Absolutely Berkshire Magazine July 2025 by ABSOLUTELY Magazines

From festivals to family fun, make the most of the sun

ALL at SEA

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CULTURE

18 Agenda A unique collection from Paz Errázuriz comes to Buckinghamshire

20 Beyond the Stars Popular sciﬁ props go on show in Aylesbury

24 Summer Special Henley Festival, Heritage Live and more

FOOD & DRINK

54 Food News Tasty bites from across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire

56 The Duke Henley Chef Ryan Honey on their summer menus

FASHION

64 The Shoot Travel inspired style from Hansine

67 Swimwear The hottest looks for the beach

INTERIORS

78 Pedro Almodóvar Why the ﬁlm director is brightening our homes

88 Jensen Beds On the science of sleep and how we can beneﬁt

99 Outdoor Dining Five ways to make the most of the summer

EDUCATION

108 Social Media What Adolescence gets right – and what it doesn't

111 Talking Head Rob Grosse of Herries Preparatory School

DON'T MISS

114 Silverstone Museum Hosting a very special anniversary exhibition

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LETTER Editor’s

ABSOLUTELY’S July issue highlights

Summer for me has always meant the outdoors in some form or the other. There were our family holidays to Cornwall, which despite the drive were always eagerly anticipated; when back home, the longer days meant more time in the park playing football. I never wanted to leave.

Independents

and Heritage Live, with some family friendly

As I got a little older, it became a time of festivals. I still remember as a 16-year-old going to my first ever overnight festival down in Winchester, but falling asleep in a banging dance tent at 4am affected my street cred. Then, a year later, I was one of the lucky ones to see Oasis at Knebworth (it's amazing how many people say they were there – but I really was). Although, oddly, I do remember how digusting the toilets were as much as the music. Those were the days. I am a little older now, but that hasn't stopped a love for a summer festival, I just look for a more sedate pace. So, inside this issue, we present a mini summer special looking at some of the best ways to spend a day in the sun across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, from sci-fi classics and crafts, to Henley Festival and Heritage Live, with some family friendly fun thrown in too (as all my friends now have kids). Bring it on (just a little more quietly).

Summer Festivals

Plenty of hair raising fun is heading our way (p32)

Four local businesses who are doing it their way (p48)

Pedro Almodóvar

On bringing his unique colour palette into your home (p78)

MARK KEBBLE EDITOR

Henley Festival Why it is so unique (p24)

Swimwear

How to look hot on the beach (p67) 4

Wish LIST

BASKET CASE

Our pick of Roger Vivier's new summer bag collection is this striped raffi a shopper with its fl amboyant ruffl e and stylish monogramming. Leather handles and a drawstring closure give it strength and practicality. rogervivier.com

FEELING BLUE

This unique tealight holder features a ribbed detail and comes in an updated 6 beautiful colours. They are mouthblown and made from recycled glass, giving each item a unique identity. richardgraftoninteriors.com

SUMMER DINING

Scalloped shape? Tick. Stripes? Tick. This cheerful plate has it all, and it's part of a joyful collection of summer homewares from Dutch brand Anna + Nina. Look out for their lovely lampshades too. domesticsciencehome.co.uk

MIFFY IS 70

Everybody's favourite Dutch rabbit Miff y is 70 years old this year and, to celebrate, Cambridge Satchels have launched an adorable Miff y collection. We love this Hiding Miff y satchel, with the bunny taking a sneaky peek. cambridgesatchel.com

TO THE STARS

The OPEIA jewellery collection not only celebrates 125 years of authentic, innovative jewellery design at Berry’s Jewellers, but also takes its name from the word Cassiopeia – a constellation found in the Northern sky that was named a er Queen Cassiopeia, mother of Andromeda. berrysjewellers.co.uk

FAN GIRL

Carnaby Street's RS No9 sells wearable Rolling Stones merch that's stylish rather than cheesy. We love the slim ﬁt tees and the oversized hoodies. rsno9.co.uk

NUMBERS UP

Graphic artist Zoë Zimmer founded The 87 to create beachwear that you'll want to wear everywhere. The two-piece scarves and sarongs are one size, and are designed to be tied in multiple ways to create diﬀerent looks. the87london.com

SUITS YOU

A top collection of swimwear can be found at Amelie's Follies, where they oﬀer one-to-one ﬁttings to make sure that you take home the perfect piece. ameliesfollies.co.uk

This beautiful 18ct White Gold sapphire and diamond pendant features an impressive oval cut sapphire in the centre with a loop of sparkling diamonds. berrysjewellers.co.uk

BLUE GLASS

Glass mugs are having a moment. Whether it's a matcha latte (hot or iced), a ﬂ at white or a cup of tea, serve it in glass, we say. Especially this Habitat one. habitat.co.uk

CULTURE

The Agenda

Calamity Jane

29 JULY-2 AUGUST, MK THEATRE

This revival stars multi-award-winning West End star Carrie Hope Fletcher as Calamity Jane herself. Based on the much-loved Doris Day movie, this foot-stomping new production features all the sure-ﬁre classic songs including The Deadwood Stage (Whip-Crack-Away), The Black Hills of Dakota, Just Blew in from the Windy City, and the Oscar-winning Secret Love.

atgtickets.com

22-26 July

MK THEATRE

Step through the wardrobe into the enchanted kingdom of Narnia. Join Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter as they wave goodbye to wartime Britain and embark on the most magical of adventures in a frozen, faraway land where they meet Mr. Tumnus the faun, talking beavers, Aslan (the noble king of Narnia) and the coldest, most evil White Witch. atgtickets.com

Until 2 November

WADDESDON MANOR

Celebrated British artist Pablo Bronstein presents a bold new exhibition featuring a new body of work in response to Waddesdon Manor as a Jewish country house, with a grand assembly of paintings on paper reimagining the legendary Temple of Solomon. waddesdon.org.uk

PHOTO: MARK SENIOR

PHOTO BY:

MUSIC

Q The Music

12 July

WYCOMBE SWAN THEATRE

With breathtaking vocal performances, exceptional musicianship, and intricate arrangements that remain true to the legendary ﬁlm series, Q The MusicThe James Bond Concert Spectacular delivers an exhilarating experience for all. This incredible dedicated tribute band is known for its adrenalinefueled and stirring concerts, and will be hosted by Miss Moneypenny herself – Caroline Bliss. trafalgartickets.com

THEATRE

Gorilla Circus

12 July

CORN EXCHANGE NEWBURY

This is a mesmeric new outdoor show combining exhilarating acrobatics, adrenaline-pumping street dance and breathtaking roller skating, set on a giant moving treadmill! RPM explores the tragic, comic and absurd aspects of modern society, unravelling untold links between current problems and the UK's troubled history - it asks the question: has this country ever confronted its colonial past? cornexchangenew.com

This Month’s

Bat Out of Hell

Must See T his heartpounding experience, with a powerhouse eight-piece live band on stage, delivers a new production with sprawling multi-level platforms to transport you from Raven’s bedroom to the underground world of the Lost in a visual feast that pushes the boundaries of live theatre. trafalgartickets.com

Caught ON CAMERA

Paz Errázuriz’s attention grabbing photos from Chile arrive in Buckinghamshire

They are topics that society doesn’t look at, and my intention is to encourage people to dare to look.” The ﬁrst UK solo exhibition of Chilean photographer Paz Errázuriz presents over 170 works in colour and black and white from the 1970s to the present day, opening at the MK Gallery on 19th July.

During General Pinochet’s dictatorship from 1973 to 1998, Errázuriz took her camera onto the street, recording prohibited subjects and breaking regulations and curfews imposed by the military regime. In 1981 she was also one of the founding members of Chilean Association of Independent Photographers –providing a network of support to help distribute ‘unoﬃcial’ images. Errázuriz o en spends months or years within a community, building trust and getting to know her sitters before creating her work.

O en working in series, her photographs include men and women in psychiatric institutions, Trans communities, sex workers, individuals sleeping unprotected in the street and the Kawésqar, an indigenous group whose culture and language are under threat. Other series feature circus workers, protesters, boxers, wrestlers, children and elders, and dancers.

Errázuriz’s work can be seen in important international collections including Tate, MoMA, New York, the Guggenheim and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Soﬁa, Madrid. She has received various national and international prizes, including the PHotoEspaña Prize in 2015, the year she also represented Chile at the Venice Biennale.

mkgallery.org

PHOTO: CHRIS DAVIS STUDIO

PHOTO:

MAKE believe

A unique exhibition has opened at Discover Bucks Museum that showcases some of sci-ﬁ’s most famous props. Mark Kebble gets in touch with his childhood to ﬁnd out more

Science fiction was my childhood. My earliest memories of watching TV with my Mum was to settle down for Doctor Who, and as I got older the likes of Red Dwarf took over my life, not to mention sci-fi film classics like Blade Runner and Star Wars. It was a pleasant surprise in 2005 when Doctor Who returned – and was the first time I had sat down to watch TV with my Mum for about 20 years, driving over to my parents for the occasion.

The storylines grabbed me, but so too did the creative visuals. People may mock some of the earlier sci-ﬁ TV shows – often hearing about the ‘wobbly’ Doctor Who sets – but for their time, they were astonishing. So imagine my excitement when I was invited along to the opening of a new exhibition at Discover Bucks Museum in Aylesbury, Beyond the Stars: a propmaker’s guide to the galaxy, which showcases original models and props used in the making of the most iconic science ﬁction shows to appear on British TV, including Doctor Who, Red Dwarf and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy The man who has helped all this come

together is visual e ects designer, Mike Tucker, who shared my love of sci-ﬁ as a child. “I grew up watching Doctor Who and the Gerry Anderson shows like Stingray, Thunderbirds and Joe 90, and I used to get my parents to take me to see the Sinbad ﬁlms with Ray Harryhausen’s fantastic stop-motion creations,” he smiles.

“I’d heard about this fantastic place called the BBC Visual E ects Department and was determined to work there,” he adds. “It confused my careers o cers at school no end, because they’d never heard of this as a possible career option, but once Star Wars came out in 1977 there was suddenly a lot more information and interest in behind the scenes work.”

He began working in earnest at the BBC in the 1980s, and I mention about the impact of Red Dwarf and Doctor Who on my life. “When it started a lot of us dismissed it as being a cheap sci-ﬁ sitcom that would probably only last a season or two,” he says on the former, “but by the time we were working on season three it was obvious that it was going to be something special. That show more than any other really helped me and my contemporaries hone our skills in VFX,” Mike adds.

DOCTOR WHO'S TARDIS RED DWARF'S STARBUG

“I know from talks I do that people get a buzz from seeing these props”

On the latter, he started towards the end of the Colin Baker years as the Doctor, before working on the entirety of Sylvester McCoy’s run. “I was fortunate in that I worked with designers like Colin Mapson who were happy to mentor me in the craft,” Mike says on this time. “Sylvester’s opening story Time and the Rani isn’t that popular with Doctor Who fans, but the e ects work is really slick, and I learned a lot working on that. I feel the same about The Greatest Show in the Galaxy – my increasing conﬁdence coupled with working with another experienced designer resulted in some very convincing e ects sequences.”

Doctor Who was halted in 1989 (on TV at least, an American made film did rear its head, but not to much acclaim), before the surprising announcement about its return in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston taking over as the Doctor. “I was a fully fledged designer at this point, on the verge of setting up my own company, so there was no way I was going to let it pass by without giving it my best shot to get involved,” Mike laughs. “The e ects industry had changed completely by this point and CGI was the new toy that everyone was using, but the experience that I had gained during my years at the BBC meant that I was successful in convincing the production team that miniature e ects still had a part to play and that my team was best placed to deliver those e ects. We did a huge variety of things in that first year – the Nestene lair in Rose, the destruction of Big Ben and Downing Street in Aliens of London / World War Three, the barrage balloon

there are so few production teams that have any experience of working with miniature e ects these days, and only a handful of us left still practicing it.”

that Billie Piper hangs from in The Empty Child, plus the Dalek and Dalek Emperor.” Mike mentions CGI, which I suggest is presumably the biggest change in the industry in his time working in it. “When I started CGI was in its infancy, and it was several more years before the costs dropped to a point that TV could even consider using it. Since then digital has become the standard way that all productions do their e ects, so it had a massive impact on facilities that had traditionally built everything practically – especially those of us doing miniatures. Personally I think the best results can be achieved when both disciplines work side by side, but

It’s why when exhibitions like Beyond the Stars come along it generates a great deal of excitement. “When [his company] The Model Unit closed down following the pandemic, virtually all of the props and models that used to be on display around my workshop and o ce at Ealing Studios got put into storage. That seemed such a waste when I know from lectures and talks I do that people – both fans and members of the general public – get a buzz from seeing these items,” Mike explains about the origins of the exhibition. “I had a great experience last year putting on a small exhibition at Gunnersbury Museum, and the team at Discover Bucks Museum were equally enthusiastic in expanding on that and putting something on in Aylesbury.”

What can we expect to see at the exhibition? “We’ve tried to pick a variety of di erent items from a number of British science ﬁction programmes, so alongside Doctor Who we’ve got props and models from well-known shows like Red Dwarf, Blake’s 7 and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and ones that might not be quite so familiar like Star Cops and The Tripods. There are a couple of pieces that have either never been on public display before, or have not been seen in public for a very long time, so I’ve had a lot of people tell me that they are excited to see the black Supreme Dalek from Remembrance of the Daleks and the Jagaroth spacecraft from the classic 1979 Tom Baker Doctor Who story City of Death.”

And what does the future hold for Mike and his wonderful craft? “More sci-ﬁ!” he laughs. “I’m very excited to be working with BBC Studios as part of the team updating the miniature e ects sequences for the BluRay releases of Blake’s 7, so I’m currently one of a number of modelmakers building spacecraft for several di erent episodes ready to be shot later this year.”

Long may this fascinating world continue.

Beyond the Stars: a propmaker’s guide to the galaxy is on at Discover Bucks Museum until 5th October. See more at discoverbucksmuseum.org

THE CAST OF RED DWARF

MIKE WORKED ON SYLVESTER MCCOY'S STINT AS THE TIMELORD

THE SUPREME DALEK

Stand out

ENTERTAINMENT

The Henley Festival returns, a showcase of starry names and ones worth keeping an eye on, the perfect way to launch our summer special

HETTA FALZON

Henley Festival presented by Westcoast returns across ﬁve magical summer nights from 9th-13th July. It will once again deliver a programme full of world-class talent across music, comedy and more, with headliners including Diana Ross, McFly, Rick Astley, Matteo Bocelli, Jamie Cullum and Haçienda Classical. Westcoast, a Berkshire based technology company distributing some of the world’s leading tech brands, will continue their long association with Henley Festival in 2025 and to support RISE, Henley Festival’s charitable programme.

