Bristol Living Feb - Mar 2020

YOUR FREE COPY FEBRUARY/MARCH 2020 

Bristol 

+ 

SPRING EVENTS 

LIVING 

VEGGIE RECIPES 

FOODIE SANTA BARBARA 

HERITAGE 

reimagined 

MODERN VICTORIAN STYLING 

PLUS: BATHROOM & TILE GUIDE 

& AMAZING GLAZING 

A LIFESTYLE JOURNAL FOR THE CITY OF BRISTOL

Nature created electricity. 

Porsche gave it soul. 

The new Taycan. Soul, electrified. 

Taycan Turbo S: Electrical consumption (WLTP) combined: 25.7 – 24.5 kWh/100km. 

CO 2 

Emissions (NEDC Equivalent) combined: 0 g/km. 

Porsche Centre Bristol 

The Paddock 

Cribbs Causeway 

Bristol BS10 7UH 

0117 900 2911 

info@porschebristol.co.uk 

www.porschebristol.co.uk

CONTENTS 

05 WHAT’S ON 

The best local events as spring begins to awaken 

and half term approaches 

12 EDUCATION 

The Independent Association of Prep Schools 

tells us why it’s time to trust in their future 

16 LIZ BONNIN 

We catch up with the TV presenter and wildlife 

expert ahead of Planet Earth II Live in Concert 

20 WEDDINGS 

Big engagement over Christmas? We have top 

tips on planning the day 

23 MITCH TONKS 

We speak to the West Country chef and discuss 

the importance of creating a community 

32 BATHROOM & TILES 

We check out the top trends and perfect finishes 

in the bathroom 

EDITOR Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

PUBLISHER Sally Thomson 

PRE PRESS MANAGER Kate O’Connell 

KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER Tessa Welbourn 

e simeon@minervapublications.co.uk | t 01225 613515 

CONTRIBUTORS Rebecca Rose, Pete Lawrence, Lucy Saunders 

WWW.BRISTOLLIVINGMAG.CO.UK 

Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be held liable for any loss occasioned by failure of an 

advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions and 

misprints. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the 

publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers. Address: 

County Gate, County Way, Trowbridge BA14 7FJ 

A NOTE FROM THE 

EDITOR 

The bleak midwinter. I often bemoan the loss of the 

twinkle of festive lights and Christmas wreaths - it 

seems a cruel, long stretch from early January into 

spring without something nice to look at - we can all 

fall victim to this pessimism, generally because after 

the chaos of the festive season, our diaries are looking 

a little empty and our doors a little sad… 

How about instead of succumbing to the midwinter 

gloom, we instead rejoice in something altogether 

more special than strings of lights or wrapped up 

presents - the gentle awakening of spring, the shift in 

the seasons. I won’t look for glitter, but instead for the 

solemn little heads of the snowdrops in shady patches 

or the gentle bob of yellow swathes of daffodils lining 

the roads on my drive to work. I’ll view my lack of 

social engagements not as a problem, but as a chance 

to take a breath - and maybe treat myself to a dinner 

without having to worry about anyone else. Finally, 

instead of filling my body with festive treats (I assure 

you, there were plenty), I’ll fill my lungs with fresh air 

during the little 20 minutes I’ve carved out of my day 

for a lunchtime walk. 

This issue we have a bumper selection of goodies to 

keep you occupied too - with a fabulous bathroom and 

tile guide, some enviable inspiration on architectural 

glazing and some tips on modern Victorian styling. 

Add into that a catch up with the charming chef Mitch 

Tonks, some tasty recipes and an interview with the 

fascinating TV presenter and a bumper wedding 

guide - well, we are confident there is something for 

everyone. 

We will see you again in April - when we will be in full 

Easter mode! 

Katie 

Front cover courtesy of craftberrybush.com 

www.bristollivingmag.co.uk | 3

EVENTS GUIDE 

MARKETS & FAIRS 

Royal Bath and West Showground 

The Showground, Shepton Mallet BA4 6QN 

01749 822200 

www.bathandwestshowground.com 

Giant Flea Market 

Friday 28th - Saturday 29th February 

Over 250 inside and outside stalls, selling a plethora of 

items from Retro-furniture, Vintage clothing, Garden 

statuary, Arts & Crafts, Jewellery, Books, Toys, Sweets, 

Clothes, Music, Fabrics and more. 

A licensed restaurant, cafe, food court and on-site 

banking facilities all help to make this a great day out for 

all of the family. 

February/March 

Giant Flea Market at Royal Bath 

and West Showground 

c.d.’s, collectibles and merchandise, and is the biggest 

event of it’s kind in the South West. Traders from all over 

the South attend the event, with buyers from as far-afield 

as Japan, Russia & Poland. 

Toy & Train Collectors Fair 

Sunday 29th March, 10.30am - 2.30pm 

Catering for all collectors, you can walk around in the 

wide aisles looking for those elusive models that you have 

always wanted, the list is endless. Dinky, Corgi, Comics, 

Minichamps, Hornby, Bassett Lowke, Meccano, Spot- 

On, Sci-Fi, Marklin, Matchbox, Scalextric, EFE, Lledo, 

Actionman, Dolls, Teddies. and much, much, more can 

all be found in the Showering Pavilion and Balcony. 

THEATRE & SHOWS 

Bristol Hippodrome 

St Augustines Parade, Bristol BS1 4UZ 

0844 871 3012 

www.atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome 

Trixie Mattel On Tour 

Sun 17th May 2020 

Drag Queen, musician, stand up comedian, entertainer, 

entrepreneur. After a successful UK tour in 2018, All 

Stars 3 winner Trixie Mattel returns in May 2020 for a 

full length theatre tour! 

Antique & Collectors Fair 

Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th March 

Unique finds, retro collectables and a vast variety of 

vintage items make this the West Country’s premier 

antiques event. 

The Wedding Showcase 

Saturday 21st - Sunday 22nd March 

If you are looking for the ultimate wedding planning 

experience, The Wedding Showcase is your one stop 

shop, with so much wedding inspiration, passion and 

fun under one roof, don’t miss your chance to Buy, Book 

and Hire everything you need as you plan your wedding 

day. 

Colston Hall 

Colston Street, Bristol BS1 5AR 

0117 9223686 | www.colstonhall.org 

Record and CD Fair 

Saturday 8th February 

Held at Colston Hall since 2010, the Record Fair boasts 

seventy dealers over three floors selling vinyl records, 

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical 

Tuesday 25th - Saturday 29th February 

Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of King’s 

remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit 

songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her 

relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia 

Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most 

successful solo acts in popular music history. 

We Will Rock You 

Monday 16th - Saturday 21st March 

With 24 of Queen’s biggest hits and Ben Elton’s hilarious 

futuristic comedy writing combined, comes a show that 

boasts the scale and spectacle that marked the band’s 

legendary live performances. 

The King and I 

Tuesday 24th March - Saturday 4th April 

Set in 1860s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of 

the unconventional and tempestuous relationship 

that develops between the King of Siam and Anna, a 

British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, in an 

imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many 

wives and children. 


Redgrave Theatre 

Percival Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3LE 

0117 3157800 | www.redgravetheatre.com/events 

Pure Queen - The Ultimate Live Queen Experience 

Saturday 22nd February 

Pure Queen deliver an internationally acclaimed 

show that authentically recreates the explosive live 

performances of the legendary and timeless band Queen. 

Jimeoin 

Tuesday 18th February 

Superb world-class stand-up from the Irishman from 

Australia acclaimed worldwide as one of live comedy’s 

true masters as Jimeoin brings his brilliantly observed, 

ever-evolving and hilarious comedy for one night only 

as part of his latest smash-hit tour. 

Ian Ashpitel & Jonty Stephens as Eric & Ern 

Sunday 1st March 

For all the family from 8 to 108. Eric and Ern is a 

brilliant homage to Morecambe and Wise crammed full 

of those famous comedy sketches, from Grieg’s Piano 

concerto, Mr Memory’Arsenal’ to the paper bag trick! 

Funny Girls - The Original Drag Experience 

Sunday 8th March 

If you want to see a show with big laughs, up tempo 

exciting singalong routines and theatrical classics 

with a hilarious twist, there is no show in the UK that 

competes with the entertainment at Funny Girls - it is 

the epitome of a show stopping extravaganza! 

Iain Stirling - Failing Upwards 

Friday 13th - Saturday 14th March 

Do you ever wonder how people manage to be normal? 

Iain does. So much so he’s written a brand new standup 

show about it. Join Iain as he explores his inability 

to function in the most basic of public settings, social 

media’s constant pressure to “live your best life” and 

that one time a man stole his shoes. 

Gladys Knight - Midnight Train To Georgia 

Saturday 21st March 

Hayley-Ria Christian is internationally renowned as 

the world’s foremost tribute to the ‘Empress of Soul’. 

In this stunning new production her outstanding 

vocal harmonies, along with a full live band and video 

projection, recreate the stage magic and Motown 

phenomenon that was Gladys Knight & The Pips. 

have predicted that, 40 years on, they’d still be dazzling 

audiences with their showmanship and virtuosity. 

One Love with Legend - A Tribute to Bob Marley 

Friday 14th February 

Expect a memorable night featuring all the Reggae hit 

songs of one of the most influential artists in the history 

of music. The musicianship from this 7-piece band is 

flawless, with that irresistible reggae groove compelling 

you to move, and the presence of Bob Marley himself 

invoked in the skilled and respectful portrayal of frontman. 

Bootleg Blondie 

Saturday 22nd February 

Bootleg Blondie is the world’s No.1 official Debbie 

Harry & Blondie tribute band established in 2001, 

the only Blondie tribute to play the legendary CBGB 

in New York City and unique in that they had the 

honour to be thanked on Blondie’s 11th studio album 

‘Pollinator’. 

Showhawk Duo 

Saturday 29th February 

Young British guitarists Mikhail Asanovic and Jake 

Wright, together known as The Showhawk Duo, have 

dazzled audiences worldwide with their spectacular 

approach to playing the guitar. 

Faith - The George Michael Legacy 

Friday 6th March 

Faith - The George Michael Legacy returns with a 

stunning celebration remembering one of the greatest 

singer-songwriters of all time. This energetic, vibrant 

musical journey brings to life 35 years of hits from 

George’s glittering career. 

