st martins house - Aspire Magazine

Success Stories
Each week, Aspire strive to bring you the best companies
we can find; we scour the length and breadth of the country
looking for businesses that offer excellent customer service,
great value for money and a top-class product. Over the
last 12 months we’ve discovered some of Britain’s best
companies, from local services to national businesses, and
are eager to share them with you.
There are many aspects that make these companies stand
out above all others. From excellent customer service to
tailor-made guidance and advice, outstanding products to
enjoyable shopping experiences, the businesses that we’ve
found can deliver it all.
Finding these well-established companies, which offer this
level of service, can be difficult, especially in these tough
economic times. So many companies are suffering and with
many big names having already gone into administration,
disappearing from our High Streets for good, it can be hard to
know who to trust with your money.
The companies within this feature have had a great 2011
and are pressing onwards and upwards to make 2012 bigger
and better. Going the extra mile for all of their customers
and promising a truly personalised experience, the range of
companies featured within these pages guarantee that the
experience you have with them will stand out from the rest.
In fact, we’re confident that you’ll be so impressed, you’ll be
eager to recommend them to your friends and family.
Editor, Claire Tipton, says: “Here at Aspire, we believe it is
important to highlight the companies and
services that really matter to our readers, which
is why we regularly celebrate those that offer
something special. Recognising that good value
for money, excellent customer service and high
quality goods are three of the most important
factors our readers look for in a company, we
strive to find businesses that offer all three and
work exceptionally hard to tailor our advertising
to our readership. We’ve had a great 2011 and
the companies within this feature are sharing in
our success, as we’re sharing in theirs.”
Aspire always strive to support independent
businesses and specialist services because
we believe there are many advantages to
choosing these over their large, multi-national
counterparts. With an independent company
you will never be treated like just a number
because they value your custom and support, so
why not make 2012 the year you look at goods
and services from your local, independent
businesses before opting for a large chain. Not
only do Aspire believe that you’ll get a better
service, but you’ll also be keeping your hardearned
cash in the local economy, securing jobs
and futures for years to come.
Little
Houndales
Suffolk X Knitting Yarn
and Designer Yarns and
Accessories from the
Yorkshire Wolds
Little Houndales Farm lies at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds and the land stretches up on to the
top of the Wolds. The farm is mixed, comprising arable, a suckler cow herd and sheep. Sheep
are a family tradition and even when times have been hard and many farms have gone out of
sheep, we have kept on with the family tradition and continued to keep about 60 Suffolk X.
Stockists of Noro, MillaMia, Debbie Bliss, Art Viva, Knit Pro,
Louisa Harding and many more.
14 ASPIRE
Katherine Foster, Little Houndales Knits, Little Houndales Farm,
Nafferton, Driffield, East Yorkshire
Tel: 01377 255093 | Email: Kath@LittleHoundalesKnits.com
Website: www.littlehoundalesknits.com
A Successful
2011
Certificate Of Recognition For
Scotland’s Finest Accommodation 2012
Ceud Mile Failte
Top Recommendation
A warm welcome to Lochboisdale Hotel
on the beautiful island of South Uist in the
Outer Hebrides. Calum and Karen MacAulay
and their family run the hotel, situated
at the ferry terminal in Lochboisdale
overlooking the bay with splendid views
across to Canna and Rhum.
We have 15 rooms, 5 single, 5 twin and 5
double including one family room that will
comfortably sleep a family of 5. All of the
rooms have en-suite facilities and all but
three rooms have views across the bay.
Lochboisdale Hotel has a warm and friendly
welcome with staff who are there to make
your stay a memorable one.
Lochboisdale Hotel, Isle of South Uist,
Western Isles HS8 5TH
T: 01878 700332 | F: 01878 700324
E: kazamac@yahoo.com
www.lochboisdale.com
Welcome to the Royal Horseshoes, a charming 15th Century pub located in the
historic and picturesque village of Waltham-on-the-Wolds in Leicestershire.
You'll find it on the A607 between the market town of Melton Mowbray and
Grantham, just 5 minutes from Belvoir Castle, 11 miles from Rutland Water and
a little over 3 miles from Twin Lakes Park. A warm welcome awaits you, with a
large car park to the rear and en-suite accommodation for the perfect stopover.
Royal Horseshoes Inn, 4 Melton Road (A607),
Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Leicestershire LE14 4AJ
Tel: 01664 46434 | Email: mail@royalhorseshoes.com
www.royalhorseshoes.com
www.stmartinshouse.com
Spring Sun At
The Bulstone Hotel
Situated in picturesque Branscombe in east
Devon, The Bulstone Hotel offers the perfect
escape for holidaymakers looking for a late
winter or early spring break. Dating back
to the 16th Century, The Bulstone has been
welcoming children, couples and groups
from all over the world for many years,
but it was first established as a hotel by a
landowner looking to diversify in the 1960s.