And this, for Absolutely, is what makes this particular festival special. Henley Festival is more than an unmissable event: it is a charity with a mission to support the next generation of talent through its RISE programme. As part of the festival’s incredible line-up, the RISE stage gives a unique platform for emerging musicians and visual artists, as well o ering opportunities for young people aspiring to work behind the scenes.

“It’s an honour to be continuing our RISE programme into yet another year, supporting young and emerging artists by o ering paid opportunities to perform, exhibit or complete work placements,” says Jo Bausor, CEO of Henley Festival.

“It’s at the core of everything we do as a festival and there is no greater privilege than helping these incredible young artists and students kickstart their careers in roles across the cultural spectrum.”

Henley Festival will also present the second ever Westcoast RISING Star Award – celebrating outstanding achievement and great potential – to Manchester-based singer/songwriter Hetta Falzon. Known for channelling honesty and vulnerability into her song-writing and music, Hetta draws on jazz, pop and classical inﬂuences to inspire a unique melodic style, driven by a desire to move people.

“I feel so honoured to have won this award and so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful event and community with RISE,” Hetta says. “I am so excited to share the stage with so much other talent and feel so lucky to be a small part of something so great!”

RISE BY HENLEY FESTIVAL

Henley Festival was set up in 1982 as a charity with a mission to stage an unforgettable music and arts festival for the local community, and this mission remains the same over 40 years later. In 2022, Henley Festival launched

PHOTO BY HARVEY WILLIAMS-FAIRLEY

AQUAR ALTERED BY RAOUL ORZABAL

charitable initiative RISE to inspire and support emerging talent in the creative arts, providing opportunities to perform, ﬂourish and learn. RISE by Henley Festival champions aspiring professionals in music (who perform on the dedicated RISE stage), visual art (with artists exhibiting in the High RISE gallery) and production (with backstage students working across the site with the best lighting and sound companies in the industry.) RISE gives participants in the programme visibility, ﬁnancial support and mentoring, and helps them to form connections with industry professionals.

This year, there are outstanding emerging artists including bands that have had millions of streams on social media, a Welsh-Jamaican singer/songwriter tipped to be the new face of pop R&B, a Roundhouse resident artist who has performed at Glastonbury, bands with European tour experience, and awardwinning, emerging musicians. The line-up includes performances from the RISING Star Award winner Hetta Falzon; Welsh R&B singer-songwriter Leila McKenzie; Jazz-Pop artist Darcy Winter; Bath-based indie folk singer-songwriter Jonny Morgan; South London-based R&B vocalist Naima Adams; Birmingham three-piece indie rock band The White Lakes; guitarist and vocalist Tony Mac; London-based

indie pop band High Windows; and ﬁnally closing the stage on the Sunday of the festival, Irish singer-songwriter Conor McLain, who uses his music to spread positivity and discuss complex topics through a fusion of pop and folk.

Past RISE musicians have gone on to support James Blunt and Franz Ferdinand and performed at the Royal Albert Hall as well as the Bedouin tent at Henley Festival. Past visual artists have sold work around the world and backstage students have been taken on by the lighting and sound companies they worked with at Henley Festival.

VISUAL ARTS SHOWCASE

Henley Festival is also known for bringing visual art to the heart of the festival circuit with innovative installations curated by some of the UK’s most talented artists, photographers and galleries. This year’s unrivalled programme will bring ﬁne art, ceramics, sculptures, photography, prints and paintings to festival-goers, with an array of incredible artworks ﬁlling the festival’s Galleries and Sculpture Garden. Exhibitors include Haut de Gamme, The Barker Gallery, Circus Gallery, Hypergallery, The Drang Gallery, Rock Legends Live and worldrenowned artists including Harriet Gosling, Catriona Wood and James Marshall.

As part of the festival’s charitable initiative RISE, up-and-coming contemporary artists will be given free exhibition space, with the festival taking no commission on the work they sell and providing expenses for transport of work.

IT’S NOT JUST THE MUSIC & ARTS

From ﬁne dining to street food, Henley is the festival for food lovers with a raft of pop-up bars and restaurants adorning the riverside sure to tantalise all taste buds. Proud to support British

farming and seasonal, locally sourced produce, ‘Dish’ will return to the stunning Riverside Restaurant this year, o ering festival goers an outstanding ﬁne dining experience of exceptional quality and innovative design, and ‘Caper and Berry’ will return to the Terrace Restaurant.

And when it’s stated Henley Festival is family-friendly, they really mean it.

Playdate at Henley Festival will take over the riverside on Sunday with a range of activities and performances for children of all ages – it’s set to be an unmissable day out for the whole family with a jampacked programme. Character comedian Mr Sleepy Bum will be performing his hilarious children’s show in the Spiegel Tent, before The Extraordinary Time-Travelling Adventures of Baron Munchausen takes over the stage; an improvised storytelling comedy show sure to have little ones in stitches.

Henley Festival: a celebration like no other.

henley-festival.co.uk

GARRY JONES PHOTOGRAPHY

RICK ASTLEY, PHOTO BY CHRIS TURNER

WORK HERE AND ABOVE BY SUSAN KELLAWAY

Care

Heartfelt Care

TO THE FOUR

Exploring what to expect as Heritage Live returns to Engleﬁeld House

THURSDAY 17TH JULY

The Wombats will headline the opening day of the huge outdoor show as part of Heritage Live Festival’s 2025 summer events in the stunning grounds of Engleﬁeld House, in Pangbourne near Reading, Berkshire. The show will also feature Doves, HardFi and Alﬁe Templeman, for what is a massive line-up of iconic UK indie acts.

The Wombats have been stalwarts of the indie scene in the UK since the release of their debut album A Guide To Love, Loss & Desperation in 2007. Over the last 18 years the trio have managed to amass a hugely impressive list of bangers from their six albums, with tracks like Turn, Greek Tragedy, Moving to New York, and of course Let’s Dance To Joy Division, which won the NME Award for Best Danceﬂoor Filler in 2008. This year has seen The Wombats release their sixth studio album, Oh! The

Ocean, which expands the band’s guitar ﬁlled sound to the furthest it’s ever been.

Doves recently completed their ﬁrst UK tour in 15 years, in support of their sixth studio album Constellations For The Lonely. It is the follow up to 2020’s UK No.1 album The Universal Want. After arriving with two Mercury Prize nominated albums, Lost Souls in 2000, and the charttopping The Last Broadcast in 2002, Doves released their second, successive UK No.1 album Some Cities in 2005 before following it with 2009’s Kingdom Of Rust. With over a million UK album sales, two No.1 albums, (three Top 10s), and ﬁve Top 20 singles, Hard-Fi have been a phenomenon. Having made their debut with the Mercury Prize-shortlisted Stars Of CCTV in 2005, the four-piece proved progressive yet accessible. The album yielded singles that included Hard To Beat, Living For The Weekend and

Cash Machine, which reached No.1, and has since been certiﬁed double platinum in the UK alone. Following this they released their second album Once Upon A Time In The West, which also topped the charts.

Multi-talented musician, producer and songwriter Alﬁe Templeman will open the event, following on from the release of two critically acclaimed albums – Mellow Moon in 2022, The Guardian’s ‘Album of the Week’, and 2024’s Radiosoul. The latter included the single Just a Dance, which was co-produced by Nile Rodgers who also performed on the track.

FRIDAY 18TH JULY

Ministry of Sound Classical, the aweinspiring orchestral celebration of dance music, will headline day two. The show will also feature special guests Paul Oakenfold, David Morales, Judge Jules and Fish56Octagon.

Ministry of Sound Classical takes on the very best tunes hand-picked from dance music history and recreates them in a breathtaking performance by an incredible 30-piece orchestra. The legendary London venue was at the heart of the huge house scene of the 1990s and is one of the biggest global brands in dance music.

Paul Oakenfold is one of the UK’s premier DJs. His signature can be seen in everything from the early rise of hip-hop and the re-invention of British dance culture to the Balearic explosion and the birth of ‘Madchester’. He has sold over ﬁve million records, has played to over 50 million people and is, according to the Guinness Book of Records, the most successful DJ in the world.

David Morales is a globally revered American DJ, a Grammy awardwinning record producer, songwriter, and businessman. He has produced and remixed over 500 records for an all-star roster of multi-platinum artists, including Mariah Carey, U2, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Madonna, and Whitney Houston. He was nominated for his ﬁrst Grammy Award in 1996 as a producer on Mariah Carey’s album, Daydream, for the song Fantasy. In 1998 he won a Grammy Award for “Remixer of the Year”.

Judge Jules has ticked every box, as a DJ, producer, promoter, A&R, radio presenter, and taste maker. He has performed at the world’s most iconic clubs and festivals, including the UK’s Gatecrasher, Ministry of Sound, Global Gathering and Creamﬁelds. He has received many accolades such as No.1 DJ (Mixmag), Best International DJ (Dancestar Awards), Best Radio DJ (Smirno ’s Dancestars), and has consistently featured in the DJ Mag Top 100 poll, peaking at No.3 in the world, alongside the industry’s greatest.

Opening the event will be Fish56Octagon who has taken the electronic music industry by storm, the likes of which have never been seen before. One of the most in-demand DJs on the scene, he has over 150 bookings in 2025, including Glastonbury and BBC Radio One’s Big Weekend. With an unparalleled, encyclopaedic and 360-degree knowledge of all genres of dance music and armed with his near 2000+ strong collection of vinyl, it is this and his infectious energy that has led him to become somewhat of an electronic music historian that people can’t get enough of.

DAVID MORALES

SATURDAY 19TH JULY

The Jacksons have been announced to headline a triple-header of disco favourites on the Saturday. The show will see the legendary hitmakers joined by special guests Sister Sledge, featuring founding member Debbie Sledge, and Boney M. Accompanying founding members of The Jacksons, Jackie Jackson and Marlon Jackson, for these shows will be lead performers from London’s West End Michael Jackson musical Thriller, as backing singers and dancers. As The Jackson 5, the group found international success in 1969, with their ﬁrst single I Want You Back reaching No.1 on the US charts. Their next three singles ABC, The Love You Save, and I'll Be There followed suit, making music history with four debut singles all reaching No.1. They ultimately scored 17 Top 40 singles in the US charts.

Sister Sledge are known for their massive, ubiquitous hit singles such as We Are Family, Lost In Music, and Thinking Of You. Over the years the Grammy nominated group has amassed a string of Gold and Platinum records, accumulating total sales of over 15,000,000 worldwide. Their albums, several of which were produced by the legendary Nile Rodgers, have received global recognition. The current line-up of the group features founding member Debbie Sledge, as well as two of her children Camille and David, Thaddeus Sledge (son of late Sister Sledge founding member Joni), and vocalist Tanya Ti-et. Boney M recently celebrated their 50th anniversary, and are known for

their huge hits including Rivers of Babylon, Rasputin, Daddy Cool, Brown Girl in the Ring, and Gotta Go Home

Led by original founder Maizie Williams, the group continues to deliver their blend of disco-infused pop and reggae.

SUNDAY 20TH JULY

One of the most iconic bands in music history, The Beach Boys, have announced their only UK show for 2025 as part of their ‘The Sounds of the Summer’ tour, which will close Heritage Live at Engleﬁeld House.

For more than six decades, The Beach Boys’ music has been an indelible part of American history. Their brilliant harmonies conveyed simple truths through sophisticated, pioneering musical arrangements. The Beach Boys transcended their music and have come to represent Californian culture. They provided fans around the world with a passport to experience love, youthful exuberance, and surf culture.

Internationally renowned singer, composer and actor David Essex ﬁrst shot to fame as a musical theatre actor before going on to enjoy a remarkable career that has combined concerts, records, composing, ﬁlms and television with striking success. He has written, recorded and produced albums that have sold millions of copies worldwide. He’s also had 23 Top 30 singles in Britain alone.

Still the name on everybody’s lips, Lulu is celebrating 60 years in the business starting at age 15 with her monster of a

hit Shout, alongside some unparalleled milestones throughout her career. Lulu made her ﬁlm debut opposite Sidney Poitier in To Sir, with Love, and also performed the title track which was a No.1 hit in the US. She went on to win the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Boom Bang-a-Bang, had a hit with the title theme to the Bond classic The Man with the Golden Gun, joined forces for massive hits with both David Bowie and Take That, and has just completed her ﬁnal sold out tour Champagne for Lulu.

Book your tickets now at heritagelive.net

LULU

THE JACKSONS, PHOTO BY BRANDI BRANDWAY

EVENTS summer

Looking for more unique local festivals? Here’s Absolutely’s eclectic choice

FOUND FESTIVAL

22nd-24th August, Claydon Estate foundfestival.uk

Found Festival is a charming new boutique festival taking place at the picturesque Claydon Estate in Buckinghamshire. Born from the legacy of Towersey Festival – Britain’s oldest independent music gathering – Found o ers a distilled, community-focused experience with a deliberately capped capacity of just 2,000 attendees.

Rather than chasing big names, Found celebrates “head-turners, not headliners,” spotlighting emerging and roots-driven acts across Americana, Folk, Country, Roots, Blues, and World music. The debut roster boasts award-winning talents like EllesBailey, TheLongestJohns, Talisk, Breabach, and the LondonAfrobeatCollective.

Beyond music, the festival’s heartbeat is creativity and participation: expect spoken-word, comedy, circus, and interactive arts. Highlights include a Heritage Craft Village, where you can try blacksmithing, stone-carving, needlework, and more.

FIZZY FEST

18th-19th July, Liston Court Gardens ladolcebolla.com

When Kristyna Weston moved to the UK, she couldn’t understand why premium quality Prosecco (Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG) wasn’t readily available here, especially when, as a nation, we consume so much fizz. And so, she went on a mission to change that – first opening an online shop, then a bar and now, bringing Italy’s top producers to Marlow for a two-day festival, the first of its kind in the UK. Liston Court Gardens will be filled with the best of the best Prosecco and the producers who make it. Think live music, a chilled-out vibe, masterclasses, tasting sessions and a selection of artisan foods to perfectly complement the exquisite wines on o er. A taste of Italy, much closer to home.

SUMMERTIME LIVE

16th August, Windsor Racecourse summertimelive.co.uk/windsor

Summertime Live returns to Windsor Racecourse on Saturday 16th August for its

SUMMERTIME LIVE

seventh year with four stages of live music and DJs, headlined by Ministry of Sound Ibiza Anthems for their biggest year yet, with Ellie Sax taking the lead on stage.

Artists performing across the day include Sigma, Blazin’ Squad, Switch Disco and a UK exclusive performance, So Solid Crew, B2B Artful Dodger, as well as lots more amazing acts around the site.

Brand new for this year is the Dome Stage hosted by HedKandi, Shisha Bar, Silent Disco, plus roaming entertainers, funfair, independent street food vendors, bars and VIP Garden.

