Surrey Homes | SH103 | August 2023 | The Taste Of The South East Supplement inside

PRICELESS 

AUGUST 2023 

103 

AUGUST 2023 

TASTE OF THE SOUTH EAST SUPPLEMENT inside 

Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes

C 

B 

BESPOKE KITCHEN DESIGN 

DESIGN • SUPPLY • MANAGE • INSTALL 

SCAN ME 

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06/09/2022 09:45

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Contents 

August 2023 

26 70 

44 

10 

17 

23 

26 

43 

44 

HOUSE OF THE MONTH 

Dream homes on the market 

NOTEBOOK 

Upcoming events for your diary 

THE MUST LIST 

Keep up-to-date with the latest 

must-see and must-have goodies 

THROUGH THE 

LOOKING GLASS 

Immerse yourself in nature 

with the help of a very 

special woodland retreat 

GET THE LOOK 

Be inspired by natural finishes 

IN THE FRAME 

Explore a lofty-ceilinged home 

in the heart of Hastings 

61 

93 

94 

96 

99 

GET THE LOOK 

Go graphic with pattern 

and colour choices 

HEADLINERS 

Let festival style lead your 

fashion choices this summer 

NEXT STAGE 

Rock the festival with 

Rebecca Cuffe’s wardrobe picks 

THE ART OF CLEANSING 

Josephine Fairley 

demystifies the methods 

of makeup removal 

TAP INTO IT 

Sarah Maxwell explains 

the benefits of EFT – 

Emotional Freedom Technique 

Published by Priceless Media Ltd. Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street, 

Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF | Call 01580 714705 | Email info@priceless-group.com 

Visit priceless-group.com Copyright © 2023 Priceless Media Ltd. The views of the 

advertisers & contributors are not necessarily those of Priceless Media Ltd. 

101 

103 

107 

111 

114 

NOURISH TO FLOURISH 

Charlotte Lau encourages 

us to incorporate more 

avocado into our diets 

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE 

Jo Arnell meets the founder of 

Terrapy, Sebastian Tribe 

BACK TO BASICS 

Sue Whigham reiterates the 

importance of biodiversity 

WHAT’S ON? 

Find out... 

FABLES FROM THE FARM 

Jane Howard selects her prize bulls 

TASTE OF THE 

SOUTH EAST 

SUPPLEMENT 

29 pages of the 

finest food and 

drink. From 

page 63. 

Taste of the 

South East

Cobham-Furniture-outline.indd 1 18/07/2023 21:09 

CobhamFurnitureWT255.indd 1 19/07/2023 15:04:53

From the 

Editor 

With the summer holidays upon us, and family time 

in abundance, this issue is all about celebrating 

the bounty of food and drink that we’re so lucky 

to have here in the South East. From small-batch beverages 

to expertly cooked world cuisine, there’s something for 

every foodie, and not too far from your front door, either! 

We were fortunate to get a chance to explore a fabulous 

floating glass-fronted eco lodge when we visited to 

shoot our first house feature this month. Find out how 

owners Lindsey and Rik brought their idea to life and 

marvel at their pared-back interior with a focus on chic 

yet simple designer furniture which blends seamlessly 

into its surroundings, just like the lodge itself. 

Textile designer Camilla Ruiz Ramirez spends her 

time swapping between two very different Hastings 

houses, staying in each while the other is Airbnb-ed. 

We’ve been along to one, overlooking Alexandra Park, 

to see how their renovation has unfolded since they 

moved down from London permanently in 2022. 

Recipes come courtesy of Damien Pestell, who has taken 

inspiration from his Italian travels to create incredibly fresh 

dishes that you can whip up wonderfully easily. 

Fashion’s all about effortless festival style 

this month, with fun-loving picks that 

are bound to get you in the dancing 

mood. And in the health and beauty 

department, Jo Fairley explores the 

ultimate products for a good cleanse, 

whilst Sarah Maxwell and Charlotte 

Lau look into the benefits of EFT 

and eating avocado respectively. 

Enjoy your Surrey Homes! 

geo wall hung wc 

original original 

geo basin 

high quality, timeless design, authentic elements 

axis 

carlton 

astonian astonian original original brassware brassware 

Wealden Times & Surrey Homes Team 

Editor ....................................................................Lucy Fleming 

Supplements & Features Editor ...........................Rebecca Cuffe 

Design Director ..................................................Anthony Boxall 

Sales Managers ...........................................Lisa Gordon-Hughes 

Maria Hurley 

Senior Account Manager .....................................Sarah Norwood 

Account Executive .............................................Marnie Newman 

Sales & Marketing Executive ..................................... Zoe Parrish 

Sub Editor/Features Writer ....................................... Emily Pavey 

Wealden Times Show Director ............................... Flo Simpson 

Events Manager ......................................................Liz Copping 

Events Sales Director ................................................. Jude Brown 

Managing Director ......................................Vivien Cotterill-Lee 

Executive Chairman ..............................................Julie Simpson 

7 

priceless-magazines.com

Many clearance models on display in our Alton showroom, visit us today. 

Elstead House, Mill Lane, Alton, Hampshire GU34 2QJ Tel: 01420 590510 

Open: 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday - Friday | 9:00am - 1:00pm Saturday 

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Find us here! 

Call 01580 714705 to find your nearest distributor of 

Surrey Homes or to get free copies delivered for £25 a year. 

12,000 copies of Surrey Homes are printed every month. 

We are available in the following outlets and 

are the only local magazine available at 

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have any questions about our 

distribution please contact 

Vivien Cotterill-Lee 

vivien.cotterill-lee@priceless-group.com 

I 

INNATE 

ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN 

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A FREE CONSULTATION 

Whether you have a piece of land you’re hoping to develop, or 

just desperately need a place to store your muddy boots, we 

would love to speak to you! 

istockphoto.com/ Maria Voronovich 

Ashtead 

• Patrick Gardner 

Bagshott 

• Howlands 

Estate Agents 

• Longacres Nursery 

Banstead 

• King of Cotton 

Betchworth 

• Buckland Deli 

• The Community 

Shop 

Bookham 


Bramley 

• Bramley Beds 

Buckland 

• Buckland Nurseries 

Camberley 

• Romans 

Caterham 

• Shard Solutions 

Cheam 

• Cook 

Chelsham 

• Knights Garden 

Centre 

Chobham 

• Melita 

• Pasha 

Claygate 

• Trew Art 

Cobham 

• Cobham Furniture 

• Fego Café 

• Oh So Coco 

Cranleigh 

• Notcutts 

• Roger Coupe 

Dorking 

• Dorking Travel 


• Princess Alice 

Hospice 

• Sainsbury’s 

Epsom 

• Mayfield Lavender 

Nursery & Shop 


Esher 

• Sandown Park 

Racecourse 

Farnham 

• Cook 

• ME Estate Agents 


• Waterstones 

Felbridge 

• Doves Barn Nursery 

Godalming 

• Cook 


• Sarah Louise Dix 


Godstone 

• Knights Garden 

Centre 

Guildford 

• BoConcept 

• Elm Nursery 

Farm Shop 

• Loaf 

• Neptune 

• Nuffield Gym 

Haslemere 

• Lythe Hill 

Hotel & Spa 

• Tesco Superstore 

Knaphill 


Leatherhead 


• Robert Leech 

& Partners 

Lingfield 


Lyne 

• The Farm 

Shop Lyne 

Milford 

• Secretts 

Old Oxted 

• Fish Plaice & Grill 

Oxted 

• Cook 

• Jackson-Stops 

& Staff 

• Limpsfield Stores 

• Morrisons 


Oxshott 

• The Bear 

Redhill 

• Priory Farm 

Reigate 

• County Clothes 


• RDO Kitchens 

Ripley 

• Ripley Nurseries 

Farm Shop 

• The Talbot 

Surbiton 


Walton on 

Thames 



Warlingham 

• Botley Hill 

Farmhouse 

• Rayners Estate 

Agents 

West Byfleet 

• Roman Tiles 

Weybridge 

• Tesco Extra 

Woldingham 

• Fine & Country 

TRAIN STATIONS 

• Dorking 

• East Grinstead 

• Epsom 

• Esher 

• Guildford 

• Haslemere 

• Kingston 

• Redhill 

• Richmond 

• Surbiton 

• Weybridge 

• Wimbledon 

• Woking 

9 

PLANNING APPLICATIONS 

CONSTRUCTION 

BUILDING REGULATIONS 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT 

FEASIBILITY STUDIES 

innatearchitecture.co.uk 

e: info@innatearchitecture.co.uk 

t: 01732700176 


House 

Month 

of the 

£1,795,000, 

Ripley 

Damien Pestell picks his favourite 

homes on the market 

The dream: A magnificent Grade 

II listed home dating back to the 

12th century and packed with 

period features. Situated in a highly 

sought-after village location and 

with plenty of space across two 

floors, it’s a great family home. 

Where: The charming village 

of Ripley, set in the beautiful 

Surrey countryside. 

Setting: Opposite the village green 

which is home to the local cricket 

club and with plenty of woodland 

walks down to the River Wey. 

Beds: 6 Baths: 3 

Special features: The stunning 

master bedroom which overlooks 

the garden has a dressing area as 

well as an en-suite shower room. 

Pleasing details: Two useful 

outbuildings, the first suitable 

for a number of uses such as an 

artist’s studio, gym, office or yoga/ 

pilates area and the second a 

stunning Arts and Crafts summer 

house, complete with medieval 

stained-glass windows and door. 

Outside: The south-facing 

sunny rear garden offers three 

delightful courtyard areas ideal 

for entertaining and relaxing. The 

large lawned area has many mature 

specimen trees and shrubs. 

Time to town: From close by 

Horsley station to London 

Victoria in only 48 minutes. 

Agent: Curchods 

01483 281010 curchods.com 

priceless-magazines.com 

10

Ockley 

£1,500,000 

The dream: A stunning Grade II listed 

Elizabethan farmhouse surrounded by fields, 

woodland and outbuildings, offered to the open 

market for the first time in its 460 year history. 

Where: Amid fields and woodland, on the 

outskirts of the vibrant village of Ockley 

and only 15 minutes from Dorking. 

Setting: Approached by a long drive 

in a very private setting in the heart of 

the rolling Surrey Hills countryside. 


Special features: The gorgeous kitchen/ 

breakfast room with Aga, bread oven 

and exposed original brick and timbers 

also has a handy utility room. 

Pleasing details: The history of the 

farmhouse, which dates back to 1563 and was 

tenanted as part of a large private estate until 

bought by the current residents in 2016. 

Outside: The well maintained gardens and 

grounds of 1.3 acres consist of an openfronted 

granary, a cart barn and cart pond all 

surrounded by spectacular countryside views. 

Time to town: From Ockley station, 5 minutes 

away, to London Victoria in 1 hour 15. 

Agent: House Partnership 

01483 266700 housepartnership.com 

Shepperton 

£1,200,000 

The dream: A stunning New England-style 

riverside home uniquely positioned on an island 

in the River Thames. Accessed by a private 

footpath and offering glorious south-facing 

views over the river, the house also comes with 

plenty of entertaining space indoors and out. 

Where: Hamhaugh Island, at the southernmost 

point of the river Thames, just a short walk 

over the river from the town of Shepperton, 

recently voted the most polite town in the UK. 

Setting: In a peaceful and tranquil 

spot on the riverside. 


Special features: The light and spacious vaulted 

reception room has breathtaking riverside views. 

Pleasing details: The 55 foot private 

mooring is great for relaxing by the 

river or launching an expedition. 

Outside: The beautiful gardens feature a pergola 

adorned with vines offering shade on sunny days 

and also a separate studio and garden office. 

Time to town: Walton-on-Thames 

station, 3 miles away, to London 

Waterloo in just 25 minutes. 

Agent: Savills 01932 838000 savills.com 

11 


HOMES READY TO 

MOVE INTO THIS YEAR 

2, 3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes from £470,000* 

“THIS IS A 

WONDERFUL 

PLACE TO LIVE” 

Set in a hidden oasis opposite a beautiful 62-acre 

country park, mere minutes from Cranleigh High Street, 

Leighwood Fields is the ultimate Surrey postcode. 

01483 944 011 

sales@leighwoodfields.co.uk 

Relax knowing you can sell with our 

part exchange scheme.** 

GET IN TOUCH TO VIEW 

THE SHOWHOME TODAY 

Leighwood Fields, 

Alfold Road, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8WQ 

Lesley recently moved 

from the suburbs 

of Canterbury to 

Leighwood Fields and 

she couldn’t be happier. 

‘‘The Berkeley properties 

were a cut above the rest. 

The finish is far superior to 

the other properties I viewed. 

My house is just perfect.” 

- Lesley 

*Prices correct at time of going to press and subject to availability. Photography is indicative only. **T&Cs apply, speak to our Sales Consultants for more information. 

43493_Berkeley_LeighwoodFields_SurreyHomesAd_AW.indd 1 11/07/2023 17:02 

MediaForceWT255-BERKELEY-HOMES.indd 1 13/07/2023 10:56:48

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 

SHOULD I INVEST IN PROPERTY IN 2023? 

Smarter Rent co-founder Alex Sullivan on why now is the right 

time to buy if you’re a smart property investor: 

People often ask us if now is the right 

moment to invest in property. While 

none of us can see into the future, 

we can see that the days of ultra-low 

interest rates and cheap mortgages are 

behind us for at least the foreseeable. 

With the base rate at 5% and mortgage 

rates higher still, the favourable 

economics that contributed to the 

boom in landlords pre-pandemic 

has gone. As a result, a third of 

landlords plan to sell at least one 

property according to the National 

Residential Landlords Association. 

Does this mean it’s a bad time to invest 

in property? With landlords leaving the 

market, this can open up opportunities 

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to invest in a quality home, but only if 

they are smart about how they do it. 

It’s a buyer’s market 

The number of new properties 

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buyers, rather than sellers, because 

higher mortgage rates are squeezing 

buyers out of the market. 

According to Zoopla, 42% of sellers 

are currently accepting 5% or more 

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You may be the only one bidding, 

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Achieve long term reward 

with a short term refurb 

We recently secured a two-bedroom 

house in Surrey for an investor for 

£302,000, well below market rate. 

This is the third house we’ve taken on 

for this investor and he was happy 

to be led by the expertise of our inhouse 

designer Lisa Durrant. 

“It’s a 1960s house and was in need 

of a total overhaul. While the amount 

of work may scare some people, we 

see this as an opportunity to turn 

something run down into a beautiful 

product designed for renters. 

“We wanted to maximise the feeling of 

light and space, so we put in a new kitchen 

with double doors out to the garden. 

BEFORE 

We laid hard wearing flooring which 

can cope with pets and went for neutral 

colours and cosy furnishings to make 

the property feel homely ” says Lisa. 

“The neighbours didn’t recognise it when 

we invited them in to have a look around.” 

The house has now been rented out 

for £3,200 a month and will earn 

its owner 40% more than similar 

properties in the area, plus capital lift. 

Try the Smarter Rent route? 

Want to see a Smarter Rent home for 

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020 7550 9396 

hello@smarterrent.co 

www.smarterrent.co 

BuyToLetHunterWT255.indd 1 14/07/2023 12:36:45

HERITAGE SPECIALISTS 

Thomas Thomas 

Mansfield 

The Family The Law Family Solicitors Law Solicitors 

BUILT ON REPUTATION & QUALITY 

TRADITIONAL & MODERN ROOFING 

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Cranbrook Roofing 

01580 242925 

www. c r a n b r o o k r o o f i n g . c o. u k 

CLAY TILE , SLATE & CEDAR ROOFING 

Experts in 

Family & Divorce Law 

If you are going through a separation or 

thinking about divorce, getting specialist 

advice at the right time is crucial. 

Contact us to arrange a 

free, no-obligation call back 

at a time to suit you. 

Call us today on 

01483 945246 

128 High Street, Tunsgate Arch, Guildford 

www.tmfamilylaw.co.uk 

enquiry@thomasmansfield.com 

PROUD TO SUPPLY AUTHENTIC HANDMADE KENT 

PEG TILES THROUGH OUR PARTNER SPICER TILES 

Separation & Divorce • Finances 

Children • Mediation • Cohabitation 

Prenuptial Agreements • Estate Planning 


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14

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hs.org.uk/wisley 

Wisley 

Flower Show 

BOOK NOW 

Tue 5 – Sun 10 Sep 

Join us for a vibrant show full of inspiration, 

expert tips and delicious food and drink. 

Your visit supports our work as a charity. 

