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Wokingham and Bracknell Lifestyle Aug - Sep 2022

The August/September edition is here! We feature a gorgeous bathroom transformation, a chef interview, not to mention a whole host of fabulous goodies to be won with our competition page. Recipes, fashion tips and travel reviews are aplenty of course, as standard!

The August/September edition is here! We feature a gorgeous bathroom transformation, a chef interview, not to mention a whole host of fabulous goodies to be won with our competition page. Recipes, fashion tips and travel reviews are aplenty of course, as standard!

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BOTANICALS<br />

COLLECTION<br />

N O W O N L I N E<br />

Sundays 11am - 3pm<br />

except Hillfields Farm Estate<br />

Monday 4.30pm - 8.30pm<br />

All fairs free entry <strong>and</strong> parking.<br />

Different suppliers at each fair.<br />

Sunday 4th <strong>Sep</strong>tember<br />

Easthampstead Park Wedding Fair<br />

Off Peacock Lane, <strong>Wokingham</strong>, Berkshire RG40 3DF<br />

Monday 5th <strong>Sep</strong>tember<br />

Hillfields Farm Estate Wedding Fair<br />

Park Wall Lane, Lower Basildon, Berkshire RG8 9PE<br />

Sunday 11th <strong>Sep</strong>tember<br />

Crowne Plaza Reading Wedding Fair<br />

Richfield Avenue, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire RG1 8BD<br />

Sunday 18th <strong>Sep</strong>tember<br />

Trunkwell House Hotel Wedding Fair<br />

Beech Hill Road, Beech Hill, Reading, Berkshire RG7 2AT<br />

Sunday 25th <strong>Sep</strong>tember<br />

De Vere Wokefield Estate Wedding Fair<br />

Goodboys Lane, Mortimer, Reading, Berkshire RG7 3AE<br />

Sunday 2nd October<br />

Coppid Beech Hotel Wedding Fair<br />

John Nike Way, <strong>Bracknell</strong>, Berkshire RG12 8TF<br />

Sunday 9th October<br />

The Great House at Sonning Wedding Fair<br />

Sonning-on-Thames, Reading, Berkshire RG4 6UT<br />

STERLING SILVER AND GOLD<br />

VERMEIL JEWELLERY WITH<br />

SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES -<br />

FROM £10 | hauslife.co.uk<br />

Sunday 23rd October<br />

Fredrick’s Hotel & Spa Wedding Fair<br />

Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 2PZ<br />

www.berkshireweddingfairs.co.uk<br />

info@berkshireweddingfairs.co.uk<br />

07708 249 440 | 07990 711 444<br />

f /berkshireweddingfairs<br />

/berkshireweddingfairs<br />

i<br />

All details correct at time of print, please check website<br />

for any updates.<br />

2 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


C O N T E N T S<br />

A NOTE<br />

from the editor<br />

13<br />

FIRE UP THE BBQ<br />

04<br />

COMPETITIONS<br />

If you read last edition, you<br />

may remember me remarking<br />

that we work in a former<br />

chicken shed (cue jokes<br />

about scrambled brains <strong>and</strong><br />

headless chickens...) <strong>and</strong><br />

whilst our setting is nothing<br />

short of bucolic - a tin roof<br />

really isn’t the one in a<br />

heatwave.<br />

So I write this particular<br />

editor’s note whilst<br />

simultaneously trying to<br />

prevent the contents of my<br />

desk from flying away in the<br />

path of my fan <strong>and</strong> sipping<br />

an iced coffee instead of<br />

my usual tea. I hope you’ve<br />

got something equally thirstquenching<br />

to enjoy with<br />

this issue with - a G&T is<br />

preferable, but tends to be<br />

frowned upon in an office<br />

setting...<br />

In this edition we are<br />

encouraging you to fire up<br />

that grill with some tasty <strong>and</strong><br />

super easy recipes to shake<br />

up the usual BBQ routine.<br />

NISHA KATONA<br />

12<br />

Editor Katie Thomson<br />

e katie@minervapublications.co.uk<br />

Assistant Editor Kate Norris<br />

Publisher Sally Thomson<br />

Pre Press Manager Rebecca Rose<br />

Contributors<br />

Matthew Biggs, Angela Cave,<br />

Louise Thomson, Pete Lawrence<br />

FOR ADVERTISING<br />

Account Manager Helen Skeates<br />

e helen.skeates@minervapublications.co.uk<br />

t 01225 984494<br />

Cover image courtesy of Lipsy for Next<br />

HOME & GARDEN<br />

19<br />

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS<br />

Unit 21c, Paxcroft Farm,<br />

Hilperton BA14 6JB<br />

t 01225 984 550<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />

Printed on sustainably sourced paper.<br />

Please recycle this copy or pass it along<br />

when you are finished for someone else<br />

to enjoy.<br />

Disclaimer: The publishers shall not be<br />

held liable for any loss occasioned by<br />

failure of an advertisement to appear, or<br />

any damage or inconvenience caused by<br />

errors, omissions <strong>and</strong> misprints. No part of<br />

this publication may be reproduced without<br />

prior permission from the publishers.<br />

The opinions expressed within are not<br />

necessarily those of the publishers.<br />

On the home front we<br />

have a real life bathroom<br />

transformation where a<br />

20+ year old suite has<br />

been transformed into a<br />

contemporary sanctuary -<br />

we hope it inspires you if<br />

you’re planning your own<br />

renovation.<br />

We are also shining our<br />

shoes <strong>and</strong> sewing name tags<br />

into uniforms in anticipation<br />

of the new school year - look<br />

out for our local education<br />

guide.<br />

We hope you enjoy this<br />

edition - we will next be<br />

with you in October - <strong>and</strong><br />

full warning...there will be<br />

mention of Christmas!<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 <strong>and</strong> enter on that post,<br />

using the appropriate keyword.<br />

T&C’s apply <strong>and</strong> no cash alternatives available. Winners chosen at<br />

r<strong>and</strong>om - entries made after closing date will not be accepted.<br />

WIN<br />

A HOTEL<br />

STAY FOR<br />

TWO!<br />

Ready to relax, recharge <strong>and</strong><br />

recuperate? Soon you could<br />

be enjoying some ‘you’<br />

time, with the chance to<br />

win an incredible weekend<br />

away with spa treatments.<br />

We’ve teamed up with The<br />

QHotels Collection, to give one<br />

of our lucky readers an exclusive<br />

staycation for two people at a spa<br />

hotel within the collection.<br />

With 17 gorgeous spa hotels across the UK,<br />

you’ll be able to leave your worries behind<br />

at the likes of historic hideaway, Slaley<br />

Hall - nestled deep in the serene North-<br />

East l<strong>and</strong>scape, or Crewe Hall, set in eight<br />

acres of stunning grounds in the peaceful<br />

Cheshire countryside, with its lavishly<br />

decorated historic pile dating back to the<br />

17th century. Also in the collection, Norton<br />

Park, set in a blissful parkl<strong>and</strong> just outside<br />

historic Winchester <strong>and</strong> Oulton Hall, Spa &<br />

Golf Resort very accessible to Leeds city<br />

centre, while set within the rolling Yorkshire<br />

countryside.<br />

This incredible prize includes two night’s<br />

stay with breakfast, plus a two-course dinner<br />

<strong>and</strong> a spa treatment for two people.<br />

For a full list of The QHotels Collection spas,<br />

visit: www.qhotels.co.uk/our-spas/<br />

Closes 15/09/<strong>2022</strong> -<br />

Competition keyword: ‘RELAX’<br />

WIN<br />

A CBD<br />

BEAUTY BOX<br />

WORTH<br />

£77.99<br />

The MotherSage CBD Beauty Box is an ‘Evolution in Skincare’<br />

featuring a fantastic collection of the very best quality, legally<br />

registered, natural cannabinoid-based skincare products, in a<br />

beautiful gift box. Each contains their Anti-Cellulite <strong>and</strong> Slimming<br />

Gel, Body Butter, Bath Salts <strong>and</strong> Body Oil.<br />

They can be used individually or as part of a treatment regime<br />

ensuring the full range of benefits inspired by Mother Earth’s<br />

natural ingredients are used to ‘Soothe Your Soul’. Retailing<br />

at just £77.99 each, we have four fabulous MotherSage CBD<br />

Beauty Box’s to giveaway to four lucky readers.<br />

www.hir.global/collections/mothersage<br />

Closes 15/09/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword: ‘MOTHERSAGE’<br />

