North Hampshire Lifestyle Mar - Apr 2020

Contents 

A Note 

from the editor 

Hello Spring – I’ve been waiting for your arrival 

like a lovelorn maiden, excitedly hopping out 

of bed to look out the window for signs of new 

life and sunny skies. I know that in recent years 

March weather has been…unpredictable, but 

nevertheless I’m hopeful and cheery. 

A Culinary is nearly Journey here, through so we celebrate 

Northern 19Easter with a weekend Irelandof 

recipes! 

Avid readers might remember reading about 

my new year’s pledge last issue – to walk, run 

or cycle 5km every day of 2020. Not having a 

bike, or access to a stationary one continues 

to be slightly problematic, but apart from a 

particularly grim night during a storm (I can’t 

remember which given name, we’ve had so 

many of late), I’ve done it! I’m not sure yet if 

I’m fitter or slimmer, but I’ve really enjoyed 

carving little moments out of my usually hectic 

day to go for a head-clearing walk. It’s never 

too late to start! 

In this issue... 

Fabulous UK 

staycations 

06 What’s On 

As spring comes into its swing we 

touch on the best local events for 

the whole family 

25 

10 Futureproof Education 

The Independent Schools Council 

tell us why it’s essential to prepare 

students for the changing world 

17 Mitch Tonks 

We catch up with the renowned fish 

chef on where his passions lie and his 

love of his community 

22 Foodie Santa Barbara 

We journey to the Golden State of 

California to sample the famous Santa 

Barbara food scene 

28 Amazing Glazing 

Architectural glazing elevates 

any home - we explore the best 

investments and new technologies 

43 Care Needs 

How to stay happy and healthy in your 

autumn years and identifying care 

needs when they arise 

17 

Chef Mitch 

Tonks 

Bathroom 

30 

& Tile Guide 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre-Press Manager Kate O’Connell 

Contributors Rebecca Rose, Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs 

Angela Cave, Lucy Saunders and Pete Lawrence. 

Key Account Manager Ben Hollis 

e ben.hollis@minervapublications.co.uk 

d/l 01225 613 513 

twitter @NorthHampshireL 

This issue we have really turned the focus 

on Easter, with cracking pressies and some 

egg-cellent recipes – hey, if you’re running five 

kilometres a day, you go ahead and enjoy that 

hot cross bun pudding! There’s also lots to 

look forward to in the calendar, with some of 

our favourite attractions opening again. 

Continuing the foodie note, we have an 

interview with top Devon chef Mitch Tonks – 

you’ll probably recognise him from a supremely 

popular show he presented with rugby star 

Matt Dawson a few years back – he’s a 

titan in the fish industry and is passionate 

about sustainability. We caught up with him to 

discuss his role in creating a community feel 

and growing his business. 

That, plus some fantastic interviews and a 

bumper crop of home inspiration, makes this 

issue a great read. 

We will see you back in May! 

Katie 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

County Gate, County Way, Trowbridge, 

Wiltshire BA14 7FJ t 01225 308 128 

w www.minervapublications.co.uk 

visit our website www.northhampshirelifestyle.co.uk 

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

www.northhampshirelifestyle.co.uk | 3

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22 nd March Mothering Sunday 

Meet the charming Butler and the elegant Roses Lady 

11 th April What the Tortoise told us! 

Life lessons from the wisest creature on the planet! 

13 th April Fairplay Comedy Easter Gnomes 

Gnomes are the secret hiders of the Easter bunnies eggs! 

17 th April Circus Skills Workshop 

New talents can be learnt from 3 to 103! 

18 th April Big Art Chicken workshop 

Have creative fun bringing the chicken to life 

Check out the website for details of the May Bank Holiday events 

8 th May VE Day and 9 th May Rural Day.

EVENTS GUIDE 

Finally, the days are getting longer and 

spring is just around the corner. 

Looking for the best local places to visit and 

things to do at this time of year? 

Then make the most of the season with our 

extensive guide... 

Alton Farmers’ Market 

High Street, Alton GU34 1AB 

01420 588671 

www.hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk 

Second Saturday of every month 

Alton Farmers’ Market runs the second 

Saturday of every month, offering a range 

of delicious local Hampshire food and 

drink. Enjoy the great taste of Hampshire, 

savour the delights of truly local food 

reared, grown, baked, caught and brewed 

in Hampshire. 

Ascot Racecourse 

Ascot SL5 7JX 

0870 727 1234 

www.ascot.co.uk 

Sunday 29 March 

Spring Family Raceday 

The first family raceday of 2020 offers a 

thrilling combination of top class jumps 

racing and free countryside themed 

activities for racegoers of all ages. 

Wednesday 29 April 

Royal Ascot Trials Day 

The races at Royal Ascot Trials Day are an 

important opportunity for younger horses to 

gain valuable experience at the track ahead 

of Royal Ascot. 

Off the track, this is a leisurely day to have 

a flutter and sample the many bars and 

restaurants on offer. Racegoers can gain a 

fascinating insight into behind-the-scenes 

racing at a racecourse dating back more 

than three centuries. 

Gilbert White's House 

Selborne, Alton GU34 3JH 

01420 511275 

www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk 

Friday 20 March 

Friday Night at White’s: 

British Glassics 

The Café turns into an evening restaurant 

one evening a month with a fabulous menu 

and a different theme each month. 

To book your table contact Whites@ 

gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk or call 01420 

511275. 

28 March, 10.30am - 3pm 

Wedding Open Day 

The Wedding Open Day gives your the 

opportunity to view the 16th Century 

Barn at Gilbert Whites. Look round the 

barn and the parkland, meet our wedding 

coordinator and discuss your individual 

requirements. 

There will be information about all the 

recommended suppliers including caterers, 

photographers and florists. 

6 | www.northhampshirelifestyle.co.uk 

Princes Hall Theatre 

Princes Way, Aldershot GU11 1NX 

01252 329155 

www.princeshall.com 

Tuesday 17 March, 7.30pm 

Eric and Ern 

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! 

From the Olivier Award nominated duo Ian 

Ashpitel and Jonty Stephens, this nostalgic 

show evokes memories of a time when 

whole families would huddle around the 

telly on Sunday evenings. 

This show hits all the right notes! 

Tuesday 24 March - Saturday 28 March 

Shrek - The Musical 

Featuring all new songs as well as cult 

Shrek anthem I’m a Believer, Shrek The 

Musical brings much-loved fairy-tale 

characters to life in an hilarious all-singing, 

all-dancing extravaganza, guaranteed to 

delight audiences of all ages! 

Tuesday 31 March, 2.30pm & 7.30pm 

The Good Liar (PG) 

Film starring: Ian McKellen, Helen Mirren, 

Russell Tovey. 

Career con artist Roy Courtnay can hardly 

believe his luck when he meets well-todo 

widow Betty McLeish online. As Betty 

opens her home and life to him, Roy is 

surprised to find himself caring about her, 

turning what should be a cut-and-dry 

swindle into the most treacherous tightrope 

walk of his life. 

Friday 24 April, 7.30pm 

How Sweet It Is 

This stunning 100% live show combines 

first class music with the slickest 

choreography and an amazing band, to 

deliver truly outstanding performances for 

the best Motown experience ever. 

It will have you Dancing On The Ceiling, 

with songs from legendary artistes such 

as Lionel Richie, The Temptations, 

Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Smokey 

Robinson, Marvin Gaye and more. 

Sunday 26 April, 2.30pm 

Big & Brassy Season 4 

Your local brass bands again form up to 

strengthen their skills and give you an 

afternoon of thrilling music. 

Big and Brassy has donated hundreds of 

pounds so far to local charities and looks 

forward to supporting The Vine Centre, 

Christopher’s Smile and Brass for Africa as 

their nominated charities for 2020. 

The Anvil 

Churchill Way, Basingstoke RG21 7QR 

01256 844244 

www.anvilarts.org.uk 

Saturday 7 March, 7.30pm 

Mayor’s Spring Charity Concert 

Join the Mayor of Basingstoke and 

Deane Cllr Diane Taylor for an evening 

of choral favourites, with massed local 

choirs accompanied by the Heritage Light 

Orchestra and the Basingstoke Area Youth 

Orchestra. 

Programme includes: Hallelujah Chorus, 

The Anvil Chorus, Fantasia on British 

Sea Songs and Wagner’s Mastersingers’ 

Overture. 

Wednesday 11 March, 8pm 

John Bishop - Warm Up 

Comedy superstar John Bishop is visiting 

to warm up his brand-new show! 

John is looking forward to this new 

adventure, in what will be his eighth stand up 

tour, and its shaping up to be his best yet! 

Friday 27 March, 7.30pm 

Fascinating Aida 

Dillie Keane, Adèle Anderson and Liza 

Pulman are heading out on tour. With 

a selection of old favourites, songs you 

haven’t heard before and some you 

wish you’d never heard in the first place! 