MediaForceWT255-RHSWisley.indd 1 19/07/2023 15:47:39

Notebook 

Take note! We’ve rounded up the best 

of what to do and see near you 

istockphoto.com/ William Barton & Ann_Mei & Mellok 

Dinner Date 

Imagine sitting down to dinner not knowing which 

Michelin star chef, or newly crowned Masterchef: The 

Professional, will be cooking your four-course meal. The 

likes of Gordon Ramsay, Rick Stein, Mark Hix, Angela 

Hartnett, Tom Kerridge and more have cooked at this 

very special event, where 20 tables of 10 guests have 

their own surprise chef for the night. Now in its 23rd 

year and back again for 2023, the flagship fundraiser of 

Leukaemia UK, Who’s Cooking Dinner?, will return to 

The Dorchester, Park Lane on Monday 18th September. 

Over the years, it has raised over £7 million for vital 

research into finding kinder treatments for those diagnosed 

with leukaemia. What a date to add to your diary! 

Visit leukaemiauk.org.uk/whos-cooking-dinner to reserve 

your table. Or support the work of this vital charity 

at leukaemiauk.org.uk/support-us/donate-now 

KEW ACTION 

Journey down the rabbit hole 

and enter the wonky world 

of Alice in Wonderland set 

in the most enchanting of 

surroundings – The Royal 

Botanic Gardens in Kew. 

A specially commissioned 

adaptation of the classic 

tale will be performed 

Wednesday to Sunday plus 

Bank Holiday Monday from 

late July until 28th August. 

Day entry to the Gardens is 

included with your ticket. 

To discover more and book 

visit theatreonkew.com 

LATEST 

SNOOZE 

Guildford residents 

can sleep well in the knowledge 

that independent family business, 

Jones & Tomlin will be bringing the 

finest range of premium beds, mattresses, 

and bedding to the town this August 

when their new store opens. Enter 

their World of Sleep and you’ll find 

exciting launch offers, an exclusive 

Hästens Sleep Spa, Vispring’s top 

of the range Diamond Majesty 

bed, handcrafted Enchanted House 

Beds, stunning Ercol bedroom 

furniture and beautiful bed linen 

from big-name brands including Yves 

Delorme, Ted Baker and Morris & 

Co. jonesandtomlin.co.uk 


PAINT THE TOWN 

Rye Society of Artists Summer Exhibition 

is a showcase for some of the best artists 

working in and around the area. Head 

along to see the rich variety of stunning 

work displayed in Rye Community Centre 

from 5th to 28th August (10.30am and 

5pm) – including the work of 43 members 

and work selected from the ever popular 

public submission. This year five members 

of the Rye Society of Artists have been 

successful in being selected for the Royal 

Academy Summer Show; Christopher 

James, Lisa Katzenstein, Janet Milner, Angie 

Braven and Denise Franklin. Fred Cuming 

RA is represented posthumously with three 

beautiful paintings. Angie Braven is one of this 

year’s invited artists reflecting her long successful 

career as a painter and teacher of painting at 

Chelsea School of Art, and Denise Franklin was 

awarded the Hugh Casson Prize for Drawing. 

It promises to be a wonderful show not to 

be missed. ryesocietyofartists.co.uk 

HOP TO IT! 

Nine Oaks Vineyard in Hothfield host 

family theatre on Sunday 20th August 

with a performance of Beatrix Potter’s 

much-loved classic, The Tale of Peter 

Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny adapted by 

Quantam Theatre. nine-oaks.co.uk 

Play on... 

World class musicians, usually 

found on the big stage, will be 

performing at the beautiful Tithe Barn, 

Lenham, as part of a brand new 3-day 

festival from Green Room. Offering a 

more intimate and accessible concert 

experience, with limited ticket numbers, 

the audience and performers will be 

brought close together in a series of spectacular 

‘green room’ type settings with local wines 

and cheeses to nibble. Performers include The 

Pasadena Roof Orchestra and The Clare 

Teal 4. Find tickets and full programme at 

greenroomconcerts.com 

This month our 

Taste of the South East supplement 

highlights the amazing food and drink producers 

we’re so fortunate to have in our midst. We’re well aware 

these times are difficult for many and so here are details of 

just a couple of the many organisations in our area working hard 

against hunger. FareShare Sussex & Surrey redistributes surplus food, 

saving waste, reducing carbon emissions and combatting hunger, 

supporting 150+ local organisations. They warn nationally there 

are now 9.3 million adults and 4 million children living in food 

poverty. faresharesussexandsurrey.org.uk Nourish Community Foodbank 

delivers emergency supplies to people in crisis around the 

Tunbridge Wells area, where 1 in 6 children live in 

poverty. nourishcommunityfoodbank.org.uk Here’s 

looking to a future where foodbanks are, 

once again, no longer needed. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT 

istockphoto.com/ chengyuzheng & channarongsds & Alhontess & yuelan 

Did you say hop? 

The fabulous Kent Life Hops ’n’ Harvest Beer Festival is back with 

live and local music on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September 

– arrive any time after 10am for a day full of fun. Step back in 

time to meet historical characters from Kent’s past and witness the 

traditional hop-making process in the last coal-fired oast house in 

Britain. Try picking hops by hand, fill the bushels, and enjoy the 

aroma as the oast house is brought back into working life for one 

weekend only. Also take a peek round the Hoppers Huts, where 

previous generations would have enjoyed their summer holidays. 

Sample up to 50 beers, ales and ciders, or pop into the gin bar 

for a refreshing serve. There will also be food stalls and attractions 

including animal encounters and farm rides. kentlife.org.uk 

priceless-magazines.com 18

Dovehouse Dorking A5 Flyer 2023 print file.pdf 1 05/09/2022 17:23 

No ordinary Art Fair 

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

24 September 

22 October . 19 November 

BOOK IN ADVANCE AND SAVE* 

Reader Offer 

£12 

on advance tickets 

using discount code 

CRAFT2023* 

7 - 10 September 

Hever 

Castle 

& Gardens 

TN8 7NG 

Putting the WOW back into craft fairs 

Purchase direct from nearly 200 of 

the very best makers in the UK 

*See website for early bird 

discount details - Offer codes valid for 

adults on dates of craft fair only. 

Craft Fair entry included in 

normal Garden admission charges 

9.30am – 5.30pm Daily 

(Garden open until 6pm daily) 

FRESH: Art Fair 

50 galleries: 500 artists: 

5,000 paintings and sculptures 

Cafés: talks: artist demos 

Britain’s Biggest Choice of Art 

Visit: freshartfair.net 

19 


CIF_Hever_Sept23_130x90.indd 1 10/07/2023 10:03 

Fresh Art Ascot 23 Surrey Homes HPV.indd 1 13/07/2023 15:09

SUNFLOWER SUMMER 

at West Horsley Place 

Explore the ancient manor house and huge 

estate on your doorstep this school holidays. 

Pack a picnic, stay for the day and discover: 

Fields of sunflower gold 

Love your Landscape nature trails 

Games in the walled garden 

Make-and-take arts & crafts 

New activities and changing themes each week 

Every Tuesday – Friday in August | 10am – 4pm 

Adults £10 | Children £5 | Under 3s free | Family £27 

Free parking | Find us at KT24 6AN 

Scan or book online at 

westhorsleyplace.org 

13-15 

October 

Fri: 4pm-8.30pm 

Sat & Sun: 

10am-5pm 

Autumn 

Art 

Fair 

2023 

landmarkartscentre.org Ferry Road, Teddington, TW11 9NN 020 8977 7558 

Admission: £5, Concessions £4, U16s & LAC Friends FREE 

landmarkarts landmarkartfairs landmarkspringandautumnartfairs 

Image: Julie Leaming Registered Charity No: 1047080 


20

Explore more 

at one of our 

Open Day 

Events 

Year 7 & 8 Open Morning 

Friday 13 th October, 9.30am – 12 noon 

Whole School Open Morning 

Friday 17 th November, 9.30am – 12 noon 

“Excellent in all aspects of teaching” 

Independent Schools Report 

“Spectacular” 

Muddy Stilettos Best Schools Guide 

LUX 

M A G A 

life 

Z I N E 

Private 

Education 

awards 

2023 

Winner! 

Most Nurturing Nursery & Early 

Years Hazelwood Learning Environment School 2023 

Most Nurturing Nursery & Early Years 

in South East England 

Learning Environment 2023 - South East England 

An independent prep school for girls 

and boys aged 9 months to 13 years. 

To book a place, please visit our website 

www.hazelwoodschool.co.uk or call 01883 733841 

230701_Hazelwood_Open Day ad_A4_17.7.23.indd 1 17/07/2023 11:49 

HazelwoodSchoolWT255.indd 1 17/07/2023 13:49:18

Social icon 

Circle 

Only use blue and/or white. 

For more details check out our 

Brand Guidelines. 

SURREY 

AUTUMN 

Where Artists & Art Lovers Meet 

Original Arts with Affordable Prices. 

BUY YOUR 

TICKETS TODAY 

Visit the website for tickets! 

www.surreyartfair.uk 

or scan the QR Code opposite 

VENUE 

Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher KT10 9AJ 

Hidden Wildlife Trail 

at Sissinghurst Castle Garden 

© National Trust 2023. Registered charity no. 205846. 

Photography © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler 

OPENING TIMES 

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22 

MMBaxterWT248.indd 1 02/12/2022 16:55

The return to school is just around 

the corner, so it’s a good time for us 

grown ups to learn some new tricks 

too! Next month Curious House will 

have day courses on modern calligraphy, 

botanical water colours, mono printing, 

landscape painting or foraging. They’re 

typically £130 including all materials, 

lunch and refreshments. curioushouse.net 

For those planning a special 

picnic, The Weald Smokery has 

all sorts of luxurious options. 

The Balmoral Hamper includes their 

delicious award-winning smoked salmon, 

chicken and salami with a local cheddar, 

carefully selected savouries, chocolates 

and a fine French Cabernet Merlot. 

£129.50 wealdsmokery.co.uk 

This lovely wallpaper 

is made by Sussex-based 

graphic designer Vicky Anne 

Vaughan. Her company, 

Made by Me by the Sea, has 

all sorts of beautiful art deco 

styled interiors ideas inspired 

by iconic local architecture 

like the Brighton Royal 

Pavilion, Worthing’s beach 

huts, or (in this case) 

Brighton’s Madeira Drive. 

madebymebythesea.co.uk 

must 

The 

From must-sees to must-buys and 

must-dos, don’t miss this month’s 

round up of what to buy, see, do, 

and generally get excited about! 

For a truly one-off experience we 

highly recommend Howletts After 

Hours Guided Tours. Starting 

at 6pm, when all the other visitors have 

left, you get to spend two magical hours 

behind the scenes, meeting the animals, 

learning about conservation, soaking 

up the incredible atmosphere and even 

hand-feeding some of the residents (with 

their permission) including the utterly 

adorable lemurs and the wonderful rhinos. 

aspinallfoundation.org/howletts 

This month we celebrate days for Prosecco (13th), Pinot 

Noir (18th), and Cabernet (30th), so it’s the perfect 

time to explore some vineyards! Let Wine Tours of Kent 

transport you around local vineyards for a day of wine tasting and 

can tailor you a bespoke private experience to suit your group. 

They’ll take care of all the planning, driving and organising so you 

can sit back, relax and enjoy your wine! winetoursofkent.co.uk 

Woolton Farm, home of 

Kentish Pip Cider near 

Canterbury, is a must 

visit this summer. Their 

iconic barn and homely 

surrounding grounds 

will be host to all sorts of goings on in 

the coming months. There will be a 

classic car show (6th August), summer 

fete (26th-27th August), and a harvest 

festival (29th September-1st October), 

all on top of their usual tours, tastings 

and camping options. wooltonfarm.co.uk 

Whether you’re headed for a festival, 

picnic, barbecue or a day at the beach, 

this bag is the perfect accessory. Silent 

Pool teamed up with Ettinger to create 

this limited edition leather crossbody, 

designed to hold two Silent Pool Gin 

G&T cans! £495 silentpooldistillers.com 

Need something to do with your summer holdiay? How 

about a seaside staycation? My Seaside Luxury has beachy 

holiday lets galore in Broadstairs and Ramsgate, including 

the below Regency terrace on Ramsgate seafront, called The 

Wellington from £110 per night. In August, Broadstairs will 

celebrate Folk Week and it’ll be Ramsgate Week too, so we 

recommend booking asap! myseasideluxury.co.uk 

23 


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GardenRoomsByDrumbeatWT254.indd 1 12/06/2023 16:45:22

Previous pages: The kitchen, adjoining the sitting area, is a set up of glorious and calming simplicity Above: A curved Quilton 

Modular sofa from Twentytwentyone is perfectly placed to soak up the warmth from a floating logburner by Firemaker 

In the many years I’ve been 

writing about lovely houses 

for this magazine, there has 

been one constant: the outside 

is never photographed. 

This is to maintain privacy for the 

owners, but there’s always a first time 

and in the case of Looking Glass 

Lodge it was essential, because with 

this unique project, the outside and 

the inside are all part of the whole. 

While you are inside, gazing out 

through the walls of glass, onto pristine 

ancient trees and woodland, you feel 

part of the natural surroundings. 

When you are outside, while 

fabulously striking (it could be used 

as a location in a Bond film…), the 

structure doesn’t impose on the eye, 

instead clad with cedar batons, it looks 

almost like a giant fallen branch. 

Indeed, the seed of the idea for 

the project came from the need to 

maintain the land in this very special 

corner of East Sussex, at the tip of 

the High Weald Area of Outstanding 

Natural Beauty, near the village of 

Fairlight, just east of Hastings. 

The owners, Lindsey and Rik 

Goodman have made this location their 

family home for the past 10 years, but 

Rik’s connection with it goes back much 

further than that. He grew up among 

these ancient trees, where his parents 

established the Mallydams Wood Nature 

Reserve for the RSPCA, in the 1960s. 

“As a child, I had 60 acres of woods 

to play in,” he remembers. After living 

in the Midlands for work, where pilot 

Rik met graphic designer Lindsey, 

they decided to move down to East 

Sussex, to live in a converted coach 

house on land Rik’s parents had 

bought to move to once they retired. 

“There are eight acres of gardens 

here,” says Lindsey, “so we thought: ‘Is 

there something we can do to bring 

in income to help us maintain it?’ 

Initially we thought we would just have 

a little pod to rent out as a holiday 

let and then our little idea grew.” 

“It’s a special spot and we wanted to 

share it,” says Rik. “But the structure 

needed to be right and we wanted 

a sustainable build. We did a lot of 

research and everything we saw was 

a little too rustic, we wanted a more 

Scandi style. Eventually we found the 

right architect, Michael Kendrick, 

who is based in Leamington Spa.” 

With Mr Kendrick’s help, what 

has been achieved is a sleek slice of 

glass and timber, perched on a slope, 

on spindly legs, called ‘screwpile 

foundations’ – which are firmly 

embedded in the clay soil beneath. 

And as the site is a natural clearing, 

not a single tree had to be felled, nor 

a tree root disturbed to build it. In 

fact, the impact on the woodland 

environment is limited to the tiny 

footprint of those supporting legs, with 

plenty of room beneath the structure 

for newts, voles and badgers to stroll 

along on their ancient pathways, 

and for vegetation to freely grow. 

Which includes great swathes of 

heavenly bluebells, the day I visited. 

It did still take some convincing 

of the authorities to get permission 

to build it. “It took us two and 

29 


“It’s a special spot and we wanted to share 

it,” says Rik. “But the structure needed to be 

right and we wanted a sustainable build. 

We did a lot of research and everything 

we saw was a little too rustic, we wanted 

a more Scandi style. Eventually we found 

the right architect, Michael Kendrick, 

who is based in Leamington Spa.” 

a half years to get the planning through,” says Rik. 

“In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty you 

can only get permission if you can show that you 

are enhancing the environment in some way.” 

Well, I certainly can’t think of a way to feel more 

immersed in this glorious woodland, than being 

able to look out onto it from walls of glass – from 

the sofa, the kitchen, the bed and even the bath. 

And the very glass you look out through has been 

specially selected to minimise the impact on nature. 

“It’s electrochromic glass,” says Rik. “At dusk, as 

soon as the light falls to a certain level, it goes black, 

so there is no light spill to disturb wildlife.” 

So relaxed are the local four-legged residents about 

the structure, that recent guests have reported seeing 

 


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Above: The kitchen joinery was created by Hastings-based Johnson Bespoke. The island worktop, 

made from micro cement, extends down at each end, creating a complete unit 

a mother fox happily walking past 

with her cubs trotting behind her. 

Another decision Lindsey and 

Rik took to minimise disturbance 

to the natural surroundings, was to 

have no hot tub, or barbecue – just 

a swing hanging from a branch – 

and to keep the accommodation to 

one bedroom. Thereby creating a 

very special hideaway for couples, 

which is so appreciated that it is fully 

booked out for months ahead – there 

are already bookings for May 2024. 

