West Dorset Living Feb - Mar 2020

FITNESS & WELLBEING 

FOR 13 - 16 YEAR OLDS 

ACTIVE 

TEEN 

NEW FITNESS & 

WELLBEING CLASSES! 

• SWIM FIT • CIRCUITS • PILATES 

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Bridport Leisure Centre 

Brewery Fields, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 5LN 

T: 01308 427464 E: info@bridportleisure.com 

www.bridportleisure.com 

FOR MORE 

INFORMATION 

PLEASE CALL 

01308 427464 

Registered Charity Number 267781

Contents 

A Note 

from the editor 

The bleak midwinter. I often bemoan the loss 

of the twinkle of festive lights and Christmas 

wreaths - it seems a cruel, long stretch from 

early January into spring without something 

nice to look at - we can all fall victim to this 

pessimism, generally because after the chaos 

of the festive season, our diaries are looking a 

little empty and our doors a little sad… 

A Culinary recipes Journey to celebrate 

through 

19Three Fairtrade Northern Ireland Fortnight 

How about instead of succumbing to the 

midwinter gloom, we instead rejoice in 

something altogether more special than strings 

of lights or wrapped up presents - the gentle 

awakening of spring, the shift in the seasons. 

I won’t look for glitter, but instead for the 

solemn little heads of the snowdrops in shady 

patches or the gentle bob of yellow swathes of 

daffodils lining the roads on my drive to work. 

I’ll view my lack of social engagements not as 

a problem, but as a chance to take a breath 

- and maybe treat myself to a dinner without 

having to worry about anyone else. Finally, 

instead of filling my body with festive treats (I 

assure you, there were plenty), I’ll fill my lungs 

with fresh air during the little 20 minutes I’ve 

carved out of my day for a lunchtime walk. 

Foodie Santa 

Barbara 

IN THIS ISSUE... 

06 What’s On 

Spring is awakening! And we share 

with you the pick of the best local 

events 

10 Wedded Bliss 

22 

Our annual wedding guide returns 

with lots of inspiration on upcoming 

trends and planning tips 

17 Mitch Tonks 

We catch up with the West Country 

chef on big business decisions and 

creating a community 

19 Fairtrade Fortnight 

Three delicious recipes celebrating the 

best Fairtrade ingredients - promising 

a fair price to farmers 

26 Liz Bonnin 

We caught up with presenter and 

wildlife expert Liz Bonnin ahead of the 

Planet Earth Live in Concert tour 

30 Bathroom Guide 

A guide to creating your own 

bathroom sanctuary and top tips for 

choosing tiles 

Presenter 

Liz Bonnin 

26 

28 

Amazing 

Glazing 

Editor Katie Thomson 

e katie.thomson@minervapublications.co.uk 

Publisher Sally Thomson 

Contributors Rebecca Williams, Peter Thomson, Kate O’Connell, Lucy Saunders, 

Angela Cave, Pete Lawrence, Dan Weston. 

Key Account Manager Skye O’Hara 

e skye@minervapublications.co.uk 

d/l 01225 613 518 

twitter: @WDorsetLiving 

w www.westdorsetliving.co.uk 

All things considered, then, February doesn’t 

feel too bad. It’s famously the month of love 

with Saint Valentine’s day in the middle - that 

love can manifest itself with showings of 

gratitude of kindness to your partner or pet, 

your best friend or brother - a little bit of love 

can lift even the gloomiest of spirits. 

This issue we have a bumper selection of 

goodies to keep you occupied too - with 

a fabulous bathroom and tile guide, some 

enviable inspiration on architectural glazing 

and some tips on modern Victorian styling. 

Add into that a catch up with the charming 

chef Mitch Tonks, some tasty recipes and a 

interview with the fascinating TV presenter and 

biologist Liz Bonnin - well, we are confident 

there is something for everyone. 

We will see you again in April - when we will be 

in full Easter mode! 

Katie 

MINERVA PUBLICATIONS HQ 

County Gate, County Way, 

Trowbridge, 

Wiltshire BA14 7FJ 

t 01225 613514 

Advertise now on our website www.WestDorsetLiving.co.uk 

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

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www.westdorsetliving.co.uk | 5

Bournemouth 

International Centre 

Exeter Road, Bournemouth BH2 5BH 

01202 055555 

www.bic.co.uk 

Saturday 29 February 

Jimmy Carr - Terribly Funny 

Jimmy’s brand new show contains jokes 

about all kinds of terrible things. 

Terrible things that might have affected you 

or people you know and love. 

But they’re just jokes - they are not the 

terrible things. 

Having political correctness at a comedy 

show is like having health and safety at a 

rodeo. 

Thursday 5 March 

An Evening with Whitney - The 

Whitney Houston Hologram Tour 

Presented through state-of-the-art 

proprietary holographic technology and 

combined with unmatched Broadway 

theatrical stagecraft, a live band, backup 

singers and dancers set to digitally 

remastered arrangements of her classic 

songs, the production will be helmed by 

acclaimed choreographer Fatima Robinson. 

Tuesday 10 - Thursday 12 March 

Riverdance 

A powerful and stirring reinvention of this 

beloved family favourite. 

Twenty-five years on, both new and 

devoted fans of all ages will once again fall 

in love with the magic of Riverdance - the 

original, the best. 

Saturday 28 March 

The Joe and Dianne Show 

The Joe & Dianne Show will give audiences 

a fantastic evening of performance, full 

of glitz, magic and plenty of laughs, 

guaranteed to leave fans of all ages 

spellbound. 

Bournemouth Pavilion 

Westover Road, Bournemouth BH1 2BU 

01202 055660 

www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk 

Friday 7 February 

The Story of Guitar Heroes 

The Story of Guitar Heroes is an aweinspiring, 

dynamic show which transports you 

through time from the 1950’s with artistes 

such as Chuck Berry and Hank Marvin from 

The Shadows, including gifted legends such 

as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jimmy 

Page, through to modern day players such as 

the great Brian May and the electrifying Steve 

Vai, to name but a few! 

6 | www.westdorsetliving.co.uk 

EVENTS GUIDE 

Finally, the days are getting longer and 

spring is just around the corner. 

Looking for the best local places to visit 

and things to do at this time of year? 

Then you can make the most of the 

season with our extensive guide... 

Saturday 8 February 

Anton & Erin - 

Dance Those Magical Movies 

Anton & Erin, the nation’s favourite ballroom 

stars are back with their brand-new show. 

With sensational choreography, expect 

a Hollywood red carpet premiere 

performance from the UK’s leading dance 

stars. Including musical classics from 

Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Singing In The 

Rain, Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, The 

Greatest Showman, 007, Titanic, Moulin 

Rouge and many more. 

Tuesday 11 - Wednesday 12 February 

Peppa Pig’s Best Day Ever 

Peppa Pig is excited to be going on a day 

out with George, Mummy Pig and Daddy 

Pig - it’s going to be her best day ever! 

Get ready for a road-trip full of adventures. 

Thursday 20 - Sunday 23 February 

Peter Pan 

Swish of the Curtain return with this aerial 

extravaganza that promises to capture the 

imagination of all ages especially those who 

never want to grow up! 

Tuesday 25 February 

Queen Symphonic 

Experience the unforgettable magic 

of Queen, in a rock and symphonic 

spectacular celebrating their greatest 

hits and featuring four rock vocalists who 

starred in We Will Rock You and a five 

piece rock band & symphony orchestra! 

Sunday 1 March 

BSO - Power and Passion 

The BSO bring you Power and Passion 

opening with the works of Grieg’s Piano 

Concerto. 

Tchaikovsky’s melodic prowess is shown to 

the full with his polonaise which is probably 

the greatest concert example of this dance 

ever written and the passion of the young 

Romeo and Juliet in a work of emotional 

intensity and heart-breaking beauty. 


Dick and Angel Dare to Do It 

Dick & Angel Strawbridge, the stars of 

Channel 4 hit ‘Escape to the Chateau’ 

embark on their first ever tour. During 

this highly entertaining evening, the duo 

explains who they are, where they have 

come from, how they met and why they 

dared to do it! 

Friday 20 March 

AJ Pritchard’s ‘AJ Live 2020’ 

Strictly favourite and serial semi-finalist AJ 

Pritchard is back out on the road. ‘AJ Live 

2020’ will combine the best moments from 

Strictly you know and love, intertwined with 

new energy packed choreography for all 

the family. 


Karen Hauer & Gorka Marquez - 

Firedance 

The brand new Latin spectacular - 

Firedance, starring Strictly favourites Gorka 

Marquez and Karen Hauer, will ignite 

audiences in 2020. Expect hot pulsing 

beats, seductive choreography and passion 

that will take your breath away. 

Bridport Electric 

Palace Theatre 

35 South Street, Bridport DT6 3NY 

01308 424901 

www.electricpalace.org.uk 

Friday 7 February, 7pm 

Kinky Boots The Musical 

Kinky Boots The Musical, filmed live at the 

Adelphi Theatre in the heart of London’s 

West End, is strutting onto the big screen! 

Inspired by true events, this huge-hearted 

hit tells the story of two people with nothing 

in common or so they think. 

Sunday 23 February 

Bolshoi Live - Swan Lake 

Prince Siegfried is summoned by his 

parents to choose a bride. However, he 

encounters a mysterious swan-woman 

by the lake, Odette, and is captivated by 

her. His vow of eternal love to her will have 

irreversible consequences. 

Friday 13 March, 8pm 

Joel Dommett - Unapologetic 

(if that’s ok?) 

Join Joel as he brings you bang up to date 

on his life since his last live show! 

He has become a regular face on TV. 

Wednesday 18 March, 8pm 

Clive Anderson - Me, Macbeth & I 

The host of Whose Line Is It Anyway, Loose 

Ends and Talks Back takes to the road with 

his much-anticipated first ever solo tour, in 

a one-man show guaranteed to be funnier 

than Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy. 


