collaboration between client and architect to achieve something special.

SIOBHAN DORAN

The Byre and The Garrett

It is a family home with plenty of intrigue and clever interventions Private House, Oxhey

Far from being an average barn conversion, the result of this project is a wonderful family home with plenty of intrigue, careful material choices and clever interventions that lift the project above the ordinary.

Set back from the main road with a wonderful outlook over the flood plains of the River Colne, the Grade II listed property has been transformed from a series of derelict barns to a contemporary, light and fresh dwelling. The development maintains the original barn structure, exposing timbers and cleverly letting light into key spaces without adversely affecting the historic building fabric.

Upon entering through the front door, one is presented with a carefully detailed brick floor finish rising to a new polished concrete floor which ties the whole

development together. Fair faced brick walls have been lightly cleaned back to retain elements of earlier painted finishes, which offer a sense of the former agricultural use. Light spills into the kitchen through carefully detailed rooflights across the ridge of the southern barn.

The show-stopping element is the Rodeca polycarbonate panelling, which appears to slice through two of the barn structures.

This allows diffused light to penetrate the main living space whilst offering a delightful contrast between the dark historic timber frame and the swathe of modern material. Importantly, this modern intervention does not take over the space – the timber frame remains the primary focus and its presentation as the visible skeleton of the structure ensures the historic elements are clear to see and enjoy.

New ground floor bedrooms make use of retained stables, and a carefully restored chimney breast and the insertion of new timber panelling enhances the space which is light and fun.

Find out more at architecture.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP

Perfect ® Pirouette

Just like a balletic movement, Pirouette® Shades from Luxaflex® combine grace and beauty with technical performance

evening light linger for longer in the dining room. Not only do these shades diffuse light for day-to-day convenience and comfort, they also protect your furniture and flooring; Pirouette® Shades block up to 81% of harmful UV rays with the vanes open, and 99% with vanes closed, extending the life of your furnishings.

VERSATILE VANES Luxaflex® Pirouette® Shades feature unique soft fabric ‘floating’ vanes attached to a sheer backing which give complete control over your home’s natural light. As well as raising or lowering the shade, you can also choose to have the vanes fully open, contoured, or closed for the perfect level of light and privacy. This unique design offers multiple looks and can create a host of moods, with undulating vanes and luxurious weaves combined in one stylish blind.

The design offers multiple looks and can create a host of moods, with undulating vanes and luxurious weaves combined in one blind

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FLOATING FABRIC Unlike other window coverings, the unique design of Pirouette® Shades means they appear to float without visible cords or tapes, diffusing harsh sunlight while still allowing clear view-through, with a discreet level of privacy.

With airy sheers or room-darkening fabrics, sophisticated silk effects or luxurious linen, and a choice of timeless neutrals or bright statement tones, there’s a Pirouette® that’s perfect for you.

HERE COMES THE SUN Exclusive Luxaflex® fabrics gently filter and disperse natural light to suit you and your home, allowing you to cut out afternoon glare in the home office or let the

SAFET Y AND ST YLE At Luxaflex® they know the importance of innovation in every detail. From their UltraGlide® retractable cord to their PowerView® smart home automation, they combine technology and creativity to put child safety first. Speak to your local trusted Luxaflex® retailer to see their innovations in action.

MADE-TO-MEASURE Knowledgeable Luxaflex retailers are marked out by their skill and experience in custom-creating bespoke window treatments. Contact your local specialist to discuss your ideas and gain helpful advice on everything from design to installation.

LUX A F L E X Find your local showroom or request your free brochure online. luxaflex.co.uk

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Top brand appliances professionally delivered and installed

Unit 2 Soothouse Spring, St Albans, AL3 6PF www.glotech.com | 01727 896 700

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP

Heart of the matter Absolutely Hertfordshire chats to the director of Glotech, Chris Reeves, about how kitchens are at the forefront of design

Q How has Glotech evolved in the 45 years since launching?

A Originally we specialised in repair and supply of spare parts for vacuum cleaners, hence our original name of Finchley Vac Centre. We then progressed into all domestic appliance repairs. In the late 80s we took on a larger showroom in Finchley and specialised in selling and installing domestic appliances.

In 2005 we rebranded to Glotech, and in 2010 we started selling kitchens too.

Q Today what do you specialise in?

A There are three elements to the business: Glotech Repairs, dealing with appliance repairs; Glotech Appliances, which is the supply and installation of all domestic appliances; and Glotech Kitchens, which encompasses kitchen design, supply and installation.

Q How has the public’s approach to their kitchen changed?

A Since lockdown people are spending much more time in their homes. They have had more time to think about what needs to be improved, and they may require more space or different configuration as they may now be working from home.

Q Is it truly the heart of the home in the 21st century?

A Yes – open plan living is the current trend.

Kitchens are not just for cooking. They are for socialising and entertaining.

Q How does your repair service work?

A We offer a fixed price labour fee so the customer pays the same price for labour, however long the engineer is on site or however many visits. Customers are able to schedule an appointment via our website (glotechrepairs.co.uk).

Q You have your Finchley showroom, but how long have you been based in St Albans for too?

A We have been in St Albans since 1999, so 21 years.

Q What do you offer by way of kitchen design?

A We offer a free design and consultation service where we will either meet the client in their home or in the showroom. Once we have all the requirements we will produce a photo realistic CAD image. Glotech Kitchens offer a full project managed installation service. Minor building works are also managed by Glotech.

Q What would we find in your showroom?

A Our showrooms are full of the latest appliances and in trend kitchens. Our staff will help and guide you through the process of purchasing a new appliance. To discuss your new kitchen we would love to arrange an appointment with you and one of our designers. Please visit glotechkitchens. co.uk or call on 01727 896 766.

Q What key appliances do you offer?