GLOBALX WINDSOR C6 FESTIVAL

11th-13 July, Home Park c6cricket.com/festivals

Windsor is about to get a brand-new highlight on its summer events calendar: the GlobalX Windsor C6 Festival. This free-to-attend, family-friendly event will bring the community together with an energetic mix of short-format C6 cricket, live music, street food, a packed family zone, and wellness activities – all set beneath the majestic backdrop of Windsor Castle at Windsor Cricket Club.

Organised by C6 Cricket, the event will feature: 6-a-side cricket matches throughout the weekend, including men’s, women’s and mixed team competitions; an impressive live music line-up in partnership with CountryLine Radio every day, including local bands, acoustic artists and dance groups;

a Kids & Family Zone with funfair rides, a sensory bus, a mini train, and a QPR Fan Zone (Sunday only); and delicious street food from local traders including woodﬁred pizza, Mauritian Inspired Cuisine, burgers, artisan co ee, and ice cream.

GARSINGTON OPERA

Throughout July, Wormsley Estate garsingtonopera.org

Set in the picturesque Wormsley Estate, Buckinghamshire, Garsington Opera o ers a season of high-quality opera

performances. The festival is known for its blend of well-known operas and lesser-known works, providing a unique cultural experience in a stunning setting. This season’s festival features: Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore – a charming, comedic romp directed by ChristopherLuscombe, starring Madison Leonard and Oleksiy Palchykov, with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Chloe Rooke; Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades – intense psychological drama directed by JackFurness, led by DouglasBoyd and featuring LauraWilde and RoderickWilliams; Handel’s Rodelinda – a baroque masterpiece conducted by PeterWhelan, directed by RuthKnight, starring Lucy Crowe and TimMead; and Beethoven’s Fidelio – a powerful resurrection of John Cox’s classic, with GérardKorsten conducting The English Concert; principals include JaneArchibald and JonathanLemalu.

SMOKE AND FIRE FESTIVAL

20th-21st July, Ascot Racecourse smokeandﬁrefestival.com

The UK’s largest BBQ festival returns to Ascot, featuring top pitmasters, live cooking demonstrations, and the World Butcher Wars™. Top talent from across the culinary world, including chefs, butchers and food artisans, will showcase their skills to a wide audience of food and drink enthusiasts, making an unrivalled day out for all the family. The festival features award-winning street food vendors, pop-up restaurants in BBQ Alley, which showcases the latest BBQs, equipment and accessories. There’s the Real Ale and Cider Festival, Fire Pit Club VIP lounges with Champagne and cocktails, plus DJs and music to help the party vibe. What’s more, families can enjoy fairground rides, bouncy castles, roaming entertainers, and a thrilling bucking rodeo

GLOBALX WINDSOR C6 FESTIVAL

bull contest. Plus for those brave enough and wanting to test their own eating skills, check out the extreme chilli and hot wing eating challenges. With live music and a familyfriendly atmosphere, it’s a feast for all senses.

HENLEY COUNTRY CRAFT SHOW

22nd-25th August, Stonor Park stonor.com

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Stonor Park, immerse yourself in a day of artisan shopping, delectable food and family-friendly fun and entertainment – it’s the ultimate bank holiday outing. Wander through large marquees featuring a diverse range of unique, handmade items crafted by talented artisans. You’ll discover numerous options to enhance your home, garden, wardrobe and jewellery collection.

Step into the renowned food and drink hall, where you can sample a variety of treats while browsing, allowing you to try before you buy. Indulge in an array of mouth-watering street food, including tasty sausages, ﬂavourful Greek cuisine, a unique drinks bus bar, delicious crepes and other delights.

Beyond shopping, there’s entertainment for the entire family including laser clay shooting, craft demonstrations, mini workshops, a petting zoo, children’s activities, live music and so much more. Plus, new for 2025 is Big Top Mania (circus activities) and Nouveau Lounge (live music band).

MAIDENHEAD FESTIVAL

20th-21st July, Kidwells Park maidenheadfestival.org.uk

Maidenhead Festival in 2025 promises to be a vibrant community celebration – two days of free, family-friendly fun at Kidwells Park and across the town. Organised by a volunteer-led CIC, the festival features live music (local bands and tribute acts), a sandy “beach” chill- out zone, arts-and- crafts stalls, street food vendors, and a funfair packed with rides and games. Even though the original organisers stepped back due to rising costs and volunteer fatigue, Berks & Bucks Events Collective CIC and new teams launched a refreshed “Maidenhead Summer Festival” concept for 2025, carrying forward many favourite elements: live music, inﬂatables, food village, and funfair – now with licensed bars as part of the revamped format.

BUCKS COUNTY SHOW

28th August, Weedon Park buckscountyshow.co.uk

An annual agricultural show dating back to 1859, the Bucks County Show features livestock competitions, equestrian events, and rural crafts. The Bucks County Show is one of the best one day agricultural shows in the country and one of Buckinghamshire’s main summer attractions.

Once again there will be some 60 cattle classes and over 30 sheep classes where some of the best livestock in the country can be seen. There are around 80 equine classes including qualiﬁers for the Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International Horse Show.

The main ring attractions this year are The Imps Motorcycle Display Team and The Osborne Refrigerators Double Harness Scurry. Featured acts will perform throughout the day so there’s plenty of opportunity to see them.

WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL

23rd-25th August, Cantley Park wokinghamfestival.co.uk

The latest additions to an already great line-up at the Wokingham Festival are Ruby Dawn, Mike Lemin, Tasia, Cold July and The Bluepers. Ruby Dawn featured in the top 10 best bands in Prog magazine’s readers’ poll for 2024.

The family friendly festival which champions quality music and showcases local bands is back again this August Bank Holiday weekend. There is a great selection of food, beer, and stalls to browse, mini golf to play, new this year, plus entertainment for the younger ones. There are over 40 artists appearing across the weekend, with talent from across the borough and much further aﬁeld. As always, there is a great breadth of musical genres covered, with bands both old and new, the common factor being the high quality.

TASIA WILL BE AT THE WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL

BUCKS COUNTY SHOW

SUMMER LOVING

Absolutely rounds up the best spots in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire for some family outdoor fun this holiday season

E.J. CHURCHILL

Swap screens for the great outdoors this summer at E.J. Churchill in Buckinghamshire – The Home of Shooting, set within the stunning West Wycombe Estate. Whether it’s a fun-ﬁlled family day out or an unforgettable experience for your child, there’s something for everyone.

The Young Guns Academy (29th July and 19th August) o ers a safe, structured introduction to clay shooting for ages 9-16, led by expert instructors in a fun and conﬁdence-building environment. Or, book a Family Have-a-Go session – a relaxed, all-ages introduction to the sport that’s perfect for trying something new together.

Afterwards, unwind on the terrace, soak up the views, and enjoy the unique atmosphere of one of Britain’s most prestigious shooting grounds. Reclaim summer with a day that’s active, exciting, and truly di erent.

CLIVEDEN

Set high above the Thames with farreaching views, Cliveden’s impressive gardens and majestic woodlands are the perfect playground. Until 14th September, there’s a summer adventures leaﬂet to pick

up from the info centre with nine challenges to complete to become an expert explorer. And from 24th July, Summer of Play brings exciting new games and activities to explore Cliveden in di erent ways.

Intrepid older children like to conquer the maze and test their agility on the woodland play trail, whilst little ones love

playing in the safety of the Story Book Play Den next to the Doll’s House café. Boating at Cliveden continues throughout the summer with the opportunity to take a skippered cruise on the prettiest stretch of the river Thames or hire electric boats, rowing boats, Canadian canoes or a pedal boat. This is deﬁnitely what summer is all about.

PHOTO BY JAMES BECK

PHOTO BY JAMES DOBSON

E.J. CHURCHILL

STOWE GARDENS

Picture-perfect views with elegant monuments, winding paths, serene lakes and acres of space to run and play, Stowe Gardens is a natural playground on the grandest scale.

From 28th June Stowe Summer Staycation brings di erent events and activities each week with family trails, outdoor theatre, lawn games and reading corners. There are also monthly dog walks on the third Wednesday of every month at 10.30am, guided tours of Stowe Gardens every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 11am.

HUGHENDEN

From Victorian high society to a secret role in the Second World War, Hughenden has an intriguing history. There’s a natural playground next to the orchard for climbing, balancing and make-believe

and a cute willow tunnel in the walled garden that children love to play in.

On 19th July and 16th August you can ‘Meet the Beekeepers’, and on 24th July there is Summer of Play.

CRAFT IN FOCUS

This July, Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire hosts two creative events celebrating contemporary craftsmanship, presented by Craft In Focus. From 11th-13th July, the lawns in front of Waterperry House will welcome over 200 independent designermakers, o ering visitors the chance to browse and buy unique pieces.

The Desire Jewellery & Silversmithing Fair showcases exquisite work including striking statement jewellery, delicate everyday accessories and elegant silverware. Visitors can also commission bespoke items directly from the

exhibitors.Running alongside, Celebrating Ceramics presents an impressive array of sculptural and functional ceramic art. Live demonstrations – featuring techniques like raku ﬁring and wheelthrowing – highlight the skills behind the work, with a special appearance from Princess Fingall. Highlights include the charming Make Mine Miniature display and the new Spirit of Waterperry Matchbox Challenge, where tiny treasures are created to ﬁt inside a matchbox and exhibited inside Waterperry House. The events are enhanced by live music across two stages and a variety of food and drink options. One ticket grants access to both shows, and visitors also have the option of enjoying Waterperry’s ornamental gardens, gallery, museum, and shop. Advance booking is essential. For more details and tickets, visit craftinfocus.com.

PHOTO BY ARNHEL DE SERRA

WATERPERRY GARDENS

PHOTO BY TREVOR RAY HART

PHOTO BY JAMES DOBSON

READING REP New 25/26 Season

The Last Five Years

The Multi- Award winning musical by Jason Robert Brown

19 Sept - 12 Oct 2025

A Christmas Carol Reading Reps Infamous festive family treat is back!

28 Nov 2025 - 3 Jan 2026

Rabbit On The Run

Willy Russell’s classic comedy of class, culture, and change

16 - 18 Feb 2026

Educating Rita

Reading Reps Infamous festive family treat is back!

26 Feb - 21 March 2026

Rabbit On The Run

Newbie, the sustainable lifestyle brand within the Swedish fashion group Kappahl Group, opened a brand-new store in Windsor on 5th June.

With timeless design and a nostalgic style, Newbie o ers carefully crafted clothing for babies, children, and women – always made with love and care. The brand continues its expansion in the UK with further store openings in strategic locations across London and the UK later this year, and the Windsor opening will be the ninth UK store. Newbie’s success is built on creating an inspiring shopping environment and on its ﬁrm focus on sustainability, characterised by quality, timeless design and a nostalgic style. The Newbie store in Windsor is 131sqm, o ering a complete wardrobe for children aged 0 months to 8 years, featuring handdrawn patterns and a soft colour palette

NEWBIE LAUNCH

The stylish lifestyle brand has opened in Windsor

inspired by nature with a clear focus on sustainability. All collections are made of high-quality materials like organic cotton and RWS-certiﬁed wool and are designed for longevity, allowing them to be passed down through generations, appealing to customers who favour sustainable fashion.

Newbie has also introduced a new Summer Fields collection featuring strawberry prints and cute gingham checks in soft pink, yellow, and green. With playful ru es, accessories, and matching outﬁts for big and small, it’s perfect for making memories on sunny days.

“Their success is built on creating an inspiring shopping environment”

In addition to children’s clothing, Newbie’s website o ers a Newbie Woman collection, providing matching outﬁts for mothers and children, enhancing the brand’s appeal to families. The Newbie Room Collection further diversiﬁes the product range, featuring storage solutions and decorative items that transform children’s spaces into imaginative environments.

“The British market is exciting and full of potential, and we are eagerly looking forward to continuing our growth journey here,” says Thomas Kuso sky, Vice President at Newbie. “Our British customers have given Newbie a very warm reception and they clearly appreciate our focus on timeless design, our nostalgic style and our PreLoved concept. The UK is an important market in our global expansion strategy, as we aim to also establish the Newbie brand in more markets across Europe.”

newbiestore.com

“EXPECT

Curtain RAISER

Reading Rep’s new season: unmissable theatre in the heart of Berkshire

Reading Rep Theatre’s thrilling new season has arrived, and it’s packed with must-see productions – from timeless classics to moving modern gems. Located on Kings Road, just a 10-minute walk from Reading station, Reading Rep is fast becoming one of the UK’s most formidable regional powerhouses. With a growing national reputation and ticket prices that won’t break the bank, this local theatre is setting a new standard for regional performance.

The season opens with The Last Five Years (19th September-12th October), Jason Robert Brown’s emotionally rich musical

that tells the story of a couple’s relationship from two opposite timelines. Featuring a Tony Award-winning score, it’s a powerful, intimate show that promises to be a beautiful and unforgettable experience.

This Christmas, Reading Rep’s ﬁve star and multi-award winning festive favourite A Christmas Carol returns (28th November-3rd January), adapted by Beth Flinto and directed by Chris Cuming. Set in Reading’s iconic Huntley & Palmers Biscuit Factory, this magical retelling has become a festive favourite.

Spring 2026 brings Educating Rita (26th February-21st March), Willy Russell’s (writer of Blood Brothers) brilliant and heartfelt story of selfdiscovery and transformation. As Rita,

a spirited hairdresser, navigates the world of academia with the help of jaded professor Frank, audiences can expect wit, warmth, and insight in equal measure.

Closing the season is Noël Coward’s sparkling comedy Private Lives (16th April-9th May), a sharp and stylish take on love, marriage, and the chaos of old ﬂames. This modern revival promises all the clever dialogue and glamour of the original with a fresh, contemporary edge.

Reading Rep’s productions have been described as “heart-stopping theatre” (The Telegraph) and “sincere and moving” (The Guardian), and the theatre’s impact goes far beyond the stage. Through its award-winning ENGAGE programme, Reading Rep works with over 10,000 people a year to ensure everyone in Berkshire can access arts and culture.

Now is the perfect time to book. Sign up to the Reading Rep mailing list before 31st August and enjoy 20% o tickets across the season. Early booking not only guarantees the best seats, but also the best prices. Don’t miss out on a season of unforgettable stories, all right here in Reading.

Explore the full season and sign up now at readingrep.com/whats-on

T“The Museum is expecting visitors eager to have a go at all the Matilda-themed activities”

Summer BUZZ

Why

there is plenty of excitement at The Roald Dahl Museum this July and August

he Roald Dahl Museum in Great Missenden is gearing up for a very special summer. This year they are putting Matilda on the timetable for the summer holidays. As one of Roald Dahl’s most popular books –and one consistently hitting the top spot whenever the Museum conduct a poll – they are expecting a buzzing summer full of visitors eager to have a go at all the Matilda-themed activities on o er. From energetic storytelling sessions to hands-on craft, writing and science workshops, there’s something for everyone. Visitors can make goodies and baddies out of clay, make a craft garden inspired by Miss Honey, or use junk to create model cars for Mr Wormwood’s junkyard. Science fans can sign up for hands-on science sessions inspired by the book, and budding comic book creators can draw their own Matilda storyboards.