The songs are hilarious and topical - the 

glamour is unstoppable. With three Olivier 

Award nominations and over 25 million 

YouTube and Facebook hits for Cheap 

Flights and their scandalous Christmas 

song, how can you possibly miss them?! 

Thursday 2 April, 7.30pm 

A Night with the Legends 

Enjoy a Night with the Legends as sports 

journalist and presenter Jeff Stelling is 

joined by four stellar football professionals 

– Matt le Tissier, Paul Merson, Charlie 

Nicholas and Phil Thompson. 

In aid of The Knights Foundation which 

provides support and gifts to disabled 

children, deprived children, seriously ill 

children and their families. 

Thursday 16 April 

The Wizard Panto 

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to The Anvil 

for the fantastic all-new Easter pantomime 

version of The Wizard of Oz! 

Join Kansas farm-girl Dorothy and her pet 

dog Totoon this magical adventure. Watch 

in amazement as they are picked up by a 

tornado and carried off to the magical Land 

of Oz. With help from their new friends the 

Munchkins, they to travel to the Emerald 

City where the great Wizard of Oz lives. 

Starring Bobby Davro as Scarecrow. 

continued

Law firms merge to 

strengthen market 

position 

Give your child a truly 

unique experience... 

Two leading Hampshire law firms, 

Phillips Solicitors and Brain Chase Coles 

have merged to create a new dynamic law 

firm to better serve their clients... 

The combined firm is now known as Phillips Solicitors 

incorporating Brain Chase Coles and is based at one office in 

London Street, in the centre of Basingstoke. 

Director Max Hope said: “The merger is an important step 

towards our goal of building the region’s strongest dynamic, 

full-service law firm, whilst maintaining the traditional values that 

both firms were built on.” 

Phillips offer a full range of specialist legal services for both 

individuals and businesses. 

We are on hand to help you whenever you need us in your 

personal life, such as buying a house, writing a Will, when you 

are handling a difficult family matter like getting divorced or 

separated, or if you have been made redundant. 

With a highly regarded reputation, 

Jubilee Day Nursery provides 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

We are equally delighted to work for smaller, owner-managed 

companies, exceptional as for large corporates. care for You babies will find and us good listeners 

and valuable children partners. from three months to 

five years of age. 

Max said: “Our commercial lawyers make it their business to 

know your business, delivering results and adding value to your 

business, Over whether 60 you’re acres an established of gardens, 

market leader or an 

ambitious start-up – we are here to help.” 

woodland & farm 

A highly skilled & caring 

Jon Coles, who was a partner at Brain Chase Coles and is now a 

director at the new firm said: “As a combined firm, we now offer 

even greater strength and depth 

teamin our services to clients. We are 

looking forward Freshly to continuing prepared to work with our food existing clients 

and getting to know our new colleagues as we enter this next 

exciting stage Funded of our history.” places available 

“We will help you plan, protect and achieve the For very more best information, We are please here to visit: help. If you have any legal issues you would like to 

outcomes for you and your family,” said Max. 

discuss with please email legal@phillips-law.co.uk or call 

01256 460830. To find out more about the legal services offered 

For those who run businesses 

www.jubileedaynursery.co.uk 

we provide the full spectrum of by Phillips Solicitors incorporating Brain Chase Coles, please visit 

services that you might Rectory require Road, over Padworth, a business lifetime. RG7 4JD | 0118 970 www.phillips-law.co.uk 

1600 | info@jubileedaynursery.co.uk 

Creating magical childhood memories! 

With a focus on outdoor 

learning, Jubilee Gems provides 

exceptional term time care for 

children from 3 months to 

5 years of age. 

• 60 acres of private woodland, 

gardens and working farm 

• Freshly prepared food 

• Funded places available 

For more information, please visit: 

www.jubileegems.co.uk 

Conveniently situated in Padworth, 

between Reading, Newbury and 

Basingstoke | 0118 983 4018 

info@jubileegems.co.uk 


The Haymarket 

Wote Street, Basingstoke RG21 7NW 

01256 844244 

www.anvilarts.org.uk 

Friday 6 March, 8pm 

The Counterfeit Stones 

Described as a Rolling Stones’ hooky 

masterpiece, The Counterfeit Stones’ latest 

fast shuffle, Not Fake Away, promises yet 

another night of utter copy-rock. 

Now in their 29th year, these fraud-stars 

continue to deliver the best ‘mock ‘n’ roll’ 

show on the circuit, packed with big hits, 

retro fashion, vintage guitars and a huge 

dollop of “Spinal Tap” humour. 

Sunday 15 March, 

Firedance 

Firedance is the brand new Latin 

spectacular starring Strictly favourites 

Gorka Marquez and Karen Hauer. 

Expect hot pulsing beats, seductive 

choreography and passion that will take 

your breath away as these stars ignite the 

dance floor with their Argentine tango, 

flamenco, paso doble, samba, salsa, and 

contemporary dance moves. 

With live Latin musicians and a dynamic 

dance ensemble, this is a dance experience 

you ‘strictly’ won’t want to miss. It’s time to 

heat things up - get ready for Firedance. 


Wilderland Wildlife Film Festival 

Selected from over a hundred entries from 

film-makers around the globe, Wilderland 

presents the very best of short groundbreaking 

films, offering an unparalleled 

insight into some of the world’s most 

incredible wildlife. 

A must-see for lovers of wildlife, film, travel, 

conservation and adventure. 

Wednesday 8 April, 1pm & 3.30pm 

Shark in the Park 

This fin-tastic, family musical follows 

Timothy Pope (and his telescope!) on three 

exciting adventures… but wait, is that a 

shark, in the park?! 

From the creative team behind The Hairy 

Maclary Show - see all three of Nick 

Sharratt’s Shark in the Park books Shark 

in the Park, Shark in the Dark and Shark 

in the Park on a Windy Day, live on stage! 

You decide! But will you guess whodunit? 

Suitable for 2 years + 


The Real Thing 

The UK’s own disco pioneers, Chris Amoo 

with Dave Smith stop by The Haymarket. 

Featuring no. 1 singles from the 70s and 

80s, You to Me Are Everything,Can’t Get 

By Without You and Feel the Force. 

Hear all the hits plus some fantastic covers 

such as Ladies Night,Celebration, Good 

Times, and Ain’t No Stopping us Now, in 

this action-packed show! 

Wednesday 15 April, 7.30pm 

Annabella Weir 

The bestselling author and star of The Fast 

Show and Two Doors Down. Does My 

Mum Loom Big in This? is for everyone 

who’s had a mother or been a mother, 

featuring hair-raising hilarious true stories 

from Arabella’s dysfunctional childhood, 

her perilous career and her life as a single 

working mother. 

Devastatingly funny, excruciatingly honest 

and definitely embarrassing for all of 

Arabella’s relatives, not to mention herself, 

this is a helter-skelter tour of appalling – 

and appallingly funny – maternal behaviour. 

Hampshire Gin Festival 

The Cross Barn, Odiham RG29 1JX 

Saturday 7 March, 6pm - 22.30pm 

Go along to enjoy tasting up to 15 different 

unique gins, with food and a gin glass 

included in the ticket price. 

Tickets are just £25.00 per person (+ 

booking fee) which includes entry plus 

a huge range of extras. Please see the 

website for more details. 

A fun atmosphere, with friendly staff to help 

The bar will be stocked with Prosecco, 

vodka, beer and soft drinks. 

You’ll have the opportunity to try and buy a 

bunch of boutique gin brands! 

Guildhall WINCHESTER 

The Broadway, Winchester SO23 9GH 

13 - 14 March 

Real Ale and Cider Festival 

This festival is organised wholly by 

Winchester Real Ale and Cider Festival 

volunteers of the Southern Hampshire 

branch of the Campaign for Real Ale 

(CAMRA) Once again Winchester Guildhall 

will be filled with over a hundred different 

real ales, ciders, perries and foreign bottled 

beers. 

The Vyne 

Sherborne St John, Basingstoke RG24 9HL 

01256 883858 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/thevyne 

Saturday 4 April + 15 other dates, 

10am - 4pm - please visit website 

Cadbury’s Easter Egg Hunt 

Picking up your £3 trail sheet from the 

Easter tent, you can learn about the 

‘homes’ of different wildlife on a trail 

through the gardens. You’ll also discover 

what you can do to give wildlife a helping 

hand in your home. 

At the end, return to the Easter tent and 

show your trail sheet to collect your 

chocolate prize. Normal admission applies. 

Winchester Cathedral 

Cathedral Office, Winchester SO23 9LS 

01962 857 214 

www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk 

22 March, 12pm - 3pm 

Mothering Sunday Carvery 

Treat your mother to a delicious Sunday 

Carvery at the Paul Woodhouse Suite. 

£17.95pp* for main (carvery) and a dessert 

£8.95 for children (up to 12 years of age) 

*To include a small gift for mum. 