CSF Wrestling 

Sunday 8th March 

CSF Wrestling returns with another action packed, 

bone crunching, body slamming edition of Wrestling 

Showdown. Twelve top names will collide in five pro 

bouts as the larger than life stars arrive in town. 

Event suitable for all ages. 

Bootleg Blondie at the Cheese 

and Grain 

Cheese and Grain 

Market Yard, Frome BA11 1BE 

01373 455420 

www.cheeseandgrain.com 

The Blues Band 

Friday 7th February 

Many of the Blues Band’s 21st century fans weren’t even 

born when these five virtuosos, already music industry 

veterans, decided to fly in the face of musical fashion in 

1979 and form a band ‘just to play the blues’. No one could 

6 | www.bristollivingmag.co.uk

Spring 2020 

with Bristol Film Festival 

The Festival is turning five - celebrate with us this March! 

www.bristolfilmfestival.com 

Classic Films | Iconic Locations | Unique Experiences 

Park Campus, The Park, Cheltenham GL50 2RH 


Bristol Old Vic 

King Street, Bristol BS1 4DZ 

0117 987 7877 

www.bristololdvic.org.uk 

Puccini’s Madam Butterfly 

Friday 14th - Saturday 15th February 

Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose return with a 

new English version of Puccini’s Madam Butterfly. 

A young woman abandoned by the man for whom she 

sacrificed everything. But she is stronger than anyone 

imagined... 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

Tuesday 18th - Friday 21st February 

This critically acclaimed production of The Very Hungry 

Caterpillar Show features a menagerie of 75 lovable 

puppets, faithfully adapting four of Eric Carle’s stories, 

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, The 

Very Lonely Firefly and of course, the star of the show 

celebrating its 50th Birthday in 2019, The Very Hungry 

Caterpillar. 

EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS 

Dyrham Park 

Dyrham, SN14 8ER 

0117 937 2501 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park 

Beeswax Candle Making 

Saturday 8th - Sunday 9th February 

Create a 17th-century style glow this season by having a 

go at making candles to shine a light in your home. 

Winter Tree ID Walk 

Sundays 23rd February and 1st March 

The stark beauty of trees in winter makes a walk in the 

park magical but it is more of a challenge to identify 

these leafless giants of the winter landscape. 

World Book Day 

Thursday 5th - Sunday 8th March 

To celebrate World Book Day they will be celebrating 

with a story-creating activity and some storytelling on 

site. You’ll be able to exchange your 1 book token for 

an exciting new read in the shop and why not set off on 

an adventure and create your very own story in a trail 

around the parkland? 

Cotswold Walk - Park & Countryside (Battlefield) 

Saturday 14th March 

A walk from Dyrham Park through nearby farm land 

and along part of the Cotswold Way. Passing historical 

points of interest along the way. Leaders, John Walker & 

Robert Ford 

Puccini’s Madam Butterfly 

at Bristol Old Vic 

occupants would have celebrated Lady’s Day at the 

end of March. Go along and get a taste of the past this 

Mother’s day weekend. 

Avon Valley Railway 

Bitton Station, Bath Road, Bitton , Bristol BS30 6HD 

0117 9325538 

www.avonvalleyrailway.org 

Mother’s Days Express 

Sunday 22nd March 

Treat your Mother to something different! 

Join the Avon Valley Railway on this special day 

and treat your mother to a 3 course pines express. 

Grand Pier 

Marine Parade, Weston-Super-Mare BS23 1AL 

01934620238 

www.grandpier.co.uk 

Weston Super Half Marathon 

Sunday 29th March - starts at 9.30am 

The Weston Super Half will set off from Marine 

Parade and take in the sights of Weston-Super-Mare 

and surrounding picturesque Somerset villages and 

countryside in a single lap closed road fast half marathon 

event that will offer the totally unique opportunity of a 

finish out to sea on Weston’s Grand Pier! 

DON'T FORGET 

Mothering 

Sunday 

22 nd March 

Lady’s Day - Mother’s Day Weekend 

Saturday 21st - Sunday 22nd March 

In the seventeenth century at Dyrham Park, the original 


ADVERTISING FEATURE 

THE ROYAL BATH 

AND WEST SHOW 

FOOD AND PRODUCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN 

A KEY ATTRACTION AT THE ROYAL BATH 

AND WEST SHOW... 

Food and produce has always been a key attraction at the 

Royal Bath & West Show, from artisan producers to the 

WI Tea Tent. This year, the ‘foodie’ interest will increase 

significantly through the introduction of ‘The Great British 

Kitchen’, where the Show will champion the very best of the 

wonderful produce available in the South West... 

‘The Great British Kitchen’ is a new attraction for the 2020 

Show, and is situated within the former Theatre. Featuring 

a fully-functional demonstration kitchen on the stage it will 

also have an external facelift, to blend in with the Wessex 

Pavilion Bar & Restaurant. 

To get their new feature off to a flying start, the Show’s 

organisers have invited three celebrity chefs with local 

connections to perform cookery demonstrations over the 

three days of the Show, and they will use their knowledge 

of local produce to create dishes with a South-West flavour. 

Leading the way on the opening day (Thursday 28th May) 

is Briony May Williams, who came to the public’s attention 

in the 2018 series of The Great British Bake Off. Briony 

reached the semi-finals of the competition and has since 

joined the presenting team of Food Unwrapped (Channel 

4) as well as appearing on The Great British Bake Off: An 

Extra Slice (Channel 4), Blue Peter (CBBC) and Beautiful 

Bakes With Juliet Sear (ITV). 

“THE ROYAL BATH & WEST 

SHOW TAKES PLACE ON 

28TH - 30TH MAY 

The demonstrations will be free to attend but numbers will 

be limited – so make sure you get there early on the day to 

secure your seat at one of the hottest (and tastiest) shows 

in town! 

Tickets are on sale now at 

www.bathandwest.com/tickets 

More recently you’ll have seen her on The Great British 

Bake Off Christmas Special (Channel 4) and the Food 

Unwrapped Christmas Special (Channel 4). Using one of 

the best-known and loved products of Somerset, amongst 

Briony’s demonstration dishes will be a Fruity Cider Apple 

Pie. 

Following on from Briony’s appearance the Show will 

welcome Dean Edwards, who appeared regularly on ITV’s 

Lorraine and This Morning; and Josh Eggleton, owner and 

chef patron of the Michelin-Starred Pony & Trap in Chew 

Magna. The three will appear on separate days of the Show 

and will each offer three cooking demonstrations using, 

where possible, products available from the food trade 

stands, which visitors can then purchase from the Food & 

Drink Marquee to try out the recipes at home! 


TIME TO TRUST IN 

THE FUTURE OF 

PREP SCHOOLS 

It can’t be easy being a prospective parent of a prep 

school child. If you fall into this category you might 

have been forgiven, prior to the December election, 

for thinking that there’s not much point as the whole 

fee paying independent school sector could have been 

abolished... 

If the outcome of the election had been different 

don’t underestimate the independent school sector’s 

determination to fight for its existence with every 

legal pathway being followed to test the legitimacy 

of such a policy. As it is, the immediate prospect of a 

political threat has greatly subsided and the sector has 

the breathing space to make its case more forcefully 

that we have a right to exist and parents should be 

presented with options for the education of their 

children. It is for parents to choose the school which 

is best suited to their child’s needs, aspirations and 

talents. 

In the meantime, there is every reason to have 

confidence in prep schools and their future. IAPS (the 

Independent Association of Prep Schools) has over 

600 of the top prep and fee-charging junior schools 

in the UK. The first step in your search for quality is 

to check if your possible short list of schools for your 

son or daughter carries the mark of quality by being 

a member of the heads’ association known as IAPS. 

This association has a history extending back over 

126 years and the criteria for membership is strictly 

monitored to ensure both the head, and the school 

they work at, maintain the highest standards. School 

inspection reports are received by IAPS, for example, 

and any failings identified have to be rectified in good 

time to maintain membership. In one sense, therefore, 

the first level of due diligence a parent might feel it 

necessary to undertake is already done for them if the 

school can demonstrate they are members of IAPS 

and, better still, have been a member for many years. 

What should you do next as you are feeling your way 

through the maze of glossy publications and enticing 

web sites placed in front of you. The temptation is 

to look for a ‘brand’ name and, to some extent, this 

has merit as it will more often than not lead you to 

a school with a fine reputation polished over many 

years of conspicuous achievement. The question 

to ask, of course, is has the school a reputation for 

success in the areas which co-incide with the talents 

and interests of your child. A fine school’s sporting 

tradition is of little relevance if your child is a talented 

and developing musician – not that those two areas 

have to be mutually exclusive. 

The resort to social media and discussion forums 

is a likely step many will take but if your chosen 

pathway takes you in this direction then, at the risk 

of patronising you, the reader, beware. Do you use 

Tripadvisor when planning a stay away? Do you 

believe all the messages posted there and would you 

base your whole view of a school on the postings of a 

few with most likely a pro- or anti-line to promote for 

their own reasons. 

There might be themes to pick up on but it really 

needs each parent to seek out the things that are most 

important to you and your child. 

That brings me then to what you should do. The most 

important thing is to visit the school and not just on 

an official Open Day. If a school can’t buff itself up to 

look good on an official Open Day it really is a poor 

do. However, chose a day and time to suit you, though 

be reasonable when negotiating this. Nothing much 

is likely to be gained from a visit if a good proportion 

of the school is off their normal timetable or routine 

because it’s the day of the annual whole school cross 

country event. Ask to see the class your child would 

likely join at work and then visit older age groups, 

looking for obvious positive progression as revealed 

by the work displayed on the wall displays. Find out 

the answers to the questions you have about the areas 

important to you and judge how open and direct you 

find the responses from the school. In short trust your 

instincts and not wholly what others tell you. 

If you follow this advice you won’t go far wrong and 

then don’t lose any sleep at all over the long term 

future of your prep school. Let IAPS do that bit for 

you whilst you concentrate on finding the right school 

for your child. 

