Ludlow Lifestyle Jul - Aug 2022

Are you worried about 

a men’s health problem? 

At Nuffield Health Hereford Hospital, we’re proud to offer a wide range 

of men’s health treatments. 

Many conditions that affect men’s health happen gradually and can sometimes 

go unnoticed. A problem may start as a minor niggle, and before you know 

it you’ve learned to live with it, putting any concerns aside as you get on with 

your life. 

We are proud to offer a wide range of treatment and advice to men of all ages. 

From vasectomies to prostate treatment – whatever your health worries, you 

can contact us for help and support. 

Call 0300 131 1429 

Visit nuffieldhealth.com/hereford 

Email Hereford.Enquiries@nuffieldhealth.com 

@NuffieldHealthHerefordHospital 

@NHHerefordHosp 

Nuffield Health Hereford Hospital 

Venns Lane, Hereford, HR1 1DF

One less thing 

to worry about 

When you have health concerns, the last thing you 

want to think about is how much treatment could cost. 

That’s why we offer a range of easy payment options, 

designed to suit all kinds of finances and budgets. 

To find out more, visit nuffieldhealth.com/waystopay 

Search Nuffield Health Hereford Hospital 

or call 0300 131 1429 

Nuffield Health. Specialists in you.

C O N T E N T S 

A NOTE 

from the editor 

16 

DISHES FROM RAYMOND 

I sit writing this in the most 

bucolic of settings - we are 

lucky in that our offices are 

within farmlands (we are 

actually housed in a former 

hen shed - we say that’s why 

we sometimes run around 

like headless chickens). 

From my desk, I get to 

watch the seasons change - 

we welcomed the swallows 

who put on the most 

wonderful of shows - and 

only occasionally knocking 

into the windows during 

their frenzied activity! 

06 

COMPETITIONS 

We are really looking forward 

to the warmer months, 

and this issue is certainly 

a celebration of that. We 

caught up with French 

chef Raymond Blanc and 

were lucky to have a really 

insightful chat with him 

about the British food scene 

and his love of teaching - we 

also managed to nab some 

recipes from his latest book. 

14 

RAYMOND BLANC 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie@minervapublications.co.uk 

Assistant Editor Kate Norris 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Pre Press Manager Rebecca Rose 

Contributors 

Matthew Biggs, Angela Cave, 

Louise Thomson, Pete Lawrence 

FOR ADVERTISING 

Account Manager Lynda Shipton 

e lynda@minervapublications.co.uk 

t 01225 984497 

Cover image courtesy of OKA oka.com 

4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

HOME & GARDEN 

22 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS 

Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm, 

Hilperton BA14 6JB 

t 01225 984 550 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk 

Printed on sustainably sourced paper. 

Please recycle this copy or pass it along 

when you are finished for someone else 

to enjoy. 

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. 

We’ve also got some 

fabulous editorial aimed 

at getting the house up 

together for the summer 

months - with a range of 

projects both large and 

small to create that home 

you’ve always coveted. It 

can be really daunting, but 

ever so rewarding to refresh 

the spaces in your home - so 

we have a range of projects 

to consider. 

We hope you enjoy this 

edition - look out for the next 

one in September, when we 

will be hoping for an Indian 

Summer, and shining our 

shoes for a new school year. 

Until then, school’s out! 

Katie

SUMMER OF SPORT 

FROM 23 RD JULY 

A CHAMPION DAY OUT 

Book now at SVR.CO.UK or call 01562 757 900 

Discovering Dragonflies Session 2 - 

An Introduction to Dragonfly & Damselfly Identification 

Saturday 9th July 10am - 4pm - £15 per person 

The second of two workshops run 

by Shropshire County Dragonfly 

Recorder Sue Rees Evans, aimed at 

beginners. 

This day will focus on the 

identification of both damselflies 

and dragonflies. The morning 

classroom workshop will introduce 

Discovering Bees and Wasps 

Session 2: Solitary Wasps 

10am - 2pm - £15 per person 

us to those diagnostic features 

used in identification and interactive 

exercises will enable us to recognise 

these on some individuals. 

Following lunch we head outside 

around the centre ponds and River 

Onny putting our new identification 

skills to the test. 

Join Meadows Ranger and Bee and 

Wasp expert, Ian Cheeseborough as 

you learn about the lifecycles of our 

local bees and wasps. Session 2 - 

Solitary Wasps. 

Ian will introduce you to solitary 

wasps as you learn about their 

nesting habits and prey choices. 

Find out about the species that have 

been recorded here at the Centre 

over the years and see what you can 

find in a walk around the site. 

Flicks in the Sticks Film – Downton Abbey A New Era (PG) 

Friday 30th September - £5.50/adult, £3.50/child and £16/family 

The Crawley family goes on a grand 

journey to the South of France to 

uncover the mystery of the dowager 

countess’s newly inherited villa. 

Film starts at 7pm. Sit down meal, 

refreshments and bar from 6pm. 

Booking essential, call 

01588 676 060 

shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk 

Just off the A49 in Craven Arms 

Open daily 10 to 5 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 5

COMPETITION 

To enter any (or all!) of our competitions, head to 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk/competitions. 

Find the competition and enter on that post, 

using the appropriate keyword. 

T&C’s apply and no cash alternatives available. Winners chosen at 

random - entries made after closing date will not be accepted. 

WIN 

A HOTEL 

STAY FOR 

TWO! 

Ready to relax, recharge and 

recuperate? Soon you could 

be enjoying some ‘you’ 

time, with the chance to 

win an incredible weekend 

away with spa treatments. 

We’ve teamed up with The 

QHotels Collection, to give one 

of our lucky readers an exclusive 

staycation for two people at a spa 

hotel within the collection. 

With 17 gorgeous spa hotels across the UK, 

you’ll be able to leave your worries behind 

at the likes of historic hideaway, Slaley 

Hall - nestled deep in the serene North- 

East landscape, or Crewe Hall, set in eight 

acres of stunning grounds in the peaceful 

Cheshire countryside, with its lavishly 

decorated historic pile dating back to the 

17th century. Also in the collection, Norton 

Park, set in a blissful parkland just outside 

historic Winchester and Oulton Hall, Spa & 

Golf Resort very accessible to Leeds city 

centre, while set within the rolling Yorkshire 

countryside. 

This incredible prize includes two night’s 

stay with breakfast, plus a two-course dinner 

and a spa treatment for two people. 

For a full list of The QHotels Collection spas, 

visit: www.qhotels.co.uk/our-spas/ 

Closes 15/09/2022 - 

Competition keyword: ‘RELAX’ 

WIN 

A CBD 

BEAUTY BOX 

WORTH 

£77.99 

The MotherSage CBD Beauty Box is an ‘Evolution in Skincare’ 

featuring a fantastic collection of the very best quality, legally 

registered, natural cannabinoid-based skincare products, in a 

beautiful gift box. Each contains their Anti-Cellulite and Slimming 

Gel, Body Butter, Bath Salts and Body Oil. 

They can be used individually or as part of a treatment regime 

ensuring the full range of benefits inspired by Mother Earth’s 

natural ingredients are used to ‘Soothe Your Soul’. Retailing 

at just £77.99 each, we have four fabulous MotherSage CBD 

Beauty Box’s to giveaway to four lucky readers. 

www.hir.global/collections/mothersage 

Closes 15/09/2022 - Competition keyword: ‘MOTHERSAGE’ 

Family run, online blinds 

retailer BlindsbyPost is 

offering you the chance 

to refresh your home and 

spruce up any room with the 

opportunity to win fabulous 

new blinds. The £200 voucher 

works across the website, 

giving you the opportunity to 

choose from the huge variety 

of blinds available. 

From motorised blinds 

which can modernise your windows and 

make them an integral part of a smart home, 

and blackout blinds for complete peace and 

relaxation to aid sleep, to versatile, functional and 

affordable roller blinds, and wooden venetian blinds which add 

a stylish touch to any room, the options really are endless. One 

lucky reader will win a £200 voucher to spend online. Find the 

full T&Cs on the Minerva website. 

www.blindsbypost.co.uk 

Closes 15/09/2022 - Competition keyword: ‘BLINDS’ 

WIN 

A £200 

ONLINE 

VOUCHER 

WITH 

BLINDSBYPOST 

WIN 

A STAY 

FOR 2 IN A 

BOUTIQUE 

LONDON 

HOTEL 

Win a night’s stay for 

two in Holmes Hotel. 

