Cheltenham Living Mar - Apr 2022
Spring has sprung! This edition is a celebration of the best of it - great food, cracking competitions, Easter bakes, a classic chef interview and an amazing bathroom transformation.
Spring has sprung! This edition is a celebration of the best of it - great food, cracking competitions, Easter bakes, a classic chef interview and an amazing bathroom transformation.
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Trade<br />
Accounts<br />
Coming Soon!<br />
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WINNENS CHELTENHAM SHOWROOM<br />
18 Neptune Business Centre, Tewkesbury Road, <strong>Cheltenham</strong>, GL51 9FB<br />
01242 521661 | BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE
Contents<br />
A Note<br />
from the EDITOR<br />
12<br />
Delicious<br />
A Culinary Journey through<br />
Northern Ireland recipes for Easter<br />
I’ve been complaining a lot in the<br />
office this week, and not one of<br />
my colleagues has any sympathy<br />
for me.<br />
But, it’s understandable really...I’ve<br />
been complaining about my jet lag<br />
as I’ve just returned from Florida<br />
- and no, I’m not expecting too<br />
much more sympathy either!<br />
When I was little, I thought it was<br />
called ‘jet leg’ - cue my family<br />
moaning about their own jet legs<br />
and dragging their feet theatrically<br />
behind them post-flight!<br />
Our competition<br />
page returns<br />
04<br />
You can read about my Floridian<br />
adventures on the website if you’re<br />
beginning to plan a holiday of your<br />
own - I know travel can fill people<br />
with trepidation post-COVID,<br />
but my goodness, a change of<br />
scenery was just what I needed.<br />
It’s a State I love to explore and<br />
there’s so much more to see than<br />
theme parks and the Everglades.<br />
A modern bathroom<br />
transformation<br />
17<br />
Editor Katie Thomson<br />
e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk<br />
Publisher Sally Thomson<br />
Pre-Press Manager Kate Norris<br />
Contributors Rebecca Rose, Peter Thomson, Sue Cooke, Matthew Biggs<br />
Angela Cave and Pete Lawrence. Front cover courtesy of Opies<br />
Key Account Manager Steve Davies<br />
e steve.davies@minervapublications.co.uk<br />
d/l 01225 984506<br />
twitter @<strong>Cheltenham</strong>Glouc<br />
10<br />
We interview chef<br />
Brian Turner<br />
MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ<br />
Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm, Hilperton<br />
Trowbridge BA14 6JB<br />
t 01225 984 550<br />
visit our website www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />
Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be held liable for any loss occasioned by failure of an<br />
advertisement to appear, or any damage or inconvenience caused by errors, omissions and<br />
misprints. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the<br />
publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers.<br />
This edition isn’t short of inspiration<br />
across the board. We were thrilled<br />
to welcome top Yorkshireman<br />
and TV Chef Brian Turner into<br />
this issue - plus we are serving<br />
up some delicious recipes if you<br />
are entertaining over the Easter<br />
period.<br />
Also on the home front is an<br />
amazing family bathroom<br />
transformation, which we hope will<br />
inspire you to make your home<br />
work that bit better for you.<br />
We’ve also got our usual<br />
competition page and this one is<br />
a belter - you could win a boiling<br />
water tap worth nearly £1000, plus<br />
a whole host of other goodies<br />
including luxury hotel stays,<br />
chocolates and bird feeders.<br />
There’s lots more to enjoy this<br />
edition - grab a cuppa and maybe<br />
a sneaky Easter egg and enjoy!<br />
Katie<br />
Katie<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 3
COMPETITION<br />
To enter any (or all!) of our competitions, head to<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk/competitions.<br />
Find the competition and enter on that post,<br />
using the appropriate keyword.<br />
T&C’s apply and no cash alternatives available. Winners chosen at<br />
random - entries made after closing date will not be accepted.<br />
WIN<br />
A HOT WATER<br />
TAP WORTH<br />
£949 WITH<br />
ABODE<br />
Would you like the chance to win a brand new and<br />
truly traditional hot water tap, specially designed to<br />
complement a classic kitchen scheme?<br />
The new ProTrad 4 IN 1 offers 98° steaming hot<br />
water with the addition of fresh filtered water,<br />
hot and cold domestic water on demand.<br />
Unique and truly traditional, this new design<br />
is perfect for anyone seeking modern<br />
functionality in a traditional setting.<br />
Featuring ceramic style handles,<br />
Victorian detailing and three traditional<br />
finishes, why not ditch the plastic and live a<br />
more sustainable, healthier lifestyle with a 4 IN 1<br />
Pronteau hot tap by Abode.<br />
www.abodedesigns.co.uk<br />
Closes 29/04/<strong>2022</strong> -<br />
Competition keyword ‘ABODE’<br />
WIN<br />
A 2-NIGHT<br />
LONDON<br />
HOTEL<br />
Win a two night stay at any of The Resident<br />
BREAK<br />
hotels, plus a welcome bottle of wine.<br />
The Resident is an innovative brand of city<br />
centre hotels in London’s Soho, Covent Garden,<br />
Kensington, Victoria and Liverpool, focussed on enabling<br />
guests to live as a local ‘resident’, while providing excellent<br />
rooms, in exceptional locations.<br />
All 5 hotels receive exceptional guest appreciation and<br />
The Resident Covent Garden is the no.1 London hotel on<br />
TripAdvisor. Each room has a concealed mini-kitchen and an<br />
in-room grocery service is available for guests.<br />
www.residenthotels.com<br />
Closes 29/04/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword ‘RESIDENT’<br />
Make a style statement with The<br />
Heritage Collection Feeding Stations<br />
that are easy to assemble, strong<br />
and durable with a robust screw<br />
connection.<br />
A Henry Bell Heritage Four Arm<br />
Complete Feeding Station comes with<br />
a seed tray and a water bath plus four<br />
Heritage Feeders – Seed, Peanut,<br />
Fat Ball & Suet Bites / Mealworm offering<br />
premium quality. 228cm height. 3 lucky<br />
readers will win a Henry Bell Heritage<br />
Four Arm Complete Feeding Station, as<br />
well as a 12.5kg bag of Henry Bell No<br />
Mess Mix.<br />
WIN<br />
A BIRD<br />
FEEDING<br />
STATION<br />
www.henrybell.co.uk<br />
Closes 29/04/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword ‘HERITAGE’<br />
Rita Farhi has been proudly producing premium chocolates<br />
and confectionery since 2003. Using the finest ingredients, we<br />
create luxurious sweet and savoury treats for the discerning<br />
customer. Chocolate-covered fruit and nuts are our brand’s<br />
speciality. As well as these, we also offer a<br />
range of nougats, nut brittles and savoury<br />
snacks plus vegan options.<br />
Winners will receive a Farhi luxury hamper<br />
filled to the brim with sumptuous treats<br />
including filled dates, chocolate<br />
covered nuts and dipped fruits,<br />
as well as two hand painted and<br />
filled bonbonnieres, chocolate<br />
fruit selection and the brand new<br />
ganache filled chocolate<br />
hearts.<br />
www.farhi.co.uk<br />
Closes<br />
29/04/<strong>2022</strong> -<br />
Competition<br />
keyword<br />
‘CHOCOLATE’<br />
Including a three-course dinner at the<br />
hotels in house STK Steakhouse.<br />
Hilton’s latest venture in London,<br />
the hotel sports a smooth yet<br />
edgy design, with a quirky look and<br />
innovative offerings. The hotel is within<br />
walking distance of some of the world’s<br />
most iconic historical landmarks and<br />
just yards away from Millbank and the<br />
Thames. One of London’s most vibrant<br />
restaurants, STK Steakhouse provides a<br />
luxury dining experience like no other in<br />
a chic lounge – complete with fine dining<br />
menus, resident DJs and a high-energy<br />
atmosphere.<br />
WIN<br />
£250<br />
WORTH OF<br />
LUXURY<br />
CHOCOLATES<br />
WIN<br />
A LUXURY<br />
NIGHT FOR<br />
TWO AT THE<br />
WESTMINSTER<br />
HOTEL<br />
www.hilton.com<br />
Closes 29/04/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword ‘WESTMINSTER’<br />
4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
FOUR amazing experiences under one roof!<br />
SHERBORNE CINEMA<br />
The Sherborne Cinema is Gloucester’s<br />