Jon Culshaw - 

The Great British Take Off 

Comedian, impressionist and star of BBC 

Radio 4’s Dead Ringer’s Jon Culshaw, 

accompanied by legendary comedy 

producer and author Bill Dare. For an 

evening of unscripted, spontaneous 

comedy and conversation as politicians, 

sports personalities and celebrities are all 

up for a roasting. 

continued

FOUR FLOORS, THREE HUNDRED YEARS 

OF HISTORY AND THE ROOF! 

The Keep Military Museum tells the story 

of the Regiments of Devon and Dorset 

over three centuries. 

• WW1 and WW2 Galleries 

• Artefacts from various conflicts 

• Activities for children 

• Amazing views from the roof! 

New fabric selection now available in our showroom 

Romans | curtains | cushions | fabric by the metre 

and many more options 

THE KEEP MILITARY MUSEUM 

Barrack Road, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1RN 

(01305) 264066 

Don’t get left in the cold this winter, speak with CHG about boiler 

servicing 

With the colder months approaching why not get prepared and take 

out one of our Service Plans 

• Guaranteed to attend to callout within 24 hours 

• Includes annual service of boiler 

• Exclusive discounts on further works 

• Cost can be spread monthly, starting at £8.03 per month 

For all enquiries call 01308 420170 or visit 

chgsouthwest.com 


Corfe Castle 

The Square, Wareham BH20 5EZ 

01929481294 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/corfe-castle 

Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 February, 11am 

& 1.30pm 

History Walk and Talk Tours 

Pam White, Corfe Castle historian revisits 

the castle’s rich history on walk and talk 

tours. 

Discover the fascinating 1000 year history 

of the castle ruin as a royal palace, a 

stronghold and a place of romance and 

betrayal. 

Weekends 29 February /1 March, 14/15, 

21/22, 28/29 March 

Keeper of the Castle 

Meet the ‘Keeper of the Castle’ who will 

take you on a journey of discovery through 

1000 years. 

Get ready for lots of fascinating facts, 

humour and fun. 

Forde Abbey 

Chard TA20 4LU 

01460 221290 

www.fordeabbey.co.uk 

Saturday 1 - Saturday 29 February 

Snowdrop Weekends 

Throughout February, the 30 acres of 

award-winning gardens are carpeted 

in a spectacular display of snowdrops, 

heralding the start of Spring. It’s the perfect 

time of year to explore and enjoy the 

garden. 

Saturday 29 February - Sunday 8 March 

Crocus Week 

Crocus Week, when these jewel-like 

flowers will carpet the lawns, although 

many bulbs will have been in bloom since 

mid-February, particularly along the top of 

the south lawn and in the Rockery. 

Sunday 1 March, 10am - 4pm 

Plant & Gardening Fair 

Packed with inspiration and ideas for the 

Spring garden, Forde Abbey’s Plant and 

Gardening Fair is always held on the first 

Sunday in March. Once again in 2020, they 

will be hosting over twenty stalls selling 

plants and gardening sundries. 


Mothering Sunday Afternoon Tea 

This Mothering Sunday, why not treat 

your mother to Afternoon Tea at Forde 

Abbey. They’ve created a mouth watering 

menu for the occasion with a selection of 

freshly baked scones with strawberry jam 

and clotted cream to enjoy alongside an 

assortment of finger sandwiches and petits 

fours. With a pot of tea or filtered coffee 

and drinks for children. And since it’s a day 

to celebrate, there’s the option of a glass 

of fizz too. 

Highcliffe Castle 

Highcliffe, Christchurch BH23 4LE 

01425 278807 

www.highcliffecastle.co.uk 


ECOFEST 2020 

Welcome to the brand new Highcliffe Castle 

event bringing together everyone that is 

trying to make our world a little greener. 


There will be trade stands, talks and 

workshops which aim to be fun and 

interactive for all the family. 

Friday 27 March, 7.30pm 

A Brief History of Music - 600 years 

of music in 90 minutes 

‘A Brief History Of Music’ takes in 600 

years of musical history in 90 minutes! 

Beginning in the Middle Ages and ending 

up in the 20th century (and incorporating 

everything in between!) this fun and fastmoving 

show is a whistle-stop tour of 

Western musical history. 

Kingston Lacy 

Wimborne Minster BH21 4EA 

01202 883402 

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kingston-lacy 

Wednesdays 12 and 26 February 

Guided Snowdrop Walk 

Join the Kingston Lacy gardeners on an 

exclusive walk down paths lined with 

carpets of snowdrops. Learn more about 

the many different varieties and discover 

their long history at Kingston Lacy. 

Saturday 15 - Sunday 23 February 

February Half Term 

Take your friends and family on a nature 

adventure this half term. Whatever the 

weather, there’s something to enjoy, from 

craft activities to the woodland activity trail. 

Lighthouse, Poole's 

Centre for the Arts 

Kingland Road, Poole BH15 1UG 

0844 4068666 

www.lighthousepoole.co.uk 

Friday 14 February 

Midge Ure - The 1980 Tour - Vienna 

& Visage 

Brought to life by Midge Ure and Band 

Electronica, this is the very first time in 

the 40 years since it was made that the 

‘Vienna’ album will be performed in its 

entirety. It is also the first time that many of 

the songs from the debut Visage album will 

be played live. The music will be performed 

in a stage setting designed to reflect the 

atmosphere and ambience the albums 

deserve. 

Tuesday 25 - Saturday 29 February 

Friendsical 

Friendsical is an original and unique new 

parody musical inspired by the gang in 

Friends, the iconic TV show. 

With original new songs the gang take 

on naked Thursdays, a power cut, and a 

dinosaur convention! What could possibly 

go wrong? 

This is a loving parody not to be confused 

with the Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. 

series Friends. 

Tuesday 3 - Saturday 7 March 

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave’ Em 

Hilarious mishaps and DIY disasters are 

bringing the house down, quite literally, as 

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em hits the road 

with Joe Pasquale as the lovable accidentprone 

Frank Spencer. 

Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em is the ultimate 

feel-good night out, washed down with 

lashings of nostalgia and Mother’s prune 

wine. 


What’s Love Go To Do With It 

What’s Love Got To Do With It? Is the 

joyous new show celebrating the music of 

the incredible Tina Turner. 

Expect a night of high energy, feel-good 

rock-and-roll featuring Tina’s greatest hits. 


The Boys Are Back! with 5ive, A1, 

Damage & 911 

The boys are back! Catch 5ive, A1, 

Damage and 911 as they bring you a hitpacked 

show of pop classics. 

Four acts, one unforgettable night! 


Ben Fogle - 

Tales from the Wilderness 

Thrilling tales from a modern day explorer. 

From crossing Antarctica to conquering 

Everest, Ben will take the audience on an 

inspiring adventure. 

The UN Patron of the Wilderness, Ben 

Fogle has travelled the world, has 

published 10 bestselling books & his TV 

shows are a global hit watched by millions 

around the world. 

Weymouth Pavilion 

The Esplanade, Weymouth DT4 8ED 

01305 783225 

www.weymouthpavilion.com 

Thursday 6 February 7.30pm 

Th Banff Mountain Film Festival 

Embark on a thrilling night of adventure 

with a brand-new collection of short films 

from the world’s most prestigious mountain 

film festival! 

The Banff Mountain Film Festival joins the 

world’s best adventure film-makers and 

explorers as they push themselves to the 

limits in the most remote and stunning 

corners of the globe. Witness epic humanpowered 

feats, life-affirming challenges and 

mind-blowing cinematography – all on the 

big screen! 

Visit www.banff-uk.com for more details 

and full programme. 

We take great care in compiling the listings, 

however we recommend that you contact the 

venue in advance as events and listings can 

be subject to change. 

Snowdrops can be seen at Forde Abbey 

and Kingston Lacy

Wolfeton Manor 

Supported by the Affinity Group 

Foundation to build a 

CAREER IN SPORT 

16 - 18 YEAR OLDS 

Owing to popular demand within the local community, 

Wolfeton Manor is pleased to continue offering a short stay 

and day care service, called respite care. 

This service is designed to provide anyone needing a short 

term or one day break to experience the excellent facilities 

Wolfeton Manor has to offer. As well as offering the client a 

holiday, it can sometimes help provide the main carer with a 

much needed rest. 

The home has a friendly relaxed atmosphere and we also 

welcome residents that need a longer more permanent stay at 

Wolfeton Manor. 

“It’s a very pleasant place to be, staff are friendly. 

Food and accommodation is excellent” - Resident 

To find out how we can help you 

please call Claire Saxton on: 01305 262340. 

Email: admin@wolfetonmanor.com 

www.wolfetonmanor.com 

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WEDDED BLISS 

Planning your nuptials this year? Read on 

for top trends and lots of inspiration... 

Planning your wedding is a personal 

experience and to a large extent the 

format, style and little touches are more 

likely to be representations of your 

personalities and tastes over any trends. 

There is, however, an overwhelming body 

of inspiration online which can put even 

the most dedicated planner into a spin - 

sometimes some fresh, trend-led ideas 

might be just the spark to help you plan. 

Princess Dresses 

Channel your inner Disney princess - the 

more streamlined dresses we’ve been 

used to are making way for fuller skirts 

and ball-gown styles. For evening, lots 

of brides are opting for a second dress 

which is less constrictive - meaning they 

can dance the night away, carefree. 

Personal Details 

The wedding will be full of details that 

nod to you as a couple, but more and 

more brides are opting for personalisation 

in their outfits too. Some with meaningful 

words or dates embroidered into their 

veils or others more edgy with painted or 

stitched leather and denim jackets for the 

evening (these have the added bonus of 

being an item you can wear after the day!) 

