Wokingham and Bracknell Lifestyle Apr - May 2020

ENJOY AN EASY- 

LIVING APARTMENT, 

AND STILL GO 

TO BED 

The duplex apartments at Lynwood Village offer a 

generous 1,153*sq ft of flexible living space. 

Designed for easy living, these fantastic apartments 

are set over two floors, so you can still go 

upstairs to bed. 

Upstairs you’ll find a lovely 27ft dual aspect room 

with ensuite shower room, walk-in storage and 

private balcony, which makes a beautiful master 

suite or living room. Downstairs you’ll find the 

second bedroom, living room and fully fitted kitchen. 

And if the stairs become too much you can have a 

stairlift or walk-in lift fitted in the future. 

COME AND ENJOY THE EASY LIFE, BOOK 

YOUR VIEWING OF ONE OUR BEAUTIFUL 

DUPLEX APARTMENTS TODAY. 

Independent living made easy for the over 65s 

SUNNINGHILL | ASCOT | BERKSHIRE 

Ben – Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund. Lynwood Court, Lynwood Village, 

Rise Road, Ascot, SL5 0FG. A charity registered in England and Wales (no.297877) and 

Scotland (no.SC039842). A company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales 

(no.02163894). Registered with the Homes and Communities Agency (no. LH 3766). 

To arrange a visit, please call: 01344 797 834 

visit: lynwoodvillage.co.uk or 

email: sales@lynwoodvillage.co.uk

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 April weather has 

been…unpredictable, but nevertheless I’m 

hopeful and cheery. 

A Culinary Easter Journey bites through to take you 

19Perfect through Northern the Ireland whole weekend 

Avid readers might remember reading 

about my new year’s pledge in a past 

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! 

We catch up with 

James Martin 

IN THIS ISSUE... 

04 What’s On 

17 

As the weather gets warmer, we share 

our pick of the best family events over 

April and May 

17 James Martin 

We catch up with TV’s favourite chef 

ahead of his appearances at Pub in 

the Park 

19 Easter Eats 

Catering for big occasions needn’t be a 

hassle - we bring together some simple, 

delicious dishes for the weekend 

22 Croatian Glamping 

Camping doesn’t get more lovely than 

on the Adriatic! We check out a luxury 

new glamping site in historic Pula 

25 Luxury Staycations 

If you have put a pause on long-haul 

travel plans, we have some fabulous 

stays closer to home 

28 Renew, Refresh 

A guide to home renovation products 

both big and small, if you are feeling the 

itch for a change this spring 

Spring Home 

Renovations 

28 

39 

Our Flooring 

Guide 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Key Account Manager Sam Sanders 

e samuel@minervapublications.co.uk 

dd 01225 308112 

twitter: @WokingBrackLife 

w www.wokinghamlifestyle.co.uk 

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. 

Our chef this issue is James Martin, proud 

Yorkshireman and TV legend - we caught 

up with him ahead of his appearances at 

a raft of summer festivals and before the 

release of his new book. 

On the home front we’ve got a big feature 

on refreshing the home for spring, be that 

large-scale changes or little ideas to give 

you and your home a lift! 

We will see you again in June - when we 

will be in full summer mode! 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre Press Manager Kate O’Connell 

Katie 

Contributors Rebecca Williams, Matthew Biggs, Kate O’Connell, Lucy Saunders, Angela 

Cave. Front Cover courtesy of Clarence Court Eggs 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS 

County Gate, County Way 

Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 7FJ 

t 01225 308128 

w www.minervapublications.co.uk 

visit our website www.wokinghamlifestyle.co.uk 

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

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

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

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

www.wokinghamlifestyle.co.uk | 3

Basildon Park 

Lower Basildon, Reading RG8 9NR 

0118 984 3040 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/basildon-park 

Saturday 4 - Sunday 19 April 

Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 

Over the Easter holidays they’ve got an 

exciting trail on, where you can follow 

the clues around the parkland to win a 

chocolate prize. 

Sunday 19 - Monday 20 April 

Ranger Walk - Basildon Blooms 

Join Leo and his team to discover the 

rare and surprising blooms that pop up 

at Basildon Park, including cowslips and 

bluebells. 

National Trust 

Cliveden 

Taplow, Maidenhead SL6 0JA 

01629 605069 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden 

Thursday 2 April - Tuesday 30 June 

Chapel Visitor Sessions 

An opportunity for visitors to see inside 

Cliveden’s Octagon Temple, originally built 

for the Earl of Orkney as a tea-room and 

converted to a Chapel by William Waldorf 

Astor. 

Friday 3 - Monday 20 April 

Cliveden Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt 

Go on a spring adventure at Cliveden 

and watch the estate come to life. Whilst 

exploring the glorious grounds, you’ll 

learn about all sorts of plants, animals and 

insects in nature and earn your chocolatey 

Cadbury reward. 

Monday 6 - Wednesday 8 April 

April Tree Climbing 2020 

Get back to nature by clambering through 

the trees on the beautiful Green Drive at 

Cliveden. Sessions are run by The Great 

Big Tree Climbing Company 

Saturday 25 April & 2 May, 5.30am - 

8.30am 

Dawn Chorus Walk 

Take an early morning walk through 

Cliveden’s woods and soak up the 

birdsong. This walk is guided by an expert, 

and finishes with a breakfast sandwich and 

drink at the Conservatory Cafe. 

New Victoria Theatre 

The Peacocks Centre, Woking GU21 1GQ 

01483 545900 

www.atgtickets.com/venues/new-victoriatheatre/ 

Tuesday 7 - Saturday 18 April 

The King and I 

Set in 1860s Bangkok, the musical tells 

the story of the unconventional and 

tempestuous relationship that develops 

between the King of Siam and Anna, a 

British schoolteacher whom the modernist 

King, in an imperialistic world, brings to 

Siam to teach his many wives and children. 

Tuesday 21 - Saturday 25 April 

A Murder Is Announced 

The residents of Chipping Cleghorn are 

astonished to read an advert in the local 

newspaper that a murder will take place 

this coming Friday at Little Paddocks, the 

home of Letitia Blacklock. 

Unable to resist, the group gather at the 

house at the appointed time, when the 

lights go out and a gun is fired. Enter Miss 

Marple, who must unravel a complex series 

of relationships and events to solve the 

mystery of the killer... 

Sunday 26 April 

Seven Drunken Nights 

The Story of The Dubliners 

This celebration of the music of The 

Dubliners is a celebration of Irish music 

itself and a guaranteed evening of music, 

humour and ‘craic’. 

Sunday 3 May 

Russell Watson - 

20th Anniversary of The Voice 

Singing sensation Russell Watson performs 

an intimate concert of career highlights. 

Russell will be joined on stage by his live 

band and choir to celebrate 20 years since 

his debut album The Voice was released. 


Walk Right Back - 

The Everly Brothers Story 

Follow the brothers’ rise to fame, through 

their decade-long feud to the glorious 

reunion that gave them back to the world, 

and back to each other. 

Tuesday 19 May 

Friends! The Musical Parody 

Friends! The Musical Parody celebrates 

and pokes fun at the wacky misadventures 

of the group of 20-something pals we love 

from the hit TV show as they navigate the 

pitfalls of work, life, and love in 1990’s 

Manhattan. 

RHS Garden Wisley 

Wisley, Woking GU23 6QB 

01483 224234 

www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/wisley 

Tuesday 7 - Wednesday 8 April 

The Daffodil Show 

Find more than 120 classes of daffodils 

showcasing a full range of these springtime 

favourites. Find out how to grow and 

prepare daffodils for competition and 

EVENTS GUIDE 

what the judges are looking for in a show 

daffodil. 

Thursdays 30 April and 14 May 

Spring Walk and Talk 

It’s that time of year when the garden is 

springing back to life and preparing itself 

for an exciting year ahead. Join RHS 

Garden Wisley’s Curatorial Team as they 

share their passion for plants on a walk and 

talk around the garden. 

Royal Windsor 

Racecourse 

Maidenhead Road, Windsor SL4 5JJ 

01753 498400 

www.windsor-racecourse.co.uk 

Monday 6 April 

Easter Eggstravaganza Raceday 

Are you looking for things to do with the 

kids in Windsor over the school holidays? 

The Easter Eggstravaganza Raceday is 

full of family fun and includes an infamous 

Easter egg hunt. 


Free Racenight 

Don’t Miss Out On A Free Night At The 

Races! 

Yes, you can go along for an evening 

of competitive racing for free. Be sure 

to register for a ticket quick as our free 

racenight is always hugely popular and is 

likely to sell out. 


Monday Night Racing 

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting 

for... #MondayNightRacing has returned to 

Royal Windsor Racecourse for 2020! 

Join them for a spring evening of 

competitive racing and delicious food and 

drink! 

Monday 4 May 

Armed Forces Day 

They’re celebrating the 75th anniversary of 

VE Day with a very special Armed Forces 

Raceday. See 7 fantastic races alongside 

military machinery and special displays. 

Windsor was one of the few racecourses 

allowed to stage race meetings during both 

world wars. Sir Winston Churchill himself 

visited the racecourse when he took an 

interest in horses and his most popular 

horse, Colonist II, won at Windsor in 1949. 


Family Fun Day 

The Perfect Family Day Out In Windsor - 

Kids Under 18 Go FREE! 

Share the thrill of horse racing with your 

children, let them choose a horse to cheer 

on and watch their faces light up as the 

horses come down the home straight. 

continued 

Spring is finally here - check out what is 

happening in the area and enjoy! 

4 | www.wokinghamlifestyle.co.uk

Coming soon to South Hill Park Arts Centre 

A south hill park PRoduCtion 

A mAgicAl 

musicAl 

Adventure 

Wed 15 – Sun 19 

Apr 2020 

Want to get involved? 

eAster school is bAck 

See southhillpark.org.uk 

for full details 

A professionally produced community production 

EASTER 

HOLIDAYS 

South Hill Park Arts Centre, Ringmead, Bracknell RG12 7PA 

The Festival of 

Food and music 

Food, Folk, jazz music and more 

on saTurday and sunday 

Box offiCe 01344 484123 · southhillpark.org.uk 

@southhillpark /southhillparkartscentre 

A south hill park feStivAl 

Free 

buT our vendors 

will charge For 

Their producTs 

and services 

sat 6 - sun 7 june 2020 

Sat 10am–6pm – music finishes at 8pm 

Sun 10am–5pm – music finishes at 6pm 

South Hill Park Trust Limited 

A charitable company 

limited by guarantee 

Bathing a problem? FREE * 

– we can help 

• Wet rooms 

• Walk in showers and baths 

• Waterproof wall panelling 

• Slip resistant safety flooring 

• Grab rails, shower seats 

& raised toilets 

• Disabled Facilities Grants 

• Discounts for over 60s SSAFA 

and Ex Service personnel 

• Charity work and grants 

Georgia toilet 

& basin with 

every 

bathroom 

order 

Call for friendly advice 

and free survey and 

quote 

0118 

9111062 

info@ahminstallations.co.uk 

installations.co.uk 

www.ahminstallations.co.uk 

* Terms and conditions apply, visit our 

website for more details. 