A We are part of Euronics, Europe’s largest electrical buying group. This gives us the purchasing power to be able to compete with some of the bigger names such as AO or Currys. We are able to offer most makes and models and a range to cover all budgets.

Unit 2, Soothouse Spring, St Albans, AL3 6PF 01727 896 789 / 646-648 High Road North Finchley, N12 0NL, 020 8492 7500 glotech.co.uk

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H O M E | DESIGN

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Charlotte Street Hotel drawing room featuring a chairs in EDIT’s Harlequin fabric

EDIT’s ‘Vanessa Bloom’ fabric, named after Vanessa Bell

BOHO

DESIGN Get the look: how to create a Bloomsbury-inspired interior

By KIT KEMP

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t’s no secret that I have long been inspired by the work and creativity of the Bloomsbury Group, a set of artists and intellectuals including Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant who lived and worked in Bloomsbury during the early 20th century. The group believed in creativity, innovation and beauty, but it is their sense of fun and freedom that I am most drawn to. Charlotte Street Hotel sits in the heart of Bloomsbury and the interiors for the hotel make specific reference to the Bloomsbury Group. There is much to learn from this fascinating group of artists – here are some ideas for how to create a Bloomsbury interior of your own.

When creating your own Bloomsburyinspired interior, there is no better way to seek inspiration than by visiting the Charleston farmhouse near Lewes, in East Sussex, where the group’s interior style can be most distinctly seen. Vanessa Bell, with artists Duncan Grant and Roger Fry, wanted art to be democratic and thought that furniture, ceramics and textiles should be given as much attention as fine art. So

here they filled the home they shared with beautiful things and painted every surface.

Another place from which to draw Bloomsbury inspiration is Monk’s House, also in East Sussex, where the spirit of not only Virginia Woolf, who lived here with her husband Leonard, but also of the Bloomsbury Group and the many artists, writers and thinkers who visited, fills the rooms.

The Bloomsbury Group truly loved colour.

Their interiors and paintings were a riot of dusky blues, artichoke greens, damask rose, burnt orange and aubergine. It is a totally unique colour palette that can be both moody and uplifting. Annie Sloan, the chalk paint specialist, has collaborated with the Charleston Trust to create a unique range of paint colours inspired by these distinctive hues. In the Drawing Room and Library at Charlotte Street Hotel, the curtains have been made up in Duncan Grant’s ‘Queen Mary’ fabric, which was intended for use in the First Class Lounge aboard the RMS Queen Mary ocean liner in 1935.

This is available from Charleston’s shop.

Sydney-based fabric house EDIT offers a A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Our exhibition season comes to a close with ‘Wilde Essex’ by Essex based mixed media artist Clare Wilde.

The exhibition opens on the 8th October runs until 8th November 2021.

Open Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday, Monday and Tuesday by appointment only.

All of Clare’s work will be available to purchase from the gallery or online at www.wonky-wheel.co.uk

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HOME • DESIGN

Charlotte Street Hotel

selection of incredibly colourful and vibrant fabrics which take the Bloomsbury aesthetic into the 21st century. I have used EDIT’s ‘Harlequin’ fabric on occasional chairs at Charlotte Street Hotel in both the Library, positioned below a painting by Roger Fry, and the Drawing Room.

I have also used EDIT’s ‘Vanessa Bloom’ – named after Vanessa Bell – on a comfortable fireside armchair in the Drawing Room. This fabric evokes the spirit of the Bloomsbury Group with its rich, painterly forest green, pink and blue florals.

A great way to update a room is to paint the furniture in it. The Bloomsbury Group loved breathing new, colourful and witty life into everyday items by painting them with decorative motifs and geometric patterns. At Charlotte Street Hotel, there is a small desk that was hand-painted by The Omega Workshop, over which hang paintings by Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell.

The Omega Workshop was founded by Roger Fry in Bloomsbury’s Fitzroy Square in 1913, with the aim of selling furniture, fabrics

“A great way to update a room is to paint the furniture in it” and household accessories designed and made by the Bloomsbury Group’s unconventional group of artists. They had an eclectic set of influences, where Cubist design would sit next to Italian frescoes and neoclassical pieces rest against English Arts & Crafts designs. In the same way, be inspired in your own home by mixing different styles and eras, displaying things you find both useful and beautiful, but most importantly things that you really love. In the Library at Charlotte Street Hotel, Vanessa Bell’s painted panels set the Bloomsbury mood, teamed here with a wing chair covered in a modern Bloomsbury-inspired fabric.

Extract taken from Design Secrets

by Kit Kemp, £25, Hardie Grant kitkemp.com

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Design elements are taken from Georgian and Victorian blockprinted papers

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A new collaboration between Little Greene and the National Trust revives some classic wallpaper designs Words E V E H E R B E R T

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H O M E | DESIGN

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a t i o n a l Tr u s t Papers II is an eclectic collection of contemporary wallpaper designs based on original patterns from the National Trust’s historic houses.

The collection comprises 42 colourways across seven designs; it is a celebration of enduring design, with the origins of these contemporary wallpapers spanning over 400 years of historic decoration. Each wallpaper in the collection has been redrawn and recoloured, respectfully acknowledging the traditional methods and materials from which they were originally crafted.

Design elements are taken from Georgian and Victorian block-printed papers and also from older, decorative objects including a leather wall-hanging and a 15th century tapestry. The contemporary

interpretation of each design makes this a timeless collection of papers for homes of all architectural styles.

Patterns include the delightful, trailing Massingberd Blossom from Gunby Hall in Lincolnshire, the playful and charming Burges Snail from Knightshayes Court, authentic late Georgian Beech Nut, uncovered at Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk, Mandalay, a tree of life design taken from a leather wall hanging purchased by Rudyard Kipling, scrolling damask design Tulip, small-scale print Moy and delicate botanical Millefleur, inspired by a lovingly conserved tapestry at Montacute House.