Family run, online blinds<br />

retailer BlindsbyPost is<br />

offering you the chance<br />

to refresh your home <strong>and</strong><br />

spruce up any room with the<br />

opportunity to win fabulous<br />

new blinds. The £200 voucher<br />

works across the website,<br />

giving you the opportunity to<br />

choose from the huge variety<br />

of blinds available.<br />

From motorised blinds<br />

which can modernise your windows <strong>and</strong><br />

make them an integral part of a smart home,<br />

<strong>and</strong> blackout blinds for complete peace <strong>and</strong><br />

relaxation to aid sleep, to versatile, functional <strong>and</strong><br />

affordable roller blinds, <strong>and</strong> wooden venetian blinds which add<br />

a stylish touch to any room, the options really are endless. One<br />

lucky reader will win a £200 voucher to spend online. Find the<br />

full T&Cs on the Minerva website.<br />

www.blindsbypost.co.uk<br />

Closes 15/09/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword: ‘BLINDS’<br />

WIN<br />

A £200<br />

ONLINE<br />

VOUCHER<br />

WITH<br />

BLINDSBYPOST<br />

WIN<br />

A STAY<br />

FOR 2 IN A<br />

BOUTIQUE<br />

LONDON<br />

HOTEL<br />

Win a night’s stay for<br />

two in Holmes Hotel.<br />

Located on London’s<br />

iconic Chiltern Street in<br />

the heart of Marylebone<br />

Village, Holmes Hotel is a<br />

chic boutique hotel that<br />

blends a unique sense<br />

of Baker Street heritage<br />

with contemporary style<br />

<strong>and</strong> luxury.<br />

On the doorstep of the crème de la crème of<br />

Marylebone’s shopping, cultural <strong>and</strong> dining<br />

destinations, it is the perfect base from which<br />

to explore the city.<br />

One lucky reader will win this fabulous stay.<br />

www.holmeshotel.com<br />

Closes 15/09/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword ‘HOLMES’<br />

WIN<br />

A HENRY<br />

VACUUM<br />

CLEANER!<br />

Reliable classic br<strong>and</strong> Henry has brought out<br />

two new offerings in the home. Henry Pet has<br />

all the great features of the Henry you know<br />

<strong>and</strong> love, with the added bonus of extra pet<br />

friendly features. Ready to remove stubborn pet<br />

hairs <strong>and</strong> reduce lingering pet odours, Henry Pet<br />

will become (almost) as important a part of the<br />

family as the furry-friends he’s cleaning up after.<br />

Awarded the British Allergy Foundation Seal of<br />

Approval, Henry Allergy is scientifically proven<br />

to reduce exposure to dust <strong>and</strong> pet-related<br />

allergens around the home.<br />

We have one of each of these amazing vacuum cleaners to give<br />

away – specify the one you’d like to win with the Keyword ‘Henry<br />

Pet’ or ‘Henry Allergy’.<br />

www.myhenry.com<br />

Closes 15/09/<strong>2022</strong> - Competition keyword:<br />

‘HENRY PET or HENRY ALLERGY’<br />

4 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


REBECCA KINGWELL<br />

FINANCIAL PLANNER<br />

Comprehensive, bespoke, financial advice & planning<br />

Would you like to start making<br />

better provision for your future <strong>and</strong><br />

retirement?<br />

Do you need help underst<strong>and</strong>ing<br />

your existing pension<br />

arrangements?<br />

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND<br />

NEW YEAR'S EVE AT<br />

CROWNE PLAZA READING EAST<br />

Rebecca Kingwell<br />

BSc (Hons), DipFA<br />

I offer specialist advice on pension<br />

planning, investment planning,<br />

savings, tax efficiency <strong>and</strong> life <strong>and</strong><br />

critical illness protection.<br />

Whatever type of Celebration you have in mind over the Festive Season, we offer it at our<br />

2 AA Rosette 4 Silver Star Crowne Plaza Reading East.<br />

From Festive Meals to Christmas Day Lunch, New Year's Eve Dinner, Festive Family<br />

Events, Festive Period Accommodation Packages, Private Christmas Parties <strong>and</strong> our<br />

ever-popular 'Join a Party' Nights, you can be assured of a fabulous time!<br />

To book for Christmas <strong>and</strong> NYE <strong>2022</strong>, contact our Events team:<br />

: 0118 944 4231<br />

: events@cpreading.co.uk<br />

https://www.cpreading.co.uk/christmas<br />

Wharfedale Road, Winnersh Triangle, Reading, RG41 5TS<br />

e: rebecca.kingwell@sjpp.co.uk t: 0330 053 6797<br />

www.rebeccakingwell.co.uk<br />

Oxfordshire . Berkshire<br />

Rebecca Kingwell Financial Planner is an Appointed Representative of <strong>and</strong> represents only<br />

St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised <strong>and</strong> regulated by the Financial<br />

Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products<br />

<strong>and</strong> services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website at www.sjp.co.uk/products<br />

Friday 22 July to Saturday 10 <strong>Sep</strong>tember<br />

A Watermill Theatre Production<br />

by arrangement with The Really Useful Group Ltd.<br />

Whistle DoWn<br />

the WinD<br />

Music by Andrew lloyd Webber<br />

lyrics by Jim steinman<br />

With book by Patricia Knop, Gale edwards <strong>and</strong> Andrew lloyd Webber<br />

orchestration by David Cullen & Andrew lloyd Webber<br />

Directed <strong>and</strong> Choreographed by tom Jackson Greaves<br />

Tickets from £15<br />

U30<br />

The Watermill Theatre & Restaurant, Bagnor, Newbury RG20 8AE<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 5


STYLISH<br />

stays<br />

THE ATLANTIC HOTEL<br />

Jersey, UK<br />

These days, travelling abroad has largely<br />

returned back to normal. There is no<br />

requirement to test or isolate, however<br />

if like me, you still feel a slight hesitancy<br />

in jumping on a 5+ hour flight to the med<br />

this summer, then you might find that<br />

Jersey makes a wonderful alternative.<br />

Flights with Blue Isl<strong>and</strong> (servicing the<br />

Channel Isl<strong>and</strong>s since 2006) are available<br />

from many airports across the UK, <strong>and</strong> in<br />

our case, traveling from Bristol to Jersey<br />

meant a flight time of less than an hour.<br />

No sooner were we in the air was there the<br />

announcement from the pilot that we were<br />

l<strong>and</strong>ing shortly. Amazing.<br />

A mere six minute taxi journey took us<br />

to our destination; The Atlantic Hotel.<br />

Situated in the parish of St Brelade on<br />

the west coast of Jersey, the hotel is<br />

surrounded by breathtaking coastal views<br />

as far as the eye can see. Our ocean<br />

view room gifted us scopes of the golden<br />

s<strong>and</strong>s of St Ouen’s Bay <strong>and</strong> the Atlantic<br />

ocean. With the sun beaming, who needs<br />

the med we thought!<br />

There is a timeless elegance to the feel<br />

of The Atlantic Hotel. Being situated right<br />

along the bay, every room you step into<br />

is bathed in light, <strong>and</strong> this continues right<br />

out into the Ocean Restaurant. I must<br />

admit, I was extremely eager to sample<br />

the menu. Since 2017 Chef Will Holl<strong>and</strong><br />

has been putting together menus at The<br />

Atlantic Hotel that celebrate the very best<br />

that the l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> the sea have to offer, so<br />