If you fancy activities that you can enjoy under your own steam, then you’ll be spoilt for choice too. This summer you can make the most of the Museum’s sunny, safe courtyard to join in with some of Miss Trunchbull’s playground games with a Roald Dahl twist. There’ll be Matilda V Trunchbull Giant Connect 4, Enormous Crocodile Cornhole and Dream Jar Hoopla. You can also enjoy some water play then soak up the sun with a milkshake or ice cream from the Filling-Station. A highlight of the summer, though, is a very special family poetry workshop with local poet Will Burns. This guided activity leads you out of the Museum into the nearby woods for a healthy dose of inspiration. You’ll be walking in the woods that Roald did, the very ones that inspired Fantastic Mr Fox and Danny the

Champion of the World. Will will guide you through creating a special family poem in this session, so you’ll leave with something truly unique to treasure forever.

This is a great example of what this place does so well. It’s not just a children’s Museum, but a family one where adults are actively encouraged to join in alongside their kids. They know that this helps create lasting family memories, which is what the summer is all about, right? Even if you’re not taking part in one of the extra activities you can all step through the chocolate doors together into the Museum’s three galleries and enjoy the mixture of hands-on activities, archive displays and audio and visual recordings all set up for a range of ages to enjoy from age 5 to 105.

The Magical Matilda Summer runs from Thursday 24 July to Sunday 31 August. Visit roalddahlmuseum.org for full event and workshop listings, and book in advance online

Don't LEAVE it

to CHANCE

B P Collins on the ten reasons to make a Will now

If you’re in any doubt or keep putting o making a Will, here are ten reasons why you shouldn’t delay any longer.

1. SECURITY – In your Will you can leave your assets to those you feel would beneﬁt most from them, otherwise intestacy rules will apply and these may not reﬂect your wishes.

2. PREVENT FAMILY FEUDS – If you do not leave clear instructions after your death, then rifts may occur within your family. In writing your Will, you can prepare a Letter of Wishes so you can explain the choices you made when distributing your assets.

3. YOU ARE UNMARRIED – If you and your partner are not married and you wish for them to inherit in the event of

your death, then you really must make a Will. There is no automatic transfer of assets between co-habiting partners.

4. GUARDIANS FOR YOUR CHILDREN – Your Will can stipulate who is to be a guardian of your children in the event of your death and gives you the security of choosing the right person.

5. SEPARATED BUT NOT DIVORCED – If you are separated but not legally divorced your assets could pass back to your expartner unless you have a Will in place directing the assets to other beneﬁciaries.

6.SKIP A GENERATION – If your children are ﬁnancially secure a Will can be set up so that it skips a generation, ensuring your grandchildren’s future ﬁnancial security.

7. YOUR ESTATE IS COMPLEX – If your estate or family circumstances are complicated, it may be appropriate for your Will to incorporate some form of trust, which may provide inheritance tax advantages.

8. SENTIMENTAL ITEMS – You may wish to stipulate in your Will who should have what and help prevent disputes amongst family members.

9. CHARITY – A Will can be set up so that your estate is donated to charity. An estate can pay inheritance tax at a reduced rate of 36% (instead of 40%) if 10% or more of the net estate has been left to charity.

10. NAME AN EXECUTOR – You can name an executor in your Will, so you have control over who will be in charge of carrying out your ﬁnal wishes.

B P Collins’ private client lawyers can provide you with bespoke advice to meet your requirements both now and in the years to come. To speak with a member of the team, call 01753 889995 or email enquiries@bpcollins.co.uk.

bpcollins.co.uk

INDEPENDENT

FEELING

Four local businesses with their own unique visions

TWENTY THREE LIVING

twentythreeliving.co.uk

Nestled in the heart of Marlow’s buzzing high street is a shop that quietly redeﬁnes what it means to shop local. Twenty Three Living isn’t just a lifestyle store – it’s a curated experience, a celebration of independent spirit, and a love letter to thoughtful design, built on partnerships that share the same values: quality, creativity, and community.

Step through the door and you’re welcomed not just by a friendly team and beautifully arranged colour coded space, but by a philosophy. Here, every item has been chosen with intention and the story behind it. The shelves are constantly evolving, reﬂecting the changing seasons, creative trends, and the joy of discovering something new.

At the heart of Twenty Three Living’s clothing collection is founder Louise, whose impeccable buying eye brings a fresh, European sensibility to the rails. With a particular love for the e ortless elegance of Danish style – known for its clean lines, muted tones, and laid-back sophistication – Louise sources pieces that reflect both timeless design and contemporary flair. Her instinct for choosing wearable, flattering, and beautifully made pieces from across the continent, ensures that every item in the store feels considered, stylish, and just a little bit special.

This dedication to independent sourcing makes the shop’s ever-changing collection a joy to browse. There’s always something unexpected, something you haven’t seen elsewhere, and that’s entirely the point.

THE WISTERIA TREE

thewisteriatree.co.uk

The Wisteria Tree Home interiors is a brand passionate about enhancing the beauty and comfort of your home. They o er a wide range of country inspired home decor products that are not only stylish, but also reﬂect the spirit of what they do. With The Wisteria Tree, you can create a home that is not only visually appealing but also a haven of comfort and tranquility.

The Wisteria Tree is a hidden gem of a store located in White Waltham just outside Maidenhead. It o ers you the chance to explore a vast array of products up close and in person. If you’re looking for accessories for your home and garden or if you need a gift for someone special, they’re conﬁdent you’ll ﬁnd it here.

FLAXMAN FINE JEWELLERY

ﬂaxmanﬁnejewellery.com

At Flaxman Fine Jewellery they o er an extensive range of handmade wedding bands and bespoke diamond eternity rings. They pride themselves on their luxury product alongside the highest standards of customer service and expertise. For over 15 years, Flaxman Fine Jewellery has been buying and selling ﬁne antique and modern jewellery dating from the Victorian era to the late 20th century. They undertake repairs and commissions and re-design.

Flaxman Fine Jewellery opened their antique and modern jewellery shop at 50 Peascod Street, Windsor in 2014. The shop is a treasure trove of antique and modern jewellery with an emphasis on engagement rings. There are always pieces in stock by many famous names such as Cartier, Ti any, Boucheron and Van Cleef & Arpels.

The Barn is also the heart of the operation, where all orders are carefully picked, packed, and shipped. Each item is carefully selected to ensure it meets the highest standards of craftsmanship and durability. As a small business they pride themselves on o ering each customer a warm and personalised service.

EYE CLUB

eye-club.co.uk

Eye Club is an independent, artisan, British eyewear company that creates stylish, timeless designs, inspired by the past and created for the future. Born in Berkshire, they embrace all facets of visual culture and they are inspired by the art of seeing. Their independent optician practices can be found in Pangbourne and Caversham.

Celebrate your individuality, choose your products on the basis of their design, quality and originality. Independent vision is their mantra, they embrace the art of seeing, and are fascinated and inspired by the visual culture that surrounds us.

Independent eyewear doesn’t mean it has to have a luxury price tag, there is something for everyone to suit all tastes and budgets. What it means is the products have been made in smaller batch quantities by skilled craftsmen

is something for everyone to suit all tastes and budgets. What it means is in corporate product facilities.

THE RAIL JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME

SAVE £400 PER COUPLE

13 Nights | April 2026 | Quote CTS 128

YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES:

· Return ﬂights from the UK (Various regional departures)

· 3-night hotel stay in Vancouver

· Coach transfer from your hotel to railway station

· 2-day rail journey on board the Rocky Mountaineer on ‘First Passage to the West’ route, travelling in SilverLeaf Service from Vancouver to Banff. Includes breakfast and lunch each day, plus an overnight hotel stay in Kamloops

· Coach transfer from railway station to your hotel

· 3-night hotel stay in Banff

· Coach transfer to Calgary

· 2-night hotel stay in Calgary

· Internal ﬂight from Calgary to Toronto

· 4-night hotel stay in Toronto

ADDED VALUE

· Vancouver Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour

· Banff Gondola admission

· Calgary Tower admission

· Toronto Distillery District Walking Tour

· Full day tour to Niagara Falls includes lunch & boat trip at the Falls

Step aboard the Rocky Mountaineer rail journey, where breathtaking landscapes unfold beyond the panoramicwindows. Indulge in gourmet cuisine, top-tier service, and a journey that promises not just views, but memories to last a lifetime. Let this be the holiday where the journey truly becomes the destination.

SAVE £600 PER COUPLE

YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES:

• Return ﬂights from the UK to Vancouver & returning from Calgary

· 1-night pre-cruise hotel stay in Vancouver

· 7-night cruise with Holland America on board Koningsdam

Cruise Itinerary includes: Inside Passage

Tracy Arm Inlet • Juneau • Skagway • Glacier Bay • Ketchikan

· 2 nights post-cruise hotel stay in Vancouver

· Coach transfer from your hotel to railway station

· Coach transfer from Banff railway station to your hotel

· 2-night hotel stay in Banff

· Coach transfer from Banff to Calgary Airport

ADDED VALUE

• Banff Gondola Admission

· Vancouver Hop-On-Hop-Off 48-hour Bus Tour

• Includes upgrade to Balcony Cabin on board your cruise

Ajourney on the Rocky Mountaineer is more than just a train ride – it’s an unforgettable passage through some of the most breathtaking landscapes Western Canada has to o er. With several incredible rail routes to choose from, this luxury train experience takes you deep into the heart of the region, o ering awe-inspiring views, impeccable service, and a journey like no other.

Travelling on Rocky Mountaineer allows you to follow in the tracks of the great explorers, weaving through mountain passes, lush forests, and sparkling rivers. The journey begins in Vancouver, a vibrant city perched on the Paciﬁc Coast, and extends to one of three stunning destinations: Jasper, Ban , or Lake Louise. Each route provides passengers with an unparalleled view of Western Canada’s diverse geography, from towering peaks to expansive valleys, all while experiencing the reﬁned comforts of luxury rail travel.

Journey of

discovery

Rocky Mountaineer: a rail trip like no other

THE ULTIMATE CANADIAN EXPERIENCE

Rocky Mountaineer o ers two exceptional levels of service: SilverLeaf and GoldLeaf. SilverLeaf Service provides a single-level glass-dome coach, allowing guests panoramic views of the landscapes. An outdoor viewing area o ers the chance to take in the crisp mountain air while enjoying delicious, chef-prepared meals served at your seat.

GoldLeaf Service elevates the experience further with bi-level glass-dome coaches, providing an even more immersive vantage point. GoldLeaf guests also enjoy a spacious outdoor viewing platform and gourmet dining in an exclusive lower-level dining room – an indulgent experience.

For those seeking the ultimate adventure, pairing Rocky Mountaineer with an Alaska cruise creates a journey unlike any other. This introduces travellers to two contrasting yet equally spectacular landscapes –Canada’s rugged mountains and rivers, and Alaska’s dramatic coastal scenery.

On board Rocky Mountaineer, you’ll travel through parts of Western Canada that remain mostly untouched by humans. The experience is a deep dive into nature, moving e ortlessly through landscapes where civilization feels far away. Meanwhile, an Alaska cruise o ers the chance to explore hidden bays, glaciers, and inlets that are accessible only by ship. One of the highlights of an Alaska cruise is sailing through the UNESCO-listed Inside Passage, an area renowned for its dramatic scenery and rich marine life.

A Rocky Mountaineer journey o ers a one-of-a-kind adventure that elevates any travel experience, and Canada Travel Specialists are here to make it happen. Their team are experts in crafting tailor-made itineraries, ensuring that your Canadian and Alaskan adventure is everything you imagined – and more. So why not take the leap and embark on a journey that blends luxury, nature, and pure wonder?

canadatravelspecialists.com

FOOD & DRINK

GIGGLING SQUID

Thai food (or White Lotus!) enthusiasts have reason to rejoice as Giggling Squid, Beaconsfield’s much-loved Thai restaurant, unveils an exciting new lunch menu packed with vibrant, bold flavours. The menu features brand new noodles and noodle soups plus hearty big dishes. gigglingsquid.com

WHAT TO DRINK

TASTING

NOTES

The latest launches and news from across the county

GRAPE news

Wine recommendations for the month

By THE WINE SOCIETY

The Society's Exhibition Spätburgunder 2022

 £13.95

This Spätburgunder is fruit forward, wonderfully expressive and juicy in style. Expect wild strawberries, cherries and plum notes combined with smoky hints that add additional layers.

Sauvignon Blanc 'Pure Vallée' Vin de France, Famille Bougrier 2024

 £7.95

This wine combines Loire and southern French fruit for a delicate, slightly tropical aroma, and easy, creamy ﬁnish.

Beaujolais Villages Vieilles

Vignes d’Emeriniges

 2022 £9.50

Made from a blend of grenache, cinsault and syrah, this is a dry, fruity rosé from the south of France that is pale, refreshing and charming.

Since it was founded back in 1874, The Wine Society has dared to do business a little differently. Bringing together a community united by a shared love of wine, The Society is a co-operative and owned by its members. This means there is no requirement to pump profit into annual dividends or bonuses for shareholders – all profits go back into the business.

The Wine Society welcomes all wine lovers. Become a member today and receive £20 oﬀ toward your ﬁrst order. thewinesociety.com

By MARK KEBBLE

Mak e som e noise

THE BUGLE HORN

The Bugle Horn in Hartwell, Aylesbury, has reopened its doors and launched a new menu after undergoing an extensive refurbishment. The refreshed design honours the historic charm and scenic setting of the Bugle Horn, while introducing a bright, contemporary touch to the pub. Along with a new appearance, the Bugle Horn is also o ering a revamped menu featuring an exciting selection of dishes.

TOP THREE

Dubai chocolate treats

KENNET CRAYFISH COMPANY

Kennet Crayfish Gin, based in Berkshire, are thrilled to announce that they have been awarded a bronze medal in the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), the world’s largest and most influential spirits awards. This is the second win for the innovative premium craft gin in its first year, having already achieved a silver medal at The World Gin Awards. kennetcrayfish.com

A real catch Fresh ﬂavours

Farhi's Dubai Chocolate with Pistachio Knafeh is a reﬁned fusion of Middle Eastern tradition and indulgence. These truﬄes feature a creamy pistachio Knafeh centre enveloped in smooth milk chocolate. farhi.co.uk

ITALIAN STYLE

Il Gattopardo has added Dubai Tavoleta to its menu. The dessert is an exclusive take on Dubai Chocolate, with an Italian twist. gattoparto.restaurant

A celebration of community, old favourites on the menu and free meals for kids – all were on o er at Siren RG1’s ﬁrst anniversary weekender celebration. RG1, the ﬂagship Siren bar in Reading, marked an entire year serving the community with a host of fabulous activities.