Located on London’s 

iconic Chiltern Street in 

the heart of Marylebone 

Village, Holmes Hotel is a 

chic boutique hotel that 

blends a unique sense 

of Baker Street heritage 

with contemporary style 

and luxury. 

On the doorstep of the crème de la crème of 

Marylebone’s shopping, cultural and dining 

destinations, it is the perfect base from which 

to explore the city. 

One lucky reader will win this fabulous stay. 

www.holmeshotel.com 

Closes 15/09/2022 - Competition keyword ‘HOL,MES’ 

WIN 

A HENRY 

VACUUM 

CLEANER! 

Reliable classic brand Henry has brought out 

two new offerings in the home. Henry Pet has 

all the great features of the Henry you know 

and love, with the added bonus of extra pet 

friendly features. Ready to remove stubborn pet 

hairs and reduce lingering pet odours, Henry Pet 

will become (almost) as important a part of the 

family as the furry-friends he’s cleaning up after. 

Awarded the British Allergy Foundation Seal of 

Approval, Henry Allergy is scientifically proven 

to reduce exposure to dust and pet-related 

allergens around the home. 

We have one of each of these amazing vacuum cleaners to give 

away – specify the one you’d like to win with the Keyword ‘Henry 

Pet’ or ‘Henry Allergy’. 

www.myhenry.com 

Closes 15/09/2022 - Competition keyword: 

‘HENRY PET or HENRY ALLERGY’ 

6 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk

Good to be 

back… In full 

steam for 2022! 

ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Enjoy some amazing sights and 

sounds at Shrewsbury Steam Rally... 

The County of Salop Steam Engine Society has confirmed that 

the 2022 Rally will take place at Onslow Park, Shrewsbury on 

the August Bank Holiday, - Sunday 28th August and Monday 

29th August. 

Edward Goddard, Chairman of the Society said: “We are 

delighted to hold what promises to be an exciting Shrewsbury 

Steam Rally in the lovely setting of Onslow Park, near 

Shrewsbury where people can relax and ‘enjoy some freedom’ 

after the recent restrictions. It’s good to be back! The event 

will showcase over 1000 exciting exhibits; and the highlyentertaining 

variety of attractions will include the wonderful 

spectacle of working tractors, steam engines, and beautifully 

preserved classic vehicles from yesteryear, all to delight visitors 

to the popular annual family event. We welcome friends and 

families to come along and enjoy a super two-day event- that 

includes a 60th Anniversary Celebration – with tickets are on sale 

now online at www.shrewsburysteamrally.co.uk. 

This year there will be a Sentinel Spectacular, celebrating the 

locally produced products manufactured at the Sentinel Works, 

in Whitchurch Road, Shrewsbury; which included everything 

from buses and steam wagons to railcars and steam trains!” 

In the main arena, spectators can also enjoy moving convoys of 

historic commercial vehicles, including buses and fire engines; 

vintage cycles; working horses; vintage tractors; pre-and post 

World War II cars; classic motorcycles; and perambulators... with 

all entrants invited to be in period costume. 

The Rally covers 45 acres of beautiful parkland, with 6 acres of 

Trade Stands. The Rally hosts a variety of preserved commercial 

vehicles, that includes lorries, buses, fire engines and a large 

display of military vehicles. The Olde Time Fair offers lots 

of fun, with steam-powered rides for all - accompanied by 

vintage fairground music. Finally there are some excellent 

miniature steam engines, and a Craft Marquee - which gets 

bigger each year! The family-friendly event provides some 

enjoyable entertainment with a full Arena Programme on both 

days, including the highly-popular and majestic cavalcade of 

Showman’s engines, traction engines, steam rollers and steam 

cars. Spectators can enjoy the annual highly-popular interactive 

display of birds of prey. 

Enjoy the Sights, Sounds & Smell of Steam 

SHREWSBURY STEAM RALLY 

Sun~Mon 

28 th ~ 29 th 

AUGUST 

Bank Holiday 

OVER 1,000 THINGS TO SEE AND DO 

www.ShrewsburySteamRally.co.uk 

TICKETS AVAILABLE 

ONLINE 

WEEKEND CAMPING 

(Pre-Book Only) 

A Great Day Out 

F o r All The Family 

Tel: 01938 570874

STYLISH 

stays 

THE ATLANTIC HOTEL 

Jersey, UK 

These days, travelling abroad has largely 

returned back to normal. There is no 

requirement to test or isolate, however 

if like me, you still feel a slight hesitancy 

in jumping on a 5+ hour flight to the med 

this summer, then you might find that 

Jersey makes a wonderful alternative. 

Flights with Blue Island (servicing the 

Channel Islands since 2006) are available 

from many airports across the UK, and in 

our case, traveling from Bristol to Jersey 

meant a flight time of less than an hour. 

No sooner were we in the air was there the 

announcement from the pilot that we were 

landing shortly. Amazing. 

A mere six minute taxi journey took us 

to our destination; The Atlantic Hotel. 

Situated in the parish of St Brelade on 

the west coast of Jersey, the hotel is 

surrounded by breathtaking coastal views 

as far as the eye can see. Our ocean 

view room gifted us scopes of the golden 

sands of St Ouen’s Bay and the Atlantic 

ocean. With the sun beaming, who needs 

the med we thought! 

There is a timeless elegance to the feel 

of The Atlantic Hotel. Being situated right 

along the bay, every room you step into 

is bathed in light, and this continues right 

out into the Ocean Restaurant. I must 

admit, I was extremely eager to sample 

the menu. Since 2017 Chef Will Holland 

has been putting together menus at The 

Atlantic Hotel that celebrate the very best 

that the land and the sea have to offer, so 

we knew we were in for a treat. And he 

didn’t disappoint. Each course had us in 

a state of wonder. Every element on the 

plate was so well thought out, so well 

pared, and so beautifully presented. With 

one Michelin Star under his belt before the 

age of 30, it certainly won’t be long before 

Will Holland earns his next one under the 

The Atlantic Hotel. Watch this space. 

The breakfast menu continues the superb 

culinary offerings at The Atlantic Hotel, 

with a wide selection of cooked breakfast 

options, as well as a full continental spread 

available. If the weather is good you 

are able to take your dining experience 

outside beside the pool, which I would 

fully recommend as a gorgeous way to 

start your day. 

Ditch your passport (you don’t need one 

to fly to Jersey from the UK!), and book 

yourself in to The Altantic Hotel this 

Summer. You won’t regret it. 

Ocean View rooms available from 

£320 per night 

www.theatlantichotel.com 

THE CHEVAL COLLECTION 

London 

The Cheval Collection boasts a beautiful 

collection of serviced apartments, 

townhouses and penthouses in some of 

London’s most desirable neighbourhoods, 

as well as three beautiful properties in 

Edinburgh. On a recent trip to sample 

the best of London’s new exhibitions, 

we were delighted to stay at the Cheval 

Knightsbridge. 

Our location was unrivalled – the 

apartment being literally steps from The 

Victoria and Albert Museum and The 

Natural History Museums, and of course 

moments from the best of Knightsbridge’s 

luxury shopping. 

Cheval Knightsbridge opened in March 

2020 as a luxury all-apartment residence, 

following two years of full-scale multimillion 

pound refurbishments, and 

features 98 beautifully appointed one, 

two and three bedroom apartments, as 

well as three spectacular five-bedroom 

penthouses on the upper floors, aptly 

named Gloucester, Cromwell and 

Kensington. 

Our home for the weekend was a 

gorgeous Deluxe Three Bedroom 

Apartment, complete with a kitchen and a 

resplendent living area – it’s ideal if you are 

staying for a few nights and fancy winding 

down away from the city bustle. We were 

escorted to the door by a member of the 

team – pleasantly surprised to find out that 

our front door stepped onto the famous 

Brompton Road – we could stay for a 

month in this location and not manage to 

sample all the wonderful eateries on the 

doorstep. 

The Cheval Collection provides all the 

comforts of luxury city living with the 

convenience of a full concierge service 

just a phone call away. It really is a special 

treat for your next trip to the big smoke. 

Whether you are staying for a night or a 

month, it really does feel like an elevated 

home from home. 

Luxury Two Bedroom Apartments from 

£650 per night 

www.chevalcollection.com 


Contemporary jewellery, designed and made 

on the premises. Commissions undertaken. 