friendly traditional cinema for quality<br />
evening films and family films every<br />
weekend and holiday.<br />
Highlights include:<br />
Death on the Nile<br />
Sing 2<br />
Uncharted<br />
The Duke (TBC)<br />
The Batman<br />
Cyrano<br />
Phantom of the Open<br />
• Fully ventilated<br />
• Generous leg room<br />
SUPER<br />
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KIDS FILMS £5<br />
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NEW AXE THROWING ARENA!<br />
Open: Sat 10-10pm,<br />
Sun 10-7pm &<br />
Wed-Fri 11-9pm<br />
(please check availability<br />
prior to your visit)<br />
Full details at<br />
www.sherbornecinema.co.uk<br />
or phone 01452 520560<br />
taurus crafts<br />
Craft studios - Artisan businesses - Cafe - Gift shop<br />
Local food & drink - Local art - Special events<br />
Registered charity no. 232402<br />
A vibrant visitor centre where you can experience<br />
a wide range of arts and crafts, relax and unwind.<br />
Taurus Crafts, Lydney, GL15 6BU<br />
01594 844841 - www.tauruscrafts.co.uk<br />
leading a life<br />
of opportunity<br />
We are part of Camphill<br />
Village Trust, a charity<br />
supporting adults with<br />
learning disabilities,<br />
autism, mental health<br />
challenges and complex<br />
needs. To help people<br />
we to develop new skills,<br />
building confidence<br />
and enabling people to<br />
participate actively in the<br />
community.<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 5
HOST FAMILIES FOR<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
STUDENTS URGENTLY<br />
NEEDED<br />
We are looking for families, couples or<br />
individuals who would be willing to look<br />
after international students attending<br />
independent boarding schools...<br />
The students need their own room for the<br />
twice termly long weekends and/or half-term<br />
holidays when they cannot return to their<br />
own homes.<br />
We offer excellent rates plus expenses. If you<br />
would like more information and you feel you<br />
could offer a home from home experience in<br />
a happy and caring environment, we would<br />
love to hear from you.<br />
Please contact Emma on 07981 705275<br />
or email: Office@alphaplusguardians.co.uk<br />
The RAC Supports<br />
Midlands Air Ambulance<br />
Charity's Bike4Life Ride<br />
Out and Festival<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
The RAC is kindly supporting local lifesaving<br />
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity by becoming<br />
an official event partner for the pre-hospital<br />
emergency service’s highly anticipated Bike4Life<br />
<strong>2022</strong> Ride Out and Festival...<br />
The event, which sees 3,500 bikers participate in a 23-mile<br />
convoy from Meole Brace in Shrewsbury to the home of<br />
Bike4Life, RAF Cosford, is due to take place on Sunday 24th<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2022</strong>. This year, the return of the event not only sees it<br />
officially mark its tenth anniversary, but the charity is pleased to<br />
announce that The RAC are official event partners for the <strong>2022</strong><br />
event.<br />
Pam Hodgetts, corporate partnerships manager for Midlands Air<br />
Ambulance Charity, said: “Bike4Life has been a key event in our<br />
fundraising events calendar for ten years. This year, we expect it<br />
to be bigger and better than ever.<br />
“Our aircrew frequently attend incidents involving bikers so to see<br />
them out in convoy, raising awareness of the work we do, is an<br />
unbelievable spectacle. We really appreciate the support of The<br />
RAC, whose crews also attend those in need of assistance at the<br />
roadside. By becoming an event partner, The RAC will kindly help<br />
cover event costs, meaning that we will be able to make even<br />
more lifesaving missions possible in the future.”<br />
Phil Ryan, business roadside managing director for The RAC,<br />
added: “Bikers are amongst the most vulnerable road-users<br />
and this important event highlights and recognises the vital role<br />
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity plays in bringing hospital level<br />
care to critically ill and injured patients every year.<br />
“We could not be happier to pledge our support yet again and<br />
hope bikers turn out in strong numbers to raise as much money<br />
as possible for the pre-hospital emergency service.”<br />
It costs just £10 to take part, with the proceeds helping to make<br />
missions possible for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. Numbers<br />
are strictly limited to 3,500 bikers and places are allocated on a<br />
first come first serve basis. To book, visit www.bike4lifefest.com<br />
To find out more about Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s vital,<br />
lifesaving work in your local area, visit the charity’s website<br />
www.midlandsairambulance.com<br />
Visit The RAC website for more information: www.rac.co.uk<br />
6 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
With support from<br />
BOOK NOW<br />
Sunday 24th <strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2022</strong><br />
Raising lifesaving funds for<br />
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity<br />
Book your tickets now at: bike4lifefest.com
ADAPTING<br />
TO A VERY<br />
DIFFERENT<br />
WORLD<br />
With the second anniversary of<br />
the beginning of the coronavirus<br />
pandemic approaching, how have<br />
boarding schools responded to the<br />
challenges created by COVID-19?<br />
Robin Fletcher, CEO of the<br />
Boarding Schools’ Association<br />
(BSA) and BSA Group, explains...<br />
It’s hard to believe we have been living in<br />
the shadow of coronavirus for nearly two<br />
years. During that time, every walk of life<br />
has had to change and adapt to the very<br />
different world we’re now living in.<br />
Boarding schools have been no<br />
exception. When the pandemic first hit,<br />
our schools quickly had to put in place<br />
strict hygiene protocols for pupil and<br />
staff safety, organise remote learning<br />
for students unable to return to the<br />
classroom due to international travel<br />
restrictions, and ensure pastoral support<br />
for students and staff, given the added<br />
pressures the pandemic would place on<br />
mental health and wellbeing.<br />
Despite the enormous work required, the<br />
whole boarding community acted swiftly<br />
to get these measures in place. Two<br />
years on, dealing with challenges created<br />
by the pandemic is part of the business<br />
model for every school, and will continue<br />
to be so while COVID-19 remains a<br />
threat.<br />
Throughout the pandemic, the primary<br />
concern for parents has always been the<br />
safety of their children. Boarding schools<br />
are unique in that they are their own selfcontained<br />
communities, so managing any<br />
COVID cases could be done more easily<br />
than in some environments. To support<br />
member schools in this, BSA created a<br />
COVID-Safe Charter, which they could<br />
sign up to voluntarily. This meant they<br />
could provide reassurance to parents<br />
and pupils that they had done everything<br />
they possibly could to ensure their<br />
safety. This was particularly important<br />
for international families who wanted to<br />
make sure the UK was a safe place for<br />
their children to be.<br />
COVID-19 has ushered remote learning<br />
much quicker than had ever been<br />
envisaged. With some students being<br />
unable to return to the UK while travel<br />
restrictions were in place, schools<br />
worked hard to ensure the technology<br />
worked for them to continue their studies<br />
without compromising the quality of their<br />
education.<br />
For BSA, online technology has also<br />
meant we have been able to deliver a<br />
comprehensive range of training to our<br />
members virtually. This has allowed us<br />
offer these sessions to many international<br />
members who would have been unable<br />
to participate had the training been run<br />
face-to-face.<br />
One of the great advances in recent years<br />
in boarding has been the development<br />
of pastoral care for students and<br />
staff. Dedicated members of staff with<br />
specialist expertise in wellbeing and<br />
mental health have been absolutely<br />
crucial during the pandemic, and<br />
provided vital support to students and<br />
staff separated from their families or<br />