we knew we were in for a treat. And he<br />

didn’t disappoint. Each course had us in<br />

a state of wonder. Every element on the<br />

plate was so well thought out, so well<br />

pared, <strong>and</strong> so beautifully presented. With<br />

one Michelin Star under his belt before the<br />

age of 30, it certainly won’t be long before<br />

Will Holl<strong>and</strong> earns his next one under the<br />

The Atlantic Hotel. Watch this space.<br />

The breakfast menu continues the superb<br />

culinary offerings at The Atlantic Hotel,<br />

with a wide selection of cooked breakfast<br />

options, as well as a full continental spread<br />

available. If the weather is good you<br />

are able to take your dining experience<br />

outside beside the pool, which I would<br />

fully recommend as a gorgeous way to<br />

start your day.<br />

Ditch your passport (you don’t need one<br />

to fly to Jersey from the UK!), <strong>and</strong> book<br />

yourself in to The Altantic Hotel this<br />

Summer. You won’t regret it.<br />

Ocean View rooms available from<br />

£320 per night<br />

www.theatlantichotel.com<br />

LOU CASTEOU FITNESS RETREATS<br />

Côte d’Azur, France<br />

Lou Casteou’s fitness retreats in the South<br />

of France were created for those looking<br />

to have fun, feel great <strong>and</strong> get fit. The<br />

magnificent chateau in the Cote d’Azur’s<br />

Esterel National Park, provides an idyllic<br />

backdrop for the luxury breaks.<br />

Body Tonic delivers a programme of<br />

energetic <strong>and</strong> immensely varied workouts<br />

<strong>and</strong> relaxation. Designed to accommodate<br />

all ages <strong>and</strong> fitness levels, activities are<br />

led by a team of skilled personal trainers,<br />

keen to help improve stamina, build<br />

strength <strong>and</strong> boost confidence. Sessions<br />

are challenging yet enjoyable – a variety<br />

of intense stretching, cardio classes, Latin<br />

dance, swimming, yoga, boxing, TRX<br />

training, tennis workshops <strong>and</strong> coastal<br />

treks. Classes make the most of the<br />

chateau’s scenic location <strong>and</strong> surrounding<br />

woodl<strong>and</strong>s.<br />

Lou Casteou’s ‘Let’s Salsa’ <strong>and</strong> Afro<br />

dance retreats offer guests a chance to<br />

try out the different dance disciplines of<br />

Salsa, Bachata, Cuban Salsa, Kizomba,<br />

Cha Cha <strong>and</strong> the party dance, Merengue<br />

<strong>and</strong> Regaetton. The retreat caters for<br />

beginners, improvers <strong>and</strong> advanced<br />

dancers, wishing to improve their footwork<br />

skills <strong>and</strong> dance fitness.<br />

The chateau’s regular Tennis Academies<br />

offer six hours of daily professional<br />

coaching, strategy sessions <strong>and</strong><br />

tournaments, along with trips to<br />

surrounding areas of interest <strong>and</strong> social<br />

events.<br />

Meals at all retreats are enjoyed in<br />

Lou Casteou’s stunning period dining<br />

rooms or gardens, which boast views<br />

to the sea. The cuisine is always<br />

nutritionally balanced, our talented<br />

chefs curate mouth-watering gourmet<br />

dishes, designed to fuel the exercise<br />

programmes <strong>and</strong> promote general wellbeing<br />

<strong>and</strong> enjoyment <strong>and</strong> we have an<br />

excellent open bar serving fabulous<br />

Provençal wines.<br />

Perched on a hillside, the gr<strong>and</strong>, 200<br />

year old venue boasts 12 luxury en-suite<br />

rooms <strong>and</strong> can comfortably sleep up to 32<br />

guests. The property is also able to cater<br />

for up to 100 guests for conferences,<br />

formal events, launches, weddings <strong>and</strong><br />

parties.<br />

For more information about the retreats<br />

or hiring Lou Casteou please visit<br />

loucasteou.com or contact<br />

morag@loucasteou.com.


DISCOVER CHÂTEAU LOU CASTEOU<br />

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

meals, pampered luxury, energetic fitness classes, Latin dance sessions <strong>and</strong> outdoor activities including coastal treks, tennis, boxercise,<br />

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

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

Meals are fabulous, nutritious <strong>and</strong> elegant 3 course dinners, quality open bar <strong>and</strong> evening parties <strong>and</strong> entertainment.<br />

Please contact Morag@Loucasteou.com with questions <strong>and</strong> for reservations. www.loucasteou.com<br />

MMBaxterWT235.indd 1 17/11/2021 09:30<br />

A TRULY CLASSIC RACEDAY<br />

BOOK TICKETS NOW<br />

NEWBURYRACECOURSE.CO.UK<br />

BETVICTOR<br />

HUNGERFORD DAY<br />

FEATURING THE MINISTRY OF SOUND CLASSICAL<br />

SATURDAY 13 AUGUST<br />

WITH SPECIAL GUEST DJ<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 7


Meia Non Wired<br />

Bralette, £10<br />

Meia Rib Lace Crop<br />

Top £10 <strong>and</strong> Meia<br />

High Waisted Boy<br />

Shorts, £8<br />

WONDER<br />

UNDERS<br />

As most of us have officially<br />

ditched the underwire<br />

post-lockdown, we check<br />

out M&S’s comfortable<br />

new range - all available at<br />

marks<strong>and</strong>spencer.com<br />

Meia Rib Lace Crop<br />

Top £10 <strong>and</strong> Meia High<br />

Waisted Boy Shorts, £8<br />

Halo Tamika<br />

Bikini, Top £39<br />

<strong>and</strong> Bottoms £35,<br />

dancingleopard.<br />

co.uk<br />

Meia Lace High Leg Knickers, £6<br />

Anti-frizz treatment<br />

waterproofs your hair to<br />

stop frizz, even in the<br />

worst humidity, £26,<br />

uk.colorwowhair.com<br />

Love & Roses Dobby<br />

Bardot Midi Dress, £48,<br />

next.co.uk/lipsy<br />

We love the perfectly<br />

supportive Nata<br />

Dress - no need<br />

for a bra even for<br />

large busts, £89,<br />

mannersldn.com<br />

Cotton ‘Tutle’ Shopper,<br />

£4.99, hauslife.co.uk<br />

NUDESTIX<br />

Nudescreen Daily<br />

Mineral Veil SPF30,<br />

available in three<br />

shades, £28,<br />

NUDESTIX.com<br />

Hill Low Sneakers, £154,<br />

date-sneakers.com<br />

8 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


The ultimate holiday<br />

top - no bra needed - Iza<br />

Crop Vest in Shibori, £49,<br />

mannersldn.com<br />

Ankle Strap Wedge Espadrilles,<br />

£29.50, marks<strong>and</strong>spencer.com<br />

Refresh skin, hydrate<br />

<strong>and</strong> minimise pores<br />

with one spritz, £20,<br />

fresh.com/uk<br />

100% Linen<br />

Shirt, £39.90,<br />

calzedonia.com/uk<br />

HOLIDAY SHOP<br />

If you are jetting off to sunnier climbs, here are some holiday<br />

essentials to keep you looking <strong>and</strong> feeling your best<br />

Keep hair in check <strong>and</strong> get a salon-worthy<br />

blow dry at home - with two brushes, you<br />

can have bouncy curls of smooth, sleek<br />

hair in minutes. T3 AireBrush Duo Blow Dry<br />

Brush, £170, t3micro.co.uk<br />

You don’t need to take lots of bags<br />

on holiday when you take these clever<br />

crossbody bags with interchangeable straps.<br />

Crossbody Bag, £45, orlijewellery.com<br />

Trendsetters<br />

OUR FAVOURITE LIFESTYLE TRENDS<br />

Betsy Tie front top<br />

in Tulip Green<br />

£45,<br />

dancingleopard.<br />

co.uk<br />

FatFace Fleet<br />

Bermuda Denim<br />

Shorts in Bleach<br />

Wash, £42,<br />

fatface.com<br />

Ribbed Padded Square<br />

Neck Swimsuit, £29.50<br />

marks<strong>and</strong>spencer.com<br />

Push-Up B<strong>and</strong>eau Swimsuit Top<br />

Biarritz, £45, <strong>and</strong> High Waisted<br />

bottoms, £22, calzedonia.com/uk<br />

Pure Cotton Embroidered<br />

Mini Beach Dress, £39.50,<br />

marks<strong>and</strong>spencer.com<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 9