Tel: 01584 810085 

18 Market Square | Tenbury Wells | Worcs | WR15 8EA 

www.georginafranklin.co.uk 

DISCOVER CHÂTEAU LOU CASTEOU 

Set in the beautiful French Cote d’Azur countryside, minutes from the sea. These Luxurious Retreats provides the perfect balance of gourmet 

meals, pampered luxury, energetic fitness classes, Latin dance sessions and outdoor activities including coastal treks, tennis, boxercise, 

aqua-gym, circuit training, yoga, sea kayaking and beach workouts, to help guests improve their fitness level or kick start a regime. 

Retreats include 5 days of luxury accommodation in the chateau in en-suite bedrooms with sea or mountain views. 

Meals are fabulous, nutritious and elegant 3 course dinners, quality open bar and evening parties and entertainment. 

Please contact Morag@Loucasteou.com with questions and for reservations. www.loucasteou.com 

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 9 

MMBaxterWT235.indd 1 17/11/2021 09:30

Which nursery is right for you? 

You have your lovely baby and plan to go back to work shortly. You want 

them to go to a nursery to have a wide range of friends and quality learning 

and development experiences. But how do you go about choosing the right 

place for you and your precious bundle? 

KEEP LOCAL 

Initially look for a nursery close to where 

you live or work, depending on your 

circumstances. 

Check out your local authority’s website 

which will list nurseries in your area. 

Ask your family, friends and neighbours 

about their recommendations and where 

their children went. Do some research 

using your local social media groups. 

Visit a few nurseries before making such 

an important decision. Your child could 

be there for four years or more and you 

want them to be happy and develop 

well. 

PREPARATION 

It is important to know what questions to 

ask, what you should be looking for and 

the legal requirements a nursery should 

follow. If they have a website, brochure 

or prospectus, this can help you prepare 

questions and give you an insight into 

their offering. Check out their social 

media channels – are they posting about 

a wide range of learning opportunities? 

Check the nursery’s latest Ofsted report 

to see what the regulatory body has 

graded the nursery during their most 

recent inspection. There should be a 

link to the report on the website; if not 

you can find any report using the Ofsted 

‘Find an inspection report’ website, 

all you need is the nursery address to 

locate the relevant report. 

ON THE DAY OF THE VISIT 

First impressions really do count. Some 

things to consider include: 

• Is there a car park or somewhere 

you can pull in easily to take your 

child out safely? 

• What is the nursery entry system? 

Were they welcoming and polite? 

• Is the nursery clean and friendly 

and does it feel safe? 

• Are the children playing happily 

and are they engaged in activities? 

• Are staff supporting children’s 

emotional and care needs? 

• Do the staff appear to be confident 

and caring? 

• What percentage of their staff have 

early years qualifications? 

• How do they work with parents 

to keep you informed about your 

child’s development? 

High quality nurseries will expect you to 

ask questions. Try to spend time with 

staff and see how they interact with your 

child. Do they offer settling in sessions? 

GOING OVER AND ABOVE 

Look out for professional standards 

or awards which show a setting’s 

commitment to quality improvement. 

Millie’s Mark, the gold standard in 

paediatric first aid, requires all staff 

within the setting to be trained and 

confident in carrying out first aid. 

NDNA’s Champions programmes show 

dedication to Maths, Literacy or SEND. 

Nurseries who have achieved NDNA’s 

Quality Counts and e-Quality Counts 

show an ongoing commitment to high 

quality education and care where staff 

reflect and continually improve their 

practice. Find out more about these 

programmes at www.ndna.org.uk 

Check if they are members of any 

professional organisations such as 

NDNA, which supports nurseries to keep 

up to date with current issues and access 

high quality training for their staff. 

KEEP HEALTHY 

Look out for local authority healthy eating 

awards – some also give out awards for 

teaching children about growing and 

preparing their own food. Check their Food 

Standard Agency rating, which will show 

the cleanliness of food preparation areas. 

Do they offer special dietary requirements 

and can they cater for allergies? 

Are you interested in forest school 

provision? Do they have a good outside 

space in which children can explore and 

stretch their imaginations? 

Do they go into the local community for 

example, to visit old people’s homes or 

see how their local farm works? 

Ask about their SENCO (special 

educational needs) support and what 

other professionals they work with. 

HOW SHOULD I MAKE MY FINAL 

DECISION? 

Visit more than one nursery to gain an 

understanding of what each offers. Make 

notes after each visit and refer to these later 

to help you make an informed decision. Go 

for a second visit and spend some time in 

the room your child will be in. It depends 

what is most important to you. Your gut 

instinct will also help you to decide. 

If you have any reservations about any 

of the nurseries you have visited, look 

elsewhere. If you leave the nursery and 

have further questions, any good nursery 

will be happy to answer them over the 

phone, or welcome you for another visit. 

Rosey James 

PR & Policy Manager 

National Day Nurseries Association 

T: 01484 40 70 66 

www.ndna.org.uk 


TRANSFORMING EDUCATION 

Come and join us. 

Please contact us to make your appointment 

for a one-to-one tour 

BEDSTONE 

Flexi-boarding - Extended Days 

An independent school for boys and girls aged 4-18 

Bedstone College | Bucknell | Shropshire | SY7 0BG 

admissions@bedstone.org | 01547 530961 | www.bedstone.org

TIPS FOR CHOOSING 

EARLY YEARS TOYS 

Toys should be ‘openended’ 

in the sense that 

your child can play many 

different games with them 

(for example, wooden 

blocks can be used to make 

a castle, a tower, or a crib 

for the baby). Open-ended 

toys benefit your child’s 

imagination and help them 

develop problem-solving 

and logical thinking skills. 

Toys that encourage fine 

motor skills are excellent - 

whether that’s playing with 

shapes, balancing objects 

or rolling and catching balls. 

Role play toys help to 

develop both conversational 

abilities and a child’s 

understanding of the world 

around them. 

Mechanical toys like pop-up 

toys and ‘busy’ boxes with 

knobs, buttons, and levers 

encourage fine motor skills 

and problem solving, and 

teach cause-and-effect. 

For ages 3-6, this Janod Buffalo 

balancing game helps to hone those 

fine motor skills as bamboo birds are 

balanced on the wobbling back of 

the buffalo. £26.50, kidly.co.uk 

With 14 pieces, little ones 

are able to mix and 

match the dinosaur 

pieces to create 

their own unique 

beasts, or they can 

create dinos we know 

like T.Rex. 

My First 

Dinosaurs, £20, 

smarttoysandgames.co.uk 

EARLY YEARS 

learning 

Featuring 10 wooden 

instruments – a 

syringe, reflex hammer, 

disinfectant, stethoscope, 

otoscope, thermometer, 

tongue depressor plus a 

prescription notebook, 

pencil and bandage roll, 

Janod Doctor’s Suitcase 

has got everything kids 

need to play doctors. 

£26, kidly.co.uk 

This versatile play tent is the perfect creative space 

for little ones to add their own accessories to create 

a magical kingdom for the princes and princesses, 

or cave of wonders for active explorers. £99.95, 

thelittlegreensheep.co.uk 

Crazy Golf 

Electro-Darts 

Shuffleboard 

Ping Pong 

Pool 

Food & Drink 

get 10% off 

activities 

with code: 

living10 

book online today! 

mrmulligan.com/WORCESTER 

T’S & C’S APPLY. CODE VALID FOR WORCESTER ONLINE BOOKINGS ONLY UNTIL 31/07/22 


aymond blanc 

Bon appetit 

Editor Katie Thomson caught up with acclaimed 

French chef Raymond Blanc following his appearance 

at this year’s Blenheim Palace Food Festival – we 

talked all things sustainability, the British food scene 

and his love of teaching… 

Food and produce are at the centre of 

your life – you exude such a passion for 

it – where did this passion begin? 

It began in my childhood, in Franche- 

Comté. My mother was the greatest 

inspiration of my life. Through her I learnt 

about the importance of seasonality and 

the purity of ingredients. I was very much 

her kitchen helper and it wasn’t until 

the age of 14 that I made my first dish – 

crêpes Suzette, thin pancakes in a sweet 

sauce of caramel and Grand Marnier. 

I made about 30 pancakes, as light as 

feathers, and I was an extremely proud 

teenager. I folded them and arranged them 

on a big Pyrex dish. Then I made a light 

brown caramel, adding the juice of orange 

and lemon, and then the Grand Marnier. I 

poured the sauce over the pancakes and 

then decided to reheat the whole thing on 

a gas ring. Perfect! Or so I thought. At that 

moment catastrophe struck. The Pyrex 

dish exploded into millions of tiny pieces. 