Sustainability 

With a big shift in eco-friendly choices 

in everyday life, it’s natural that wedding 

venues and suppliers are upping their 

green credentials. Some considerations 

to make: ethical wedding rings and 

outfits, even consider hiring a dress 

(dresses take a lot of energy to create 

but are seldom worn after the event), 

give guests wildflower seeds as favours, 

employ caterers who only use biodegradable 

packaging, print eco-friendly 

invitations on recycled paper and for 

flowers pick seasonal blooms grown 

locally where possible. 

Wall Decorations 

In more non-traditional venues with 

plainer walls or in marquees, decor is key 

for setting the mood. ‘Green’ walls made 

from foliage and picked out with white 

lights look elegant and timeless, whereas 

paper pom poms in bright colours are 

cheerful and inviting. A new trend is a 

balloon wall - making arches to frame 

the ceremony. Lots of couples can add 

a DIY element here, making some of the 

decorations themselves (with a small 

army of bridesmaids or ushers to help!) 

Table Settings 

One of the biggest transformations in 

recent years is the style of tables and the 

seating arrangements. The more ornate 

chair covers with bows have made way 

for elegant chiavari chairs and tables 

are bursting with informal arrangements, 

made predominantly of foliage, picked 

out by the twinkle of fairy lights and 

mirrored platters. 

Incredible Venues 

Stately homes and castles are having 

a moment, making perfect backdrops 

for the big day. As well as being historic 

places to tie the knot, they are full of 

character and have many architectural 

gems - perfect for capturing those 

unforgettable photos. 

As ever, Pinterest is a great source of 

inspiration - but try not to get too bogged 

down and stressed with including every 

detail - the most successful weddings 

focus on bringing together a happy 

couple in an atmosphere of love and 

support - guests will remember how they 

feel on the day above all else.

LULWORTH 

CASTLE 

& PARK 

A Fairy-Tale Castle 

by the Sea 

C17 th Lulworth Castle, 

C18 th St Mary’s Chapel, 

C15 th St Andrew’s Church 

& extensive parkland. 

Get married in Dorset’s most 

exclusive wedding venue - built 

to entertain royalty. 

01929 400352 | www.lulworth.com

12 | www.westdorsetliving.co.uk

A THELHAMPT ON HOUSE 

EXQUISITE PRIVATE WEDDING VENUE 

IN THE HEART OF DORSET 

Historic Manor 

House Location 

Ceremonies 

Inside & Outside 

Civil Wedding 

Ceremony Licence 

Stunning Gardens 

for Photographs 

Choice of 

Reception Rooms 

Athelhampton House & Gardens 

between Dorchester & Poole on the A35 

find out more about our wedding ceremonies, receptions and in-house catering 

call 01305 848363 to arrange your personalised viewing 

or visit www.athelhamptonweddings.co.uk

YOUR TIME TO RELAX 

LUXURY ROOMS | BOUTIQUE SPA | FINE DINING | LOVELY GARDENS 

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Country and Townhouse 2019 

“English country house charm, 

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The Eastbury is a luxury Georgian country house style hotel and unique boutique spa 

with lovely gardens and award-winning seasons restaurant, set in the heart of the lively 

historic town of Sherborne in the glorious countryside of Dorset. 

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ADVERTISING FEATURE 

Make Memories at 

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Romance, style and elegance... 

Your wedding venue should be just like 

you – unique and original. The Eastbury is 

a luxury Georgian country style hotel and 

unique boutique spa with lovely gardens 

and award-winning Seasons Two Rosette 

Restaurant, set in the lively historic town 

of Sherborne in the glorious countryside 

of Dorset. 

For timeless style and elegant The 

Eastbury offers you the perfect place to 

celebrate with your loved ones. 

If you are making plans for you big day 

a visit to The Eastbury is a must. Meet 

the team, view the venue and chat about 

your plans over a glass of fizz. 

Memories are made at The Eastbury. 

The Eastbury Hotel 

Long Street, Sherborne 

Dorset DT9 3BY 

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ONLINE SHOP IS NOW OPEN! 

www.fordingtongin.co.uk 


THE CHEF 

that rocks 

Famed for his growing group of fabulous fish restaurants, 

Rockfish, Mitch Tonks is a chef, author, restaurateur and a 

passionate, lifelong advocate for all the morsels that emerge 

from the deep blue sea. Sally Thomson caught up with him 

to discuss expansion plans, career motivations and why his 

heart will always belong to the kitchen... 

Sally: I hear you have another book 

on the horizon? 

Mitch: I do! We’re doing another 

Rockfish book. It will be published 

October. All very exciting! 

Fantastic! How many Rockfish 

Restaurants have you got 

now? 

At the moment there are 

seven but there will be 

nine by the end of the year. 

They will be in Poole, Lyme 

Regis, and Sidmouth. Poole 

opened in January, Lyme 

Regis will open in June 

and Sidmouth will open 

in October. We then have 

two or three sites ready 

for 2021 that we are just 

negotiating on. 

That is incredible, 

when you think about 

where you’ve come 

from. 

It’s kind of been an 

up and down journey, 

because we had 

Fishworks, which 

grew to thirteen, 

but it was a public 

company and the 

wrong environment 

to grow restaurants 

in and ultimately 

the project failed. 

But since 2009 

Seahorses has existed down in 

Dartmouth, and Rockfish is ten years 

old, so we’ve done well to rebuild over 

that period. 

When we last had a chat you’d 

opened Joe’s Bar, how’s that going? 

It’s going really well, and since May last 

year we actually moved the entrance to 

the restaurant through Joe’s Bar, and 

that’s been a real success as people 

enter the restaurant through Joe’s 

Bar, have a drink and start their dining 

experience off with something more 

special and fun. 

So how do you stretch yourself with 

everything going on? 

Well the business is over three hundred 

people, with a really good senior team, 

finance, marketing, and then over four 

hundred in the summer. So, I obviously 

work very closely with my senior team 

and I am clear about what I want to 

achieve in a period of time and helping 

other people to achieve those goals. 

Sometimes its challenging but when you 

work as a team and you are supporting 

each other you can make stuff happen. 

That’s it really! 

Managing those people, helping them 

manage others, then I spend my time in 

the restaurants, as well as consistently 

looking at the business as a whole and 

thinking ‘How can our business provide 

better solutions for jobs, how can we 

be better than anywhere else to work 

"I tend to think of the restaurants like a 

community now. Everybody who works for 

us belongs to the community. We talk a lot 

about family but of course family are hard to 

get rid of and communities are made up of 

people all contributing" 

17

"I think when Fishworks 

failed…well it gives you 

plenty of time to reflect on 

what’s really important to 

you and what’s not" 

So I made a phone call to my agent who 

was on the train on the way up. He was 

mortified! All I could say to everyone was 

that 'I’m sorry, I just don’t want to do 

it'. Financially it was suicide as it was a 

very well paid job but it was prime time 

television and all the things that go with 

it and I didn’t want to be known as a guy 

on telly. I wanted to build my reputation 

as a restaurateur and a chef which is 

what I actually really enjoy. 

I think when Fishworks failed…well it 

gives you plenty of time to reflect on 

what’s really important to you and what’s 

not and allowed me to make my own 

choices, not get swept along with ‘this is 

a great idea’. It was a great idea, it was 

magnificent. The TV show would have 

been great but it just wasn’t for me. So 

the answer is I am regularly asked to do 

television bits and I will 99% of the time 

turn them down and occasionally I might 

do the odd thing but I don’t wake up 

thinking ‘I’d like to do more television’. 

18 

for, how can we have a really amazing 

strategy over five years that gives people 

top pay, freedom, how can we create a 

development programme so that people 

can develop in the organisation.’ 

I tend to think of the restaurants like a 

community now. Everybody who works for 

us belongs to the community. We talk a lot 

about family but of course family are hard 

to get rid of and communities are made up 

of people all contributing, so when people 

don’t contribute they move out of the 

community and new people move in. 

One thing I didn’t realise is that you 

made significant changes to your menu 

with regards to being gluten-free. That 

must have been a big change? 

Yes! About ten years ago we set about 

rebuilding all of cooking ranges and 

changing all of our practices so that offer 

everything gluten-free. We committed to 

the business being gluten-free, not just 

by saying ‘here’s a gluten-free menu’. 

Everything we do is gluten-free. If we 

have to swap a bun for a gluten-free bun 

we do, and it basically means that the 

whole menu is available to somebody 

with a gluten intolerance rather than 

them feeling in a minority and only being 

able to choose from say five things on 

the menu. 

Going back, I first met you at the 

beginning of the century! 2000, a 

long, long time ago! Since then you’ve 

appeared on TV, most notably with 

Matt Dawson, the rugby player, but 

do you find yourself too busy to make 

room to do any shows as of late? 

The television career took off back 

around 2008/09. The series Mitch and 

Matt’s Big Fish became very successful 

and Denham Productions and the BBC 

wanted to do series two. So there was a 

lot of euphoria and excitement from Matt 

and the team, and they were on their way 

to London to sign the deal. 

We had agreed it, gone through it all and 

I started to get cold feet. I was sat in the 

restaurant having a brandy and a coffee 

and I was just thinking to myself ‘I don’t 

actually want to be a television chef, I 

want to be in this restaurant cooking’. 

Surely your heart has to be in it if it’s 

what you are going to do? 

I think you are either on telly to drive 

people to your restaurants, well I’ve been 

there when you are in a restaurant and so 

many people want to talk to you because 

they’ve seen you on telly but never for 

the right reasons, and the thought that 

somebody comes to the restaurant just 

to catch a glimpse of the person they’ve 

seen on telly is just the wrong motivation. 

I want people to restaurants because 

they are really great places socially to 

go and they have importance in the 

community and they like your food and 

that it’s somewhere they want to come to 

celebrate birthdays and all of that stuff! 

Absolutely, and you’ve done so, I mean 

The Seahorse is just brilliant I’ve got 

to be honest. It’s just delightful the 

minute you walk in there, it’s such 

a lovely place to be and I absolutely 

love coming down there and hopefully 

when the weather brightens up I’ll be 

back. One last question; are you doing 

Salcombe Crab Festival this May? 