IAPS GOES from strength<br />

to strength<br />

By Christopher King, IAPS CEO...<br />

The independent school sector continues<br />

to ride on its roller coaster. At the time<br />

of writing, in advance of a new school<br />

year, it does look as if there are plenty<br />

of negative factors lining up to puncture<br />

any post Covid optimism which might<br />

have occurred. Alarming increases in<br />

fuel <strong>and</strong> heating costs, high inflation not<br />

seen for more than 30 years, a squeeze<br />

on parental incomes <strong>and</strong> a gloomy<br />

mood in general, given the political <strong>and</strong><br />

international l<strong>and</strong>scape, do not combine<br />

to give much reason for thinking the next<br />

academic year will be any kind of bed of<br />

roses. All that having been said, there are<br />

some lessons learnt from the experience<br />

of the time of the p<strong>and</strong>emic which give<br />

good cause to stop one throwing in the<br />

proverbial towel.<br />

We learnt from the time of maximum<br />

impact of Covid-19 that parents of<br />

children at IAPS schools were remarkably<br />

loyal <strong>and</strong> supportive of the schools their<br />

children attended. We also found the<br />

total number of children on roll in our<br />

schools went up, not by many, but set<br />

against dire predictions of impending<br />

collapse of the sector this was a<br />

remarkable achievement.<br />

In short, the independent sector has<br />

demonstrated considerable resilience<br />

<strong>and</strong> positive energy can be drawn from<br />

the experiences of the last few years. The<br />

fundamental strengths of our schools<br />

remains unchanged. A holistic education,<br />

alert to the changing expectations of the<br />

wider society but tied to tradition when<br />

it makes sense to do so because of the<br />

stability this offers, lies at the heart of<br />

IAPS schools. Small class sizes, a sense<br />

that every child is known <strong>and</strong> valued,<br />

<strong>and</strong> a determination to offer excellence<br />

as st<strong>and</strong>ard. In combination, all these<br />

features offer a compelling model which<br />

continues to draw families into the<br />

independent school fold.<br />

There are changes which have been<br />

gathering pace in the prep school world.<br />

Much of this change involves new<br />

ownership <strong>and</strong> governance for schools.<br />

There are some investors in our sector<br />

with a motivation which is opaque <strong>and</strong><br />

where their vales do not appear to align<br />

with the expectations we have for IAPS<br />

membership. However, the investment<br />

some of the so called ‘groups’ have<br />

brought to the schools is welcomed<br />

for the statement of confidence in the<br />

school’s future that this brings. The<br />

gathering into a larger foundation by<br />

some senior school governing bodies<br />

has been eyed with some suspicion<br />

in a few corners of the independent<br />

school sector. The drivers for such a<br />

move, where assimilation in this way<br />

has taken place, has been called into<br />

question. In reality, where senior school<br />

governing bodies have moved to draw<br />

prep schools into their fold, this has<br />

grown confidence amongst the majority<br />

of the current <strong>and</strong> prospective parental<br />

body, even if the leadership <strong>and</strong> staff<br />

might feel destabilised, at least for some<br />

time. Change brings such responses<br />

but time can heal this <strong>and</strong> it does seem<br />

that where new alignments are taking<br />

place confidence can return quickly as<br />

commitments on the school’s future<br />

start to be followed through on. The<br />

history of the prep school sector shows<br />

that there have regularly been well<br />

documented changes in ownership.<br />

The difference at this time would seem<br />

to be the aggregation of the schools<br />

into ‘groups’ but if they are well funded<br />

<strong>and</strong> can achieve economies of scale<br />

to suppress some costs which would<br />

otherwise have to be reflected in higher<br />

fees for parents then this can certainly be<br />

welcomed. The change of ownership <strong>and</strong><br />

governance shows no sign of stopping<br />

<strong>and</strong> the parental body need not be<br />

concerned if they can see the values of<br />

the school aligning with their’s <strong>and</strong> that<br />

fundamentally children are happy <strong>and</strong><br />

well cared for whist attending the school.<br />

10 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


new learning space<br />

for dolphin school<br />

Headmaster of Dolphin School,<br />

Adam Hurst, is delighted to announce<br />

that the Heather Brough Pavilion opened<br />

its doors to pupils this term!<br />

An Independent Prep School for Boys & Girls aged 3-13<br />

It is a modern, ecofriendly<br />

building,<br />

with light, airy <strong>and</strong><br />

inspiring learning<br />

spaces. Taking a<br />

prominent position at<br />

the front of school,<br />

it is a wonderful new<br />

development, enjoyed<br />

by pupils, staff <strong>and</strong><br />

parents alike.<br />

The new Pavilion delivers approximately 3000 sq ft of new<br />

teaching space, including a beautiful library, art room, music<br />

room, two further classrooms <strong>and</strong> WC facilities. It also boasts a<br />

lovely outdoor decking area, overlooking a pond on one side <strong>and</strong><br />

the school’s tennis courts on the other.<br />

Please contact us if you would like to visit, explore our exciting<br />

new facility, <strong>and</strong> learn more about what makes Dolphin a truly<br />

unique school.<br />

www.dolphinschool.com<br />

0118 934 1277<br />

ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

Dolphin School inspires a love of learning that lasts a lifetime...<br />

Please visit our website to learn more,<br />

or contact Kate Spooner<br />

admissions@dolphinschool.com<br />

www.dolphinschool.com<br />

0118 934 1277<br />

Waltham Road, Hurst, Berkshire, RG10 0FR<br />

'DOUBLE EXCELLENT'<br />

Top Marks in ISI Inspection:<br />

Double Excellent<br />

Fully co-educational since 1993<br />

Transport service available<br />

Learn more at www.leightonpark.com<br />

independent • day/boarding • 11-18 years • Reading, Berks<br />

Leighton Park is a day <strong>and</strong> boarding school<br />

for ages 11-18 in Reading, Berkshire <strong>and</strong><br />

winner of the Best Co-educational School<br />

2021, South East Engl<strong>and</strong>...<br />

The UK Government’s latest<br />

Sixth Form league tables reveal<br />

Leighton Park to be the best<br />

performing School in Berkshire<br />

<strong>and</strong> in the top 14 boarding<br />

schools in the country. The<br />

Independent Schools Inspectorate<br />

awarded Leighton Park the<br />

highest possible ranking in their<br />

latest inspection, published<br />

January <strong>2022</strong>, ‘Double Excellent’.<br />

Leighton Park has been fully co-educational since 1993 <strong>and</strong><br />

exists to form young people of real character <strong>and</strong> confidence,<br />

with a determined desire to change the world. It is particularly<br />

well-known for its approach to STEAM, which combines the<br />

analytical skills from Science, Technology, Engineering <strong>and</strong> Maths<br />

with the creativity from the Arts. It won the national Award for<br />

Excellence in STEAM Education in 2020. It is also very highly<br />

regarded for its strength in Music <strong>and</strong> its Ethical Changemaker<br />

programme.<br />

Report published January <strong>2022</strong><br />

Discover more at the Annual Open Morning on Saturday 24th<br />

<strong>Sep</strong>tember, 9am-11am. Book online at:<br />

www.leightonpark.com/visit-leighton-park<br />

ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 11


From<br />

Barrister<br />

to Chef:<br />

Nisha<br />

Katona<br />

ADVERTISING FEATURE<br />

Barrister turned<br />

entrepreneur Nisha Katona,<br />

talks about her rise to<br />

success, her inspirational<br />

recipes <strong>and</strong> how she has<br />

partnered up with Haier the<br />

No.1 Global Major Appliance<br />

Br<strong>and</strong> to launch their new<br />

built-in cooking range.<br />

Here, we sit down with<br />

Nisha <strong>and</strong> get invaluable<br />

advice about launching a<br />

business, writing a book, her<br />

motivations <strong>and</strong> her biggest<br />

inspiration.<br />

How did you career in cooking begin<br />

<strong>and</strong> what advice would you give to<br />

someone who is looking to launch<br />

a cookery book or start their own<br />

restaurant business?<br />

Well, what a lot of people don’t know<br />

is that I started my career as a Child<br />

Protection Barrister <strong>and</strong> have always had<br />

a passion for cooking. I think it’s very true<br />

that anyone born into an immigrant culture<br />

is very passionate about their food. It’s one<br />

of the few things that you can keep alive,<br />

so from when you’re born the smells, the<br />

aroma of your culture is something that’s<br />

so unique <strong>and</strong> precious to you.<br />

Food has always been a big part of my life<br />

<strong>and</strong> even though I was a Barrister for 20<br />

years, all the while I taught Indian cookery<br />

<strong>and</strong> wanted to teach <strong>and</strong> keep these<br />

ancient Indian recipes alive. I just thought<br />

to myself if I’m so addicted to my food,<br />

there must be something in it, I wanted to<br />

give something to the British public, cuisine<br />

that wasn’t seen on British highstreets <strong>and</strong><br />

only seen really within Indian homes at<br />

mealtimes when the curtains were drawn,<br />

<strong>and</strong> that was really the start of my cooking<br />

journey <strong>and</strong> that was seven years ago, <strong>and</strong><br />

we are now building our 18th restaurant.<br />

12 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk<br />

I would say if you want to be in the<br />

restaurant business really love what you’re<br />

going to be doing <strong>and</strong> think of what will set<br />

you apart from others in the industry. The<br />

same goes with launching a cookery book,<br />

how will your cookery book be different to<br />

other cookery books out there, what is it<br />

that makes your recipes that little bit more<br />

diverse or interesting.<br />

What do you love about the Haier built-in<br />

cooking range <strong>and</strong> hOn App?<br />

Not only is the Haier built-in cooking<br />

range intuitive <strong>and</strong> beautiful, but it’s<br />

also ergonomically pleasing. They have<br />

mechanisms that allow you to set the right<br />

temperature for your specific dish <strong>and</strong> your<br />

food is cooked evenly with wonderful quality.<br />

It also makes things easier when you have a<br />

feature like the Haier hOn app that supports<br />

your cooking journey every step of the<br />

way. The dedicated App allows cooking<br />

enthusiasts to sit back <strong>and</strong> relax <strong>and</strong> spend<br />