Of course it was a blow to my ego but, as 

you know, I am delighted to say it didn’t 

put me off cooking. 

How important is the garden at Le 

Manoir aux Quat’Saisons? 

There is not just one garden in the 

grounds – there are many, from the 

potager to the orchards and herb 

gardens, and the valley of mushrooms 

and the Japanese garden with its little 

tea-house. For me, it is a daily ritual 

to wander through these enchanting 

gardens with their unusual herbs and 

the sweet, exotic scents of near and 

faraway places. Every little part of Le 

Manoir helps to make it a place with 

soul, a big heart and an appetite for 

humanity. My childhood in postwar 

France might seem ancient and 

simplistic, and we may have lacked 

today’s science or high-tech values, 

but we had one great asset: common 

sense. Information was passed on 

from one generation to another. We 

understood and appreciated that 

food connected with everything – the 

table, the family, environment, society, 

health. We respected what came from 

the soil. 

You’ve always been passionate about 

putting vegetables in the spotlight – do 

you think we are reconnecting with 

our understanding of produce and 

how it links to both our health and the 

environment? 

It begins with the young. We have to 

teach our children about the value of 

a meal, and instil in them that sense 

of place, of region. We need to show 

our children what flourishes near their 

homes and how to grow our own 

vegetables in the garden. If that’s not 

possible we can use window boxes and 

teach our children the miracle of the little 

seeds that contain the life force. If you 

grow and cook your own vegetables, 

life will feel better and you and your 

family will feel better. You will be part of 

gastronomy, too! 


Have you seen the British restaurant 

industry change since the 1970s? 

Beyond belief. When I crossed the 

Channel in the seventies the nation 

was in economic turmoil and the 

quality of the food supply chain was 

not questioned; it had become an 

irrelevance. We had embraced intensive 

farming, and we held it as a triumph. 

This was reflected in the restaurant 

industry which, yes, has changed 

dramatically, so that today London is 

considered one of the great gastromic 

cities of the world. Remember, food 

connects with every single part of 

our lives, a truth that was ignored for 

decades. Oh, how times have changed. 


Do you think our appreciation of food 

in Britain has had a similar overhaul? 

Yes, and also think of ‘the positives’ 

of the pandemic. Lockdowns 

encouraged many people to head for 

the kitchen and discover the great 

pleasures of cooking. It made me 

think about how it would impact on our 

lifestyles and the food we eat. We will 

seriously tackle food waste, and we 

will be closer to our farmers, butchers, 

fishmongers, cheesemakers and our 

other food producers. We do need to 

reconnect more with seasonality and the 

provenance and authenticity of produce. 

Sustainability must be the driving force 

in the years to come. We’ll rediscover 

our skills, grow more and import less. 

That’s good for the farmers and the 

economy. I have long felt that by digging 

into the past, we shall find our future. 

Maybe I am just an old romantic, but I 

do believe truly that this will happen. 

You appeared at the Blenheim Palace 

Food Festival this summer – what were 

the highlights in this special Jubilee 

year? 

The Blenheim Food Festival is a 

wonderful event with the focus firmly on 

eating well. It is buzzy, happy and fun, 

with lots of artisan producers with stalls, 

and cookery demonstrations. I hosted 

a question-and-answer session, and 

talked about my life, as well as my latest 

book, Simply Raymond, which is a little 

treasure chest of easy recipes. 

Do you enjoy sharing your knowledge 

– both on stage and to your brigade at 

Le Manoir? 

Without question, teaching is one of the 

greatest pleasures of my life. Over the 

years thousands have come to learn 

at the Raymond Blanc Cookery School 

at Le Manoir. And to think of the many 

young chefs who have come to work 

at Le Manoir ... and gone on to win 

Michelin stars! 

What has been your proudest 

achievement as a chef? 

Ultimately, it is sharing knowledge and 

watching others become masters of the 

incredible crafts of cooking and looking 

after our guests. I must tell you also of a 

special highlight… Many years ago the 

Queen Mother came to Le Manoir. With 

her entourage she enjoyed a particularly 

fabulous and long lunch, and then she 

stood and led her guests in a rendition 

of Le Marseillaise. Then she insisted that 

I gather together about 80 members of 

staff so that she could personally thank 

them for the wonderful experience. I am 

French Republican but I must tell you 

that on that day when the Queen Mum 

visited I came very close to becoming a 

royalist. 

Fantastic Food Festivals is hosting two 

more festivals this summer. 

The iconic Royal Victoria Park situated 

in the historical city of Bath will host the 

next food festival on Friday 29th July to 

Sunday 31st July with the final festival 

at Upton Country Park in picturesque 

Poole during the Bank Holiday on 

Saturday 27th August – Monday 29th 

August 2022. 

For more information and tickets visit 

www.fantasticfoodfestivals.co.uk 

‘Simply Raymond: Recipes from 

home’ by Raymond Blanc (£25, 

Headline) is out now 


Raymond Blanc 

MUSSEL AND 

SAFFRON RISOTTO 

Mussels and saffron are united harmoniously in this classic 

risotto. There’s no need for that constant stirring. Instead, the 

rice is stirred towards the end of the cooking time to activate the 

starches, a trick you can use with any risotto you make. 

INGREDIENTS 

For the mussels 

1kg fresh mussels 

1 onion 

2 bay leaves 

2 thyme sprigs 

1 tablespoon unsalted butter 

100ml dry white wine 

For the risotto 

1 garlic clove 

1 tablespoon unsalted butter 

200g carnaroli rice (or arborio) 

2 bay leaves 

a couple of pinches of saffron powder or 

strands 

pinch of cayenne pepper 

2 pinches of sea salt flakes 

100ml dry white wine 

300ml water (or fish stock) 

To finish 

50g Parmigiano Reggiano cheese 

2 teaspoons unsalted butter, at room 

temperature 

a handful of coarsely chopped flat-leaf 

parsley 

100g cooked peas (optional) 

a handful of baby-leaf spinach (optional) 

½ lemon, for squeezing 

TO PREPARE 

First, the mussels. Ensure that all 

the mussels are tightly closed and not 

damaged before you begin to cook; 

any mussels that are damaged or open 

should be discarded. The preparation 

can be done in advance. Wash the 

mussels in a large bowl and under cold 

running water. Mussels that float at this 

stage are not very fresh, so discard them. 

Remove any barnacles and beards, but 

don’t scrub the shells as this can end up 

colouring the cooking juices. Drain. 

Finely chop the onion and peeled garlic 

and grate the cheese. 

In a large saucepan over a medium heat, 

sweat half the 

onion, the bay 

leaves and thyme in the 

butter for 1 minute. Increase the heat to 

high, add the mussels, pour in the wine, 

cover with a lid and cook for 3 minutes. 

Drain in a sieve over a large bowl and 

discard any mussels that have not 

opened. Reserve the cooking juices, 

you will need about 200ml to make the 

risotto. Once the mussels have cooled, 

pick the mussels from their shells, leaving 

a few in their shells for decoration, and 

put them all aside. 

Now, to the risotto. Melt the butter in a 

large saucepan on a medium heat. 

Add the remaining onion, cover with a 

lid and cook for 2–3 minutes, until the 

onion is translucent. Add the garlic and 

stir in the rice. Add the bay leaves, saffron 

and cayenne pepper and lightly season 

with salt. Stir and continue to cook on 

a medium heat for 2 minutes, until the 

grains of rice are shiny. 

Pour in the wine and let it boil for 30 

seconds – bubble, bubble – and stir. 

Pour in the mussel cooking liquor and the 

water or fish stock and stir again. 

Now cook on the gentlest simmer, with 

just a single bubble breaking the surface. 

Cover with a lid and leave for 20 minutes, 

but it mustn’t boil. 

Now it’s time for 5 minutes of some 

serious and fast stirring. At full speed, stir 

the risotto. The grains rub against each 

other, extracting the starch, and this gives 

the rice its creaminess. Yet every grain 

remains whole, unbroken. 

Taste – the rice should have a slight bite. 

Add the cheese, butter and parsley to the 

risotto, along with the cooked peas and 

spinach, if using, all the cooked mussels 

and a strong squeeze of lemon. Stir, taste 

and correct the seasoning just before 

serving. 