I know that, because I thought, 

although I live just down the road 

in Hastings, I might like to spend 

a couple of nights there myself, in 

the next bluebell season – and I 

wouldn’t be the first local to do that. 

“We’ve had people who live within 

two miles stay here,” says Rik. 

That’s how much of another world 

it feels like, which is probably why 

most of their guests tend to stay in 

once they get there. “We supply a 

digital guidebook,” says Lindsey, 

“with all the things to do in the 

local area, but once people get here 

they tend not to leave, except to go 

for walks in the woods. Although 

you can arrange things to do in the 

lodge – yoga sessions, massage and 

Wander Wonder guided wellbeing 

walks. We provide the numbers for 

people to book before they arrive.” 

As well as the nature-immersed 

33 


This page: The building’s glass, by SageGlass, has been specially 

selected to minimise the impact on nature. “It’s electrochromic 

glass,” says Rik. “At dusk, as soon as the light falls to a certain 

level, it goes black, so there is no light spill to disturb wildlife.” 

On the bedroom side, the dividing wall accommodates 

shelving and recessed lights, forming a headboard 

setting, what would keep me very happily in the lodge, 

rather than exploring the wider environs, is the supremely 

nurturing atmosphere of the décor and furnishings, 

which have all been expressly selected to enhance the 

connection with nature, starting with the colour palette. 

Lindsey explained how they went about it: “We got a 

local illustrator – Eleanor Taylor – to come out before 

we started building to do an illustration at the site, 

using the colours of the environment. Then we took 

these colours as the basis for the interior, to extend the 

woodland inside. We didn’t want any stark white.” 

The illustration is also the background to the 

lodge’s website, starting the process of immersion in 

the landscape right from the point of booking. 

This is all part of a school of design which was new to 

me – ‘biophilic’. Literally translating as ‘loving nature’, 

the idea is to actively involve the natural world in a 

building, by bringing elements of it inside, literally and 

through referencing colours and materials, and visually 

and physically connecting with nature outside. 

Brighton-based designer Oliver Heath has written a 

book on the subject, Design A Healthy Home (there’s a 

copy in the lodge), and Lindsey did a course with him, 

 


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36 

ThomasMansfieldWT251-(Private Law)-SURREY.indd 1 16/03/2023 KarlTerryWT229.indd 14:58 

1 07/05/2021 12:40

Right: A beautiful semi-matt pebble bath by Lusso 

Stone sits by the window in the bedroom on top of 

pink and lilac grey tiles from Mandarin Stone 

to learn how to choose interior finishes and furnishings 

that most enhance the connection with nature. 

This philosophy is immediately visible in the walls 

finished with large plywood sheets, the oak floor 

and the ceiling, which brings the cedar batons of the 

exterior inside, creating a very nurturing effect. 

“We were going to use plywood on the ceiling as well,” 

says Rik, “but during Covid lockdown the price of a sheet 

of fireproofed plywood went from £68 to £300. So we 

brought the cedar inside onto the ceiling and we think it 

works much better, bringing in warmth and texture.” There 

is something about being able to see the edge of the exterior 

battening through the window and then it covering the 

ceiling that makes you feel like the place is giving you a hug. 

The same feeling comes from the curved-edged sofa, 

covered in a warm apricot colour, part of the Quilton 

Modular range from London shop, Twentytwentyone, 

which specialises in contemporary and classic 20th century 

furniture, where they bought all the pieces for the lodge. 

All the soft furnishings came from local suppliers. The 

cushions are from Sailors of Rye, the jute circular mat 

from Hunter Jones, also in Rye, and the vase and pot 

from Common Clay, a ceramics studio in Bexhill. 

“We wanted everything to be tactile and textured, 

to have soul,” says Rik – and it does. Particularly the 

charming coat rack, which looks like a bare tree branch 

37 


This page: The sleek, contemporary shower 

room echoes the colourway of the bath area next 

door, with soft putty pinks and grey which blend 

seamlessly with the natural tones of the ply 

that has walked in through the 

door and planted itself inside. 

The same spirit of local-sourcing 

is apparent in the kitchen, where 

the supplied tea is from Proper Tea, 

based in nearby Pett, coffee from 

Roar Gill, in Hastings, and hot 

chocolate from Knoops, in Rye. 

The kitchen, adjoining the sitting 

area, is a set up of glorious and 

calming simplicity. Just a single 

central island, built in the same 

plywood as the walls, with no 

fussy handles, plus a bank of floorto-ceiling 

cupboards to the side, 

with the oven built-in there. The 

beautiful joinery was all done by 

Hastings-based Johnson Bespoke. 

The island is beautifully set off 

by the worktop, which extends 

down at each end, creating a 

complete unit, not jarring to the 

eye. It’s made from micro cement, 

from Ideal Work UK, and was 

installed by Johnson Bespoke. 

This poured and moulded blend 

of concrete with binding polymers, 

creates a much more forgiving 

surface than hard quartz, making 

it fit beautifully with the wood 

and natural surfaces. As Rik says: 

“It’s tactile, it has imperfections.” 

You want to run your hand along 

it – as I also did with the beautiful 

semi-matt pebble bath by Lusso Stone, which 

sits by the window in the bedroom, found 

on the other side of the wall of cupboards 

in the kitchen. And on the bedroom side, 

the dividing wall accommodates shelving 

and recessed lights, forming a headboard. 

But that fabulous feature bath – imagine 

sitting in it, looking out over the bluebells 

– was nearly a problem. “We had to buy it 

before the house was built,” says Lindsey. 

“We wanted it for the character, but then we 

thought it was too big to get into the space, 

through the passage next to the dividing 

wall, but we got it through with just five 

millimetres to spare. We had to roll it along 

on logs, like building the pyramids.” 

Another successful detail in the bath area 

and neighbouring shower room came about 

through what could have been seen as a 

disaster. On the walls and floor in both areas 

are super-sized tiles by Mandarin Stone, in 

a soft pink and complementary grey-lilac. 

They chose this giant size of tile – a new 

thing – specifically to create a restful space, 

“Without lots of busy grout lines,” says 

Lindsey, adding, “originally they were all 

going to be pink, but a truck ran over one 

of the cartons and Mandarin Stone didn’t 

have any more of the pink from that batch, 

so we had to choose a different colour.” 

The combination of colours and shapes 

actually creates a much more interesting 

 


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HulstaFurnitureWT254.indd 1 15/06/2023 15:55:17

This page: A stylishly simple vent system (top left) allows a subtle through-flow of air when the main windows are closed. Lindsey and Rik 

have worked hard to blend contemporary design-led luxury with sustainable, green credentials and the latest technology. The burgundy 

Bowler Table is by Hay and bath-side slim wooden table by MakerMark in St Leonards 

effect, breaking up the space, so it 

doesn’t become boxy, which could 

happen in a small area. “Things that 

happened by accident with the build all 

worked out better,” says Lindsey, which 

somehow seems right for a project that 

sprang entirely from good intentions 

and which is bringing such joy into 

the lives of people who stay there. 

And I’m sure Mrs Fox and all the 

newts and badgers would agree. 

Address Book: 

For more information on booking 

a stay at Looking Glass Lodge, 

see lookingglasslodge.co.uk 

Michael Kendrick Architects 

michaelkendrick.co.uk 

Common Clay commonclay.co.uk 

Eleanor Taylor eleanortaylor.co.uk 

Hunter Jones hunterjonesstore.co.uk 

Ideal Work UK idealworkuk.com 

Johnson Bespoke johnsonbespoke.co.uk 

Lusso Stone lussostone.com 

MakerMark makermark.co.uk 

Mandarin Stone mandarinstone.com 

Sailors of Rye sailorsofrye.com 

Twentytwentyone twentytwentyone.com 

41 


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43 


In the Frame 

Words: Damien Pestell 


Styling: Holly Levett 

An art-filled house overlooking 

Alexandra Park in Hastings 

has provided the perfect 

living space for a couple who 

split their time between two 

properties in this creative town 

This page: In a guest room, the prints 

above the bed were used as inspiration 

for the colour scheme of the room 

Camilla Ruiz Ramirez is a 

textile designer who was 

previously based in Brick 

Lane but moved to Hastings after 14 

years living and working in Central 

London. Her move away from the 

capital was motivated by a desire for 

a better quality of life. “We chose 

Hastings because of the green spaces, 

fresh air and beach,” she says. “But it 

was a hard decision to leave, we had 

a fantastic community of like-minded 

people there and we loved our home.” 

Having sold their beloved London 

house they now have not one, but 

two houses in Hastings. The first 

overlooking Alexandra Park – which 

I was visiting – and a smaller place 

up on the West Hill, “In 2018 we 

bought a two bedroom garden flat 

on West Hill to see if we liked it here 

first,” says Camilla. “We then bought 

this house in 2022 after selling our 

London house earlier that year. The 

flat is very quiet, but this one is right 

next to the park which is great.” 

Since moving, they have been busy 

transforming their new properties 

into beautiful homes which double 


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46 

WoodworkWT238.indd 1 04/02/2022 12:15

Above: The kitchen is striking in its simplicity, with clean white walls and sky blue units. The floor tiles and 

taps are by Devol, giving a slightly rustic feel, and a kitchen table and chairs from Oka fit right in 

up as Airbnb rentals, with 

Camilla and her partner 

Tarik alternating between, 

depending on bookings. 

Their move also mirrored a 

change of career for Camilla, 

from the fast-paced world of 

fashion to a more sustainable 

job in interiors. “The fashion 

industry was just getting worse 

ecologically and it didn’t sit 

right with me,” she explains. 

“I started doing some styling 

for properties in London and 

I really enjoyed it. So when 

I moved down here I made 

the switch full time. Interiors 

is different, if you don’t want 

something anymore it doesn’t 

have to end up in landfill. It’s 

far more sustainable.” Camilla 

now works for luxury furniture 

brand Oka in Tunbridge 

Wells, helping clients with 

their interior design projects. 

The move was also an 

opportunity to change the 

way they lived and let go of 

a lot of things accumulated 

during their life in London. 

“We got rid of a lot of stuff 

when we moved down here 

as we knew we wanted to 

 

47 


“The fashion industry was 

just getting worse ecologically 

and it just didn’t sit right 

with me. I started doing some 

styling for properties in London 

and I really enjoyed it. So 

when I moved down here I 

made the switch full time.” 

live more simply. We don’t have much 

clutter now.” This purge of things has 

been translated into a spacious home 

which allows the features inherent in 

the building to come to the fore, rather 

than being obscured by stuff. “We like 

to let things speak for themselves, by 

removing everything that gets in the 

way,” she comments. The effect is a 

calm and grounding feeling throughout 

the house that really is very relaxing 

and instantly makes you feel at home. 

And it’s no more evident than at 

the rear of the house, in the kitchen. 

Striking in its simplicity, the clean 

white walls and green blue Farrow & 

Ball units make you feel refreshed, 

while the Devol floor tiles and taps 

are lovely rustic additions. Fortunate, 

as they were there when Camilla 

bought the house and just so happen 

to be by one of her favourite brands. 

“One of the reasons we liked the 

house was because it already had 

a lot of the work completed that 

I would have done anyway.” 

On the wall facing the entrance there 

are some framed prints, a glimpse of 

the handful of treasured things that 

were saved in the move, mostly items 

made by friends and acquaintances 

from their community in London. At 

the back of the room the kitchen table 

and chairs from Oka fit right in and, 

next to the table, there is access to a 

sunny terraced rear garden which 

This page: The dining room features a 

table made from old railway sleepers from 

the Philippines. A framed photo of Picasso 

signed by the photographer, sits next to a 

fake Picasso painting, “It’s very tongue-incheek 

and it makes me smile,” says Camilla 


48

Experts in bespoke fitted furniture. 

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SurreyOakBarnsWT254-A4.indd 1 19/06/2023 15:45:31

has been allowed to grow wild. “It’s 

good for the wildlife, we get foxes 

out here.” Camilla seems delighted. 

Out of the kitchen and next door 

is the master bedroom, two rooms 

you don’t normally see next to each 

other, but then this house is full of 

surprises. Previously the dining room, 

it is now wallpapered a dark green 

colour, excluding one wall next to 

the entrance, which is exposed back 

to brick and has mounted onto it 

a metal star with pink fairground 

lights, a favourite thing of Camilla’s 

by Chris Bracey from Gods Own 

Junkyard. “He became quite famous 

for his stars at one point, and he 

made this one especially for me.” 

On the wall above the bed is the 

stand-out feature of the room, a large 

painting by Kim Hart and an extremely 

personal piece which divides opinion, 

“It’s of her dying father. There’s a lot 

of emotion in it, some people find it 

a little bit unsettling. I actually find 

it quite comforting.” Next to the 

bed are two bedside tables also from 

Oka, “We liked these, they’re a bit 

different. They look a little sculptural 

and are also good for storage.” On 

the ceiling is another piece with a 

story, a hand-blown glass light by 

Curiousa, a small boutique lighting 

company in Derbyshire, and it’s one 

of many found throughout the house. 

Next door the dining room is 

another change of purpose space, 

previously the living room. With a 

very cool limited edition dining table 

This page: The colour scheme of the 

living room was inspired by the original 

Victorian hearth tiles. Camilla has made 

a feature of the ceiling rose by painting 

it an ochre yellow – one of the colours 

featured in the tiles – to complement the 

glass lights that hang from it. The coffee 

table is made from old oyster shells 

in the middle, made from old railway 

sleepers from the Philippines, it has 

an industrial look which Camilla 

really loves. On the walls are a couple 

of vintage posters, one of which is 

a framed photo of Picasso signed 

by the photographer (who’s quite 

famous himself), sitting next to a fake 

Picasso painting, “It’s very tongue 

51 


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52 

WindowSanctuaryWT253.indd 1 12/05/2023 17:06:27

“We got rid of a lot of stuff 

when we moved down here as 

we knew we wanted to live 

more simply. We don’t have 

much clutter now.” This purge 

of things has been translated 

into a spacious home 

which allows the features 

inherent in the building to 

speak for themselves, rather 

than being obscured 

in cheek and it makes me smile.” 

Coming out of the dining room 

and past the front door we make 

our way upstairs where at the top 

we are greeted by an unusual sight, a 

bathroom leading directly out to the 

garden and a pretty patio area. The 

residual light from outside bathes the 

room in sunshine and, combined with 

the patterned Moorish floor tiles, really 

transports you to the Mediterranean 

Basin. It’s unusual, but why not? I 

decide that I really like it and can see 

it catching on. In the corner of the 

room, next to the door is a roll top 

bath, while above and next to the 

bath are a couple of vintage posters 

from Paris, a reminder of Camilla’s 

trips to the city when she worked 

in fashion. “I used to love travelling 

there to buy items for a collection. It’s 

quite an important place for me.” 

After a quick peek at the rear 

garden we head back into the house 

and up another small set of stairs to 

two further sets of doors. The one on 

the right is the wonderfully named 

Chinese guest room. “This is my 

favourite room in the house,” Camilla 

declares and I am inclined to agree 

with her. It’s a stunning room with 

amazing energy and I notice myself 

feeling more relaxed the longer I’m 

there. And it was a chance creation 

inspired by Camilla’s realisation that 

she had lots of lovely Chinese things 

that needed a home. Above the bed are 

some very special prints from another 

of Camilla’s connections in London. 

“These are Adam Ellis who does all 

of the Ivy restaurants. I got them 

53 


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54 

CreativeJoineryWT250.indd 1 13/02/2023 14:15

This page: The Chinese guest room is 

Camilla’s favourite. The prints above the 

bed are by Adam Ellis. On top of a set of 

drawers is a set of Japanese Kokeshi Dolls 

from a studio sale and they were a real steal. 

The day I went, the weather was terrible. It 

took me over two hours to get there, but it 

was definitely worth it.” Beside the bed are 

a couple of Chinese inspired bedside tables 

depicting an oriental scene on the black 

and gold drawers. The colour scheme is 

continued with the bedside lamps and chest 

of drawers which have wicker fronts and are 

matched by the headboard. The integration 

of natural materials feels very in keeping 

with the style of the room and you can tell 

a lot of thought has gone into creating it. 

On top of the drawers are a set of Japanese 

Kokeshi dolls, “I’ve been waiting to find a 

proper home for these.” Complementing 

the other colours and textures in the room 

is an emerald green colour picked out 

in the rich velvet curtains that Camilla 

made and also in the bedspread. 