28 March, 7pm 

Waynflete Singers’ 50th Anniversary 

Gala 

This gala concert will contain works 

selected from those the Waynflete Singers 

have performed over the past 50 years 

and will be conducted by their three most 

recent music directors. 

As a result of a successful crowd-funding 

campaign a new commission will be 

unveiled from the composer and eminent 

baritone Roderick Williams OBE, who will 

also be performing. Not to be missed! 

WiLLIS MUSEUM & 

Sainsbury Gallery 

Market Place, Basingstoke RG21 7QD 

01256 465902 

www.hampshireculture.org.uk 

5 March, from 10.30am 

World Book Day: 

Mini Beast Adventures 

Inspired by our Microsculpture exhibition 

and to celebrate World Book Day, we are 

having a mini beast inspired day of stories 

and crafts, especially for pre-schoolers! 

Pop in between 10.30am and 4.00pm for tales 

of the Hungry Caterpillar and its many friends 

from the insect world and have some fun! 

Admission is free, but donations are 

welcome. Children must be accompanied 

at all times 

Wednesday 8 April, 10.30am & 2pm 

Make a Bug Hotel 

The insects will be waking up after their 

winter sleep - now’s the time to think about 

providing a hotel for the summer or ready 

for next autumn. A great way to encourage 

wildlife into your garden. Some access 

restrictions apply - please check with 

museum on 01256 465902 before booking. 

Theatre Royal 

Winchester 

21-23 Jewry Street, Winchester SO23 8SB 

01962 840440 

www.theatreroyalwinchester.co.cuk 

Friday 15 May - Sunday 17 May 

Room on the Broom 

Jump on board the broom with the witch and 

her cat in Tall Stories’ fun-filled adaptation of 

Room on the Broom, the best-selling picture 

book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. 

The witch and her cat are travelling on their 

broomstick when they pick up some hitchhikers 

– a friendly dog, a beautiful green bird 

and a frantic frog. But this broomstick’s not 

meant for five and – CRACK – it snaps in 

two... just as the hungry dragon appears! 

Will there ever be room on the broom for 

everyone? Find out in the magical Olivier 

Award nominated show for everyone aged 

3 and up. 

We take great care in compiling the listings, 

however we recommend that you check with the 

venue in advance as events and activities may 

be subject to change. 

8 | www.northhampshirelifestyle.co.uk

The importance of preparing 

students for the workplace 

Dr Joseph Spence, head of Dulwich College, discusses the value 

careers-based workshops can bring to independent schools and 

their state school partners... 

Careers education is an important 

element of a school’s provision, and 

a service one cannot introduce to 

pupils too early. Prospective parents, 

even of 11‐year‐olds, are asking far 

more questions than they used to 

about how we are preparing children 

for the workplace of the future. This is 

inevitable given all of the rhetoric about 

the percentage of jobs not yet created 

into which our pupils will move, and the 

fact that they will likely have multiple 

careers, possibly across many countries 

or continents, over the course of long 

working lives. 

Networking events focused on particular 

professions or industries have proven 

immensely popular. These bring together 

former pupils and current and past 

parents, alongside pupils from both 

independent and state schools. 

However, it is also useful to look for 

ways older pupils can deliver light‐touch 

advice to their younger peers at partner 

schools. As co‐director of the Southwark 

Schools Learning Partnership, I have 

been delighted in recent years to be able 

to encourage a hub of careers advisers 

from a good number of our 16 schools 

(12 state schools and four independent 

schools) to share best practice between 

schools and across the sectors. Latterly, 

we have had our own students help focus 

the minds of younger pupils at a partner 

school on potential university applications 

and the world of careers. 

Last June, a group of Year 10 students 

from City Heights E‐ACT Academy 

in South East London had a careers 

workshop with our careers adviser 

at Dulwich College, and a group of 

the College’s Year 12 students. The 

workshop introduced the UCAS process 

with a short ‘true or false’ activity, with 

students from both schools working in 

teams to decide on the veracity of various 

statements. The statements included 

the number of applicants to university 

through UCAS, World University 

Rankings, average graduate salaries and 

deciding what degree courses some 

famous people had taken. This was an 

effective ice-breaking exercise, which 

ensured that no one could feel he or she 

was an expert when it came to university 

admissions. 

The Year 10 City Heights students were 

then given a brief overview of the UCAS 

applications process and the Year 12 

students explained what A‐levels they 

were doing and the different courses 

and universities they were planning to 

apply to. The City Heights pupils were 

introduced to course and career options 

they had not previously considered, while 

the Dulwich College pupils said it really 

helped them to clarify their own plans 

by having to articulate them for younger 

pupils. 

The next activity consisted of a wideranging 

discussion of the likely nature 

of jobs in the future that haven’t been 

created yet. Students were also advised 

about courses and careers on to which 

one could move later, e.g. becoming a 

solicitor or barrister via a post‐graduate 

law conversion course. 

The final part of the workshop consisted 

of a question and answer session, much 

of which focused on what subjects were 

needed for certain careers. This also gave 

the Dulwich students and their careers 

adviser the opportunity to talk about the 

importance of engaging in co‐curricular 

activities that might support a career 

aspiration, such as volunteering in a 

hospital or care home for healthcare 

related careers. The feedback from the 

session was universally positive and 

this workshop has provided a template 

Dulwich College will consider repeating 

at City Heights and taking to other 11‐16 

partner schools. 

There was a time when the only careers 

advice the head of an independent 

school needed to offer sixth formers was 

on how to write a personal statement. 

Those days are long gone. Whether 

explicitly or implicitly, the new order is 

that everything we do with our students 

has some bearing on preparing them for 

the fast-changing workplace. The jobs 

they will go into may be newly minted 

or newly branded, but the skills and 

aptitudes they will require to succeed 

in them are, in fact, those which have 

always been needed in the world of work: 

the ability to lead on a project, to work in 

a team, to communicate clearly and the 

ability to think outside the box. 

All this they learn in their representation 

of the school on its sport field, in 

the joining of musical and theatrical 

ensembles, in their community projects 

and charitable fundraising and in their 

adventurous activities. We are all careers 

educators now – but explicit, nuanced 

careers advice delivered by those 

who work hard to keep up to speed 

with changes in the major (and new) 

professions, is still absolutely essential. 



Have you considered Queen 

Mary's Sixth Form College? 

Queen Mary’s College ensures that every learner aspires to and achieves the highest possible 

qualification grades, irrespective of their academic starting points and to this end has 

a proven track record of success with students of all abilities. There are a wide range of 

courses on offer taught by highly qualified and enthusiastic teachers in superb facilities. 

Our priority at QMC is to ensure that 

all students flourish, enjoy their time 

at College and are able to progress 

through College and onto excellent 

destinations. In order to achieve this 

we strive to provide each student with 

one-to-one support and guidance 

alongside teaching that is tailored to 

their individual needs. This approach has 

helped to make Queen Mary’s not only 

a particularly happy College but also a 

very successful one academically. 

Recently published performance tables 

are impressive, demonstrating our 

success in helping students to do much 

better than expected at all levels, based 

on their GCSE results. 

Located on an impressive leafy campus 

in the heart of Hampshire, Queen 

Mary’s College attracts students from 

across and beyond the County. Each 

individual is supported to achieve 

their full potential, not just in terms of 

qualifications but also transferable skills 

and resilience. With excellent results 

year on year and a vibrant and engaging 

atmosphere, students find it impossible 

to resist participating in the wide range 

of extra-curricular opportunities open 

to them. Our young people leave well 

equipped for the bright future ahead. 

QMC excels in the STEM subjects of 

Maths and Science, and as a result 

many talented students are able to 

pursue dreams of prestigious careers 

in areas such as Medicine, Engineering 

and Veterinary Science. QMC offers 

outstanding support to students 

applying to Oxford, Cambridge and 

Russell Group universities and each 

year students secure places at these top 

universities. 

Our teachers, students and staff look 

forward to welcoming you to our 

Open Evening. 


OPEN EVENING 

23 rd April 

5:30 - 8:30pm 

Beyond expectations, 

close to you 

Come and talk to students, 

staff and teachers. Explore the 

campus and find out about the 

fantastic range of courses, top 

facilities and teaching on offer 

at Queen Mary’s College. 

www.qmc.ac.uk 

Cliddesden Road, 

Basingstoke RG21 3HF 

01256 417500 

Where children 

become everything 

they can be 

Singing, dancing and acting 

classes for 4 - 18 year-olds 

For more information about Stagecoach 

Schools in Hampshire visit: 

Stagecoach Basingstoke 

www.stagecoach.co.uk/basingstoke 

Stagecoach Basingstoke West 

www.stagecoach.co.uk/ 

basingstokewest 

Stagecoach Fleet 

www.stagecoach.co.uk/fleet 


Rural Retreat 

Located just outside Oakley village, Oakley 

Hall Hotel offers executive in a refreshingly 

friendly way. Ben Hollis escapes to the 

country for an overnight stay… 

Built in 1795, the Hall has stories to tell, 

as well as finding itself in a few along 

the way. With Jane Austin having lived in 

local village, Steventon, until the age of 

25, she was friends with the Bramston 

family who once owned Oakley Hall, with 

Mrs Bramston being the inspiration for 

the character Lady Bertram from Austen’s 

novel Mansfield Park. 