Little Greene’s Ruth Mottershead explains:“We are immensely privileged to have access to the National Trust’s incredible portfolio of properties that are so beautifully looked after and treasured by the Trust on behalf of the nation. With the National Trust properties each containing such diverse decoration, creating a

collection that encompasses the wideranging styles found in these historically significant interiors is a real joy.”

Clare Brown of the National Trust is appreciative of Little Greene’s sensitivity. “Little Greene really understands and respects the decorative arts and designs that can be found within the National Trust’s historic houses. Seeing how the places in our care continue to inspire not just visitors, but contemporary interior design as well, is so thrilling. Not only will these beautiful designs be a great addition to any home, but the sale of every roll will help support our work.”

A contribution from the sale of every roll of Little Greene wallpaper will be made in support of the National Trust’s conservation work, to ensure the nation’s historic houses, gardens and open spaces can be enjoyed for generations to come. littlegreene.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Bespoke luxury spaces tailored just for you From walk in wardrobes to home offices in a range of styles

Nordikka Interiors Blinding Bifolds Showroom, The Dutch Nursery, The Great North Rd, Brookmans Park, Hatfields, Hertfordshire AL9 6ND E: info@nordikka.co M: 07738469691

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H O M E | STORAGE

“Anything is possible, regardless of angles or sloping ceilings”

W H AT ’ S IN STORE How Nørdikka can transform any room to create that muchneeded storage space

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aking the most of all available space is of huge importance when designing storage in the bedroom. A clutterfree environment aids wellbeing and quality of sleep, thus the ability to store everything away from the eye is key. Quirky shaped rooms, sloping ceilings, bedrooms in the eaves – all of these can prove to be a challenge when looking for built in storage solutions. This is where Hertfordshirebased Nørdikka step in with their plethora of custom solutions, designed to work in the most unusual shaped rooms.

A bespoke Danish brand, headed up by Joanna Majewski, they promise us that anything is possible – regardless of angles

or sloping ceilings. They can create storage in more of your square metres than you ever imagined was possible.

Nørdikka was founded by Majewski after she struggled to find the ideal storage solutions for her own bedroom in the eaves.

The room that was so full of character suddenly became a storage problem until the interior designer met the director of the Danish wardrobe and interior solution designers. After conversations and him supplying wardrobes that fitted perfectly, she offered to represent his product here in the UK. All of that was back in 2015 and, since then, Nørdikka has earned a reputation for not only clever and unique design, but fabulous customer service with Majewski – who was also an International Design awards finalist in 2018 – at the helm.

It doesn’t start and finish with the

bedroom. The bespoke Danish brand offers more than just wardrobes – they can do bespoke solutions for your dressing room, pantry, home office, kitchen, garage, basically any room that requires storage.

With every product made to order, they can look after the entire process from design to installation or simply provide you with the perfect cupboard doors for your wonky ceilinged room – the choice is yours.

Based in Brookmans Park, Nørdikka’s bespoke wardrobes and interiors are created and adapted to fit the oddest of room shapes. Using the efficiency that the Scandinavians are famous for, they squeeze the last cubic cm out of every design. Each product is made to order, absolutely nothing is ‘off the shelf’. When it comes to hand-holding they can look after the entire process, design through to finished installation, and for those more adventurous types looking to be involved they are able to provide the perfect doors for you to install.

The Dutch Nursery, The Great North Road Brookmans Park, Hatfield, AL9 6ND 07738469691, nordikka.co A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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ANTON STUDIO DESIGNS

INTERIORS • TREND

Six Carmargue goblets, £51.50 notjustjugs.com

LOAF Candle pot, £8 loaf.com

FRAMED ART ERCOL

Cuttlefish Blue by Seba, £252 mindtheg.com

Forli Armchair, £1,555 ercol.com

LINEN BARN Cloudy blue tablecloth, £54 linenbarn.com.au

HAY Bonbon shade, £649 wearemaven.co.uk

MINDTHEGAP

EDITOR’S PICK

Chinese Garden wallpaper, £175 mindtheg.com

OKA Large Zabiya Decorative Vase Blue, £40 oka.com

SOUS CHEF

ERCOL Marlia armchair, £950 ercol.com

ALMOST BLUE

Blue Sakura Sake Set, £35 souschef.co.uk

Cool colours for the season

By P E N D L E H A R T E

DANETTI

ABODE LIVING Ray plates, £26.50 abodeliving.co.uk

Geo Blue Textured Sideboard, £649 danetti.com

ARTISAN HOMEWARE Casserole dish, £65 artisanhomeware.co.uk

COX & COX Embroidered ikat cushion, £60 coxandcox.co.uk

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SHADE WORK 10 of the best... lamps and lights COMPILED BY PENDLE HARTE

GREEN LIGHT

Formed from a continuous chain of curved arches that form a single element, Hay’s Arcs Shade creates a spatial volume that plays with light and shape. £195 twentytwentyone.com

MOON SHADOW

David Hunt Lighting’s Lunar Collection includes this four light multi arm pendant with antique brass hardware and a beautifully hand-finished smoke blue body. £720 davidhuntlighting. co.uk

IN THE ROUND

Ligne Roset’s Azabu is a ball-shaped light in mouthblown Murano glass which diffuses warm, evenly-coloured light. Put it on a table or just on the floor. £531 heals.com

OFF THE WALL

Davey’s Well glass wall light is an industrial style screw type well glass light, suited for both indoor and outdoor use, and particularly fine in a bathroom. £305 thewalllightingcompany.co.uk

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H O M E | TOP TEN

LOLLY POP

Broste Copenhagen’s Lolly ceiling pendant in white opal glass is stylish in a pared back, Scandi way. £389 brostecopenhagen.com

BEST CHINA

LOW LIGHT

Pebble is a new statement pendant hand-crafted in Stoke on Trent from bone china. Combining centuries-old manufacturing techniques with the latest in technology, this is an intricate and intriguing piece. £1,499 originabtc.com

Pooky’s dinky Wilma lamp is perfect for bringing character to a little alcove, a book-case, or the end of a shelf. £74 pooky.com

CARRY ON

SowdenLight’s Shades is a collection of lamps with multiple configuration possibilities. These battery lamps are practical and stylish. sowdenlight.com

FRINGE BENEFIT

Beauvamp is an independent, British lighting brand specialising in traditional, hand-stitched silk lampshades combining traditional sewing techniques with vintage-inspired design and contemporary style. From £355 beauvamp.com

SPECIAL K

The K Lamp consists of two parts: a shade that acts as a diffuser and a base that houses the lamp.