SERVES 

4 

PREP 

20 

Simply Raymond: Recipes from Home by Raymond Blanc 

(£25, Headline) is out now 

Photo credit: Chris Terry 

COOK 

40 


Raymond Blanc 

PEAR 

ALMONDINE 

It’s rare to find a dessert that is both 

simple and extraordinarily delicious. Pear 

Almondine is one of my favourites. You can 

find some excellent preserved Williams 

pears in jars or tins, ideal for this recipe. 

This dessert is a template to accommodate 

many other fruits and flavours. For baking 

like this, I like to use a baking stone. 

However, if you don’t have this, it will still 

be a winner. 

INGREDIENTS 

6 pear halves, tinned or jarred 

100g unsalted butter, at room temperature, 

plus extra for brushing the tin 

100g caster sugar 

100g ground almonds 

1 teaspoon cornflour 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 medium egg (preferably organic or freerange) 

To serve 

a handful of flaked almonds (for extra 

flavour, first toast them in a dry pan) 

icing sugar, for dusting 

SERVES 

6 

PREP 

10 

COOK 

20 

METHOD 

Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/ 

gas 3. 

Butter (or oil) a tart ring, about 18cm x 2cm. 

Cut a long strip of greaseproof paper to 

stick to the inside. Place the lined tart ring 

on a lined baking tray or baking stone. 

Drain the pears and slice them in half 

again if they are large. In a large bowl, mix 

the softened butter and sugar. Then add 

ground almonds, cornflour, vanilla and egg, 

and mix well. Spoon the mixture into the 

cake tin, spreading it evenly. 

Arrange the pear halves evenly around the 

outside of the tart, resting them on top 

of the almond sponge mixture, and with 

the tip of each half meeting in the middle. 

According to size of the pears, you may 

require the base of half a pear to fill a space 

in the centre. Scatter with almonds. 

Bake the tart on the middle shelf of the 

oven, on the preheated baking stone or 

baking tray, for 16–20 minutes, or until 

golden. 

Leave the cake to cool for a few 

minutes before removing it from the 

ring. 

Before serving, dust with icing sugar. 

VARIATION 

In a saucepan, reduce the syrup from 

the jar, let it cool and add a dash of 

Poire William, the pear liqueur. After 

baking, puncture the pears with a 

fork and pour over the syrup. It adds 

colour and flavour. 

Simply Raymond: Recipes from 

Home by Raymond Blanc (£25, 

Headline) is out now 

Photo credit: Chris Terry


BEEF UP 

YOUR BBQ 

WITH BEEFSTEAK CLUB WINES 

GREAT TASTING, GOOD VALUE WINES THAT ARE 

PERFECT PARTNERS FOR BBQ 

SEE THE FULL RANGE AT BEEFSTEAKCLUBWINES.COM 

Picking the right wine 

can really help take 

a BBQ to the next 

level. With this in mind, 

Beefsteak Club offers a 

delicious range of wines 

perfect for pairing with grilled 

meats and barbecued food. The 

BBQ selection includes Beefsteak 

Club Malbec – the wine that’s ‘made for 

meat’ and is the ideal partner for steak; 

Beefsteak Club Malbec Rosé – perfect 

for pairing with chicken, pork and 

chargrilled vegetables; and Beefsteak 

Club Sauvignon Blanc which is an 

excellent match for seafood. 

Beefsteak Club wine was created with 

steak and wine lovers in mind and 

honours the dining clubs of the 18th 

and 19th centuries, which celebrated 

the beefsteak as a symbol of liberty 

and prosperity. Today, the wines are 

positioned as the ideal wines to share 

with friends while entertaining outdoors. 

“There’s an increased importance 

attached to outdoor living and 

entertaining which has been accelerated 

by our recent lockdown experiences,” 

says Susannah Greenstreet, Beefsteak 

Club’s marketing manager: 

“BBQ cooking is a big part of this, 

with UK consumers becoming more 

creative with their recipes for the grill 

and choosing to elevate the occasion 

and flavours with a great glass of wine. 

Beefsteak Club is the perfect choice 

of wine for BBQ lovers, with a range 

designed to pair well with meat and 

grilled food, and all priced at under £10.” 

“With a heatwave forecast this spring and 

an extra bank holiday for the Queen’s 

Platinum Jubilee, 2022 is set to be 

another sizzling year for Britain’s BBQs.” 

Beefsteak Club Malbec and Malbec 

Rosé are sourced from high-altitude 

vineyards Mendoza, Argentina’s premium 

wine growing regions at the edge of 

the Andes. Warm sunny days and cool 

nights give the wines 

great freshness and 

elegance. 

Beefsteak Club 

Sauvignon Blanc is 

from the coastal zone 

of Aconcagua in Chile, 

where the proximity to the 

Pacific Ocean provides cool 

nights, morning mists and sea 

breezes. These conditions 

help to achieve slow-ripening 

grapes, resulting in a wine 

with crisp natural acidity, 

complex flavours and an 

elegant minerality. 

KING OF THE GRILL: 

BEEFSTEAK CLUB MALBEC, 

MENDOZA ARGENTINA 

In a nutshell: All-round 

crowd-pleaser Beefsteak Club 

Malbec is a smooth, rich and 

unoaked red wine perfect for 

complementing the wide range 

of meats and grilled food on 

offer at a BBQ. With a smooth 

palate and notes of ripe black 

fruits and plums, Beefsteak 

Club Malbec works beautifully 

well with any sticky sauces or 

glazes of choice. Also available in 2.25l 

wine boxes, 150ml magnums and 250ml 

wine cans. 

Tasting Note: Deep purple in colour with 

ripe black fruits on the nose. Rich and 

layered mouthfeel with soft tannins and a 

long, smooth finish. 

Pair with: A mixed grill, meaty kebabs, 

prime cuts of steak with chimichurri, 

beef burgers with blue cheese sauce or 

brisket. 

Available from: All major retailers - Tesco, 

Sainsbury’s Waitrose, Morrisons, Ocado 

RRP: £8.00 

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: 

BEEFSTEAK CLUB SAUVIGNON 

BLANC, ACONCAGUA VALLEY 

CHILE 

In a nutshell: Brand new to the 

range, this crisp, zesty and dry 

white wine is perfect for pairing 

with lighter BBQ dishes like grilled 

seafood and salads. 

Tasting note: A crisp and vibrant 

Sauvignon Blanc with aromas 

of zesty citrus, fresh herbs and 

tropical fruit. 

Pair with: Grilled seafood, barbecued 

scallops or oysters, meat in a very herby 

sauce like chimichurri. 

Available from: Sainsbury’s 

RRP: £7.50 

ALWAYS BBQ READY: 

BEEFSTEAK CLUB 

MALBEC ROSÉ, MENDOZA, 

ARGENTINA 

In a nutshell: For those hot 

summer days, Beefsteak Club 

Malbec Rosé is the perfect 

wine to get the BBQ party 

started. Recently updated with a 

stylish new look and soon to be 

available in 2.25l wine boxes in 

Waitrose. 

Tasting note: This crisp, fry and 

fruity Malbec Rosé has delicate 

notes of strawberry, raspberry and citrus 

with a refreshing finish. 

Pair with: Perfect for pairing with 

lighter meats like chicken, as well as 

grilled halloumi or barbecued vegetable 

skewers. 

Available from: Waitrose 

RRP: £8.99 


GIVE A GIFT 

that means a little more 

Griffiths A.H. 

PRODUCERS OF AWARD 

WINNING SMOKED MEAT, 

POULTRY, GAME 

FOR WEDDINGS & EVENTS TRY OUR 

BUFFET STYLE PORK/BEEF ROASTS AND BBQ 

• HOMEMADE PRESERVES, FREE RANGE EGGS 

• SPECIALITY MEATS FOR DINNER PARTIES 

& SPECIAL OCCASIONS 

• OWN PRODUCED MEATS 

• GAME IN SEASON 

• HOME-MADE PIES, AWARD WINNING 

SAUSAGES & BURGERS 

sustainable, wellness-based 

gift boxes - customisable and 

beautiful, from £10 

available from hauslife.co.uk 

ADVICE ON 

CUTS & COOKING 

LUDLOW 

01584 872141 

11 Bull Ring 

LEINTWARDINE 

01547 540231 

22 High Street 


AL FRESCO 

DINING TO SUIT 

EVERYBODY 

At The Clive Arms, Ludlow 

Kitchen and Ludlow Farmshop 

there is a wide range of 

outdoor seating options… 

The onsite café, Ludlow Kitchen, has a passionate and talented 

team who are dedicated to creating wonderful fresh dishes. 