Having refurbished all bedrooms in 2014; 

launched their brand new garden pavilion 

in 2018 and revamping the courtyard 

bedrooms and garden cottage in 2019, 

they’re now starting work on building 

their first ever outdoor civil ceremony 

structure, ‘Woodland Pavilion’. Oakley 

Hall Hotel has much to shout about! 

Upon our arrival, we were greeted and 

shown to our room, with assistance to 

avoid the busy hustle of business-folk 

leaving one of the conference areas; it 

seemed at first that we had chosen a bad 

time to arrive, but the reception staff were 

more than happy to take us to our room 

via short cut, avoiding the events bar 

that was now looking busy. A small detail 

perhaps, but it was the start of many 

‘little touches’ that made our stay special. 

The decor of the room brought a modern 

feel to a room kept pleasantly in line with 

the Georgian charm seen throughout 

the hall. The tall ceilings and lofty 

windows kept the room feeling open and 

spacious. Topped off with a half bottle of 

champaign and some milk and cookies 

for the little ones, the adults get a foodie 

treat in the form of handmade, white and 

dark chocolate truffles, with the choice 

of sofa, arm chair or the bed for relaxing 

once you arrive. 

The bathroom provides an oversize tub 

(which is always a refreshing sight for 

a tall person!) with complimentary ecofriendly 

toiletries, as well as a shower 

and even an Oakley Hall Hotel branded 

rubber duck. 

There’s no mystery as to why the 

Glasshouse Restaurant has been 

awarded the 2 AA Rosette. Each 

seasonal menu is tasted by the staff for 

a truly knowledgeable waiting service. 

With meat, vegetarian and vegan menus 

available, you’re provided with variety 

without too many options, which is 

handy when dining with children! Playful 

additions to the already delicious meal 

included chive butter and a cauliflower 

soup drizzled over blue cheese by the 

waitress at the table. The mood lighting, 

carefully chosen music and artistic decor 

make the fine dining experience of the 

“Whether you’re here for business, some 

luxury time away or maybe even a wedding, 

Oakley Hall Hotel is somewhere you can 

relax, unwind and be sure to feel welcome...” 

Glasshouse Restaurant exactly what’s 

needed after a long day, regardless of 

whether you’re there for business or 

pleasure. 

The 1795 bar, named so after the year 

the Hall was built, is the perfect area to 

retire to after a meal, continuing with the 

mood lighting and music. Table service 

is available, so you’re free to do as I did; 

relax, enjoy a dark rum or two and let 

your food go down. 

The next morning, it was up and at 

‘em for breakfast in the Glasshouse 

Restaurant again. A continental breakfast 

buffet is available while your wait for your 

Full English to be cooked, which will not 

disappoint, continuing the ‘Field to Fork’ 

philosophy the kitchen pride themselves 

on. Local produce is sourced within a 50 

mile radius as well as ingredients from 

their Kitchen Garden, where they grow a 

selection of vegetables, herbs and fruit. 

The grounds have a 1.5 mile countryside 

run track, plus a woodland walk to help 

you take in the fresh air. If you’re looking 

for more to fill your day, the TV in the 

room lists multiple local attractions, 

such as Bombay Sapphire Gin Distillery. 

However, if you prefer a day lounging in 

your room there’s plenty of films available 

on the in-room TV through a pre-loaded 

app. 

Whether you’re here for business, some 

luxury time away or maybe even a 

wedding, Oakley Hall Hotel is somewhere 

you can relax, unwind and be sure to 

feel welcome, because if handmade 

chocolate truffles don’t say ‘We want to 

look after you’, then I don’t know what 

does! 

Book a stay at Oakley Hall 

Hotel today: 

01256 783350 

oakleyhall-park.com 


Social icon 

Circle 

Only use blue and/or white. 

For more details check out our 

Brand Guidelines. 

Spring colour and garden 

trails at The Vyne 

In March and April, plum, pear and apple 

blossoms are set to come into their own, 

dusting the orchard’s lawn with delicate pink 

and white petals. 

In the summerhouse garden, the distinctive flowerheads of Crown 

Imperials will burst from the central flowerbeds in shades of orange 

and yellow. 

Later in the season, visitors can indulge the eye with a palette of 

blues and purples with Alliums, wisteria and Camassias in the 

gardens, while a stroll out to Morgaston Woods from mid-April to 

May will reveal carpets of bluebells. 

Garden trails: 

Running daily until 23 March 10am-5pm, visitors can ask 

themselves 10 thought-provoking questions on the Mindfulness 

trail and find the best peaceful spots picked out by The Vyne’s 

gardeners on the Simply ‘be’ trail. 

Running 2 March to 31 May 10am-5pm, on the Fallen bridge trail 

all ages can discover the history of a 19th-century bridge that 

collapsed in a storm. Find out how you can help us rebuild it. 

Suggested donation £1. 

Running 4-19 April 10am-4pm, families can enjoy the Cadbury’s 

Easter Egg Hunt. £3 per trail sheet. Normal admission applies to 

all events. 

Visit nationaltrust.org.uk for more details. 


A spring in your step 

made at The Vyne 

Recharge your batteries 

this spring at The Vyne, 

on meandering trails into 

the heart of nature. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/the-vyne 

© National Trust 2020. Registered Charity no. 205846. 

Photography © National Trust Images/Hugh Mothersole 

The Raven 

‘The Raven Hotel is an and old Manor 

house converted in to a Hotel with lots 

of History, serving great food and drink 

all day. It has forty ensuite bedrooms 

and two function rooms suitable for 

all occasions from business meetings 

to large parties, our friendly team are 

always on hand to make your event a 

great one. 

There is also a large public bar 

equipped with TV’s and sky sports 

for all those sporting fans. 

The Raven Hotel also hosts tribute 

nights regularly and would love to 

welcome you free of charge to our 

next event, please contact the Hotel 

for details.’ 

The 

OLD HOUSE 

at HOME 

Thai Restaurant 

& Takeaway 

Great, home-cooked food 

Fine selection of beers, 

wines and spirits 

Parties catered for 

Children welcome 

For more information contact: 

01256 762541 

9190@greeneking.co.uk 

01256 770335 

Station Rd, Overton, 

Basingstoke RG25 3DU 


The Old House 

at Home 

The best Thai foods 

in Overton 

The Old House at Home is a mock tudor pub and 

restaurant located just 5 minutes walk from the centre 

of Overton and a 10 minute walk from the mainline 

railway station. 

The traditional pub boasts to have one of the best 

offerings of Thai cuisine in Hampshire provided by chef 

Jack Singoy and his team in the kitchen. 

Jack offers classic dishes such as Pad Thai and 

Weeping Tiger alongside weekly specials. 

The Thai food can be enjoyed in the comfortable 

restaurant, in the lovely garden or decking area and 

also as a takeaway service. 

Also on offer is a traditional bar menu plus freshly 

baked baguettes with a range of fillings. 

On Sundays traditional roasts are available. 

There is also a childrens menu which also includes Thai 

dishes alongside the usual favourites. 

The Kitchen is open Tuesday - Sunday for 

lunch and dinner. 

The pub also boasts a large bar area with an open fire 

in the winter months and a separate pool room with 

television for a range of sporting events. 

Above the pub are 2 letting rooms ideal for business 

or pleasure. The location is ideal as a base to explore 

Winchester, Salisbury, a visit to Bombay Sapphire 

distillery or a stroll along the Harrow way. 

Whatever your reason for your visit a warm welcome 

awaits you from Ian, Jack and their teams. 

01256 770335 

Theoldhouseathomeoverton.com 

Station Road, RG253DU

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 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 

"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" 

17

"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" 

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’. 

18 

for, 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 

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’. 

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! 

Absolutely, and you’ve done so, I mean 

The Seahorse is just brilliant I’ve got 

to be honest. It’s just delightful the 

minute you walk in there, it’s such 

a lovely place to be and I absolutely 

love coming down there and hopefully 

when the weather brightens up I’ll be 

back. 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

EASTEr 

eats 

The next big cooking fest after the festive feast, we think cooking for 

Easter should be easy. So we've gathered some seasonal favourites with 

minimal fuss, all from the fantastic cooking app cookwithmands.com 

GRIDDLED 

ASPARAGUS 

with citrus hollandaise 

The perfect starter, light and delicious - it 

also lets seasonal hero asparagus shine! 

Prep: 10 mins | Cook: 20 mins 

Serves: 4 

INGREDIENTS 

450g asparagus 

1 lemon 

1 dash olive oil 

For the hollandaise: 

2 large egg yolks 

1 tbsp fresh orange juice 

half a lemon 

2 tsp lemon zest 

125g cold butter 

METHOD 

Juice the half lemon, grate the lemon 

zest from the whole lemon, then cut that 

lemon into slices. Dice the cold butter. 