Entering the living room Camilla tells 

me it was previously a bedroom (which 

must have been huge), and I imagine that 

it better suits its new function as a generous 

living room. It’s a super light and airy 

space with large sash windows which I 

imagine open on hot summer days, with 

55 


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XLPoolsWT254.indd 1 13/06/2023 11:34:05

This page: One wall of the master bedroom is exposed brick. A metal 

star with pink fairground lights (just seen) was made for Camilla by 

Chris Bracey from Gods Own Junkyard. On the wall above the bed is a 

large painting by Kim Hart – a divisive piece. Next to the bed are two 

bedside tables also from Oka and on the ceiling is a hand-blown glass 

light by Curiousa. The bathroom leads straight out into the rear garden 

a cool breeze making its way 

through the house. Moving 

across the room, it’s easy to 

see why Camilla chose this as 

the living room. Opposite is 

the welcoming green expanse 

of Alexandra Park, Hastings` 

largest public park with a 

whopping 109 acres stretching 

into the heart of the town. 

Back in the room the 

windows are covered by sheer 

curtains which give privacy 

from the park below, and 

when you look closely you 

can see a hint of green in the 

fabric, “It’s a reference to the 

outside,” Camilla says. “We 

also painted the whole room 

white, so the eye is drawn 

towards the park opposite. 

It also makes the space feel 

bigger and draws your eye up 

to the detailing on the ceiling.” 

Part of that detailing is the 

ceiling rose, which has been 

highlighted with a mustard 

yellow from which more 

Curiousa ceiling lights dangle 

down, this time they’re multicoloured, 

“I painted the ceiling 

rose to highlight the lights, 

just like you would a piece of 

artwork.” The colour scheme 

of this room is pulled from 

the Victorian hearth tiles, 

57 


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This page: Back up at the top 

of the house, a Helmut Newton 

poster hangs outside the 50s pop 

bedroom. A chest of drawers is 

made from reclaimed wood 

Address Book: 

To book a stay at Camilla 

and Tarik’s house, see 

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which is a nice touch and another example of a detail 

that celebrates the house. The room itself is a cosy place 

with a large velvet green chaise longue, large enough 

for two people and, in front of the chaise, there is 

another limited edition coffee table, this time it’s made 

from old oyster shells, a nod to their new life by the 

sea and the importance of sustainability to Camilla. 

Up another flight of stairs we come to two doors, 

one of which is Camilla’s studio, where she carries 

out her textiles work. And next door is the very fun 

50s pop bedroom. Bursting with colour it’s almost 

the complete antithesis of the Chinese bedroom 

below, Camilla explains, “There are a lot more 

primary colours in here.” The prints above the bed 

were used as inspiration for the rest of the room, 

accentuated through the multi-coloured bedspread 

and pops of red in the leather bound side lamps, 

mirror and lampshade above. In the corner there’s 

a chest of drawers made from reclaimed timber 

and in the other a bright yellow clothes rail which, 

when you get closer, matches the chairs down in 

the back garden, seen through the window. 

Camilla’s refurbishment of her home next to the 

park has been delicately done, and it allows the 

house to sing, with all its best attributes brought to 

the fore. The result is a retreat which is homely but 

not overcrowded, and curated to create a wonderful 

energy. Letting go of their old life has allowed Camilla 

and Tarik to create something new, which honours 

the things that matter most to them – quality of 

life and a strong connection to where they live. 

59 


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SashWindowHeritageWT187.indd 1 15/08/2017 15:18

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61 


Don’t miss our 

September issue 

Kitchen 

Supplement 

Available next month 


MORE THAN 

JUST POTATOES 

Whilst potatoes will always 

be close to our hearts, we’re 

not afraid to try something 

new at The Potato Shop. 

This year we have 

installed a flour mill on 

the farm which we are 

using to produce our own 

wholemeal flours from the 

grain crops that we grow. At 

the moment we are milling 

wheat and rye flours which 

are perfect for homemade 

wholemeal breads (along 

with other delicious bakes). 

We are also still 

producing cold pressed 

rapeseed oil from our crops 

which is deliciously versatile. 

Not only is it great for winter 

roasts or casseroles but it 

also shines as the base for 

summer salad dressings 

or BBQ marinades. 

These products, along 

with our wide range 

of exotic, heritage and 

conventional potatoes, are 

available to order online for 

home delivery or we always 

welcome customers to 

come visit our Honesty Stall 

on the farm in Tenterden. 

For more information about 

ordering and opening times 

please head to our website. 

WWW.THEPOTATOSHOP.COM | 01580 766866 | MORGHEW PARK ESTATE, SMALLHYTHE ROAD, TENTERDEN, KENT, TN30 7LR 


62

Taste of the 

South East

Welcome to 

THE POET 

The Poet offers an informal yet 

refined dining experience in the 

heart of the Kent countryside. Set in 

a charismatic 16th century building, 

diners can expect food of the highest 

standards, made using the finest 

local & seasonal produce, lovingly 

prepared by a small team of chefs. 

MAIDSTONE ROAD, MATFIELD, KENT, TN12 7JH // 01892 722416 // THEPOETATMATFIELD.CO.UK 

PoetAtMatfieldWT255.indd 1 19/07/2023 09:10:36

Contents 

89 

69 

67 MEET THE CHEF 

The Cave’s executive chef 

talks influences, pro tips and 

dining dreams 

69 SWEET TALK 

We indulge a little in sweet 

recipes and recommendations 

70 A PLATE IN THE SUN 

Try out Damien Pestell’s 

gorgeous Mediterranean 

inspired recipes 

79 FOOD OF THE WORLD 

We explore the worldwide 

flavours you can find right 

here in the South East 

83 RISE & SHINE 

Browse the best 

breakfast spots around 

85 STOCKING UP 

Shop freezer-fillers, pantry 

essentials and drinks cabinet 

must-haves to keep in stock 

87 TOP OF THE PUBS 

We find pub classics that have 

been updated and elevated 

near you 

79 

Grazing Creations for Glorious Occasions 

A graze fit for intimate gatherings, parties, business meetings 

all the way up to weddings - and everything in between! 

GrazeMe is the number one choice for 

Grazing Tables, Platters and Boxes. 

www.grazeme.co.uk / @grazemefood 

30 years established 

Traditional Fishmonger 

in Surrey 

Cover image: istockphoto.com/ Almaje 

87 

89 MEET THE CHEF 

A conversation with The 

Poet’s chef, Lee Adams 

90 HOW IT’S MADE 

A round up of local tours 

of producers and makers 

that make a lovely day out 

80 

67 

From Boat To Table In 24 Hours... 

We’re proud to provide you with a fantastic range 

of ethically sourced fresh fish and shellfish. 

01372 469 018 

williamsandbunkell.com 

17a The Parade, Claygate, Esher, Surrey KT10 0PD 

65 


WilliamsBunkellWT234.indd 1 15/10/2021 13:48

CaveHotel&GolfResortWT255.indd 1 03/07/2023 14:11:33

Meet 

the Chef 

Taste of the South East Supplement 

The Cave Hotel’s executive chef John Bingley shares 

foodie tips, dreams and inspirations 

Tell us about The Cave’s two 

restaurants and their exciting menus. 

The Cave offers various dining 

options, each with its own unique 

characteristics. For a memorable date 

night, the ideal choice would be the 

Firepit restaurant. If you’re a fan of 

a high-end fast-food experience the 

Korean Cowgirl restaurant. To start, I 

personally would recommend trying 

the Korean Cowgirl, which offers 

familiar dishes with our own unique 

twist that sets them apart from others. 

Additionally, for a truly extraordinary 

dining experience, explore our 

refined dishes prepared in the Firepit 

restaurant, adding an element of 

surprise and novelty to your dining 

adventure. 

Are there any common themes or ideas 

that bring these all together? 

Both of our restaurants at The Cave 

Hotel embody an Asian fusion 

smokehouse concept, centred around 

sharing dishes. However, they are 

executed in distinct ways, each with 

its own design. We’ve carefully crafted 

different experiences and presentations 

for our guests, emphasising quality 

and attention to detail. 

What would you recommend 

we order at The Cave? 

I highly recommend trying the 

signature menu for a comprehensive 

experience of our culinary offerings. 

Among the dishes, my personal 

favourites include the beef Takai. It 

is a flavourful combination of rare 

beef with zesty elements, balanced 

beautifully by earthy notes of the 

truffle. It truly delivers a remarkable 

taste experience, that excites the 

tastebuds. 

What would be your dream 

dinner? Where would you go 

and who would you invite? 

I would choose Heston Blumenthal’s 

three-Michelin-starred Fat Duck 

restaurant. The meticulous attention 

to detail, playful elements, and 

immersive journey that Heston creates 

are truly exceptional. To elevate 

the experience, I would invite both 

personal and professional connections. 

I believe ambiance and company play 

a significant role in enhancing a meal. 

Who are your biggest influences? 

I have been greatly influenced by 

several individuals. Gareth Ward of 

Ynyshir is the leading chef in the 

country when it comes to utilising 

Asian ingredients, and his culinary 

prowess has inspired me. Andy 

Holden, my dedicated and talented 

colleague of the past seven years, has 

been an invaluable companion in my 

culinary journey. Additionally, Robert 

Taylor, a highly esteemed chef in Kent 

and a dear friend of mine, serves as a 

constant source of inspiration for chefs 

throughout the county. 

Do you have any tips for home 

cooks and aspiring chefs? 

Cultivate patience and a thirst 

for learning. Invest in yourself by 

exploring diverse culinary experiences, 

dining at various restaurants, and 

discovering personal preferences. This 

exposure will help you shape your 

cooking style. However, it’s equally 

important to learn essential skills from 

experienced mentors. Remember, 

it’s not just about mastering cooking 

techniques but also prioritising food 

safely. Safe food handling practices are 

as vital as the dishes you create. 

To find about more about The Cave Hotel and their 

wonderful restaurants visit cavehotels.com 

67 


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We also offer private in-house and virtual 

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PERFECT 

FOR SPECIAL 

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68


Sweet 

TALK 

Raspberry Blonde 

For your next home bake, the Gordon Ramsay 

Academy has shared this scrumptious recipe for 

Raspberry & White Chocolate Blondies 

• 200g unsalted 

butter (plus extra 

for greasing) 

• 125g caster sugar 

• 125g light soft 

brown sugar 

• 300g white 

chocolate chips 

• 2 medium eggs 

• 1tsp vanilla extract 

• 300g plain flour 

• 1tsp baking 

powder 

• ½tsp fine salt 

• 3tbsp raspberry 

jam (optional) 

• 150g pack 

raspberries, 

washed and dried 

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan/Gas 3.5. 

Grease and line a 20cm square brownie or cake 

tin with baking paper. 

2. Add the butter, caster sugar and half the white 

chocolate to a pan and melt over a gentle heat, 

stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Set aside 

to cool slightly. 

3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, vanilla and 

light brown sugar until light and fluffy. 

4. Combine the egg mixture with the chocolate 

mixture and stir until smooth. 

5. Add the flour, baking powder and salt and fold 

together until smooth and glossy. Stir through 

the remaining chocolate. 

6. Pour the mixture into the lined tin, then dollop 

your jam over the top and use a spoon to create 

swirls. 

7. Top with the fresh raspberries, pushing them 

into the mixture. 

8. Bake for 35 minutes for ultra-squidgy blondies, 

or 45 minutes for a slightly chewier texture. 

9. Cool for at least 30 minutes in the tin, then lift 

out using the baking paper and cool completely 

on a wire rack. The squidgy versions will be 

hard to cut neatly, so chill in the fridge to firm 

up before cutting into 16 squares. 

For more inspirational recipes for sweet treats 

like gluten free victoria sponge or cherry 

bakewell tart, visit gordonramsayacademy.com 

If you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, we’ve 

got you all set with these local treats 

Do the Twist 

If you’re looking for a great 

restaurant that will serve up a 

showstopping dessert, The Victoria 

in Oxshott is the place to be 

The Victoria’s chef, Tracey, describes her 

creations as “innovative desserts that 

might invoke a memory of something 

you know and love with an exciting 

twist”. This Victoria sponge dessert, for 

example, is not just a slice of cake on 

a plate! It’s made with two tempered 

white chocolate demi spheres, filled with 

vanilla pastry cream, fruit compote, 

jam, vanilla sponge, a thin wafer biscuit, 

and ice cream or sorbet, which is then 

finished with pate de fruit blitzed and 

piped, and a dusting of sherbet. It’s 

£12 and just one of the innovative and 

delicious desserts that The Victoria will 

bring to your table! 

thevictoriaoxshott.com 

Go Nuts! 

These Biscottilicious treats are so 

much more than you’d expect 

If you’re looking for a sweet gift, 

something to serve for National 

Afternoon Tea Week or just a really 

really nice snack, Biscottilicious may 

be just what you need. With a base of 

exotic nuts, dipped in luxury Belgian 

chocolate and finished off with a 

bespoke topping, these are delightful! 

They are £30 for a box of at least 10. 

biscottilicious.com 

69 



Recipes: Damien Pestell 

Photographs: 

David Merewether 

Styling: Lucy Fleming 


70


A Plate 

in the 

Sun 

Inspired by the simplicity 

and clean flavours of 

Italian cooking, Damien 

Pestell has used his 

own travels this year 

to hone his passion for 

Mediterranean cuisine, 

creating dishes that 

let their fresh, lowcost 

ingredients shine 

through. You can follow 

Damien’s adventures in 

food on Instagram 

@the_friendly_foody 

71 



Verdure di griglia 

antipasti con crostini 

(Grilled vegetable 

antipasti with crostini) 

These versatile vegetables are a fantastic 

recipe to have up your sleeve – easily 

stored, delicious and simple to make. 

Once cooked they’re transformed into 

something far greater than the sum of 

their parts. They can be enjoyed on their 

own, as part of a meal, as a sandwich or, 

here, with crostini. The trick with the 

crostini is to cut them at just the right 

thickness and be sure to keep your eye 

on them as they can easily burn. Get 

that right and you’re in for a treat! 

• 1-2 aubergine 

• 1-2 courgette 

• 1-2 peppers (red and yellow are best) 

• bunch of basil 

• extra virgin olive oil 

• balsamic vinegar 

• 1-2 garlic cloves 

• salt and pepper 

• French baguette 

1. Cut the aubergine and courgette 

lengthways, or if you prefer, across is fine. 

It’s best to cut the aubergine as you need 

it, as they will discolour if left for too long. 

The slices should be about 1cm thick for 

aubergine, but the courgette can be less. 

2. Place on the grill and brush the side 

facing up with a generous amount of 

olive oil, season and cook under the 

grill for 3-4 mins on each side. As soon 

as they start to brown it’s time to turn, 

brushing the upper side with olive oil. 

3. Cut each pepper in half, de-seed and 

place skin side up under the grill. Cook 

until completely black. Then leave to 

cool before peeling the charred skin off. 

4. To assemble, lay the cooked vegetables 

on a plate and drizzle with olive oil, 

balsamic and more seasoning. Thinly slice 

garlic on top and decorate with some basil 

leaves. (This can be kept in a tupperware 

and will keep for a few days in the fridge.) 

5. For the crostini, take a French baguette 

and cut diagonally into slices. Grill slices 

and brush with a little olive oil. Take 

a slice of grilled vegetable and lay on 

top of a crostini, top with a basil leaf. 



Insalata di finocchi e arance 

(Fennel & orange salad) 

Oranges are abundant in Sicily during 

their season from January to April and you 

will see them everywhere. This dish makes 

good use of them and is often used as an 

appetiser to stimulate the digestive system. 

Enjoy this refreshing dish as a side salad, 

starter or accompaniment to a fish main. 

Q.B. means Quanta Basta and is 

commonly used in Italian recipes, it 

means as much as you think/like. 

• 2 large oranges 

• 1 fennel bulb 

• anchovy fillets 

• green olives, Q.B. 

• walnuts, Q.B. 

• extra virgin olive oil, Q.B. 

• seasoning 

1. Peel the oranges then remove 

the pith with a knife and cut 

horizontally into 1cm slices. 

2. Layer the slices of one orange 

creatively on a large plate. 

3. Finely slice the fennel, removing the 

stalks but reserving the fronds. Then 

layer the fennel slices on top of the 

oranges, before layering on the second 

orange and a bit more sliced fennel. 

4. Dress the salad with fennel 

fronds, green olives – whole or 

sliced – anchovies and walnuts. 

5. When ready to serve, drizzle 

with olive oil and season. 


74


Pasta di limone e tonna alla Siciliana 

(Lemon tuna Sicilian pasta) 

This is a fantastic summer dish, with citrusy lemon, 

salty olives and fresh parsley. We first found this 

dish in Palermo when, after a long day walking, 

we decided to stay in and cook something 

traditional. We collected the ingredients, 

all fresh and from the island and returned 

to our apartment to make it. Since first 

trying this recipe we must have repeated 

it another 10 times at least. It’s simply 

delicious and I never ever tire of it! 