struggling with COVID-related anxieties.<br />
While there are still challenges,<br />
particularly around overseas travel<br />
affecting international students, boarding<br />
schools have shown throughout the<br />
pandemic that they can respond quickly<br />
when a new situation arises, and will<br />
undoubtedly continue to do so.<br />
For more information, please visit:<br />
www.boarding.org.uk<br />
8 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
Exceptional Breadth | Individual Focus<br />
Open Morning<br />
Saturday 21 May <strong>2022</strong><br />
cokethorpe.org
gravy<br />
IT'S ALL<br />
FULLER’S PUBS HAVE TEAMED<br />
UP WITH LEGENDARY CHEF,<br />
BRIAN TURNER CBE, TO TELL<br />
THE STORY OF FULLER’S<br />
SUNDAY ROASTS AND ALL<br />
THE TOUCHES THAT MAKE<br />
THEM A CUT ABOVE THE<br />
REST. FROM CAREFULLY<br />
SOURCED INGREDIENTS<br />
TO PASSIONATE PEOPLE,<br />
FULLER’S PRIDE THEMSELVES<br />
ON DELIVERING EVERYTHING<br />
THAT MAKES A SUNDAY<br />
SPECIAL AND EVEN BETTER<br />
WHEN YOU CAN SHARE THESE<br />
MOMENTS WITH FAMILY<br />
AND FRIENDS. THAT’S WHY<br />
THEY’VE INTRODUCED SHARE<br />
SUNDAYS.<br />
WE CAUGHT UP WITH CHEF<br />
BRIAN TURNER TO FIND OUT<br />
MORE...<br />
How did you get involved with Fuller’s<br />
pubs, and what made you choose to<br />
carry on with it?<br />
The way I got into Fuller’s was quite<br />
easy. For 28-29 years I was the British<br />
president of the UK team of the Bocuse<br />
d’Or competition, which is a worldwide<br />
cooking competition in Leon in France.<br />
It was held every two years and then it<br />
became every year and I was the judge<br />
for the British team. And somebody<br />
managed to make a connection between<br />
Fuller’s and the Bocuse d’Or, wanting to<br />
help sponsor it. So that’s how I met the<br />
Fuller’s team. Listening to Fuller’s team,<br />
I was really enthused and excited by the<br />
way they approached their training of<br />
chefs.<br />
From what I understood, they want<br />
to do something great as far as Chef<br />
training is concerned?<br />
Well, the reality of course is quite simple;<br />
it is for the survival of the future of the<br />
hospitality industry, which has been<br />
amazingly good to me. And amazingly<br />
good to lots of people. And those that<br />
have taken the opportunity have actually,<br />
I believe, got a better way of life. Even<br />
if you get trained in the hospitality<br />
business. If you get trained to be a chef,<br />
and for whatever reason you need to<br />
leave the industry, it leaves you with<br />
life skills; knowing how to buy the right<br />
product from the right place at the right<br />
price, and then convert it to the right dish<br />
on a plate. And then eventually, if you<br />
leave the business, it’s a skill that you<br />
need at home.<br />
I remember when I was at school a<br />
long, long time ago, we had domestic<br />
science, which was two hours on a<br />
Wednesday afternoon. It was a good<br />
thing to do!<br />
It was even better in my day. I was at<br />
school in the 1950s and in those days<br />
when we got to the third year in grammar<br />
school, you had to choose a craft, a skill.<br />
For boys it was woodwork or metal work<br />
for girls needlework or cookery. I was one<br />
of the few in Yorkshire that said ‘I want to<br />
do cookery’. They said ‘no lad, you can’t<br />
do that!’. But I did. Elsie Bibby, the lady<br />
who taught cookery at the parish, after<br />
the first month would say, “Okay girls,<br />
let’s gather around Brian’s table because<br />
his is always the best”. I was hated by the<br />
girls, but loved by Elsie Bibby!<br />
Is that when you first started cooking<br />
or were you always interested in it?<br />
No, I was quite fortunate in that respect in<br />
that my father was conscripted and went<br />
to the Second World War and served<br />
in Belgium and he was drafted into the<br />
catering corps. When he came back he<br />
went back to his job in the Morley Co-op.<br />
It would appear, having read the history<br />
of Morley Co-operative society, that my<br />
father gained a bit of a reputation for<br />
being a bit of a whiz with the old food<br />
knowledge he picked up in the war. So<br />
he opened a transport cafe. He had four<br />
children with my mother in five years so<br />
consequently she was overworked. I was<br />
the eldest, so whenever he could my dad<br />
took me down to his cafe to get me out<br />
of my mums way! So add Elsie Bibby on<br />
top of that, I would say that’s how I really<br />
got started in the business.<br />
So what’s your first foodie<br />
memory then?<br />
As a young man I was in the Salvation<br />
Army; I used to play in their band. And<br />
they used to have a congress regularly<br />
where all the Salvation Armys around the<br />
area in Yorkshire would meet together<br />
and have a jolly old singsong. It was on a<br />
Sunday, but we had to eat so we had to<br />
go out. We had elders who helped. And<br />
they took us to an Italian restaurant where<br />
I ate food like I’ve never eaten before.<br />
So it was a very rare occasion and it was<br />
just so special. And we only managed to<br />
get to go there when we would do this<br />
congress.<br />
So what was your first job when you<br />
actually did go into kitchens proper, so<br />
to speak?<br />
Well, if we count the fact that I worked<br />
for my Dad in his transport cafe, so<br />
eventually all four of us used to go on a<br />
10 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
Saturday morning, leave my mother to<br />
have a rest at home, we would come to<br />
the café with my dad and then my dad<br />
when he closed at 11 o’clock would lock<br />
the doors from the outside. And he would<br />
say: “I’m just going to see a man about<br />
a dog”. We didn’t realise he meant The<br />
Dog and Hound pub next door! So we<br />
would then clean up the cafe and get it all<br />
ready so that Monday morning when you<br />
reopen it was bright and sparkling. For<br />
that we were rewarded; we were allowed<br />
to have one Blue Ribbon chocolate<br />
biscuit.<br />
What other projects are you getting<br />
stuck into lately?<br />
I run a competition called Future chef,<br />
which I think is part of which attracted<br />
Fuller’s because it is getting 11 to 16 year<br />
olds, getting them interested in where<br />
their food comes from. All the things<br />
that we have talked about, we’re trying<br />
to instil those because we’d like to do it<br />
earlier in life. But the education system<br />
doesn’t allow us to do that. What I don’t<br />
understand is that I suspect if you did a<br />
poll, that at least 50% of our MPs have<br />
children in school. They are then going<br />
to finish school and go to university and<br />
you need them to be healthy and have a<br />
proper functioning brain, which is what<br />
we teach kids with cooking. If you get the<br />
right balance of food, then you grow to<br />
be healthy.<br />
We run a scheme as well called Adopt<br />
a School for the Royal Academy where<br />
we send chefs into classrooms to try and<br />
teach young people about the palette<br />
and where food comes from and what<br />
to look for. So what we want to do is to<br />
stimulate. And I have to say we have a<br />
waiting list of schools as long as your<br />
arm. Once people have been in and done<br />
it, everybody gets on telling their mates!<br />
That’s fantastic, are you running that<br />
nationwide?<br />
Yes, we have a Northwest branch and we<br />
have a Scottish branch. But it is far more<br />
East London centric with the outposts,<br />
if you like, who do a great job. Because<br />
we don’t really want to send too many<br />
people from London to Scotland because<br />
it’s A) expensive, and B) it doesn’t help<br />
our carbon footprint. How it started was<br />
one gentleman whose daughter was at<br />
school in Putney and learning nothing<br />
about food and he was getting frustrated.<br />
“Well I’ll come and do it!” he said. So he<br />
did and it was as simple as that!<br />
My husband has only just got into<br />
cooking and now he’s into it in a big<br />
way. And I’m now not allowed in the<br />
kitchen!<br />
Well that’s the thing, you can share<br />
it around a bit now! You’d be gobsmacked<br />
the number of people, when I<br />
did the shows, that walk past, men by<br />
themselves, and they say: ‘Hi Brian. You<br />
saved my life because my wife passed<br />
away and I’ve suddenly nobody to cook<br />