9.19/10 40 reviews 

www.wokinghamlifestyle.co.uk | 5 

Guildford living 153 x 110.indd 2 06/03/2020 11:20

South Hill Park Arts 

Centre 

Wilde Theatre, Bracknell RG12 7PA 

01344 484 123 

www.southhillpark.org.uk 

Thursday 2 April, 7.45pm 

The Unremarkable Death of Marilyn 

Monroe 

Marilyn Monroe as we’ve never seen her 

before. Dyad Productions invite you into the 

bedroom of Monroe as she unravels her 

remarkable life and bares all, revealing a 

biting intelligence, a frustrated talent and an 

imperfect body. 

Friday 3 April 

The Greatest Hits of Motown 

How Sweet It Is 

This stunning live show combines first 

class music performances, the slickest 

choreography, and an amazing band to 

deliver the best Motown experience you will 

ever have. 

Wednesday 15 – Sunday 19 April, 

Wednesday 4pm, Thursday, Saturday & 

Sunday 12noon & 4pm, Friday 2pm & 

7pm 

Alice in Wonderland 

Join Alice on her adventure down the 

rabbit hole this Easter as South Hill Park 

presents Alice in Wonderland - a colourful 

re-imagining of the much loved Lewis 

Carroll children’s tale, featuring a West End 

standard musical score, an award-winning 

creative team and a cast of home-grown 

talent. 

Tuesday 28 April, 7.45pm 

I, Elizabeth 

Elizabeth I was one of the most educated 

woman of her Age – but who was the 

woman beneath the crown? Using only 

Elizabeth’s words I, Elizabeth explores one 

of history’s greatest monarchs’ struggle to 

reconcile the desires of womanhood with 

the duties of sovereignty. 

Sunday 17 May, 3pm 

Spy Monkey 

Join our brave and intrepid Monkey 

Intelligence Officer on his most important 

secret mission to date. Spy Monkey brings 

a contemporary twist to a classic Indian 

6 | www.wokinghamlifestyle.co.uk 

tale from the Ramayana, full of daring and 

wit, which will engage young and adult 

audiences alike. 

Tuesday 19 May, 7.45pm 

Jeeves and Wooster 

Aristocratic buffoon Bertie Wooster has 

hired the theatre for the night to present 

his one-man show detailing a rather 

spectacular series of misadventures. In 

a joyous reimagining of the classic P.G. 

Wodehouse characters, three actors hurl 

themselves from role to role as they race 

to tell the story of Bertie’s own farcical 

adventures. 

The Hexagon Theatre 

Queens Walk, Reading RG1 7UA 

0118 960 6060 

www.whatsonreading.com/venues/hexagon/ 

whats-on 

Wednesday 8 - Saturday 11 April 

Puss in Boots - Easter Panto 

A brand-new Easter show designed for 

families of all ages. It’s the purr-fect Easter 

treat for all the family. 

The village of Much Trumping is under 

threat from unscrupulous developers, 

led by the dastardly Baron. His boss, a 

shapeshifting Ogre, wants to flatten the 

village and embark on a fracking project to 

release trapped gas that lies beneath Much 

Trumping 

Saturday 18 April 

The Bowie Collective 

Take an incredible two hour trip through 

the finest work of David Bowie. This group 

of rock musicians, artists and performers 

recreate Bowie’s most iconic recordings 

in exquisite detail against a spellbinding 

backdrop of lights and visual magic. 

Sunday 26 April, 3pm 

Ian Waite & Vincent Simone - 

Act Two 

The fabulous Strictly Come Dancing stars 

promise another wonderful evening of oldfashioned 

variety - dance, comedy and 

song! 


Royal Philharmonic Orchestra 

Join the nations’ favourite orchestra for an 

evening of orchestral gems, beginning with 

Kodaly’s enchanting Dances of Galanta, 

a musical tour of the composers’ native 

Hungary, featuring the folk melodies that 

helped form its musical identity. 

Friday 15 May 

Burn The Floor - 

Kevin and Joanne Clifton 

The famous siblings will tour together for 

the very first time and will play on their 

individual successes in an ‘Anything You 

Can Do’ inspired them. And what better 

way to do it than in the world’s leading 

Ballroom show Burn The Floor! 

Friday 29 - Saturday 30 May 

Dragons And Mythical Beasts 

Calling all brave heroes! Enter into a 

magical world of myths and legends in this 

fantastical new interactive show for all the 

family. 

Unveil a myriad of dark secrets and 

come face to face with some of the most 

magnificent monsters and terrifying beasts 

ever to walk the earth. 

The Mill Theatre 

Sonning Eye, Reading RG4 6TY 

0118 969 6039 

www.millatsonning.com 

Sunday 5 April 

The Everly Brothers’ Dream 

Follow young Phil and Don Everly, as the 

boys from a humble Kentucky coal mining 

community appear at the Grand Ole Opry 

in Nashville in 1957 inspiring the Beatles, 

the Hollies and many others with their 

angelic harmonies. 

Thursday 23 April - Saturday 13 June 

The House on the Cold Hill 

A ghostly story of the Harcourt family, 

who move into the house of their dreams 

that has been empty for the last 40 years. 

However, their dream home quickly turns 

into the stuff of nightmares. 

It is a modern-day supernatural thriller that 

will send shivers down your spine and 

make you think twice about returning to a 

dark, empty house after the show. 


The Definitive Rat Pack 

This hit show includes songs I’ve Got 

You Under My Skin, King Of The Road, 

Hey There, That’s Amore, Mr Bojangles, 

Strangers In The Night, My Way and many 

more, performed by the UK’s leading 

Frank, Dean and Sammy impersonators. 


Comedy Night at The Mill 

With faces you know from TV and names 

you know from the circuit, you’re promised 

a hilarious time at one of our ever popular 

Comedy Nights. Laugh the night away as 

you enjoy entertainment from some of the 

UK’s finest stand-up comedians. 


Stars Of British Jazz 

A 6 piece band comprising of a mixture of 

past members of highly respected bands all 

come together for a great show. 


Magic - A Kind of Queen 

Magic have performed all over the world 

from Gorky Park Moscow to the London 

Palladium and at over 1000 UK theatre 

gigs. So if you are a Queen fan, or you 

simply want to know what a Queen concert 

was like live then you must see We Are The 

Champions, Magic A Kind of Queen. 

Saturday 9 May 

One Night at the VE Day Proms 

The ultimate, musical celebration in honour 

of the 75th Anniversary of V.E DAY. This 

incredible concert show takes you on 

a musical journey through World War 

II, providing an insight in to how music 

played a pivotal role throughout the most 

extraordinary period in modern day history. 

Saturday 16 May 

Jive Talkin’ 

Renowned as the original and very best 

Bee Gees tribute show, and the only 

Bee Gees tribute show that have actually 

performed with the original Bee Gees! 

In 1997 Gary & Darren from Jive Talkin 

performed live on Heart FM. 

We take great care in compiling the listings, 

however, we recommend that you contact the 

venue in advance as events and activities can be 

subject to change.

BOTANICALS 

COLLECTION 

NOW ONLINE 

STERLING SILVER AND GOLD 

VERMEIL JEWELLERY WITH 

SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES - FROM £10 

www.hauslife.co.uk 


Boarding schools offer unrivalled 

opportunities for learning 

State and independent schools understand 

that a good education is a powerful tool 

and all educators need to encourage a 

passion for learning. We all undertake to 

join the dots together to give our pupils the 

best chance but if all schools are ultimately 

striving for the same outcome, does a full 

boarding school environment have the 

edge? 

Boarding schools have time to prepare a 

young mind, academically and pastorally. 

Longer days and weekends provide the 

opportunity for a whole host of extra 

experiences and support, leading to a wellrounded 

individual. 

Encouragement and facilitation begin in 

the House environment. At Sherborne 

the first wave of support comes from the 

House Team led by the Housemaster. 

Tutors have time with their tutees 

discussing academic progress and pastoral 

concerns, each week. This regular contact 

and rounded view of each boy builds a 

strong relationship to ensure all pupils are 

motivated and engaged. 

Matrons play an integral part within 

boarding schools. Any misconceptions 

by Sherborne boys that matrons will tidy 

their rooms are quickly dispelled and 

self-sufficiency, an important life skill, is 

developed! Our matrons are held close 

to the hearts of the boys and it is a very 

special relationship where these key 

stalwarts of the School have the medical, 

emotional and organisational needs of the 

boys at the forefront of their minds. 

Academic progress is important. The nature 

of full boarding brings a longer school day 

and departments are open beyond the 

working day. Boys can access support but 

there are also opportunities for enrichment 

with boarding schools offering an unrivalled 

range of co-curricular clubs supplementing 

the more traditional activities. Maybe full 

boarding offers ‘an educational experience 

with no limits’. 

The most recent example at Sherborne 

is a Calligraphy club run by new Head of 

Computer Science Dr Wild alongside some 

popular long-standing clubs including Fives, 

Fly Fishing, Sailing and Debating! Boys also 

enjoy a close relationship with Sherborne 

Girls with whom joint activities, subjects and 

social opportunities are well established. 

Boarding schools offer the chance to 

separate home life in the boarding house 

from study time. Our newly refurbished 

School Library offers a wonderful setting 

and with notable alumni including Alan 

Turing, Hugh Bonneville, Chris Martin and 

Jeremy Irons there is a distinct sense of 

purpose at the School. The friendly team of 

library staff is on hand to help with research 

and study skills and boys (and staff) are 

often found having a little bit of quiet time. 

Integral values at Sherborne encourage 

boys to be respectful, confident, 

passionate, independent and curious, while 

PSHE and School Assemblies promote 

a culture of kindness and compassion. 

Mentors, predominately Sixth Form, offer 

an alternative listening service or extra 

academic support. This in turn strengthens 

the community in House and takes the 

‘Sherborne Spirit’ into life beyond the 

School. 