Many of the ingredients come directly from the onsite farm shop 

who supply fresh cakes, biscuits, artisan cheeses, handmade 

butter, ice-cream, meat and preserves. The café has a spacious 

indoor restaurant area but also offers an outside courtyard. This 

can be the perfect sun trap but there is also plenty of parasol 

cover if it gets a little too hot! Dogs are welcome in the outdoor 

areas and conservatory. 

At the Clive Arms the chefs use fresh, local and seasonal 

ingredients to create food that is traditional with a modern 

twist. There are many outdoor areas which offer a relaxed and 

informal dining experience whilst maintaining high quality. The 

rear garden and courtyard are the perfect place for al fresco 

dining and even have heating and lighting to provide year-round 

outdoor seating. At the front of the Clive Arms, you will find 

another seating area where guests can enjoy a nice chilled drink 


on a Summer’s day. Don’t forget, the bar and outdoor areas are 

dog friendly, so your furry friend can join too! 

In addition to a café and restaurant, you can also find a brandnew 

takeaway which is due to open in July. From great tasting 

coffee to handmade sausage rolls, to tasty paninis and bakery 

treats, the new takeaway offers fresh food for those on the go. 

If you are looking to cool down on a hot day, the cabin offers 

ice-cream which has been made at the onsite dairy. You can 

enjoy a scoop of your favourite flavour on one of the picnic 

benches under the new covered awning area. 

Events at The Clive Arms are back! 

1920s Murder Mystery 

Friday 29th July 

Dine on a themed three course meal and enjoy 

turning detective to solve a cryptic case. 

Steak Experience 

Friday 26th August 

Steak night with a difference... choose a cut from 

our butcher and have it cooked to perfection! 

Ludlow Farmshop dates for the diary 

Knighton Classic Car Show 

Sunday 31st July 

Showcasing over 60 iconic classic and vintage cars 

from the Knighton Historic Vehicle Club. 

Summer Fun Day 

Saturday 20th August 

Join us for our annual fun day packed full of 

activities - a great Summer holidays day out. 

To book, simply call or email us: 

01584 856565 or info@theclivearms.co.uk 

Scan the QR code below to find out more about 

our upcoming events 

153mm x 110mm Ludlow Lifestlye Jul-Aug 22 .indd 1 12/06/2022 14:45:16

ICE AND 

Some simple and delicious 

ice cream recipes from 

the appliance experts 

Cuisinart 

Easy 

RASPBERRY RIPPLE 

ICE CREAM 

Prep takes only 20 minutes, then just 

leave the Cuisinart Gelato and Ice Cream 

Professional to churn it to perfection. 

INGREDIENTS 

300g raspberries 

150g caster sugar 

1 tbsp lemon juice 

160ml full fat milk 

300ml double cream 

1 tsp vanilla extract 

METHOD 

In a saucepan, combine the raspberries, 

50g caster sugar and 2 tbsp water. Bring 

to the boil and simmer for a few minutes, 

until the fruit is soft. Pass through a sieve, 

discarding the pips. 

Pour the purée into a clean saucepan and 

simmer for about 10 minutes, to reduce 

down to a syrup. Stir in the lemon juice 

and cool, before chilling completely in 

the fridge. 

To make the ice cream, pour the milk and 

remaining caster sugar (approx 100g) 

into a bowl and whisk, until the sugar has 

dissolved. Add in the cream and vanilla 

extract and stir until combined. Chill for 

an hour. 

Insert the paddle into the bowl of the ice 

cream maker. 

Whisk the chilled mixture, before pouring 

into the bowl of your ice cream maker 

and churn, for approximately an hour. 

Just before the ice cream is ready, add 

the raspberry puree, so that it creates a 

ripple effect. 

The ice cream is ready when it begins to 

thicken and freeze. To produce a firmer 

ice cream, freeze for several hours in an 

airtight container. 

WHITE CHOCOLATE 

COOKIE ICE CREAM 

SANDWICHES 

Ready in just 22 minutes, this recipe will 

make 12 cookies - 6 ‘sandwiches’ 

INGREDIENTS 

225g plain flour, sifted 

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda, sifted 

¼ tsp salt 

150g unsalted butter, softened 

80g light muscovado sugar 

80g granulated sugar 

2 tsp. vanilla extract 

1 large egg 

100g white chocolate chips or chunks 

METHOD 

Heat the oven to 180˚C / 350F / Gas 

Mark 4. Then line two baking trays 

with greaseproof paper. In a medium 

bowl, whisk together the sifted flour, 

bicarbonate of soda and salt. 

Mix the softened butter and sugars 

using the Cordless Pro Hand Mixer - it’s 

wireless design means you can use it 

anywhere in the kitchen. Add the vanilla 

extract and 1 egg and continue to beat. 

Add the combined dry ingredients and 

gently beat on a lower speed, until fully 

incorporated. Fold in the white chocolate 

chips until combined. Cover the bowl 

with cling film and place in the fridge to 

chill, for approximately 1 hour. 

Using an ice cream scoop, make balls 

with the chilled cookie dough and place 

the, on the prepared baking trays. Gently 

place a thumb on top and squash down 

slightly. Leave enough room for the 

cookies to spread a little. 

Bake for 12 minutes, until they start to 

turn a light brown and then transfer to a 

wire rack to cool. Sandwich scoops of 

your favourite ice cream between two 

cookies and enjoy immediately. 

GELATO AT HOME 

There is no substitute for delicious 

homemade ice cream, made using your 

choice of fresh ingredients. The instant 

freeze bowl means there is no need to 

pre-freeze in advance so you can prepare 

batch after batch of your favourite frozen 

desserts, each ready in as little as 40 

minutes. 

The machine comes with 2 specialist 

mixing paddles to give the perfect texture 

to your frozen dessert. The ice cream 

paddle incorporates more air during 

mixing to give ice cream a lighter texture. 

The gelato paddle is perfect for gelato 

and sorbet, incorporating less 

air and leaving the gelato 

denser than ice cream 

with a silkier, softer 

texture. 

Cuisinart Gelato 

and Ice Cream 

Professional, 

£300 and 

Cordless Pro 

Hand Mixer, 

£90, both 

cuisinart.co.uk 


A calm and beautiful 

nursery using paired 

warm neutral shades and 

simple mdf panelling 

renew 

Refresh & 

RENOVATE 

Pampas and Milk No 

Sugar, coatpaints.com 

No. 101 Wick White, 

coxandcox.co.uk 

Refresh 

Sage Advice, 

dowsingandreynolds.com 

Dulux’s new heritage 

range has beautiful, 

richly-pigmented colours 

in hues that won’t date 

A lick of paint really does transform a space. This season, interiors have been 

comforting spaces - with colours designed to evoke feelings of nostalgia. We love 

the creamy whites now available - they give a hit of school-house warmth. For a 

calming bedroom or gender neutral nursery as above, try layering warm neutrals 

on details like panelling. Thanks to regency drama Bridgerton, greens are still 

hugely popular - the hues are endless depending on whether you want to create 

a rich and inviting space or somewhere dark and dramatic. 

Dulux Heritage in Waxed Khaki, 

duluxdecoratorcentre.co.uk 

Using Crittall style doors 

floor to ceiling creates 

great impact here 

(Image credit: Paul Raeside) 

RENOVATE 

Lots of us have decided to stay put and improve our 

existing properties - nothing does this quite like new 

glazing. New doors and windows breathe fresh life into 

spaces, especially if glazing can open up an existing wall. 

If you want to look into increasing openings, check with a 

structural engineer to see what you need to account for. 

Bi-fold doors remain the most popular option - allowing 

for an expansive opening of the space. We also love 

Crittall-style French doors for industrial chic. 

The use of glass from expressbifolds.co.uk 

creates an amazing feeling of space 


enew 

With electricity prices soaring, it 

makes good sense to upgrade 

your appliances where you can 

- and making them smart-home 

compatible will help to futureproof 

your property. 

Free up space 

on the worktop 

with boiling 

water at the 

push of a button 

with the GROHE 

Red tap 

Haier’s I-Pro Series 3 Washing Machine is 

A rated - saving 33% on a D-rated product. 