more time with family <strong>and</strong> friends, whilst it<br />

sets the temperature, cooks the food <strong>and</strong><br />

alerts you when it’s finished cooking your<br />

food. And with over 200 recipes, you have a<br />

lot of dishes to experiment with.<br />

What motivates you when you get up in<br />

the morning, how do you start your day?<br />

I’ve lived a long time <strong>and</strong> I realise that the<br />

most satisfying way to live is to wake up in<br />

the morning <strong>and</strong> wonder how you can make<br />

the lives of those around you better. I built<br />

my restaurant so that we could enrich lives<br />

in the cities we go to. Every morning I think<br />

about how through my food I can do that.<br />

Do you feel the kitchen plays the most<br />

important role in a house <strong>and</strong> why is it so<br />

important in using the right appliances<br />

when cooking?<br />

Absolutely, it’s so critically important to love<br />

your kitchen <strong>and</strong> the appliances around<br />

you. When you go into your kitchen, it is a<br />

real collaboration between you <strong>and</strong> your<br />

hob or you <strong>and</strong> your oven. So, it’s important<br />

that when you go into your kitchen, you<br />

look forward to opening that oven <strong>and</strong><br />

look forward to interacting with that hob. It<br />

sounds mad, but as a chef you need instant<br />

heat, you need an oven that cooks your dish<br />

evenly, otherwise all your preparation goes<br />

to waste.<br />

The kitchen plays an integral part in the<br />

home, it’s where you gather as a family or<br />

a couple or even solo if you’re wanting to<br />

enjoy a nice peaceful meal on your own.<br />

It’s the place where you also entertain <strong>and</strong><br />

host parties or gatherings. Your appliances<br />

should make your entertainment <strong>and</strong><br />

cooking journey easy.<br />

Where do you get inspiration from for the<br />

recipes you cook?<br />

My inspiration, I would say came from my<br />

gr<strong>and</strong>mother, my earliest memory is a small<br />

kitchen space, with an open-door policy.<br />

We came to Engl<strong>and</strong> at a time when the<br />

only bridge between us was food. To make<br />

friends we would cook food for people <strong>and</strong><br />

our kitchen was always open. Those recipes<br />

were ancient recipes that only our family<br />

cooked, generations after generations. One<br />

of the food memories I remember is going<br />

to the fish market at 5am <strong>and</strong> smelling<br />

that lovely, sweet smell of pink fish freshly<br />

caught, <strong>and</strong> choosing vegetables from<br />

the pavement, touching it. We felt food as<br />

children, honoring the food is so important.<br />

For more about Haier <strong>and</strong> its products<br />

across cooking, laundry, cooling <strong>and</strong><br />

cleaning, click here Haier Europe or go to<br />

www.haier-europe.com


It’s time to char the grills <strong>and</strong><br />

turn up the gas to celebrate BBQ<br />

season. Wilson, inhouse Chef<br />

at Robert Welch has crafted <strong>and</strong><br />

collated three recipes to set your<br />

BBQ dining experience off with<br />

spark!<br />

BBQ Lamb<br />

BURGERS<br />

Created by Catherine Frawley,<br />

www.borrowed-light.com<br />

Serves 4<br />

H<strong>and</strong>s on time 10 mins + 30 mins chill time<br />

Cook time 10 mins<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

500g Organic Lamb mince<br />

1 small h<strong>and</strong>ful fresh mint, finely chopped<br />

1 tbsp Dijon Mustard<br />

1 egg<br />

1 garlic clove crushed<br />

1 small shallot, finely chopped<br />

h<strong>and</strong>ful of breadcrumbs<br />

Sea salt & pepper to taste<br />

1 tbsp olive oil<br />

FOR THE<br />

Grill<br />

To serve <strong>and</strong> garnish<br />

4 seeded brioche buns, halved <strong>and</strong> toasted<br />

Mayonnaise<br />

Rocket, watercress <strong>and</strong> spinach leaves<br />

2 slices per burger of halloumi, grilled<br />

1-2 pickles, thinly sliced<br />

Tomato relish<br />

METHOD<br />

Prepare your BBQ for direct cooking <strong>and</strong><br />

preheat your barbecue to high!<br />

The BBQ grill should be brushed <strong>and</strong> oiled<br />

before it gets too hot to do this.<br />

Once high heat is achieved, place the<br />

burgers on the grill <strong>and</strong> arrange them with<br />

room for licking flames to catch the sides.<br />

BBQ for approx. 3 minutes, or until the<br />

bottoms are well coloured (you’re looking<br />

for some carbonisation as that’s all flavour).<br />

Using a spatula, gently flip the lamb burgers<br />

over. Tip: Never press the burgers with the<br />

spatula—you’ll force out the succulent<br />

juices <strong>and</strong> dripping fat onto hot coals or<br />

flame will cause too much fire <strong>and</strong> a smoky<br />

burnt taste.<br />

Cook the lamb burgers until cooked<br />

to taste. Approx. 5 minutes in total for rare,<br />

7 minutes for medium-rare <strong>and</strong><br />

8 to 10 minutes for medium.<br />

Tip: To ensure thorough cooking, use a<br />

digital thermometer, do not rely on divine<br />

sense. The core should be 52°C for rare,<br />

56°C for medium rare, 60°C for medium,<br />

<strong>and</strong> 70°C to be considered well done.<br />

SERVES<br />

4<br />

PREP<br />

10<br />

COOK<br />

10<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 13


CORN ON<br />

THE COB<br />

with Olive Oil,<br />

Parmesan & Lemon<br />

Created by Wilson, inhouse<br />

Chef at Robert Welch<br />

Serves 4<br />

H<strong>and</strong>s on time 10 mins<br />

Cook time 10 mins<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

4 fresh corn on the cob<br />

2 tbsp good quality Olive oil<br />

1 lemon (juiced)<br />

25g Parmesan (finely grated)<br />

Sea salt & pepper to taste<br />

METHOD<br />

Using your pestle & mortar grind the<br />

Parmesan <strong>and</strong> olive oil to a paste <strong>and</strong> add<br />

lemon juice.<br />

Season to taste with salt & pepper.<br />

To cook your corn - wrap each corn cob in<br />

a double layer of aluminium foil. BBQ for<br />

approx. 30-35mins turning regularly until<br />

tender <strong>and</strong> slightly charred. If you like me<br />

love the blackened bits, simply unwrap<br />

them <strong>and</strong> throw directly on the barbecue<br />

for a few more mins.<br />

Drizzle your prepared dressing over<br />

cooked corn. Enjoy!<br />

SERVES<br />

4<br />

PREP<br />

10<br />

COOK<br />

10<br />

14 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


Come <strong>and</strong> join us for a very<br />

Merry Christmas at Bearwood Lakes<br />

Enjoy the ultimate Christmas Party in our elegant Clubhouse, with fine<br />

food <strong>and</strong> some great party tunes to get everyone on the dance floor.<br />

For more information, please call M<strong>and</strong>y on 01183048200 ext. 3 or drop her<br />

an e-mail on m.hurst@bearwoodlakes.co.uk<br />

www.bearwoodlakes.co.uk<br />

Bearwood Lakes Golf Club, Bearwood Road,<br />

<strong>Wokingham</strong>, RG41 4SJ 01183048200<br />

GIVE A GIFT that means a little more<br />

sustainable, wellness-based gift boxes - customisable <strong>and</strong> beautiful, from £10<br />

available from hauslife.co.uk<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 15


SALSA VERDE<br />

( great with steak)<br />

Created by Wilson, inhouse<br />

Chef at Robert Welch<br />

Makes approximately 200ml<br />

H<strong>and</strong>s on time 10 mins<br />

TIP: Usually made in a food processor, but I<br />

find a pestle & mortar keeps it fresher!<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

One salt-packed whole anchovy * (or<br />

alternatively 2 anchovy fillets in oil) *spines<br />

removed (see below)<br />

2 tablespoons salted capers<br />

A clove of garlic<br />

Approximately 100g or 1 bunch flat-leaf<br />

parsley<br />

10 basil leaves<br />

70ml Extra-Virgin Olive oil<br />

1 lemon (juiced)<br />

Sea salt & pepper to taste<br />

Tip: If you can get Salted caper rather than<br />

capers in brine, go for it!<br />

When using salt preserved products, rinse<br />

them first to remove excess salt <strong>and</strong> the soak<br />

in fresh water for 15mins, draining them on<br />

kitchen towel.<br />

If needed: To remove anchovy spines from<br />

whole fish, start at the tail end <strong>and</strong> split the<br />

anchovy lengthwise, slowly pulling out the<br />

spine. You will be left with 2 fillets.<br />

METHOD<br />

Place the anchovy fillets, salted capers, <strong>and</strong><br />

garlic in the pestle & mortar <strong>and</strong> grind until<br />

you have a smooth paste.<br />

Add the herbs <strong>and</strong> continue to grind <strong>and</strong><br />

smash until resembles a paste, similar to<br />

pesto.<br />

Add Extra-Virgin Olive oil <strong>and</strong> mix.<br />

Season with lemon juice, salt & pepper to<br />

taste.<br />

Splash over steak, chicken, fish, vegetables,<br />

potatoes, literally anything.<br />

All recipes can be found on robertwelch.com<br />

PREP<br />

10<br />

16 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


ICE AND<br />

Some simple <strong>and</strong> delicious<br />

ice cream recipes from<br />

the appliance experts<br />

Cuisinart<br />

Easy<br />

RASPBERRY RIPPLE<br />

ICE CREAM<br />

Prep takes only 20 minutes, then just<br />

leave the Cuisinart Gelato <strong>and</strong> Ice Cream<br />

Professional to churn it to perfection.<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