To make the hollandaise, in a medium 

heatproof bowl, whisk together the egg 

yolks, orange and lemon juice, lemon 

zest, and some salt and freshly ground 

black pepper. Sit the bowl over (but not 

touching) a pan of gently simmering 

water and add 2 or 3 pieces of butter, 

whisking continuously until melted. 

Continue adding the remaining butter in 

this way, whisking until the sauce is thick 

and smooth. Remove from the heat. 

Heat a griddle pan until hot. Drizzle the 

asparagus and lemon wedges with a 

little olive oil and griddle for 2-3 minutes 

each side, until just tender. Season with 

salt and pepper, and arrange on a platter. 

Drizzle with the hollandaise to serve. 

CHEDDAR & 

ONION seeded rolls 

Something about Easter makes baking 

feel right. This is great for the main meal or 

as a sandwich with any leftover lamb. 


Makes: 10 

INGREDIENTS 

3 tsp black onion seeds 

375g seeded bread mix (from M&S) 

200g mature Cheddar 

180ml lukewarm water 

flour, for dusting 

olive oil 

METHOD 

Heat a frying pan over a medium-high 

heat and add the onion seeds. Move 

them around the pan for 1 minute, until 

they produce an oniony aroma. Set aside. 

Tip the bread mix into a large bowl. Stir in 

three-quarters of the cheese, two-thirds 

of the onion seeds and the lukewarm 

water. Mix to form a ball of dough. 

Turn out onto a floured surface and 

knead for about 10 minutes until soft and 

elastic. Shape into rolls, then put on oiled 

baking sheets, well apart. 

With a knife, slash the tops of the rolls. 

Loosely cover each sheet with lightly 

oiled cling-film and leave in a warm 

place for 40 minutes, until the dough has 

almost doubled in size. Heat the oven to 

220°C/425°F/gas 7 (200°C for fan ovens). 

Once the rolls have risen, scatter them 

with the reserved cheese and onion 

seeds. Bake for 12-15 minutes until 

golden and hollow-sounding when 

tapped underneath. Delicious served 

warm with butter. 

19

4 (160°C for fan ovens). Transfer the 

potatoes to a roasting tin, drizzle with the 

oil and sprinkle with the seasoning. Roast 

the potatoes for 40 minutes, turning 

occasionally, until tender and crisp. 

SLOW-ROAST 

LAMB 

The Easter centrepiece - this one is meltin-the-mouth 

delicious and just needs 

low, slow cooking. 

Prep: 30 mins | Cook: 4 hours 10 mins 

Serves: 8 

INGREDIENTS 

2kg leg of lamb (bone in) 

400g shallots 

2 whole garlic bulbs 

150ml Madeira/Marsala or other sweet 

fortified wine 

2 tsp plain flour 

2 tsp butter 

Seasoning paste 

2 lemons 

4 sprigs rosemary 

4 garlic cloves 

8 anchovies 

1 tbsp olive oil 

METHOD 

To prep: If large, peel and half the 

shallots. Half crossways the whole garlic 

bulbs. Soften the butter. Zest and half 

the lemons. Finely chop the leaves of the 

rosemary. Finely chop the garlic cloves. 

Chop the anchovies. 

Heat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/gas 3. 

To make the seasoning paste, put the 

lemon zest, rosemary, garlic cloves, 

anchovies and freshly ground black 

pepper in a bowl. Use a fork to mash 

together into a chunky paste. Stir in the oil 

and set aside. 

Heat a roasting tin on the hob and brown 

the lamb for a couple of minutes on each 

side. Remove the lamb from the tin and 

place on a board. 

Cook the shallots in the roasting tin (add 

a little olive oil if necessary) for 5 minutes 

or until golden, stirring occasionally. 

Remove and set aside. 

Meanwhile, use a thin, sharp knife to 

make deep, angled incisions all over the 

lamb. 

Push the seasoning paste into the cuts. 

Return the lamb to the tin. Add the 

shallots, garlic and lemon halves. Pour 

the Madeira and 100ml water around the 

lamb. Cover the roasting tin tightly with 

foil and roast for 3 hours. 

Remove the foil and return to the oven 

for a further hour. Meanwhile, mix the 

flour and butter to form a paste. When 

the lamb is ready, transfer it to a carving 

board or platter, with the garlic, lemons 

and shallots, and loosely cover with foil. 

Strain the juices from the roasting tin into 

a small saucepan and bring to the boil. 

Whisk in the flour and butter paste, then 

simmer until the sauce is thickened and 

glossy. Serve with the lamb. 

ULTIMATE 

ROAST 

POTATOES 

Perfect roast potatoes with a flawless, 

crisp crunch. 


Serves: 6 

INGREDIENTS 

1kg potatoes 

1 tbsp Seasoning for Roast Potatoes 


METHOD 

Peel and cut the potatoes in half, or into 

quarters if large. Boil the potatoes in 

salted water for 5 minutes and drain well. 

Heat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 

WHOLE SALMON 

with roasted squash and 

tarragon olive mayonnaise 

The perfect celebratory fish dish for 

Good Friday. 

Prep: 10 mins | Cook: 1 hour 5 mins 

Serves: 8 

INGREDIENTS 

1 lemon 

2kg whole Lochmuir salmon, cleaned 


8 sprigs tarragon 

20g unsalted butter 

1 large butternut squash 

8 whole garlic clove 

2 tbsp pumpkin seeds 

200ml mayonnaise 

2 tbsp pitted green olives, chopped 

METHOD 

Heat the oven to 190°/170°C fan/gas 5. 

Halve the lemon, set one half aside and 

slice the other into rounds. To cook the 

salmon, start with two large sheets of 

foil, one on top of the other, in a roasting 

tin large enough to hold the whole fish. 

Brush the foil with 1 tablespoon oil and 

lay the salmon on top. 

Stuff 4 tarragon sprigs, the lemon slices 

and a little salt and pepper in the cavity. 

Dot the butter over the surface of the 

salmon and bring the foil around it in a 

loose parcel, sealing the edges tightly. 

Roast for 1 hour, then set aside to rest for 

15 minutes before opening the foil. 

Meanwhile, slice the squash into wedges, 

skin on, and toss with the remaining olive 

oil and the whole garlic cloves on a large 

baking tray. 

Roast for 45 minutes, until the squash 

is golden then scatter with the pumpkin 

20

seeds and return to the oven for a final 5 

minutes. 

To make the mayonnaise, strip the leaves 

from the remaining tarragon sprigs and 

finely chop. 

Stir into the mayonnaise with a squeeze 

of lemon juice from the remaining lemon 

half and the chopped olives. 

Season with black pepper only. Serve the 

baked salmon with the roast squash, soft 

garlic and tarragon-olive mayonnaise. 

HOT CROSS BUN 

PUDDING 

A great alternative to bread and butter 

pudding - and a way to use up any 

leftover hot cross buns and Easter eggs! 


Serves: 6 

INGREDIENTS 

2 eggs 

8 mini hot cross buns, or four large 

1 pear, peeled, cored and cubed 

4 tbsp hazelnut chocolate spread 

25g dark chocolate, chopped 

150ml double cream 

25ml whole milk 

25g caster sugar 

METHOD 

Cut each bun in half, then sandwich 

together with the chocolate spread. 

Arrange in an ovenproof dish and scatter 

over the pear cubes and chocolate. 

Whisk together the eggs, cream, milk and 

sugar. Pour the mixture over the buns 

and leave for at least 30 minutes to allow 

it to soak in. 

Heat the oven to 180°C/350°F/gas 4 

(160°C for fan ovens) and bake for 35-40 

minutes until golden and just set. Stand 

for 5 minutes before serving. 

RHUBARB AND 

MASCARPONE 

meringue cake 

Another seasonal favourite - rhubarb. 

Meringues can be made ahead, but eat 

on the day you assemble with cream. 

Prep: 1 hour 25 mins | Cook: 2 hours 

Serves: 8 

INGREDIENTS 

For the purée: 

400g rhubarb, cut into 2cm pieces 

2 tbsp caster sugar 

1 vanilla pod, deseeded 

4 tbsp orange juice 

For the meringue: 

225g caster sugar 

4 egg whites 

For the filling and topping: 

50g icing sugar 

350g mascarpone 

30g shelled pistachios, roughly chopped 

METHOD 

Heat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 6. 

Toss together the rhubarb, sugar, vanilla 

pod pieces and orange juice. Spread 

out the mixture in a small baking dish 

and roast for 15 minutes, or until tender. 

Remove from the oven and set aside 

to cool. 

Turn the oven down to 110°C/90°C fan/ 

gas ¼. Reserve 10 pieces of rhubarb 

for decoration, and purée the rest in a 

blender. Only add the juices from the 

baking dish if the purée seems too thick. 