• 1 small tin of tuna 

(preferably in olive oil) 

• a good handful of parsley 

• 1 lemon 

• 1 courgette, diced small 

• 5-6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 

(plus extra for cooking) 

• a handful of pitted olives 

(green or black) 

• 250g paccheri (or other ‘big’ pasta) 

• salt & pepper 

1. Put 2 litres of water on to boil, then 

coarsely grate or peel the lemon rind 

into the water, the more the better. 

2. Finely chop the parsley, juice ½ 

the lemon and place into a bowl with 

the olive oil and mix it all together. 

3. Chop the olives in half, or if 

they are large into quarters. 

4. When the water reaches boiling point add 

2tsps of salt before adding the pasta. Cook per 

packet instructions, checking 1 minute before, 

making sure it’s al dente for best results. 

5. Meanwhile, fry the courgette gently in 

a little olive oil with a pinch of salt. 

6. Just before draining the pasta, spoon some of the starchy 

pasta water into a cup (about ½ cup) and set aside. 

7. Add cooked, drained pasta to the courgette, add olives with a 

ladleful of pasta water. Cook for a minute, stirring well, to create a 

silky sauce. Turn off the heat, then add the tuna and parsley lemon oil. 

9. Season well and serve straight away with a little parsley, Parmesan or Pecorino. 

77 


Revered for its captivating glow and luxuriously sweet taste, 

Nectar’s soulful and welcoming spirit invites you to indulge 

in the pleasures of simple cooking with rich, bold flavours. 

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• E-MAIL: BLUEWATER.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM 

LE CREUSET GUILDFORD 

143 HIGH STREET, GUILDFORD, GU1 3AD. • TELEPHONE: 01483 452689 

• E-MAIL: GUILDFORD.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM 

LE CREUSET WINDSOR 

UNIT 45 , WINDSOR ROYAL STATION, SL4 1PJ. • TELEPHONE: 01753 852205 

• E-MAIL: WINDSOR.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM 

LE CREUSET WIMBLEDON 

4 CHURCH RD, WIMBLEDON VILLAGE, LONDON. SW19 5DL. 

• TELEPHONE: 0208 9440624 

• E-MAIL: WIMBLEDON.STORE.UK@LECREUSET.COM 

LeCreusetUKWT255.indd 1 19/07/2023 11:49:16


Food 

of 

the 

World 

Explore a whole world of flavour with local businesses that are 

bringing international food and drink to the South East 

Must Try Thai 

This new Thai restaurant and arts space is in a world of its own 

Having opened at 180 The Strand on 

7th July, Outcrop should head right to 

the top of your list of new restaurants 

to visit. It’s a restaurant and arts space 

created by the founders of London’s 

Michelin-starred Luca – Johnny Smith 

and Daniel Willis – as well as three 

Secret Cinema alumni – Tom Allott, 

Andrea Moccia and Sabrina Goreeba. 

A verdant courtyard at the heart of 

the Brutalist creative hub, Outcrop 

will serve as an inner-city oasis within 

London’s West End to connect guests 

with nature. Outcrop’s restaurant will be 

run by AngloThai’s John Chantarasak, 

showcasing his signature Thai cooking 

using ingredients from the bountiful 

British summer larder. The menu will 

focus on seasonal British vegetables, as 

well as native breed animals and linecaught 

fish, all cooked over charcoal in 

keeping with the traditional cooking 

practices of rural Thailand. Dishes 

will include: Root vegetable som tam, 

tamarind & London honey; Salt-baked 

beetroot, scallop roe chilli jam and 

wild garlic; Wye Valley asparagus and 

sunflower seed satay; Coconut smoked 

turbot bone broth; Skate wing jungle 

curry; Thai tea burnt cream. Outcrop’s 

drinks list makes use of hedgerow 

fruits, spirits and botanicals from the 

best producers across the UK, and will 

include a selection of cocktails made 

using exclusively British ingredients, 

such as the No Fly Zone (barley eau de 

vie, London honey and gooseberry) or 

the Cropped Martini (London dry gin 

and homemade herb garden vermouth, 

served ice cold). The restaurant and 

venue will also play host to an arts 

and music programme, including a 

central installation exploring the world 

beyond our senses and a musical line up 

showcasing rising and established DJ 

talent through musical journeys inspired 

by the natural world. 

outcrop.social 

From India 

with Love 

Rameeza’s Repetoire’s inspiring 

workshops will give you the 

skills to create authentic Indian 

dishes for yourself 

If you’re looking to learn something 

new or to build on your existing skills, 

Rameeza’s Repertoire is introducing a 

new set of Indian Cookery Workshops 

this September. Immerse yourself 

in Indian culture – known for its 

hospitality and view that feeding 

people is an honour – while discovering 

mouth-watering flavours and unique 

new recipes. All of Rameeza’s recipes 

are genuine, family ones, passed down 

through generations – the kind that 

you won’t find on your usual high street 

menu. Rameeza will teach you to cook 

these opulent and varied dishes in her 

own gorgeous kitchen or via zoom, 

offering expert guidance along the way 

to guide your hands-on experience. 

Workshops last from half a day and 

cover a variety of meals, including 

meat, fish, vegetable, rice and bread 

dishes, all using different skills and 

techniques. Rameeza also teaches for 

DofE Skills Awards and if you are 

in the Woking/West Byfleet area, 

you can try her Friday Curry and 

order some of Rameeza’s genuine 

Indian dishes without all the cooking! 

rameezasrepertoire.com 

79 



All things Spice 

Jumeira’s new location in Cranbrook is as warm and inviting as warm embers 

New Indian Restaurant in Cranbrook, Jumeira, is aptly named after burning embers with 

its stylish, gently lit decor and comforting, authentic Indian dishes. Their creative menus 

fuse traditional recipes with contemporary stylish tastes for an up-to-date take on classic 

gourmet dishes. They are holding special Tuesday Banquet Nights in which you can get 

a four course meal for £19.95 per person from 5pm to 10:30pm and they also offer a 

takeout option which you can order online from 5pm to 10pm. 

jumeirarestaurant.co.uk 

When in Rye... 

... do as the Brazilians do apparently! The Union’s new 

chef mixes things up with international inspiration 

The Union is set in a beautiful 15th century building in the heart of Rye, 

but this old English setting is getting a fresh international twist from new 

Head Chef, Maz Cogo. Originally from Brazil, Maz has recently moved from 

London to the south coast, bringing with her whole-animal butchery skills, 

live fire cooking and Brazilian heritage that has inspired new flavours – such 

as Picanha beef, salsas, sea bass ceviche and Basque cheesecake. 

theunionrye.co.uk 


80

Master the specific 

techniques used to cook 

authentic Indian food under 

the expert guidance of 

Rameeza using traditional 

family recipes. 

With a mother who hails from 

southern India and a father from 

northern Pakistan, Rameeza 

Rayner was very lucky growing 

up to have absorbed a knowledge 

of food and a palate for dishes 

from a variety of regions of 

Sub-Continental India. 

She happily shares this natural 

understanding of Indian 

cookery with a new series of 

workshops, run from her own 

home in Surrey, or over zoom 

via special arrangement. 

visit Rameeza’s Repertoire 

website to find out more. 

www.rameezasrepertoire.com 

The West House 

For 21 years, Graham 

Garrett has been chef/ 

owner of the critically 

acclaimed The West 

House, delighting his 

loyal, and often famous clientele 

with an unpretentious style of 

cooking that belies the process 

and attention to detail that 

goes into every element. 

Graham opened The West 

House on a wing and a prayer 

in 2002 to realise his dream 

of running his own restaurant 

and offering beautiful food in 

a relaxed atmosphere. Today, 

The West House remains 

not only a family-run and 

independent restaurant but a 

pilgrimage for many foodies. 

Now with four themed 

suites, including a Rock and 

Roll room – a nod to his 

career as a drummer in The 

Dumb Blondes and Ya Ya – 

The West House is attracting 

people from further afield 

who can now enjoy their meal 

and explore the local area. 

In his autobiographical 

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE 

cookbook Sex & Drugs & 

Sausage Rolls, Graham says: “It’s 

just cooking. We are not saving 

lives, it’s only food. Everybody 

cooks, everybody has to eat.” 

Putting his modesty aside, on 

September 18, he will be joining 

nineteen other renowned chefs 

such as Tom Kerridge and 

Mark Hix at Who’s Cooking 

Dinner? a unique fundraising 

event in aid of Leukaemia UK. 

To find out more go 

to www.leukaemiauk.org. 

uk/whos-cooking-dinner/ 

The West House 

28 High St, Biddenden, 

Ashford TN27 8AH 

01580 291341 

www.thewesthouserestaurant.co.uk 

81 


The Alberts Deli 

AWARD WINNING, 

INDEPENDENT CAFE & DELI 

SERVED BY FRIENDLY FOLK 

SINCE 2008 

We are both a small café serving 

breakfasts, sandwiches and homemade 

lunch dishes, as well as a food store 

stocking high quality, artisan products. 

To launch our new wine and nibbles menu 

join us for a wine tasting and canapés, 

Thursday 27th July 5-8pm. 

Just turn up for a slurp and nibbles. 

2 Worple Way, Richmond, TW10 6DF 

020 8617 3029 

www.thealbertsdeli.com 

Alsop & Walker 

WealdSmokeryWT234.indd 1 27/09/2021 09:24 

Artists in Cheesemaking 

You can find our fine handcrafted artisan cheeses at Borough Market, London and also in many local farmshops and delis. 

Alternatively look on our online store to browse and purchase from our selection. 

www.alsopandwalker.co.uk 


82


Rise & Shine 

It’s the most important meal of the day, so worth spending it right – grab 

breakfast at one of these local hot spots to start your day sunny side up 

The Trough The Alberts Deli Goat Ledge 

A snug spot to sample locally 

sourced produce, like 

the speciality coffee 

which is roasted just 

5-miles away! 

All-day breakfasts, brunch, 

and lunch with afternoon 

tea to follow shortly 

Charity Farm Countrystore 

in Cranbrook, Kent has a 

newly opened café. The Trough 

is a family-run eatery – a warm and 

comfortable hideaway – perfect to enjoy 

a nice breakfast or lunch over a good 

book before a bit of shopping. 

The décor is a warm version of an 

authentic industrial style, with concrete 

floors, a handily situated book exchange 

and herringbone-patterned walls made 

from pallets previously used on the 

surrounding farm. The rustic tables with 

rattan dining chairs sit underneath a 

collection of warm-toned lanterns for a 

cosy country feel that is truly charming. 

charityfarmcountrystore.co.uk 

A pretty little hidden gem tucked 

away in Richmond, Surrey with a 

relaxed continental feel and a gorgeous 

Parisian shop front. Perfect for a 

breakfast picnic in the park. 

Brunch and breakfast everyday until 3pm plus 

fresh sandwiches, homemade meals, delicious 

cakes, and now add wine or prosecco too 

If you’re planning a day out in 

Richmond, this chic cafe is a great start. 

Just a 7 min walk from the station. The 

seating is limited, but you can takeaway 

one of their scrumptious picnics (which 

are pre-orderable) and enjoy your goodies 

in the park or on the green and you’ll 

be right in the middle of Richmond 

Riverside, Kew Gardens, Ham House 

and Garden and Richmond Park. 

thealbertsdeli.com 

This bright and colourful beach cafe 

is quirky, relaxed and full of fun. 

Everyone is welcome, including dogs, 

and you can even book a themed beach 

hut for free for up to six to eat in! 

Yummy breakfast baps, speciality coffees, 

brunches, lunches, locally caught fish, 

evening paella, and ice cream sundaes 

Lounging happily 

right on St 

Leonards beach, 

overlooking 

the sparkling 

sea, Goat Ledge is a 

friendly splash of coastal 

cool overflowing with 

music and colour. To drink, 

there are cocktails, wine and 

local beers, and the menu has all 

the best beach eats. Open seven days a 

week from 8am to 9pm all summer, it’s 

a family-friendly spot to visit on your 

summer holiday beach trip that you’ll 

want to come back to year after year. 

goatledge.com 

83 


● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

● 

Freshly baked baguettes 

A large selection of cheese, 

charcuterie & savoury pastries 

Ready-made frozen cook meals 

Jams, chutneys & sauces 

Large selection of cards, candles & food gifts 

Beautiful garden to enjoy coffees, teas & 

freshly made filled baguette and sandwiches 

Marshfield ice creams 

Artisanal south african 

food, products & Catering 

www.braaiclub.co.uk 

NEXT DAY DELIVERY - ANYWHERE IN MAINLAND UK 

BETWEEN DORKING & 

REIGATE, OFF THE A25 

NEW 

A refreshing aromatic and citrus expression 

of our classic Silent Pool Gin 

EXCLUSIVE TO SILENT POOL DISTILLERY SHOP, WEBSITE 

AND SURREY INDEPENDENT RETAILERS 

silentpooldistillers.com 

Please enjoy Silent Pool Gin responsibly 


1640_SPG_Kaffir-Lime-Surrey-Homes-v1 AW.indd 1 84 

10/07/2023 17:56

C 


These South East star buys are all great to keep in stock 

and will come in handy again and again 

For the Pantry 

This light rapeseed oil has a sweet, 

nutty flavour. Use for roasting, stirfries, 

salad dressings or simply dip in 

some crusty bread. Available in three 

sizes (250ml for £4, 500ml for £7 or 

5l for £27.50) morghew.com 

A little jar of Filipino flavour. Surreybased 

Roni B’s Kitchen won a 2021 

great taste award for this Garlic 

Chilli Oil which will instantly add 

a garlicy kick to noodles, stir fries or 

soups. £6.50 ronibkitchen.co.uk 

Rosemary Schrager and the Wooden 

Spoon Preserving Company teamed 

up to make No Ordinary jams and 

relishes – a new no-added-sugar range 

that’s still super tasty! From £3.95 

thewoodenspoon.co.uk 

For the Drinks Cabinet 

For unexpected celebrations, keep 

in stock a bottle of Biddenden 

Vineyards’ Gribble Bridge Sparkling 

White (2018). It’s wonderfully clean 

and fresh with a hint of spice. 

£26.40 biddendenvineyards.com 

Canterbury Brewers & Distillers’ 

Foundry Streetlight Single Malt 

Whiskey is new this year and already 

winning awards. Taste at The 

Foundry BrewPub or order for £70 

at canterburybrewers-distillers.co.uk 

An interesting addition to your 

drinks cabinet, Arcanist Rum 

is infused with pineapple and 

Caribbean spices for a smooth 

natural flavour, in a fabulous bottle! 

£44.95 (70cl) arcanistrum.com 

For the Freezer 

A Wealden Times Midsummer Fair 

favourite, Simply Ice Cream is made 

in Kent and truly scrumptious. Grab 

a tub of heavenly honeycomb to keep 

in stock for a summer-time treat. 

£5.99 (500ml) simplyicecream.co.uk 

Kentish Mayde’s pies have won over 

20 British Pie Awards, and justly 

so with their great variety of tasty 

fillings. Keep a few in the freezer and 

you’ll be ready for any cupboards-arebare 

days. kentishmayde.co.uk 

A fun freezer filler, Bears Ice Cream is 

a London brand that recently set up 

an imaginarium in Whitstable. Their 

out-of-the-tub flavours are dripping 

with adventurous yumminess. 

£9.50 (475ml) bearsicecream.co.uk 

85 


KINGS HEAD 

A WELCOMING, TRADITIONAL 

COUNTRY PUB IN THE HEART 

OF THE SURREY HILLS 

Tucked away in the picturesque 

village of Holmbury St Mary, a short 

drive from Guildford and Dorking, 

this newly refurbished hidden gem 

is the perfect place to meet and 

enjoy the friendly atmosphere. 

Explore this area of outstanding 

natural beauty and discover why it’s 

so popular with walkers and cyclists, 

then relax in one of our cozy nooks. 

While you’re here, you can sample our 

refreshing selection of real ales from 

local breweries, and our menu inspired 

by seasonal, local and fresh ingredients. 

KH Coffee shop is just next door, 

serving locally roasted coffee and 

freshly baked pastries. Open for 

breakfast and light lunch. Ideal pit 

stop for cyclist and walkers. 

BOOKINGS: 01306 735050 

www.thekingsheadhsm.com 

Pitland Street, Holmbury St. Mary, Surrey, RH5 6NP 

HOLMBURY ST. MARY 

Recently awarded an AA Culinary Rosette 

and 4 stars for our excellent rooms. 