So do boarding schools have the edge over 

their day counterparts? Well, all schools 

work incredibly hard to support their pupils 

academically and pastorally, teachers 

are passionate about their subjects 

and institutions aspire to prepare pupils 

effectively for ‘the world beyond’. 

We believe full boarding at Sherborne 

works, providing an outstanding 

educational experience for our boys. And 

we hope that when boys leave Sherborne, 

they go into the world with a determination 

to do something remarkable with their 

lives… and most of them do just that! It’s 

not always plain sailing, but our community 

has time on its side which is the benefit of 

full boarding. 

By Vicky Clayton, Head of Learning 

Development, Sherborne School 

Sherborne School is an independent 

boarding school for boys aged 13-18 and 

is a full member of the Boarding Schools’ 

Association. Visit www.sherborne.org 

The Boarding Schools’ Association (BSA) 

is the voice of UK independent boarding 

schools. For additional information on 

the BSA please log onto www.boarding. 

org.uk where you can also view a list of 

all boarding schools in the UK. 


It's official, playing golf is 

good for your health! 

But just what are those benefits and how can playing 

the game help improve people’s lives while also stopping 

diseases? 

There have been various studies looking 

into how beneficial a round of golf can be 

to your health and mind. One such study, 

which has been a catalyst for others to 

follow, was carried out by the Swedish 

medical university in 2008. 

The study, produced by the Karolinksa 

Institute in Stockholm, showed that from 

data collected from 300,000 Swedish 

players, the death rate amongst golfers 

was 40 per cent less compared to the 

rest of the population. This equates to an 

increased life expectancy of five years. 

DID YOU KNOW? 

In a nine-hole round of golf, a player will 

walk two to three miles, take over 5,000 

steps and burn over 450 calories. 

In 2016, researchers at The University 

of Edinburgh, led by Dr Andrew Murray, 

conducted the most comprehensive 

study of golf and health. 

is recommended by the World Health 

Organisation for its key role in improving 

life expectancy, helping prevent over 40 

major chronic diseases such as type 2 

diabetes, heart attacks and strokes and 

improving mental health.” 

Golf can provide regular exercise to 

prevent a person’s chances of getting 

type 2 diabetes by up to 40 per cent, 

while studies specific to the game show 

beneficial effects on blood sugar. 

DID YOU KNOW? 

Walking 2.5 hours per week reduces the 

risk of having a heart attack by 30-40 

per cent. 

It is now known to prevent cardiovascular 

disease, which is responsible for over 30 

per cent of worldwide deaths per year. It 

is also considered to be a suitable activity 

for cardiac and stroke rehabilitation 

patients. 

At the 2014 Ryder Cup, more than 20,000 

spectators tagged themselves at all 

checkpoints locations at Gleneagles in 

England, meaning they had walked five 

miles each. 

“It is important to hear that spectators 

not only see some of the best sporting 

theatre on earth, but can potentially 

gain health benefits themselves,” said 

Stephen Gethins MP, Chairperson for the 

All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf. 

As well as physical and health benefits, 

golf also provides a key social element 

for players of all ages and abilities. 

It doesn’t matter about your age, ability or 

gender, the golf course is a social place 

and provides people with down-time, 

away from the stress of work. 

So, when you’re next out on the course, 

make sure you spread the word; along 

with its many other benefits, perhaps 

most importantly, golf is good for your 

health and well-being. 

The review found that golfers live longer 

than non-golfers, while playing the game 

improves cholesterol levels and body 

composition, while also appearing to 

improve wellness and self-confidence. 

The study also highlighted golf is 

expected to decrease the risk of more 

than 40 major chronic diseases. 

Dr Andrew commented: “Golf provides 

moderate intensity physical activity, which 

Golf is unique in that spectators can 

potentially enjoy the same health benefits 

when they attend an event as those 

playing in them. 

In 2017, it was found that fans who go to 

watch their favourite sporting heroes at 

an event averaged 11,589 steps per day, 

with just under 83 per cent achieving their 

recommended daily step-count (10,000). 


Get into Golf... 

• Our PGA qualified Golf Professionals offer golf lessons to both 

members and non-members. 

• Beginners or experienced golfers welcome. 

• Junior group classes. 

• Call the Professional Shop for more information on coaching: 

0118 9896131. 

Looking for a venue? 

• Are you celebrating this year? We offer a lovely bar and 

restaurant area, ideal for weddings, evening parties and private 

corporate events. 

• Call our Events Manager for more details: 0118 9797900. 

www.bearwoodlakes.co.uk 

golf@bearwoodlakes.co.uk 

0118 9797900 

Bearwood Lakes Golf Club, Bearwood Road, Sindlesham, Nr Wokingham, RG41 4SJ 


A rainbow of delicious 

sweets, all in biodegradable 

packing, from £2.95, 

askmummyanddaddy.com 

Turn your little person into a 

bunny with this cute cardigan, 

£34.99, kitandkin.com 

A milk chocolate egg 

burnished with gold and 

a very low added sugar, 

£18.50, chococo.co.uk 

We love the Easter carrots Low sugar chocolate - 

yes please 

4 Lemon Fondant 

Fancies, £9, and Hazelnut 

Chocolate Egg, £6.50, 

bettys.co.uk 

AN EGGCELLENT 

EASTER 

Perfect pressies for all your 

loved ones this Easter 

Small White 

Ceramic Hen 

‘Glug Jug’, £7.50, 

giselagraham.co.uk 

Give them their own 

bunny to cuddle with 

this cute cushion, £15, 

bizzigrowin.com 

Easter Lamb Bowl, £30, 

sweetpeaandwillow.com 

Bonnie The Bunny 

Umbrella, £8.95, 

rexlondon.com 

Great for plants or as 

an Easter centrepiece 

You can also buy materials to 

make floral wreaths 

Reduce your carbon footprint with 

these long-lasting, contemporary 

bouquets. Preserved at the height of 

their beauty, they guarantee a year of 

bloom. We love the soft feel and look 

of fresh foliage. From £29, shida.florist 

Charming Easter 

designs from 

illustrator Sophie 

Allport, from £8, 

sophieallport.com 

Bunny Pom Pom Bum 

Easter Name Place 

Cards, £3.99 for 6, 

gingerray.co.uk 


Eggs 

Our focus on Easter eggs, without any chocolate in sight! A celebration 

of eggs in their most delicious forms with some seasonal recipes - all 

courtesy of Clarence Court Eggs 

ASPARAGUS 

RISOTTO 

with crispy fried 

soft boiled egg 

Risotto is a brilliant way of show casing 

British asparagus. The slightly woodier 

stems are sliced and used to add body 

to the base of the risotto. The tender 

tips are lightly cooked in a little butter 

to keep al dente and brightly coloured 

to be served on top of the risotto. 

Partnered with a crispy fried soft boiled 

Burford Brown or quail egg makes for an 

indulgent dinner. 

PREP TIME: 20 minutes 

COOK TIME: 30 minutes 

SERVES: 4 

INGREDIENTS: 

5 Clarence Court Burford Brown eggs (or 6 

Clarence Court quail eggs and 1 hens egg) 

2 tbsp plain flour 

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 

50g panko bread crumbs 

Vegetable oil for deep fat frying 

100g unsalted butter 

1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped 

1 stick celery, trimmed and finely 

chopped 

1 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped 

16 spears of British asparagus, woody ends 

removed, stems sliced and tips kept whole 

220g arborio risotto rice 

150ml dry white wine 

550ml hot vegetable stock 

100g parmesan cheese, finely grated 

Zest of 1 lemon finely grated 

METHOD: 

Place a pan of water on to boil and soft 

boil 4 of the hens eggs or the 6 quails 

eggs to your liking (around 6 minutes for 

a hens egg or 1 minute 30 seconds for a 

quails egg.) 

Once cooked, plunge the eggs into a 

bowl of iced water. Carefully peel the 

eggs and place them back into the bowl 

filled with fresh cold water. 

Place the plain flour on one plate and 

season well with salt and pepper. Whisk 

the remaining hens egg into a bowl and 

place the panko crumbs on to another 

plate. Pat the eggs dry then one at a time 

roll the egg in flour dip in beaten egg and 

roll in the panko crumbs. Place the eggs 

on to another plate and repeat with the 

remaining eggs until they’re all crumbed. 

Place the plate of eggs in the fridge whilst 

you make the risotto. 

Place a 26cm heavy based frying pan 

on a medium to low heat and add 40g 

butter to melt and bubble a little. Then 

add the chopped onion, celery and garlic 

with a pinch of salt. Stir with a wooden 

spoon continuously until the vegetables 

are softened but not coloured (around 10 

minutes). Add the sliced asparagus stems 

and stir for a further 2 minutes. Stir in the 

rice and keep stirring for 2 minutes until 

the rice grains are coated and starting to 

turn translucent. 

Add all the wine to the pan and turn 

up the heat and stir until it is reduced 

by ⅔. Then ladle by ladle stir in the hot 

vegetable stock until it is absorbed before 

adding the next. This will take around 10 

- 15 minutes until the rice is cooked but 

with some bite. 

Meanwhile place the vegetable oil on to 

heat up, have a plate lined with kitchen 

roll and a slotted spoon ready. When the 

risotto is nearly cooked add 40g butter 

and half of the parmesan and most of the 

asparagus tips. Season to taste and turn 

off the heat and place a lid on the pan. 

When the oil is hot enough carefully lower 

the eggs into the hot oil one at a time until 

the breadcrumbs are lightly golden, this 

takes around 2 minutes. Carefully remove 

the eggs with a slotted spoon and place 

on the plate lined with kitchen roll. 

Place a small frying pan on low heat 

and add the remaining 20g butter. Once 

melted add the asparagus tips and gently 

fry for 2 to 3 minutes until soft but still 

crunchy. 

To assemble the dish, spoon the risotto 

into serving dishes, half the deep fried 

eggs distribute over the risottos, top 

with the lightly buttered asparagus tips. 

Sprinkle over the remaining parmesan 

and a grating of lemon zest. 

GREEN VEG 

FRITTATA 

by Eva H umphries 

High in protein with heaps of nutrients, 

this versatile frittata is packed with 

greens. Delicious any time of day, mix up 

your choice of vegetables depending on 

what’s in season. 