for me”. It’s so gratifying to see this<br />
system actually works.<br />
Do you ever get a chance to eat out<br />
yourself?<br />
Yes, I do. I haven’t been out as much just<br />
recently. But certainly, it’s in my DNA if<br />
you like. I go out to lunches more than<br />
dinners these days. Then I can get home<br />
at a sensible time. But it’s keeping up<br />
with what’s going on. And there’s so<br />
many things that are changing these days<br />
and so many people that need supporting<br />
that the list of where to go is just getting<br />
bigger and bigger and bigger.<br />
Apart from James <strong>Mar</strong>tin who you’re<br />
very friendly with, do you have any<br />
other foodie heroes in your life?<br />
Well two of my heroes have sadly passed<br />
away, the Roux brothers. But then there’s<br />
the wonderful Raymond Blanc who is a<br />
foodie hero of mine. He’s a wonderful<br />
man and we have had some good times<br />
together. But let me just take you back<br />
a little bit; there was a guy called Eric<br />
Scamman, who taught me to make<br />
sauces at the Savoy Grill. I’ll never forget<br />
the words that he gave me, helping me<br />
understand how to make the right the<br />
right sauce. Then of course, Paul Bocuse;<br />
the great French chef of my era, who has<br />
also sadly passed away. He was a great<br />
contributor to all our lives.<br />
He influenced your cooking?<br />
Oh yes. The way I look at it is you know<br />
with music colleges when you come to<br />
do your examinations? They ask you to<br />
choose a piece of music that you want to<br />
play and you choose whatever you want<br />
to play, and you play. And then they say<br />
‘Right, that’s very good. Now, here’s a<br />
piece of music you’ve never seen. Play<br />
that’. You have to cite read it. I think<br />
that’s how we should look at cooking.<br />
We need people to be able to understand<br />
the basics of the classics, the French<br />
cuisine as I understood it. Once you’ve<br />
learned that you can go off on a tangent<br />
and you can cite read someone. I don’t<br />
wish to uplift Ready, Steady Cook too<br />
much, but that’s what that programme<br />
did. Here are some items, do something<br />
with them. Sometimes you did something<br />
phenomenal. People would say ‘Oh I<br />
must make that!’. Other times people<br />
would say ‘Oh, that looks rubbish. I’m<br />
not going to do that’. But in fact, the<br />
two principles were aligned with a music<br />
examination.<br />
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?<br />
You’re going to ask me for the dishes,<br />
which I won’t be able to tell you but<br />
many moons ago, I can’t remember<br />
when it was now, I was filming in Hong<br />
Kong. The food and beverage manager<br />
of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which<br />
was where we were staying, invited me<br />
to dinner one night after we had finished<br />
filming. We had dinner in the Mandarin<br />
Oriental overlooking Victoria Harbour<br />
in a Chinese restaurant called Manwah<br />
and that was probably the best meal<br />
I’ve ever had. I’ve been very fortunate to<br />
have some wonderful meals around the<br />
world in the houses of some great chefs.<br />
But I have also sat around the table with<br />
friends and just sat and eaten and you<br />
couldn’t ask for much more.<br />
What are your plans for this year?<br />
I think that Fuller’s Sunday lunchtime is<br />
going to take quite a bit of my time this<br />
year and I’m quite happy to devote my<br />
time to that. I think that certainly in winter<br />
times when you can go into a pub like<br />
Fuller’s and see a an open fire going…to<br />
me that suddenly tells you this is the time<br />
to sit down and eat and enjoy yourself<br />
and the company of others.<br />
To find your nearest Fuller’s pub and to<br />
book a table, please visit:<br />
www.fullers.co.uk/pubs/pub-finder<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 11
MARINATED<br />
LAMB LEG<br />
ROMANESCO<br />
WITH PICKLED<br />
WALNUTS<br />
After some Easter inspiration? We feature a few recipes<br />
courtesy of family-favourite brand Opies, that are set to<br />
be real crowd-pleasers with the entire family...<br />
SERVES: 6<br />
PREPARATION TIME: 30 minutes<br />
COOKING TIME: 30 minutes<br />
(plus overnight marinating time)<br />
ALLERGENS: Dairy<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
2kg lamb rump or boneless leg, portioned into equal pieces<br />
500g live natural yogurt<br />
25g fresh rosemary, leaves and stalks separated<br />
2 whole romanesco, leaves removed<br />
3 tbsp vegetable oil<br />
7 Opies Pickled Walnuts, 4 finely chopped and 3 halved for<br />
serving, plus 1 tbsp pickling liquid<br />
60ml olive oil<br />
500ml fresh lamb stock<br />
METHOD<br />
The night before, trim the fat from the lamb then mix with the<br />
yogurt and rosemary leaves. Cover and put in the fridge to<br />
marinate overnight.<br />
The next day, trim the stalk off a romanesco so that it sits<br />
upright on a board. Slice 5cm off each side with a bread knife<br />
(keep these off-cuts to make the couscous). Slice the rest of<br />
the romanesco into three thick slices. Repeat with the other<br />
romanesco. Oil a large, non-stick baking tray with 1 tbsp<br />
vegetable oil. Lay the romanesco slices in a single layer and<br />
drizzle with a little more vegetable oil. Season with salt and<br />
scatter over the rosemary stalks, ready to roast.<br />
Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Wipe the marinade off<br />
the lamb and season with sea salt. Heat 2 tbsp vegetable<br />
oil a large ovenproof frying pan. Fry the lamb until golden all<br />
over, then roast in the oven for 8-12 mins, depending on how<br />
rare you like it. Put the romanesco in the oven at the same<br />
time. Once the lamb is ready, remove from the oven, flip the<br />
romanesco slices over so they char on both sides, and cook<br />
for a further 10 mins. Cover and rest the lamb in the pan for<br />
10 mins.<br />
Finely chop or pulse the romanesco off-cuts in a food<br />
processor until they are the texture of couscous. Mix the finely<br />
chopped walnuts into the couscous with the olive oil, and<br />
season with salt.<br />
Meanwhile, simmer the stock in a wide saucepan with 1 tbsp<br />
of the walnut pickling vinegar from the jar for 10 mins until it<br />
forms a jus.<br />
Slice the lamb and serve with the romanesco slices, some<br />
couscous, half a walnut and the jus.<br />
www.opiesfoods.com<br />
12 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
CARAMEL &<br />
GINGER HOT<br />
CROSS BUN<br />
BREAD &<br />
BUTTER<br />
PUDDING<br />
Opies have taken the<br />
everyday Easter favourite<br />
- Hot Cross Buns - and<br />
transformed them into a<br />
delicious dessert with<br />
caramel and ginger.<br />
A decadent twist on<br />
a classic pudding!<br />
PREPARATION TIME: 20 minutes<br />
COOKING TIME: 35 minutes<br />
SERVES: 6<br />
ALLERGENS: Dairy, Eggs, Gluten<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
6 hot cross buns, sliced into 4<br />
3 large eggs<br />
300ml whipping cream<br />
300ml milk<br />
1 tsp vanilla extract<br />
75g golden caster sugar<br />
3 balls of Opies Stem Ginger with Syrup,<br />
finely chopped, syrup reserved<br />
3 tbsp Carnation caramel sauce<br />
TO SERVE:<br />
Fresh warm custard<br />
Some of the leftover caramel sauce<br />
METHOD<br />
Take a large oven dish that<br />
will fit 6 hot cross buns<br />
comfortably and arrange<br />
the sliced hot cross buns in<br />
the dish.<br />
In a large bowl whisk together the eggs,<br />
whipping cream, milk, vanilla extract,<br />
caster sugar and 2 tablespoons of the<br />
reserved stem ginger syrup.<br />
Pour the batter evenly over the hot cross<br />
buns. Scatter over the finely chopped<br />
stem ginger, cover and leave in the fridge<br />
for a couple of hours to allow the hot<br />
cross buns to absorb the mixture. You<br />
could also leave it overnight. Pre-heat the<br />
oven to 190°C / 170°C fan / gas 3.<br />
Drizzle over half of the carnation caramel<br />
sauce and cook in the oven for about<br />
30-35 minutes, until the custard is set but<br />
still retaining a slight wobble.<br />
Leave to cool slightly before serving<br />
with fresh custard and a little drizzle of<br />
caramel sauce.<br />
www.opiesfoods.com<br />
@OpiesFoods<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 13
GIVE YOUR<br />
KERB<br />
APPEAL A<br />