The base form houses the lamp and the shade gently reflects the light into the room. £220 vitaminliving.com

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H O M E | TREND LUST HOME Under The Banana tree wallpaper in hot pink , £40 lusthome.com

LUST HOME Ogata Kuren wallpaper in mint green, £42 lusthome.com

DOWSING AND REYNOLDS Byobu standard wallpaper, £175 dowsingandreynolds.com

DIVINE SAVAGES Blooming Marvellous Belle Blue wallpaper, £140 divinesavages.com

TATIE LOU Soltar ink wallpaper, £130 tatielou.co.uk

ROLL UP

The new wallpapers are bold and maximalist

FIONA HOWARD Wild Wiggle wallpaper in lemon, £69 fionahoward.com

OLENKA DESIGN Velina tropical wallpaper, £129 olenkadesign.co.uk

By P E N D L E H A R T E

LEIGH BAGLEY Treig blue wallpaper, £200 leighbagley.com

SIAN ZENG Mountains classic wallpaper grey pink, £76 sianzeng.com

ABIGAIL EDWARDS Bird wallpaper in shadow, £89 abigailedwards.com

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LEADING FIREPLACE SHOWROOM

• Natural stone • Marble & wood surrounds • Full installation service by HETAS & Gas Safe engineers

• Gas fires & electric fires from £175 • Stoves & fire baskets • Surrounds from £349 • Free surveys • Supply only

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H O M E • KITCHEN KIT

C O O K A L O N G ESSENTIALS FOR A WELLEQUIPPED KITCHEN

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IN THE MIX KITCHENAID

The iconic stand mixer is an invaulable addition to any kitchen, and the new Dried Rose shade is certainly one to covet. £499 kitchenaid.co.uk

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T I N P OT

FA L C O N E N A M E LWA R E

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Enamelware is versatile: put it in the oven or on the hob, serve salads, bakes and pies in style and take the unbreakable plates on picnics. We love the red and white. falconenamelware.com

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SW I TC H U P IKETTLE

Waiting for the kettle to boil is so 2020. With the smart iKettle, you can switch it on from upstairs or even from the end of the road, using your phone. Why wait? £99 smarter.am

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FINE FIZZ AARKE

Aarke's stylish carbonators look good in any kitchen, and make an environmentally friendly alternative to buying endless plastic bottles of San Pellegrino. £179 aarke.com

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G R AT E N E W S MICROPLA NE

The new bowl grater easily and efficiently grates vegetables, fruit and cheese directly into a bowl. Genius. Beware, though: it's very sharp. £19.95 johnlewis.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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H O M E | PROFILE

Are you mad about your house?

Kate Watson-Smyth has launched a course in making your space work for you Words P E N D L E H A R T E

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alking into Kate WatsonSmyth’s north London house, I’m immediately struck by how familiar it looks. Not because I’ve been here before, but because – along with more than a quarter of a million other followers – I’m used to seeing bits of it on Instagram. This much-photographed house is a living example of how to achieve successful design, and now Watson-Smyth, a journalist and blogger who has become a serious design mover, is launching an online course to help the rest of us realise our interiors dreams. As the woman behind the UK’s number one interiors blog, Mad About The House, she’s used to being asked for advice and it’s her honest and relatable tone – as well as her great eye – that makes her such an authority.

The big thing about Kate is that she’s not snooty or dogmatic, and her mission is to demystify the process of decorating your house the way you want it. And because deciding on the way you want it is almost half the battle, that’s what she focuses on with this course, which is mostly about finding your own interior design style. Note ‘your own’ – she’s not advocating recreating her own style (though I’d wager that many of her followers are quite

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If there’s a dirty great white radiator in the middle of it, what are you thinking? It is not a feature keen to do exactly that) because her core belief is that living somewhere you love has an enormously positive impact on your overall happiness and wellbeing. But what really makes her so engaging is her warmth and humour.

You imagine that even shopping for radiator valves could be fun with her. Sitting in her kitchen (well-designed with a practical layout, intriguingly muted paint colours and fabulous storage, naturally) over coffee, not only do I learn a lot about decorating houses, but I’m also enjoying being entertained.

The course launch’s timing really couldn’t be better, with the idea of wellbeing at home becoming more relevant than ever over the past 18 months. “I think a lot of people have now realised the link between your surroundings and your mental health,” Watson-Smyth tells me. “In the past, a lot of people would move into a house, slap a colour on the wall, think ‘that’s quite nice’, and then go to work and not see it again in daylight until they were on holiday.

Being forced to spend time indoors has led people to think,

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‘well actually I hate this room’ and then start to analyse why they hate it. So that’s led to an interest in working out what colours you like and what you use your rooms for. And that’s where my courses and books come in.”

For Watson-Smyth, the starting point is to ask six basic questions, just as she was taught as a trainee journalist.

It’s all about the who, what, why, when, where and how.