PREP TIME: 10 minutes 

COOK TIME: 25 minutes 

SERVES: 8 

INGREDIENTS: 

12 Clarence Court hens eggs, lightly 

beaten 

150g asparagus, roughly chopped, 

woody ends discarded 


Sliced florets from half a head of broccoli 

(150-170g) 

150g frozen peas 

2 large handfuls of spinach (100g approx) 

125g of feta 

2 tsp rapeseed oil or a knob of organic 

butter 

Sea salt and freshly cracked black 

pepper 

Grated zest of half a lemon 

METHOD: 

Preheat a grill to medium. Heat the oil 

or butter in a frying pan over a medium 

heat, add the broccoli, asparagus and 

peas and cook for 5 minutes until the 

vegetables begin to soften. Season well 

with sea salt and freshly cracked black 

pepper. 

Stir in the spinach, season again and 

grate over the zest of half a lemon. Cook 

for another minute until the spinach wilts. 

Pour in the eggs and give the mixture a 

stir to evenly distribute the vegetables. 

Cook on a medium heat until the edges 

are firm (the centre will still be liquid), 

approximately 10-15 minutes. 

Crumble the feta over the top and 

transfer the pan to under the grill. Grill for 

10 minutes until the egg mixture is firm 

and the feta turns light golden around the 

edges. 

Remove from the pan and either eat 

immediately or slice it up, allow it to cool 

and refrigerate.The frittata keeps well in a 

fridge for up to 3 days. 

HOT CROSS 

BUN LOAF 

This orange and cranberry hot cross bun 

loaf is bursting with bright, zesty and 

fruity flavours. Perfect for sharing with 

your family this Easter. 

PREP TIME: 4 hours 

COOK TIME: 30-40 minutes 

SERVES: 8 

INGREDIENTS: 

500g strong bread flour, plus extra for 

dusting 

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

¼ teaspoon mixed spice 

A few gratings of whole nutmeg 

1/4 teaspoon fine salt 

75g caster sugar 

7g sachet dry yeast 

170ml whole milk, warmed to hand heat 

2 large Clarence Court Burford Browns 

eggs, beaten 

80g unsalted butter, softened well, plus 

extra for greasing 

80g sultanas 

60g mixed peel 

80g dried cranberries 

Fine grated zest of 2 oranges 

25g plain flour 

1 tsp sunflower oil 

2-3 tbsp cold water 

Juice of 2 oranges 

2 tbsp marmalade 

METHOD: 

Grease a 2lb (900g) loaf tin with 

softened butter.Sieve the flour, 

cinnamon, mixed spice, nutmeg and salt 

into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the sugar 

and make a well in the centre. Place the 

yeast in a jug with the warm milk, stir 

until dissolved and bubbling. Add the 

milk, eggs and butter to the well and mix 

into a soft dough. 

Lightly dust a clean work surface with 

a little flour or tip into the bowl of a free 

standing mixer with a dough hook and 

knead for 7 minutes until smooth and 

elastic. 

Place into a lightly oiled mixing bowl 

and cover with cling film. Place in a 

warm place to rise for 1-2hours until it’s 

doubled in size. 

When time is up lightly flour a clean work 

surface. Tip the dough on to the surface 

and lightly knead. A few spoonful’s at a 

time sprinkle over the fruit and zest then 

knead and fold into the dough. When it’s 

all incorporated place back in the oiled 

bowl and cover with cling film. Allow to 

rise for a further hour. 

Divide the dough into 8 equal size balls 

(use a weighing scale to make sure 

they’re all the same size). Shape the balls 

into fat sausages. Place the sausages 

side by side in the tin. Place the tin in a 

large sandwich bag and seal it. Allow 

to rise in a warm place for 1 more hour. 

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/gas mark 

4/ 350°F. 

Meanwhile, mix the plain flour, oil and 

cold water in a bowl to make a smooth 

paste. Spoon in to a small piping bag 

and snip off a small hole. Pipe a little 

cross on top of each of the hot cross 

buns. Place the tin in the oven and 

bake for 30-40 minutes until golden 

and risen. 

Place the juice and marmalade in a 

small pan and allow to bubble and 

thicken on a low heat. When the loaf 

is ready, carefully and quickly turn 

it out of the tin and on to a cooling 

rack. Brush over the glaze and leave 

to cool. 

Serve warm with salted butter. This 

loaf is best eaten on the day it’s made 

but will come back to a lovely soft 

loaf if warmed through in the oven 

the next day. It makes great toast or 

as the base for a bread and butter 

pudding. 


ENGLISH WINE WEEK 

Celebrating our home grown wines by Julia Trustram Eve 

In the world of wine, Great Britain ranks as 

one of the smallest wine regions. Arguably, 

though, it is one of the most dynamic, 

attracting plenty of attention over here and 

making its mark with significant competition 

wins and appraisals by wine experts and 

influencers both here and overseas. 

Great Britain is one of the fastest-growing 

wine regions in the world; area planted with 

grapevines is growing year on year and now 

exceeds over 5,000 acres, having expanded 

by nearly 200% in the last ten years alone. 

Recently the wine industry’s body, Wines of 

Great Britain (WineGB), predicted that in just 

over 20 years’ time, we may be producing 40 

million bottles. 

There are now some 700 vineyards in 

England and Wales, with the majority in 

the south of England and stretching up to 

Yorkshire and in north and south Wales. You’ll 

find large wineries to one-man operations, 

each with a story to tell. Approximately 70% 

of all production is sparkling wine, with the 

remaining 30% delicious still white, red and 

rosé wine. In 2018 the UK produced just over 

13 million bottles. 

Luckily it is easy to discover our homegrown 

wines: English and Welsh wines are 

now readily-available in supermarkets to 

independent retailers; online retailers, as well 

as many restaurants and bars, and of course 

direct from the vineyards themselves, either 

via their websites or by visiting the cellar door. 

The UK wine industry is launching their 

awareness campaign English Wine Week and 

Welsh Wine Week which this year takes place 

from Saturday 23 - Sunday 31 May. Over 

the Week look out for promotions, events 

and activities to shine a light on this exciting 

industry and its wines. 

The end of May kicks off the summer 

season and invites us outside to explore, 

so what better time to visit to the vineyards 

themselves. There are now around 200 

vineyards open to visitors and located in 

some of the most beautiful parts of the 

country. 

Vineyards offer a range of experiences 

from guided and self-guided tours through 

a vineyard to soak up the beautiful 

surroundings, to visiting the cellar door 

for a tasting. Some have a shop, restaurant 

and even accommodation on site. It’s worth 

checking opening times as some smaller 

vineyards are open by appointment or at 

set times. Larger vineyards are open all year 

round. Guided tours are conducted by people 

who are knowledgeable and entertaining and 

in some smaller vineyards you may even get 

the owner or winemaker. Visitors will take 

away a great memory and new experience. 

Some vineyards are now working closely 

together to promote their region and enhance 

other local attractions and amenities. Check 

out Kent’s Wine Garden of England; Sussex 

Wineries; Vineyards of Hampshire; Vineyards 

of the Surrey Hills to name but a few - there 

will soon be a Yorkshire wine trail too. 

So let’s enjoy a summer of English wine 

… in a country that sells one of the widest 

ranges of wines across the globe, the wines 

produced on our doorstep are a noteworthy 

success story and worth celebrating. Now 

surely that is something to raise a glass to - 

cheers! 

For more information on English Wine Week 

and Welsh Wine Week, visit www.winegb. 

co.uk. The website also lists the vineyards 

of Great Britain and provides plenty of 

background information on English and 

Welsh wines. There are now also a number 

of great books and guides for the wine 

enthusiast. 

Wine styles in Great Britain 

Sparkling wines account for about two-thirds 

of the country’s total wine production and 

a style that is leading the UK’s reputation 

for producing high quality wines. Most are 

produced from the same varieties grown in 

Champagne (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and 

Pinot Meunier). Their finesse and longevity 

are proving themselves year upon year 

on the world stage in blind tastings and 

competitions, and even Champagne houses 

are investing in England - proof of the 

confidence in this wine country and its future. 

The UK’s still wines are also worth 

discovering. Grape varieties such as 

Bacchus, Pinot Gris, Pinot and Chardonnay 

are producing styles of wines to delight the 

palate, as well as other aromatic and new 

varieties that thrive in Britain’s cool climate. 

The result is a great range of styles from 

dry to medium dry whites, refreshing rosé, 

luscious dessert wines and fruity reds. 


COOK, SLEEP, 

ROCK, REPEAT 

Katie Thomson caught up with 

chef James Martin ahead of his 

summer festival circuit and 

discussed stellar culinary talents, 

his new book and finding time to 

rock out... 

Katie: We must talk about Pub in the 

Park – we spoke with Tom Kerridge a 

couple of years back, just as he was 

expanding the event out of Marlow 

to include Bath and a couple of other 

areas. In the past few years its really 

become huge, attracting so much 

talent from the food industry but also 

the music industry so it must be quite 

exciting to be involved? 

James: He has roped me into it! He roped 

me into it last year as he had managed to 

double book himself! So now he wants 

me to do it again! He’s probably off on 

holiday! But it’s good fun, and anybody 

who’s been there will know that its unique 

and there’s nothing else like it. 

So you’ll be hosting the Tunbridge 

Wells and Chichester events? 

Yeah that’s right, and I’ll be appearing at 

the Bath one, Tom is hosting that one but 

I’ll be there doing some demonstrations 

and other bits and pieces. It’s a great lineup 

of people that he’s got and I’m very 

pleased to play my part. 

I think it’s really nice that you try 

to reflect the local restaurants in 

each individual area plus there’s 

some serious culinary talent from the 

country as a whole. 

Well the thing about the chefs is you get 

the great and the good from all over the 

place. So for example with Bath, you’ve 

got Paul Ainsworth coming up from 

Cornwall, Atul Kochhar from London, 

Steven Terry from Wales, Angela Hartley 

from London…we’ve got people from all 

over the place! It’s the same with music; 

there’s something for everybody. 

Who are you looking forward to 

seeing if you can steal a little time 

away to enjoy it? 

I’m a wannabe musician, I’ve got a little 

band so I’m looking forward to seeing 

a few of them. I listened to Toploader 

when I was training as a kid working in 

kitchens, so I’m looking forward to seeing 

them. Beverley Knight I’ve known for 

quite a while so it will be nice to say hi to 

her and James Blunt is playing as well! 

So I’m looking forward to chilling out and 

fundamentally seeing my mates! All these 

chefs I speak to on the phone quite a lot 

but I only really ever see them at these 

festivals so three in a year is great for me. 

How does the cookery stage in the 

festival setting compare to live 

TV? I can image you are quite unflappable. 