I’m still not sure if I’m going to do it this 

year. I didn’t do it last year, but I did 

the year before, but I am hoping to do 

a fish festival in Brixton, a crab festival 

in Dartmouth which we always do, and 

also Dartmouth Food Festival in October 

which is always great. 

www.mitchtonks.co.uk

ALL'S 

FAIR 

Fairtrade Fortnight 2020 forges ahead from 24 February - 8 

March in the fight to secure sustainable livelihoods for farmers 

in the global south. Sadly, the shocking exploitation of the people 

who grow our food is still rife around the world and Fairtrade 

Fortnight 2020 will highlight this reality, focusing on women 

cocoa farmers, who are some of the most marginalised and 

face the greatest challenges. To raise awareness, we've brought 

together fabulous recipes showcasing Fairtrade ingredients 

Okra Stew 

Images Chris Terry and chef for 

photography Danny Jack 

19

20 

CEVICHE DE 

ALCACHOFAS 

By Martin Morales, chef, writer and 

founder of Ceviche Family. Serves 4. 

‘On a recent trip to the region of Junín, 

near a town called Concepción, in 

Peru, I drove by field after field of 

beautiful, ripe artichokes. There were 

women in the fields harvesting and 

collecting them. Knowing then that the 

freshest artichokes would be on offer, I 

stopped by a roadside restaurant and 

had a perfect artichoke ceviche – the 

inspiration for this recipe.’ 

Fairtrade ingredients: olive oil, black 

pepper. 

Taste the good: Fairtrade spice farmers 

in India invested Fairtrade Premium in 

community kitchens to cook lunch for 

schoolchildren to encourage those from 

poor families to attend school. 

INGREDIENTS 

8 artichoke hearts, quartered 

2 small parsnips, peeled and cut into thin 

batons 

2 carrots, peeled and cut into thin batons 

2 red onions, finely sliced 

A small bunch of basil leaves, finely 

chopped 

A few iceberg lettuce leaves, shredded, 

to serve 

For the dressing 

2 tbsp Fairtrade olive oil 

Juice of 12 limes 

2 medium-heat red chillies, deseeded 

and finely chopped 

Salt and freshly ground Fairtrade black 

pepper 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Bring a saucepan of salted water to the 

boil. Blanch the artichoke hearts and 

parsnip and carrot batons for 3–4 minutes 

until just tender, then drain thoroughly 

and either chill in iced water or cool under 

running water. 

Put the red onion in a large bowl and add 

the cooled blanched vegetables. 

Make the dressing by whisking together 

the olive oil, lime juice and chilli and 

season with plenty of salt and pepper. 

Pour the dressing over the vegetables, 

sprinkle over the basil leaves and stir very 

gently to combine. 

Serve on a bed of shredded iceberg 

lettuce. 

OKRA STEW 

Ceviche de 

Alcachofas 

By Zoe Adjonyoh, chef, writer and founder 

of Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen. Serves 4. 

‘Okra is a common west African 

ingredient and one I use in my restaurant 

kitchen as well as my home. When I 

started Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen, I looked 

for new ways to incorporate this unique 

vegetable into dishes. Okra stew is one 

of my absolute favourites and one of the 

most traditional Ghanaian dishes I cook.’ 

Fairtrade ingredients: peanuts, curry 

powder, chilli, ginger. 

Taste the good: Fairtrade peanut 

farmers in Nicaragua used their Fairtrade 

Premium to equip themselves with new 

skills and tools to make handicrafts, 

bringing in vital additional income. 

INGREDIENTS 

200ml (7fl oz) sustainable red palm 

oil or carotene oil (can be substituted 

for Fairtrade coconut oil, rapeseed or 

sunflower also) 

1tsp Fairtrade chilli powder 

1tsp extra hot Fairtrade curry powder 

tsp salt 

2 medium red onions, finely diced 

2 garlic cloves, very finely chopped 

7.5cm (3-inch) piece fresh root ginger, 

finely grated (un- peeled if organic) 

1 Scotch bonnet or habernero chilli, 

deseeded and diced 

750g ripe plum tomatoes, cubed or 

blended 

1tbsp tomato purée 

250ml good-quality vegetable stock 

500g okra, trimmed and sliced 

150ml water 

Chopped Coriander and sliced Anaheim 

chillies to garnish 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Heat the oil on low–medium heat until it 

melts (palm oil has a low smoke point, 

so be careful not to let it burn), add the 

onion and sauté gently for a few minutes 

until translucent. Add the spices, garlic, 

ginger and Scotch bonnet and stir well, 

then sauté for a further 5 minutes. 

Cook in the tomato purée stirring well, 

then pour in the vegetable stock to de 

glaze the pan, reduce the heat to low, 

then add the tomatoes and salt, cover 

and simmer for 25 minutes until they start 

to lose their tartness. 

Add the sliced okra to the pot with the 

measurement water, stir though once or 

twice and replace the lid and simmer for 

a further 15-20 minutes until the okra is 

just tender. Season to taste. 

This dish is traditionally served in a bowl 

with banku on a side plate and fried 

plantain along with a finger bowl. 

SOOJI HALWA 

LADOO 

Semolina halwa balls By Asma Khan, 

chef, writer and founder of Darjeeling 

Express. Serves 6-8. 

‘Indian desserts can often be too rich 

and sweet for many people. But this is 

an ideal end to a festive meal as it is 

light and – unlike many other desserts – 

soaked in neither cream nor milk. Nutmeg 

is best grated yourself from the whole

Sooji Halwa 

Ladoo 

spice, as shop-bought ground nutmeg is a 

shadow of the whole spice.’ 

Fairtrade ingredients: saffron, cassia bark, 

cloves, sugar, raisins, nutmeg, cardamom 

seeds, cashew nuts. 

Taste the good: Fairtrade cashew nut 

farmers in Burkina Faso have spent their 

Fairtrade Premium on increasing adult 

literacy, bicycles and cereal banks for food 

security. 

INGREDIENTS 

¼ tsp good-quality Fairtrade saffron strands 

1 piece Fairtrade cassia bark, 2.5 cm long 

2 whole Fairtrade cloves 

150g/ ¾cup Fairtrade granulated sugar 

125 ml/ ½ cup melted ghee or unsalted 

butter 

25g Fairtrade raisins (golden or green) 

200g/ 1 ¼ cup fine semolina flour 

½ tsp freshly grated Fairtrade nutmeg 

½ tsp freshly crushed Fairtrade cardamom 

seeds 

40g Fairtrade cashew nuts, chopped 

A few edible rose petals, to garnish (optional) 

INSTRUCTIONS 

In a bowl, infuse the saffron strands in ½ tsp 

of tepid water. Set aside. 

Place the cassia bark and cloves in a pan 

and cover with 500ml/ 2 cups cold water. 

Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat. 

Lower the heat, add the sugar to the pan 

and cook, stirring until all the sugar crystals 

have dissolved. 

In a large non-stick karai, wok or frying 

pan, heat the melted ghee or butter over a 

low-medium heat. Add the raisins and stir, 

then remove them with a slotted spoon 

just before they expand and burst. Add the 

raisins to the pan with the sugar syrup. 

Now add the semolina flour to the pan with 

the ghee or butter, together with the grated 

nutmeg and crushed cardamom seeds. 

Gently stir until the grains of the semolina 

darken and smell toasted (approximately 10 

minutes). Keep the heat low as you do not 

want to burn the semolina grains. Remove 

the pan from the heat and slowly add the 

sugar syrup, stirring constantly. The contents 

will sputter initially but then calm down. 

Put the pan back on the heat and stir to 

break up any lumps. Keep the pan on the 

heat until all the sugar syrup has been 

absorbed. Towards the end of the cooking, 

add the chopped cashew nuts and saffroninfused 

liquid. 

Once the halwa is cool enough to handle, roll 

it into ladoos, or balls. Alternatively, you can 

serve the halwa as it is, warmed and placed 

in a serving bowl, and let your guests serve 

themselves. To serve, scatter over a few 

edible rose petals and chopped pistachios, 

plus a scattering of raisins to add a festive 

flourish to this dish. 

From Monday 24 February to Sunday 8 

March, all are invited to join together to 

celebrate farmers and workers and stop 

exploitation of the people at the bottom of 

the supply chain. One easy thing people can 

do to make a difference is choose Fairtrade. 

21

a 

Slice 

of 

SANTA 

BARBARA 

Kate O’Connell tackles 

the culinary scene of 

Santa Barbara. One 

mouthful at a time... 

Harbor View Inn Hotel 

22

When it comes to traveling, shockingly enough I had yet to actually 

get round to visiting the USA. This also came as a surprise to my 

travelling companions on this trip. Our two nations are bound together 

by much history, an overlap in religion, a common legal system and 

language, so how had I not visited at least one state at one time or 

another? 

Who knows. Our family holidays didn’t stretch that far I guess. Which 

may explain my eagerness when I was offered the chance to explore 

Santa Barbara. Quite the destination for a first time visitor to the USA! 

Aptly nicknamed ‘The American Riviera’, Santa Barbara is situated 

90 miles (a 2 hour car journey) north of Los Angeles, tucked within 

a south-facing pacific coastline on one side, and the rolling hills that 

stretch into the Santa Ynez Mountains on the other. But it is its charm 

and sense of style that makes this small city so tempting - indeed it is 

a hotspot favourite for the rich and famous, with a whole host of A-list 

celebrities calling Santa Barbara home. 