Set aside. 

Trace 4 x 18cm circles on baking paper 

as a guide for the meringue discs. Put 

the sugar and 90ml water into a heavybased 

saucepan. Carefully swirl the water 

around to ensure the sugar is covered. 

(Do not stir after swirling as this will 

encourage sugar crystals to form on the 

sides of the pan.) Put the pan over a high 

heat until the mixture bubbles. 

Reduce the heat to medium and allow 

the mixture to bubble away for about 

10 minutes. If using a thermometer the 

syrup is ready when it reaches 116°C. 

Otherwise, test the mixture by dropping 

a small amount into a cup of cold water, 

lift it out and if it can be rolled into a soft 

ball, it’s ready. If it’s still slippery and loose, 

bubble a little longer. 

Meanwhile, in a clean bowl, whisk the 

egg whites to stiff peaks using an electric 

whisk. When the syrup is ready, add it 

to the whisked egg whites, whisking 

continuously until the mixture is glossy 

and the syrup is fully incorporated. 

Pipe or spread the mixture onto the 

prepared baking sheets, filling in the 

circles. Bake for 2 hours, then keep the 

oven door ajar with a wooden spoon and 

bake for another hour to crisp up the 

surface. Turn the oven off and leave the 

meringues to cool in the oven for a further 

hour. 

To make the filling, beat the icing sugar 

into the mascarpone, adding more if you 

prefer a sweeter flavour. Then gently fold 

about two-thirds of the rhubarb purée 

into the mascarpone. 

To assemble the cake, spread a meringue 

disc with a third of the mascarpone and 

top with some of the reserved purée, 

gently rippling it with a table knife. Repeat 

these steps with the other discs and 

decorate the top with the reserved pieces 

of rhubarb and the chopped pistachios. 

21

a 

Slice 

of 

SANTA 

BARBARA 

Kate O’Connell tackles 

the culinary scene of 

Santa Barbara. One 

mouthful at a time... 

Harbor View Inn Hotel 

22

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 litter 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 nights 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. 

Loquita Restaurant 

23

Kayaking around Santa 

Barbara harbour 

24 

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 

three-hour 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 Instagramworthy 

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. 

Sea Urchins at 

Bibi Ji Restaurant 

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

Glorious walks from the Highbullen Hotel, Devon 

STYLISH Staycations 

Whether you want the buzz of the city or a 

complete country retreat, here are our pick of 

UK staycations... 

the best of the city and west end at 

THE STRAND PALACE, LONDON 

Having welcomed guests since 1909, the Strand Palace is surrounded by 

the best London has to offer - located just minutes from Covent Garden. 

Having recently undergone a large-scale multi million pound renovation, 

myself and my partner decided to tie in a spot of winter shopping/ 

sightseeing in with a stay in what is most definitely the heart of London. 

The Strand Palace creates a fabulous impression the minute you meet the 

doorman! The front entrance, lobby and reception are one large, bright, 

open spaced hub, featuring art deco influences that create a very relaxed 

and sophisticated atmosphere. We checked in and made our way up to 

our room, which was a tranquil, comforting retreat from the hussle and 

bustle of the street below. 

It is at this stage that I feel I must confess: I am a bit of a tourist when it 

comes to London. In the past I have found myself booking into hotels that 

seem to be on the other side of the city in location to all the spots I wished 

to visit, and although there’s the tube, it’s still nice to be situated near 

the action. This is what makes The Strand Palace so perfect. Its location 

is brilliant - right in the heart of the West End, and with Covent Garden 

a mere two minutes away you really have got it all on your doorstep. 

I couldn’t believe our luck when a trip to The National Portrait Gallery 

took....seven minutes on foot! 

We made our way back to the hotel after a spot of lunch, opting for the 

pre-theatre menu which is brilliant value for money if you are trying to 

keep costs down. Pre 7pm, you can indulge with 2 courses for £20, so 

we tucked into some crispy lime squid, followed by fish and chips, with a 

lovely light batter. All washed down with a bottle of red. Delightful! 

The city felt like ours for the taking! We took ourselves off for a stroll around 

Covent Garden, closely followed by a visit to a couple of ‘proper’ London 

pubs. If you are after a weekend away in the city and want to make London 

your own, The Strand Palace offers a truly unbeatable location. 

Sam Norris | strandpalacehotel.co.uk, rooms from £175 per night 

escape to the country at 

UPPER TETCHWICK 

HOUSE, NR AYLESBURY 

There is surely no better ointment for the weary 

soul than a weekend in pristine countryside 

with your closest friends. I found that sense of 

reatreat at the beautiful Upper Tetchwick House, 

booked through holidaycottages.co.uk. 

With a whole host of different holiday 

accommodation options to suit couples, families 

and large or small parties, holidaycottages.co.uk 

was the perfect site through which to book our 

little staycation. We settled on Upper Tetchwick 

House, which sleeps 12. 

In a rural location on the outskirts of Aylesbury, 

the property is a home away from home - if your 

home is a resplendent country pad complete 

with six bedrooms, a swimming pool, a billiards 

room and a duck pond, with far reaching views 

across the countryside! It’s a house that would 

cater in any season - with a huge garden and 

pool for the warmer months and a wonderful 

wood burning stove when the chill sets in. 

The whole process was easy as anything - 

meaning we all felt immediately on holiday - that 

was in part thanks to the lovely locally-sourced 

welcome hamper waiting on the counter. 

The house had the added benefit of being dog 

friendly too, meaning my pooches didn’t miss 

out on any of the holiday action. 

Katie Thomson | holidaycottages.co.uk, 

a three night stay costs £1,568 total 

25

take time out at 

DONNINGTON VALLEY 

HOTEL & SPA, BERKSHIRE 

It really does go without saying that a visit to the 

spa is a great way to relax, de-stress and unwind 

from the day-to-day. However we should never 

need an excuse for a little pampering. After all, 

many of our modern-day spas have deep roots, 

dating back thousands of years. Hence my 

lack of guilt in booking myself and Mum in for a 

weekend stay at Donnington Valley Hotel. 

A privately owned hotel, spa and golf club, 

Donnington Valley is located just off the M4. 

Arriving in the surrounding beautiful Berkshire 

countryside, this truly felt like a retreat. 

Sharing an Executive suite, we were graced with 

gorgeously comfy beds and a rather spacious 

bathroom! We quickly put on the robes provided 

and made our way to the spa. There we had 

a luxury 55 minute Sonoma Aromatherapy 

Massage. Melting our tensions away, my 

thoughts drifted to the hustle and bustle of 

life, and what a rarity it is to have 55 minutes 

to yourself to just…be. It occurred to me how 

important it is to take time for yourself. It’s a 

win-win for everyone too surely, as by feeling 

and looking your best, you are better able to take 

care of your loved ones without feeling burnt out. 

We took ourselves off to the capacious pool, 

and made use of the indulgent sauna and 

steam rooms, not to mention a quick lounge 

in the jacuzzi, before quickly freshening up for 

our dinner reservations. On the menu: scallops 

on a bed of pea purée, black pudding and 

smoked pancetta, followed by a juicy sirloin 

steak, all complimented beautifully by some 

well-recommended wine, and last but not least 

followed by a delectable espresso martini. 

Naughty? Yes. But perhaps we all need to take 

a weekend every once in a while to look after 

number one. 

Kate O’Connell | donningtonvalley.co.uk, 

rooms from £135 per night 

find sanctuary in the city at 

PARK PLAZA LONDON RIVERBANK 

As a former Londoner who now resides in the countryside, there is always a 

thrill when returning to the capital. The beauty of being a visitor, instead of a 

resident, is getting to appreciate the wealth of culture, architectural marvels 

and general buzz of this sprawling metropolis. And there is nowhere better 

located to explore it all from than the Park Plaza London Riverbank. 

Located on the south side of the River Thames, it sits near many of 

London’s most legendary tourist attractions. The Houses of Parliament, the 

seat of England’s political authority, are just across Westminster Bridge, and 

the London Eye, the city’s enormous Ferris wheel, is only a 15-minute walk 

away. My room had an uninterrupted view out to Big Ben and the Palace of 

Westminster. Being so central might feel chaotic, but the hotel really does 

feel like a sanctuary away from it all. 

I visited with my small niece and nephew in tow - travelling with children 

is never easy, but the London Riverbank hotel has taken a huge step 

toward making it a breeze - it has just launched the capital’s first hotel 

room designed by families, for families - featuring elements such as chalk 

board walls, neon lights, a bunk bed for the kids, and chic décor and iconic 

London view for the adults, along with bespoke services. The suite is 

available from just £179 per night and can be booked by visiting 

parkplaza.com/ultimatefamily 

Daniel Weston | radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/park-plaza-Londonriverbank 

Rooms from £119 per night 

sleep like a royal at 

HARTWELL HOUSE, NR AYLESBURY 

I would call myself an explorer, but it isn’t often that I can feel as I’m back 

in the 17th century and living as the royals once had. That is exactly how 

this weekend felt, exploring the warmth, romance and delicious cuisine that 

Hartwell House had to offer. 