Well you’ve got a bit more to hand at my 

place when we film at the house, and I 

know where everything is. But they build 

an amazing marquee where we do the 

demos, that almost looks like something 

from outer space. You never know with 

the weather, we might get wet, so the 

marquee is amazing. But the same team 

that work on my show work on Pub in the 

Park, so the industry is big but that group 

is quite small. I’ve known the guys that 

organise Pub in the Park from the twelve 

years of doing Carfest. 

So you are an old hand on the 

festival circuit then? 

I’ve been around it a long time! I do 

certain food festivals, the biggest one 

of its kind is in Bolton and had 400,000 

people last year, and I usually do that 

after Carfest South. I’m Hampshirebased, 

so sort of in between the two 

from Bath to Chichester area. I’m looking 

forward to Chichester because I spend 

a bit of time at Goodwood - so I know 

and love the area. Tunbridge Wells I’m 

interested in going to see because I’ve 

not really been there a lot, and I love 

going to Bath because there’s a great 

guitar shop there that always gets a visit! 

Your show Saturday Morning always 

looks like a lot of fun to film, and in 

particular you and Galton seem to 

have a really great relationship. 

The great thing about the show is the 

chefs that come on I’ve known for years – 

17

a lot of them are turning up to Pub in the 

Park! I’ve known them for years and I’ve 

supported them over the years, and of 

course when I decided to leave Saturday 

Kitchen they supported me since then 

as well. So it’s an accumulation of me 

supporting them and them supporting 

me. So they’re great mates and I think 

that comes across on camera. 

Have you had any guests that have 

been particularly memorable? 

We had Jack Savoretti here recently, 

he was fantastic. He was trying to learn 

from the master baker Richard Bertinet, 

who was attempting to teach him how to 

make bread and he making a right mess 

of it! So he was great fun. You just have 

such a great laugh, and that’s the key to 

doing it here. 

We film it at the house and it’s quite 

chilled out and very similar to this 

festival. Those are the projects I’m 

enjoying these days - and that’s why 

Pub in the Park appeals so much. It’s 

very much a family atmosphere and I 

can just walk around. You go to some 

festivals and you are hidden around the 

back, you aren’t allowed to come out 

and have a wander around. 

Other than a busy schedule of 

summer festivals, have you got any 

books in the pipeline? 

I’ve just finished a book and TV show 

called Islands to Highlands. The TV 

show will be out in April and book is out 

now. We’ve also just taken over a hotel 

at Silverstone so I’m going to be busy 

doing that. Yeah, there’s a few things 

happening and a few more things in the 

pipeline - I should be busy! But not too 

busy to indulge in a bit of music and fun 

this summer! 

Find out more about Pub in the Park here: 

pubintheparkuk.com 

James Martin’s Islands to Highlands is 

published by Quadrille Publishing and is 

available through good bookshops and 

online now. 

“We had Jack Savoretti 

here recently, he was 

fantastic. He was 

trying to learn from the 

master baker Richard 

Bertinet, who was 

attempting to teach 

him how to make bread 

and he making a right 

mess of it!” 

18

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 


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: 


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

SUN, SEA 

& the city 

Victoria Purdon travelled to Croatia’s glorious north 

coast to discover its ancient history, unrivalled 

panoramic coastlines and a new luxury glamping site, 

perfect for a summer family holiday 

Nestled on the idyllic 

Croatian peninsula of Istria, 

with sweeping views of the 

glassy waters of the Adriatic 

and its surrounding lush 

greenery, the Arena Grand 

Kažela campsite in Medulin 

immediately overwhelms my 

usual preconceptions of your 

typical camping ground. This 

was certainly not the damp, 

grey, camping I had grown 

accustomed to in the UK, this 

was a new, luxury venture and 

the perfect taste of ocean-side 

living. 

The design of these pods is very clever 

- taking all the best elements of the 

local landscape and architecture - its 

charming woodland setting, its nods to 

the small Croatian seaside villages which 

dot the coastline here, all packaged up 

22

with the very best luxury conveniences 

of staying in a hotel and the additional 

freedom of self-catering. 

Arena Grand Kažela is the perfect 

getaway for those looking to connect 

with a more authentic Croatia, but 

sacrificing non of the comforts of a 

relaxing vacation. Catering to the ecoconscious, 

sun worshippers, culture 

vultures, and families alike, the Medulin 

site offers something for everyone. 

From brand new facilities including two 

pools, a gym, children’s activity areas, 

beachside water sports and so much 

more, there is little reason to leave the 

campsite during your stay. 

Following our check in to their newly 

remodelled reception area, we breeze 

past the traditional camping crowds and 

head into a lush woodland; the canopy 

offering a welcoming haven and for 

some, a relief from the warm Croatian 

sun. The site’s 164 units sit within these 

woodlands but are only a short stroll to 

the beach front through the beautifully 

“The design of these pods is very clever - taking 

all the best elements of the local landscape and 

architecture - its charming woodland setting, 

its nods to the small Croatian seaside villages 

which dot the coastline here, all packaged 

up with the very best luxury conveniences of 

staying in a hotel” 

landscaped garden. I was pleasantly 

surprised by the variety of camping 

villas from Home Next, Home Green and 

Camping Villa options, ensuring that it 

accommodates a breadth of options for 

all ages and requirements. 

These modern eco-friendly and 

spacious plots are lined with fragrant 

Mediterranean plants and include 

a porch with sea views and brandnew 

amenities for self-catering. Their 

thoughtful design means they are both 

amply equipped for family life, but also 

have that all-important feeling of luxury. 

Waking up to the views of the calm 

Adriatic you with a fresh brew from the 

coffee machine supplied in the villa, 

you can’t help but feel a sense of calm. 

The kitchen is supplied with plates and 

crockery, cooking utensils along with an 

inside dining area. But surely the table 

on the patio calls for alfresco dining! 

Also set outside each villa is a space 

with loungers, a hanging nest chair, 

especially good for curling up in with a 

good book. 

While you’re here, you cannot miss the 

spectacular sea and pool view from the 

rooftop Captains Bar. A perfect spot 

to watch the sunset whilst sipping on 

a cocktail of your choice, toes dipped 

in the pool or chatting to friendly locals 

and other travellers at the bar. If you 

are looking for an even more relaxing 

space to unwind, you have the option of 

another impressive hotspot; the Breeze 

bar, complete with endless relaxing 

beds for some relief from the sun. Here 

23

you can take a dip in the country’s longest infinity pool - 

measuring at 80 metres- and if you dare to swim the length 

you surely have earnt their well renowned Mojitos with some 

bar nibbles. 

If you’d prefer a swim in the mild Adriatic sea, the location 

boasts 2km of beach and full complement of water sports, 

from jet skiing, paddle boarding and banana boating for 

those adrenalin junkies. And for a slice of paradise, hop on 

a short boat ride to Levan island. Approaching this island 

is like something out of a movie scene; crystal blue waters, 

beach huts to lounge in while you gaze out at the vast Croatian 

sea, and the Sunshine Medulin Bar serving cocktails that 

themselves look like works of art. The friendly and welcoming 

bar staff are on hand too to give you the best tips for exploring 

the area like a local. 

During your stay, there is no doubt you’ll enjoy the delights of 

Croatia’s gastronomy, specialising in truffle, cheese, wine and 

lamb dishes. Veggies and vegans, don’t be scared - Istria’s 

fields also supply sun ripened veg and fruits to be enjoyed too! 

With 4 Restaurants and a supermarket on site Arena Grand 

Kažela will cater, quite literally, to all your needs. Food is a 

religion in Croatia, meals are set over many courses of many 

hours, meant for sharing platters and stories to laugh over after 

a day in the afternoon sun. 

If you’re a bit of a culture vulture the nearby city of Pula offers 

a rich history set in a timeline of architectural wonders. Pula’s 

gladiatorial arena boasts to be older than Rome’s Colosseum. 

The Arena is the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have 

four side towers and with all three Roman architectural orders 

entirely preserved. It was constructed in 27 BC – 68 AD and 

is among the world’s six largest surviving Roman arenas. 

Wandering through the town is like looking at a visual timeline 

of Croatian history, a story told through architecture. The tour 

guides are extremely knowledgeable and painted a picture of 

the city through the ages, up to the current state of affairs. The 

stories of chariots and gladiators are sure the enthral. 

If history or architecture doesn’t tickle you, the Pula market 

is a sight to behold. Mingle with the locals, and soak in the 

atmosphere - picturesquely dappled in sunlight through the 

trees you’ll find stalls filled with lavender, truffle and braided 

garlic. Worth a look next to it is the famous fish market, to 

observe not only the fresh catch of the day, but the pavilion it’s 

set in. Be prepared to have your senses accosted by the scent 

of the sea and the glimmering scales of beautiful fresh fish 

caught be local fisherman that morning. 

If you want to leave the site (although there is little reason to do 

so!) and the city isn’t your thing, then a boat trip from the sweet 

seaside village of Fažana to President Tito’s beautifully kept 

island Brijuni may be for you. Take a swim in crystal waters, or 

a train ride around the island to see Tito’s exotic animals. 

Beautifully designed to allow guests to get closer to nature and 

experience serenity of sleeping under the stars in total comfort. 

With poolside bars, restaurants, water sport and children’s 

areas and activities, there is no doubt there is something for 

everyone before even leaving the site. Maybe camping is my 

kind of thing after all… 

“Wandering through the town is 

like looking at a visual timeline 

of Croatian history, a story told 

through architecture...The stories 

of chariots and gladiators are sure 

the enthral. ” 

Arena Grand Kažela has recently launched brand new luxury 

camping homes, located in a secluded spot in Medulin 

and designed to allow guests to get closer to nature and 

experience the serenity of sleeping under the stars in total 

comfort. For those looking to pick up the tempo, there are 

water skiing facilities on-site, whilst explorers can visit the 

nearby secluded beach, only accessible by boat. 

€90 per unit per night, based on a Camping Home Next unit. 

Valid for arrival in April 2020. For more information and to book, 

visit: www.arenacampsites.com 

24

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

RENEW 

Refresh 

RENOVATE 

Spring is a time of rebirth and it makes 

sense that it’s a period to think about 

changes we want to make in the home. 

Whether your ambitions are large or small 

in scale, here’s some inspiration to get you 

going on your transformation... 

Ian Snow Dark 

Green Floral 

Velvet Cushion, 

topdrawer.co.uk 

desenio.co.uk 

RENEW your soft furnishings. 

Some strong trends to emerge this 

season are hand-printed monochromes 

and really textural, woven pieces with a 

Scandi-boho vibe. 