300g raspberries<br />

150g caster sugar<br />

1 tbsp lemon juice<br />

160ml full fat milk<br />

300ml double cream<br />

1 tsp vanilla extract<br />

METHOD<br />

In a saucepan, combine the raspberries,<br />

50g caster sugar <strong>and</strong> 2 tbsp water. Bring<br />

to the boil <strong>and</strong> simmer for a few minutes,<br />

until the fruit is soft. Pass through a sieve,<br />

discarding the pips.<br />

Pour the purée into a clean saucepan <strong>and</strong><br />

simmer for about 10 minutes, to reduce<br />

down to a syrup. Stir in the lemon juice<br />

<strong>and</strong> cool, before chilling completely in<br />

the fridge.<br />

To make the ice cream, pour the milk <strong>and</strong><br />

remaining caster sugar (approx 100g)<br />

into a bowl <strong>and</strong> whisk, until the sugar has<br />

dissolved. Add in the cream <strong>and</strong> vanilla<br />

extract <strong>and</strong> stir until combined. Chill for<br />

an hour.<br />

Insert the paddle into the bowl of the ice<br />

cream maker.<br />

Whisk the chilled mixture, before pouring<br />

into the bowl of your ice cream maker<br />

<strong>and</strong> churn, for approximately an hour.<br />

Just before the ice cream is ready, add<br />

the raspberry puree, so that it creates a<br />

ripple effect.<br />

The ice cream is ready when it begins to<br />

thicken <strong>and</strong> freeze. To produce a firmer<br />

ice cream, freeze for several hours in an<br />

airtight container.<br />

WHITE CHOCOLATE<br />

COOKIE ICE CREAM<br />

SANDWICHES<br />

Ready in just 22 minutes, this recipe will<br />

make 12 cookies - 6 ‘s<strong>and</strong>wiches’<br />

INGREDIENTS<br />

225g plain flour, sifted<br />

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda, sifted<br />

¼ tsp salt<br />

150g unsalted butter, softened<br />

80g light muscovado sugar<br />

80g granulated sugar<br />

2 tsp. vanilla extract<br />

1 large egg<br />

100g white chocolate chips or chunks<br />

METHOD<br />

Heat the oven to 180˚C / 350F / Gas<br />

Mark 4. Then line two baking trays<br />

with greaseproof paper. In a medium<br />

bowl, whisk together the sifted flour,<br />

bicarbonate of soda <strong>and</strong> salt.<br />

Mix the softened butter <strong>and</strong> sugars<br />

using the Cordless Pro H<strong>and</strong> Mixer - it’s<br />

wireless design means you can use it<br />

anywhere in the kitchen. Add the vanilla<br />

extract <strong>and</strong> 1 egg <strong>and</strong> continue to beat.<br />

Add the combined dry ingredients <strong>and</strong><br />

gently beat on a lower speed, until fully<br />

incorporated. Fold in the white chocolate<br />

chips until combined. Cover the bowl<br />

with cling film <strong>and</strong> place in the fridge to<br />

chill, for approximately 1 hour.<br />

Using an ice cream scoop, make balls<br />

with the chilled cookie dough <strong>and</strong> place<br />

the, on the prepared baking trays. Gently<br />

place a thumb on top <strong>and</strong> squash down<br />

slightly. Leave enough room for the<br />

cookies to spread a little.<br />

Bake for 12 minutes, until they start to<br />

turn a light brown <strong>and</strong> then transfer to a<br />

wire rack to cool. S<strong>and</strong>wich scoops of<br />

your favourite ice cream between two<br />

cookies <strong>and</strong> enjoy immediately.<br />

GELATO AT HOME<br />

There is no substitute for delicious<br />

homemade ice cream, made using your<br />

choice of fresh ingredients. The instant<br />

freeze bowl means there is no need to<br />

pre-freeze in advance so you can prepare<br />

batch after batch of your favourite frozen<br />

desserts, each ready in as little as 40<br />

minutes.<br />

The machine comes with 2 specialist<br />

mixing paddles to give the perfect texture<br />

to your frozen dessert. The ice cream<br />

paddle incorporates more air during<br />

mixing to give ice cream a lighter texture.<br />

The gelato paddle is perfect for gelato<br />

<strong>and</strong> sorbet, incorporating less<br />

air <strong>and</strong> leaving the gelato<br />

denser than ice cream<br />

with a silkier, softer<br />

texture.<br />

Cuisinart Gelato<br />

<strong>and</strong> Ice Cream<br />

Professional,<br />

£300 <strong>and</strong><br />

Cordless Pro<br />

H<strong>and</strong> Mixer,<br />

£90, both<br />

cuisinart.co.uk<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 17


Book a skip<br />

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cleaners to forklift trucks.<br />

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Quote ref: WLB02<br />

ABS registered Gas Safe <strong>and</strong> fully<br />

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NO call out charge <strong>and</strong> fast response, your plumbing<br />

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· No hidden charges.<br />

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· Boiler <strong>and</strong> heating experts.<br />

· Taps, toilets <strong>and</strong> showers repaired.<br />

GUARANTEED TRUSTWORTHY<br />

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67 Draycott | <strong>Bracknell</strong> | RG12 0UX<br />

Tel: 07866 101099 Web: www.abspb.co.uk<br />

Email: abs@abspb.co.uk<br />

18 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


A BATHROOM TO<br />

Inspire<br />

Thinking of remodelling your<br />

bathroom? It can feel a little<br />

daunting knowing where to begin.<br />

We catch up with two home<br />

owners <strong>and</strong> newbie renovators to<br />

find out about their project….<br />

Sink unit: Nuie Bathrooms, Hudson Reed Fusion Vanity Unit<br />

Tiles: Tile Choice, Naples Beige Porcelain Floor & Wall Tiles


WHAT WERE SOME OF THE<br />

OBSTACLES YOU FACED<br />

WITH THIS PROJECT?<br />

Our main objective with this project<br />

was to refresh <strong>and</strong> update the room.<br />

The bathroom was 20+ years old <strong>and</strong> in<br />

need of both a practical <strong>and</strong> an aesthetic<br />

overhaul. We were quite happy with the<br />

layout of the room, so in that sense we<br />

weren’t looking to reconfigure the space,<br />

it was more a case of refreshing <strong>and</strong><br />

redesigning the existing layout. This was<br />

certainly of some comfort to us as we<br />

were very much newbies to renovations<br />

of any kind!<br />

Shower system: Nuie Bathrooms,<br />

Complete Shower Set, Square<br />

Heated Towel Rail: Nuie Bathrooms,<br />

Piazza Flat Panel Heated Towel Rail<br />

Tiles: Tile Choice, Naples Beige<br />

Porcelain Floor & Wall Tiles<br />

One literal object we were hoping<br />

to conquer was a column, originally<br />

positioned between the sink <strong>and</strong> the<br />

toilet. Fully tiled, it was difficult to know<br />

what exactly might be behind it, although<br />

the plumber suspected it was the waste<br />

pipe. He informed us that it should be<br />

possible to get rid of it, cut the pipe down<br />

to a more discreet level <strong>and</strong> hide it within<br />

a new sink/toilet unit. But it was a risk, as<br />

he couldn’t be certain what was lurking<br />

within the column. Luckily his guess was<br />

spot on as it was indeed the waste pipe.<br />

Another issue we faced once work began<br />

was that once the tiles came up, the floor<br />

was unfortunately almost completely<br />

rotten. So the timber needed replacing,<br />

which we had to just put down to being<br />

one of those things!<br />

DID YOU HAVE A CERTAIN<br />

DESIGN OR LOOK IN MIND?<br />

In some sense yes. I knew the type of<br />

look I was hoping to find in terms of the<br />

tiles. And luckily Tile Choice had such<br />

a wide range that we were able to find<br />

something that we loved very quickly.<br />

We wanted to fully tile the room as we<br />

intended for the space to be a practical<br />

family bathroom, <strong>and</strong> therefore we<br />

needed it to be easy to clean! So we<br />

were after a tile that was practical but<br />

stylish for both floors <strong>and</strong> walls. I was<br />

seeking a beige porcelain tile that had<br />

a sort of rustic natural stone look to it,<br />

while also bringing a warm tone to the<br />

room <strong>and</strong> so the Naples Beige range of<br />

wall <strong>and</strong> floor tiles ticked every box for<br />

us! They sent us a full sized tile sample<br />

which was great for us to get a feel as to<br />

whether it worked for the room, <strong>and</strong> there<br />

was even a feature on the website where<br />

you could upload a photo of your room,<br />

<strong>and</strong> then preview how the tile visualises,<br />

which was h<strong>and</strong>y for us to do before we<br />

committed.<br />

Vanity unit: Nuie Bathrooms,<br />

Hudson Reed Fusion Vanity Unit<br />

I was keen for there to be a monochrome<br />

theme in terms of some of the bathroom<br />

features. We are lucky with the amount<br />

of light that comes into the bathroom.<br />

Despite the room being north-facing,<br />

the windows are so large they’re almost<br />

their own feature wall. So we knew we<br />

could afford to be a little bold <strong>and</strong> include<br />

a few splashes of black <strong>and</strong> grey in the<br />

20 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


Taps: Nuie Bathrooms,<br />

Windon Mono<br />

Basin Mixer<br />

grime within them, <strong>and</strong> as such whenever you drew a<br />

bath you would notice all sorts of dirt seep out. That<br />

<strong>and</strong> the fact that there was barely any enamel left<br />

meant that we pretty much had never taken a bath<br />

since moving into the property!<br />

We knew we wanted a bathtub that stretched the<br />

entire width of the room, but we also decided (while<br />

using the 3D design tool), that an ‘L-shaped’ bath<br />

suited the layout of the room best. Our bathroom is<br />

not the largest of rooms, <strong>and</strong> this shape of tub would<br />

room. I had fallen in love with a shower set<br />

in the Nuie Bathrooms brochure that was<br />

available in matt black, <strong>and</strong> so we decided<br />

to continue the matt black theme <strong>and</strong> pair<br />

it with matching matt black taps, vanity unit<br />

h<strong>and</strong>les, shower screen finishes <strong>and</strong> flush<br />