The hotel’s focus was altered in the 1980s
as it was transformed into one of the first
child-friendly hotels in the country. By the
late 1990s, the hotel was so successful, it
attracted the attention of Kevin Monaghan
and his family; they bought it in 1996 and
have been running it ever since.
Kevin said: “When we moved here, we
decided we would continue to develop
the hotel and make it as family-friendly
as possible. However, during school term
time, we’re the perfect destination for
Hurst Alpacas
A 2011 Success Story
Hurst Alpacas are a high quality herd of Huacaya
alpacas in a glorious array of pure white, fawn,
brown and black.
Breeder Madeleine Vogt has worked hard to ensure her
herd make a distinct impression on the alpaca world.
Madeleine’s alpacas are all registered with the British
Alpaca Society. They have quickly become one of the
best in the South East, making them a great investment.
The Hurst Alpacas’ story began in 2005, when Madeleine
and her husband decided they wanted a herd animal to
help manage their 26-acre farm. It was decided alpacas
were the perfect choice and the couple welcomed
a small herd of five, which included three pregnant
females and two castrated males.
The Hurst herd now ranks at 50. It has taken a lot of
learning for Madeleine to become the alpaca expert she
is today. Like anyone wanting to keep alpacas, she had
to put in a lot of hours researching and learning about
the best ways to care for and improve her herd.
Madeleine explains: “When I first started, I read a lot of
books on the subject. I would suggest that this a good
place to start for those interested in keeping alpacas. I
was also grateful to receive a lot of support and advice
from the breeder I purchased my first alpacas from,
holidaymakers who aren’t restricted to
getting away during the school holidays;
holidaymakers who are looking for
somewhere they can relax and enjoy life at
a slower pace.”
All the hotel’s bedrooms are en-suite and
provide unrivalled comfort, as well as TV/
DVD with Freeview and a hospitality tray.
Each family suite comprises two bedrooms
and a bathroom, whilst the superior suite
boasts a double bedroom, bathroom, twin/
bunk bedroom and sitting room.
Accommodation is provided on either
B&B or dinner, bed and breakfast basis,
providing guests with the opportunity to
sample the region’s local produce, from
vegetables and fish to meat and eggs.
As well as a TV lounge and small library, The
Bulstone also boasts a well-stocked bar for
a relaxing drink after a long day exploring
the area, which boasts attractions and
activities for all ages and interests.
Not just a hotel, The Bulstone aims to be a
home-from-home, offering every guest a
warm welcome, friendly hospitality and a
relaxed atmosphere, no matter
how long their stay. For more
info, please call
01297 680446 or visit
www.childfriendlyhotels.com
which proved invaluable during those first few
months. There are numerous local groups
in every area of the country which meet up
several times a year to cover important topics.
Vets also attend to talk about health issues
breeders need to be aware of.”
Tel: 01253 737907
Email: info@easthamhall.co.uk
Web: www.easthamhall.co.uk
Madeleine now breeds her Huacaya alpacas
to sell and has had a lot of success with her breeding
programme during 2011. She currently has five young
quality males for sale. Madeleine says: “We’ve also had
eight crias this year, three of which were fathered by
one of our homebred stud males. I’m currently watching
how they develop. Hopefully, some of the males will
become stud males in the future.
Recognising Madeleine’s great effort to breed excellent
alpacas from the best bloodlines, Aspire recently
selected the breeder for our Certificate of Recognition
for Quality Breeding.
Madeleine also owns a flock of around 20 Balwen Welsh
Mountain Sheep. They are a rare breed which was
nearly wiped out in 1947. This year they produced 25
lambs. Some of the lambs have been sold locally but she
also kept some of the lambs to secure fresh breeding
stock to keep this attractive breed going.
Like to own a holiday home
in highly desirable
Lytham St Annes?
Eastham Hall Caravan Park, Saltcotes Road,
Lytham St Annes FY8 4LS
At Eastham Hall you are five minutes from the tree-lined
streets of the Lytham, chic shops, golf courses galore
and golden sands.
Call us today to arrange a viewing!
New and second-hand holiday homes for sale.
Follow us on Twitter
www.twitter.com/EasthamHall
For more information, call
Madeleine on 07785 296379 or
email dannyvogt@msn.com
Hurst Alpacas
Little Danny Farmhouse
New Way Lane
Hurstpierpoint
West Sussex
BN6 9BB
ASPIRE 15