Throws and blankets are great to mix 

up the look when seasons change. A 

new rug can really change a space too 

- uniting furniture and making a space 

more cohesive. 

Leopard Velvet Cushion, £50, 

frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk 

Petra Cushion Cover, 

£33 and Floor Cushion 

£109, both with free P&P, 

hauslife.co.uk 

If you don’t want to buy new cushions or 

throws, simply swapping pieces between 

rooms can have a similar renewing effect. 

Clockwise from top left: Electra Block 

Print Cushion, £29.95; Seascape In 

Dusk Rug, 160cm x 230cm, £1288, 

abigailedwards.com; Himmeli Wool Blanket, 

£105,cloudberryliving.co.uk; Herringbone 

Linen Throw, £119.99, truelinen.co.uk 

Lola Burnt Orange Velvet 

Armchair £520; Frau Eule 

Velvet Cushion £65; Chevron 

Sienna Patterned Rug From 

£199; Pink Quartz Side Table 

£262, all audenza.com 

28

Dobbies 

REFRESH your walls with some new 

prints. Never underestimate the transformative 

power of art! Get some favourite posters, 

postcards or even fabrics framed or invest in 

some new, fun eye candy for the walls - it’s cheap 

but effective! 

We love Desenio’s vast range of posters, with 

options for framed, unframed and mounted 

finishes. From £3.95, desenio.co.uk 

RENOVATE by bringing 

the outside in. Try to create connected 

spaces, either by echoing flooring 

choices in the home and the patio, or 

using complementary furniture styles 

as you’ll see in the home. 

Some experts estimate that bi-folding 

doors can add around 5-10% to the 

resale valuation of a property, so 

if you’re thinking about renovation 

changes, glazing is a good investment 

which will also improve the way you 

use the space in the interim. Metal 

Crittall doors also make a fabulous 

statement when paired with other 

black glazing and fixtures. 

Left: Linen Viscose 

Mix Curtains In Denim, 

loomandlast.com and below: 

Plantation Shutters from Just 

Shutters, justshutters.co.uk 

REFRESH your window 

treatments. Whether you add a new 

blind or a new set of curtains, or 

even add new trims to you existing 

dressings, it can make a space feel 

wholly different. If you’re looking 

for a larger-scale change with a 

big impact, shutters are a fabulous 

choice - we love the plantation style 

ones - you can really shut the world 

out come evening! 

29

RENEW your light fixtures 

and room hardware for an instant 

update. Multi-level lighting makes 

a huge impact, as does a new 

pendant light in the centre of the 

room - these are impact points 

and lighting will help guide the 

eye around the room. Matching 

lightswitches and sockets help the 

final feel of the room, making it more 

‘pulled-together’. 

Glass & Velvet 

Lamp, £175, 

coxandcox.co.uk 

Pontoon Picture 

Light, £111, 

darlighting.co.uk 

Juliet Table Light, £69, 

atkinandthyme.co.uk 

Midi 3 Light Bar Pendant 

Black, £84, darlighting.co.uk 

Double Socket, £34.99 and 

Quadruple Toggle Switch, £35.99, 

dowsingandreynolds.com 

Volcano 5 

Light Pendant 

Gold, £594, 

darlighting.co.uk 

MULTI-DIMENSIONAL 

CLEANING 

VAX are market leaders in the cordless cleaning 

industry and their latest releases certainly have 

us excited (and yes, it’s totally ok to get excited 

about vacuums). 

TIP: QUICK WINS 

When you’re feeling overwhelmed 

by mess, try just one of these 

quick wins: 

First up is the Glide ONEPWR Hard Floor 

Cleaner (£249) is a god-send if you have mostly 

hard floors in the home - it vacuums, washes 

and dries at the same time and kills 99.9% of 

bacteria. It’s built-in LED light helps you spot dirt 

and its lightweight design makes it easy to use. 

For carpeted areas and furniture, the new 

ONEPWR Blade 4 (£219.99) is a great choice. 

At only 3.1kg it’s light enough to use all over 

the house and still offers unrivalled suction 

- it outperforms the UK’s top 3 best-selling 

cordless vacuums. 

The main advantage to all of these products 

is the ONEPWR battery that is fully shareable 

across the products, which means you can buy 

two if you like to extend run-time, or you can 

share batteries between ‘bare units’, products 

without batteries - saving money. 

Both available from www.vax.co.uk 

REFRESH with a deep clean. We all 

know how satisfying it is to spring clean and 

being thorough is the name of the game - pull 

out furniture, wipe down all surfaces (including 

skirting boards, light switches, shelves etc), and 

get scrubbing. Brabantia have a great range 

of products to keep you on top of your kitchen 

tidiness game - we love the silcone dish drainer 

which folds away and the food caddy to help you 

keep food waste recylcing tidy and odour free. 

Go through your dresser and 

choose one drawer. Take 

everything out and refold and stack. 

Choose one collection (athletic 

equipment, tools, cleaning supplies, 

etc.) and declutter. Toss or recycle 

anything you no longer use. 

Vacuum your car. 

Install hooks in your garage. 

Use them to hang beach chairs, 

tools, or bikes. 

Declutter the tops drawer of 

your night table. Dust, tidy, and 

purge your night table of anything 

you no longer need. 

Walk around your home and 

gather light bulbs, batteries, 

and stamps. Make sure you store 

these in the same spot so you 

don’t buy more than you need. 

Go through one file drawer and 

declutter. Recycle old papers, 

shred credit card statements, and 

refile anything out of place. 

Store your receipts. Sit at your 

desk, open your wallet, and input 

receipts into your filing system. 

Do a clutter sweep. Sit on the 

couch in your living room and 

notice any distracting piles. 

Declutter. 

Recycle some electronics. Do 

you have an older item (television, 

gaming system, or VCR) that 

you’re not sure how to recycle? 

Find your item, and schedule a 

time to recycle it 

30

TIP: PROJECT SCALER 

Looking to refresh the kitchen or bathroom? 

From simple steps to overhauls, here are 

some ideas: 

RENOVATE the larger spaces - 

these are not small decisions, but transforming 

the bathroom or kitchen will have a dramatic 

impact on the way you feel in your home. 

EASY: 

Repaint the walls. 

Re-tile the backsplashes. 

Change the blinds or window dressings. 

Buy new accessories. 

Replace handles and knobs. 

Hang some art. 

MEDIUM: 

Invest in new flooring. 

Replace door and drawer fronts. 

Replace worktops and surfaces. 

HARD: 

Bathroom or kitchen refurb - new base units 

or sanitaryware. 

Reconfigure space with advice from designer. 

Annie Sloan Paints 

REFRESH with a declutter. 

Streamline your space to 

make an instant improvement and 

thoroughly comb through cupboards 

and drawers, recycling items you 

no longer use and grouping similar 

pieces together so you can find them 

in a hurry. 

Collection from Dunelm 

We love Brabantia’s handy Linn 

Clothes rack (£144). Organize, air and 

dry your clothes in style - perfect in the 

guest room or utility. This free-standing 

clothing rack with solid bamboo rod 

and two adjustable shelves is as 

stylish as it is functional.Combine 

open storage like this with collections 

of decorative baskets and boxes for a 

contemporary take on storage. 

Pom Pom 

Basket, 

rexlondon.com 

REFRESH your walls with a 

change in colour. This is probably the 

quickest way to breathe new life into 

a room - not only could you introduce 

new colour, but even a refresh of 

existing paintwork can eliminate 

scuffs and marks. 

Colour trends this year haven’t taken 

a huge step away from last - expect 

to see vibrant coral and sky blue, but 

also lots of lovely pastels and neutrals 

like camel, olive green, blush, off 

white and sage green. 

Paints, clockwise from top left - Spruce Things Up, 

dowsingandreynolds.com; Dulux Smooth Maple, dulux.co.uk; 

First Light (blush pink) benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk; Polar Bear 

Selfie, dowsingandreynolds.com; Coral Mix Using Tilton And 

Emperor’s Silk, anniesloan.com; Dulux Tranquilty Dawn, dulux. 

co.uk; B&Q’s GoodHome Cincinnati Paint, diy.com 

31

Rust-Oleum 

Slate Satin 

Furniture paint 

750ml, £14 

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Paris 

Grey and Old Violet, anniesloan. 

com and registered stockists 

TIP: REPAINTING HANDLES 

We were a little sceptical about this too, especially in 

the kitchen, but we’ve found a good workable solution. 

The key is priming the handles properly - especially 

if they’re metal. We like Rust-Oleum’s All Purpose 

Priming spray followed by your chosen spray paint. In a 

recent renovation, we paired the Satin Finish Furniture 

paint above in Slate with painted handles in Rust- 

Oleum Gold Spray Paint - the end result was beautiful 

and thanks to the priming, the coat was even. 

Extra Tip: to make spray painting easier, stick handles 

into a Styrofoam block 

Clockwise from top 

left: Navy Rye Snuggler 

and Saltdean Portland 

Velvet Rosewood Chair, 

both sofasandstuff. 

com; Muuto Outline 

2 Seater Sofa, £3049, 

somedaydesigns.co.uk 

Rust-Oleum 

Metallic 

Spray Paint, 

£11, diy.com 

RENEW by making unloved kitchen 

cupboards look new again with a coat of 

paint. The beauty of paint is its changeability, 

so you can pick some more ‘trendy’ colours 

without worrying about longevity. Replacing 

the worktops is a great solution too - wood, 

laminate, quartz, granite, marble or composite 

materials all look good against painted units. 

If your doors are past the salvageable 

point, or are too old-fashioned, you 

could save money by buying new doors 

and tops, and keeping the existing 

units. This can have a dramatic effect 

and can look like a whole new kitchen. 

REFRESH your furniture. If you 

still love the frame of your sofa, chairs or 

bed, then look into re-upholstery to breathe 

new life into it. If you’ve moved house and 

the shape doesn’t work any more or simply 

need a change, you could donate your old 

sofa to charity and check out some of these 

fabulous designs... 

Oriental Black Floral 

Headboard, £475, 

rockettstgeorge.co.uk; 

Kingsley Headboard, £550, 

laresidenceinteriors.co.uk 

TIP: SMALL SCALE 

Rather than replacing your whole 

bed, consider just replacing the 

headboard. You can still get that 

new impact you are after, but with 

less upheaval and cost. 

Sofas & Stuff 

32

ABS registered Gas Safe and fully 

qualified plumbers 

NO call out charge and fast response, your plumbing 

problems fixed today. 

· No hidden charges. 