“It’s about knowing what questions to ask. It’s fine if you like teal blue (though that’s not a colour for me) but you can’t look at a colour in isolation and think, ‘I love it; I’m going to paint it all over my living room’. You have to think, how does that colour make you feel? And if it makes you feel energised, buzzy and ready to start the day, then maybe that’s not the colour for the bedroom. Maybe it’s more the colour for the kitchen. It’s about choosing the colours that you love and then matching the mood of them to the room you need.” And it’s not just colours – it’s important to consider carefully what the purpose of each room actually is. This is something that people often get

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H O M E | PROFILE

wrong, she says. “They don’t think who’s using a room, so it ends up not fit for purpose. Typically, someone might put a beautiful buttoned upright sofa in the sitting room, that nobody wants to sit on because it’s uncomfortable.

Then they add an extension on the back of the house and put a squashy sofa in the kitchen, with a telly in there – and from then on nobody ever uses the sitting room again.

You have to know what, why and who.”

The course is essentially five hours of video material broken down into manageable 15 minute lessons explaining where to start and all the questions you should ask. “It’s not about being didactic and saying this is how it’s done, it’s saying, if you follow this process you will know how you want to do it – you’ll have learnt how to do it yourself,” says Watson-Smyth. It’s illustrated with a walk-through of her own very lovely and well-considered house (pictured here) with honest reference to mistakes she has made and things she has changed or would do differently.

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INSPIRE H HO OM ME E || PROFILE

into a single dwelling, and learnt a lot along the way. Is it finished? A house is never really finished, of course, but “all the rooms are in the right places now.” By this she means the kitchen and bathrooms. “If you get your plumbing rooms in the right place then your approach to bedrooms can be fairly fluid,” she says. The family have all swapped bedrooms a lot as their needs have changed, which is something that many of us don’t think about doing, she points out. “Parents of small children tend to take the master bedroom, because it’s called ‘the master bedroom’. For us, the boys shared the master bedroom when they were little because they had the biggest toys and they could fit them all in there.

As they got older, the toys got smaller and they moved into their own rooms. Sometimes the solution is just to move the rooms around.” Now she and her husband do have the master bedroom, where they have devised an ingenious half-wall to partition a dressing room area.

For bedrooms, one piece of advice she has is to look at hotels. “They’re often ahead of the curve – look at the industrial style a few years ago, when every pizza joint in town had distressed furniture and tin tile ceilings.

Hotels have to get a lot of functions into a small space: a desk, a chair, a place to watch tv, some sort of bathroom, a double bed, everything has to be highly functional in a small space. If you want to build an en suite you can, for example, make the wall ¾ height and put a pane of glass on top so you are borrowing light – hotels do that a lot and there’s no reason why you can’t in your own home.”

The major game-changer for interiors in the past decade or so has been Instagram, which Watson-Smyth loves.

“Instagram has been hugely important for interiors, and democratised it. Magazines remain influential and

inspirational, but only certain types of houses get featured, while Instagram has allowed everybody to put their houses up. If you live in a one-bedroom flat you’ll be able to find inspiration on Instagram from someone who’s done their one-bed flat beautifully. Magazines are frustrating – they might credit everything except, say, the coffee table – and to find out about it all you can really do is to write to the editor, but they never reply, while on Instagram you can interact. People are doing whole tutorials on how to paint your UPVC windows and everything. It’s made us all more design literate. If you wanted to see what someone’s house

I’m a huge fan of sliding doors. I can’t believe that nobody talks about doors looked like in Japan 30 years ago, you’d have had to go to Tokyo, but now you can see how people live and use space instantly.” There’s a chapter in the course on navigating social media, because it’s easy to become overwhelmed with so much inspiration out there. If you have 300 pins on your kitchen board, you’re not going to know what to do.

I have to ask about her bugbears. What mistakes are we all making? Of course there are several. “Hanging pictures too high is one. And the rug island with the coffee table boat – I can’t bear that. Another thing: you have got to paint your radiators to match your walls. I’m not even going to discuss it. If you have gone to all the bother of testing 47 different paints to find the right colour and there’s a dirty great white radiator in the middle of it, then what are you thinking? It is not a feature.”

And then there are doors. Another chapter of the course is dedicated to doors, which makes total sense when she talks me through all the different ones in her house. “The standard door can take up a lot of space,” she explains.

So on the landing there is one that’s cut in half and folds backwards to save space, while the door to her en suite is cut in half and hinged on either side, again saving space.

“Plus I’m a huge fan of sliding doors. I can’t believe that nobody talks about doors.”

Another interesting element of the course focuses on relationships. Or, more accurately, on persuading one’s husband to agree to things like pink walls and gold grout.

Not that Watson-Smyth managed to get gold grout past her own husband. “We have developed something over the years called the marital veto. It’s only been used about three times – last time was when we were doing the loft six years ago and I wanted gold grout in the bathroom.

He just said no. I cried on Instagram for a bit but now I hate to think that he might have been right.” Still, there’s bound to be an Instagram tutorial for painting your grout, and as she keeps saying, you can change the colours of everything as long as you get the layout right. And then you could be mad about your house too. @mad_about_the_house Kate Watson-Smyth’s course, How To Be Mad About Your House, costs £127 at createacademy.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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H O M E | PARTNERSHIP

All under one roof

Why Dobsons’ stunning Cheshunt showroom has all the answers when it comes to creating a luxury bathroom

Established in 1935, Dobsons put their customers at the heart of the business

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f you are looking for a luxury bathroom - designed, managed and installed all in one place - then Dobsons are the specialists for you. They take pride in getting to know their clients and designing outstanding rooms to suit their own individual needs.

Dobsons go the extra mile to create your dream room, whether en-suite, cloakroom or family bathroom, by redesigning your existing layout to maximise functionality, taking down walls to create a larger area or perhaps creating a new room where there wasn’t previously one. Whatever your need their experts provide the know how to make it happen.

A family business, established in 1935, Dobsons believe in putting their customers at the heart of everything they do and that’s why as part of the premium service they offer, they take control of your entire project and co-ordinate every aspect, taking the stress and hassle away from you. This is one of the many reasons that they have a five-star rating on Trustpilot, the independent review site.