BOOST!<br />
WITH HELP FROM<br />
THE NEW TIMBER<br />
WINDOWS 'DOOR<br />
PORTFOLIO'<br />
YOU COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR<br />
THINKING THAT TIMBER WINDOWS JUST<br />
MANUFACTURE BEAUTIFUL WINDOWS,<br />
BUT TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AND YOU’LL SEE<br />
THAT THEIR PRODUCT RANGE EXTENDS TO<br />
ALL MANNER OF BEAUTIFUL DOORS TOO...<br />
Reassuringly solid, gorgeous,<br />
aesthetically pleasing doors are a<br />
speciality for Timber Windows. To<br />
showcase the options for the ultimate<br />
kerb appeal boost, the company has<br />
launched its latest brochure, the Door<br />
Portfolio. Now on its fourth edition, the<br />
Door Portfolio has been extended to<br />
feature 210 doors from happy customers<br />
all over the country, in all shapes, shades,<br />
sizes and styles.<br />
Previously only available in reference<br />
form to view while visiting one of the 45<br />
exquisite showrooms across England<br />
and Wales; Edition 4 of the Door Portfolio<br />
is also available in a handy takeaway<br />
format, so if the decision surrounding<br />
your new door needs a little more<br />
consideration, the browsing can continue<br />
from the comfort of the sofa!<br />
Take inspiration from previous customer<br />
choices by combining the Door Portfolio<br />
with their Inspirations magazine, and<br />
couple them with the Timber Windows<br />
‘Choices’ brochure to select ironmongery,<br />
glazing and colours, and create your very<br />
own dream door!<br />
Despite showing 210 doors, this is merely<br />
a snapshot of the range…the possibilities<br />
for design and personalisation are almost<br />
endless.<br />
Visit www.timberwindows.com to<br />
find your nearest showroom, browse<br />
the products in person, in a friendly,<br />
unpressured environment and pick up a<br />
copy of the new Door Portfolio too.<br />
14 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
Artis Bathrooms is an independent bathroom<br />
installation and design company, based in<br />
<strong>Cheltenham</strong>, covering the Cotswolds and<br />
surrounding areas.<br />
BEFORE<br />
We offer the complete professional service, from a free and<br />
full detailed quotation, to design and installation, that we<br />
can project manage throughout.<br />
AFTER<br />
With 18 years in the trade and a passion for design-led<br />
installations, the Artis Bathroom team strives for high quality<br />
workmanship and attention to detail, with minimal disruption<br />
on you, your home and your life to ensure the best possible<br />
service and customer experience.<br />
Whether you have an inspired idea, an installation-ready<br />
design or would just like to chat, please contact us on the<br />
telephone number or email address below. Alternatively,<br />
please fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you.<br />
M<br />
contact@artisbathrooms.com<br />
: www.artisbathrooms.com<br />
07540 585593<br />
V<br />
I<br />
BEFORE<br />
FAMILY RUN BUSINESS<br />
Culina+Balneo is very much a family company which<br />
specialises in bespoke designs for your chosen room, whether<br />
it being a bathroom, ensuite or even your kitchen. As well as<br />
<strong>Cheltenham</strong> we also have kitchen and bathroom showrooms<br />
located in Evesham, Malvern, Worcester, Solihull and<br />
Birmingham where you will find one of our specialist designers<br />
to assist you with your dream project.<br />
Whether you’re after a modern bathroom, a contemporary<br />
bathroom or a traditional style bathroom, we offer a<br />
comprehensive range of styles to suit all tastes.<br />
V 01242 511188<br />
AFTER<br />
M info@culina-balneo.com<br />
CULINA+BALNEO, 54 ANDOVER ROAD, CHELTENHAM, GLOS GL50 2TL<br />
16 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
BATHROOM<br />
BLISS<br />
How rethinking a layout and some luxury finishes can transform a<br />
dated family space. We caught up with homeowner Kate to find<br />
out how she made this little sanctuary<br />
Tiles: RAK Ceramics Fashion Stone in Ivory;<br />
Bath: RAK Cloud Freestanding Bath<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 17
The drying wall<br />
solution - hooks<br />
RAK Moon<br />
The sleek Lithe Audio Ceiling<br />
Mounted Bluetooth Speaker<br />
looks amazing paired with<br />
the flush shower head<br />
What were some of the obstacles you<br />
faced with this project?<br />
Firstly, the room is really small for a family<br />
bathroom! It measures 2.2m long by<br />
1.65m wide. Previously, I guess because<br />
of the small width, the bath was against<br />
the longer wall with the door - but it<br />
meant you basically walked into it as<br />
soon as you entered the room. By opting<br />
for a shorter bath, we were able to flip the<br />
orientation and create a space that feels<br />
much larger.<br />
What made you choose this design?<br />
I love the look of micro cement and<br />
Venetian plaster, but it was coming out<br />
at £130 per square metre. So when I<br />
found the Fashion Stone range at RAK<br />
Ceramics, I was thrilled - it’s exactly the<br />
warm stoney beige colour I was looking<br />
for and had a beautiful graduation<br />
of pattern through it that mimics the<br />
micro-cement. I also had the mosaic tiles<br />
installed in the shower niche - cement<br />
doesn’t allow for pattern, so I think it was<br />
the perfect option.<br />
I’ve wanted black taps since about 2016<br />
when I saw them on an Australian design<br />
show - I was so thrilled to find RAK also<br />
stock them. Most of the bathroom is<br />
kitted out with the Amalfi range, which<br />
has the most amazing textured finish - it<br />
looks and feels so luxurious.<br />
The basin tap feels so amazing - I read<br />
once that you should invest in the objects<br />
you touch everyday and this tap is<br />
honestly dreamy. The motion to turn it on<br />
is really slick - it’s the little things that add<br />
up to making a space feel luxurious.<br />
Is the shower over a freestanding bath?<br />
Yes - this design decision did cause<br />
some head scratching for the builder! I<br />
wanted the look of a free standing bath,<br />
especially because we knew we’d have<br />
to get a smaller one, so I thought why not<br />
emphasise it. The way we counteracted<br />
the water issue is to have a small wet<br />
room former tray in each corner behind<br />
the bath, and also to run the underfloor<br />
heating in this area to help dry out the<br />
splashes. So far, so good!<br />
The bath is an absolute beauty - it’s the<br />
RAK Cloud design and at a petite 1.4m,<br />
it was the perfect size. It is very heavy<br />
though, as it’s resin - so just bear that in<br />
mind when planning! The shape of it is<br />
unlike anything I’ve ever seen before - it<br />
really has a beautiful form and gorgeous<br />
curves. I love that it sits on a base.<br />
Did you have any tech installed?<br />
Yes - was a must for my partner. We’ve<br />
got the most beautiful shaver socket<br />
and dimmer switches from Corston<br />
Architectural Detail- the black bronze<br />
finish is so modern but also timeless. The<br />
switch outside controls the spotlights and<br />
then the LED strip lighting in the recess<br />
by the bath separately. The recess it sits<br />
in offers a handy space to put products<br />
for showering and was created by adding<br />
a shallow stud wall.<br />
Then there’s the Lithe Audio waterproof<br />
speaker in the ceiling - it looks amazing<br />
set against the inset circular RAK shower<br />
head too. It allows you to connect your<br />
phone or tablet wirelessly - amazing for<br />
watching movies in the bath or listening to<br />
the radio in the morning as you get ready<br />
for work. We will be using the same tech<br />
all synced up in the rest of the house.<br />
Finally, the loo! Who knew a toilet could<br />
be exciting, but this one is! The RAK<br />
Ceramics Des Rimless Close Coupled loo<br />
has a touch-less flush - super hygienic<br />
and very easy to clean - the battery life<br />
RAK Joy Wall Hung Vanity<br />
Unit with Built in Basin in<br />
Grey Elm - 600mm with<br />
Amalfi Basin Tap<br />
Corston Architectural<br />
Shaver Socket in bronze<br />
Before<br />
18 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
LAYOUT<br />
More than anything, it was the<br />
layout of this space that made it<br />
feel cramped. The bath protruded,<br />
meaning you all but knocked into<br />
it as you came in. You’d have to<br />