· Plumbers you can depend on. 

· Qualified, friendly, professional. 

· Fast response or by appointment. 

· Emergency plumbing sorted today. 

· Boiler and heating experts. 

· Taps, toilets and showers repaired. 

GUARANTEED TRUSTWORTHY 

SERVICE TO GIVE YOU 

PEACE OF MIND 

123 Liscombe | Bracknell | RG12 7DE 

Tel: 01344 409092 Web: www.abspb.co.uk 

Email: abs@abspb.co.uk 


Tassel Single Garden 

Hammock, £105 

beaumonde.co.uk 

Garden Trading Gwithian 

Round Table, £250 

gardentrading.co.uk 

Coloured leaf embossed 

glass pot, £16 

kinfolkdecor.co.uk 

ALFRESCO DINING 

With lighter evenings and spring 

weather on the horizon, get your 

garden ready for Spring/Summer 

2020. Prepare furniture, revamp your 

patio, and add a finishing touch with 

a fire pit and lights to create a cosy 

atmosphere. 

Hemi 36 Fire Bowl 

with Metal Table Top 

solusdecor.co.uk 

AMAZONAS 

Globo Chair taupe 

Hängesessel 

amazonas-online.com 

Moroccan Moving Flame Outdoor 

String Light, £26.99 

lights4fun.co.uk/ 

BOLGA STORAGE BASKET, 

£35 

lolaandmawu.com 

NEW Porto Dining Set 

£795 

coxandcox.co.uk 

Valverdi Shard Grey 

20mm Outdoor Tile 

£14.27 

londontile.co.uk/ 

Ligne Roset Outdoor Living 

Accessories Citronnella 

Candle Portrait 

ligne-roset.com/uk/ 

Ooni 3 Wood-Fired 

Outdoor Pizza Oven 

£176 

cuckooland.com 

Fab Hab Outdoor Rug 

Chittagong Black 

£49.95 

cuckooland.com 


Sherborne are pleased to introduce a window system in a league of its own. 

The Evolution range of products is where tradition meets technology. 

With intricate, period detailing and innovative technology these unique windows can be customized to 

truly suit your property. 

Please feel free to visit one of the Sherborne showrooms to see the quality first hand and let the journey to 

the perfect solution to your home begin.

Children: getting them 

interested in gardening 

Here our resident gardener and radio personality, Matt Biggs 

aka The People’s Gardener, explains the benefits of getting 

children involved in the garden and how it provides them with 

skills to help their development. 

You and your children will enjoy every stage of the process. We 

hear a lot about children not knowing where their food comes from 

and, of course, if we don’t give them the info then, with all of the 

distractions of modern living, it is not surprising if they think a chip 

comes from the freezer aisle and kohlrabi is a character in the latest 

Star Wars film! 

Gardening for kids is just such a great thing - exercise, knowledge, 

fun and hopefully an interest that will last them a lifetime, what more 

do we need? Many garden centres offer kids activity days, whether 

that is pumpkin carving, seed sowing or making animals out of fruit 

and veg. there is a lot you can get them involved with and much of it 

is free too. Many garden centres have clubs for children, and this is 

a good option if you have one near to you. It is good for socialising 

and excellent for learning the basics and having fun. 

If you have a garden marking them out their own space is an easy 

thing to do. It gives them a sense of responsibility and you can 

make a bug hotel out of recycled bits and bobs, plan to grow some 

herbs or mini veg, write down their favourite colours and hunt 

through plant catalogues or online for suitable plants to match. 

There are lots of skills involved in all of these activities, from maths 

- how many plants do we need for the space, to practical skills 

in making things, to research and planning skills - so one small 

space can lead to a lot of learning! If you have a local country 

show or fayre there will probably be a few children’s classes in that 

too - making a miniature garden or a dinosaur from fruit and veg. 

whatever it is take advantage of it - country 

shows are a great day out! 

So, having got the kids organised it is time 

to do our own planning for summer, whether 

you have a window box, a court-yard or 

acres of space there is summer colour for 

every option. If you are fortunate enough to 

have a greenhouse then you can start early and bring on your own 

plants, you can share with neighbours or garden clubs which is a 

very economical way of gardening or you can visit your local nursery 

or garden centre to see what choices are available - and there is a 

lot of choice. 

Every year Chelsea highlights a new favourite plant or colour 

scheme, gardening magazines and books have so many ideas 

- one of the most pleasurable jobs in the year is planning your 

garden - and then - best bit of all, enjoying the fruits of your labour! 

To discover more about Matt and his books please 

visit www.mattbiggs.com 

COME AND VISIT 

OUR SHOWROOMS 


haus 

HOME | LIFESTYLE 

ARTISANAL SOFT FURNISHINGS FOR THE MODERN HOME 

USE CODE 

LIVE15 

FOR YOUR 

EXCLUSIVE 

15% OFF ALL 

ORDERS 

Image courtesy of 

cityfarmhouse.com 

NEW COLLECTIONS OF MUDCLOTH AND KILIM PILLOWS AND 

LEATHER POUFFES COMING SOON - AVAILABLE TO PRE ORDER NOW 

FREE UK P&P ON ALL ORDERS 

www.hauslife.co.uk

TILES 

FLOOR TILES 

BEST FOR: Kitchens and 

bathrooms - especially if walls also 

need covering. 

A GOOD CHOICE IF: You 

like stylish finishes and the lowmaintenance 

quality of tiles. They 

also conduct heat well for underfloor 

heating. 

TAKE TO THE 

FLOOR 

Time to refresh the flooring in your home? 

We look at four popular materials and 

which areas they work best for... 

WOODEN FLOORING 

BEST FOR: Living spaces like sitting rooms and studies. 

TIPS & TRICKS: There are so 

many finishes available - the trend for 

patterns isn’t abating - we love the 

Boreal Mix Wood-Effect Tiles, above right, and the Grande 

Saltram on the kitchen floor, left, both Original Style. 

TIPS & TRICKS: Take 

time to consider if you 

want hardwood floors or 

engineered wood flooring. 

Engineered wood flooring 

tends to work better in 

moist-prone areas, as 

their base flexes less. Well 

maintained solid wood 

floors will last for decades 

and can be re-sanded 

multiple times. 

WOOD 

A GOOD CHOICE IF: You are looking for a classic 

option which adds longterm value to your home. You do 

have to be mindful of which rooms you choose to use it in. 

Both options provide lots of 

benefits and many colour 

and pattern choices, so it’s 

worth doing your research. 

Image from flooringvillage.co.uk 

LUXURY VINYL TILES 

BEST FOR: These work 

anywhere in the home, but 

particularly well in kitchens and 

bathrooms or high traffic areas. 

They are easy to maintain. 

A GOOD CHOICE IF: 

You want a hard-wearing, low 

maintenance floor with an 

enormous range of patterns 

and finishes. We love the new 

heritage-style collections from 

Karndean and Amtico plus their 

wood and stone effect tiles are 

very realistic. 

Karndean 

LVT 

TIPS & TRICKS: You can 

use these anywhere and the 

way you lay them can create 

some great personal style. 

Amtico 

CARPETS 

BEST FOR: Bedrooms and some living rooms 

- nothing replicates the cosiness of a carpet. Also 

good for noise reduction. 

A GOOD CHOICE IF: You have small children 

- stain resistant blends are available. There is a 

huge choice when you buy carpets - the colours 

can really complement a scheme and the soft feel 

instantly warms up a room and provides thermal 

insulation - perfect for any property. 

TIPS & TRICKS: In 

high traffic areas choose 

hardwearing finishes like the 

stylish 100% wool Berber 

collection from Kingsmead 

Carpets. 

Kingsmead Carpets 

Kingsmead Carpets - 

Berber Traditions 

Luxury Vinyl Tiles are not 

known for their environmental 

credentials (other than their 

long-lasting finish) so we were 

excited to hear about Amtico’s 

new Cirro range which is 

PVC free. At the moment it’s 

a commercial product, but 

it’s good to see the industry 

adapting to consumer demand. 

CARPET 


Alan Titchmarsh... 

on some of his favourite things 

Sally Thomson recently had 

a chat with Alan Titchmarsh 

MBE, DL, HonFSE and 

discussed some of the many 

passions he enjoys - extending 

far beyond gardening. 

He has written more than forty 

gardening books, memoirs and 

his latest creation is a book on 

poetry which illustrates the love 

he has for not just plants, but 

all of life... 

You still do Saturday mornings on 

Classic FM. Of all the music that 

you enjoy, what is your favourite? 

It’s fairly classic, although I like a lot 

of stuff! Whether it’s Handel or Mozart 

or Tchaikovsky. It’s part of my life. I’ve 

always loved light opera. I love The Merry 

Widow and Fledermaus and things like 

that, as well as the heavier stuff. But I 

think sometimes Operetta is overlooked. 

It has the most glorious melodies and it 

tends to fall between two categories; it’s 

not a musical and it’s not an opera and so 

I feel that at the moment Operetta seems 

to fall in the dark. 

40 | www.wokinghamlifestyle.co.uk 

Do you endeavour to put them forward 

a little bit on the show? 

Oh, I do! I do suggest it to the producers. 

I’ve been listening to some snippets on 

your show on gardening and there are 

such useful tips. I mean, I don’t fancy 

going out there at the moment because 

it’s so wet. But when Easter arrives how 

should we start in the garden? 

The great thing about the winter months 

is that everything moves so slowly, so 

when Easter arrives it gives us time to 

catch up in the garden. We can get stuff 

cut back, fed, mulched. 

Mulching is probably one of the best 

things to do this time of year isn’t it? 

Well it is because the ground is moist and 

the weeds haven’t started growing yet so 

you can spread it now and it will keep the 

weeds down. 

Yes, obviously the bulbs are coming up 

now and I’m dreading a frost that will 

knock down my narcissus… 

Oh, frost won’t knock them down! They’re 

tough as old boots. They might bow 

down for a night if it gets really frosty, but 

they’ll pick up as the day progresses. The 

thing about narcissus and snowdrops 

is that they are not susceptible to frost. 

They really are hardy. 

That’s good to know! I’m really 

interested in your 50 shades of Green - 

the programme. Tell me all about that, 

how did it happen? 

ITV very sweetly said they wanted to 

mark my seventieth birthday, which was 

very kind, and they wanted to do it in a 

very engaging way, so they had me name 

my top 50, and they went from there. 

Were they difficult choices to make? 

Oh yes! It was like Desert Island Discs! 

But we covered all the main things you 

know, like trees, water, roses, and the last 

one was my garden which has not been 

seen on telly before. 