WAGAMAMA

Berkshire and Buckinghamshire branches of wagamama are serving up bold new ﬂavours with the launch of its new summer menu. At the heart of wagamama’s new o ering are the light and fragrant pho noodle soups, made with a clear yuzu broth, and konjac noodles, a high-ﬁbre, low-calorie noodle alternative, absolutely perfect for summer. wagamama.com

WHITTARD

Whittard of Chelsea’s Pistachio Hot Chocolate is a creamy, sweet white hot chocolate coupled with the ﬂavours of nutty, roasted pistachio, inspired by the unstoppable Dubai chocolate trend. whittard.co.uk

The Alchemist Oxford’s new Sunday Feast sharing board has now launched. Priced at £25 per head and designed for two, the board includes BBQ ribs, mac 'n' cheese, buttermilk chicken, along with enough carbs to ensure you’ll kick o the week with a running start. sirencraftbrew.com

thealchemistbars.com

FARHI

Noble

LUNCH

Head chef Ryan Honey on why recently opened The Duke will add something tasty to the Henley foodie scene

Erlier this year, Henley Pub Co., founded by Henry Day, announced the opening of The Duke, located at the corner of Duke Street and Greys Road in Henleyon-Thames, a vibrant foodie addition to Henley’s hospitality landscape. The kitchen is led by head chef Ryan Honey, who spoke to Absolutely about his cooking and what we can expect to enjoy on The Duke’s menus.

Q Before The Duke, what other positions do you think have shaped you as a chef?

A One of the key roles that shaped me was my time as senior sous chef at The Hurlingham Club in Fulham. I was there for three and a half years, and it was an incredible learning experience. We ran three or four kitchens daily, which gave me a real understanding of the management side of things – how to balance creativity with e ciency and consistency. The food was Modern British with inﬂuences from

Europe and Asia, which broadened my approach to ﬂavour and technique.

Q Do you think you have a particular cooking style?

A I’d describe my style as Modern British, but with global inﬂuences – particularly from Asia and South America. My ethos is to take a single ingredient and let it shine by maximizing its ﬂavour in a simple, unfussy way. Whether it’s a piece of beautifully aged meat, a fresh vegetable, or a fragrant herb, I focus on enhancing the natural qualities of that ingredient rather than overpowering it.

Q Where does your story with The Duke begin?

A I met Henry, the owner, a few months before The Duke opened, and we had a great conversation about the concept and what he wanted to achieve. It really suited my style of cooking – bold flavours, quality, seasonal ingredients, and a focus on fire and chargrilling. I was involved in shaping the menu from the start, and now that we’ve been open for a few months, we’ve started tweaking the dishes to reflect guest feedback and what’s in season. It’s been a really exciting process.

Q What can you tell us about the menu?

A Our menu is all about big ﬂavours and quality ingredients. We’ve got a range of small plates and larger sharing options, with a focus on cooking over ﬁre to add depth and smokiness to the dishes. Some of the standout larger plates include the 22-ounce Boston rib, the 800g pork T-bone, and the whole lemon sole. It’s hearty, bold food designed to be enjoyed in a relaxed, convivial setting.

Q Are there particular dishes you really love right now, and why?

A One of my favourite dishes on the menu is the burrata with heritage beetroot and pickled walnuts. It’s simple but packed with ﬂavour – the creaminess of the burrata, the earthiness of the beetroot, and the tangy crunch of the walnuts

work beautifully together. Another dish I love is the pork T-bone, which is grilled over ﬁre and served with sage and onion sauce. The charred, barbecue crust gives it a fantastic depth, and the sauce adds a comforting, nostalgic touch.

Q Do you have ambitions of taking the food in a certain direction in the future?

A My goal is to keep the food super seasonal and to work with the best local and regional suppliers to showcase top-quality produce. We already work with brilliant suppliers like Aubrey Allen for meat, Flying Fish for seafood, and Wellocks for vegetables and dry ingredients, and I’d like to build on those relationships. Ultimately, I want The Duke to be known as a go-to destination for great food – somewhere that reﬂects the changing seasons and celebrates the best of what’s available.

Q And what do you love best about the Henley setting?

A Henley-on-Thames is a beautiful riverside town with a great vibe. The sense of community is really strong, and it’s exciting to be part of that.

thedukehenley.co.uk

RYAN HONEY

HEAR ITS ROAR

The George & Dragon should be on your must-visit list when venturing to Marlow

Nestled on Marlow’s bustling High Street and a stone’s throw from the Thames, The George & Dragon is more than just a pub. Set to once again be at the heart of the Marlow community, The George & Dragon blends heritage with contemporary touches to create a special destination whatever the occasion. Warm and welcoming, the pub is infused with Heartwood Inns’ signature charm and warmth. On entering guests will be greeted with a charming pub with ﬁreplaces, cosy snugs and sumptuous upholstery galore. Whether you choose

to enjoy a quiet drink in the bar or dine in the garden room, guests will soon discover their favourite spot in this Marlow landmark. Outside, guests can dine al fresco in the sheltered courtyard or drink in the views from the front of the pub.

The pub will be serving a seasonally changing menu created in line with its three star rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Carefully crafted by skilled chefs the pub works with trusted suppliers to create a menu that is a feast for all the senses. A curated drinks list features wines, expertly mixed cocktails and draft beers including locally brewed Rebellion.

Upstairs guests will ﬁnd 17 beautifully refurbished boutique bedrooms. A real home from home, the bedrooms are

thoughtfully designed to include every comfort including rainfall showers, the comﬁest beds from Silentnight, Bramley toiletries, Illy co ee machines and more. Whether guests are looking to escape to the country or attending an event, they will be well rested after staying at The George & Dragon.

The pub is also dog-friendly and wellbehaved canine companions are able to join their owners in the bar and in the courtyard. With a dedicated menu from Sir Woofchester, four-legged friends can also stay in a number of the pub’s dogfriendly rooms where they will enjoy their own bed, dog toiletries and dog bowls. There is even a heated dog shower in the courtyard for muddy walks! Families are also catered for with a number of family friendly rooms with travel cots or trundle beds as well as a dedicated children’s menu full of tasty, nutritious dishes that are guaranteed to tickle tiny tastebuds.

The George & Dragon also beneﬁts from its prime location. Just a stone’s throw from the Thames and the town’s boutique shops, it’s the perfect spot to recharge after a riverside walk or browsing the high street.

Whether you are visiting for a drink or a celebration, General Manager Ben and the team at The George & Dragon can’t wait to welcome you through their doors.

www.georgeanddragonmarlow.com/ absolutelybucks/

THREE REIN

Enjoy the outdoors and great grub at this trio of local venues

DANESFIELD HOUSE HOTEL

danesﬁeldhouse.co.uk

Experience al fresco dining at Danesﬁeld House Hotel, where stunning views of the Chiltern Hills provide the perfect summer backdrop. Dine on the terrace and enjoy a refreshing new seasonal menu at excellent value, expertly crafted by Executive Chef Matt Edmonds to celebrate the ﬁnest summer ingredients. Whether you’re indulging in a light lunch or a leisurely dinner, it’s the ideal setting for relaxed, scenic dining in the sunshine.

Fancy staying over? No two rooms are the same at Danesfield House. Each one of their 60 beautiful bedrooms and suites has been individually designed to make your stay unique. Some are bespoke finished with traditional country house fittings and fixtures, including sumptuously soft and comfortable four-poster beds. Others enjoy breathtaking views out over the meandering River Thames.

THE BRAYWOOD

thebraywood.co.uk

Balmy evenings and the delicate scent of cut grass. Ripples of applause carried on the breeze. A clink of Champagne glasses and lively conversation. Deep in the heart of polo country, and backing directly onto Winkﬁeld Park Polo Club, The Braywood is a contemporary British destination restaurant and cocktail bar, minutes from Bray, Maidenhead and Windsor. And with its beautiful brand new garden terrace, The Braywood is declaring the Summer Season o cially open.

Head Chef Sam Brennan, formerly of The Woodspeen, L’Ortolan and Petrus, is serving up a fresh edit of contemporary seasonal cooking. Guests can sample dishes such as Crab with kohlrabi, Atlantic Cod with wild asparagus, and Banana sou e with salted caramel, balsamic and miso ice cream. The a la carte menu also features seasonal specials such as Turbot with ricotta gnocchi, and sharing dishes such as John Dory, and Sirloin on the Bone, with a classic roast available on Sundays. And, if you’re lucky, you’ll catch a guest appearance from the Bollinger Bicycle.

MONKEY ISLAND ESTATE

monkeyislandestate.co.uk

Dining at Monkey Island Estate is always a delight; the surroundings are reﬁned yet intimate and informal, and steeped in history. The cuisine is a delectable modern take on British classics, with produce freshly sourced from the gardens and surrounding countryside. Choose to dine in the elegant main dining room or on the terrace with views of the River Thames. Afternoon Tea may be enjoyed here or in an entrancing setting with a famous Renaissance ceiling. Cocktails and drinks are served in front of the welcoming ﬁreplace in the stylish bar.

MONKEY ISLAND ESTATE

THE BRAYWOOD

DANESFIELD HOUSE HOTEL

For the perfect holiday jewellery, it has to be yellow gold and diamonds. Effortlessly chic, these beautiful pendants transition perfectly from beachside brunches to evening dinners. Discover the range at your nearest Berry’s Jewellers boutique or berrysjewellers.co.uk

vibes BOHEMIAN

Hansine encompasses the freedom of spirit that travel and the discovery of new cultural inﬂuences inspire, as their SS25 collection highlights

By PENDLE HARTE

NAIA Dolce Vita print bikini set,

HEALTH & BEAUTY

BLISS AWAITS

COWORTH PARK

Be the first to discover a slower, deeper kind of wellness at Coworth Park's newly reimagined spa. Float in the serene pool, before moving between the transformative thermal facilities, featuring a snow shower, sauna and steam room. Unwind with elevated treatments, build inner wellness in the extended gym and replenish at the new Spa Café. dorchestercollection.com

NATURAL BLISS

Shaped by nature, grounded in care – The Spa at Coworth Park

Set within 240-acres of idyllic Berkshire parkland beside the Crown Estate, discover Coworth Park’s newly refurbished spa, thoughtfully designed in rhythm with the landscape. Part of Dorchester Collection, the spa invites guests to pause, reﬂect, and reconnect in a hidden sanctuary immersed in nature.

Framing views of the wildﬂower meadow, expansive windows invite the outdoors in, bathing every space in gentle, restorative light. Soft textures, organic materials, and nature-inspired design elements create an atmosphere of quiet elegance, encouraging guests to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with themselves and the world around them. Treatments are tailored, the atmosphere is calm, and everything is shaped by the belief that real wellbeing begins with feeling truly cared for.

RELAXATION REDEFINED

Float in the serene pool, soaking up the murmurs of underwater music below, before discovering the poolside thermal facilities, transformed to o er a multisensory journey to nurture both mind and body. Bathed in soft lighting, feel reinvigorated in the snow shower that keeps the magic of winter perpetually alive, before the warm embrace of the Finnish sauna and citrinelined steam room call, acting as a cocoon of health advantages. Each designed to harness the therapeutic powers of heat and

cold, move between these spaces, let go of tension, awaken your senses, and embrace the restorative energy of the earth. Embark on a personalised fitness journey and build inner wellness at the extended gym, equipped with the UK’s first Technogym Artis line and checkup station. Designed specifically for cardio, strength training, and functional workouts, cover all muscle groups with the highest level of performance and test your body composition, balance, mobility, and cognitive ability to create individual training programmes.

FEEL AT EASE

Unwind in the eight refreshed treatment rooms, each named after the estate’s native

“Whether alone or with good company, here you can let go of the outside world and simply be”

ﬂora – from the delicate Bluebell to the timeless Rose. A holistic yet elevated menu, featuring Natura Bissé, ishga, Wildsmith and Made for Life Organics, has been thoughtfully considered to incorporate restorative treatments using natural ingredients. Then, extend your relaxation beyond the treatment rooms in the two secluded relaxation rooms. Whether alone or with good company, here you can let go of the outside world and simply be.

A CULINARY CELEBRATION OF NATURE

Gazing out over the landscape it blends with, the new Spa Café invites you to pause, reconnect, and replenish. With produce plucked from the thriving estate, the café brings the spirit of the countryside straight to the table. Enjoy salads that nourish, homemade focaccias and fresh juices – and for a little extra indulgence, afternoon tea is a delightful treat.

INDULGENCE BEYOND TRADITIONAL RELAXATION

Make a day of delightful indulgence, with exclusive spa day experiences or linger just a little while longer with the overnight spa package. Move through the spa at your own pace, enjoy a treatment, then cross the meadow for a night of blissful serenity and wake to a wonderful breakfast.

A sanctuary for continual renewal, spa memberships at Coworth Park o er an invitation to ongoing care and tranquillity in the heart of Berkshire. Members enjoy full access to the luxurious facilities, a complimentary treatment, personal training sessions, exclusive discounts and choose to take to the estate’s outdoor tennis court and roam freely around the grounds – perfect for a moment of reﬂection or invigorating activity.

MOVE TO A GREENER RHYTHM

Beyond the spa, reconnect with the healing force of nature that surrounds and protects. Take a stroll through the wildﬂower meadow, leafy woodlands or Carol Peace sculpture trail, then pause for a moment at the lake. For those seeking deeper tranquillity, wellness experiences across the estate range from outdoor yoga classes, naturebased sound healing, seasonal foraging and equestrian wellbeing sessions at the property’s renowned stables. Whether choosing to unwind with a luxurious spa experience, a refreshing dip in the pool or visit for a wonderfully restful countryside spa break, every moment is an escape into a world of tranquil bliss.

dorchestercollection.com/ascot/coworth-park

BEAUTY

NOTES

By CARLY GLENDINNING

BELIF

Hailed for its skin-quenching abilities, hydration-focused K-beauty brand Belif has ﬁnally landed in the UK. Packed with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, the Aqua Bomb Sleeping Mask will have you waking up with a dewy glow, £29. skincupid.co.uk

ELIM PEDICURE

An at-home medical grade treatment

TBRUSH OFF NIGHT HERO

WHOSE HAIR?