If there’s one things that strikes you, it’s that Santa Barbara doesn’t 

really feel like a city at all. There’s no hustle and bustle here, instead 

just a wonderfully laid-back, chilled vibe. Infused with the spirit 

of Spain, we were informed that 6.8 magnitude earthquake near 

enough flattened the city back in 1925. Devastating yes, but like a 

phoenix from the ashes, this proved the making of the city in terms of 

architecture, as the city planners were convinced to rebuild the city in 

a unified, Spanish Colonial Revival style inspired by the historic Old 

Mission (founded by Spanish Franciscans in 1786). Red-tiled clay 

roofs and white washed walls are a feature of every building, and in 

addition to the climate, give the city its Mediterranean charm. 

Our first stop; checking in to the newly developed North Wing of 

Harbor View Inn hotel. A premier beachfront hotel, Harbour View Inn is 

centrally located within the city, and made for a fabulous base to start 

our trip. My room featured a very inviting king size bed, complimented 

by gorgeous modern Spanish Colonial furnishings, and to top it off - a 

balcony view, a chance to sip on a morning coffee and watch the 

world go by. But not yet. First; dinner! 

We made a short walk around the block to Loquita Restaurant for 

some authentic Spanish tapas. Created as a love letter to the Spanish 

origins and history of Santa Barbara, Loquita showcases a medley of 

paellas, charcuterie, cheeses and seafood. We were offered a sample 

of a variety of dishes on the menu, with the squid ink seafood paella 

being a personal favourite of mine. 

After a restful night's sleep in my luxuriously comfy bed, I was ready 

for a day of exciting activities. To get us started, we required a hearty 

breakfast, and Goat Tree was just the place to go. A gourmet cafe 

with a relaxed vibe, Goat Tree offers everything from fresh pastries 

and baked goods cooked in-house by their resident pastry chef, 

through to cooked breakfasts with a Mediterranean twist. I opted 

for the classic Shakshuka, accompanied by homemade flat bread. 

Possibly the best, tastiest start to a morning ever. 

Feeling suitably energised, it was time for a spot of kayaking down 

at the harbour front, courtesy of Santa Barbara Adventure Company. 

Kayaking is a great way to view a side of Santa Barbara that perhaps 

few visitors get to see, so it felt like such a treat. Not only this, it was a 

perfect opportunity to spot some of the resident wildlife. 

Loquita Restaurant 

23

24 

It was perhaps my enthusiasm at this 

opportunity that had me labelled a 

‘Twitcher’ on this trip. On every dock 

we manoeuvred around brought hoards 

of enormous pelicans, gangly herons 

and rather amusing loons to name but a 

few. We even managed to paddle right 

up to a raft of sealions. So much of the 

wildlife on show were species that I had 

never seen out of captivity, it was a very 

special morning indeed. I can’t say I am a 

particularly experienced kayaker, having 

only dabbled on holidays in the past, but 

I needn’t have worried. The Adventure 

Company specialise in providing tours for 

all abilities, so I was in safe hands! 

A great way to experience the harbour 

front is to sample some of the 

specialities, and so with this we took a 

stroll over to Stearns Wharf; California’s 

oldest wharf named after builder John 

P. Stearns. There we took some seats at 

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company, and 

were served an array of locally caught 

seafoods, all washed down with some 

local beer. 

To get more of an overview of the city, we 

then took a ‘trolley tour’ via Santa 

Barbara Trolley Co. This 90 minute tour is 

lead by a highly insightful guide, who 

beguiled us with all sorts of interesting 

facts about the city, as well as a little 

local celeb gossip on the side! 

After a quick freshen up it was time for a 

bite to eat. Cue...Cubaneo restaurant! 

Californian Cuban cuisine served 

alongside cocktails from Shaker Mill who 

neighbour within the same premises. It is 

easy to see how you could happily waste 

away an evening here, and we did just 

that! With a cubano sandwich in one 

hand and a ‘Bay of Santiago’ cocktail in 

the other, you could have easily fooled us 

into thinking we were in Havana! 

After another restful night's sleep, I 

skipped breakfast in order to make room 

for the immense amount of food we 

would be sampling on the Eat This, Shoot 

That! Funk Zone Food & Photo tour. A 

three-hour expedition, this is a chance to 

sample some of Santa Barbara’s finest 

fodder, as well as learn a little more about 

the city’s history, all while discovering 

how best to maximize your photo-taking 

ability, achieving the most Instagramworthy 

images that will make you the 

envy of all your friends. 

The tour is also a great chance to get to 

grips with the layout of the city. Santa 

Barbara is made up of several districts, 

one of which, The Funk Zone, has seen 

its popularity boom in recent decades. 

Comprising of a series of converted 

warehouses, this contemporary district 

is very much the place to be to sample 

artisan foods from up-and-coming chefs, 

and out-of-this-world Santa Barbara 

Country wines. Shop fronts and walls 

are adorned with graffiti murals and art 

pieces; this district really is an everevolving 

artistic neighbourhood that is 

well worth a visit. 

It was then time to travel up into the 

foothills to our next hotel. And what an 

iconic hotel indeed. The Belmond El 

Encanto. Recently renovated in 2013, 

Belmond El Encanto offers stunning 

views of the American Riviera and a 

whole heap of Hollywood glamour on 

the side. This resort manages to feel 

relaxed and low-key, while at the same 

time feeling like the most exclusive place 

on earth. Sitting poolside whilst sipping 

a glass of ‘Belmond El Encanto Cuvee’, 

life truly feels timeless up here. It’s little 

wonder that it was a favoured getaway of 

the Hollywood elite. 

We made our way back down from the 

hills to State Street for an Italian feast 

at Due Lune Cucina. Serving fresh 

ingredients and hand-made pasta, I 

would have been mad not to order the 

Linguine alle Vongole. This was paired 

with some fabulous local wines, and the 

staff couldn’t have been more friendly 

and attentive. We topped off the night 

with a nightcap at Pearl Social; an 

intimate and beautifully furnished cocktail 

bar. The night felt like a very classy affair 

indeed. 

Somehow, our final day had sadly rolled 

around already! It was time to do a spot 

of botanical sight seeing. Lotusland was 

our destination. This 37-acre estate and 

botanic garden is situated in the foothills 

of Montecito, which is located to the east 

of Santa Barbara. Purchased by the 

rather marvellous socialite Madame 

Walska (Google her, honestly!), she spent 

43 years designing the gardens to her 

liking. To say they were breathtaking is 

an understatement. Home to all sorts of 

exotic, rare collections of plants, this is 

truly a garden like no other. 

After another spot of wine tasting at 

some of the local establishments (it 

would be rude not to!), we made our 

way to Bibi Ji for dinner. A modern take 

on traditional Indian cuisine, Bibi Ji are 

experts at pairing quality, local wines 

with the most brilliant of dishes. The 

moment came when the aptly nicknamed 

‘Californian Gold’ was bought out; Santa 

Barbara’s locally caught sea urchins. 

Beautifully presented, and filled with 

biryani rice, I couldn’t lie...I was a little 

hesitant to try them. After all, my only 

knowledge of them was to avoid standing 

on them when on sandy beaches abroad. 

I needn’t have worried. Creamy and 

indulgent, they were fantastic. 

What a dish. And what a trip. 

At a glance 

2 nights at harbor view inn 

hotel, 2 nights at belmond 

el encanto hotel, private 

transfers and return 

flights with Norwegian air. 

Parking and lounge access 

with holiday extras. 

No1 Lounge at Gatwick 

Airport (South Terminal) 

from £26 PP 

Harbor view inn - Nightly 

Rates vary from $268.00- 

$400.00 

belmond el encanto - 

nightly room rates start 

from $560 (inc tax), 

suites from $811 (inc tax) 

www.santabarbaraca.com

Belmond El Encanto Hotel 

Kayaking around Santa 

Barbara harbour 

Bibi Ji Restaurant 

25

A NATURAL 

curiosity 

The 'Planet Earth II Live in Concert' 

arena tour will be hosted by science 

and natural history TV presenter Liz 

Bonnin. With a masters in wild animal 

biology, Liz has presented over 40 

primetime programmes including 'Blue 

Planet Live', 'Super Smart Animals', 

'Galapagos' and 'Horizon'. 

With her recent landmark BBC One 

documentary 'Drowning in Plastic', Liz 

investigated the ocean plastic crisis, 

with her hard-hitting environmental 

reporting raising the level of public 

debate on this important topic. 

Here Sally Thomson was able to 

discuss with Liz her passion for our 

planet prior to the start of the tour. 

26 

Sally: When did your love of the world 

and all it’s creatures begin? 

Liz: Well it definitely started when I was 

a kid. I grew up in the south of France in 

the hills above Nice and we had a little 

wood beside the house. Myself and my 

sister used to play outdoors all of the 

time. There were snakes and hedgehogs 

and spiders and birds…and we had a 

ball! I knew that, without thinking about 

it then, that that’s what set me off with 

this passion for wildlife. I used to stare 

at the birds for hours, wondering how 

their eyes moved in their sockets and I 

really wanted to just understand how it all 

worked, down to the chemical equations 

that make up all of these reactions. 

So that was a natural progress for you 

then, to go into biochemistry? 

Exactly! It all started in the woods in 

the south of France! That’s why when I 

give talks in schools, I make sure to tell 

that story because it doesn’t take a lot 

to remember our connection to nature 

and what’s important, you just have to 

be in amongst nature to be inspired and 

to reignite your natural curiosity that 

we’re all born with, and with that comes 

an inherent want to protect our natural 

world. It reminds you that we’re all 

connected to it. 

What you are doing is highlighting the 

dangers that the world's creatures are 

facing, particularly when you went on to 

do ‘Drowning in Plastic’. I know when I 

watched it my heart bled, but being so 

close to it when you made to programme, 

you must have found it difficult? 

I wish that as a communicator of the 

natural world, I could just be celebrating 

it and continuing to inspire people about 

all of these incredible creatures that we 

share the planet with, but unfortunately 

I am living through a time where we are 

experiencing the greatest existential 

threat to our future, and it is very clear 

that the way we live on this planet is not 

sustainable and is damaging not only the 

health of the wildlife we share the planet 

with, but is ultimately damaging our 

health and threatening our future. 