Christopher King, CEO, IAPS 


COME & BE 

Nursery & Junior School Open Morning 

Wednesday 12 th February (For ages 3 - 11) 

INSPIRED 

Senior & Sixth Form Open Morning 

Friday 28 th February (For ages 11 - 18) 

BOOK YOUR PLACE ONLINE NOW 

0117 905 5271 I admissions@badmintonschool.co.uk I badmintonschool.co.uk 

Writer 

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ARIANA, AGE 5 

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Book an Open Day at Millfield Pre-Prep 

or Prep on Saturday 29 February 2020 

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Mendip Living_152X110_October_2019.indd 1 24/10/2019 14:55 


FULL STEAM AHEAD 

DR KATIE KING, SCIENCE SUBJECT LEADER 

AT HEADINGTON PREP SCHOOL, OUTLINES 

THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING STEAM AT 

A YOUNG AGE - PARTICULARLY FOR GIRLS... 

What’s the point in focusing on STEAM when 

children are still mastering the basics of learning 

to read and write? Is there really any advantage to 

spending time, energy and resources on concepts 

likely to be alien to Prep or primary-aged children? 

In short, the answer is yes, particularly when we’re 

talking about girls’ education. 

Stereotyping is perhaps at its strongest at this age 

group. Girls are surrounded by pink princesses and 

expected to enjoy caring and nurturing play while 

boys are encouraged to get stuck into construction 

toys and physical play. Many will already confidently 

say what they want to be when they grow up. 

Fast forward a few years and while the girls may be 

out of their pink princess dresses, the proportion 

of girls studying Physics to A Level is a fraction of 

that of boys. Minuscule proportions of engineers 

are female and women are under-represented at the 

highest levels in challenging STEAM-related careers. 

Does this mean that fewer women have the skills and 

inclination? Highly unlikely – far more likely that 

they perhaps never even considered this as a possible 

career path. Thus opening their eyes to the world of 

STEAM at the earliest possible opportunity becomes 

that much more appealing. 

At Headington Prep School we have just finished our 

Year of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and 

Maths. It has been thrilling, exciting, challenging 

and genuinely inspiring. It was a celebration of 

all that the subjects offer, from problem-solving 

and teamwork, to the traits of perseverance and 

resilience. Whether these girls eventually follow 

careers in these fields or pursue other options, these 

will be invaluable skills both now and in the future. 

If you work with role models who are passionate 

about their field of learning then you can share their 

enthusiasm and excitement – and an intangible 

career concept becomes a real opportunity worth 

considering. In Oxford we are lucky enough to 

benefit from countless professionals working either 

in the city’s two universities, the world-leading 

research hospital the John Radcliffe or the nearby 

Science Park. When we bring in people like Oxford 

University professor of molecular genetics and 

metabolism Prof Anna Gloyn to show children 

as young as 7 or 8 how to extract DNA from 

strawberries, or challenge 11 year olds to break codes 

with teams from Bletchley Park, or invite researchers 

from the Oxford Vaccine Group to unpack the spread 

of disease and the purpose of vaccines with Key Stage 

2 children, it feels real. It’s no longer a distant and 

incomprehensible thing that ‘somebody else does’ but 

something they have actually experienced in action. 

It also shows them that women work in these critical 

industries – so too could they. It’s a cliché but if you 

don’t plant the seeds of ideas then they will never 

germinate into fully-fledged realities. 

Children of this age are less likely to have already 

decided they ‘can’t’ do something. They have less 

experience of failure and disappointment, of being 

told it’s not for them. It is as they grow older and they 

suffer setbacks or get things wrong that it becomes 

harder to take risks in their learning. They become 

less likely to take on something new and exciting if it 

comes, psychologically, with a risk of failure. 

If we start at this age and take advantage of these 

enquiring minds, the thirst for knowledge and new 

things which is such a wonderful trait in so many 

young children, then they will grow up armed with 

everything they need to make an educated decision 

on what they truly want to be – and what they 

CAN be. 



A NATURAL 

curiosity 

THE 'PLANET EARTH II LIVE IN CONCERT' ARENA TOUR WILL BE HOSTED 

BY SCIENCE AND NATURAL HISTORY TV PRESENTER LIZ BONNIN. WITH 

A MASTERS IN WILD ANIMAL BIOLOGY, LIZ HAS PRESENTED OVER 40 

PRIMETIME PROGRAMMES INCLUDING 'BLUE PLANET LIVE', 'SUPER 

SMART ANIMALS', 'GALAPAGOS' AND 'HORIZON'. 

With her recent landmark BBC One documentary 

‘Drowning in Plastic’, Liz investigated the ocean plastic 

crisis, with her hard-hitting environmental reporting 

raising the level of public debate on this important topic. 

Here Sally Thomson was able to discuss with Liz her 

passion for our planet prior to the start of the tour. 

Sally: When did your love of the world and all it’s 

creatures begin? 

Liz: Well it definitely started when I was a kid. I grew up 

in the south of France in the hills above Nice and we had 

a little wood beside the house. Myself and my sister used 

to play outdoors all of the time. There were snakes and 

hedgehogs and spiders and birds…and we had a ball! I 

knew that, without thinking about it then, that that’s what 

set me off with this passion for wildlife. I used to stare at 

the birds for hours, wondering how their eyes moved in 

their sockets and I really wanted to just understand how 

it all worked, down to the chemical equations that make 

up all of these reactions. 

So that was a natural progress for you then, to go into 

biochemistry? 

Exactly! It all started in the woods in the south of France! 

That’s why when I give talks in schools, I make sure to tell 

that story because it doesn’t take a lot to remember our 

connection to nature and what’s important, you just have 

to be in amongst nature to be inspired and to reignite 

your natural curiosity that we’re all born with, and with 

"IT’S A CELEBRATION 

OF THESE INCREDIBLY 

TALENTED FILM MAKERS, 

WHO SIT THERE FOR DAYS 

AND DAYS TO GET THE 

MAGICAL SHOTS THAT 

WILL AFFECT US TO OUR 

VERY CORE" 

that comes an inherent want to protect our natural world. 

It reminds you that we’re all connected to it. 

What you are doing is highlighting the dangers that 

the world's creatures are facing, particularly when 

you went on to do ‘Drowning in Plastic’. I know 

when I watched it my heart bled, but being so close 

to it when you made to programme, you must have 

found it difficult? 

I wish that as a communicator of the natural world, 

I could just be celebrating it and continuing to inspire 

people about all of these incredible creatures that we 

share the planet with, but unfortunately I am living 

through a time where we are experiencing the greatest 

existential threat to our future, and it is very clear that 

the way we live on this planet is not sustainable and is 

damaging not only the health of the wildlife we share the 

planet with, but is ultimately damaging our health and 

threatening our future. 

I feel a responsibility to communicate those things. As 

we set off making the plastics film, I knew what we were 

going to be filming, but it really did hit me like a ton of 

bricks to see it with my own eyes. It’s hard to describe. It’s 

been really moving and difficult, but also I feel like I have 

a very well-stoked fire in my belly now that feels like it 

won’t be extinguished. It is my responsibility to engage 

with the public in order for us all to become part of the 

solution. 

I recently watched the trailer for Planet Earth II 

Live in concert. Isn’t that going to be fantastic on 

the big screen?! 

It’s going to be magnificent; I can’t wait! Obviously it’s 

an extension and adaptation of the iconic series, but 

I think bringing it to a ginormous screen like that and 

then having a 74 piece orchestra playing the music of 

Hans Zimmer, it’s going to be a very emotive and very 

powerful experience. I think we are desperately in need 

of those types of experiences to help remind us of the 

beauty of the natural world, and the beauty of humanity 

as well. Our ability to write music and to be capable of 

making those types of programmes, and for us to be all 

together in these huge arenas having that connection is a 


much-needed experience, and I for one am very much 

looking forward to it. 

Some of the things we see in these programmes can 

be shocking, such as the killer whales going after 

the seals. But we of course have to remember that 

they have to survive too! 

You see for me I don’t find any of it shocking, isn’t that 

strange? And it’s really weird but I’m always rooting 

for the predator! Obviously there’s tension and it’s 

quite a powerful experience to watch, but I’m always 

rooting for the predator because from my studies I’ve 

seen just how difficult it is for a tiger to get its prey. 

It’s something like 1 in 100 attempts are successful. So 

I celebrate that, that’s part of nature and I think it’s a 

beautiful thing. 

There is an iconic moment in Planet Earth II 

with the iguana and the snakes… 

Ah that one! Okay, I have watched that sequence four 

times, and every time I find my screaming ‘COME 

ON’ at the camera. Funnily enough with that one 

I really want the iguana to escape! That’s so funny, 

with me saying I root for the predators. That is one 

of the most magnificent scenes I have ever seen, not 

least because of this almost inconceivable situation, 

with all these snakes coming out of the crevasses of 

the volcanic rocks, but how it was shot! You can not 

underestimate how difficult it is to make that sequence 

work. The smoothness of how the camera works was 

absolute perfection. So not only is it a celebration of 

the magnificent wildlife we share the planet with, it’s 

a celebration of these incredibly talented film makers, 

who sit there for days and days to get the magical shots 

that will affect us to our very core. It’s just wonderful. 

Am I right in hearing that you went a kilometre 

underwater in the Galapagos? 

Yes! We were on this research vessel for two weeks, 

joining all these scientists at the tops of their fields who 

were investigating different aspects of these islands and 

how to better protect them. At one point we got into 

this submersible and went down to a thousand meters, 

to a part of the Galapagos that nobody had ever been to 

before, so I truly felt like an astronaut of Earth’s inner 

space, rather than its outer. Everything I pointed to 

the scientists would say ‘Yep. New species...Yep, don’t 

what that is, never seen one of those before’. So we were 

discovering new life at those depths. It was the most 

incredible experience. 

It must be dark down there? 

It’s pitch black, so you have these types of sharks down 

there called Chimaera, who do have these big, bulbous 

eyes. There’s no iris, it’s just this big, white circle of an eye, 

which is supposed to help it absorb any smidgen of light 

that there might be down there, and it’s just a surprisingly 

colourful place in the crevasses of all the rocks. Galapagos 

are all volcanic islands, so what we were doing is following 

the flanks of the volcano all the way down to the depths. 

We were down there for seven hours and it passed by like 

we were down there for an hour, time sort of stands still 

down there. It was a thrilling experience. 

I was watching you recently talking about the 

African jungle, and you spoke about chimpanzees, 

and how much they fight. You showed how much 

the alpha male will fight to protect what is his, and 

it is a bit sinister! 