button, as well as a anthracite coloured<br />

heated towel rail <strong>and</strong> vanity unit. We felt that,<br />

combined, they tied together very nicely,<br />

<strong>and</strong> when combined with the Naples Beige<br />

tiles, created the right amount of warmth <strong>and</strong><br />

ambience.<br />

We knew that we wanted a vanity unit to<br />

stretch across the area where the existing<br />

sink <strong>and</strong> toilet lay. All being well, with<br />

the column removed, this unit could sit<br />

comfortably in the space, <strong>and</strong> therefore<br />

encapsulate the cistern of the toilet. So we<br />

just needed to find a design that suited us.<br />

Nuie Bathrooms had us covered. They had a<br />

range of bathroom furniture that really fitted<br />

with our vision. But something we found<br />

incredibly useful was their online interactive<br />

3D design tool. It was invaluable during the<br />

design process <strong>and</strong> was so easy to use! All<br />

that was required of us was to input our room<br />

dimensions, <strong>and</strong> then we were free to browse<br />

their entire catalogue of products <strong>and</strong> styles.<br />

It really brought the project to life for us <strong>and</strong><br />

quite quickly we found a vanity unit that<br />

worked both in terms of size but also style.<br />

Before<br />

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY WAS<br />

THE BIGGEST FOCUS AREA<br />

FOR YOU WHEN IT CAME TO<br />

REMODELLING?<br />

We of course wanted to completely refresh<br />

the room, but if I had to choose, then I<br />

would say the bath was the main focus.<br />

We are looking to start a family in the not<br />

so distant future, <strong>and</strong> with this room being<br />

the only bathroom in the house, a new fully<br />

functioning bathtub was extremely important<br />

to us. Our previous bath was a crescent<br />

shaped jacuzzi-style tub. The air jets had<br />

never worked since moving into the house,<br />

<strong>and</strong> they were always a pain to clean. We<br />

found that no matter how much you doused<br />

them in bleach, you never got rid of all the<br />

After


utilise the space, while the shower screen<br />

would help create the illusion of a larger<br />

room. Plus, having the bathtub spanning<br />

the full width of the room meant optimum<br />

space for a relaxing soak at the end of a<br />

hectic day.<br />

WHAT STORAGE SOLUTIONS<br />

DOES THE NEW BATHROOM<br />

OFFER?<br />

We wanted to go for a clean look with<br />

the new design, maximizing the feeling of<br />

space as much as possible. Therefore it<br />

was important that the vanity unit offered<br />

a decent amount of storage. The Nuie<br />

Hudson Reed Fusion unit ticked a lot of<br />

boxes for us in this sense, as visually it<br />

offered a sleek, stylish <strong>and</strong> modern look,<br />

while also featuring two sets of cupboards<br />

for all our toiletries. Since it has been<br />

installed, we have actually found ourselves<br />

looking for bits <strong>and</strong> pieces to fill the space<br />

(even with the waste pipe hidden within it)!<br />

This ample amount of space has meant that<br />

we don’t need to clutter the windowsill <strong>and</strong><br />

bathtub with toiletries, giving the room <strong>and</strong><br />

all its gorgeous features a chance to shine.<br />

Mirror: Pebble Grey Ltd,<br />

Oslo LED Backlit Mirror<br />

THE OVERHEAD SHOWER<br />

SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE A BIT OF<br />

A FEATURE IN ITSELF!<br />

It’s beautiful isn’t it? We were really keen to<br />

purchase an overhead shower, but I also<br />

wanted one that had a rinser kit arm also,<br />

to allow for those days when you aren’t<br />

washing your hair. I have always dreamed<br />

of owning one of those showers! And with<br />

it being available in matt black, it really<br />

has established itself as a feature of the<br />

room, as well as tying in beautifully with the<br />

matching monochrome taps below it.<br />

DID YOU OPT FOR ANY TECH<br />

PRODUCTS?<br />

It may of been a bit of an unnecessary<br />

purchase in some people’s minds (including<br />

my husb<strong>and</strong>’s at the time!) but I had always<br />

wanted a heated mirror. I loved the idea<br />

of actually being able to see yourself in a<br />

mirror once you were out of the shower.<br />

Pebble Grey Ltd offered a wide variety of<br />

styles, <strong>and</strong> I loved the simple black frame<br />

that surrounded this one, as well as the<br />

warm ambient LEDs. I am pleased to say<br />

that once it was installed, my husb<strong>and</strong><br />

became a complete convert, <strong>and</strong> now uses<br />

the light feature on it more than the main<br />

bathroom lights! It is has a motion sensor<br />

that makes the mirror contactless to switch<br />

on <strong>and</strong> off - a nice hygienic feature, as well<br />

as adding to the sleekness of the design.<br />

Our main goal with the refit was to create<br />

a bathroom that felt like an escape, <strong>and</strong> to<br />

ensure that clutter was kept to a minimum.<br />

And I think we have managed to achieve<br />

this through smart choices that are both<br />

practical, yet provide a sense of clean, chic<br />

style. We couldn’t be happier.<br />

22 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


NUIE BATHROOM<br />

DESIGN TOOL<br />

This was the dream tool when it came to mapping<br />

out our bathroom design.<br />

We were able to browse through all of Nuie’s<br />

products <strong>and</strong> styles, enter your room dimensions<br />

<strong>and</strong> plan our space in 3D to see our bathroom<br />

come to life.<br />

STOCKIST INFORMATION<br />

For bathroom furniture, ceramics, bath,<br />

shower, screen, heated towel rail <strong>and</strong> taps:<br />

Nuie Bathrooms<br />

www.nuiebathrooms.com<br />

For floor <strong>and</strong> wall tiles: Tile Choice<br />

www.tilechoice.co.uk<br />

For heated mirror: Pebble Grey<br />

www.pebblegrey.co.uk<br />

Bathroom fitted <strong>and</strong> installed by<br />

JD Kitchen <strong>and</strong> Bathroom Installations<br />

f @jdkitchen<strong>and</strong>bathrooms<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 23