I know. A bit special! One of the 

elements of the show is about you 

visiting the National Gallery, and how 

the masterpieces have inspired you. 

Which were the paintings in particular 

that inspired you? 

Oh gosh, well for me it’s so difficult 

to choose, I mean there’s Mr and Mrs 

Andrews by Gainsborough, then you see 

Whistlejacket by Stubbs. Just walking 

past them all and the feeling of joy that 

it was open for us to see them all, it was 

like being a boy in a sweet shop! When 

you manage to see them without bodies 

all around you, and it’s one-to-one with 

you and the painting. It’s such a treat. 

continued

What about going into where the 

Queen’s perfumer was working? 

That was wonderful! I use the aftershave 

now! I was terrified of course, when I 

arrived there. 

Alan will be at BBC Gardeners’ 

World Live on Saturday 20th 

June 2020 

You cannot hide your emotions can 

you? 

No, I’m not very good at that! It was a joy 

though. 

Of the gardens that you’ve visited, do 

you have a special one? Or do you find 

that different gardens affect different 

moods, a bit like music? 

They do. There are aspects of every 

garden where you think ‘Oh I like that’, or 

‘I wish I had that’. I love Chatsworth, I’ve 

always loved Chatsworth, it’s a special 

place. The Prince of Wales’ garden at 

Highgrove. Sissinghurst is another one. 

Gardens that reflect the soul of their 

makers are really special. 

You are attending Highgrove again 

aren’t you? For Talking Gardens. Are 

you excited about that, as you go there 

quite regularly don’t you? 

I seem to go there every year. I’m a 

regular! I will be discussing the way we 

look at our gardens and the way they can 

help us and we can help them. It’s not 

just analytical, it’s getting to grips with 

a garden and what a garden can offer. I 

get so dispirited when I see gardens laid 

to paving blocks. I know that cars are 

precious, but you don’t have to pave the 

whole thing. There are all kinds of things 

you can do to make room for nature. 

When we spoke last time, you talked 

about your poetry with Debbie 

Wiseman from Classic FM. 

Yes, the book is coming out! Well I’ve 

written poetry for years before that 

but mainly for Christmas. But Debbie 

suggested I write something about 

plants, so we did The Glorious Garden 

which happened to go to No.1 in the 

classical charts - not that I like to boast! 

So that’s what got me going on writing 

poetry other than just for Christmas. 

So yes, I have put all these poems plus 

a load of new ones into a book called 

Marigolds, Myrtle and Moles. 

Do you think you have any more 

poems up your sleeve? 

Well I really enjoy writing them, so we’ll 

see how this one goes down. I might do 

another one! 

Will we be seeing any more of ‘Love 

Your Garden’? 

We’ve got four episodes that will be 

coming out in the Spring, and we will 

start filming more in April. We filmed half 

the series last year in September and 

the other half will be done in Spring as 

they split the recordings, and they have 

commissioned another two series which 

is very nice! 

Marigolds, Myrtle and Moles by Alan 

Titchmarsh is published by Hodder 

& Stoughton. Available from the RHS 

Wisley Shop. 

Below, from left: Highgrove, Chatsworth 

and Sissinghurst 


Welcome to Bickerton House 

Choosing a care home can be stressful for everyone 

involved. You want to know that all your care needs 

will be met, in a warm and welcoming environment 

dedicated to your health and wellbeing. 

At Bickerton House, Care UK’s 

purpose-built luxury care 

home in Bracknell, we offer a 

complete range of high quality 

care services for older people, 

including residential and respite 

care, nursing and dementia care. 

Living at Bickerton House is 

all about luxury and comfort. 

As well as providing superb 

round-the-clock care, the home 

has a coffee shop, hair and 

beauty salon, cinema plus lovely 

landscaped gardens – all of which 

you can use whenever you wish. 

All the comfort of home 

Our home has been designed 

entirely to support you to 

continue to enjoy a fulfilling, 

varied and comfortable 

lifestyle, featuring fullyfurnished 

and beautifully 

decorated rooms complete 

with private en-suite facilities. 

Throughout the home you’ll find 

a range of spacious lounge and 

dining rooms, activity spaces 

and quiet areas to relax in. 

What’s more, the home is built 

to the latest dementia-friendly 

design standards, enabling 

all residents to maintain 

their independence in a calm, 

supportive setting. 

A unique and personal approach 

We deliver person-centred care, 

which means we put residents at 

the heart of everything we do. 

When you join us, we will take 

the time to get to know you so 

that we can develop a care and 

lifestyle plan that is tailored to 

your unique needs and interests. 

Our chef-led catering team will 

also ensure that your individual 

preferences are catered for. 

Home 

now open 

Our next event at Bickerton House 

Multiple Sclerosis 

Thursday 9th April 2020, 2pm - 4pm 

Join us to hear Dominic Manley from East 

Berkshire MS Group share insights on 

recognising the signs of MS and caring for a 

loved one living with MS. 

To find out more about living at Bickerton 

House call us on 01344 981587 or email 

tracey.vanzyl@careuk.com 

Fulfilling lives 

Bickerton House care home 

Warfield Road, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 2JB (For Sat Nav, use RG12 2JA) 

careuk.com/bickerton-house

Visiting a 

care home; 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

the a-z 

of top 

tips 

Dementia expert Professor June Andrews 

gives us her insightful tips into visiting a 

loved one in residential or nursing care... 

When someone with dementia moves into 

a care home, it is often a great relief for 

the family. Many things are immediately 

better. You can get an undisturbed night’s 

sleep and it’s possible to go out and about 

without worrying how your loved one is, and 

whether they are safe. But it is not always 

so simple. You might worry about whether 

the new resident is being looked after 

properly, or whether they are fretting and 

missing you. 

Visiting now becomes an important issue. 

How often should you go and for how long, 

and what on earth do you do when you are 

there? Because people ask me this, I made 

an A-Z of visiting ideas an important part 

of my new book on care home. Especially 

as you know the person you are visiting, I 

expect you will be able to think of variations 

on this theme. 

AAvoid contradicting someone with 

dementia, even for clarification. 

Bring the newspaper or photos to look at. 

Calmly sit and wait. Just being there is 

good in itself. 

Don’t be louder than needed. 

Even if you are in a hurry, don’t appear to 

rush. 

Find conversation-starters apart from ‘Do 

you remember when … ?’ Direct questions 

are like a memory test, and uncomfortable. 

Give a hug (with permission) or find 

appropriate contact like a hand massage. 

Have food to share, or go for a 

cuppa. 

Introduce yourself again every time, even if 

you are sure they know you. 

Just wait after speaking. To give extra time 

for a response, count to ten. 

Keep an eye out for tiredness, and offer 

sips of water. 

Limit the numbers visiting at any one time. 

Make an attempt to get outside, if only on a 

roof terrace or balcony. 

Never forget that the person can read your 

body language. 

Offer to bring your dog or other pet, 

especially if it is calm and affectionate. 

Pick their best time of day. 

Quick visits are acceptable - what matters 

is the quality. 

Read out loud. 

Sing together. 

Try to be in a quiet room. 

Understand, if they are rude, that this is not 

personal. 

Visiting cards or notes let others know that 

you called and are good for reminding the 

resident that they are loved and respected. 

When it is time to go, find a distraction to 

cover your departure. 

XXX is for kissing - only do it if you used to 

do it before. 

Young visitors are always popular, and 

babies are amazing. 

ZZZ is for when they sleep through your 

visit; you were there - that matters - so leave 

a card. Use the time to relax yourself or talk 

to someone else who is lonely. 

Z 

If just visiting the care home starts to be 

hard work for the family, neighbours and 

friends can help. It might be hard to make 

sure someone is there every day, and you 

can work together to fill the gaps. Have fun! 

Professor June’s book, Care Homes: The 

One Stop Guide: When, Why and How to 

Choose a Care Home will be released in 

June. 

It is Dementia Action Week from 11-17 May 

2020. Find out more at www.alzheimers.org. 

uk. You can also call the National Dementia 

Helpline for support on 0300 222 11 22. 


Living with Dementia 

Is Living First and 

Foremost 

The care home stereotype for people with 

cognitive difficulties has been where 

residents merely had their physical care 

needs met by poorly trained staff... 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

This is now changing and Astbury Manor Care Home in Bracknell 

is leading the way with leading memory care called ReConnectR 

developed by the Avery Healthcare Group. 

Previous approaches to ‘dementia-friendly’ care often focused 

on the use of bright colours in child-like environments, to 

stimulate, orientate and occupy residents, now recognised as 

less helpful. Latest research reinforces that a normal and homely 

care environment with considered adaptations and adjustments 

is more supportive to a person struggling to make sense of a 

world that is progressively unclear. A true dementia-friendly 

environment is simply a familiar and supportive one, of people 

who are friends to the resident. 

The difficult experience of moving into care should be seen as 

the next stage of a person’s life rather than the end of ‘normal’ 

living, with familiarity and preferred routines maintained. As well 

as keeping people safe, continuing to engage in the process of 

life is essential, regardless of cognitive decline. 

A skilled team to meet the complex care and support needs of 

people living with dementia is essential; without that they are 

at risk of failing those who rely upon them most. Dementia may 

mask the life experiences and a person’s unique characteristics, 

but never removes them completely, and staff training at 

Astbury Manor supports that a single approach does not fit all in 

dementia care. 

Contemporary research, a broader understanding of cognitive 

impairment and listening to the views of those living with 

dementia, means that care cultures are changing, and the 

memory care environment at Astbury Manor reflects all of that for 

the benefit of the residents and their families. 

For more search ‘Astbury Manor Care’ online or Facebook. 

Live-in care can be a 

better solution

Astbury Manor Care Home 

The best in Memory Care for Berkshire 

A care home of real comfort and quality, Astbury Manor offers the best 

in residential and dementia care. It’s a real home from home. 

The dedicated Memory Care suite at Astbury Manor reflects the sector-leading Avery 

model for people living with the many forms of dementia, supporting residents to live 

life well in a calm environment that reflects the most up-to-date dementia care research. 

Cafés • Hair salon • Therapy room • Outdoor terraces on all floors 

Rooms fully furnished • Private minibus for regular trips out 

No up-front or joining fees • All-inclusive care 

Call 01344 598090 or Search ‘Astbury Manor Care’ 

Astbury Manor Care Home 

Crowthorne Road North 

Bracknell 

RG12 7AU

Wokingham and Bracknell Lifestyle Apr - May 2020

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?