They’re not the only species that have to fiercely 

protect their place in the hierarchy. The males often are 

exhausted having to protect their females from usurpers 

to the throne as such, but chimpanzees in particular can 

be very violent and because we are so closely related to 

them I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise that they all 

have different personalities, and sometimes you just get a 

really nasty character. At the end of the day you can argue 

that the nastier the male, the more successful he will be 

because it all boils down to him and his offspring and 

protecting his gene pool. 

I suppose it’s like when male lions get rid of any 

cubs that aren’t their own 

There is infanticide in many species. It’s all about making 

sure you have as many offspring as possible, so if you kill a 

female's offspring then you can mate with her straight away. 


Are there parts of the world or creatures that you 

would like to visit/see for the first time? 

Yes. Snow leopards. I need to see a snow leopard. And part 

of it is because it is so difficult to see them now. They are 

extremely elusive and live in an extremely inhospitable 

part of the planet. They’re probably the most elusive cat, 

so that’s the dream. I will fall crying if I ever see one in 

the wild. They are the most glorious animals. Actually, 

it was on Planet Earth II, and again it is a scene that I’ve 

watched about three times and it always brings me to tears; 

the first time I heard the vocalisation of a snow leopard. 

I had never heard that before. And the fact that because 

our technology is improving, Planet Earth II was able 

to capture this glorious snow leopard at the top of this 

mountain that was vocalising. It brings me to tears every 

time I hear it, it’s the most glorious sound in the world. 

Are they as endangered as other leopards and big cats? 

Yes. I mean, the Amur leopard is the most endangered cat, 

but all big cats are facing extinction. They are all incredibly 

threatened and their populations are dwindling. 

We’ve spoken about the man-made situation with 

plastic. But is there anything else in the natural 

world that you have seen that has shocked you? 

In terms of the natural world, I think it is all magnificent. 

I really do. Even with something that might look to us 

to be violent, or a little bit uncomfortable to watch, I 

think that the more we understand how animals live and 

all of their adaptations that have allowed them to find 

solutions to all of their problems in order to survive - the 

more I understand it, the more I am in awe of it and the 

more it makes me humble and very small in comparison. 

So I find it all too wondrous to ever think that something 

is too much or too shocking. 

The dates for Planet Earth II Live in Concert are as follows: 

THURSDAY 6 MARCH 

Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff 

FRIDAY 27 MARCH 

Manchester Arena, Manchester 

SATURDAY 28 MARCH 

First Direct Arena , Leeds 

SUNDAY 29 MARCH 

O2 Arena (matinee), London 

SUNDAY 29 MARCH 

O2 Arena (evening), London 

WEDNESDAY 1 APRIL 

3Arena, Dublin 

FRIDAY 3 APRIL 

Resort World Arena Birmingham 

SATURDAY 4 APRIL 

SSE Hydro Arena, Glasgow 

Tickets are available from www.planetearth2live.uk.

WEDDED BLISS 

PLANNING YOUR NUPTIALS THIS YEAR? READ ON FOR 

TOP TRENDS AND LOTS OF INSPIRATION... 

Planning your wedding is a personal experience and to a 

large extent the format, style and little touches are more 

likely to be representations of your personalities and 

tastes over any trends. 

There is, however, an overwhelming body of inspiration 

online which can put even the most dedicated planner 

into a spin - sometimes some fresh, trend-led ideas 

might be just the spark to help you plan. 

PRINCESS DRESSES 

Channel your inner Disney princess - the more streamlined 

dresses we’ve been used to are making way for fuller skirts 

and ball-gown styles. For evening, lots of brides are opting 

for a second dress which is less constrictive - meaning they 

can dance the night away, carefree. 

PERSONAL DETAILS 

The wedding will be full of details that nod to you 

as a couple, but more and more brides are opting 

for personalisation in their outfits too. Some with 

meaningful words or dates embroidered into their veils 

or others more edgy with painted or stitched leather 

and denim jackets for the evening (these have the added 

bonus of being an item you can wear after the day!) 

SUSTAINABILITY 

With a big shift toward eco-friendly choices in everyday 

life, it’s natural that wedding venues and suppliers are 

upping their green credentials to meet the demands of 

green-thinking couples. Some considerations to make: 

ethical wedding rings and outfits, even consider hiring a 

dress (dresses take a lot of energy to create but are seldom 

worn after the event), give guests wildflower seeds as 

favours, employ caterers who only use bio-degradable 

packaging, print eco-friendly invitations on recycled 

paper and for flowers pick seasonal blooms grown locally 

where possible. 

TABLE SETTINGS 

One of the biggest transformations in recent years is the 

style of tables and the seating arrangements. The more 

ornate chair covers with bows have made way for elegant 

chiavari chairs and tables are bursting with informal 

arrangements, made predominantly of foliage, picked 

out by the twinkle of fairy lights and mirrored platters. 

INCREDIBLE VENUES 

Stately homes and castles are having a moment, making 

perfect backdrops for the big day. As well as being 

historic places to tie the knot, they are full of character 

and have many architectural gems - perfect for capturing 

those unforgettable photos. 

WALL DECORATIONS 

In more non-traditional venues with plainer walls or 

in marquees, decor is key for setting the mood. ‘Green’ 

walls made from foliage and picked out with white lights 

look elegant and timeless, whereas paper pom poms in 


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ight colours are cheerful and inviting. A 

new trend is a balloon wall - making arches 

to frame the ceremony. Lots of couples can 

add a DIY element here, making some of 

the decorations themselves (with a small 

army of bridesmaids or ushers to help!) 

As ever, Pinterest is a great source of 

inspiration - but try not to get too bogged 

down and stressed with including every 

detail - the most successful weddings focus 

on bringing together a happy couple in an 

atmosphere of love and support - guests 

will remember how they feel on the day 

above all else. 

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THE CHEF 

that rocks 

FAMED FOR HIS GROWING GROUP OF 

FABULOUS FISH RESTAURANTS, ROCKFISH, 

MITCH TONKS IS A CHEF, AUTHOR, 

RESTAURATEUR AND A PASSIONATE, 

LIFELONG ADVOCATE FOR ALL THE MORSELS 

THAT EMERGE FROM THE DEEP BLUE SEA. 

SALLY THOMSON CAUGHT UP WITH HIM 

TO DISCUSS EXPANSION PLANS, CAREER 

MOTIVATIONS AND WHY HIS HEART WILL 

ALWAYS BELONG TO THE KITCHEN... 

Sally: I hear you have another 

book on the horizon? 

Mitch: I do! We’re doing 

another Rockfish book. 

It will be published 

October. All very 

exciting! 

Fantastic! How many 

Rockfish Restaurants 

have you got now? 

At the moment there 

are seven but there 

will be nine by the 

end of the year. They 

will be in Poole, 

Lyme Regis, and 

Sidmouth. Poole 

opened in January, 

Lyme Regis will 

open in June and 

Sidmouth will 

open in October. 

We then have 

two or three sites 

ready for 2021 

that we are just 

negotiating on. 

That is 

incredible, when 

you think about 

where you’ve 

come from. 

It’s kind of been an 

up and down journey, 

because we had 

Fishworks, which grew 

to thirteen, but it was 

a public company and the wrong 

environment to grow restaurants 

in and ultimately the project failed. 

But since 2009 Seahorses has existed 

down in Dartmouth, and Rockfish 

is ten years old, so we’ve done well 

to rebuild over that period. 

When we last had a chat you’d 

opened Joe’s Bar, how’s that going? 

It’s going really well, and since 

May last year we actually moved 

the entrance to the restaurant 

through Joe’s Bar, and that’s been 

a real success as people enter the 

restaurant through Joe’s Bar, have 

a drink and start their dining 

experience off with something 

more special and fun. 

So how do you stretch yourself 

with everything going on? 

Well the business is over three 

hundred people, with a really good 

senior team, finance, marketing, 

and then over four hundred 

in the summer. So, I obviously 

work very closely with my senior 

team and I am clear about what 

I want to achieve in a period of 

time and helping other people to 

achieve those goals. Sometimes its 

challenging but when you work as 

a team and you are supporting each 

other you can make stuff happen. 

That’s it really! 

Managing those people, helping 

them manage others, then I spend 


"I THINK WHEN FISHWORKS 

FAILED…WELL IT GIVES 

YOU PLENTY OF TIME 

TO REFLECT ON WHAT’S 

REALLY IMPORTANT TO YOU 

AND WHAT’S NOT" 

and Denham Productions and the BBC wanted to do 

series two. So there was a lot of euphoria and excitement 

from Matt and the team, and they were on their way to 

London to sign the deal. 

We had agreed it, gone through it all and I started to get cold 

feet. I was sat in the restaurant having a brandy and a coffee 

and I was just thinking to myself ‘I don’t actually want to 

be a television chef, I want to be in this restaurant cooking’. 

my time in the restaurants, as well as consistently 

looking at the business as a whole and thinking ‘How 

can our business provide better solutions for jobs, how 

can we be better than anywhere else to work, how can 

we have a really amazing strategy over five years that 

gives people top pay, freedom, how can we create a 

development programme so that people can develop in 

the organisation.’ 

I tend to think of the restaurants like a community now. 

Everybody who works for us belongs to the community. 

We talk a lot about family but of course family are hard 

to get rid of and communities are made up of people all 

contributing, so when people don’t contribute they move 

out of the community and new people move in. 

One thing I didn’t realise is that you made significant 

changes to your menu with regards to being gluten-free. 

That must have been a big change? 

Yes! About ten years ago we set about rebuilding all 

of cooking ranges and changing all of our practices so 

that offer everything gluten-free. We committed to the 

business being gluten-free, not just by saying ‘here’s 

a gluten-free menu’. Everything we do is gluten-free. 

If we have to swap a bun for a gluten-free bun we do, 

and it basically means that the whole menu is available 

to somebody with a gluten intolerance rather than them 

feeling in a minority and only being able to choose from 

say five things on the menu. 

Going back, I first met you at the beginning of the 

century! 2000, a long, long time ago! Since then you’ve 

appeared on TV, most notably with Matt Dawson, the 

rugby player, but do you find yourself too busy to make 

room to do any shows as of late? 

The television career took off back around 2008/09. The 

series Mitch and Matt’s Big Fish became very successful 

So I made a phone call to my agent who was on the 

train on the way up. He was mortified! All I could say 

to everyone was that ‘I’m sorry, I just don’t want to do 

it’. Financially it was suicide as it was a very well paid job 

but it was prime time television and all the things that go 

with it and I didn’t want to be known as a guy on telly. 