The hotel makes an impression straight away - the exquisite drive to the 

front entrance, greetings from smiling staff and the aroma of a burning stove 

made us feel we were somewhere very special. 

As we settled in our large room, with far-reaching views across the fields we 

were very pleased by the little touches - the room’s decor transporting you 

to an era of vintage style. History oozes from every pore of this house and 

there is so much to be explored - even the walk to dinner took us past the 

characterful staircase - each spindle of the bannister is hand carved into a 

caricature - we delighted in spotting famous historical figures, including a 

grave-faced Winston Churchill. 

The house has both Jacobean and Georgian features with outstanding 

decorative ceilings and panelling, fine paintings and antique furniture. It has a 

remarkable history too: its most famous resident was Louis XVIII, exiled King 

26

soak in the views at 

THE HIGHBULLEN HOTEL 

& COUNTRY CLUB, NORTH DEVON 

Arriving after nightfall to a hotel destination is always a bit of a treat - 

there is something exciting about waking up to an undiscovered view 

- pulling back the curtains to reveal the surprise. 

This delight surely hits its peak at the Highbullen Hotel, nestled in the 

rolling hills of North Devon. As I ambled, sleepily, from the sumptuous 

seven-foot bed in our suite, I opened the curtains with a cup of tea in 

hand, I was greeted by the most glorious, expansive views - rolling hills, 

a view down the Mole Valley and out towards national parks. From the 

hotel’s high vantage point on a ridge between Dartmoor and Exmoor, on 

a clear day you can see for 18 miles across pristine British countryside - 

it really is something to behold. 

An opportunity to enjoy these views is never missed - as well as a 

lovely reading nook in our own room, the elegant drawing rooms and 

sun terraces offered chances to sit and soak it all in. The hotel’s Devon 

View Restaurant also offers these panoramas, alongside its 2 AA 

rosettes - making for a very special dining experience. With a changing 

daily menu featuring the best local, seasonal produce, the restaurant 

is a foodie destination in its own right. We dined on the house-smoked 

salmon with avocado, a deliciously light leek and cheddar tart and 

perfectly succulent lamb cutlets with a perfect umami punch. The 

portions are perfect, leaving just enough room for a shared dessert of 

treacle tart with clotted cream - simple dessert pastry at its best. This is 

also the restaurant where residents can enjoy breakfast - 

it’s a great spread with lots to choose from. 

If the dishes in the restaurant gets you in the indulgent 

foodie mood (and they will) you can also head down to 

the lovely Laura Ashley Tearoom on site for a classic 

Devon cream tea or a more indulgent offering with fizz. 

As well as the main hotel, guests have accommodation 

options in self catered cottages - meaning the facilities 

of the whole resort are still on their doorstep. An 18-hole 

USGA golf course set within richly wooded parkland, 

tennis courts, a multi-sport simulator, a leisure centre, 

fishing, shooting, snooker - the list is expansive and 

caters for every member of the family, making it a 

wonderful holiday destination. Keen walkers can also 

make the most of miles of local country walks, Exmoor or 

the nearby South West Coast path. 

Katie Thomson | highbullen.co.uk, 

B&B from £110 per night 

of France, for five years from 1809 - no wonder we felt like royalty. 

That evening we shared a decadent three course dinner. The food was 

wonderful and the ambiance pure romance - with a piano playing in the 

background. I would highly recommend a starter of scallops or smoked 

salmon, the cod for a main and a trio of the delicious sorbets to finish it off. 

The majestic tone set the night before continued at breakfast - the 

spread pure elegance - hand polished silverware, white table cloths and 

loose leaf earl grey tea. Then it was out to explore the grounds. Hartwell 

House is a National Trust owned property with Capability Browninspired 

landscapes - we pretended it was all our domain as we strolled 

from one spectacular vista to another. 

Then it was time to relax even further in the beautiful spa - with its 

stylistic echoes of a Roman bathing house. Our treatments were 

sublime - taking away all the strain of a working week. 

From the first sights of history, to the genuine comforts of a homely room 

and stunning food, I arrive back in the big city, relaxed, romanced and so 

full of fond memories. Hartwell House comes highly recommended and I 

can see why - it is the perfect weekend away, only if you wish to get lost 

in time and take a moment to enjoy your surroundings. 

Lucy Elamad | hartwell-house.com, B&B from £250 per night 

27

AMAZING 

GLAZING 

When we think about our homes, it’s really the windows 

and doors that create the wow factor. We are all so 

keen to flood our properties with natural light and the 

constantly evolving technology in the world of glazing is 

making some truly astonishing designs achievable, not to 

mention more affordable than ever. 

Whether you are self-building, extending or even 

renovating your home, apportioning budget to windows 

and doors is a savvy move. As well as making your home 

more valuable - 69% of people say that light rooms make 

them more inclined to buy - investing in clever glazing can 

make you fall in love with your space once more. 

BI-FOLD vs SLIDING 

DOORS 

Bi-fold: 

PROS - for those looking for that wonderful sense of a 

garden room that brings the outside in, bi-folds can help 

create the sense of one open-plan space as the panels 

fold away fully to the walls. 

CONS - an expensive option - poorly constructed bi-folds 

can also suffer from air-tightness issues around the joins 

so do your research and get guarantees. 

Sliding: 

PROS - generally cheaper than bi-fold doors, sliding 

doors also have fewer frame elements, meaning when 

they are closed your view is less obstructed. 

CONS - you won’t get the full, uninterrupted view of the 

garden - instead only a portion of the doors are openable. 

Bi-fold 

Sliding 

69% of people say that light rooms make 

them more inclined to buy - investing in 

clever glazing can make you fall in love with 

your space once more... 

28

Roof Lanterns and Skylights 

Compared to windows of the same surface area, skylights and 

roof lanterns can increase light in a room by up to five times. 

They are particularly good in extensions and for channelling 

light to darker corners of the home and adding opportunities 

for ventilation. These additions are no longer considered just a 

luxury and can be used in a wide variety of scenarios: 

• In a loft extension, tucked beneath sloped rooflines, the 

presence of skylights may spell the difference between a 

bright, friendly space and a murky cave. 

• In a home built between closely adjoining neighbouring 

houses where overlooking might be an issue, skylights may be 

the best solution for introducing good natural light into rooms. 

• In a single storey house build or extension, built with an open 

floor plan, skylight shafts can bring much needed natural light 

into the centre of large spaces. 

Many of the issues experienced in the past of rooms 

overheating or being hard to clean have been mediated with 

a tranche of new technology, including glass panels with heat 

regulatory and storage abilities and self-cleaning glass. 

SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION? 

In a single storey house build or extension, built with an 

open floor plan, skylight shafts can bring much needed 

natural light into the centre of large spaces. 

Energy Efficiency 

Our homes are one of the biggest energy wasters out there and 

traditionally windows are the biggest energy leakage point, so 

with any renovation, it can really pay to invest in glass tech to 

ensure the best temperature regulation - creating huge savings 

down the line. We all know that double glazing is much more 

efficient than single, but newer technologies like triple glazing 

are making windows nearly as efficient at energy retention as 

the walls they are installed within. 

As well as the glass, it is important to do you research into 

frames and opt for the most airtight models. 

With great green credentials, triple glazed units have the 

added benefits of better thermal comfort, noise reduction and 

a reduced risk of condensation between panes – so for the 

self-builder or home improver looking for a premium finish with 

added benefits, it’s a natural choice. 

29

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 

30

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 

31

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. 

32

BESPOKE SOFAS, CHAIRS, BEDS & MATTRESSES 

See offers 

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MADE IN BRITAIN 

HANDCRAFTED KITCHENS 

FOR OUR OFFERS VISIT 

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GU15 3NU. 

Call us on 01276 692 144

BRIGHT IDEAS 

FOR YOUR HOME 

Elstead House, Mill Lane, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 2QJ 

www.elsteadlighting.com | Tel: 01420 590510 

Showroom open 9:00am - 5:30pm Monday - Saturday

Sherborne Windows 


Introducing what might just be 

your favourite windows, doors and 

conservatory supplier and installer in 

Hampshire and Surrey – the much loved 

local business, Sherborne Windows. 

Taking inspiration from a bygone era for their levels of service, 

and using market leading brands, Sherborne Windows supplies 

products with enduring style and with the security, reliability and 

energy efficiency of modern, approved technologies. 

Sherborne offers six impressive collections – handcrafted 

and bespoke Timber, contemporary and slimline Alumiunium, 

high security and energy efficient Ultimate Collection, low 

maintenance Timber Alternative ranges from Evolution and 

Bygone and for roofs the stylish Roofline range. 

All these ranges are designed to transform the look of your home 

whilst providing improved security and energy efficiency. In 

many cases installing new windows not only adds value to your 

property, but also saves so much money on heating bills that they 

can pay for themselves! 