KINGS HEAD 


Three luxurious 4 star 

rated bedrooms with en-suites 

Totally renovated and under new ownership 

Real ales from local breweries 

Fine English and international wines 

À La Carte menu using seasonal & local 

ingredients from our kitchen garden 

Beautifully landscaped beer garden 

Private dining area with outdoor patio 

Community Owned 

A ‘pub-hub’ 

at the heart 

of local life 

High Street, Limpsfield, Surrey, RH8 0DR | 01883 713 469 | | | | | | www.thebullinnlimpsfield.com 


86

Top 

of the 

Pubs 

Who doesn’t love a bit of classic pub 

grub? These South East eateries take the 

classics and elevate them to a new level 


WH Pubs’ Fish and Chips 

For this British Classic, North Atlantic sustainably sourced cod, caught off the 

Barents Sea, is lightly battered with local Larkins best beer and hand whisked 

for a crispy finish. It’s served with triple cooked chunky chips, and homemade 

tartar sauce and the final flourish of a sprinkling of sea salt and a wedge of 

lemon. £17.50 whpubs.co.uk 

istockphoto.com/ STILLFX 

The Bull Inn’s Cajun chicken burger 

Served with gem lettuce, tomato and tasty garlic mayo, the pub classic 

chicken burger gets a Cajun twist at The Bull Inn, a country gastro pub in 

Limpsfield, Surrey. At this community hub, locally sourced ingredients are 

expertly crafted into delicious dishes alongside an impressive selection of 

local wines, beers and ales. £16.95 thebullinnlimpsfield.com 

The Rock Inn’s 

Dry Aged Steak 

Carved on bone, this minimum 1kg Rib Eye 

steak is dry aged in the small 500-year-old 

Chiddingstone pub’s ager for a minimum of 35 

days and up to more than 50. The beef comes 

either from local farms or personally selected from 

Haywoods Farm Shop in Hadlow. Flame grilled to 

perfection, and rested as long as it’s cooked, it’s hard 

to find better. £8/100g therockchiddingstone.com 

The Hook & Hatchet’s Seafood Sharer 

This Maidstone pub uses lots of local ingredients and does all sorts of tasty 

sharing platters that are a lovely sociable way to enjoy your hearty pub 

classics. Comprising of prawns, mussels, and squid, this one is great for 

sharing in the garden over a glass or two of crisp white wine during the 

summer months. £15 hookandhatchetpub.co.uk 

87 


Launching 2nd September 

Complimentary preview tours available 

Please contact info@weyborne.com 

for further information 

SOUTH DOWNS 

SPARKLING WINE 

Memberships available 

www.weyborne.com 

Weyborne-A4-Advert-AW2.indd 1 25/07/2023 09:48 

WeyborneEstateWT255.indd 1 25/07/2023 12:02:43

Meet 

the Chef 


The Poet’s chef, Lee Adams shares expert advice, 

inspiration and foodie favourites 

What made you become a chef? 

Just simply my love for eating! I 

wanted to be able to eat whatever, 

whenever, and so I needed to know 

how to cook. Especially pasta! A 

family friend who was a chef moved to 

France when I was about 11 years old. 

When we visited I would help him 

prepare food for his guests and ask 

non-stop questions. I was in awe of his 

techniques and passion for cooking. 

Dad was also the first one to teach me 

how to cook a roast at home – and he 

doesn’t usually enjoy cooking! 

What inspires your menu? 

After living in the Middle East and 

then Hong Kong for the last 12 years, 

and travelling a lot around Asia, the 

menu is heavily influenced by flavours 

and techniques I picked up on the 

way. The amazing Kentish produce 

on our doorstep is also a huge positive 

factor when it comes to putting 

together a menu. Pairing local gems 

with oriental ingredients really gets my 

creative juices flowing. 

What kind of dining experience 

can we expect at The Poet? 

We believe in being honest and 

humble in everything we do. We focus 

on flavour rather than aesthetics, being 

true to the ingredients and ourselves. 

The service team are very mature, 

the team have extensive knowledge, 

though we are all aware there is always 

more to learn, to do better. The 

Poet itself is very casual fine-dining. 

We don’t have white tablecloths or 

wear shirts and ties like you’d find 

in many Michelin-guide restaurants, 

but we still set ourselves high 

standards to ensure our guests have 

the best dining experience possible. 

Can you recommend a favourite dish 

on the menu in August for us to try? 

I’m a Pastry Chef at heart, and I have 

always tried to make the desserts at 

The Poet unique. One of my recent 

favourites is a Frozen Strawberry 

Daiquiri Marshmallow, made using 

fresh local strawberries, pureed with a 

daiquiri cocktail, folded into an Italian 

meringue and then frozen. It’s served 

alongside a white chocolate brownie, 

local strawberries which have been 

compressed to intensify flavour, and 

a sugar tuile made from isomalt sugar 

and kalamata olives. 

What do you like to eat when off duty? 

Most chefs like to cook at work the 

food we wouldn’t normally eat at 

home and vice versa. I’d quite happily 

finish off a bucket of fried chicken 

at home but I could never cook it 

for a career! I really enjoy the food at 

Birchwood – a concept in Flimwell by 

Matt and Will Devlin, of The Small 

Holding fame – because their food 

is simple but well thought-out and 

packed full of flavour. The head chef 

there, Nick, is very creative and I’ve 

borrowed a couple of ideas from his 

menus a few times too! 

Do you have any tips for 

anyone aspiring to be a chef? 

My advice is to spend your teenage 

years and twenties working as much 

and as hard as you can, gathering 

as much knowledge as possible, 

surrounding yourself with good, 

professional chefs, and don’t think of 

the money or position. The money, 

the respect, the prestige will all come 

later on in your career once you have 

grafted and earned the right to call 

yourself the head chef. 

For more about The Poet and their amazing food, 

visit them online at thepoetatmatfield.co.uk 

89


Visit Biddenden and immerse yourself amongst our vines. Right in the Heart of the Garden, we are 

Kent’s original Vineyard owned and managed by the Barnes family since 1969. Walk amongst some of 

the oldest vines in the country, learn about our grape varieties and gain an insight into our winemaking 

techniques, passed down through 3 generations, before tasting our award-winning range. 

With options for Private Guided, Open or Self-Guided Tours there is something for everyone. Visit our 

website biddenvineyards.com for more information. 

The tours are from £10 - £40 per person xxxx (they have 3 different types Private Guided, Open or Self- 

How 

Guided Tours) 

it’s made 

Take a tour around one of these local drink producers to peek 

behind the curtain at the process required to make their products 

Gusbourne’s Harvest 

Estate Tour (Above) 

This September, Gusbourne Estate will be open for one of the 

most exciting times to visit a vineyard: the harvest. After weeks 

of prep and months of tending the soil, vines and grapes, the 

vineyard’s fruits will finally be plump and bursting with flavour, 

ready to be hand-picked and pressed. Step behind the scenes with 

this tour and you can see how this process works first-hand. You 

may be able to taste the fully ripened grapes straight from the vine 

or observe the pickers hard at work, and as you head back for your 

lunch and tasting, you may even see the grapes being pressed and 

get to taste juice straight from the press. 

Price: £100 per person 

Location: Appledore, Kent 

gusbourne.com 

Dates: 15, 22, 23, 29 September 

Duration: Around 4 hours 


90

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The Silent Pool Gin Distillery 

Tour and Tasting 

This tour begins on the banks of the magical Silent Pool itself, 

where you’ll learn the ancient legend that inspired this local 

favourite gin. Led by an expert guide, you’ll then visit the adjacent 

barns that now house their bespoke copper stills to learn all about 

their unique four-stage distilling process and the 24 botanicals 

that make their recipe so delicious. You’ll even get to sample the 

full range of gins and discover their distillers’ secrets for delicious 

cocktail serves. There are all sorts of other tours and events on offer 

here, including G&Tea parties, a masterclass in beekeeping or the 

chance to make your own aromatic gin mist. 

Price: From £20 per person 

Location: Albury. Surrey 

silentpooldistillers.com 

Dates: Thursday – Sunday 

Duration: 90 minutes 

Biddenden Vineyard Tours 

Kent’s original vineyard, owned and managed by the Barnes 

family since 1969, Biddenden Vineyard is right in the heart 

of the garden of England and spans 23 acres of gentle southfacing 

slopes. This tour offers the chance to walk amongst 

some of the oldest vines in the country, learn about the grape 

varieties grown here and gain an insight into wine-making 

techniques that have now been passed down and perfected 

through three generations. After all this, you can taste the 

vineyard’s award-winning range for yourself for a real taste of 

the South East. You can choose from three options for your 

tour – Private Guided, Open or Self Guided – so you can 

tailor the experience to your budget and preference. 

Price: £10-£40 per person 

Location: Biddenden, Kent 


biddendenvineyards.com 

Maidstone Distillery Tour 

and Tutored Tastings 

Armed with a generous glass of their award-winning gin and tonic, 

a Distillery Tour and Tutored Tastings experience at Maidstone 

Distillery will walk you through the history of Britain’s love affair 

with gin, and give you a tutored tasting of two craft gins. No 

part of the facility is off-limits on this tour – you can see the testkitchen, 

bottling facility and the gorgeous copper still, which sits at 

the heart of the premises. Or if you’re pushing the boat out, they 

also have Gin-Making Experiences (£135 for two people, 120 

minutes), in which you can create a bottle of your own 

bespoke gin to take home. 

Price: £22.50 per person 

Location: Maidstone, Kent 

themaidstonedistillery.com 


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ExperiencetheDifferenceWT255.indd 1 21/07/2023 15:50:43

The Art of 

Cleansing 

Josephine Fairley tracks down the most skin-nourishing 

cleansers and explores the pros of doubling-up 

To double cleanse or not to double cleanse… 

that is the question. Or rather, it has become 

the question for all of us, as Korean-style 

beauty regimes – with as many as nine skincare 

steps – infiltrate our British way of 

beauty, and complicate our lives. (Or 

over-complicate, if you ask me.) 

Of course, once upon a time, 

our cleansing choices were dead 

simple: it was pretty much Anne 

French or nothing (maybe Pond’s 

Cold Cream, for our mums). 

Now? Balms, pomades, washes, 

oils foams, lotions and creams 

leave us puzzling: how to choose? 

But first up: what exactly is a 

‘double cleanse’ anyway? Well, the 

notion behind this two-step cleansing 

ritual is that the first cleanse breaks down 

make-up, sunscreen, grime and all the other oilbased 

impurities (including sebum) which might work 

to clog pores. The second – usually using some kind of 

detergent-based product – melts away the very last traces 

of those oil-based products, leaving skin completely fresh. 

So, should you be double-cleansing? I’d say it’s entirely 

a matter of personal preference. It sort of depends on 

whether you honestly feel your regular cleanser is leaving 

your skin feeling clean enough – and to me, a lot of that 

is down to the product you use, and how you remove it. 

For the past few decades, for me and increasing numbers 

of beauty-hounds, that’s meant using a balm cleanser, and 

a muslin cloth or a warm, wet washcloth. Now, I clearly 

remember the first time I was introduced to cleansing 

balm – by Eve Lom herself, as it happens, then working as a 

‘superfacialist’ in Marylebone, and the woman who pioneered 

this style of cleansing: massage a balm into skin, then remove 

it with a muslin cloth. (This was long before those cloths were 

a twinkle in Liz Earle’s eye, by the way, although her excellent 

Cleanse & Polish Cleansing Cream turned them into a 

fixture on nearly every bathroom radiator in the country.) 

A key advantage of a balm, and the reason for their 

popularity, I think, is the radiance delivered by the 

massaging action of firmly working it into skin. A minute 

or two pressing on acupuncture points and lymphatic 

drainage points (even if you’re unaware you’re doing 

it, rather than systematically) are quite astonishing 

in terms of delivering glow via increased circulation. 

It’s why a cleansing balm is still my go-to, to this day 

(and you can read on, to find out my favourites). 

Fact: oil melts oil. And a balm is basically an oil, solidified 

by waxes, which melts at body temperature back into an 

oil – perfect for massage, and perfect for dissolving all 

the gunk that’s still on your face by bedtime. 

(You can also, um, use a cleansing oil for 

istockphoto.com/ Ekaterina Klishevnik 


this step; it does exactly the same 

thing.) Don’t even bother trying 

to take this off with cotton wool, 

though: it needs warm-to-hot water, 

and a cloth – either one of the 

aforementioned muslins, or a flannel. 

Technique: I like to massage face 

and neck with the balm, place the 

washcloth over my skin for up to 30 

seconds, then use it to sweep the skin 

clean. (The warmth and moisture help 

lift the dirt, while the heat delivers a 

mini-steam for skin.) I then rinse the 

cloth well under running water, and use 

it to clean my face a second time, also 

gently poking the corners of the cloth 

to access the folds around the nose and 

in the cleft of the skin, where gunk and 

dirt like to lurk. (Many balms can also 

melt eye make-up, although I always 

prefer to use a separate, dedicated 

cleanser for this, rather than rub at 

the delicate skin around my eyes.) 

For me, that’s enough. On my 

normal-to-dry skin, I personally never 

feel I have to cleanse a second time to 

‘double up the effect’ – but boy, lots of 

women now do. I think it certainly can 

be useful for oilier, combination and 

breakout-prone complexions, though 

– provided you use a gentle foam or 

wash, rather than anything harsh. 

The water-activated cleanser – foam 

or wash – swoops in to remove any 

surface-level residue, leaving skin a little 

more purified, clean-but-not-squeaky. 

So, which products do I really rate? 

I have lots of favourites, actually. Let’s 

start with balms: a 2023 discovery has 

been L’Occitane Immortelle Divine 

Cleansing Balm, £39 for 60g, part 

of their fabulous Immortelle range 

(to which I’m addicted). Elemis 

Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm is a 

product I return to time and again, 

not least because the multi-awardwinning, 

make-up melting formula 

is occasionally available with limited 

edition fragrances, to stop me getting 

bored; meanwhile I’ve re-purchased 

Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, 

from £13 for 20g, several times. Pricier, 

but luxuriously fabulous and herbilyscented, 

is Wildsmith Skin Active 

Repair Nourishing Cleansing Balm, 

from £14 for 15ml (intro size), which 

has an intriguing, enjoyably jelly-like 

texture – and a little bit goes an awfully 

long way. I’m also fond of switching all 

of these up with Omorovicza Thermal 

Cleansing Balm, £62 for 50ml, 

which is powered by magnesium and 

calcium, is charcoal-black in colour and 

warms on the skin, for a wonderfully 

relaxing sensation. And if you’re a bit 

strapped, right now, meanwhile? No 

compromises needed: Dr.PAWPAW 

Your Gorgeous Skin Cleansing 

Balm, £14.99, has become a fixture 

in my bathroom cabinet and (thanks 

to the lightweight tube) in my travel 

kit, too: brilliantly hydrating, supereffective, 

and exceptionally good value. 

Cleansing oils I can recommend 

(based on the opinions of my Beauty 

Bible testers) include Erborian Centella 

Cleansing Oil, £26 for 180ml, the very 

reasonable Super Facialist Vitamin C+ 

Brighten Skin Renew Cleansing Oil, 

£9 for 200ml; Evolve Organic Beauty 

Kalahari Dream Cleansing Oil, £20 

for 100ml; and ekó Botanicals Amina 

Ritual Cleansing Oil, £42 for 100ml, 

which uses key botanicals that have 

been time-tested in African, as well 

as British ancient beauty rituals. And 

there’s one particular new cleansing 

cream which has impressed me, too. 

Beauty editor Caroline Hirons’s Skin 

Rocks The Cream Cleanser, £32 for 

125ml; not least to commend this is 

the fact it’s available in a fragrance-free 

or a lightly (citrus) scented version. 

And as for those ‘washes’ – the 

aforementioned ‘double cleanse’ step? As 

I say, keep it gentle; you don’t want to 

strip away every last atom of oil (which 

might sound counter-intuitive to oilycomplexioned 

readers, but you’ve gotta 

trust me here: your face will just work 

harder and faster to put the oil back). 

So, I particularly recommend allnatural 

Wild Science Lab Happy 

Days Cleansing Foam, £20 for 125ml, 

which features plant-derived fruit acids 

to remove dead surface cells and deepcleanse 

pores (another Beauty Bible 

winner), sunnily-packaged Trinny 

London AHA/PHA Better Off Gel 

Cleanser, £28 for 100ml – again, it’ll 

subtly exfoliate, but won’t leave skin 

feeling like it’s two sizes too tight – and 

budget-but-brilliant CeraVe Hydrating 

Facial Cleanser, £12 for 236ml. 