We love the steam refresh programmes 

to remove the bacteria from clothes and 

the intelligent steam functionality, making 

ironing almost unnecessary. I-Pro Series 3, 

haier-europe.com 

EcoPower technology saves 

water and energy with a cleverly 

designed water supply that reduces 

consumption, plus, this product 

won’t disrupt your peace, as it’s 

Quiet Mark certified. Miele G 7100 

SC Dishwasher, £999, quietmark.com 

(Image credit: Susanna Hawkins) 

AI in the kitchen is taken 

to a new level with Haier’s 

Chef@Home system - the 

touch screen detects user 

presence and the sensors can 

detect the type of food in the 

oven, timing the cooking to 

perfection. Chef@Home Series 

3, haier-europe.com 

Dark kitchens continue to be 

popular - with bottle green 

shades joining classic navy 

and charcoal 

Mix open shelves with 

closed cupboards for 

a feeling of space. The 

drawer dishwasher here 

from Fisher & Paykel is a 

great solution for a busy 

family. fisherpaykel.com/uk 

Larder cupboards keep all those 

essentials at hand. Clever lighting and 

the continuation of the worktop inside 

helps to make this feel like part of the 

kitchen when the doors are open - but 

crucially can be closed to make it all 

tidy instantly. oliveandbarr.com 

(Image credit: Higham Furniture 

RENOVATE 

When selecting a kitchen, it’s not about trends - but 

it is always worth looking at innovative solutions. 

One such design that works for large and small 

kitchens alike is the larger cupboard - featuring 

a workspace inside to house appliances like the 

toaster and coffee machine, these cupboards banish 

the clutter and make kitchens look clean and crisp. 


Refresh 

The perfect option for a quick and easy update, or 

for renters, peel and stick tiles are a great option 

to breathe new life into walls and floors - without 

expense or long term commitment 

Self adhesive splashback 

in toughened glass. Laura 

Ashley Mr Jones Splashback, 

£249, splashback.co.uk 

Washable, wipe-able, heat 

resistant, fireproof, and 

removable, these wallpaper 

rolls are ideal for updating your 

kitchen easily (60cm x 300cm 

roll), £190, limelace.co.uk 

renew 

Rather than replacing whole pieces of furniture, you can 

breathe new life into items and rooms by upgrading the 

hardware. From new handles to lights or sockets, it 

can be a surprisingly dramatic change without 

too much upheaval. 

Kilburn Knob, £10.80, 

corston.com 

där Lukas Light, 

£289, 

darlighting.co.uk 

3G Two Way Dimmer Switch - 

Bronze, £115.20, corston.com 

Cushion, £39, 

cultfurniture.com 

Tap, £189.99, dowsingandreynolds.com 

Decorative tray, £23, 

sassandbelle.co.uk 

Bridgman Sunbury Sofa and 

Cushions,bridgman.co.uk 

Refresh 

Elowen Throw, 

£69, and Charu 

Cover, £34, both 

hauslife.co.uk 

Surely the quickest renovation win of all is a 

switch up of soft-furnishings and decorative 

objects. No mess and instant impact! If you like 

to change these items seasonally, try to shop 

with companies using sustainable materials and 

paying workers fairly for their craft. 


Also 

available in 

Barrow bags 

and nets to suit all 

your access requirements 

F 

M 

V 

I 

d www.ludlowsalvage.co.uk 

F 

/ludlowfirewood 

M 

D 

V 

07949 318014 

I 

/ludlowfirewood 

ludlowfirewood@gmail.com 

www.ludlowfirewood.com 

Plot 1, Station Yard, Station Road, 

Woofferton, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 4AW 

A & B SMITH 

DOMESTIC APPLIANCES 

Craven Arms Business 

Park, Long Lane, 

Craven Arms, SY7 8NU 

• Same / Next Day 

Appliance Delivery 

•250+ Appliances on Display 

• LPG / Calor Appliance Specialists 

Live Display 

South Shropshire’s leading 

Calor Gas stockist 

• All cylinder sizes stocked 

• Regular gas deliveries 

throughout the area 

For all your home appliance needs... 

T: 01588 673647 W: www.absmith.co.uk 


OKA 

Al Fresco 

IN THE GARDEN 

With long summer nights ahead, we look at how to turn 

your garden into a beautiful extension of your living space 

Cox & Cox 

LIGHT THE LIGHTS 

As with setting the scene for dining, 

don’t forget to light other areas of the 

garden to provide drama and depth. 

We love these solar-powered spots to 

light up trees from below in areas where 

you don’t have mains electric access. 

4 x 1W LED Premium Solar Spotlight 

Kit, £99.99, and Moroccan Stake Light, 

£16.99, both lights4fun.co.uk 

DINING AREA 

Creating a beautiful, exciting outdoor dining space 

is easier than you might think - the key is multi-level 

lighting. Festoon lights work beautifully for a romantic 

feel, then pepper in candles or LED candles for a soft 

glow on the table. Just because you are outside, don’t 

forget the linens and place settings - runners, chargers, 

proper napkins and nice glassware help to set the scene. 

Lights from lights4fun.co.uk. 

lights4fun.co.uk 

FIRED UP 

Firepits and heaters aren’t just 

lovely focal points - they help 

the party carry on even when the 

evening gets cooler. Before buying 

consider your usage - some come 

with cooking attachments, saving 

space on needing a separate 

BBQ. Standing Iron Brazier, £350, 

coxandcox.co.uk 

Maira, 

Roma and 

Boho Floor 

cushion, 

from £29, 

hauslife. 

co.uk 

TEXTURES & 

TONES 

Style a garden as you would your 

living room - layer blankets, rugs, 

pouffes, cushions - just bring them 

in at the end of the evening - there’s 

no need to buy special outdoor 

cushions. Play with textures you 

might not have in the house, like 

ruffles, fringing and jute. 

Linen Napkins, 

£10, ooh-noo. 

com, Brisa plate 

and serving 

bowl, from £16, 

hauslife.co.uk 




GROW FOR 

Gold 

In this edition, our regular 

contributor Matt Biggs gives 

us advice on how growing 

your own can be both cost 

effective and rewarding... 

With prices rising and evidence of some 

empty shelves in the shops, now might be 

the time for a little bit of ‘Dig for Victory’ 

spirit! 

There are so many ways of adding to 

your food options, from a few radishes to 

add some peppery perk to your salads to 

courgettes, beetroot, peas, Japanese and 

Chinese salad leaves, tomatoes and, of 

course, the humble spud! 

Even if you have no space, balconies, 

hanging baskets and even windowsills 

can host something edible from chilli 

plants and herbs to hanging tomatoes - 

and there is nothing like picking your own 

home grown produce and taking it straight 

to the kitchen. Many local Colleges offer 

short courses to help you get started, 

there are books, videos, TV programmes 

and your local garden club - all there to 

get your growing energies into gear. 

As well as the physical activity involved 

in preparing the ground and hoeing and 

weeding there is a mental benefit too 

and this is becoming more and more 

recognised as we rush from work to shop 

to home - a little time spent in the open 

air with the birds in the background is 

very beneficial and if you join a gardening 

club there is a social side too, as there is 

in having an allotment and sharing both 

gardening knowledge and produce. 

Children too can join in - an easy to grow 

packet of seeds and a large pot or a 

patch of earth and off they go - and there 

is a lot of learning in a packet of seeds, 

from biology to botany, the maths of 

sowing and spacing, the responsibility of 

being in charge of something, watering 

and weeding and then the joy of sharing 

what is grown - it is win, win all the way, 

and if the odd slug or snail comes along, 

they too have a place! 

To find out more about Matt visit his 

website matthewbiggs.com 

Everything for your house and garden - and more 

• Bedding Plants • Shrubs • Perennials 

• Trees • Fruit • Roses 

• Seeds • Pots & Compost 

• Fencing & Timber • Fertilizer 

• Pest Control • Tools 

• Free Local Delivery with all 

over £50 orders 

Email: 

gardencentre@ludlowhomecare.co.uk 

Opening hours: 

Mon - Sat: 9am - 5pm 

Sun: 10am - 4pm 

Ludford Bridge, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 1PE 

Tel 01584 874554 / 876042 Fax 01584 873285 


FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR A 

HAPPY RETIREMENT 

The secret to a successful retirement is to 

slowly and surely build up your retirement 

pot. Exactly how you do that will depend 

on your situation – but there are lots of 

things you can do. Here we have advice 

from Money Helper (moneyhelper.org.uk) 

which is a government advice service. 