caffelattehome.com<br />

Sixties<br />

Print from £3,<br />

abstracthouse.com<br />

Jozef Chierowski 366 Easy<br />

Chair, £650, rose<strong>and</strong>grey.co.uk<br />

L.Ercolani Chair,<br />

lercolani.com<br />

Sputnik Light, £349,<br />

houseof.com<br />

Set of Vases, £34.99,<br />

auburnfox.co.uk<br />

Pendant Lamp, £175,<br />

beaumonde.co.uk<br />

INTERIOR<br />

Little lifts to your home to<br />

wake up your spaces<br />

espresso<br />

Pampas & Bloom Wreath,<br />

£70, iamfy.co<br />

Double Hammock,<br />

btfy.com<br />

Bamboo Shelf, £94.95,<br />

cuckool<strong>and</strong>.com<br />

Perth Dressing Table, £619,<br />

sweetpea<strong>and</strong>willow.com<br />

Kaia Jute Circles Rug,<br />

£150, cultfurniture.com<br />

Boho<br />

Mudcloth Style Lumbar,<br />

£75, hauslife.co.uk<br />

dunelm.com<br />

24 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


leafenvy.co.uk<br />

‘Sage Advice’ Paint,<br />

dowsing<strong>and</strong>reynolds.com<br />

White Garden Poster,<br />

desenio.com<br />

Biophilia<br />

‘Home Grown’ Paint,<br />

coatpaints.com<br />

dobbies.com<br />

Lambert Accent Chair,<br />

£349, cultfurniture.com<br />

Plant & Pot<br />

Subscription, £35,<br />

leafenvy.co.uk<br />

Rattan Breakfast<br />

Trays, Natural £125,<br />

rebeccaudall.com<br />

Tilos Chaise Corner Set,<br />

£1750, cox<strong>and</strong>cox.co.uk<br />

Cicely Preserved Flowers,<br />

£39, shida.florist<br />

Al Fresco<br />

Natural Rattan<br />

Side Table,<br />

£145, iamfy.co<br />

Fringed Deck Chair, £250,<br />

cox<strong>and</strong>cox.co.uk<br />

lights4fun.co.uk<br />

Moroccan Leather<br />

Pouffe, £95,<br />

hauslife.co.uk<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 25


26 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


GROW FOR<br />

Gold<br />

In this edition, our regular<br />

contributor Matt Biggs gives<br />

us advice on how growing<br />

your own can be both cost<br />

effective <strong>and</strong> rewarding...<br />

With prices rising <strong>and</strong> evidence of some<br />

empty shelves in the shops, now might be<br />

the time for a little bit of ‘Dig for Victory’<br />

spirit!<br />

There are so many ways of adding to<br />

your food options, from a few radishes to<br />

add some peppery perk to your salads to<br />

courgettes, beetroot, peas, Japanese <strong>and</strong><br />

Chinese salad leaves, tomatoes <strong>and</strong>, of<br />

course, the humble spud!<br />

Even if you have no space, balconies,<br />

hanging baskets <strong>and</strong> even windowsills<br />

can host something edible from chilli<br />

plants <strong>and</strong> herbs to hanging tomatoes -<br />

<strong>and</strong> there is nothing like picking your own<br />

home grown produce <strong>and</strong> taking it straight<br />

to the kitchen. Many local Colleges offer<br />

short courses to help you get started,<br />

there are books, videos, TV programmes<br />

<strong>and</strong> your local garden club - all there to<br />

get your growing energies into gear.<br />

As well as the physical activity involved<br />

in preparing the ground <strong>and</strong> hoeing <strong>and</strong><br />

weeding there is a mental benefit too<br />

<strong>and</strong> this is becoming more <strong>and</strong> more<br />

recognised as we rush from work to shop<br />

to home - a little time spent in the open<br />

air with the birds in the background is<br />

very beneficial <strong>and</strong> if you join a gardening<br />

club there is a social side too, as there is<br />

in having an allotment <strong>and</strong> sharing both<br />

gardening knowledge <strong>and</strong> produce.<br />

Children too can join in - an easy to grow<br />

packet of seeds <strong>and</strong> a large pot or a<br />

patch of earth <strong>and</strong> off they go - <strong>and</strong> there<br />

is a lot of learning in a packet of seeds,<br />

from biology to botany, the maths of<br />

sowing <strong>and</strong> spacing, the responsibility of<br />

being in charge of something, watering<br />

<strong>and</strong> weeding <strong>and</strong> then the joy of sharing<br />

what is grown - it is win, win all the way,<br />

<strong>and</strong> if the odd slug or snail comes along,<br />

they too have a place!<br />

To find out more about Matt visit his<br />

website matthewbiggs.com<br />

ABS specialise in managing both bathroom & kitchen refits<br />

from start to finish ensuring you only have to deal with one<br />

company for everything!<br />

We pride ourselves in having some of the best tradesmen in Berkshire<br />

who can create a bespoke bathroom or kitchen which will live up to<br />

your every expectation.<br />

We will manage the entire project so you only have to deal with us<br />

& don’t have to find fitters, tilers, electricians, plasterers or any other<br />

trade that might be needed.<br />

We undertake refurbishment, repairs, <strong>and</strong> the supply & installation of<br />

all related bathroom & kitchen work. Plus we can supply & fit your new<br />

boiler at the same time!<br />

We will supervise work regularly <strong>and</strong> provide you with updates.<br />

We always ensure minimum disruption <strong>and</strong> that we leave your premises<br />

clean <strong>and</strong> tidy following our visit.<br />

Workmanship carries a full 12 month guarantee <strong>and</strong> appointments are<br />

made at a time to suit the customer.<br />

123 Liscombe | <strong>Bracknell</strong> | RG12 7DE<br />

Tel: 07866 101099 Web: www.abspb.co.uk<br />

Email: abs@abspb.co.uk<br />

www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 27


Luxury Park Homes Available to Reserve<br />

Available to Reserve<br />

Available to Reserve


A QUINTESSENTIALLY BRITISH VILLAGE<br />

01344 884666<br />

WP-May-22-leaflet.indd 2 13/05/<strong>2022</strong> 17:09:31


SLOW DOWN THE<br />

AGEING PROCESS<br />

With some simple lifestyle changes, you could<br />

dramatically slow the ageing process...<br />

1. Diet: Eat an Anti-inflammatory Diet<br />

A diet high in inflammatory foods speeds up the aging process<br />

by affecting telomere length. Telomeres are structures found<br />

at the end of chromosomes <strong>and</strong> provide protection during<br />

cell division. The telomere acts like a clock – the shorter the<br />

telomere, the older the cell. An inflammatory diet prematurely<br />

shortens telomeres, which contributes to early aging.<br />

Foods that reduce inflammation<br />

• Fresh fruits, like strawberries, blueberries, <strong>and</strong> oranges<br />

• Leafy green vegetables, like spinach <strong>and</strong> kale<br />

• Olive oil<br />

• Fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids, like mackerel,<br />

salmon, <strong>and</strong> tuna<br />

• Nuts, like almonds <strong>and</strong> walnuts<br />

Foods that increase inflammation<br />

• Added sugar, particularly high-fructose corn syrup that is<br />

commonly found in beverages, pastries, <strong>and</strong> desserts<br />

• Trans fats in fried food, processed snack foods, donuts,<br />

<strong>and</strong> margarine<br />

• Processed meats, like sausage, bacon, salami etc<br />

• Refined carbohydrates, like white rice, white potatoes,<br />

many types of cereals, <strong>and</strong> breads <strong>and</strong> crackers made<br />

from white flour<br />

• Excess amounts of omega-6 fatty acids in mayonnaise,<br />

many salad dressings, <strong>and</strong> vegetable oils, like corn,<br />

safflower, <strong>and</strong> soy<br />

2. Get your heartrate up <strong>and</strong> use your muscles<br />

Aim for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes<br />

of vigorous aerobic activity each week. Strength training by<br />

lifting weights or doing bodyweight exercises improves bone<br />

health <strong>and</strong> reduces the risk of weak, thin bones (osteoporosis) –<br />

a significant factor in aging.<br />

3. Sleep: ZZZ’s Help You Stay Young<br />

Sleep helps the body recharge <strong>and</strong> repair. Not getting enough<br />

sleep doesn’t just mean feeling groggy the next day – it can<br />

have serious health consequences. Long-term insufficient<br />

sleep is associated with increased risk for depression, obesity,<br />

infections, heart disease, <strong>and</strong> an early death.<br />

4. Stress: Relax for Better Health<br />

Stress is a part of life. But constant, long-term stress can<br />

contribute to serious health issues that lead to an early death.<br />

Conditions linked to chronic stress include heart attack, stroke,<br />

diabetes, depression, immune disorders, migraines, <strong>and</strong><br />

heartburn, nausea <strong>and</strong> many other gut issues.<br />

The Homecare People<br />

Our care solutions can be tailored to suit you<br />

<strong>and</strong> your lifestyle.<br />

From daily visits to help with getting dressed,<br />

mealtimes, medication <strong>and</strong> more. Through to<br />

overnight, live-in care <strong>and</strong> companionship.<br />

WE'RE<br />

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.<br />

Our reliable home care provides complete peace of mind.<br />

Call us today, we're here to help.<br />

0118 997 7499<br />

www.thehomecarepeople.co.uk<br />

Registered Office: The Overhangs, 59 Peach Street, <strong>Wokingham</strong>, RG40 1XP<br />

30 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk


Your<br />

local care<br />

home<br />

Bickerton House,<br />

<strong>Bracknell</strong><br />

Our highly trained care home teams<br />

are specialists in residential, nursing,<br />

dementia <strong>and</strong> respite care. With some<br />

of the highest care ratings in the UK,<br />

we’re here to help you <strong>and</strong> your family<br />

at every step of your journey.<br />

Trusted to care.<br />

If you’re considering care<br />

01344 988620<br />

jo.<strong>and</strong>erson@careuk.com<br />

careuk.com/bickerton-house


SUMMER?<br />

If you’re thinking of moving<br />

home this summer, Prospect is<br />

here to help make your move simple<br />

<strong>and</strong> stress free.<br />

Book your free valuation today at prospect.co.uk/valuation<br />

or by calling 0118 907 9837.<br />

Alternatively, pop into our office on Broad Street, <strong>Wokingham</strong> for a<br />

cuppa <strong>and</strong> a chat about your moving needs.<br />

0118 907 9837<br />

e: wokingham@prospect.co.uk<br />

12/14 Broad Street, <strong>Wokingham</strong>, Berkshire RG40 1AB<br />

Visit us online at:<br />

PROSPECT.CO.UK

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