Sherborne Windows have three impressive showrooms in 

Hampshire and Surrey, each one displaying their full range of 

products and offering experienced advice for every property 

type and any budget. Whether you live in a listed property in a 

conservation area or have an old terrace property, they can offer 

advice for the most suitable windows, doors and conservatories 

for your situation. 

The showrooms are situated in Windlesham, Farnborough and 

their latest one in Hartley Wintney in Hampshire was officially 

opened in 2017 by BBCs Spring Watch presenter Kate Humble. 

Sherborne constantly strive to offer ground breaking new designs 

and ideas to their clients and their installations have been 

featured in many National publications including the impressive 

transformation of a tired house in Hampshire into a stylish New 

England style property fitted with Evolution timber alternative 

windows and doors and also a stylish Orangery installation in 

a 1930s property in Surrey which was fitted with a spectacular 

Atlas lantern roof. 

Sherborne have also won many accolades over the years 

including the Door Challenge at The Master Fitters Challenge and 

have been nominated as Conservatory Installer of the Year and 

Installer of the Year at the G17 Awards. 

For further information or to book an appointment visit 

www.sherbornewindows.co.uk or call 01252 370917. 

Two for the price of one entry with 

this voucher. Expires 24/12/20 

Home to one of 

Britian’s most 

pioneering naturalists. 

The perfect day out 

for the whole family. 

Explore his home and 

25 acres of garden 

and parkland. 

Cafe, gift shop, 

exhibitions and lots 

see and do. 

Selborne . HantS . GU34 3JH 

www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk 

REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1159058 

36 | www.northhampshirelifestyle.co.uk 

2020 ad template .indd 1 17/01/2020 16:39:23

2020: THE YEAR OF SLEEP 

2020 is set to be the ‘Year of Sleep’ as the third 

of a life we spend in bed takes a higher profile 

than ever before... 

March is 

National 

Bed Month 

With more and more wellbeing and mental health organisations 

focusing on the importance of a good night’s rest, even Tatler has 

called sleep ‘the new status symbol’. Already lined up for the year 

is the presentation of a Sleep Manifesto to an all-party House 

of Commons group on March 4. And, importantly, the Mental 

Health Foundation announced at the end of 2019 that the theme 

for Mental Health Awareness Week in May will be the connection 

between sleep – or lack of it – and mental health. 

Said Lisa Artis, chief advisor for The Sleep Council: “For too long 

we’ve seen sleep regarded as virtually an ‘optional extra’ when it 

comes to good health, but a growing tide of scientific evidence is 

proving that it is vital to both our physical and mental wellbeing. 

Unlike diet and exercise, the subject of sleep is barely mentioned 

in schools – and while access is given to all kinds of physical and 

wellbeing training in the workplace, help with achieving a good 

night’s sleep is rarely considered. Given that 200,000 working 

days a year are lost in the UK through sleep-related problems*, 

that would seem to be an incredibly short-sighted approach. 

“However, it would finally appear that the tide is changing and 

highly significant that the Mental Health Foundation – which itself 

has enjoyed a hugely raised profile in the past year – is to focus 

on the importance of sleep to mental health as its campaign 

theme for May.” 

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social care needs 

Social care seems to be in the news a lot at the 

moment, often, unfortunately, in conjunction 

with the word ‘crisis’. Given that if you 

need care it’s a necessity, it makes sense to 

understand the basics – well before that time 

might come... 

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. 

It is also possible that rather than ‘personal care’ you need a 

different kind of support, such as companionship, because you are 

very alone and lonely. If so, in some places the council may refer 

you to a scheme run by a charity like Age UK, where you might 

have to pay a modest amount to take part. 

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 


Still Outstanding 

25 Years Later 


Oak Lodge care home recently celebrated 

their 25th Anniversary and Outstanding 

CQC rating with a large party attended 

by many across the Basingstoke 

community... 

To celebrate 25 years of caring, Oak Lodge hosted a day of 

entertainment, which included entertainment, speeches from 

the Mayor of Basingstoke along with the Director and Owner 

of Forest Care, a 1995 themed quiz, spectacular buffet lunch 

followed by a very well received Abba Tribute act. 

The attending Mayor Diane Taylor kindly said “Oak Lodge is key 

part of this community. The long service of the management 

and staff makes a huge difference to the homely atmosphere 

experienced by the residents. I visit Oak Lodge regularly to 

see my friends and there is always something going on here to 

enjoy”. 

Having worked for Forest Care for over 30 years, Mark Vickery, 

the Director of Forest Care, presented a photo collage of Oak 

Lodge’s construction, while narrating a history of the care home. 

To conclude, Mark proudly announced that Oak Lodge has 

recently maintained its “Outstanding” CQC rating in its latest 

inspection at the end of 2019, a fantastic achievement for Oak 

Lodge. 

Oak Lodge has a large amount of long-serving staff, positively 

affecting the continuity of care the home provides. 

Frank Fogarty, Owner of Forest Care, handed out gifts of thanks 

to the staff during the celebrations for their commitment and 

dedication to care home. Frank recognised that it is because of 

the hard work of the people employed at Oak Lodge that has 

allowed it to achieve its 25th anniversary and become awardwinning 

in 2019. 

Oak Lodge would like to say a big thank you to everyone for 

helping them to celebrate their special milestone. Without the 

support of the local community, trust instilled by relatives and 

dedication of staff, Oak Lodge would not have been able to 

celebrate 25 years of caring for the elderly. 

To speak to the team or to learn more about this outstanding 

and award-winning home, contact Oak Lodge on 01256 780222 

or oaklodge@forestcare.co.uk. Alternatively, visit the Forest 

Care website: www.forestcare.co.uk. 

Residential | Nursing | Respite 

All-inclusive fees & no deposits with complimentary physio, hairdressing, chiropody & more. 

An Award-Winning Care Home 

offering the highest standard of care and support for the elderly 

led by the Care Home Manager of the Year 2019 - National Care Awards. 

Rectory Road, Oakley, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG23 7EL 

Tel: 01256 780222 Email: oaklodge@forestcare.co.uk Website: www.forestcare.co.uk

spring has sprung... 

along with the 

allergy season! 

Days are getting longer, and garden daffodils 

are blooming. Whilst for many this is great 

news, there are some that dread this time of 

year, the advent of the allergy season... 

Allergies are particularly debilitating in the spring, with many 

trying to avoid pollen by popping antihistamines, but this only 

gets you so far. Though many tips are well known, such as 

closing the windows or wearing sunglasses, there are some 

triggers that you may not have realised. 

Often proclaimed as the good guys, fruit can exacerbate allergy 

symptoms because they are, funnily enough, covered in fruit 

pollen. However, do not stop eating fruit. We still need our daily 

vitamins so instead make sure you wash, peel or cook your fruit 

to prevent transfer of irksome pollen. 

Alcohol is another culprit because it dilates the blood vessels 

in your nose, enabling a larger reaction to any pollen present. 

Wine is particularly bad so maybe try another drink in the spring 

sunshine. 

Hair products turn your luscious tresses into a pollen magnet, 

ensuring pollen stays with you wherever you go. On the same 

theme, if you find yourself waking up with a particularly stuffy 

nose then you should try swapping your morning shower for an 

evening one. Going to bed swathed in pollen certainly doesn’t 

help. Even just washing your face can make a big difference. 

Many things can be attributed to stress these days and allergies 

are no different. Even small amounts of stress increases allergytriggering 

proteins and allergic symptoms, so enjoy some me 

time to de-stress however you like to: yoga, mindfulness, reading. 

Finally, the spring clean! Although the intention is good to remove 

all dust and mould spores from the house, cleaning dramatically 

increases allergens in the air whilst you are cleaning. Best to get 

someone else to do it when you aren’t there (think partner or 

children!) 

If you are still struggling, a visit to your local osteopath to help 

clear congestion from your sinuses might be just the thing you 

need to relieve those spring sneezes! 

Linda Routledge 

www.outlinehealth.com 


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Tie the Knot 

TIE THE KNOT AT OAKLEY HALL HOTEL 

Whether you’re planning a small and intimate ceremony for close friends and 

family or need space for up to 340 guests, Oakley Hall Hotel provides the choice of 

several elegant rooms that are licensed to hold civil ceremonies and partnerships. 

For larger weddings, the brand new Garden Pavilion can hold up to 350 guests for 

a wedding breakfast and 400 for an evening reception. 

With 315 acres of grounds surrounding the hotel, your photographer will have an 

exceptional choice of settings in which to capture many wonderful moments. 

3 

RECTORY ROAD, OAKLEY, BASINGSTOKE, HAMPSHIRE, RG23 7EL 

ENQUIRIES@OAKLEYHALL-PARK.COM | WWW.OAKLEYHALL-PARK.COM | +44 (0)1256 783 350

North Hampshire Lifestyle Mar - Apr 2020

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