I wanted to build my reputation as a restaurateur and a 

chef which is what I actually really enjoy. 

I think when Fishworks failed…well it gives you plenty 

of time to reflect on what’s really important to you and 

what’s not and allowed me to make my own choices, 

not get swept along with ‘this is a great idea’. It was a 

great idea, it was magnificent. The TV show would have 

been great but it just wasn’t for me. So the answer is I 

am regularly asked to do television bits and I will 99% 

of the time turn them down and occasionally I might do 

the odd thing but I don’t wake up thinking ‘I’d like to do 

more television’. 

Surely your heart has to be in it if it’s what you are 

going to do? 

I think you are either on telly to drive people to your 

restaurants, well I’ve been there when you are in a 

restaurant and so many people want to talk to you 

because they’ve seen you on telly but never for the right 

reasons, and the thought that somebody comes to the 

restaurant just to catch a glimpse of the person they’ve 

seen on telly is just the wrong motivation. I want people 

to restaurants because they are really great places socially 

to go and they have importance in the community and 

they like your food and that it’s somewhere they want to 

come to celebrate birthdays and all of that stuff! 

One last question; are you doing Salcombe Crab 

Festival this May? 

I’m still not sure if I’m going to do it this year. I didn’t do 

it last year, but I did the year before, but I am hoping to 

do a fish festival in Brixton, a crab festival in Dartmouth 

which we always do, and also Dartmouth Food Festival 

in October which is always great. 

www.mitchtonks.co.uk 


TIME TO 

veg out 

Perfect recipes if you're 

looking to reduce your 

meat consumption, all 

from Waitrose.com - where 

you'll find 1,000s more 

recipes and ideas 

This recipe serves two as a 

main dish and needs some 

preparation the day before. 

with C hipotle Mayonnaise 

Fry each piece of chicken for about 3-4 

minutes until golden brown. Remove 

from the fryer and leave on a rack to 

cool. 

In a large mixing bowl place the 

buttermilk, egg, garam masala and For the chicken seasoning, combine 

smoked paprika and whisk well to the garam masala and salt together. 

ALL IN ONE veg lasagne 

incorporate all the ingredients together. 

Turn up the temperature of your fryer 

Prep: 5 minutes Place your | Cooking: chicken 30 thigh minutes pieces into to 190°C and re-fry the chicken pieces 

Serves: 2-4 the buttermilk mixture until well coated. in a large until dark ovenproof golden and frying very pan crispy. or 

Cover the bowl with cling film and 

shallow casserole dish over a mediumhigh 

Place heat. the Fry chicken the soffritto on a paper for 7 towel 

place in the fridge to marinate for 24 Ensure each piece is cooked through. 

INGREDIENTS hours. 

1 tbsp olive oil 

minutes, to soak stirring up any regularly. excess oil and 

200g pack Mix chilled together Cooks’ the plain Ingredients flour, paprika, season with a dusting of the chicken 

Soffritto onion powder, garlic powder, garam Tip in seasoning. the passata, then fill the carton 

masala, cornflakes and feuille de brick. 

500g carton Italian passata with 

with water and add to the pan. 

For the chipotle mayonnaise, combine 

chopped basil Remove the bowl of chicken from the Simmer all ingredients for 10 minutes, together then in a stir large in bowl 

6 fresh lasagne fridge, sheets, and one halved by one lengthways place each the pasta and whisk strips well. and Put mince; the simmer fridge and for 

350g pack piece chilled of chicken Quorn thigh Mince into the flour another chill 5 until minutes. ready to serve alongside the 

125g pack and mozzarella, spice mix, drained making sure and you tornget 

chicken. 

a good amount of crumb over the 

Handful basil leaves 

Scatter the torn mozzarella over the top 

chicken pieces. 

Finish with the fresh zest of lemon 

and pop and under lime and the serve grill with for slices 5 minutes. of 

METHOD Preheat a deep fat fryer or oil in a Grind green over jalapeño some black and plenty pepper of and chipotle 

Preheat the saucepan grill to to high. 175°C. Heat the oil scatter mayonnaise. over the basil to serve. 


BUTTERNUT 

SQUASH 

and goats cheese salad 

Prep: 15 minutes 

Cooking: 30 minutes 

Serves: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

1 essential Waitrose Butternut Squash, 

halved, deseeded and cut into 1cm slices 

(about 1kg prepared weight) 

1 tbsp olive oil 

Pinch chilli flakes 

40g pecans 

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 

½ lemon, zest and juice 

2 x 140g packs red chicory, leaves 

separated 

2 tbsp dried cranberries 

75g essential Waitrose English Goats’ 

Cheese 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 220˚C, gas mark 7. 

Toss the squash slices with the 1 tbsp 

olive oil and spread out on a large baking 

tray. Sprinkle with the chilli flakes, season 

and roast for 25-30 minutes, turning 

halfway, until golden in places. Put the 

pecans on a separate baking tray and 

add to the oven for the final 5 minutes of 

roasting. 

For the dressing, whisk together the extra 

virgin olive oil, lemon zest and juice. 

Arrange the roasted squash (it can be 

hot from the oven or cooled to room 

temperature) and sliced chicory leaves on 

individual plates or a large serving plate. 

Scatter over the cranberries and toasted 

pecans, dot over the goats’ cheese, then 

spoon over the dressing. Grind over some 

black pepper and serve immediately. 

COOK’S TIP 

For extra sweetness, try adding some 

finely sliced apple or pear in place of the 

cranberries. 


NAAN FLATBREADS 

with spinach and caramelised onion 

Prep:15 minutes | Cooking:20 minutes | Serves: 2 

INGREDIENTS 

1½ tbsp vegetable oil 

1 onion, halved and finely sliced 

450g pack spinach 

1 tsp cumin seeds 

½ tsp black onion seeds 

Pinch of dried chilli flakes 

2 garlic cloves, finely sliced 

2 The Spice Tailor Plain Naans 

1 tsp Waitrose Cooks’ Ingredients Tamarind Paste 

2 tbsp natural yogurt 

Large handful pomegranate seeds 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 180°C, gas mark 4. Put 1 tbsp oil in a 

large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the onion 

with a pinch of salt, stirring regularly, for 10 minutes, until 

deep golden. Drain on kitchen paper. 

Meanwhile, put the spinach in a large colander and pour over 

just-boiled water from the kettle to wilt (you may need to 

do this in 2 batches). Rinse under the cold tap, then squeeze 

out as much excess water as possible. Drain thoroughly on 

kitchen paper. 

Add the remaining ½ tbsp oil to the frying pan and toss in 

the spices and garlic. Fry for 1 minute until fragrant, then 

add the spinach plus a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, for 2-3 

minutes until any excess water has evaporated. 

Splash the naans with a little cold water and bake in the 

oven for 3-4 minutes. Remove and top each with the 

spinach, onion, tamarind paste, a drizzle of yogurt, and the 

pomegranate seeds. 

BAKED PEAR, ALMOND 

& OAT SQUARES 

Prep:15 minutes, plus cooling | Cooking: 45 minutes 

Makes: 16 

INGREDIENTS 

250g porridge oats 

100g ground almonds 

1½ tsp baking powder 

1 tsp ground cinnamon 

¼ tsp fine salt 

50g soft dried apricots, roughly chopped 

350ml Alpro Oat Unsweetened drink 

1 British Blacktail Free Range Egg, beaten 

2 ripe bananas, mashed 

3 tbsp maple syrup 

¼ tsp almond extract 

2 conference pears 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 200˚C, gas mark 6. Line a 21cm square 

cake tin with parchment. Mix the oats, ground almonds, 

baking powder, cinnamon, salt and apricots in a large mixing 

bowl. In a jug, whisk together the Alpro oat drink, egg, 

mashed bananas, maple syrup and almond extract. 

Pour the oat drink mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients. 

Peel, halve and core both pears. Cut 1 pear into 1cm dice and 

stir through the mixture. Tip the mixture into the cake tin, 

smoothing the top. 

Slice the other pear and scatter over the top. Bake for 45 

minutes, then cool completely before cutting into squares. 


a 

Sliceof 

SANTA 

BARBARA 

KATE O’CONNELL 

TACKLES THE CULINARY 

SCENE OF SANTA 

BARBARA. ONE 

MOUTHFUL AT A TIME... 

Harbor View Inn Hotel 


Loquita 

Restaurant 

When it comes to traveling, shockingly 

enough I had yet to actually get round 

to visiting the USA. This also came as a 

surprise to my fellow journalists on this 

trip. Our two nations are bound together 

by much history, an overlap in religion, 

a common legal system and language, so 

how had I not visited at least one state at 

one time or another? 

Who knows. Our family holidays didn’t 

stretch that far I guess. Which may explain 

my eagerness when I was offered the 

chance to explore Santa Barbara. Quite the 

destination for a first time visitor to the 

USA! 

Aptly nicknamed ‘The American Riviera’, 

Santa Barbara is situated 90 miles (a 2 hour 

car journey) north of Los Angeles, tucked 

within a south-facing pacific coastline on 

one side, and the rolling hills that stretch 

into the Santa Ynez Mountains on the 

other. But it is its charm and sense of style 

that makes this small city so tempting - 

indeed it is a hotspot favourite for the rich 

and famous, with a whole host of A-list 

celebrities calling Santa Barbara home. 

If there’s one things that strikes you, it’s 

that Santa Barbara doesn’t really feel 

like a city at all. There’s no hustle and 

bustle here, instead just a wonderfully 

laid-back, chilled vibe. Infused with the 

spirit of Spain, we were informed that 

6.8 magnitude earthquake near enough 

flattened the city back in 1925. Devastating 

yes, but like a phoenix from the ashes, this 

proved the making of the city in terms 

of architecture, as the city planners were 

convinced to rebuild the city in a unified, 

Spanish Colonial Revival style inspired 

by the historic Old Mission (founded by 

Spanish Franciscans in 1786). Red-tiled 

clay top roofs and white washed walls 

adorn every building, and in addition to 

the climate, give the city its 

Mediterranean charm. 

Our first stop; checking in to the newly 

developed North Wing of Harbor View 

Inn hotel. A premier beachfront hotel, 

Harbour View Inn is centrally located 

within the city, and made for a fabulous 

base to start our trip. My room featured a 

very inviting king size bed, complimented 

by gorgeous modern Spanish Colonial 

furnishings, and to top it off - a balcony 

view, a chance to sip on a morning coffee 

and watch the world go by. But not yet. 