Dobsons’ large showroom in Cheshunt has recently been shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Bathroom Showroom of the Year’ category at the 2021 National Kbbreview Retail and Design Awards.

The Kbbreview – the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen industry’s leading trade magazine – has been running these awards for the past 27 years to celebrate the UK’s very best retailers, designers and manufacturers in the kitchen and bathroom industry, and the winners will be announced later this month at a ceremony in Liverpool.

Why not book an appointment to visit their stunning showroom for ideas and inspiration and to talk to their experienced team of designers about your project.

DOBSONS 128 Turners Hill, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross EN8 9BN 01992 623066 dobsonshome.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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SPECI A L ISSUE

absolutely-mama.co.uk

In this section:

Language learning

Starting them young •

LO U N G E LOVER With their classic look, Eberjey’s Gisele pyjamas borrow their style from the boys, but are cut from super-soft jersey and tailored for a more feminine silhouette.

Feeling comfortable while looking good has never been so easy. selfridges.com

Baby wearing

A new range of slings •

Life without plastic

It’s easy if you try

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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FANTASTIC

PLASTIC

It’s the ‘big baddie’ for many children and adults, but is it time we reappraised plastic’s value and educated ourselves in ways to use it more wisely?

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MAMA • SUSTAINABILITY

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lastic has had a terrible press in recent times, and for many children and families it has become the ‘no-no’ substance. Little wonder, as we consider the damage caused to our oceans by microplastics and the mountains of waste created by single-use plastic. The problem is that every action has a reaction – so totally abandoning one material in favour of another can have unintended consequences.

So before we banish all plastic in favour of bamboo, wood or whatever, consider this: the right plastic used in the right settings is durable, lightweight, easy to clean and economical to maintain. This is, of course, why it is so popular for children’s toys and hardwearing objects such as furniture. In fact, it’s very easy to see why it is so prevalent in children’s lives.

A lot of plastic we use is also recyclable.

What we need to do – and teach our children about – is start to use plastic more wisely, making it last and finding smart reuses so it isn’t wasted. These are all principles of the ‘circular economy’, which encourages us to reuse, recycle and also design these elements in at point of manufacture.

BRITISH RECYCLED PLASTICS’ PLANTERS AND BENCH (ABOVE)

WE SHOULD BE VIEWING PLASTIC AS A RESOURCE AND LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN KEEP IT IN THE CLEAN RECYCLING LOOP Giving plastic a new lease of life is something that exercises Yorkshire company British Recycled Plastic. Managing director, Jason Elliott, says we need to consider it as a resource. “Recycled plastic is inherently tough. It is chemically inert, so will never leach any toxic chemicals and will never rot, split or splinter so has a long lifespan. We should be viewing plastic as a resource and looking at how we can keep it in the clean recycling loop.”

He doesn’t underestimate the scale of the problem we currently face, but believes that schools and young people have a key part to play in turning things around. “The average secondary school produces 22kg of waste per pupil each academic year. The figure for primary schools is even higher at 45kg per pupil!”

To that end, British Recycled Plastic has launched ‘Your story is our story’, an initiative to get schools engaged with plastic pollution. The campaign asks schools to share their plastic recycling projects so that it can publicise them via its website and social media.

The company specialises in recycled plastic furniture – much of it destined for schools, colleges and universities, as well as public spaces. Recently, it has showcased two schoolfocused projects in order to show that plastic is not always the bad guy. Its ‘Buddy Bench’ was an initiative to help children returning to school to strike up a conversation. The benches are made entirely of recycled plastic and, with their distinctive rainbow colours, strike a cheery note in the playground.

Another recent initiative was to help a school with a pollution problem. British Recycled Plastic created and installed recycled plastic planters along the roadside in front of the main entrance to Goose Green School in East Dulwich. These ‘smog shields’ were part of a raft of measures to improve air quality. The custom-made designs (all recycled materials) were designed to fit neatly between railing and road, with enough depth to block fumes and provide a decent growing environment for the plants that were also put in place to absorb pollution from

cars. And the result was that air pollution was reduced by around half at Goose Green School. Recycled plastic planters may make a great smog shield, but have many other uses in schools and public settings – inert, sturdy and a perfect medium for grow-yourown vegetables or colourful bedding plants.

Elliott believes schools and young people have a key role to play in raising awareness generally – also encouraging better recycling among their communities (and lobbying their local authorities to raise their game by improving our inadequate recycling facilities).

He says: “Recycling education programmes have the potential to significantly increase knowledge, promote positive attitudes and increase recycling behaviours in pupils, and we’re keen to hear from schools that are doing their bit to help the planet”.

Thinking local is a start, and if children can start to see even plastic – the ‘big baddie’ of waste – as a valuable global resource, they can start to think smart about conserving all materials. What is certain is that we need the next generation on board with this – and so does our planet.

4 WAYS to recycle toys

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Pass them on via Freecycle or informal sites such as nextdoor.co.uk

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Give them to charity – try toys4life.co.uk and thetoyproject.co.uk

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Set up a swap meet so that everyone gives a toy and gets a new one.

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Organise a school toy sale, with proceeds going to a local environmental project.

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mama PROMOTION

“It allows for parents to spend precious time with their children while learning”

S M A L L T A L K Through a range of innovative programmes, Pepe and Tete brings the Spanish language to life

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epe and Tete is a Spanish language experience business that offers learning for all ages and levels. The journey to create Pepe and Tete started in Pilar de la Horadada, Spain where their founder is from and worked as a tennis coach for nine years.

This period strengthened her passion for all sports as well as heavily influencing Pepe and Tete’s approach to learning.

The approach is founded on two principles; first is that learning is all about curiosity and they take every day as an opportunity to discover something new.

Second is that conversation is the best way to learn a language. So, whether it’s practicing with native speakers or roleplays, their tutors place strong emphasis on social skills as a way of mastering a language across all ages and levels.