edge past the basin to get to the<br />
loo. By moving the loo and flipping<br />
the bath, the whole space is more<br />
open and that creates an amazing<br />
feeling of luxury.<br />
Below is the before and after of the<br />
layout. Thee door has also been<br />
flipped so you come into an open<br />
space, rather than side stepping.<br />
After<br />
WC<br />
lasts two years too! The toilet is also rimless inside, meaning<br />
there are fewer nooks and crannies for bacteria to live.<br />
BATH<br />
BASIN<br />
WINDOW<br />
Where’s the towel rail?<br />
Another one that confounded the builder a bit - again because of<br />
the size of the bathroom, I was worried about the projection of a<br />
towel rail into the room. My other half also only hangs his towels<br />
rather than folding them on a rail - so we came up with a different<br />
solution. The underfloor heating is electric and these wires can<br />
be (carefully) taken out of the matting - we asked the builder to<br />
cut grooves into the wall to accommodate the cables and tile<br />
over them - thus creating a warm wall. We then positioned hooks<br />
about 10cm clear of the top edge of the cables and the towels<br />
hang against a warm wall to speed drying.<br />
DOOR<br />
What’s the secret to a successful bathroom scheme?<br />
I think we are looking for bathrooms to feel like an escape - in<br />
line with that, lots of storage is essential - looking at clutter is<br />
not relaxing! Making more of a layout and maybe opting for<br />
smaller baths to maximise the feeling of space also helps. Our<br />
vanity unit is a floating one, helping the volume of furniture in<br />
the room to feel smaller.<br />
BATH<br />
STOCKIST INFORMATION:<br />
For tiles, bathroom furniture and taps:<br />
RAK Ceramics: www.rakceramics.com<br />
Find your nearest supplier here: www.rakceramics.com/uk/en/<br />
store-locator/united-kingdom<br />
WC<br />
WINDOW<br />
For light swtiches and sockets:<br />
Corston Architectural Detail: www.corston.com<br />
For audio Equipment:<br />
Lithe Audio: www.litheaudio.com<br />
DOOR<br />
BASIN<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 19
CJD Building and Roofing Contractors<br />
Established 35 years<br />
Extensions | New Builds | Renovations | Tiled Roofing | EPDM Roofing<br />
General Building | Groundworks and Landscaping<br />
Tel: 07825018061 or 07760 175565 | contact@cjdbuilding.co.uk<br />
www.cjdbuilding.co.uk<br />
The Cotswold Cabin Company design, build and install beautiful<br />
bespoke garden rooms<br />
From our free design consultation to installation, we work with you to bring to life your vision and<br />
create an inspiring and perfect space. Our mission is to deliver a project that fulfils your dream.<br />
In short, your ideal concept is designed, manufactured and installed to the highest standards.<br />
V<br />
M<br />
:<br />
07946 378323 or 07946 378319<br />
info@thecotswoldcabincompany.co.uk<br />
www.thecotswoldcabincompany.co.uk<br />
2 Athelney Way,<br />
<strong>Cheltenham</strong> GL52 6RT<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 21
Spring<br />
LANDSCAPING<br />
After winter’s long reign on your lawn, spring<br />
can’t come fast enough. You’re finally ready to<br />
transform your landscape. But first things first,<br />
you’ll first need to know how to prepare your yard<br />
for spring...<br />
DO YOUR RESEARCH<br />
Plan out your strategy for your landscaping in advance. Are<br />
you going to break it up in phases, or are you going to hire a<br />
landscape professional to help you plan? Ask for guidance from<br />
your local nursery or neighbours who’s gardens you admire! They<br />
can probably give you as good of advice as a professional.<br />
PLAN FOR MAINTENANCE<br />
Unlike a paint colour in your home, once it’s up you’re done,<br />
landscaping requires maintenance and care. From pulling weeds,<br />
watering and pruning, to occasional replacement of dead plants,<br />
etc… Plan what plants will suit your maintenance schedule.<br />
Consider hiring a professional gardener or lawn service to take<br />
care of your yard if necessary.<br />
CONTRAST WITH YOUR EXTERIOR HOME<br />
Your landscaping should be an enhancement of your exterior<br />
home. Choose plants that compliment or contrast the colors in<br />
your home as well as the architectural time period of your home.<br />
A modern and minimalist home may enjoy a modern Zen-inspired<br />
landscape, while a Victorian home may have quaint gardens and<br />
flowering areas that are typical for the Victorian era. Plan your<br />
outdoor landscaping to be in harmony with your exteriors.<br />
AFTER A DRIVEWAY? THE SECRET IS WHAT LIES BENEATH!<br />
Weed membrane – Lay this down over the bare ground before<br />
you lay the sub-base. A good quality one will stop the weeds<br />
growing and still allow water to past through.<br />
Sub-base – go as deep as you can on the sub-base, we would<br />
recommend 150mm.<br />
Gravel mats/gravel holders - Absolutely vital as they stop the<br />
gravel ‘travelling’. These are interlocking, plastic mesh, rigid<br />
square grids that lay on top of the MOT and then you rake all the<br />
gravel into them. They can’t be seen through the gravel, but they<br />
do a great job of keeping it all localised and in the same place.<br />
Edging – sometimes your driveway will be self-contained between<br />
walls, but if not, make sure you have good solid edges to contain<br />
the sub-base and the gravel. If you don’t do this, your driveway<br />
will start sprawling.<br />
Size is everything – There’s lot’s of great looking gravels to choose<br />
from these days but the golden rule is trying not to go less than<br />
20mm in size. Anything less will tend to get stuck in your car<br />
tyres tread or get walked into the home in your shoe tread.<br />
PROFESSIONAL<br />
LANDSCAPING SERVICES<br />
GSG Landscape Gardeners provide a range of landscaping<br />
services in the Gloucester, Cotswolds, <strong>Cheltenham</strong> and<br />
surrounding areas. With a range of packages to suit<br />
everybody from 3D render designs to complete design and<br />
build, we can work with you to design the perfect garden<br />
space.<br />
OUR SERVICES<br />
We have been providing exceptional landscaping services<br />
and transforming our customers outdoor spaces for over<br />
15 years. Our experienced landscapers set the standard<br />
each day in landscape design, paving, hard and soft<br />
landscaping. We provide a personalised service to meet<br />
the demands of the client.<br />
Drydock Way,<br />
Gloucester GL2 5FX<br />
T: 07772 045 703<br />
E: matt@gscapegardeners.co.uk<br />
www.gscapegardeners.co.uk<br />
22 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
060 Baltic_Layout 1 26/10/2021 11:10 Page 1
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
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24 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />
We are still pinching ourselves that you did<br />
such an amazing job on getting the house<br />
for us! You were so patient and flexible...and<br />
negotiated with excellent skill to get a better<br />
deal than we had hoped for! Thank you so<br />
much for all your hard work, and calming<br />
influence at such a stressful point in our<br />
lives….we could not be more delighted!<br />
By Katie Andrews
Quality care in<br />
<strong>Cheltenham</strong> you<br />
can trust<br />
When a family is thinking about care<br />
for a loved one, they want the best - they<br />
want to know that the care home they<br />
choose will put their loved one’s safety,<br />
happiness and wellbeing first...<br />
Care UK’s Sandfields care home in <strong>Cheltenham</strong> provides<br />
residential, dementia and nursing care, giving families peace of<br />
mind that their loved ones can stay living at the home should<br />
their needs change.<br />
<strong>Living</strong> at Sandfields is all about quality of life. Every colleague<br />
in the home is passionate about enabling residents to enjoy<br />
a fulfilling lifestyle, tailored around their unique needs and<br />
preferences. The lifestyle team organises a huge variety of group<br />
and one-to-one activities, with plenty going on each day.<br />
The team at Sandfields are proud to have achieved 88% in the<br />
recent relative survey, in fact 95% of families feel their loved<br />
ones are treated with kindness, respect and dignity^. Once their<br />
relative has settled into Sandfields they are able to focus on<br />