Q+A

Q+A have launched an effective targeted haircare range consisting of 11 products in four categories: clarifying, strengthening, curl defining and volumising. You’ll find them all at Holland & Barrett. qandaskin.com

SISLEY

Sisley’s new Pocket Brush is a miniature version of the Radiance and Softness Brush from the brand’s popular Hair Rituel collection: a must-have hairstyling accessory that ﬁts easily into your handbag. It stimulates the scalp, relieves impurities and spreads sebum to the lengths, leaving your hair soft, sleek and dreamy. sisley.com

he main drawback, for me, in having a pedicure is the flipflop situation. Sure, there are possibly two months in the course of the year during which I’m comfortable wearing flipflops in London – but there are no guarantees. So a pedicure in winter is not an option to me, at least it wasn’t until I discovered the at-home treatment. And for an all-round foot health treatment, Elim’s medical pedicure is a cut above most treatments. In fact, Elim says that 98 per cent of their clients would recommend their treatments to a friend, which is a strong claim. Elim’s speciality is a treatment based on advanced podiatry techniques. Unlike traditional pedicures, it uses medical-grade products, featuring a chemical peel that removes dead skin and softens calluses without abrasive filing, followed by a deep cleanse, nail care, and moisturizing using active ingredients like AHAs and vitaminrich creams.

My therapist Khristine turns up fully equipped and I install myself on the sofa. Unphased by our enthusiastic kitten, she liberates my feet from several layers of dead skin (“it’s so satisfying,” she says) and addresses all of the hard bits before filing my nails and painting them a fetching shade of orange. And she’s done in almost exactly an hour, leaving my nails to dry in the comfort of my house. No flipflops required.

ELIM elimspaproducts.co.uk

I NEVER THOUGHT...

“I never thought I’d paint again”... How personalised care helped Colin reconnect with his passion

Once an accomplished painter and decorator who brought colour and life to his client’s homes, Colin never imagined he would pick up a paintbrush again. His love for gardening and creating beautiful spaces was tucked away, overshadowed by the realities of his health. When he ﬁrst arrived at Lent Rise House Nursing Home, Colin thought those chapters of his life were closed. But through personalised care and a shared vision, Colin rediscovered parts of himself he thought were gone. It began with a simple but powerful conversation. Colin shared his longing for the garden, he wished for a way to bring elements of the garden to his room. The care team at Lent Rise House listened, truly listened, and his wish became their mission.

The ﬁrst step was installing a bird box and feeder outside his window. From his bed, Colin delighted in watching the birds’ comings and goings, their cheerful chirps brightening his days.

Colin’s creativity was stirred. He wanted ﬂowers not just to admire but to be a part of their creation. “I’d love a window box planter,” he said one day. “Something I can paint, something that’s mine.” He chose a vibrant blue for the planter, a shade that matched the boldness of his personality and the memories of the spaces he once transformed.

As Colin carefully painted the box, he o ered advice that spoke to his experience: start from the top, and make sure every stroke is even. The team watched as the pride and precision of his craft returned.

“I never thought I’d paint again,” he said. “But here I am. It feels like I’ve found a piece of myself again.”

When the box was finished and filled with flowers chosen to bring bursts of colour to his room, Colin’s joy was unmistakable. “I’m so pleased with how it turned out, and to think I’d be doing this again… I didn’t think it was possible,” he said.

Colin’s story is a reminder that personalised care isn’t just about providing comfort, it’s also about getting to know someone, understanding their passions, and providing ways to continue them.

For families considering care for their loved ones, Colin’s journey is a glimpse into what’s possible when care goes beyond the surface. At Lent Rise House Nursing Home in Burnham, every resident is seen as an individual with dreams, history, and untapped potential.

Find out more by visiting fremantletrust.org/lent-rise-house

INTERIORS

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE

CRITTALL WINDOWS

Effortlessly connect your indoor and outdoor spaces with high quality steel doors. Modern systems manufactured today perfectly combine traditional style with premium performance, keeping homes well insulated and protected for many years. Featuring impressively slim sightlines, these external doors flood homes with natural light, creating bright and uplifting living areas. Choose from a range of sizes, styles and colours to create a bespoke solution. crittall-windows.co.uk

DRAMATIC LOOKS

Pedro Almodovar has designed a collection of furniture for Roche Bobois. Here he reveals his thoughts about colour, furniture and ﬁlm sets

Q Where does your fascination with colour come from?

A Since I began working as a director, initially unconsciously and later with intention. When I was a child, the ﬁlms that interested me were from the 1950s, particularly the late '50s, the era of Technicolour. In a way, I tried to recreate the colours of Technicolour; they were very vibrant colours, highly contrasted and explosive. Due to technological advancements, it is no longer possible to achieve those colours nowadays, as they were tied to the chemistry of the liquids used to develop the negative. But they weren’t realistic colours. They truly weren’t. Nowadays, the trend is to achieve a photograph as realistic as possible.

Q Do you have a favourite colour?

A I remember, for example, that red has always been present in my films. But green also comes to my mind, which I currently use a lot. I remember perfectly the first time I used it, in Tie Me Up! with a green sofa in which Victoria Abril appeared. That was the first time. Green is a complex colour when it comes to its gradations; you must find the right shade. Moreover, if you look closely, few women wear green, except for redheads, who require a particular setting. There’s also another colour I’ve used a lot since the beginning, especially on walls:

mustard or albero tones. We call it albero here because it looks like the colour of the sand in bullﬁghting arenas. I started using it in the Law of Desire, where I painted the walls of that colour for the ﬁrst time, and then again in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. This tone pairs very well with all kinds of furniture and with the actors’ faces.

Q Do you believe there’s a similarity between the decoration of a space, a house and a ﬁlm scene?

A For example, my house appears in Pain and Glory; it’s the house where Antonio

lives. There are many paintings and colours, and that corresponds to the kind of colours that appear in my ﬁlms. It often happens to me that I buy a piece of furniture, a lamp, or an object that I don’t need at the time, simply because I like it, and I know it will eventually appear in one of my ﬁlms. I’m constantly collecting small elements, little details, that later will be brought to life on screen.

Q Are there any furniture styles you’re especially drawn to?

A In the case of my ﬁlms, it depends on the time period in which they’re set. They’ve almost always been contemporary or, at most, set back in the 1960s.

In Broken Embraces, for example, when I was drawn to pop, I used a red piece of furniture from Cassin, the chairs, because it was so representative of that style. Red and white are iconic colours of early 1960s pop art. Later on, pop became more complex. On the one hand, I like clean lines, deﬁned edges, and strong silhouettes. But within that framework, anything is possible. I try to ﬁnd a coherent style.

In Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, for example, the furniture was Italian. On the terrace, there was a turquoise piece completely rectangular and very minimalist. In the 1980s, that kind of furniture was often used in bold colours, with matching cushions. Then you place the actress sitting on it, and you start composing the image. In general, I’m quite eclectic. I like many styles, regardless of the period in which the ﬁlm takes place.

The 1950s, for example, were very rich in furniture design. Even today, you can still ﬁnd chairs and armchairs from that era in antique shops. I’m interested in everything that belongs to the pop universe. But of course, after, it all has to be mixed and depending on how you do it, the result can be entirely di erent.

Q In Pain and Glory, you used Roche Bobois furniture, didn’t you?

A Yes, of course, and also in my latest ﬁlm.

Q How do you feel about the idea that this furniture, this collaboration, will suddenly enter people’s homes, becoming part of their daily lives?

A Well, I’d love to see it. If someone decides to decorate one of their rooms with this furniture, I’d love to see who those people are living there.

Q How would you describe this collaboration?

A I believe it’s furniture you can truly live with, and there’s a very positive feeling, like a kind of joy of living in the colours and patterns we’ve used. I think that simply getting up and walking across this rug, or sitting down, will give you a certain sense of optimism. Or at least, that’s how I perceive it.

Q You once said that your interior sometimes resembles the universe of your ﬁlms. Your interior, your own house, would you say it looks like your movies or is it the other way around?

A Both. Because, for example, especially if you look at Pain and Glory, it’s my house, and you can see everything there. In other words, I live surrounded by paintings, furniture and lamps, chosen very carefully and of all the secondary elements, like wall sconces, small tables, co ee tables. All of this is essential for creating a set. At ﬁrst, I thought I would go for the serenity of a home that comes together little by little for the minimalism. But I quickly realized that as soon as I started buying furniture,

the minimalism disappeared right away. The idea of "lack" used to appeal to me (my home is very eclectic; it has many things), but of course, if I buy things, I want to place them there because I like to see them. I mean, it’s like with paintings, why keep them away? No, I want to see them. In fact, I have a new house, and I think I bought it more to decorate it than to live in it and display all the paintings I’ve been collecting over the years.

Q Are you also your own interior decorator at home?

A At home, I decorate less. It’s much more relaxing, because in my house there’s a selection of the furniture used in the ﬁlms I’ve made. Therefore, they don’t occupy the same place they had in the movie. That is to say, they’re not as harmoniously arranged as they are on screen. But for example, as soon as you enter the house, you see a Jonathan Adler table, a designer I really like. You walk in, and there it is, a Jonathan Adler table. It’s not in its ideal spot. In the ﬁlm I made, The Human Voice, it was perfectly

placed. But what I mean is that sometimes, in my house, the furniture I’ve used in ﬁlms ends up there because I bought it, but it doesn’t have the same harmony it had in the movie, since it’s not always placed in the best possible spot. So sometimes, it kind of looks like a furniture store, a boutique. When I was a child, well, between 15 and 20-years-old, I used to walk past furniture stores, past department stores, and look through the windows. I would dream of having all kinds of furniture, and I could perfectly imagine a house like that for myself. I mean, sleeping in one bed one night and in another the next. In fact, I once made a short ﬁlm for television called Trailer for a Forbidden Lover, in which the two main characters live inside a furniture store. I thought the idea was funny. Because for me, living in a furniture store, surrounded by so much furniture, maybe even too much doesn’t bother me. And I don’t feel like I’m in chaos. For someone else, I imagine it would be pure chaos.

roche-bobois.com

PHOTO BY NICO BUSTOS

Renowned for our handmade kitchens, but also create stunning bespoke furniture for other rooms in your home.

woodwisekitchens.com 01235 555502

info@woodwisekitchens.com

CRAIG & ROSE

Etruscan Red Paint, £45 craigandrose.com

JONATHAN ADLER

Miami Flush Mount, £1,095 jonathanadler.com

BESSELINK & JONES

Flat Ring Chandelier, £2,117 besselink.com

Dip Dye Candles set of 4, £8.95 rexlondon.com

RICHARD GRAFTON

Orange Jellyﬁ sh, £109 & £73 richardgra oninteriors.com

By PENDLE HARTE

JONATHAN ADLER

Portoﬁ no Tray Set, £98 jonathanadler.com

PEUGEOT

Wooden Pepper Mill, £52.90 peugeot-saveurs.com

Roundround

Exploring an historic and beautiful country house in the heart of Bayford

Dating from the 16th century, The Round House is situated on the edge of the rural village of Bayford, surrounded by wellmaintained countryside and woodland. The home is an elegant period property with beautifully presented accommodation ﬂowing across two ﬂoors, with an adjoining two bedroom property o ering the potential for multigenerational living. In the main house, the accommodation includes a drawing room with a double aspect with views over the grounds, dining room with a galleried landing and open plan kitchen/breakfast room.

There are four bedrooms on the ﬁrst ﬂoor including the principal bedroom suite with two dressing rooms and two en-suite bathrooms, as well as a spacious guest suite, two further double bedrooms and a family bathroom.

The Round House connects to The White Lodge, which has been completely remodelled and refurbished and comprises an open plan sitting room/kitchen with double doors opening to the garden and terrace, along with two bedrooms and two bathrooms on the ﬁrst ﬂoor. The leisure suite can be accessed via The White Lodge, or from a separate entrance, and comprises a striking indoor swimming pool with bi-folding doors onto the garden, a changing area including steam

“It is a fabulous country house in a desirable village”

shower, a gym with sauna and o ce space which is ﬂooded with natural light.

The Round House is approached through electric gates to a gravelled driveway with a double garage with electric car charging point. There is another access which leads to the four car garage with electric car charging points, and the leisure suite.

The landscaped gardens are beautifully planted and surrounded by mature trees and woodland with rolling, countryside views. A lovely feature is the recent addition of the courtyard garden which enjoys full sun.

This wonderful home beneﬁts from an all-weather tennis court along with carefully maintained formal gardens with a kitchen garden and orchard, along with meticulously kept lawns leading on to a paddock and woodland.

The Round House is located in a beautiful village, which includes a pub, a church and primary school, with a comprehensive range of shopping and leisure facilities available nearby in Hertford, about three miles away.

The area provides numerous opportunities with access to footpaths, bike trails and bridle paths. Sporting facilities in the locality are plentiful with golf available at Brickendon (one mile), Essendon (three miles), The Hertfordshire (four miles), Hanbury Manor (eight miles) and The Melbourne Club at Brocket Hall (nine miles). Bayford has an active village life including a cricket club and village hall social events, and Hertford runs numerous football, hockey, netball, cricket and rugby teams for all ages.

There is an excellent selection of schools available nearby. Within the State sector, East Herts is a blue-ribbon education provider. Within the Private system, nearby preparatory schools include St Hugh’s, Heath Mount, St. Joseph’s in the Park and Duncombe. There are also a number of highly regarded secondary schools including Haileybury College, Queenswood School for girls, St Edmunds College and St Albans High School.

The property is well placed in a rural, yet accessible location with good transport links to the M25 accessed at Junction 23 and Junction 24. The A1M and A10 are all approximately eight miles distant. There is a twice hourly train service from Bayford village station reaching Moorgate with a travel time of about 47 minutes. Potters Bar station provides a fast train to Kings Cross (approximately 15 mins) and Moorgate (approximately 30 mins), with St Albans running direct to London Gatwick in just

over one hour. Hertford East o ers a service direct into London Liverpool Street with alternative trains available nearby at Hertford North, Cu ey, Brookmans Park, Broxbourne and Hatﬁeld stations. International airports include Luton (approximately 14 miles) Stansted (approximately 18 miles) and Heathrow (approximately 25 miles).

“The Round House is a fabulous country house in a highly desirable village in Hertfordshire,” says property agent, Hugh Maconochie. “The accommodation is so ﬂexible with so many options for someone, it could even be a multi generational family home. We are excited to be marketing the property.”

The Round House, Bayford, is on the market for £4,995,000. For more information, contact Savills on 01582 465000 or visit savills.co.uk

“They are a hidden gem and needless to say that I’m really enjoying my new kitchen”

“We felt in safe hands the entire time with Ashford Kitchens”

SCIENCE OF SLEEP

Sanjay Verma, the Chief Sleep O cer at Jensen Beds, on helping Olympic athletes to prepare and how the same principles can help you too

Q When did you ﬁrst start studying the science behind sleep?

A I began in 2008, while working for a luxury bed brand. At the time, I was launching the brand in an emerging economy, but we struggled to make sales – despite our target customers having the means to buy, they felt the products were too expensive. To shift perceptions, I realized we needed to emphasize more than just luxury; we needed to focus on the value of truly restorative sleep. This forced me to quickly learn everything I could about what sleep is, why it matters, and how a bed or mattress can make a di erence.

Q How did this lead you to being a sleep coach for Swedish athletes?