I feel a responsibility to communicate 

those things. As we set off making the 

plastics film, I knew what we were going 

to be filming, but it really did hit me like 

a ton of bricks to see it with my own 

eyes. It’s hard to describe. It’s been 

really moving and difficult, but also I 

feel like I have a very well-stoked fire in 

my belly now that feels like it won’t be 

extinguished. It is my responsibility to 

engage with the public in order for us all 

to become part of the solution. 

I recently watched the trailer for Planet 

Earth II Live in concert. Isn’t that going 

to be fantastic on the big screen?! 

It’s going to be magnificent; I can’t 

wait! Obviously it’s an extension and 

adaptation of the iconic series, but I 

think bringing it to a ginormous screen 

like that and then having a 74 piece 

orchestra playing the music of Hans 

Zimmer, it’s going to be a very emotive 

and very powerful experience. I think we 

are desperately in need of those types 

of experiences to help remind us of the 

beauty of the natural world, and the 

beauty of humanity as well. Our ability to 

write music and to be capable of making 

those types of programmes, and for us 

to be all together in these huge arenas 

having that connection is a much-needed 

experience, and I for one am very much 

looking forward to it. 

Some of the things we see in these 

programmes can be shocking, such as 

the killer whales going after the seals. 

But we of course have to remember 

that they have to survive too! 

You see for me I don’t find any of it 

shocking, isn’t that strange? And it’s 

really weird but I’m always rooting for the 

predator! Obviously there’s tension and 

it’s quite a powerful experience to watch, 

but I’m always rooting for the predator 

because from my studies I’ve seen just 

how difficult it is for a tiger to get its prey. 

It’s something like 1 in 100 attempts are 

successful. So I celebrate that, that’s part 

of nature and I think it’s a beautiful thing. 

There is an iconic moment in Planet 

Earth II with the iguana and the 

snakes… 

Ah that one! Okay, I have watched that 

sequence four times, and every time I find

my screaming ‘COME ON’ at the camera. 

Funnily enough with that one I really want 

the iguana to escape! That’s so funny, 

with me saying I root for the predators. 

That is one of the most magnificent 

scenes I have ever seen, not least 

because of this almost inconceivable 

situation, with all these snakes coming 

out of the crevasses of the volcanic 

rocks, but how it was shot! You can not 

underestimate how difficult it is to make 

that sequence work. The smoothness 

of how the camera works was absolute 

perfection. So not only is it a celebration 

of the magnificent wildlife we share the 

planet with, it’s a celebration of these 

incredibly talented film makers, who 

sit there for days and days to get the 

magical shots that will affect us to our 

very core. It’s just wonderful. 

Am I right in hearing that you went a 

kilometre underwater in the Galapagos? 

Yes! We were on this research vessel for 

two weeks, joining all these scientists 

at the tops of their fields who were 

investigating different aspects of these 

islands and how to better protect them. 

At one point we got into this submersible 

and went down to a thousand meters, to 

a part of the Galapagos that nobody had 

ever been to before, so I truly felt like an 

astronaut of Earth’s inner space, rather 

than its outer. Everything I pointed to the 

scientists would say ‘Yep. New species... 

Yep, don’t what that is, never seen one 

of those before’. So we were discovering 

new life at those depths. It was the most 

incredible experience. 

It must be dark down there? 

It’s pitch black, so you have these types 

of sharks down there called Chimaera, 

who do have these big, bulbous eyes. 

There’s no iris, it’s just this big, white 

circle of an eye, which is supposed 

to help it absorb any smidgen of light 

that there might be down there, and it’s 

just a surprisingly colourful place in the 

crevasses of all the rocks. Galapagos 

are all volcanic islands, so what we 

were doing is following the flanks of the 

volcano all the way down to the depths. 

We were down there for seven hours and 

it passed by like we were down there for 

an hour, time sort of stands still down 

there. It was a thrilling experience. 

I was watching you recently talking 

about the African jungle, and you spoke 

about chimpanzees, and how much 

they fight. You showed how much the 

alpha male will fight to protect what is 

his, and it is a bit sinister! 

They’re not the only species that have 

to fiercely protect their place in the 

hierarchy. The males often are exhausted 

having to protect their females from 

usurpers to the throne as such, but 

chimpanzees in particular can be very 

violent and because we are so closely 

related to them I suppose it shouldn’t 

be a surprise that they all have different 

personalities, and sometimes you just 

get a really nasty character. At the end 

"it’s a celebration of these incredibly 

talented film makers, who sit there for 

days and days to get the magical shots 

that will affect us to our very core" 

of the day you can argue that the nastier 

the male, the more successful he will be 

because it all boils down to him and his 

offspring and protecting his gene pool. 

I suppose it’s like when male lions get 

rid of any cubs that aren’t their own 

There is infanticide in many species. It’s 

all about making sure you have as many 

offspring as possible, so if you kill a 

female's offspring then you can mate with 

her straight away. 

Are there parts of the world or 

creatures that you would like to visit/ 

see for the first time? 

Yes. Snow leopards. I need to see a 

snow leopard. And part of it is because 

it is so difficult to see them now. They 

are extremely elusive and live in an 

extremely inhospitable part of the planet. 

They’re probably the most elusive cat, 

so that’s the dream. I will fall crying if I 

ever see one in the wild. They are the 

most glorious animals. Actually, it was 

on Planet Earth II, and again it is a scene 

that I’ve watched about three times and 

it always brings me to tears; the first 

time I heard the vocalisation of a snow 

leopard. I had never heard that before. 

And the fact that because our technology 

is improving, Planet Earth II was able to 

capture this glorious snow leopard at the 

top of this mountain that was vocalising. 

It brings me to tears every time I hear it, 

it’s the most glorious sound in the world. 

Are they as endangered as other 

leopards and big cats? 

Yes. I mean, the Amur leopard is the 

most endangered cat, but all big cats are 

facing extinction. They are all incredibly 

threatened and their populations are 

dwindling. 

We’ve spoken about the man-made 

situation with plastic. But is there 

anything else in the natural world that 

you have seen that has shocked you? 

In terms of the natural world, I think it 

is all magnificent. I really do. Even with 

something that might look to us to be 

violent, or a little bit uncomfortable 

to watch, I think that the more we 

understand how animals live and all of 

their adaptations that have allowed them 

to find solutions to all of their problems in 

order to survive - the more I understand 

it, the more I am in awe of it and the more 

it makes me humble and very small in 

comparison. So I find it all too wondrous 

to ever think that something is too much 

or too shocking. 

The dates for Planet Earth II Live in 

Concert are as follows: 


Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff 


Manchester Arena, Manchester 

Saturday 28 March 

First Direct Arena , Leeds 


O2 Arena (matinee), London 


O2 Arena (evening), London 

Wednesday 1 April 

3Arena, Dublin 

Friday 3 April 

Resort World Arena Birmingham 

Saturday 4 April 

SSE Hydro Arena, Glasgow 

Tickets are available from 

www.planetearth2live.uk. 

27

AMAZING 

GLAZING 

When we think about our homes, it’s really the windows 

and doors that create the wow factor. We are all so 

keen to flood our properties with natural light and the 

constantly evolving technology in the world of glazing is 

making some truly astonishing designs achievable, not to 

mention more affordable than ever. 

Whether you are self-building, extending or even 

renovating your home, apportioning budget to windows 

and doors is a savvy move. As well as making your home 

more valuable - 69% of people say that light rooms make 

them more inclined to buy - investing in clever glazing can 

make you fall in love with your space once more. 

BI-FOLD vs SLIDING 

DOORS 

Bi-fold: 

PROS - for those looking for that wonderful sense of a 

garden room that brings the outside in, bi-folds can help 

create the sense of one open-plan space as the panels 

fold away fully to the walls. 

CONS - an expensive option - poorly constructed bi-folds 

can also suffer from air-tightness issues around the joins 

so do your research and get guarantees. 

Sliding: 

PROS - generally cheaper than bi-fold doors, sliding 

doors also have fewer frame elements, meaning when 

they are closed your view is less obstructed. 

CONS - you won’t get the full, uninterrupted view of the 

garden - instead only a portion of the doors are openable. 

Bi-fold 

Sliding 

69% of people say that light rooms make 

them more inclined to buy - investing in 

clever glazing can make you fall in love with 

your space once more... 

28

Roof Lanterns and Skylights 

Compared to windows of the same surface area, skylights and 

roof lanterns can increase light in a room by up to five times. 

They are particularly good in extensions and for channelling 

light to darker corners of the home and adding opportunities 

for ventilation. These additions are no longer considered just a 

luxury and can be used in a wide variety of scenarios: 

• In a loft extension, tucked beneath sloped rooflines, the 

presence of skylights may spell the difference between a 

bright, friendly space and a murky cave. 

• In a home built between closely adjoining neighbouring 

houses where overlooking might be an issue, skylights may be 

the best solution for introducing good natural light into rooms. 

• In a single storey house build or extension, built with an open 

floor plan, skylight shafts can bring much needed natural light 

into the centre of large spaces. 

Many of the issues experienced in the past of rooms 

overheating or being hard to clean have been mediated with 

a tranche of new technology, including glass panels with heat 

regulatory and storage abilities and self-cleaning glass. 

SINGLE STOREY EXTENSION? 

In a single storey house build or extension, built with an 

open floor plan, skylight shafts can bring much needed 

natural light into the centre of large spaces. 

Energy Efficiency 

Our homes are one of the biggest energy wasters out there and 

traditionally windows are the biggest energy leakage point, so 

with any renovation, it can really pay to invest in glass tech to 

ensure the best temperature regulation - creating huge savings 

down the line. We all know that double glazing is much more 

efficient than single, but newer technologies like triple glazing 

are making windows nearly as efficient at energy retention as 

the walls they are installed within. 