Specifically, for children, they have developed a learning model that combines interactive learning and real-life interactions. They use Pepito, a fun and

engaging character that brings to life various aspects of Spanish culture such as family, food and hobbies. An example is this year, for children aged 5-10, they ran a series of art camps that explored famous Spanish artists such as Picasso, Miró and Gaudi.

For adults, they have developed a dedicated one-year programme called Spanish Año. The programme is based on an English family looking to relocate to Spain and thus puts strong emphasis on conversation and practice as a way of mastering the language. They have also SANDRA AVILES, THE FOUNDER OF PEPE AND TETE

BE CONFIDENT IN SPEAKING SPANISH WHEN HOLIDAYING

created a unique programme that allows for parents to spend precious time with their children while learning together.

They recognize that time and flexibility are a challenge especially for families or professionals. Therefore, as online learning becomes the norm, they are constantly looking at ways to innovate new learning options such as maternity and sabbatical programmes, both centered around the student’s availability.

Learning a language does not stop at just being able to speak and listen, but also includes cultural immersion, meeting new people and of course sampling the food. Their full immersions programmes offer the perfect setting to practice and experience the Mediterranean lifestyle in the south of Spain.

So, no matter your learning needs, they would be delighted to bring Spain to you via a journey of fun, new friendships and adventure. If you would like to find out more about the programmes, please get in touch on team@pepeandtete.com. pepeandtete.com A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Scholarships and bursaries available

www.mtsn.org.uk Coaches: St Albans, Harpenden, Stanmore & Radlett

Tel. +44 (0)1923 845514 Merchant Taylors’ School, Sandy Lodge, Email. admissions@mtsn.org.uk Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2HT

Excellence, integrity and distinction since 1561

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Moor Park (Baker Street 35 minutes)

For boys 3 - 18

26/08/2021 18:06 02/07/2021 14:23

ma m a BRAND

Carry on BabyBjörn’s classic baby carrier comes in a variety of styles and colours

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Wo r d s E V E H E R B E R T

andy beaches, cherry blossoms and timeless spots inspired BabyBjörn to create a new range of colours for the iconic baby carrier. The perfect pink, the anything-butboring grey beige, and leopard print launched last month and the multi award-winning Baby Carrier Mini, Baby Carrier Move and Baby Carrier One Air are now available in new colours including the highly coveted and celebrity favourite anthracite leopard print.

Baby Carrier Mini is a small, easy-to-use baby carrier that mum or dad can quickly

“The carrier can

be used in four different positions as your baby grows” put on for frequent short babywearing sessions. It’s perfect for the first months when the baby needs a lot of closeness around the clock. It’s easy to unfasten the entire front section of the baby carrier to lift out a sleeping baby. The soft fabrics gently hug the baby’s back, legs and hips, and provide good support. Through the fabric, a parent can check the baby’s position and the natural C curve of the baby’s back with their hands.

Designed to fit the needs of a newborn baby up to 15 months, the simple design of the Baby Carrier Move makes it easy to put on, even in the middle of the night, and the luxurious, tactile fabrics are gentle on your newborn’s delicate skin. You can feel your baby is being carried in a natural position, with their back in a gentle c-curve. From 12 months, the carrier can also be used outward facing so you and your baby can explore the world together.

The Baby Carrier One Air offers hours of comfy carrying from newborn all the way up to three years, the carrier can be used in four different positions to grow as your baby does, for perfect carrying ergonomics, use either parent facing, outward facing or for back carrying. The cool air mesh fabric makes sure neither parent or baby gets too hot too. babybjorn.co.uk

A B S O L U T E LY m a g a z i n e s

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Now taking registrations FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 WEEKS TO 5 YEARS OPEN 7.30AM TO 6.30PM

Fun is an essential ingredient in all our nurseries where the care and education opportunities for each and every child are as extraordinary as our colleagues who provide them.

T: 01962 870977 E: hertfordbarns.nursery@childbase.com

T: 01582 792060 E: nurseryonthegreen.redbourn@childbase.com

Hertford Barns Day Nursery, Cole Green, Nr Hertford, Hertfordshire, SG14 2NL

Nursery on the Green, South Common, Redbourn, Hertfordshire, AL3 7NB

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU RAYDEN_NAV_ST_ALBANS_180X123_CMYK_OUT_1.pdf

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mama mamaPARTNERSHIP PROMOTION

Life

LESSONS

A “Days are filled with exciting activities, planned around the children”

Why fun is an essential ingredient at Nursery on the Green and Preschool

t Nursery on the Green Day Nursery in Redbourn, practitioners are on a mission to give children the best possible start in life. At the newlyopened setting on South Common, days are filled with exciting activities, planned around the personal interests of children and designed in line with Early Years Foundation Stage principles to ensure they are prepared with the knowledge and skills needed for their next steps in education.

With age-appropriate and imaginative indoor play and learning spaces, state of the art ICT, messy play corners and ‘role play’ areas to further teachings, each child from six weeks to nearly five years is able to immerse themselves in the vast learning opportunities on offer. From babies using recycled paper for sensory activities, to older children growing vegetables in the garden that are then used in meals by talented nursery chefs, children of all ages take part in a curriculum of eco-activities the whole year round.

It is for these continued initiatives that Nursery on the Green have recently been awarded a prestigious ‘Green Flag’ as part of the international Eco-Schools scheme, the highest accolade in the programme that is given for exceptional environmental conservation and awareness efforts. “We fully recognise the positive impact that being outdoors has on a child’s social, physical and emotional development. Respecting and caring for the planet is an important lesson which we believe will stand the children in good stead for life,” says nursery manager, Carli Toal, who has 26 years’ experience in the sector.