spending quality time with them again just enjoying each other’s<br />
company.<br />
With the extra support that our care home offers, new residents<br />
are often surprised at what they can do, whether that’s being able<br />
to continue with an activity they’ve enjoyed in the past, or even<br />
discovering new hobbies with our daily activities.<br />
Whether your loved one enjoys a quiet cup of tea in bed before<br />
starting the day, loves going for strolls in nature, or enjoys a chat<br />
over a beer, the team at Sandfields will spend time to enable<br />
them to continue living life the way they want to.<br />
Sandfields is part of award-winning provider, Care UK – one of<br />
the UK’s most successful care home operators* with over 35<br />
years’ experience of delivering high quality care to older people.<br />
Sandfields care home<br />
<strong>Cheltenham</strong> GL50 3EL<br />
care.uk.com/sandfields<br />
Email: laura.sayburn@careuk.com<br />
Tel: 01242 802590<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
*As rated by the Care Quality Commission in England and the Care<br />
Inspectorate in Scotland.<br />
^Care UK relative survey Aug/Sept 2021 – based on a sample of 13 relatives.<br />
Study operated by QRS <strong>Mar</strong>ket Research, an independent survey agency<br />
Foods to help<br />
reduce joint pain<br />
Benjamin Franklin was right when he said<br />
‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of<br />
cure’ – it is so important, no matter our age,<br />
that we adopt dietary and exercise habits that<br />
support strong bones and joints. Where there<br />
is pain, there is inflammation – so trying to<br />
avoid inflammation in the body is one of the<br />
first steps to take to eradicate pain...<br />
The underlying cause for inflammation may be due to a number<br />
of factors. Some common areas for consideration are:<br />
HORMONES: Some hormones are connected with the<br />
inflammatory response (examples include insulin, cortisol and<br />
oestrogen).<br />
FATS: The amount and type of fat in the diet is directly linked with<br />
inflammation, especially the essential fatty acids omega 3 and<br />
omega 6 (they are called essential because they have to come<br />
from our diet – we cannot manufacture them ourselves).<br />
DIGESTION: Our digestive system also has the power to mess<br />
about with inflammation in the body. If the digestive system is<br />
struggling then localised damage may occur in the gut leading<br />
to inflammation and food sensitivities (food sensitivities or<br />
intolerances are associated with the immune system, which in<br />
turn triggers inflammation).<br />
Eating to reduce inflammation:<br />
Make sure you get regular amounts of protein into your diet.<br />
Including protein in meals and snacks helps prevent sudden<br />
highs in blood sugar. Focusing on protein in this way is a good<br />
start in regulating hormone levels (including insulin, cortisol and<br />
oestrogen).<br />
Eat foods high in omega 3 fats. These fats are broken down<br />
into anti-inflammatory properties in the body. The best sources<br />
are oily fish (wild salmon, sardines, mackerel), ground linseeds,<br />
walnuts and green vegetables.<br />
Eat foods known to have anti-inflammatory properties (many<br />
foods have compounds that work in the same way as ibuprofen!).<br />
These include beetroot, ginger, turmeric and dark red and blue<br />
berries.<br />
Consider avoiding foods that you think may be contributing to<br />
your pain and monitor what happens. The most common foods<br />
here are gluten (found in wheat, barley and rye), dairy products,<br />
eggs, soy, nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, aubergine),<br />
and foods high in the substance lectin (beans, pulses, grains,<br />
nuts, seeds).<br />
26 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
Advertisement Feature<br />
Live every day your way<br />
at Sandfields care home<br />
When your loved one moves into a Care UK care home they are<br />
supported to live life in the way they choose.<br />
At Sandfields their team find<br />
out all they can about your<br />
loved one’s preferences and<br />
wishes and create a care and<br />
lifestyle plan that’s tailored to<br />
their unique needs.<br />
Care UK believe that moving<br />
into a care home is just another<br />
part of later life, and they<br />
strive to make every day<br />
fulfilling and fun. They support<br />
your loved one to continue<br />
doing the things they love,<br />
from light tasks around the<br />
home to enjoying regular<br />
outings and entertainment,<br />
or hobbies like baking, knitting,<br />
singing or gardening.<br />
Sandfields recently hosted a<br />
chocolate and prosecco night,<br />
where The Steeplechase Cafe<br />
turned into a scene like Charlie<br />
and the Chocolate Factory.<br />
Residents from around the<br />
home got their Golden Ticket<br />
and enjoyed a variety of<br />
different chocolate treats,<br />
fresh fruit, waffles, together<br />
with a glass of bubbly.<br />
Another highlight has been<br />
the return of accessible<br />
yoga. Residents enjoyed<br />
getting active, stretching<br />
and increasing mobility in the<br />
seated session with instructor<br />
Sarah. One resident says,<br />
“The activities offered are<br />
a physical and social benefit.”<br />
Sandfields understands how<br />
important it is to stay in touch<br />
with friends and family outside<br />
of the home, so they have<br />
recently purchased a Facebook<br />
portal to enhance the residents<br />
and relative’s communications.<br />
If you’re considering care,<br />
call Laura on 01242 802590<br />
or email<br />
laura.sayburn@careuk.com<br />
Sandfields care home<br />
<strong>Cheltenham</strong> GL50 3EL<br />
careuk.com/sandfields
RETIRE<br />
in style<br />
The very nature of retirement has<br />
shifted dramatically in just a single<br />
generation - no longer is it the final<br />
few years of life after work - it is a new<br />
chapter and as such retirees are looking<br />
for accommodation that meets their<br />
needs and matches their aspirations for<br />
this new phase of life...<br />
In recent years, there has been a growing<br />
trend for luxury retirement living, with<br />
people choosing to downsize from their<br />
family home. There are a myriad of<br />
reasons for this big move; perhaps your<br />
children have long flown the nest, and<br />
the thought of having a smaller home to<br />
maintain is enticing, you might be on the<br />
edge of retirement and looking for a fresh<br />
start, or your partner might have recently<br />
passed away. We caught up with some<br />
people who had recently made the move<br />
to find out about their big decision...<br />
For June and Tony Prince (in their early<br />
seventies), the choice was heralded by<br />
visiting some friends who had recently<br />
moved into a retirement complex. June<br />
commented “I was struck first and<br />
foremost by the facilities - from walking<br />
from the car to my friend’s door, she<br />
pointed out a wellness suite with a spa<br />
and gym, a small shop, a hairdresser and<br />
a lovely lounge. Getting older can mean<br />
the closing of certain circles of your life,<br />
but I just couldn’t believe how much was<br />
readily available on the doorstep! That<br />
feeling continued when we went into her<br />
home - the apartment was obviously<br />
smaller than her last home, but the<br />
proportions were lovely and it was just<br />
so sophisticated. I could immediately see<br />
myself living there.”<br />
June highlighted one of the main<br />
attractions of those homes - they are<br />
already well maintained. There isn’t the<br />
worry of having to keep the garden tidy,<br />
or keeping everything in working order<br />
because the maintenance is usually built<br />
into the model, as the developers realise<br />
people don’t want the responsibility as<br />
they get older. Managers and estate<br />
teams are on hand to even help provide<br />
domestic help, including household<br />
cleaning and even shopping!<br />
Retirement accommodation is purposebuilt<br />
with the older person in mind, so<br />
the homes are easily accessible by all.<br />
They are built for comfort and ease, such<br />
a plug sockets at waist height and even<br />
accessible places to charge mobility<br />
scooters! Not only that, there is often a<br />
support network available, so if you do<br />
need extra care or help with something,<br />