As well as the glass, it is important to do you research into 

frames and opt for the most airtight models. 

With great green credentials, triple glazed units have the 

added benefits of better thermal comfort, noise reduction and 

a reduced risk of condensation between panes – so for the 

self-builder or home improver looking for a premium finish with 

added benefits, it’s a natural choice. 

29

2 

1 

dark ARTS 

3 

The trend for sleek black finishes 

continues, with lots of companies 

now supplying dark taps, shower 

enclosures, towel rails and tiles 

Dark tiles and fixtures look amazing - the only thing 

to be aware of is living in a hard water area and the 

effects that will have on the finish of taps over time. 

For a sleek look, pair large-scale dark floor tiles with 

white tiles on the walls, framed by black hardware. 

5 

Images: 1. Aquaglass Velar 8mm Black Crittall Corner 

Entry Enclosure, frontlinebathrooms.co.uk; 2. Original Style 

Tileworks Steel Midnight Blue, originalstyle.com; 3. Merlyn 

Black Showerwall With End Panel, merlynshowering.com; 

4. Duravit - Stonetto (Sand) Shower Tray, duravit.co.uk; 

5. Contour Radiator, frontlinebathrooms.co.uk; 6. Pitch 

Bluetooth Mirror, purebathroomcollection.co.uk; 7. Finissimo 

Black Bath Filler, bathroomdealsuk.co.uk; 8. Valverdi Iguazu 

Tile, londontile.co.uk; 

8 

4 

7 

BATHROOM 

TECH 

With homes becoming 

smarter in the main, it 

makes sense that similar 

technology would be 

extended to the bathroom. 

We love this bluetooth 

mirror which can play 

your favourite songs and 

has automatic demisting 

technology 

6 

30

THE BATHROOM 

& TILE GUIDE 

A roundup of the trends that can beat the bathroom blues 

and turn your bathroom into your own slice of heaven 

1 2 

3 

ensuite DREAMS 

According to a survey carried out by Nationwide 

Building Society, an ensuite can add as much as 5% 

to your home's market value - if you have the space, 

it's a great investment which is luxurious too 

If space permits, a roll top or freestanding 

bath looks wonderful in an ensuite and 

gives a true sense of luxury. If your space 

is more modest, the smaller scale is a great 

place to experiment with some interesting 

tile combinations and colours. There are 

some fabulous examples of encaustic tiles 

out there at the moment, but if you do opt 

for those, be aware and prepared for more 

maintenance than printed tiles. 

Images: 1. products from Original Style; 2. String 

lights from Lights4fun.co.uk; 3. image from 

carleyrowena.com; 4. Floris tile from Boniti 

4 

31

1 

TILE STYLE 

THE way to add style and personality to 

your bathroom - choices are limitless. 

Avoid following trends too closely and pick 

something you really love 

3 

4 

2 

When choosing 

tiles, functionality 

is key - tiny mosaics look amazing, but you 

don't want them in high traffic areas of a family 

bathroom. Try to keep floor tiles low maintenance 

and add decorative flourishes in smaller spaces. 

Ceramics aren't the only option either - vinyl tiles 

and laminates can work effectively. 

5 

6 

Images: 1. Selection from Ripples; 2. Havana Dawn Self 

Adhesive Vinyl Floor Tiles, zazous.co.uk; 3. Odyssey 

- 8051V Seville Tile, originalstyle.com; 4. 3D Offset 

Hexagon Tiles, bakedtiles.co.uk; 5. Original Style Living 

Spirit Tile, originalstyle.com; 6. Windmill Geometric 

Tile, tonsoftiles.co.uk; 7. Odyssey - Persian Floor Tile, 

originalstyle.com 

7 

green SPACES 

Houseplants are taking over - and 

we love it! If you have natural light 

in the bathroom, lots of plants can 

thrive in the space! 

The best plants for bathrooms are 

moisture lovers - these are our 

favourites: - 

Zamioculcas zamifolia (the eternity 

plant - so named because it is hard 

to kill!), the spider plant, most ferns, 

snake plant, aloe vera, cast iron plant 

and orchids. 

Image, left, from Dobbies - plants and 

plant pots available. 

NO WINDOW? 

No problem! LED growing lights can be 

easily installed to help your plants grow, 

even without natural light. 

32


Look Before You Leap 

While the SPAB warmly encourages people to take the 

plunge and make an old building their home, it’s easy 

to be swept away by romance. SPAB Director Matthew 

Slocombe offers a checklist of key considerations to 

help potential buyers make the right choice – both for 

themselves and for the building of their dreams. 

Think with head and heart 

Old buildings are more than a space in 

which to live. If all that really interests you 

is location or floor area, an old building is 

unlikely to be right for you. If you appreciate 

style and character, and are keen to 

embrace the quirks and idiosyncrasies of an 

old building, the potential rewards are great. 

Compromise to get what you want 

For the majority of buyers, historic interest 

is a desirable factor but not the key. If your 

number one aim is to live in an interesting 

old building, but your means are limited, 

compromising on other requirements can 

sometimes help. 

Authenticity can’t be re-created 

If you want something genuine and 

authentic, recreation of lost parts is unlikely 

to act as a fitting or worthwhile substitute. 

Look for genuine survivals. It may be that 

fireplaces have been boarded up and plaster 

overlaid with modern materials, but if the 

originals survive behind this offers a much 

better starting point than a gutted interior. 

Choose something that will fit your 

longer term needs 

Look a few years ahead and try to consider 

whether the building is likely to fit your plans. 

If you think you might need more bedrooms 

or a bigger kitchen, consider whether the 

building is likely to be able to accommodate 

this without major change. In a modern 

house, adding extensions or knocking down 

walls may be relatively straightforward. In an 

historic building it may not. 

Consider auctions 

Many old buildings needing work are sold 

at auction. This can be a way to find an 

interesting project, and perhaps also a 

bargain. But the buyer must beware and it 

is especially important to do your homework 

seeking specialist help in advance. 

Purchase is not the only possibility 

If living in an old building is your goal, but 

prices are unaffordable, other options 

may exist. The commercial rental sector 

general lets buildings that have been heavily 

updated, but estates, farms and some 

private owners may offer old buildings to 

rent in a more rustic state. 

Distinguish between decorative and 

structural needs 

This is vital. Small cracks are normal in old 

buildings and can be easily remedied as part 

of the redecoration process; larger cracks 

may hint at structural movement. 

Get good advice 

The cost of professional advisers can 

seem off-putting, but sound advice is 

an investment. There are accreditations 

schemes run by the RICS, RIBA and AABC 

and the Society can offer suggestions 

via its Technical Advice Line (0207 456 

0916 weekday mornings). The advice of a 

structural engineer, conservator (see ICON’s 

accreditation list), quantity surveyor or 

historian may also be invaluable. 

Put together the right team 

If work is needed, the right team will be 

crucial. Consider not just price, but the 

expertise of team members. Listen to 

craftspeople - good ones know exactly 

what they’re doing and the expertise is often 

under-appreciated. 

Adjust your lifestyle 

Occupying an old building brings huge 

benefits to your quality of life, but don’t 

expect it to be the same as a perfectly level, 

hermetically sealed modern box. Floors 

may slope, windows may be draughty, and 

elaborate modern services may be difficult 

to accommodate. 

Research and understanding 

Understanding an old building includes 

knowing how it’s put together and what 

it’s made from, as well as the uses it’s had 

over time and the changes previous owners 

have made. Combine this with background 

research, advice from organisations like the 

SPAB, and knowledge from neighbouring 

owners and a rounded picture of the 

building should emerge. 

Don’t ignore consents and other statutory 

requirements 

Planning consents and building regulation 

requirements should always be adhered 

to. This is particularly so in the case of 

listed buildings. If you buy a listed building 

that has been altered without permission 

you inherit the liability and enforcement 

action could be taken against you. If you 

alter or demolish a listed building without 

permission you could be prosecuted. 

Don’t count on grants 

Grants for private owners were once 

relatively common. They are now rare and 

should not be counted on. 

Settle in before making big changes 

A vacant house offers an opportunity 

to tackle problems without upheaval to 

occupants, but avoid the temptation to do 

too much, too fast. A period of occupation 


often brings realisation about what’s 

necessary and what’s not important. 

Deal with the boring things first 

Kitchens, bathroom and decorative works 

may be most fun, but they should be bottom 

of your list. Fixing the roof and making sure 

the gutters, drains and electrics work will 

provide you with a sound basis from which 

to make other changes. 

Scratches and Witches 

Loving the lumps and bumps is all part of 

old building ownership. Appreciate them 

as part of the building’s character and 

history and avoid erasing them for the sake 

of tidiness. Think too about witches! Old 

surfaces often carry superstitious markings 

designed to ward off bad spirits. 

Repair is good 

Building conservation is a branch of 

environmental protection and sustainability: 

repair is better than replacement. Decay 

is rarely uniform and repair can allow 

the undamaged parts to remain. An old 

window with 20% new timber is better for 

the environment and our history than a new 

window with 100% fresh timber. 

Make sure materials are compatible 

New, innovative building products can 

be valuable, but historic buildings are not 

generally the place where they should be 

tested. The potential for side effects is great 

if incompatible materials are used. 

Get involved but know your limitations 

The SPAB has always encouraged a handson 

approach. There is no better way to get 

to know your building than through practical 

work. However, it is important to know the 

limitations of your own skills, to consider 

safety issues, and to get training if you are 

unsure. The SPAB and others run practical 

conservation courses. If in doubt, call on an 

experienced craftsperson. 

Good new design 

Where a strong and justifiable case exists 

for a change or addition, sympathetic 

new design offers the best approach. 

This requires good design advice and a 

thoughtful choice of materials. 

Enjoy it! 

An old building deserves to respected and 

cared for, but it should be enjoyed rather 

than revered. 