The nursery is also accredited with the sought-after ‘Food for Life Served Here’ award, which acknowledges the use of ethically sourced ingredients, and has recently gone ‘climate positive’ after saving more greenhouse gas emissions than it generates.

N U R S E RY O N T H E G R E E N South Common, Redbourn, St Albans AL3 7NG, 01582 792060 childbasepartnership.com/nurseryon-the-green-redbourn

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mama mamaPROMOTION EDUCATION

Q How would you describe what St Margaret’s School offers?

A St Margaret’s is a family school so there is an emphasis on working in the best interests of our pupils, really focusing on individuals and their progress, whilst working with parents to bring about the best pupil outcomes. We are big on the whole child, so you will see an impressive academic offer, a broad co-curricular programme and strong pastoral support.

Q You offer classes from Nursery to Sixth Form. How nice is it to see your pupils through the entirety of their school learning journey?

A We aim to settle all children at all points of entry quickly and thoughtfully. With our new nursery it is wonderful to see the youngest children start their time here and it is always warming to see students who have been here flourish and succeed at A-level as they move beyond Sixth Form.

There is a definite benefit of being here through the key transition stages as we can reassure and encourage at these points when it can often be harder for young people.

THE COMPLETE

journey

Absolutely Hertfordshire talks to Lara Péchard, head of St Margaret’s School in Bushey, about their offering from Nursery through to Sixth Form Q What would we see in a typical classroom?

A Energy, laughter and productivity.

Q How has the new school year gone so far?

A It has gone well. Our new enrichment programme has been well received by our pupils and parents.

Q Are you returning to a degree of ‘normality’?

A Like all schools the pandemic continues to keep us on our toes and we are focussed on returning safely and with fewer restrictions.

Pupils definitely want more trips!

Q How have you helped pupils over the last 18 months?

A We taught online from the first day of the first lockdown and we maintained continuity of learning and pastoral support.

We actually, somehow, offered more cocurricular activities than we had before as we felt that there was a real need for our pupils and their families. We have also increased our communication and support for families including pastoral

webinars, which have been well received.

Q Do you have big plans for the rest of the school year?

A We are excited by a new music and performing space that opens at the end of this year. Our new head of sport, Mr Payne-Cooke, has some great plans to enhance our provision. We now have boys throughout our Junior School and this has started well this term – boys start throughout the Senior School next year, so there is lots to keep us busy.

Q Finally, can you tell us a surprising fact about St Margaret’s School…

A There are three large air raid shelters under the Waterhouse building. We are currently turning one of them into a workshop for our Greenpower kit car group.

ST MARGARET’S SCHOOL Merry Hill Road, Bushey Hertfordshire, WD23 1DT 020 8416 4400 stmargarets-school.org.uk

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Scan here to see the full details of all our properties

Shepherd’s Way, Rickmansworth £1,195,000 Freehold Don’t miss this pretty three double bedroom detached home in this sought after road - lots of potential and lovely mature gardens.

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Landford Close, Rickmansworth £875,000 Freehold

Not only is this road in hot demand but the detached home has three bedrooms, four bath/shower rooms and four reception rooms plus your own sauna!

This bright & spacious three bedroom detached home sits on a good size plot with mature gardens and yet close to good schools, amenities and the 100 acre Aquadrome nature reserve.

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01923 773 616 www.trendandthomas.co.uk | sales@trendandthomas.co.uk TREND & THOMAS FP_Oct21.indd 1

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PROPERTY

SCHOLARS, BROXBOURNE EN10

£715,000 GUIDE PRICE

n impressive 1,600 sqft, four-bedroom family home with integral garage and a delightful rear garden backing onto Broxbourne Nature reserve. Set within the landscaped grounds of a charming, fully private development, and within close proximity to the new highly sought after Broxbourne School, this property delivers the perfect combination of a serene lifestyle in a prime setting.

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HAMPTONS, HERTFORD 01992 663890 hamptons.co.uk

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Call today to book a viewing of the remaining houses on this exclusive development of just 23 private homes

KEY HOME FEATURES ■

Designer kitchens with Siemens appliances

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Elegant fixtures and fittings throughout

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Home office and integral garage

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Idyllic location between Cuffley & Goff’s Oak

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A short walk to Cuffley Station and amenities

SELECTED PLOTS OFFER:

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Less than an hour to The City by train*

Terms + Conditions apply

* Journey time travelling from Cuffley to Kings Cross by train c.50 mins, taken from National Rail

PRICES FROM £975,000 Stamp duty paid • Window dressing package • £2,000 towards legal fees

104 Cuffley Hill | Goff’s Oak | EN7 5EY

020 8441 955 5

NEWHOMES@STATONS.COM www.chasenewhomes.co.uk

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£499,950

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£545,000

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A STUNNING COLLECTION OF 4 & 5 BEDROOM CONTEMPOR ARY EXECUTIVE FAMILY HOMES A PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT ADJACENT TO THE BROXBOURNE SCHOOL (OFSTED RATED GOOD)

SHOW HOME NOW OPEN

– Designer kitchens with Siemens appliances and quartz work surfaces – Underfloor heating to the ground floor, Amtico flooring and fitted carpets – Less than 30 minutes to London Liverpool Street* PR ICES FROM £715,0 0 0 Scholars | High Road | Broxbourne | EN10 7HE

SALES & MARKETING SUITE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

By appointment only. 10am–5pm.

CALL 01992 663 890 salesherts@hamptons.co.uk *By train travelling from Broxbourne station. Travel times taken from National Rail.

www.hamptons.co.uk

An exclusive collection of nine 2 & 3 bedroom apartments Short distance from Enfield Town and Enfield Chase stations Private parking

Contemporary Shaker kitchens

32 minutes to London King’s Cross by train

Prices from £599,950 – £925,000

For sales enquiries 020 8370 3999 saleslondon@hamptons.co.uk

Internal images are of a previous showhome and used for guidance only.

Computer generated image is indicative only.

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