care packages can be arranged.<br />
For Frank Turner (late seventies), the<br />
move was motivated in part by the<br />
passing of his wife, “It wasn’t until a<br />
few years after my wife Helen passed<br />
away that I realised quite how isolated<br />
I’d become - rarely venturing out and<br />
actually losing touch with friends. It<br />
was my son who showed me round a<br />
development nearby his house and the<br />
sense of community really captured me. I<br />
was sad to leave the family home and all<br />
the memories there, but I carry them with<br />
me in my heart and have instead found a<br />
new lease of life thanks to the new friends<br />
I’ve made.”<br />
Frank’s desire for company is an oftsought<br />
part of this move - retirement<br />
villages allow the resident to become<br />
a part of a community of like-minded<br />
people, with a much wider social network<br />
available. This is especially useful if you<br />
are perhaps moving to a new area to be<br />
closer to your children, but also equally<br />
useful to make new friends and start new<br />
hobbies in your retirement. There are<br />
often plenty of regular events to take part<br />
in, so you will never be short of company!<br />
Another huge incentive for moving to a<br />
retirement village is that the homes come<br />
with top safety and security measures,<br />
often including sensor lighting, alarms<br />
and camera entry system. This is<br />
particularly reassuring, both whilst you<br />
are in your home but also if you have<br />
popped out or go away. David and Sandy<br />
Williams (late sixties) found that their<br />
move was motivated by this desire for<br />
a ‘lock up and leave’ home. David said<br />
“Sandy and I had always anticipated<br />
using our early retirement to travel. We<br />
wanted longer trips away, but without<br />
the worry of security back home. It was<br />
anxiety brought on by a trip a few years<br />
earlier, where we’d returned home to a<br />
frozen pipe-induced flood. We can leave<br />
our new bungalow safe in the knowledge<br />
that the property is ticking over under<br />
careful watch.”<br />
Stephen and his wife Susan took the big<br />
leap for another reason; “after Stephen<br />
suffered a quite debilitating fall, our<br />
two-up two-down house just presented<br />
a nightmare for his mobility - he was<br />
even living in the sitting room for a time”<br />
said Sandy. “His short term memory was<br />
also affected, so leaving him alone in the<br />
house became harder. I wanted to live<br />
somewhere that gave me the peace of<br />
mind that Stephen could exist happily in<br />
the space, his mobility issues considered<br />
and be safe even if he did wander out of<br />
the house. I wasn’t ready to annex my<br />
social life completely either and having<br />
everything close-by means I can indulge<br />
in my hobbies on a daily basis, a lot of<br />
the time with Stephen too - it’s been the<br />
best decision we’ve made in years.”<br />
Different companies have different<br />
structures within the retirement<br />
complexes, so it is worth looking around<br />
a few to see which one best fits your<br />
needs. Some are energy efficient, some<br />
have guest suites, landscaped gardens, a<br />
house manager and even a homeowner’s<br />
lounge, where all residents on site can<br />
get together. Others offer several upscale<br />
care home options, including assisted<br />
living, nursing, residential and even<br />
dementia care.<br />
We recommend making a list of what<br />
you are looking for both in terms of<br />
accommodation and facilities in your next<br />
dwelling before you begin your search for<br />
the next chapter!<br />
28 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk
The lifestyle<br />
communities boasting<br />
living solutions that<br />
your parents will love<br />
Award-winning later living specialist,<br />
Rangeford Villages, creates inclusive and<br />
dynamic lifestyle communities for the<br />
over 60s within safe, secure and beautiful<br />
surroundings.<br />
Latest statistics by Age UK reveal that a staggering 1.4 million<br />
elderly people felt lonely during Christmas. Loneliness amongst<br />
older demographics is however not just seasonal, but one of<br />
modern society’s key issues all year round.<br />
Sue Styles from North Yorkshire was becoming increasingly<br />
concerned about her mother Mrs Le Page, who lived in a large<br />
house that had been in the family for over 50 years. The idea of<br />
her mother joining a lifestyle community with an abundance of<br />
activities and onsite amenities sounded appealing.<br />
She comments: “My main concern was the fact that my mother<br />
lived far out of any village and a long way from any shops. She<br />
was very dependent on other people and I couldn’t always be<br />
there for her due to the distance.<br />
“When I first suggested to my mother to move to a retirement<br />
property, she initially resisted, she gradually came to realise that<br />
it made sense to move. When people ask me what to consider<br />
when helping your parents downsize, I stress that encouraging<br />
your parents to move before they are too old is most important.”<br />
Lifestyle Investment<br />
Combining future-proof homes with maintenance-free gardens<br />
and external upkeep, buying at Rangeford Villages is a lifestyle<br />
investment that offers residents the freedom to live life on one’s<br />
own terms. Rangeford’s communities have so much more to<br />
offer than just a home. At the heart of each village is The Pavilion,<br />
where residents can come together when they please to join in<br />
with the many activities, events and hobby groups on offer.<br />
Facilities at every village Pavilion are like a five-star hotel with the<br />
wellbeing centre which could include a swimming pool, hydro<br />
pool, sauna, steam room, gym, bistro and bar, cinema room,<br />
activity rooms and a hair and beauty salon. A guest suite is also<br />
available so friends and family can visit, and all villages are pet<br />
friendly.<br />
To discover more about Rangeford Villages visit<br />
www.rangefordvillages.co.uk<br />
ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />
NEW RETIREMENT APARTMENTS FOR SALE<br />
More time for<br />
the moments that<br />
matter...<br />
TAILORED<br />
FOR YOU<br />
Move sooner than<br />
you think with our<br />
Home Exchange *<br />
Service<br />
...with fewer maintenance<br />
worries<br />
From talking to our Customers, we know<br />
that maintenance worries are one of the<br />
top reasons Owners decide to move. With<br />
Churchill you can enjoy your retirement<br />
without the concerns that often come with<br />
maintaining a larger property.<br />
LODGE MANAGER • GUEST SUITE FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY • LIFT • LANDSCAPED GARDENS • OWNERS' LOUNGE<br />
*T&C’s apply. Visit our website to find out more.<br />
CHELTENHAM<br />
Lewis Carroll Lodge, St <strong>Mar</strong>garet’s Road GL50 4FH<br />
Open Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm<br />
01242 802839<br />
churchillretirement.co.uk/lewis-carroll-lodge<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 29
Exclusive over 60’s living<br />
Our terrace was a blessing during<br />
the lockdown. We used it almost<br />
every day, whenever the weather<br />
was nice to get some fresh air<br />
and enjoy the views. The whole<br />
apartment feels very modern and<br />
spacious, it’s really well designed.<br />
Graham & Diana, residents at Rangeford Villages<br />
CHOOSE WHEN YOU MOVE<br />
You’re in control, with 95%* Home Exchange<br />
At Rangeford Villages we offer a tailored approach to senior living. Join a thriving, friendly<br />
community and a vibrant village atmosphere in beautifully landscaped surroundings.<br />
Enjoy an event programme with something for everyone and facilities including our relaxing<br />
dining destination and full spa amenities. Discover our superbly appointed 1, 2 and 3<br />
bedroom apartments today!<br />
SIDDINGTON PARK, CIRENCESTER | WADSWICK GREEN, CORSHAM<br />
Find out more today 0800 1357420<br />
or visit www.rangefordvillages.co.uk<br />
*Home Buying Service offer and buying incentives equivalent up to 95% of market value, subject to<br />
home valuations and legal completion by 30th June <strong>2022</strong>. Please ask our sales advisors for details.<br />
20289 RV_Siddington Park_Full Pg Ad_165x240mm.indd 1 04/02/<strong>2022</strong> 09:18