Call the SPAB Technical Advice Line on: 

020 7456 0916 


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PArtners in design 

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Partners in Design offer a unique interior design, build and project 

management service. We work closely with our clients to understand 

their tastes, living style and requirements. We then produce innovative, 

beautiful and practical designs which will deliver the homes our clients 

have always wanted... 

They may need a full extension designed, 

some “tired’ rooms updated, a new open 

plan living/dining/kitchen area or new 

bathrooms designed. Working with 2D and 

3D CAD programmes to create layouts, 

lighting design, colours, furnishing etc, we 

enable our clients to visualise our design 

concepts so that they can feel complete 

confidence in the end results. 

Once our clients have signed off on the 

designs, they can continue to work with 

their designer through the build and 

implementation stages. We will organise all 

required building work using our wonderful 

in house team of trades and craftsmen. 

Our cabinetry workshop and sewing 

work room will work with us to make and 

fit your kitchen, fitted furniture and soft 

furnishings. We will be with you every step 

of the way to the creation of your dream 

home. 

Don’t just take our word for it. Why not 

have a look at our website www.partnersin-design.co.uk 

to see examples of our 

work and client testimonials such as this: 

“The odds were stacked against Partners 

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Today Barbara and her team have turned 

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Please call us on 01935 508100 or 

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We look forward to meeting you soon! 

Understand Brief Agree Concept Design Concept Implement Design 




the perfect place to call home 

Only a small number of homes 

remain on executive development, 

Mildenhall, in sought-after 

Sherborne... 

Located on the outskirts of this historic 

town, this collection of homes features 

just 35 properties each offering character 

and charm yet benefitting from the 

convenience of a new home. Excellent 

links to London, a prime position in one 

of Sherborne’s most desirable areas and 

an idyllic setting make Mildenhall the 

perfect place to call home. 

Recently released, plot 9, the impressive 

‘Kingsbury’ features striking frontage 

and traditional detailing as well as an 

exclusive gated driveway and large 

double garage with timber doors. With 

far reaching views, open plan living and 

luxury finishing, it’s impossible not to be 

wowed. Upon entering the property you 

will be greeted by the imposing hallway 

complete with oak and glass staircase 

– an intuitive twist on traditional design. 

A spacious kitchen, family and dining 

area sits at the centre of this home - the 

ultimate place to make memories with 

family and friends. Fully equipped with 

premium specification NEFF integrated 

appliances including a wine cooler and 

2 separate high level ovens, it is perfect 

for entertaining too. A cleverly considered 

living space designed for easy, efficient 

and convenient modern living. 

For the cold winter evenings, the sitting 

room is the ultimate place to warm up; 

with its woodburning stove and smart 

oak fireplace surround. French doors 

connect the inside to the out, so you can 

enjoy lots of natural light and convenient 

access to the garden. 

Upstairs the first floor features three 

large double bedrooms, two with en 

suites, and a contemporary family 

bathroom. Finished with tiles from 

Porcelanosa in a beautiful selection of 

finishes synonymous with the brand. In 

addition to the three bedrooms, there 

is a convenient study/ hobby room. An 

excellent feature for remote working or 

for running a business in the comfort of 

your own home. 

Last but not least, escape from it all 

on the second floor With its impressive 

double bedrooms, one with en suite, it 

is ideal for use as a master suite and 

dressing room. If you are relocating and 

have family out of area, you could use 

the entire top floor of the Kingsbury as 

a luxurious guest suite. A real haven; 

somewhere to get away from it all at the 

end of a busy day... 

Don’t take our word for it, discover Plot 9 

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Is equity release right for you? 

Flexible finance with no 

evidence of income or 

affordability required, equity 

release could fund more 

or less anything you wish, 

ensuring you enjoy your 

retirement to the full: 

• Helping family get onto the 

property ladder 

• Pay off an existing mortgage 

• Lifestyle / holidays / new car 

• Resolution of divorce 

We often find that our retired clients are 

cash poor and asset rich, with the main asset 

being the family home. The phrase “Bank 

of Mum and Dad” now almost forms part of 

the financial world dictionary and a Lifetime 

Mortgage can be a way to access it. 

Clients can find that sometimes they are 

unable to perhaps take that extra holiday, 

unable to help their children get on the 

property ladder or maybe feel forced to move 

home because of personal circumstances 

such as divorce or they have an interest only 

mortgage that they have to repay. 

With the advent of more extensive Lifetime 

Mortgage options we are often able to find 

solutions for such needs and even more we 

have not thought of! You may be surprised 

at the choices available as a result of major 

innovation within this arena in recent years. 

As independent consultants we have access 

to a comprehensive range of lenders and 

maybe one of them will suit your needs and 

if not be assured we will always be frank 

with you. 

The media are regularly promoting this type 

of mortgage but based on our company 

ethos of personal tailored planning we feel 

that meeting clients face to face is a much 

better approach than the media style of 

impersonal introduction. That is of course 

only an opinion but if you agree and would 

like to find out more about the Lifetime 

Mortgage options then please contact us for 

further information. 

Contact Johanna Kemp to find out more on 01202 646960 or 

07813 785355 or email jk@abacusfinancialoptions.co.uk

social care needs 

Social care seems to be in the 

news a lot at the moment, often, 

unfortunately, in conjunction with 

the word ‘crisis’. Given that if you 

need care it’s a necessity, it makes 

sense to understand the basics – well 

before that time might come. 

Social care is there to support you because 

you need some extra help with daily living 

or are caring for someone who requires 

additional help themselves. There are a 

wide range of social care services, including 

care in your home or in a care home, live-in 

care services, day centres, home adaptions 

like handrails, and technology of various 

kinds. 

The first step if you or your loved one 

needs some extra help and support is 

to ask your local authority to carry out a 

needs assessment. You might have to wait 

several weeks at least for this, because 

councils are strapped for cash and staff, 

but it’s important to have it because it’s the 

gateway to the wider system. Someone 

from the council usually visits to establish 

the type of support you might need. There’s 

no charge and the assessor will create a 

care plan specific to your needs. 

When the type of care you need is decided 

and agreed the next stage is to establish 

how it will be paid for through a financial 

means test - which can be complex and 

quite confusing. Social care isn’t a free 

service provided by the NHS as many 

people think. Most of us have to pay for 

all or some of our care and the amount 

depends on the level of need and the value 

of any assets we have. 

Your home will not be included in the means 

test if you’re arranging care and support 

at home but other capital assets, including 

savings will be. Currently, if you have more 

capital that £23,250 you will have to pay all 

your care fees. If you have under £23,250, 

you’ll get financial assistance but may have 

to contribute from your income. 


The cost of care varies by area but it is not 

unusual to have to pay about £20 an hour 

for a care worker to come to your home 

(domiciliary care) to help you with, say, 

getting up, washing and dressing, if that’s 

what you need. You can see how the bills 

add up if you need more than one visit 

every day. 

It is also possible that rather than 

‘personal care’ you need a different kind of 

support, such as companionship, because 

you are very alone and lonely. If so, in 

some places the council may refer you to 

a scheme run by a charity like Age UK, 

where you might have to pay a modest 

amount to take part. 

If your needs are such that it is best for 

you to move permanently into a care home 

your property, if you own one, will be 

included in the means test at its present 

market value, but less any mortgage 

or loan you may have on it. However, it 

will not be included if your partner still 

lives there or, in certain circumstances, a 

relative. Your home is also not included if 

you need a temporary or short-term stay 

in a care home. Two in five of all the older 

people living in care homes now pay for 

their own care. 

To avoid property or other assets being 

counted in the financial means test, some 

people consider giving them away to a 

child or grandchild. However, this could 

be interpreted as ‘deliberate deprivation 

of assets’, and your local authority may 

still ask you to pay the same level of care 

fees as if you still owned your home or 

the other assets you have given away. It 

is really important to take advice if you are 

thinking of doing something of this kind. 

If you do have to pay towards a care 

home place it is possible to avoid selling 

your property during your lifetime in order 

to release the money required, namely a 

deferred payment which endures while 

you are alive. The council provides a loan 

for your care costs secured against your 

property and this is repaid either when 

the property is sold or from your estate 

after you have passed away. There is an 

interest charge if you choose to do this 

but every council is supposed to offer a 

scheme of this kind, even though relatively 

few people take advantage of it, possibly 

because they do not know it exists. 

If you have care needs and you are 

not already claiming a benefit called 

Attendance Allowance it is always 

worth doing so. This benefit is there for 

older people, to help offset the costs of 

disability. In practice, many older people 

use their AA to help fund their social care. 

Your local Age UK can help you fill in the 

forms and will be pleased to help. AA 

is paid at two rates, £58 or £87 a week, 

depending on your needs. 

As you can see, finding social care and 

paying for it is not straight forward and 

there are lots of questions to ask, but Age 

UK can guide you through the process 

and provides independent information and 

advice. If you are online there’s a lot about 

care on our website, or there’s a free 

advice line if you prefer to talk to someone 

instead. Visiting your local Age UK is a 

third option. 

Social care has a bad reputation at the 

moment, largely because it is underfunded 

and there isn’t enough to go round. You 

may also have read horror stories in the 

press of care workers being neglectful. 

Please don’t be put off seeking care 

though - there are many wonderful care 

workers. It pays to get advice and go 

into it with your eyes open, but there are 

hundreds of thousands of older people 

whose lives are immeasurably better 

because of the good care they receive. 

Caroline Abrahams 

Charity Director, Age UK 

www.ageuk.org.uk/ 

information-advice/care

• Mobility Scooters 

• Wheelchairs 

• Powerchairs 

• Stairlifts 

• Walking Aids 

• Rise/Recliners 

• Profiling Beds 

• Daily Living Aids 

• Service Department 

• Bathing Solutions 


Offering Solutions for Independent Living

West Dorset Living Feb - Mar 2020

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