As with any financial planning matter, it is 

important that your unique circumstances 

are considered and you seek the advice 

of a certified professional. 

REVIEW PENSIONS 

REGULARLY 

It’s important to review your pensions 

regularly. If they’re not on track to give 

you the income you want in retirement, 

you need to look at how to boost them. 

If they’re broadly on track, you can make 

a clearer plan so that your pensions will 

be able to give you the income you want 

when you retire. 

REVIEW THE WAY 

YOUR PENSION POT IS 

INVESTED 

If you have a defined contribution 

personal or workplace pension, you 

get to choose how your pension pot is 

invested. Typically, this involves choosing 

from a range of funds offered by your 

pension provider. 

These funds will be weighted differently 

between various types of assets, which 

offer different levels of risk and potential 

return. Generally, you can afford to take 

more risk when you’re young, and less as 

you get older. 

The longer your money will be invested, 

the more scope you’ll have to deal with 

investment performance going up and 

down over time. So if you are some way 

from retirement and your pension savings 

are invested conservatively, you might 

want to consider moving at least some of 

your fund into potentially higher-growth 

assets, for example, company shares. 

But bear in mind that there’s no 

guarantee that higher growth will be 

achieved. 

Transferring a personal pension into a 

self-invested personal pension (SIPP) 

can give you a wider range of investment 

options to choose from. 

But this brings higher risks if you’re not 

an experienced investor. And you might 

face higher charges. 

Unless you understand how the different 

pension investments work, you might 

want to consider getting regulated 

financial advice before making any 

changes to your pension investment. 

REVIEW THE CHARGES 

DEDUCTED FROM YOUR 

SAVINGS 

All pension providers will charge for 

managing your pot and investing your 

money. In defined contribution personal 

and workplace schemes, these charges 

are often called an annual management 

charge or ongoing charge figure and are 

automatically deducted from your pot. 

An annual charge of 1.5% a year could 

have eaten away a quarter of your 

pension pot after 35 years. An annual 

charge of 0.5% would have reduced your 

pension pot by only 1/10th over the same 

period. You don’t need to worry about 

this if you’re in a defined benefit scheme. 

But if you have a defined contribution 

scheme, charges reduce the value of your 

pension pot. Workplace pensions often 

have lower charges but that isn’t always 

the case. 

HOW MUCH MONEY WILL 

YOU NEED IN YOUR 

TOTAL PENSION POT? 

It’s important to think about your pension 

income in building blocks - first with the 

state pension, then with your private or 

workplace pension savings, and then with 

any other additional income you might 

get, from investments or property. 

How much extra income you need to 

generate from your private pension 

savings will depend on the type of private 

pension you have. 

Defined benefit and final salary pensions 

pay you a regular monthly income - how 

much you get is based on your earnings 

while you were working. 

If you have one or more of these, you 

should receive annual updates telling you 

how much you can expect to get. 

Adding that to your state pension 

(which you can find out by getting a 

state pension forecast) will help you 

understand how much you’ve got to play 

with in retirement. 

If you have any confusion surrounding 

multiple pension pots, investments or 

other pension queries, it is worthwhile 

seeking the advice from an IFA. 


Cataracts, what are 

they and when should 

they be treated? 

The word cataract comes from the Greek word 

for ‘waterfall’. It describes what sufferers see. 

Literally like a waterfall descending over their 

vision. Cataracts are actually a ‘clouding’ of 

the lens behind the pupil within the eye. So 

how does this come to pass? 

There are many reasons to develop a cataract. Very rarely, 

babies are born with them, drugs such as steroids can hasten 

their onset, though by far the most common cause is light 

passing through the lens over many years. Proteins within the 

lens change shape and become less transparent. Cataract is a 

progressively blinding condition that develops over differing time 

periods from person to person and even from eye to eye in the 

same person. 

The only treatment available for cataract is an operation to 

remove the lens with the cataract and replace it with a new 

plastic lens. Modern cataract surgery is astonishingly safe and 

almost always carried out under local anaesthetic. There are of 

course always risks with any surgery though with state-of-the-art 

techniques and in skilled hands the risk of long-term problems 

following cataract surgery are incredibly small. 

If left untreated for a long time the risk of cataract surgery 

does increase. Prior to this, the question is ‘when is the right 

time?’. There is certainly no longer any reason to leave cataracts 


to ‘ripen’. Now, as soon as symptoms arise surgery can be 

considered. Common symptoms include increasingly blurred 

vision, glare, loss of colour sensitivity, and double vision or 

‘ghosting’. As these begin to negatively affect one’s life, that is 

the time to consider getting cataracts treated. 

Treatment is often on one eye at a time, though with current 

safety protocols having both eyes treated on the same day is 

certainly possible. With micro-incision surgery recovery can be 

expected to be incredibly speedy. 

At the time of cataract surgery, it is possible chose a new lens 

that aims to tailor your glasses prescription to your desired 

outcome. Hereford Vision at The Wye Clinic offer a full range of 

ultra-modern lenses including toric and multifocal lenses (not 

available on the NHS). 

Waverley House 

Etnam Street, Leominster, Herefordshire HR6 8AQ 

We are welcoming 

New Residents 

Dementia Nursing Care 

Waverley House provides a specialist 

nursing care service for people with 

dementia and residential care. 

The home practises independent living 

techniques, including for Service Users who have 

dementia, with the aim of achieving the best 

possible quality of life for as long as possible. 

A number of activities and therapies are 

available depending upon requirements and 

Waverley House’s friendly team of staff benefit 

from a range of regular training programmes. 

Our care fees are dependent on care 

requirements so please call to discuss on: 

01568 612126 

www.shaw.co.uk 

We are 

Proudly 

Employee 

• Owned • 

We are the UK’s largest employee-owned healthcare provider 

shawhealthcare www.shaw.co.uk @shawhealthcare 


FRANCES PRESCOT TRI BALM 

This luxurious facial balm cleanses, exfoliates and moisturises 

in one - it’s ideal for taking on your next trip away. Scented with 

heavenly geranium and mandarin, you’ll be transported straight 

to the spa. £55 70g, francesprescott.com 

BALI BAE SELF TAN SET 

Everything you need for the perfect 

tan at home - Coco & Eve’s bestselling 

Sunny Honey tanning foam plus a mitt, 

kabuki brush for feet and hands and 

the clever back applicator to make 

sure you never miss a spot. £71.80, 

uk.cocoandeve.com 

COCO & EVE MIRACLE HAIR 

ELIXIR 

Enriched with a cocktail of Balinese botanicals, 

including raw virgin coconut oil and prickly 

pear extract, the lightweight elixir works to 

enhance shine and softness. Formulated with 

hyaluronic acid, the formula replenishes strands 

with moisture. The nourishing hair oil seeks 

to reduce split ends and breakage, alongside 

offering heat protection of up to 220°C. £28.75, 

uk.cocoandeve.com 

LUNA LASH DIY EXTENSIONS 

Love the look of salon lash extensions but don’t 

have the time to see the professionals? You can 

get the same look at home in just 10 minutes with 

the Luna Lash DIY extension kit - just choose 

your length and volume, swipe on the bonder and 

apply the lash segments in minutes. Lashes last 

up to 10 days and can be reused if removed with 

care and cleaned. Starter kit (enough for two 

full sets), £80, lunalash.com 

GREAT 

FOR ALL 

HAIR 

TYPES 

ILLAMASQUA HYDRA 

SETTING SPRAY 

Beauty 

HOT PICKS 

Give your makeup serious 

staying power, even under 

extreme temperatures. 

This non-sticky formula 

dries fast to set your 

makeup all day. Infused 

with pea peptides rich in 

amino acids, Hydra 

Setting Spray will 

leave the skin 

feeling refreshed 

and moisturised. 

Available in Matte or 

Dewy finishes. £20, 

illamasqua.com 

MADE 

F O R 

SENSITIVE 

EYES 

EYEKO LIMITLESS MASCARA 

Perfect for those with allergies, Eyeko’s latest mascara 

offering is ophthalmologist tested and designed for 

sensitive eyes. The mascara can also be removed with 

warm water - perfect for those nights when you just want a 

quick and easy cleanse routine. Enriched with Oat Derived 

Fibres and Acai Oil, it nourishes lashes whilst adding 

length. Available in black and brown. £19, eyeko.co.uk

Ludlow Lifestyle Jul - Aug 2022

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