A Later in my career, I joined Hilding Anders as Chief Sleep O cer to establish a Sleep Centre of Excellence, part of the company’s broader move to reposition itself as a “sleep company”.

“Every Jensen bed is designed to support sleep by providing ergonomic support”

Around the same time, the Swedish Olympic Committee approached Hilding Anders for sponsorship. We struck a deal: part of the sponsorship fee would be paid in services – speciﬁcally, sleep coaching. In return, Swedish Olympic athletes became brand ambassadors. I became the o cial Sleep Coach in 2020, and even after the sponsorship ended, I continue to work with both Sweden’s Summer and Winter Olympic teams.

Q Looking at athletes, how much would you say sleep plays a key role?

A It varies by athlete and sport, but the impact is undeniable. Walter Wallberg, a gold medalist at the Beijing Olympics, once told the media that his performance drops by 30% after a poor night’s sleep. In my view, sleep is signiﬁcant enough to make or break an athlete over the long term.

Q What types of things do you encourage the athletes to do?

A I encourage a range of practices – primarily improving sleep hygiene, managing stress, and creating a bedroom environment that’s conducive to restful sleep.

Q When did the opportunity come up to join Jensen Beds?

A I joined Hilding Anders – the holding company of Jensen – in 2019, eager to move beyond simply selling high-end luxury products, which I’d done for over 15 years globally. I wanted to contribute to Hilding Anders’ mission to democratize good sleep. The company launched a new bed brand focused on sleep, with production handled by Jensen. Over time, that brand has been absorbed into Jensen itself. I continue to support Jensen’s drive to bring better sleep to new countries beyond its home market of Norway.

Q Today you are Chief Sleep

O cer: can you give us an idea of how a day in your life looks?

A No two days are the same. I spend time reading books, scientiﬁc journals, and listening to podcasts to stay on top of the latest sleep research. I collaborate with Jensen’s marketing team to help position the brand around sleep and support the new product development team with sleep-related insights. I also participate in PR activities –appearing as a guest on podcasts, attending marketing events, and giving sleep talks.

Q How much science goes into a Jensen Beds creation?

A A great deal. Even before I joined, a professional chiropractor led product development for nearly three decades. After his retirement, Jensen brought in another expert. Every new product is developed with the latest sleep research in mind and is rigorously tested in a Swiss laboratory. Only products that meet the highest standards

for ergonomics, hygiene, climate control, and sustainability are ever launched.

Q Looking at any recent mattress launch from Jensen Beds, how would you say it aids sleep?

A Every Jensen bed is designed to support sleep by providing optimal ergonomic support – thanks to a wide selection of models and ﬁrmness options, along with mechanisms to control ﬁrmness. They also isolate movement, maintain a comfortable climate by dispersing excess heat and wicking away moisture, and use sustainable materials throughout production.

Q Can you give us 5 top tips for the perfect night’s sleep?

1. Stick to a consistent sleep schedule. Your brain thrives on routine, and going to bed and waking up at the same time each day builds a powerful, compounding habit for better rest.

2. Seek bright morning light and dim evening lights. Morning sunlight signals your body to wake up, while avoiding bright and blue light at night tells your brain it’s time to wind down.

3. Keep your bedroom cool. A cooler room helps your body temperature drop naturally, making it easier to fall asleep.

4. Limit evening ca eine, alcohol, and heavy meals. What you consume before bed can disrupt your sleep quality.

5. Choose the right bed, mattress, pillows, duvet, and bed linen. Quality sleepsupporting bedding adapts to your body and preferences, turning your bed into a sanctuary for rest and recovery.

To see the range of beds, accessories and to ﬁnd out more, visit jensen-beds.com/uk

SANJAY VERMA

GAME changer

How you can transform your life with Origin Pools

An indoor swimming pool isn’t just about having a space to swim – it’s about transforming your entire lifestyle. It becomes the heart of your home, a sanctuary that blends wellness, ﬁtness, relaxation and social connection.

With Origin, every indoor pool is an exclusive creation, meticulously designed to complement your home life. From the style and ambience to the lighting and temperature, Origin empowers you to curate every detail of your pool and its surrounding environment. Their team works with you to realise your vision, guiding you through every step of the process, from design to completion, so your pool not only enhances your home, but also elevates your life.

A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER LIFESTYLE

Swimming is renowned for its transformative e ects on both body and mind. An indoor pool o ers the perfect setting for these benefits. The low-impact nature of swimming makes it accessible to everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. It allows you to stay active, maintain joint flexibility and improve cardiovascular health without putting undue strain on the body.

For older adults, swimming is a powerful tool to combat the e ects of ageing, helping to maintain mobility and support heart health. But the advantages of owning an indoor pool extend far beyond just physical fitness. Swimming also o ers significant mental health benefits, including reduced stress, improved mood and enhanced sleep quality. Research consistently highlights how swimming can combat depression, cognitive decline and anxiety, making it an essential activity for maintaining emotional well-being. By incorporating swimming into your daily routine, you’re not just taking care of your body – you’re nurturing your mind, too.

“You are not just caring for your body, you are nurturing your mind too”

A SPACE FOR EVERY NEED

An indoor pool is a multi-functional space that serves far more than one purpose. It’s where you can unwind, stay ﬁt, entertain or enjoy the calming e ect of water on your mind and body. When you partner with Origin, they take the time to understand your unique needs and design a pool house that caters to your desires. Do you dream of a wellness-focused retreat with a sauna and steam room, or a familyfriendly space with room for fun and relaxation? The possibilities are endless. For those who cherish their outdoor spaces but don’t want to miss out on summer swims, Origin o ers the perfect solution. Bi-folding or sliding doors seamlessly integrate your indoor pool with your garden, allowing you to bring the outdoors in. These features ensure you never miss the beauty of nature while enjoying the comfort of your indoor oasis.

EFFORTLESS LUXURY, EXPERTLY MANAGED

Exceptional craftsmanship is the baseline. What sets Origin apart is their ability to integrate design, experience and emotion into one seamless whole. From the moment they begin discussing your ideas to the ﬁnal handover of your stunning new pool, they handle every detail with care. No need to worry about hiring separate contractors for di erent aspects of your pool project, Origin takes care of everything.

With their experience and expertise, they ensure your pool is built to the highest standard, with precision and quality at every stage. Their award-winning service model includes ongoing maintenance and aftercare, giving you the peace of mind that your pool will continue to perform ﬂawlessly for years to come. Whether it’s upgrading your ﬁltration system, adding new energy-e cient features or simply providing a routine check-up, their team is always here to help.

THE ORIGIN EXPERIENCE

An indoor pool from Origin is not just a place to swim; it’s a lifestyle upgrade, a statement of luxury and a space that reﬂects your success and aspirations. With their bespoke designs, you’ll have the perfect pool, expertly crafted to meet your needs and enhance your home. Don’t settle for ordinary – create a sanctuary that brings wellness, comfort and joy into your daily life. Let Origin guide you in transforming your garden into a year-round retreat with an indoor pool that exceeds your expectations. It’s time to transform your life.

Find out more by scanning the QR code, calling 01895 823366 or visiting originpools.co.uk

WORTHY RECOGNITION

Ashford Kitchens & Interiors wins kitchen retailer of the year 2025 award

Alocal family business with showrooms in Ashford, Surrey, and Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, is celebrating national recognition. Ashford Kitchens & Interiors has been named Kitchen Retailer of the Year 2025 at the prestigious KBB Awards – a national honour recognising the best kitchen specialists across the UK and Ireland.

Held at the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom, the awards welcomed over 1,000 industry professionals for an evening hosted by comedian Seann Walsh and broadcaster Alan Dedicoat. For this family-run business, now in its 41st year, it was a proud and unforgettable moment to hear their name announced as the winner of the industry’s most coveted award.

With its two showrooms, Ashford Kitchens & Interiors has built its reputation on thoughtful design, outstanding customer service, and a dedication to quality at every stage of the process.

Stephen Flower, owner and managing director of Ashford Kitchens & Interiors, commented: “This is a huge moment for us – to be recognised at

a national level, among so many wellrespected retailers, is something we’re incredibly proud of. It reﬂects the passion, e ort, and high standards our whole team brings to every project.”

The award looks at all aspects of kitchen retail, from customer service and business performance to design quality and showroom presentation.

Earlier this year, judge Darren Taylor visited both showrooms to see ﬁrsthand what sets Ashford apart, meeting the team and exploring the design process behind their projects. From thoughtfully designed showroom spaces to expert advice and tailored design solutions, the visit conﬁrmed the team’s commitment to quality and service.

Stephen added: “For our customers, this award is added reassurance –that they’re choosing a team that’s trusted, proven, and now o cially recognised as the best in the UK.”

From in-depth design consultations and welcoming showroom spaces to beautifully ﬁnished kitchens tailored to each client, Ashford Kitchens & Interiors continues to raise the bar in kitchen retail. For more information or to experience the award-winning service ﬁrst-hand, visit Ashford Kitchens & Interiors in Farnham Common or Ashford, or schedule a free design consultation today.

01753 642362

info@ashfordinteriors.co.uk

ashfordkitchensandinteriors.co.uk

THE TEAM CELEBRATE THEIR AWARD

IN STYLE

Team marble and wood

Natural materials are ever-popular – and wood and marble both exude a true sense of nature by featuring unique veinings, markings, knots and details. Marble and wood are an ideal combination; the wood can add warmth and contrast to a cold marble surface.

Natural colours

There is an increasing trend for green bathroom ideas, whether in the form of plants, feature tiles, botanical wallpaper – and even artiﬁcial moss walls! The bathroom is often an oasis of peace and escape for many family members, and green evokes a natural sense

HELPFUL ADVICE

Planning a revamp and want to know what’s key this year? With more than 30 years’ experience in the tile industry, The Tile Company knows exactly what it takes to create a bathroom design you’ll love. Their six showrooms in Yorkshire showcase the best tile and bathroom products from across the world.

Call 01904 436085 or visit thetilecompany.co.uk

Having a beautifully designed bathroom can make all the di erence in your life. The Tile Company explains the latest bathroom trends and ideas

of harmony and calm. Other colours inspired by nature are popular in bathroom design this year, especially o whites, gentle sages and warm blues – all part of a trend to make our homes cosier and more comforting.

Marble surfaces

Marble bathroom designs create a subtle statement with white and grey shades used to create a more luxurious ambience. A feeling of opulence is achieved by door hardware and electrical accessories that contrast against the marble tones, while many opt for a coordinated look with cabinet hardware matching the marble veining.

Coloured vanity units

The combination of coloured bathroom furniture with marble e ect porcelain tiles creates a visually stunning bathroom space. Whether aiming for a classic or contemporary look, this pairing delivers a harmonious blend of colours, textures and materials, resulting in a bathroom that is both appealing and

functional. For those seeking a bolder and more contemporary aesthetic, contrasting colours can be employed.

Fluted-e ect surfaces

Adding a softness to bathroom designs, whether that’s through curved units or fluted textures, gives your space a unique and artistic expression. Sinks are round or oval with smooth finishes, and vanities follow similar lines with fluted wood fronts and sides. As well as a great look, there’s no corners to bump on while you rush in and out of the bathroom first thing!

Brushed nickel and aged brass

Brushed nickel emanates a slightly golden hue that glows with subtlety, gently reﬂecting back light sources in the room to create a spa-style atmosphere. This makes it the perfect choice for those with warm-toned bathrooms. O ering the perfect contrast for tiled bathrooms and an elegant edge to classic marble bathrooms, aged brass works in almost any bathroom design and adds instant warmth.

LIQUID Gold

How to use tiling to upgrade your bathroom and transform it into a wet room

Showering is ever popular and the wet room is fast becoming the go-to for a contemporary bathroom upgrade. This fully-waterproofed, open shower space combines accessibility and hygiene with style and one key component is expertly chosen tiles. Once you have had the tanking and a drainage system installed, with the right tile choice you’ll ﬁnd the perfect ﬁnishing touch for a fully waterproof wet room.

With constant exposure to water, it’s crucial to pick water-resistant tiles, which are ultra-durable and will stand the test of time. Porcelain tiles make a great choice with a huge variety of styles from stone and marble to wood-e ect designs. Natural stone can add a spastyle ﬁnish to a wet room; these tiles need to be sealed regularly and they will require more maintenance. Mosaic tiles are another popular option, which add a luxurious element to any wet room design.

Don’t forget to factor in slip resistance as safety should be another priority for a wet room. Look for tiles with high slip-resistance ratings, such as R10 or higher. Also, consider textured tiles as this style helps to provide extra grip, which will be key for ﬂooring.

Large-format tiles can work well in a wet room if you want to minimise grout lines. This is ideal if you love a minimalist look where style matters and can be more practical as this is where dirt can accumulate. Also, consider tiles with rectiﬁed edges (these are machine cut and produce tighter grout joints) as this enables less visible grout, which will ultimately leave your wet room looking fresh for longer.

If you are looking for an inclusive bathroom solution or simply want to future-proof your home, a wet room can also provide the perfect solution. The ﬂooring tends to be level making them suitable for all ages and mobilities and you can easily incorporate fold-down seats or grab rails into your design.

Whatever your plans are for your wet room, from a spa-like retreat to a familyfriendly space, tiling is important in order to add functionality and enhance the look. Whether you prefer durable porcelain to intricately detailed mosaics, the right tiles will transform this space into a

practical, safe and stylish environment to escape to. So consider your tiles wisely and, with expert planning and highquality installation, your wet room will instantly add value to your home.

Contact Hyperion Tiles on 01344 620211, sales@hyperiontiles.com, or visit hyperiontiles.co.uk

DINNER GAMES CORNILLEAU

This might not look like a billiard table – but remove the tabletop and that's what it is. French brand Cornilleau's clever outdoor games tables convert into dining tables. Ping pong a er dinner? Why not. cornilleau.com

TABLE MANNERS HABITAT

Habitat's Hania outdoor dining table and chairs are built to last in solid wood, with curved details for comfort and elegance. Waterproof cushions add to the practicality of the set. habitat.co.uk

NICE SERVE MONOWARE

Outdoor dining is all about salads, whether they're accompanying barbecued meat or acting as the main attraction. Monoware's beautiful new wooden salad servers are a stylish addition to your outdoor table. monoware.com

SUN SHADES

EAST LONDON PARASOLS

Six limited edition handmade bamboo parasols have been designed in collaboration between Celia B and East London Parasol Company. The patterns are hand drawn by Celia Bernardo, and lined with parachute fabric. eastlondonparasols.com

PRETTY THINGS

ANNA + NINA

Anna + Nina's SS25 collection ranges from playful ceramics to frilly striped cushions, all full of character and Dutch charm and designed for pretty outdoor settings. anna-nina.nl

The ﬂoor UP

Quorn Stone explore the ﬂooring trends for 2025

When it comes to renovating, extending, or perhaps building an entirely new home, flooring plays an integral part to any space, binding all design choices together. As we celebrate 30 years of Quorn Stone this year, our passion for beautiful stone flooring remains at the core of who we are. Read on for our top 5 flooring trends for 2025 and be inspired for your own project.