First; dinner! 

We made a short walk around the block 

to Loquita Restaurant for some authentic 

Spanish tapas. Created as a love letter to 

the Spanish origins and history of Santa 

Barbara, Loquita’s showcases a medley of 

paellas, charcuterie, cheeses and seafood. 

We were offered a sample of a variety of 

dishes on the menu, with the squid ink 

seafood paella being a personal favourite 

of mine. 

After a restful night's sleep in my 

luxuriously comfy bed, I was ready for a 

day of exciting activities. To get us started, 

we required a hearty breakfast, and Goat 

Tree was just the place to go. A gourmet 

cafe with a relaxed vibe, Goat Tree offers 

everything from fresh pastries and baked 

goods cooked in-house by their resident 

pastry chef, through to cooked breakfasts 

with a Mediterranean twist. I opted for 

the classic Shakshuka, accompanied by 

homemade flat bread. Possibly the best, 

tastiest start to a morning ever. 

Feeling suitably energised, it was time for 

a spot of kayaking down at the harbour 

front, courtesy of Santa Barbara Adventure 

Company. Kayaking is a great way to view 

a side of Santa Barbara that perhaps few 

visitors get to see, so it felt like such a treat. 

Not only this, it was a perfect opportunity 

to spot some of the resident wildlife. 

It was perhaps my enthusiasm at this 

opportunity that had me labelled a 

‘Twitcher’ on this trip. On every dock 

we manoeuvred around brought hoards 

of enormous pelicans, gangly herons 

and rather amusing loons to name but 

a few. We even managed to paddle right 

up to a raft of sealions. So much of the 

wildlife on show were species that I had 

never seen out of captivity, it was a very 

special morning indeed. I can’t say I am a 

particularly experienced kayaker, having 

only dabbled on holidays in the past, but 

I needn’t have worried. The Adventure 

Company specialise in providing tours for 

all abilities, so I was in safe hands! 

A great way to experience the harbour 

front is to sample some of the specialities, 

and so with this we took a stroll over to 


Stearns Wharf; California’s oldest wharf 

named after builder John P. Stearns. There 

we took some seats at Santa Barbara 

Shellfish Company, and were served an 

array of locally caught seafoods, all washed 

down with some local beer. 

To garner more of an overview of the city, 

we then took a ‘trolley tour’ via Santa 

Barbara Trolley Co. This 90 minute tour is 

lead by a highly insightful guide, who 

relays all sorts of interesting facts about 

the city, as well as a little local celeb gossip 

on the side! 

After a quick freshen up it was time for 

a bite to eat. Cue...Cubaneo! Californian 

Cuban cuisine served alongside cocktails 

from Shaker Mill who neighbour within 

the same premises. It is easy to see how 

you could happily waste away an evening 

here, and we did just that! With a cubano 

sandwich in one hand and a ‘Bay of 

Santiago’ cocktail in the other, you could 

have easily fooled us into thinking we were 

in Havana! 

After another restful night's sleep, I skipped 

breakfast in order to make room for the 

immense amount of food we would be 

sampling on the Eat This, Shoot That! 

Funk Zone Food & Photo tour. A threehour 

expedition, this is a chance to sample 

some of Santa Barbara’s finest fodder, as 

well as learn a little more about the city’s 

history, all while discovering how best to 

maximize your photo-taking ability, 

achieving the most Instagram-worthy 

images that will make you the envy of all 

your friends. 

The tour is also a great chance to get to 

grips with the layout of the city. Santa 

Barbara is made up of several districts, one 

of which, The Funk Zone, has seen its 

popularity boom in recent decades. 

Comprising of a series of converted 

warehouses, this contemporary district is 

very much the place to be to sample 

artisan foods from up-and-coming chefs, 

and out-of-this-world Santa Barbara 

Country wines. Shop fronts and walls are 

adorned with graffiti murals and art 

pieces; this district really is an everevolving 

artistic neighbourhood that is 

well worth a visit. 

It was then time to travel up into the 

foothills to our next hotel. And what 

an iconic hotel indeed. The Belmond El 

Encanto. Recently renovated in 2013, 

Belmond El Encanto offers stunning views 

of the American Riviera and a whole heap 

of Hollywood glamour on the side. This 

resort manages to feel relaxed and low-key, 

while at the same time feeling like the most 

exclusive place on earth. Sitting poolside 

whilst sipping a glass of ‘Belmond El 

Encanto Cuvee’, life truly feels timeless up 

here. It’s little wonder that it was a favoured 

getaway of the Hollywood elite. 

We made our way back down from the 

hills to State Street for an Italian feast 

at Due Lune Cucina. Serving fresh 

ingredients and hand-made pasta, I would 

have been mad not to order the Linguine 

alle Vongole. This was paired with some 

fabulous local wines, and the staff couldn’t 

have been more friendly and attentive. 

We topped off the night with a nightcap at 

Pearl Social; an intimate and beautifully 

furnished cocktail bar. The night felt like a 

very classy affair indeed. 

Somehow, our final day had sadly rolled 

around already! It was time to do a spot 

of botanical sight seeing. Lotusland was 

our destination. This 37-acre estate and 

botanic garden is situated in the foothills 

of Montecito, which is located to the 

East of Santa Barbara. Purchased by the 

rather marvellous socialite Madame 

Walska (Google her, honestly!), she spent 

43 years designing the gardens to her 

liking. To say they were breathtaking is 

an understatement. Home to all sorts of 

exotic, rare collections of plants, this is 

truly a garden like no other. 

After another spot of wine tasting at some 

of the local establishments (it would be 

rude not to!), we made our way to Bibi Ji 

for dinner. A modern take on traditional 

Indian cuisine, Bibi Ji are experts at pairing 

quality, local wines with the most brilliant 

of dishes. The moment came when the 

aptly nicknamed ‘Californian Gold’ was 

bought out; Santa Barbara’s locally caught 

sea urchins. Beautifully presented, and 

filled with biryani rice, I couldn’t lie...I 

was a little hesitant to try them. After all, 

my only knowledge of them was to avoid 

standing on them when on sandy beaches 

abroad. I needn’t have worried. Creamy 

and indulgent, they were fantastic. 

What a dish. And what a trip. 

www.santabarbaraca.com

AT A GLANCE 

2 NIGHTS AT HARBOR VIEW INN 

HOTEL, 2 NIGHTS AT BELMOND 

EL ENCANTO HOTEL, PRIVATE 

TRANSFERS AND RETURN 

FLIGHTS WITH NORWEGIAN 

AIR. PARKING AND LOUNGE 

ACCESS WITH HOLIDAY EXTRAS. 

NO1 LOUNGE AT GATWICK 

AIRPORT (SOUTH TERMINAL) 

FROM £26 PP 

HARBOR VIEW INN - NIGHTLY 

RATES VARY FROM $268.00- 

$400.00 

BELMOND EL ENCANTO - 

NIGHTLY ROOM RATES START 

FROM $560 (INC TAX), 

SUITES FROM $811 (INC TAX) 

WWW.SANTABARBARACA.COM 

Belmond El Encanto Hotel 

Kayaking around Santa 

Barbara harbour 

Bibi Ji Restaurant

2 

1 

dark ARTS 

3 

The trend for sleek black finishes 

continues, with lots of companies 

now supplying dark taps, shower 

enclosures, towel rails and tiles 

Dark tiles and fixtures look amazing - the only thing 

to be aware of is living in a hard water area and the 

effects that will have on the finish of taps over time. 

For a sleek look, pair large-scale dark floor tiles with 

white tiles on the walls, framed by black hardware. 

5 

Images: 1. Aquaglass Velar 8mm Black Crittall Corner 

Entry Enclosure, frontlinebathrooms.co.uk; 2. Original Style 

Tileworks Steel Midnight Blue, originalstyle.com; 3. Merlyn 

Black Showerwall With End Panel, merlynshowering.com; 

4. Duravit - Stonetto (Sand) Shower Tray, duravit.co.uk; 

5. Contour Radiator, frontlinebathrooms.co.uk; 6. Pitch 

Bluetooth Mirror, purebathroomcollection.co.uk; 7. Finissimo 

Black Bath Filler, bathroomdealsuk.co.uk; 8. Valverdi Iguazu 

Tile, londontile.co.uk; 

8 

4 

7 

BATHROOM 

TECH 

With homes becoming 

smarter in the main, it 

makes sense that similar 

technology would be 

extended to the bathroom. 

We love this bluetooth 

mirror which can play 

your favourite songs and 

has automatic demisting 

technology 

6 


THE BATHROOM 

& TILE GUIDE 

A roundup of the trends that can beat the bathroom blues 

and turn your bathroom into your own slice of heaven 

1 2 

3 

ensuite DREAMS 

According to a survey carried out by Nationwide 

Building Society, an ensuite can add as much as 5% 

to your home's market value - if you have the space, 

it's a great investment which is luxurious too 

If space permits, a roll top or freestanding 

bath looks wonderful in an ensuite and 

gives a true sense of luxury. If your space 

is more modest, the smaller scale is a great 

place to experiment with some interesting 

tile combinations and colours. There are 

some fabulous examples of encaustic tiles 

out there at the moment, but if you do opt 

for those, be aware and prepared for more 

maintenance than printed tiles. 

Images: 1. products from Original Style; 2. String 

lights from Lights4fun.co.uk; 3. image from 

carleyrowena.com; 4. Floris tile from Boniti 

4 


haus 

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1 

TILE STYLE 

THE way to add style and personality to 

your bathroom - choices are limitless. 

Avoid following trends too closely and pick 

something you really love 

3 

4 

2 

When choosing 

tiles, functionality 

is key - tiny mosaics look amazing, but you 

don't want them in high traffic areas of a family 

bathroom. Try to keep floor tiles low maintenance 

and add decorative flourishes in smaller spaces. 

Ceramics aren't the only option either - vinyl tiles 

and laminates can work effectively. 

5 

6 

Images: 1. Selection from Ripples; 2. Havana Dawn Self 

Adhesive Vinyl Floor Tiles, zazous.co.uk; 3. Odyssey 

- 8051V Seville Tile, originalstyle.com; 4. 3D Offset 

Hexagon Tiles, bakedtiles.co.uk; 5. Original Style Living 

Spirit Tile, originalstyle.com; 6. Windmill Geometric 

Tile, tonsoftiles.co.uk; 7. Odyssey - Persian Floor Tile, 

originalstyle.com 

7 

green SPACES 

Houseplants are taking over - and 

we love it! If you have natural light 

in the bathroom, lots of plants can 

thrive in the space! 