So: once, twice – it’s your call. But 

you know what? At the end of the day 

(and I really do mean at the end of 

the day), all that matters is that you 

DO cleanse – the not-always-sexy but 

definitely always-important step in 

your skincare regime, prepping your 

complexion so that everything you 

apply afterwards sinks in well, to work 

its magic. 

See beautybible.com for more of Jo’s tried 

and tested beauty reviews. 


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98

Wellbeing 

Tap 

into it 

Sarah Maxwell explores the benefits of EFT 

istockphoto.com/ humonia 

A 

while ago I developed hives 

on my face and neck during a 

particularly stressful period. 

After several months of tests and multiple 

prescriptions for lotions, potions and 

pills, the hives were still spreading and 

showing no sign of calming down. 

Fortunately, I was introduced to a book 

called The Body Keeps Score, which 

helped me understand why I wasn’t 

healing and the hives weren’t shifting. 

It was then that I got in touch with Kate 

Munden, a trauma and embodiment 

specialist and EFT practitioner. 

She taught me how to use EFT 

Tapping to help me clear the 

underlying issues causing my hives. 

What is EFT/Tapping 

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) 

is an alternative treatment for 

emotional distress and physical pain. 

It uses a highly effective combination 

of talking therapy and acupressure, 

swapping needles for fingertip tapping 

and drawing on aspects of modern 

cognitive therapy to enable you to safely 

get to the root of your problem. 

Our emotional, subconscious minds 

are far more powerful than our conscious 

minds. Stress causes our bodies to go 

into flight, fight or fear mode and, 

in turn, this raises our cortisol levels 

and puts us at risk of a suppressed 

immune system, high blood pressure, 

weight gain, increased blood sugar and 

heart disease among other issues. 

Tapping sends signals to the brain to 

react calmly, reduce stress and trauma 

and treat the negative emotions associated 

with anxiety, sadness and fear. 

Some of the many benefits 

of practising EFT 

• Reducing stress and anxiety 

• Improving physical health and wellbeing 

• Increasing energy levels 

• Enhancing mental clarity & focus 

• Enhancing emotional wellbeing 

• Releasing negative emotions & thoughts 

• Enhancing self-awareness 

The National Institute for Health and 

Care Excellence (formerly NICE) has 

found EFT to be clinically- and costeffective 

for PTSD, and research is 

ongoing on how it can help with health 

and wellbeing across the board. Check 

out their research for yourself at 

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng116/evidence. 

The beauty of EFT is that you can 

learn it quickly as a self-help tool or go 

to a deeper level with a trained therapist. 

Great if you are looking for a way to 

reduce stress and anxiety, improve physical 

health and emotional wellbeing. 

How to do it at home: 

Think of a number from 1-10 and 

rate how you currently feel about a 

situation you are going to tap about. 

Here are a few ideas as to what 

you could say whilst tapping: 

• ‘Even though I am upset/ 

stressed/unhappy about [...] I 

deeply love and accept myself’ 

• ‘I am strong and I can get 

through anything’ 

• ‘Even though I’m scared, I know 

I have the courage to do this’ 

Tap gently between 3-7 times on each 

point (to follow) whilst repeating a 

sentence that refers to how you are feeling. 

Points to focus on: 

• Eyebrow point – where the eyebrows 

begin, closest to the bridge of the nose. 

• Side of eye – on the bone directly 

along the outside of either eye. 

• Under eye – on the bone 

directly under either eye. 

• Under nose – the area directly beneath 

the nose and above the upper lip. 

• Chin point – this is the area just 

below your bottom lip and above 

the chin, right in the crease. 

• Collarbone point – starting from where 

your collarbones meet in the centre, go 

down an inch and out on either side. 

• Under arm – on your side, about 

four inches beneath the armpit. 

• Top of head – directly on 

the crown of your head. 

When you finish tapping, rate how 

stressed you feel about the same 

situation on the scale of 1-10. 

You can practise EFT on your own, 

it doesn’t need special equipment 

or location. It’s easy to learn and 

flexible enough to adapt to any 

circumstances or worries you have. 

If you do feel you need support, 

I highly recommend you go to an 

experienced therapist who can guide and 

teach you for the best possible results. 

To find out more about the support that 

Kate Munden offers, see katemunden.com 

Sarah Maxwell is a multi award-winning 

weight loss, lifestyle and fitness coach. 

Find out more about her work... 

Facebook & Instagram: @sarahmaxlife 

Twitter: @sarahmax100 sarahmaxwell.com 

99 


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100 

HeliosPharmacyWT239.indd 1 22/03/2022 14:04

istockphoto.com, miwa_in_oz , Magone, chokja, Elena Tsvetkova, Drazen Zigic, Agustin Vai, vaaseenaa 

Nourish to Flourish 

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau 

explores the benefits of incorporating 

another healthy ingredient into our 

diets. This month it’s avocado 

Avocados are delicious, nutritious and versatile 

and have fast become a kitchen staple in many 

homes around the world. 77% of the calories 

in an avocado come from fat which often scares people, 

yet fat is crucial to our wellbeing as it gives us energy, 

gives flavour to our food and helps us to feel full and 

satisfied. Both mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids 

should be included in our diet as they are proven to 

support heart health and brain cognition. Avocados 

are a great source of mono-unsaturated fats which are 

linked to several health benefits including a reduced risk 

of heart disease and diabetes. Avocados are also high 

in oleic acid (also found in olive oil) which helps to 

reduce LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol and give a subtle increase 

in HDL ‘good’ cholesterol. They are also very high in 

the fat-soluble antioxidant, Vitamin E, which helps to 

protect skin cell membranes from chemical damage and 

potassium, which supports blood pressure regulation 

and the function of our nervous system. Avocados are 

also a great source of fibre, (approx 14g in each avocado) 

which is essential for a healthy digestive system. 

Super speedy avocado toast 

It has become a bit of a cliché, but you really can’t beat 

avocado on toast! The combination of smooth avocado 

and crunchy toast is the perfect pairing… top with a 

poached egg and you have a balanced meal based on 

healthy fats, protein and complex carbohydrates. 

Serves 1 

• ½ avocado 

• 1 slice of rye sourdough 

• chilli flakes or a tsp of mixed seeds 

• 1 poached egg 

• sauerkraut (optional) 

Simply toast your sourdough, slice or mash your avocado 

on top and season with salt and pepper. Top with a 

poached egg and sprinkle some mixed seeds on top. 

I like to add lemon and chilli flakes or a tablespoon of 

sauerkraut for extra taste and a healthy dose of probiotics. 

Charlotte runs Plume Nutrition, where she offers support and advice 

for weight management, controlling cravings, sleeplessness, stress 

and increasing energy levels. Find out more at plumenutrition.com 

101 


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IntoTheGardenRoomWT254.indd 1 13/06/2023 16:51:31 

LEADING THE WAY IN 

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Message in 

a Bottle 

istockphoto.com/ Nirad 

Jo Arnell finds out that there’s so much more to terrariums than first 

meets the eye when she meets Sebastian Tribe, founder of Terrapy 

Making a self-sustaining 

botanical world filled with 

beautiful, miniature plants 

is – if Sebastian Tribe has anything 

to do with it – a serene, creative and 

satisfying activity. The calmest form 

of world building – no volcanoes, 

storms or invasions will disrupt the 

landscape (unless you drop it), the 

mountains are scaleable, and you are 

the custodian of your own little jungle. 

Seb, a lawyer, rather than a botanist 

by profession, originally worked in 

the city, “I enjoyed my time there, but 

escaped into another world.” He is now 

the owner of Terrapy, his terrarium 

business. Once you dive into this 

seemingly tiny domain, there is another 

far larger one waiting to be explored, 

and fascinating it is too, brimming with 

history, science and intrigue. I talk to 

Seb about the evolution of the terrarium 

and how the therapeutic benefits of 

owning, making and maintaining them 

has inspired him to run workshops and 

produce beautiful and environmentally 

friendly mini ecosystems. 

Terrariums as we know them today 

have evolved from the Wardian case. 

This portable mini greenhouse was 

invented in 1830 by Nathanial Ward, a 

doctor with an interest in entomology 

and – like many Victorians – ferns. He 

noticed that his ferns were thriving in 

the glass cases he kept his specimens in 

– and so, almost by accident, invented 

a system for transporting plants across 

the world, that had hitherto perished 

on long sea journeys. It meant that the 

intrepid plant hunters of this era were 

now able to bring back rare and exotic 

species that nurseries could propagate 

and sell. It also meant that living 

plants could become commodities. 

Tea was one such highly prized and 

carefully guarded product, produced 

and monopolised where the tea plant 

Camellia Sinensis grew in China. That 

monopoly was ended thanks in part to 

the smuggling of tea plants from China 

to India by botanist Robert Fortune, 

who managed to pack Wardian cases 

with seedlings and successfully ship 

them from Shanghai to India – changing 

the course of history in the process. 

Back in England during the craze 

for ferns that came to be known as 

pteridomania, Wardian cases were used 

to protect delicate specimens from the 

smoggy, sooty air that filled the towns 

and cities, and provided a miniature 

escape into a clean and leafy world. 

103 


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Fern collectors were often young women, 

and for them the escape was a big one. 

In an age where women had little agency, 

fern collecting was deemed a wholesome 

and educational activity. Many women 

were allowed out unchaperoned to go 

fern hunting and experience a liberating 

taste of freedom and autonomy. 

It is amazing to think that a small 

glass container can do such mighty work 

– and Seb is determined that Terrapy 

does its fair share: “I want Terrapy 

to work in the interest of society,” he 

says. “Wardian cases have unlocked 

progress. Today, they can also help us 

to expand access to horticulture. Part 

of our mission is to make this form of 

gardening possible for those who don’t 

have their own land to cultivate, perhaps 

living as many of us do in flats or 

shared housing.” Terrapy runs a scheme 

providing free workshops to registered 

charities that support those who don’t 

have the ability or means to access 

horticulture. They have also committed 

to donating 10% of their annual profits 

to organisations mitigating climate 

breakdown and fighting for social equity. 

Caring for the environment is a 

large part of what the company stands 

for. “We are currently building our 

first workshop almost entirely from 

construction waste and already have a 

very low carbon footprint. Constant 

changes are being made to our terrariums 

as we race towards zero, but while a 

gap remains we fund a non-profit, that 

permanently stops dangerous greenhouse 

gases leaking from dumped fridges 

into the atmosphere, to counteract 

our small impact many times over. We 

use recycled or reclaimed materials in 

our terrariums wherever feasible, and 

avoid single use materials,” Seb says. 


104 

CheekyMonkeyWT249.indd 1 24/01/2023 17:06

They hope to eventually reach 

their goal of being carbon negative, 

and maintain their prestigious 

ESGmark® certification – which 

recognises businesses that achieve 

‘a high level of performance against 

Environmental, Social and Governance 

(ESG) principles and an ongoing 

commitment to positive change’. 

In all living worlds, no matter how 

small, there will be dynamic forces at 

work. The scene within the terrarium 

will alter as time allows its endless 

cycle of growth, decay and renewal, 

especially if you keep the lid on. In fact 

if the container is sealed it will be selfsustaining, 

needing only sunlight to 

allow life to continue in its many forms. 

“Most of the plants are tropical,” says 

Seb, “and so they thrive in this enclosed, 

humid environment. When I teach, I 

talk about two directions to take – you 

can allow the plants to compete, or you 

can intervene and curate the beauty. I 

made one for my grandmother which 

had a Ficus Ginseng in the middle, a 

Peperomia, a Begonia, Tradescantia and 

some moss and ferns. Six months later 

it had transformed from pristine into 

a jumble and some of the plants had 

completely disappeared! It’s a closed 

ecosystem and you can see how delicate 

some plants are, how we can affect 

them and how things can change.” This 

reminds me of a man I’d heard about 

who kept a sealed terrarium alive for 

decades. “Ah, that’s David Latimer,” Seb 

replies. “He made the longest lasting 

terrarium on record in 1960 and sealed 

it up after its final watering in 1972. It’s 

in a stoppered bottle called a carboy.” 

Is creating a terrarium the ultimate low 

maintenance way to grow houseplants? 

As a notorious houseplant murderer, I’m 

pleased to hear that this is exactly how 

tropical plants would choose to grow. Seb 

is quick to reassure me that the massacres 

might not be all my fault. “I ask people 

for a show of hands at the workshops – 

‘Who has killed a houseplant?’ People 

feel like they’re doing something wrong, 

but these are rainforest plants and 

houses are often too dry, so we have 

to intervene with regular watering and 

misting to remedy the difference from 

their natural environment. We call them 

houseplants, but to me that’s an example 

of how language gets inaccurately used.” 

So, how to make a terrarium? Well 

the good news is that Seb maintains that 

it’s not too difficult. “You can salvage 

everything you need to make a terrarium 

except for the soil – you need a light, 

fluffy mix that emulates the rainforest 

floor. We use organic coco coir as the 

base, which is waste from an organic 

farm, and the only thing we source from 

outside Europe to help us remain peat 

free. We find that volcanic rock and moss 

are both great for holding moisture. We 

use a cleaner form of rock that naturally 

forms into small pieces, meaning it 

doesn’t need to be pulverised, and the 

moss in our soil is actually waste from 

another process! The plant nutrition 

comes from a vermicast (worm cast) mix, 

but we don’t use garden compost because 

this will mould over and break down 

too quickly.” Pre-made terrarium soil is 

available to buy from many independent 

garden centres and plant shops. 

As for the plants to choose, that’s 

up to personal preference, although 

there are some that work particularly 

well. Asparagus ferns look remarkably 

like little trees, as do small Ficus 

microcarpa Ginseng. “Fittonia go well 

with varieties of Peperomia, some 

types of Ficus, certain ferns. You can 

create the illusion of a small forest. 

Peperomia is popular because there 

are so many colourful varieties and 

they are generally quite tolerant and 

resilient. You can even use rooted 

cuttings from your own tropical plants 

at home, I have made many terrariums 

without needing to buy any plants.” 

Terrapy’s public workshops take place 

at several independent venues across 

the South East and are a wonderful 

escape from the stresses of day-to-day 

life. It is lovely to learn and connect 

with the living world in such a unique 

and intriguing way. “It’s great when, 

say, a group of nurses come in after a 

shift for an evening workshop,” says 

Seb. “Even though they might have 

been stressed and tired, silence falls 

for a few moments and they become 

totally absorbed in their tiny gardens.” 

Many of Seb’s private workshops 

take place in corporate settings where 

his previous career started in London. 

“Particularly in the city a lot of time is 

sacrificed on the altar of mindfulness. 

Mindful meditation is something I 

really recommend people try, but some 

find it very challenging. For many, 

the mere idea of stopping can lead 

to confrontation with uncomfortable 

thoughts and feelings, so we need to 

find other ways to access that same 

headspace. Our workshops offer an 

opportunity to discover their creative 

space and a creative outlet.” 

Most medicine is derived from 

plants, at Terrapy the plants are the 

medicine – supplied in a bottle. 

Find out more about terrariums, their 

intriguing history, how to make one, and 

where to book a workshop at terrapy.uk 

105 107 priceless-magazines.com

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106

Marbled white 

(Melanargia galathea) 

Back to Basics 

Sue Whigham explores the wonderful biodiversity on the Isle of Oxney 

We got pretty excited early 

this morning when we 

spotted a large stand of 

ragwort behind a hedge (and luckily 

nowhere near livestock). Why? 

Because that would explain the first 

cinnabar moth that we’ve caught sight 

of on the Isle of Oxney in twenty 

odd years – or is it thirty? That was 

a few weeks ago and what a lovely 

creature it is. A night flying moth 

making occasional day time forays. 

Its distinctive colouring is fabulous; its 

crimson hindwings boldly decorated 

with both strong red lines and 

spots. The moth’s black and yellow 

caterpillars congregate on ragwort 

and their bright markings warn off 

potential predators because as they 

continue to feed, the poison from the 

plant intensifies. Isn’t Nature clever. 

Inspired by Michael Howard’s talk 

at the Rye Harbour Discovery Centre 

a week or so ago, a friend and I (and 

three small dogs) took ourselves to the 

National Trust owned field behind St. 

Mary’s Church on the Isle of Oxney a 

couple of days ago. The field is awash 

with creeping thistles which seem to 

have grown to mammoth proportions 

and which we waded through. There 

are also large stands of brambles and 

the odd statuesque Marsh Thistle 

(Cirsium palustre) growing around the 

stream that cuts through the field. 

Whilst I know that creeping thistles 

are not everybody’s idea of a friend, 

the place was buzzing with butterflies, 

moths, grasshoppers – all swooping 

and dancing around us and alighting 

on the thistle flowers. We must have 

looked very odd to any passing walker 

as we tried to get close enough to 

snap them whilst they were having a 

quick break from all this activity. 