Textured Floor Tiles

2025 is all about texture in the home and textured limestone is at the top of our list for flooring. Natural stone tiles remain an enduring and diverse choice when it comes to floor tiles, used for centuries in estates and country homes, loved for their beauty and practicality. Across the interiors industry, we have seen more wanting to create this timeless feel in their kitchens, whilst also wanting to incorporate the trend of textured and tactile finishes. Opt for textured grey stone flooring for a contemporary yet organic take on traditional kitchen flooring.

Ivory Stone E ect Tiles

Ivory stone e ect tiles are set to be a key ﬂoor trend for 2025, o ering a calming neutral aesthetic that perfectly complements modern or traditional country interiors. Stone e ect porcelain is a wonderful alternative to natural stone, with the prints available more realistic than ever, o ering blends of soft ivory and white that will brighten any space.

Marble Flooring

Marble is a timeless and sophisticated material that has been used in the home for hundreds of years and has seen a resurgence in recent years as ﬂooring. Marble tiles o er both charm and practicality, exuding a luxurious feel, and are available in a whole host of shades and patterns, from a classic Carrara white marble to bolder more dramatic hues. Marble ﬂooring as chequerboard or with cabochon inserts will instantly elevate a hallway and create an e ortlessly inviting space.

Honey Beige Limestone

When it comes to flooring, certain styles never date, and honey beige limestone is the one material you can guarantee will work in any interior and any style, complementing all colour palettes. Limestone tiles are versatile and hardwearing options for the home with these warmer toned hues and finishes being a popular choice for flooring that will stand the test of time.

Herringbone Flooring

The final flooring trend for 2025 we are seeing is herringbone floor tiles. Herringbone has been a much-loved laying pattern as wall tiles for many years, but now homeowners are choosing this design for flooring, with limestone bricks or ‘stackers’ providing a rustic and natural take on herringbone tiles.

See more at mystoneﬂoor.com

TUSCANY TUMBLED LIMESTONE TILES

DIJON TUMBLED LIMESTONE TILES

PARISIAN MANOIR TUMBLED MARBLE TILES

Family run John Deere dealership selling agricultural, construction, professional turf, and garden machinery

Industry leaders in technology and aftersales service

SCAN QR CODE TO VIEW FULL RANGE & PRICING ONLINE

LES OTTOMANS

Hand painted Sicilian head vase, €383 fashionclinic.com

LALIQUE

Magnitude vase, Persepolis blue, £1,950 lalique.com

REX LONDON

Large glass bottle vase, £19.95 rexlondon.com

CASA BY JJ

Delilah Lemon Drop Bulb vase, £144 casabyjj.com

WHERE SAINTS GO Urbi Stoneware vase, £59 wheresaintsgo.co.uk

L'OBJET Douro vase in oat, £445 l-objet.com

HABITAT

Art Glass Stripe vase, £18 habitat.co.uk

ODE TO AN URN

A bunch of lovely vases

By PENDLE HARTE

PETERSHAM NURSERIES

Dutch Delight vases, from £25 petershamnurseries.com

BJØRN WIINBLAD

Eva vase, £41.15 nordicnest.com

YUTA SEGAWA Porcelain cylinder vase in green and lilac, £30 notjustashop. arts.ac.uk

EDITOR’S PICK

FLORENCE MYTUM

Wevy vase in orange, £135 npgshop.org.uk

ART

“The tea towels can be framed and mounted as original artworks”

WORKER

Tracey Emin adds to her popular collection for the National Portrait Gallery

You might think you can’t a ord to invest in art, but surely you can a ord a tea towel. An a ordable entry route into art collection comes via the National Portrait Gallery, where Tracey Emin’s collection of homeware is priving highly collectible. And now Tracey has collaborated once again with the National Portrait Gallery Shop on a new range of tea towels. The pieces feature three of Tracey’s drawings from the 2023 commission The Doors, which cover the entrance doors to the Gallery. Exclusive to the National Portrait Gallery Shop, each tea towel is made in the UK from organic cotton.

The tea towels sit alongside her ceramics range, Untitled, 2023, consisting of two plates, one featuring a single portrait in the centre and the other featuring six selected portraits around the rim, two mugs, each featuring three selected portraits and a milk jug featuring a single portrait.

The National Portrait Gallery Shop says: “The reaction to our Tracey Emin collection has been incredible, with products constantly selling out. Many Gallery Shop customers snap up the entire range as gifts or keepsakes. Presented as a collection on the wall the plates look beautiful, as well as on the table or as practical gifts. The tea towels can be framed and mounted as original artworks – further democratising

fine art which is so important to Tracey.” The artist shares her thoughts on The Doors artwork: “Women in history are greatly underrepresented. I didn’t want to depict specific or identifiable figures.

“I felt the doors of the National Portrait Gallery should represent every woman, every age and every culture throughout time. I used myself as a mental template, but the end result is many di erent women, some that exist in my mind and some that perhaps exist in reality, here and now, as well as from the past. I want people to stand in-front of the doors and say, ‘she looks like my mother, she looks like my best friend, my daughter’.”

npgshop.org.uk

EDUCATION

AWE-INSPIRING

ST GEORGE’S SCHOOL WINDSOR CASTLE

As venues for school concerts go, few are more aweinspiring than the world-renowned St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, home to St George’s School Windsor Castle’s annual Gala Concert (pictured), in addition to assemblies and other school events throughout the year. stgwindsor.org

LIFE beyond the SCREEN

Exploring the impact of TV shows like Adolescence and our relationship with social media

By JANE BASNETT

Perhaps Australia has got it right? The country’s recent decision to ban phones for under 16s feels, increasingly, like the right move. For years as a teacher, I have always championed the idea that we should be supporting young people on how to manage and balance their social media use – the idea being to educate rather than restrict. Although I still believe deeply in the power of education to create change for the better, I have more recently veered towards accepting that education alone may not be enough to protect our young people. The algorithms are simply too powerful. If fully grown adults struggle to resist the

pull of endless phone scrolling, what chance do teenagers have? In short, I do believe that 16 and over is the right age to own a phone. By this point, our young people will have had the chance to discover their individual passions beyond the screen. They have likely begun to develop deeper focus, a growing engagement with books, ideas and culture, and will have developed a growing awareness that what we see on social media is often a curated façade. Most importantly, they will have started to form a stronger sense of self – in terms of who they are, what they value, and how they want to spend their time. That level of conﬁdence, I believe, is the very foundation teenagers need before stepping into the hyper-connected world of social media.

JANE BASNETT

SOCIAL DARKNESS VS DIGITAL LIGHT

Interestingly, the media often resorts to clickbait tactics to generate interest and drive tra c to their platforms – inevitably relying on portrayals of the very worst of society and social media. The recent Netﬂix drama, Adolescence, managed to avoid this. Instead, it appears to have set out with a clear agenda to raise public awareness of the very real issues facing teenagers today. While its storyline may not reﬂect every teenager’s experience, the drama was rooted in actual cases from the UK, lending it both authenticity and emotional weight.

That said, in steering away from sensationalism, the show also largely overlooked the more positive aspects of social media. And we shouldn’t forget – they do exist. Social media

can be a creative outlet, a place to connect with others, to learn, explore identity and even to ﬁnd community. It’s not all darkness and danger; there is light in the digital world too. Ultimately, the media often gets the dangers right, but the balance wrong. What is needed is a more intelligent, layered portrayal – one that acknowledges the risks and the agency of young people, and which invites adults to engage rather than recoil. To its credit, Adolescence did just that: it prompted parents to pay attention, to ask questions, and to reﬂect more deeply on the realities facing teenagers today. What it hasn’t quite achieved is an acknowledgement around the positive potential of social media. However, an important conversation has begun and that in itself, is a step in the right direction.

LIFTING PRESSURE MEANS BEING ACCOUNTABLE

In summary, if we pare all of this back, what is needed is actually quite simple. We need to return to some basic but essential tenets: education, health and wellbeing and collaboration. Education: so that young people can understand the digital world they are growing up in, rather than just participating in it blindly. These platforms could easily incorporate regular reﬂective prompts to help young people to manage social media pressure. Health and wellbeing: so that social media platforms are held accountable for the psychological impact of their design, with young users’ development at the forefront. On that basis, developers should perhaps scrap the ‘like’ button, get rid of the endless scroll features, and remove algorithmic promotion of harmful content. In other words, focus on design for health, not just engagement.

Jane Basnett is Director of Digital Learning at Downe House School in Berkshire. See more at downehouse.net

DOWNE HOUSE

A SCENE FROM NETFLIX’S ADOLESCENCE

A warm welcome H

Rob

Grosse, Headteacher of Herries Preparatory

School, on what makes them so special

erries, nestled in the charming Berkshire countryside, is a sought-after co-educational school for children aged 2 to 11. A well established small school, we cherish our strong family atmosphere. In March 2025, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) recognised our commitment to excellence through a strong report which noted Herries to be a family-focused community providing pupils with high academic standards, a varied curriculum within an inclusive, nurturing environment and rich extra-curricular opportunities.

At Herries, we have developed a school where every pupil can truly ﬂourish. Our children, dedicated sta and supportive parents work hand-in-hand, guided by our core Herries Values: Happiness, Enthusiasm, Respect, Resilience, Independence, Excellence, Sincerity.

We believe in nurturing the whole child, celebrating strong manners, personal responsibility, tolerance and respect. Our small class sizes are pivotal, enabling tailored teaching, increased individual attention and dedicated learning time. Consequently, our pupils conﬁdently transition to a diverse range of destination schools – including grammar, selective and non-selective independent schools – fully equipped for the next stage of their educational journey.

Our broad educational provision is designed to develop well-rounded individuals. Through character education and a wide-ranging curriculum, children have abundant opportunities to engage in public speaking, drama, music, art, sport, forest activities and a wealth of extra-curricular clubs such as golf, cookery, and fencing. Our commitment to sporting excellence was recognised in September 2024 when we were shortlisted for the ISA Award for Outstanding Sport Provision in a small school.

Our unique setting in Cookham Dean, the former home of Kenneth Grahame where the beloved The Wind in the Willows was penned, provides a rich and inspiring backdrop for learning. While deeply rooted in our local community, we also welcome pupils from around the globe, adding to our strong and inclusive community spirit.

We extend a warm Herries welcome and would be delighted to show you around our fantastic school.

herries.org.uk

ROB GROSSE WITH SOME OF HIS PUPILS

We challenge our students to imagine a better world. We then support them to develop the character, confidence and determination to be changemakers.

Open Day // Sat 27th Sept // 9.00am for Year 7-10 entry // 1.30pm for Sixth Form entry Book now at: www.leightonpark.com/visit-leighton-park

Out ofthis WORLD

Why students at St George’s School Windsor Castle are looking to the stars

Students at St George’s School Windsor Castle were transported into outer space last month through a series of inspiring workshops led by visionary leaders from the global space industry. Antonio Peronace, Executive Director at Space for Humanity, and Amaresh Kollipara, an Emmy-nominated virtual reality producer and member

of the Board of Directors at Space for Humanity and the SETI Institute, both spent a morning at the school, alongside Rhiannon Roberts, Executive O cer in the Astrophysics Division at NASA. Following an initial presentation in assembly, the students were split into groups from Kindergarten right through to Year 8, to explore a multitude of ageappropriate topics. In addition to hearing fascinating facts about space, this included exploring the work SETI conduct in their search for extra-terrestrial intelligence and the possibility of alien lifeforms. The children also learned about the socalled ‘Goldilocks Zone’, the habitable area around a star where water, and ultimately life, is most likely to be found. This work was brought much closer to home when students were given an insight into how Space for Humanity are democratising space travel through their Citizen Astronaut programme. In

addition to hearing what this entails, the training involved, the stories of some of the ﬁrst Citizen Astronauts and their experience of zero gravity, they also heard about the powerful purpose behind this mission. Driven by a phenomenon known as the ‘Overview E ect’, where astronauts gain a unique perspective of our shared humanity as they view the planet from above, the programme aims to enable future changemakers to experience this mindset shift and use it to play a vital role in cultivating peace and prosperity for all.

The thought-provoking morning resonated strongly with the school’s International Baccalaureate curriculum, which similarly aims to develop internationally-minded individuals. Recognising their shared guardianship of the planet, in addition to gaining deep subject knowledge, students at St George’s develop socially-responsible attitudes and learn the importance of taking thoughtful and appropriate action based on the knowledge they acquire.

The workshops formed part of the school’s diverse Real World Ready programme of speakers, aiming to inspire the students and help them translate their learning into the real world. Other speakers this year have included Nick Winton, whose father rescued over 600 children on the eve of World War II, a story demonstrating the profound impact of purpose-driven action, and Phil Giles, Director of Football at Brentford Football Club, who provided an insight into how a PhD in Statistics has led him to success in the role.

stgwindsor.org

why everyone is talking about…

FORMULA 1®

Silverstone Museum has launched an exciting exclusive exhibition showcasing 75 years of Formula 1®, set to thrill fans and visitors making a pit stop at the award-winning attraction. In a world-ﬁrst for the museum, it recently unveiled a legendary line-up of iconic racing cars on display at the new exhibition to mark the 75th anniversary of the Formula 1® Driver’s World Championship.

The unique collection of racing cars, rare artefacts and motorsport memorabilia, was revealed for the ﬁrst time on 13th May – exactly 75 years to the day that the ﬁrst Formula 1® Driver’s World Championship race was held at Silverstone. The must-see exhibition’s incredible collection of classic and modern day cars is geared up to showcase the pinnacle of motorsport performance featuring racing cars past and present.

F1® cars driven by Lando Norris and George Russell are some of the highlights of the exhibition featuring racing cars driven by former champions including Graham Hill, Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell. Located trackside at the iconic Silverstone circuit, the museum is showcasing more than 60 exhibits to mark motorsport’s momentous milestone with the exhibition running until the end of September this year.

Rob Jaina, Head of Learning and Engagement at Silverstone Museum, says: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this unique collection of F1® cars and

Silverstone Museum celebrates 75 years of F1® with a new exclusive exhibition

exhibits, some of which have never been on display to the public before. We are thrilled to be able to showcase so many iconic F1® cars alongside amazing artefacts from our archives, as we commemorate every decade of the Formula 1® Driver’s World Championship demonstrating how F1® has become a global phenomenon.”

The exhibition will also feature several F1® trophies won by racing legends, including Graham Hill and Sir Jackie Stewart, alongside helmets worn by previous world champions including Damon Hill and Alain Prost. Formula 1® race suits and motorsport memorabilia will also form part of the prestigious collection and will be refreshed regularly.

silverstonemuseum.co.uk

ROB JAINA