The best plants for bathrooms are 

moisture lovers - these are our 

favourites: - 

Zamioculcas zamifolia (the eternity 

plant - so named because it is hard 

to kill!), the spider plant, most ferns, 

snake plant, aloe vera, cast iron plant 

and orchids. 

Image, left, from Dobbies - plants and 

plant pots available. 

NO WINDOW? 

No problem! LED growing lights can be 

easily installed to help your plants grow, 

even without natural light. 


LOOK BEFORE 

YOU LEAP 

While the SPAB warmly encourages people to 

take the plunge and make an old building their 

home, it’s easy to be swept away by romance. SPAB 

Director Matthew Slocombe offers a checklist of 

key considerations to help potential buyers make 

the right choice – both for themselves and for the 

building of their dreams. 

THINK WITH HEAD AND HEART 

Old buildings are more than a space in which to 

live. If all that really interests you is location or floor 

area, an old building is unlikely to be right for you. 

If you appreciate style and character, and are keen 

to embrace the quirks and idiosyncrasies of an old 

building, the potential rewards are great. 

COMPROMISE TO GET WHAT YOU WANT 

For the majority of buyers, historic interest is a 

desirable factor but not the key. If your number 

one aim is to live in an interesting old building, but 

your means are limited, compromising on other 

requirements can sometimes help. 

CONSIDER AUCTIONS 

Many old buildings needing work are sold at auction. 

This can be a way to find an interesting project, and 

perhaps also a bargain. But the buyer must beware 

and it is especially important to do your homework 

seeking specialist help in advance. 

GET GOOD ADVICE 

The cost of professional advisers can seem offputting, 

but sound advice is an investment. There 

are accreditations schemes run by the RICS, RIBA 

and AABC and the Society can offer suggestions via 

its Technical Advice Line (0207 456 0916 weekday 

mornings). The advice of a structural engineer, 

conservator (see ICON’s accreditation list), quantity 

surveyor or historian may also be invaluable. 

ADJUST YOUR LIFESTYLE 

Occupying an old building brings huge benefits 

to your quality of life, but don’t expect it to be the 

same as a perfectly level, hermetically sealed modern 

box. Floors may slope, windows may be draughty, 

and elaborate modern services may be difficult to 

accommodate. 

RESEARCH AND UNDERSTANDING 

Understanding an old building includes knowing 

how it’s put together and what it’s made from, as 

well as the uses it’s had over time and the changes 

previous owners have made. Combine this with 

background research, advice from organisations like 

the SPAB, and knowledge from neighbouring owners 

and a rounded picture of the building should emerge. 

DEAL WITH THE BORING THINGS FIRST 

Kitchens, bathroom and decorative works may be 

most fun, but they should be bottom of your list. 

Fixing the roof and making sure the gutters, drains 

and electrics work will provide you with a sound 

basis from which to make other changes. 

REPAIR IS GOOD 

Building conservation is a branch of environmental 

protection and sustainability: repair is better than 

replacement. Decay is rarely uniform and repair 

can allow the undamaged parts to remain. An 

old window with 20% new timber is better for the 

environment and our history than a new window 

with 100% fresh timber. 

MAKE SURE MATERIALS ARE COMPATIBLE 

New, innovative building products can be valuable, 

but historic buildings are not generally the place 

where they should be tested. The potential for side 

effects is great if incompatible materials are used. 

KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS 

The SPAB has always encouraged a hands-on 

approach. There is no better way to get to know 

your building than through practical work. However, 

it is important to know the limitations of your 

own skills, to consider safety issues, and to get 

training if you are unsure. The SPAB and others run 

practical conservation courses. If in doubt, call on an 

experienced craftsperson. 

ENJOY IT! 

An old building deserves to respected and cared for, 

but it should be enjoyed rather than revered. 

Call the SPAB Technical Advice Line on: 

020 7456 0916 


MAXIMISING 

KITCHEN SPACE AT 

PARK FURNISHERS 


For many of us a large kitchen is what dreams are made 

of – with space to cook, dine and entertain. As an 

essential space in your home, your kitchen should be as 

practical as it is pleasant and cater to your every need. 

Just because you’re low on space doesn’t mean you have 

to sacrifice on style. Consider clever storage such as wide 

pan drawers and corner carousels to ensure your pots 

and pans, sauces and spices are easy to see and reach. 

Integrated appliances and co-ordinated cabinets will also 

seamlessly streamline your kitchen, instantly creating 

the illusion of more space. Finally, ensure you utilise 

overhead space - whether you include overhead cabinets 

or introduce a floor to ceiling pantry, it’s important your 

kitchen provides the perfect storage solutions. 

The Park Furnishers kitchen studio is the ideal space to 

view and be inspired by the range of cabinet styles available 

in the collection. Visit in store to discuss your options with 

their knowledgeable designers who can also provide a free 

design and planning service. To book a free consultation 

call 0117 966 9253 or visit parkfurnishers.co.uk. 

01173 226383 


2 

3 

1 

STYLE WATCH: 

MODERN VICTORIAN 

Move over Scandi minimalism - it’s time to maximise - make 

the most of period features and be bold with colour and 

pattern - these beautifully proportioned spaces can take it 

STYLE TIP: 

Victorian and Edwardian staircases 

are beautiful and deserve to be centre 

stage. They look wonderful styled with 

carpet runner over wood alongside 

restored original tiles or painting the 

staircases to match the wall. 

5 

4 

Dark colours like F&B’s ‘Railings’ 

look fabulous in well-proportioned 

Victorian rooms 

1. Sofa, £999, made.com; 

2. London Graphic Map 

(50x50cm), made.com 

3. Curvarella Turmeric Velvet Chair, 

£708, audenza.com; 

4. Leather Pouffe, £95, hauslife. 

co.uk; 5. Alana 6 Lighting Pendant, 

£96, darlighting.com; 

6. ‘Railings’ Paint by Farrow & Ball; 

7. ‘Deep Water’ Paint by 

dowsingandreynolds.com 

Image from 

craftberrybush.com 

7 

6 

GET THE 

LOOK: 

The alcoves either side 

of a chimney breast lend 

themselves well to bespoke 

fitted wardrobes in a bedroom. 

The colour scheme in this room 

is calming, with a touch of 

brightening yellow. Image from 

Colin Poole. 


GET THE 

LOOK: 

The dark wall here is 

an excellent foil for the 

period features - it brings 

out the cornicing, picture 

rail and marble fire 

place, with complementary 

period-style lighting. Then 

modern touches are added, 

like the bookcases, the 

luxurious coffee table and fun 

typography. 

Main image from Rachel Smith 

1 

STYLE TIP: 

Victorian spaces look great 

with unexpected furnishings, 

like bold Sputnik chandeliers, 

boho soft furnishings and mid 

century modern pieces. 

2 

3 

5 

6 

4 

8 

1. Eichholtz Infinity Chandelier, 

£1989; sweetpeaandwillow. 

com; 2. Industrial Mesh 

Cupboard, £825, vincentandbarn. 

co.uk 3. Atlantis Oval Coffee 

Table, £208, sweetpeaandwillow. 

com 4. Doris Occasional Chair, 

£179.99, my-furniture.com; 

5. Lumbar cushion cover with 

tassels, (30x70cm), £36, hauslife. 

co.uk; 6. Gold Window 

Style Wall Mirror 

(82x100cm), £160.95, 

melodymaison.co.uk; 7. Sabra style pillow, £32, 

hauslife.co.uk 8. Merrick Dark Antique Brown 

Trapeze Pendant, £175, artisanti.com; 9. Large 

Round Mirror (80cm), £195, minkinteriors.com; 

10. Wicker Grey Floor & Wall Tile, £12.27 per 

m² tonsoftiles.co.uk 

7 

GET THE LOOK: 

40 | www.bristollivingmag.co.uk 

9 

10 

Restore fireplaces in bedrooms and living 

rooms - if the old tiles are past the point 

of repair, modern tiles with a Victorian 

feel work well. This room showcases a 

soft, calming palette.

A PLANT FOR 

EVERY SPACE IN 

YOUR HOUSE 

The sale of houseplants has grown considerably in 

the last few years - a 10-15% year on year increase 

since 2013 according to the RHS. It is particularly 

prevalent among young people - not so much as 

part of a décor choice but more to fulfil a desire to 

have something to care for and look after. For urban 

dwellers and workers there are also the perceived 

health and well-being benefits. The RHS website has 

the following: ‘As well as looking good, houseplants 

support human health in homes, offices, school and 

hospitals. 

If you have never had a plant in your life, having a 

plant at home is the perfect place to start – and there 

is such a lot of choice! My first books were on the 

subject of house plants and I love to have plants of all 

types sharing our family home. 

There is an enormous body of research going on at 

the moment into the beneficial effects of various 

species, how many you need to benefit either 

physically or mentally, what specific problems they 

can alleviate and which species can best tolerate 

the various conditions they are exposed to indoors. 

Lack of light, temperature fluctuations, infrequent 

watering - or too much watering - pity the poor 

indoor plant and yet for all of the privations we put 

them through they still flourish! 

As I travel around the country I see so many lovely 

orchids on windowsills and the moth orchid or 

Phalaenopsis must be present in a high percentage of 

British homes. You could also chose a Spathiphyllum 

or peace lily, a Madagascar Dragon Tree, Dracaena 

marginata or an English ivy Hedera helix - drape 

them from cupboards and bookcases, group them 

for more impact, have one large statement plant for a 

Wow factor, whatever you choose make room in your 

life for a plant! 

A Practical Guide to Growing Healthy Houseplants by 

Matthew Biggs - matthewbiggs.com 

A massive range of rugs from 

oriental to be-spoke and hand 

made. 

• 100% wool rugs. 

• Design your own rugs. 

The Old Chapel. 52 Temple Street, 

Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 1EH 

T: 0117 9864650 

E: sales@simplycarpets.co.uk 

www.simplycarpets.co.uk 

f Simply Carpets 

• Choose your own colour, pattern 

and size! 

• 5% Off all rugs if you spend over 

£250 on flooring with us. 