Butterfly highlights were the Marbled 

White and a lovely Peacock. The 

Peacock has very pronounced eye spots 

and glorious markings, but when it 

closes its wings it looks rather like 

a dead, shrivelled leaf. This disguise 

is obviously to confuse would-be 

predators. Once disturbed though the 

butterfly will give a quick flash of its 

eye spots – enough to frighten off even 

the most intrepid would be enemy. 

The damselflies too were 

exploring the field – one with a 

bright green iridescent head and 

a long, beautiful blue abdomen. 

107 


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108 

KibblewhiteWT167.indd 6 27/11/2015 12:46

Green tiger beetle 

(Cicindela campestris) 

Female Meadow brown 

(Maniola jurtina) 

Thistles 

Peacock (Aglais io) 

Wild carrot (Daucus carota) 

istockphoto.com/ ljphoto7 / Cornel Pop 

Oh, and translucent wings too. That one did stay put 

for a few seconds and we managed a blurred image... 

probably best to enjoy seeing them in the moment. 

Michael Howard is the National Trust Head Ranger 

responsible for 1,100 acres in and around Winchelsea and has 

been for six years. He also has responsibility for some land on 

the Isle of Oxney including the field we were exploring this 

week. With a team of two, plus six able volunteers, his remit 

is huge but oh, such an interesting and varied job. They look 

after coppiced woodland, wildflower meadows, reed beds, 

grazing marsh, coastal paths and more. The volunteers get 

involved in hard physical work such as reed bed maintenance 

in the winter months as well as undertaking surveys of 

the biodiversity they have on the NT land (which is the 

favourite part of Michael’s job) and it was quite optimistic 

to hear that the populations of many birds and insects as 

well as creatures like the water voles and little bank voles 

are flourishing. Snipe, field fares, corn buntings, and short 

ear owls were amongst the birds that were mentioned. 

The National Trust are also involved in building and 

installing nesting boxes in different habitats to attract more 

birds; sometimes replacing ones that aren’t suitable any more 

or not being used. Recently 15 swift boxes were installed 

in Winchelsea. I hope I’ve got my facts right on that one. 

And their barn owl and tawny owl boxes made by one of 

the volunteers are attracting residents. It can often take a 

while for the birds to take up home in these – the numbers 

and the occupancy are all monitored and recorded. 

My neighbour built and installed a barn owl box three 

or so years ago and whilst it hasn’t been discovered by barn 

owls as yet, a pair of kestrels have been making the most of 

it and raising a brood each season. It’s wonderful to listen 

to and watch the fledglings being taught how to hunt by 

their attentive parents from the field below. The latest news 

is that a pigeon has now discovered the box and unknown 

to it, is being viewed on a TV screen in the kitchen! 

We heard too about Market Wood at Fairlight which is a 

parcel of fourteenth century Ancient Woodland managed by 

the Trust and which is coppiced every fifteen years. Here they 

use the wood that they have coppiced for fencing and it was 

interesting to hear about the ‘dead hedges’ that were built 

to protect from deer. And then there is the land at Crutches 

Farm which is on the ‘edge of the higher ground surrounding 

the flat low lying grazing lands of the Brede Valley’. This is 

designated as part of the Romney Marshes Joint Character 

Area. The idea is to manage it differently in future with the 

intention of encouraging more and varied biodiversity. 

Some areas will be managed to become wetter; more 

hedges will be planted to give birds, insects and mammals 

protection and increased nesting sites and there is also 

a move afoot to use mob grazing where livestock are on 

the land in greater numbers but for shorter durations. 

109 


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This then allows for a longer than 

usual time for grass to recover and 

provide varied food stuffs and cover. 

Mr. Howard spoke about the 

myriad bees and insects thriving on 

the land he and his team manage. 

We were all impressed by the man in 

Row Three whose bee knowledge was 

huge! It put us all to shame. I didn’t 

know that bumble bees evolved in the 

Himalayas or that there are 26 species 

of nomad bees in this area or that 

some bees have longer tongues than 

others – useful if you want to feed 

from, say, a foxglove. But there are 

also other bees who just bite through 

the top of the flower to get what they 

need – an ingenious short-cut surely. 

I must say that I don’t think many 

of us had heard of the green tiger 

beetle, Cicindela campestris, either. 

This beetle is one of Britain’s fastest 

insects in that it is able to run up to 

five miles an hour to catch its prey. 

It is armed with large sickle shaped 

jaws and a set of sharp teeth. The sun 

apparently enables them to run faster, 

so look out for a speedy metallic green 

creature with purple-y bronze legs. 

They have been spotted 

somewhere near Winchelsea! 

Sue Whigham can be contacted on 

07810 457948 for gardening advice 

and help in the sourcing and supply of 

interesting garden plants. 


110

SUPERCARS AT HEVER 

CONTEMPORARY CRAFT 

FAIR AT HEVER CASTLE 

FAVERSHAM 

MARKET 

This Page: istockphoto.com/ gpointstudio & ViewApart Next Page: istockphoto.com/ Everste & romrodinka 

What’s On 

in August 

FAIRS & MARKETS 

Every Tues, Fri & Sat 

Market Place, Faversham 

ME13 7AG 

FAVERSHAM MARKETS 

A lovely town for a day trip. 

Faversham Markets hold a popular 

selection of local food and drink 

events, set in the town’s picturesque 

and historical centre. You’ll find 

local fruit and veg; award-winning 

bread and pastries; homemade 

cakes; fine regional cheese; Kentish 

meats and locally produced beer 

and cider at the Saturday Charter 

Markets. Or visit on the first or 

third Saturday of the month for 

the Best of Faversham Market, 

home to a selection of food, drink 

and artisan goods, all produced 

within 15 miles of Faversham. 

favershammarket.org 

Sat 26 – Mon 28 Aug 

Pashley Manor Gardens, 

Ticehurst, Near 

Wadhurst TN5 7HE 

SUSSEX GUILD 

CONTEMPORARY 

CRAFT SHOW 

Don’t miss this showcase of 

skillfully crafted beautifully 

handmade products including 

ceramics, furniture, textiles, 

metalwork, woodwork, glass 

and jewellery. Grab the chance 

to chat to the lovely makers 

themselves, and you could 

purchase or even commission 

their work for something truly 

special. This is all set in the award 

winning gardens at Pashley – a 

quintessentially English scene 

nestled in picturesque Kentish 

countryside. The ‘hot’ borders of 

dahlias, cannas and ricinus will 

be at their peak for high summer 

and you can sample produce from 

the Kitchen Garden with delicious 

locally sourced ingredients at the 

excellent Garden Room Café and 

terrace. A delightful day out. 

Entry: £12.50, children (6-16) £6 

thesussexguild.co.uk 

PLANES, TRAINS & 

AUTOMOBILES 

Sun 8 August 

Hever Castle & Gardens, Hever, 

Edenbridge Kent TN8 7NG 

SUPERCARS AT HEVER 

Revel at a rally with cars including 

Subaru, Escort and Lancia, as well 

as supercars including McLaren 

and a cool sixty Lamborghinis 

– an homage to the iconic car’s 

60th birthday. Get up close 

to all these impressive motors 

amidst the stunning Hever Castle 

backdrop as part of Supercar 

Sunday, organised by Challenge 

the Road. You can also explore 

electric and even a solar car with 

commercial companies. Plus 

you can virtually take to Brands 

Hatch racing circuit in a Formula 

1 car on one of the simulators! 

hevercastle.co.uk 

Tues – Sun & Bank Holiday 

Monday 26 Aug 10am-5pm 

Aerodrome Road, Hawkinge, 

Folkestone, Kent CT18 7AG 

KENT BATTLE OF 

BRITAIN MUSEUM 

The volunteers at the Kent Battle 

of Britain Museum Trust at 

Hawkinge have been very busy. 

Over the winter they acquired, 

restored, and repainted a Junkers 

Ju 52/3M which has joined the 

Heinkel He 111H-16 and a Bristol 

Blenheim Mk. IV Project on the 

grass at the museum. The inside 

of the Ju 52/3M is currently 

being turned into the Museum’s 

Education Facility! Opening hours 

will change after September. 

Entry: adults £10, children 

£4, senior citizens £9 

kbobm.org 

THEATRE 

Fri 4 & Sat 5 Aug 

5pm (gates open) 

Leeds Castle, Maidstone, 

Kent, ME17 1PL 

CHILDREN’S THEATRE: 

WIZARD OF OZ 

Click your heels and journey 

down the yellow brick road as 

Immersion Theatre proudly 

presents a brand new adaptation 

of The Wizard of Oz. Join Dorothy 

and all her friends for this classic 

family show, guaranteed to have 

you in stitches from beginning 

to end. And could you hope for 

a lovelier or more magical setting 

than Leeds Castle? Expect dazzling 

costumes, plenty of audience 

participation, and a good singalong 

to a host of brand-new songs. 

leeds-castle.com 

Sun 20 Aug 7pm 

Nine Oaks Vineyard, 

Hothfield, Kent TN26 1EL 

A MIDSUMMER 

NIGHT’S DREAM 

Shakespeare’s classic comedy of love 

and intrigue, magic and mayhem 

comes to Nine Oaks Vineyard, 

where fairies are about and 

nothing is as it seems... after all, 

the course of true love never did 

run smooth. Quantum Theatre’s 

enchanting production will have 

you spellbound, so grab a picnic 

and a blanket and join in the fairy 

fun and frolics in the vineyard. 

nine-oaks.co.uk 

111 


Don’t miss our September issue 

Education Supplement 

Landing soon 


COMING UP 

W/C Mon 18 Sept 

Sarah Louise Dix Upholstery, 

57 St John’s Street, Farncombe, 

Godalming, Surrey GU7 3EH 

UPHOLSTERY COURSES 

& WORKSHOPS 

Sarah Louise Dix Upholstery 

offer a selection of upholstery 

courses and workshops, which 

are suitable for all abilities – from 

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and those with more experience. 

Using a combination of traditional 

and modern upholstery, these 

masterclasses are taught in small 

groups and run during the 

week, and weekends, including 

evening classes, all at their studio 

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Advance booking is required, so 

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Entry: 1 day footstool course 

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beginners’-intermediate course 

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sarahlouisedix.co.uk 

Thurs 7–Sun 10 Sept 

9.30am-5.30pm 

Hever Castle & Gardens, Hever, 

Edenbridge Kent TN8 7NG 

CONTEMPORARY CRAFT 

FAIR AT HEVER CASTLE 

The Contemporary Craft Fair 

at the beautiful and historical 

Hever Castle, offers a unique 

opportunity to explore and 

purchase unique work from 

some of the UK’s most talented 

contemporary craftmakers. This 

amazing event, set within the 

beautiful grounds of Hever Castle, 

showcases a diverse range of 

artistic disciplines, from ceramics 

and textiles to jewellery and 

sculpture. Here, you can immerse 

yourself in a wonderful creative 

atmosphere, watch interesting 

demonstrations by the exhibitors 

and take in some live music 

against the stunning backdrop of 

the castle. 

Special Offer: Book online 

in advance and save using 

code ‘CRAFT2023’. 

craftinfocus.com 

Listings are correct at time of going 

to press but may be subject to change. 

Readers are advised to check with venues 

before making arrangements. We can list 

your event in the next issue of Wealden 

Times for only £75+VAT. Please supply 

up to 200 words that should include 

date, time, venue, contact for enquiries 

and any entry price to whatson@ 

priceless-group.com or send with payment 

(cheques payable to Priceless Media Ltd.) 

to What’s On, Priceless Media, Kettle 

Chambers, 21 Stone Street, Cranbrook, 

Kent TN17 3HF. Priceless Media 

reserves the right to edit text. Deadline 

for the next issue is 7th August. 

Ceramics 

Furniture 

Glass 

Jewellery 

Leather 

Metalwork 

Printmaking 

Textiles 

Textile Art 

Woodwork 

Contemporary 

CRAFT SHOW 

Pashley Manor Gardens 

August Bank Holiday Weekend 

26 - 28 August 2023 

Special price: Entry to Craft Show & Gardens £12.50 

Pashley Manor Gardens, Ticehurst, 

Near Wadhurst, East Sussex TN5 7HE 

www.thesussexguild.co.uk 

Registered Charity no: 292234 

RYE SOCIETY OF ARTISTS 

SUMMER EXHIBITION 2023 

CHILDREN’S THEATRE: 

WIZARD OF OZ 

KENT BATTLE OF 

BRITAIN MUSEUM 

5th - 28th August 2023 

The Dance Hall 

Community Centre 

Conduit Hill, Rye TN31 7LE 

Open daily 10.30am to 5.00pm 

Jane Beecham Enso - This Is Where It All Begins 

Sumi Ink on Khadi Paper 

www.ryesocietyofartists.co.uk 

113 


RyeSocietyOfArtsWT255.indd 1 20/06/2023 11:14:11

Jane Howard sizes up the 

Coopers Farm bulls 

The calves are born in February 

and March and then spend 

a long lazy summer grazing 

on grass, drinking from their mums 

and growing by about a kg a day. 

Most suckler herds – that’s the term used to 

describe beef cows that raise their own calves as 

opposed to dairy cows that don’t – castrate their male 

calves at birth, but, because we sell a few bulls each year, 

all the boys are left ‘entire’ to see how they grow and all 

are turned out together with the girls. However by August 

the oldest of the heifer calves will be six months, at which 

point she can become fertile so it’s time to split the herd. 

All the cows with female offspring go one way and all the 

cows with bull calves the other. Needless 

to say, the bull goes with the latter. 

Not surprisingly the male calves are 

bigger than their half-sisters (they all have 

the same dad) and we weigh them every 

three months to check they are growing 

well and to help with the bull selection. 

The weights are sent to an organisation 

called Signet which runs a database for 

participating Sussex (the breed, not the 

county) herds so we can also compare 

our performance against other breeders. 

By August it’s clear which will be the best 

bulls to keep… and the rest, well let’s 

just say they won’t be kept for breeding. 

Now, for the chosen one or two, 

the serious stuff begins. The milk and grass will be 

supplemented through the autumn months with calf 

rearing nuts and, once weaned, they will be overwintered 

in their own quarters on an ad-lib diet of grain and 

hay – a bit like an all-you-can-eat buffet where you 

can keep going back as many times as you want. But 

the path to bulldom still has many bridges to cross. 

At 300 days their weights have to be in the top 25% of 

the performance figures even to be in the running. The 

A working bull 

has to cover a great 

deal of ground as 

he moves around 

his herd of cows, 

checking who might 

be in season, so 

good locomotion 

is essential 

next stage is a visit from the vet to check certain parts 

of their anatomy. A working bull has to cover a great 

deal of ground as he moves around his herd of cows, 

checking who might be in season, so good locomotion is 

essential. Then of course he has to have a healthy heart 

and good pair of lungs. Next eyesight – 

no good being short sighted when your 

cows could be a field away. And also 

his jawline – not to ensure it’s chiselled 

like Clint Eastwood, but to make sure 

it’s not overshot. To graze well his lower 

teeth and upper gum pad need to meet 

(cows don’t have front teeth!). And of 

course, finally, there’s the all important 

parts. Sorry for being rudimentary, 

but if you’re interested: at a year old a 

bull’s testicles should be at least the size 

of two cans of coke – circumference 

being a good indicator of fertility! 

Assuming he passes that part of 

the test, then he also has to be a 

good example of the breed and the bull inspectors 

from The Sussex Cattle Society pay a visit. As well as 

hopefully acknowledging him as a fine specimen they 

will also take a few hairs from his tail and from those 

of his dam and sire just to check he’s who you think 

he is and not the result of some unplanned liaison. 

And, last but not least, rather like a trip to one of those 

parlours where they pierce various body parts, he gets a 

ring through his nose and then at last he’s ready to go. 

Find out more about daily life at Coopers Farm by visiting coopersfarmstonegate.co.uk 


SHOW 

APARTMENT 

LAUNCHING 

SPRING 2024 

This image is for illustrative purposes only. Entrance gates are subject to planning. 

Luna Place is an exceptional new development by 

Chancery Homes, part of the Octagon Group. 

Comprising one and two bedroom apartments, the new development is situated in a prime 

location adjacent to Sandown Park Racecourse and ideally placed for Esher High Street. 

Guide Prices from £360,000 - £610,000 

Register your interest 

chanceryhomes.co.uk 

OctagonWT255.indd 1 26/07/2023 15:31:49 

1010753 OCTAGON MOVE TO LUNA PLACE 1PP_v3.indd 1 24/04/2023 15:27

MediaForceWT254-PRESTONS.indd 1 20/06/2023 09:56:50 


116

Surrey Homes | SH103 | August 2023 | The Taste Of The South East Supplement inside

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