• Rugs ranging in all price brackets. 


FRAGILE EARTH 

FRAGILE EARTH NATURAL CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS... 


Chemical cleaning chemicals can be harmful to the 

environment and many of us would like to use more 

environmentally friendly products. Fragile Earth 

products offer an effective and proven alternative 

across a broad range of applications to replace the more 

aggressive chemicals that are typically used today. 

Our eco-friendly cleaning products digest germs and 

harmful bacteria using nature’s own methods. They work 

to deactivate and out-compete unwelcome bacteria and 

are particularly effective in controlling fats, oils, grease 

and odours. Our products provide long term residual 

action working within the drainage system until the food 

runs out or when they reach the water treatment plant, 

so you are also doing your bit to help keep all our drains 

clear. 

How do Fragile Earth products work? 

Many will recognise the term ‘friendly bacteria’ from 

foods we consume which help correct the balance 

between healthy and harmful bacteria in our gut. 

Fragile Earth products use the same principle, using 

good bacteria (and natural enzymes) to combat harmful 

bacteria. 

Fragile Earth products are concentrated – simply dilute 

with water according to the instructions, using your own 

refillable bottle. The concentrated products use smaller 

bottles (recycled and recyclable) or sachets, meaning 

less to transport and recycle. What’s more, we only use 

compostable packaging to further reduce waste. Truly 

environmentally friendly. 

Fragile Earth products are: 

• Highly effective 

• Have proven biological action 

• Extremely cost-effective – super concentrates 

• Harmless to humans, animals and marine life 

• Eco-friendly, safe and non-toxic 

• Drain safe and biodegradable 

• Help reduce carbon emissions through reduced 

packaging and transport. 

01793 847444 | info@fragile-earth.co.uk 


SOCIAL CARE NEEDS 

IF YOU NEED CARE IT’S A NECESSITY - 

UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF CARE NEEDS 

Social care is there to support you because you need 

some extra help with daily living or are caring for 

someone who requires additional help themselves. 

There are a wide range of social care services, including 

care in your home or in a care home, live-in care 

services, day centres, home adaptions like handrails, 

and technology of various kinds. 

The first step if you or your loved one needs some extra 

help and support is to ask your local authority to carry 

out a needs assessment. You might have to wait several 

weeks at least for this, because councils are strapped 

for cash and staff, but it’s important to have it because 

it’s the gateway to the wider system. Someone from the 

council usually visits to establish the type of support 

you might need. There’s no charge and the assessor will 

create a care plan specific to your needs. 

When the type of care you need is decided and agreed 

the next stage is to establish how it will be paid for 

through a financial means test - which can be complex 

and quite confusing. Social care isn’t a free service 

provided by the NHS as many people think. Most of us 

have to pay for all or some of our care and the amount 

depends on the level of need and the value of any assets 

we have. 

Your home will not be included in the means test if 

you’re arranging care and support at home but other 

capital assets, including savings will be. Currently, if 

you have more capital that £23,250 you will have to pay 

all your care fees. If you have under £23,250, you’ll get 

financial assistance but may have to contribute from 

your income. 

The cost of care varies by area but it is not unusual to 

have to pay about £20 an hour for a care worker to 

come to your home (domiciliary care) to help you with, 

say, getting up, washing and dressing, if that’s what you 

need. You can see how the bills add up if you need more 

than one visit every day. 

If your needs are such that it is best for you to move 

permanently into a care home your property, if you own 

one, will be included in the means test at its present 

market value, but less any mortgage or loan you may 

have on it. However, it will not be included if your 

partner still lives there or, in certain circumstances, a 

relative. Your home is also not included if you need a 

temporary or short-term stay in a care home. Two in 

five of all the older people living in care homes now pay 

for their own care. 

To avoid property or other assets being counted in the 

financial means test, some people consider giving them 

away to a child or grandchild. However, this could be 

interpreted as ‘deliberate deprivation of assets’, and your 

local authority may still ask you to pay the same level 

of care fees as if you still owned your home or the other 

assets you have given away. It is really important to take 

advice if you are thinking of doing something of this 

kind. 

If you have care needs and you are not already claiming 

a benefit called Attendance Allowance it is always worth 

doing so. This benefit is there for older people, to help 

offset the costs of disability. In practice, many older 

people use their AA to help fund their social care. Your 

local Age UK can help you fill in the forms and will be 

pleased to help. AA is paid at two rates, £58 or £87 a 

week, depending on your needs. 

As you can see, finding social care and paying for it is 

not straight forward and there are lots of questions to 

ask, but Age UK can guide you through the process 

and provides independent information and advice. If 

you are online there’s a lot about care on our website, or 

there’s a free advice line if you prefer to talk to someone 

instead. Visiting your local Age UK is a third option. 

Social care has a bad reputation at the moment, largely 

because it is underfunded and there isn’t enough to go 

round. You may also have read horror stories in the 

press of care workers being neglectful. Please don’t be 

put off seeking care though - there are many wonderful 

care workers. It pays to get advice and go into it with 

your eyes open, but there are hundreds of thousands 

of older people whose lives are immeasurably better 

because of the good care they receive. 

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director, Age UK 

www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care 


This year marks 30 years 

of trading for legal firm 

WDS Associates 

30 

2020 

WDS Associates is a major legal services company 

operating across the whole of England and Wales. The 

company was one of the first companies to offer a fixed 

1% fee for probate services to the general public. 

This year the company is celebrating its 30th trading anniversary. 

Also, being awarded Winner of the 2020 Bristol Prestige Award – 

as Legal Service Specialists of the year. They have received the 

accolade of being the most innovative law firm of 2016, 2017 and 

most recently the 2018 global excellence award for best Will and 

Probate law firm in the UK by Acquisition International. The team 

at WDS Associates prides itself on being highly experienced in 

all manor of legal service requirements and estates of all sizes, 

it also has a particular specialism in end-of-life financial advice. 

By Making a Will, you can leave your property and other 

possessions to whomever you choose (your ‘beneficiaries’), 

although, of course reasonable provision should be made for 

your dependents. Equally, you can specify how your assets are 

to be distributed. If you are an unmarried couple, (whether its a 

same sex relationship), writing a Will ensures that your partner 

will be provided for after you have gone. If you are divorced, 

you can state in your Will whether you wish to leave anything 

for your former spouse. There are also a number of financial 

considerations that make writing a Will a sensible option. By 

making a Will, you can also choose the people who administer 

the terms of the Will (your Executors) and give them useful 

administrative powers. 

In addition to their legal work WDS Associates support many 

charities including the RSPCA and the ESS (Emergency Services 

Show). The company is also one of the sponsors of World 

Boxing Champion Lee Haskins and World Darts Champion 

Mark Dudbridge. 2017 marked the inaugural WDS Associates 

World Junior Darts Championship in association with the Junior 

Darts Corporation. WDS Associates are also proud sponsors of 

local football clubs Hengrove Athletic and Bitton AFC, who have 

recently named their shared ground the WDS Legal Services 

Stadium. 

WDS Associates Managing Director – Mr. Mike Diamond is 

also a successful British film producer. 

Many of us know that we should make a Will, but it tends to be 

something we put off for various reasons; simple inertia, not 

wanting to think about it, or a reluctance to discuss our finances, 

but mostly from a fear that the process might be complex and 

expensive. 

The friendly experienced team at WDS are experienced in all 

aspects of end of life provision and will talk you through the 

process, making it comparatively easy, while their fixed fee 

structure ensures that you will always know what your costs will 

be. 

The company provides a bespoke Will writing service of the 

highest standard to the public, IFA’s, accountants and many 

other professional bodies. The company also specialises in 

Trusts, Power of Attorney, Severance of Tenancy and other 

associated legal documents, with a full support team based at 

its operations centre in Bristol. WDS Associates are members of 

O.W.L.S (Organisation of Wills and Legal Services) and PALS (The 

Professional Association of Legal Services). 

255 Two Mile Hill Road, 

Kingswood, 

Bristol, 

BS15 1AY 

Please contact us on 0800 056 2015 / 0117 949 1000 

email info@wdsassociates.co.uk | www.wdsassociates.co.uk

AVON VALLEY AND 

AVONMERE CARE 

HOMES 

THE PEACE OF MIND YOU’VE BEEN 

LOOKING FOR 

Are you worried about how your loved one is coping at 

home on their own? With so many families dispersed 

across the country in modern times and unable to 

visit family members on a daily basis, there is growing 

concern about our older generation being vulnerable 

to falls, forgetting to take medication and receiving a 

balanced and nutritious diet. Now may be the time to 

consider their options as you help them to look for a 

better lifestyle. 

Owned by leading national healthcare provider, Avery 

Healthcare, two luxury care homes, Avon Valley in 

Kingswood and Avonmere in Downend can offer support 

and the benefit of the full-time company of others in 

a comfortable and enriching lifestyle. These beautiful 

homes deliver the highest standards in residential and 

dementia care and all the support an individual need in 

a safe and secure environment. 

Resident well-being is at the centre of quality care and 

a wide range of healthy exercises, well balanced and 

freshly prepared dining, along with trips out in the 


private minibus and daily activities and events are all 

a part of a supportive lifestyle. Everyone is encouraged 

to become active participants in the home’s life and 

friends and family can stay in contact using Skype and 

social media, and for those special celebrations there is a 

private dining room available. 

Residents can enjoy home baked cakes in the cafe, take 

refreshments in the garden, relax in one of the quiet 

lounges, have a hair or beauty treatment in the salon or 

catch a film in the cinema. 

The homes offer the best in care from highly trained 

staff at an all-inclusive price, no matter how much care 

is needed. We’ll look after your loved one just as you 

would. 

For more, search ‘Avery Care Bristol’ on-line or on 

Facebook. 

Petersfield 

Care Home 

Church Road South, Portishead, 

Bristol BS20 6PU 

• Residential Care • Respite Care 

A small, happy residential home for older 

people who find it difficult to live 

independently. 

Single rooms with large picture windows 

and mature gardens surround the home. 

A caring staff team on hand 24 hours a day. 

Care and the individual are at the very heart 

of each of our services, where wellness, 

happiness and kindness are the core 

values embellished by our staff each day. 

Call us today to find out 

more about our services 0800 902 0092 

@shawhealthcare 

shawhealthcare 

www.shaw.co.uk

Bristol Living Feb - Mar 2020

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