Beacon Hill Beer Festival’s 19th Year

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The Hindhead Royal British Legion Club are hosting its incredible beer festival again and can’t wait to get everyone back to taste the amazing beers lined up

Last year’s beer festival was a wonderful success, with a record attendance over the weekend, amazing live music, wonderful beer, cider and lager from local breweries and amazing food and this year will be a bigger and even better festival!

On Friday 2nd June from 6pm, we will be open to everyone to kick off the celebrations with live music from The Barley Boys, who closed the event last year, they are an amazing band who interact with the crowd and got everyone singing and dancing last year, we cannot wait for them to open the festival this time around.

Saturday 3rd June won’t be any less exciting, we open at 1pm for an afternoon of beer, lager and cider tasting, this year we are having a family afternoon with Fun Kids entertainers, our local ice cream store, Scoop joining us and a family BBQ area, where we will be providing some amazing burgers and hot dogs from Bells Butchers in Haslemere.

We will be showing, what is sure to be a fiery FA Cup Final between Manchester City and Manchester Utd on our big screen, with Manchester City aiming to become the first English team to win the treble for over 30 years, so we are sure to be in for an exciting game before we get right into the evening. There will be live music from the wonderful Eloise Kate after the FA Cup Final to get us up and dancing before the amazing Floored close the weekend with some wonderful live music to get everyone on the dance floor.

We have a wonderful food court this year, including Scoop providing ice cream, and our BBQ on Saturday afternoon, we will also be hosting Simply Hog roast and will have a stone-baked pizza truck too to keep everyone sustained during the weekend.

We would like to thank our wonderful sponsors, we have 30 sponsors this year and have 20 beers from 12 local breweries including Langham’s Brewery, Hog’s Back Brewery, Tillingbourne Brewery, Longdog Brewery, Windsor & Eton Brewery, Firebird, Listers and Triple FFF Brewery, plus 3 local ciders and five lagers. This year’s funds raised from the festival are being invested into our community hall, which needs extensive work on a new heating system.

Join us on Friday 2nd June from 6pm and Saturday 3rd June from 1pm for an incredible weekend in Beacon Hill. Buy your tickets online via our website or over the weekend at the door, we look forward to welcoming everyone to our amazing festival.

Wildlife campaign will support the NHS

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Families are encouraged to join 30 Days Wild, the campaign by Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) to connect with nature every day in June, backed by the NHS.

Wildlife trusts across the UK have run the 30 Days Wild challenge every June for nearly a decade, encouraging people to take one wild act each day. This can be anything from watching wildlife from a window to listening to birdsong or taking a meal or drink outside.

For the first time the initiative has won the backing of the UK’s National Health Service. Liz Shearer, BBOWT’s community engagement director, said: “We are over the moon that the NHS has endorsed our challenge: we have always known that spending time in green spaces can have huge health benefits for many people, helping to lower heart rate and blood pressure and reduce anxiety, but now we have the official support of our fantastic health service. Try taking one tiny act to connect with nature and see what it does for you – you could change your life.”

Last year more than 500,000 people took part in 30 Days Wild, including more than 5,000 in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Across the UK, 114,245 households, 11,740 schools, 898 care homes and 1,384 businesses joined in.

Anyone taking part can order a free activity pack, with different packs for families, individuals, businesses and schools containing activities, games and packets of wildflower seeds to sow. A survey of nearly 1,000 participants last year found that people’s favourite activities were watching wildlife and listening to birdsong (85%).

The NHS has decided to back 30 Days Wild as it celebrates its 75th anniversary celebrations this year. The Greener NHS programme at NHS England will showcase NHS gardens and green spaces that support biodiversity, improve air quality, and provide health benefits for staff and patients, both physically and mentally – across the NHS estate.

Join 30 Days Wild and download a free activity pack at 30 Days Wild.

Surrey Police Band concert for ABF

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Support a real force for good – the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) thanks a concert Surrey Police Band will give on Sunday, 18th June, in Godalming

Surrey Police Band is a self-supporting organisation funded by its members. As members of the group, established in 2007, serve on shift patterns, the band was designed to have a flexible rehearsal schedule.

As Major (Retd) Ian W Wadley VR, Honorary Secretary of the Surrey Committee explains: “This flexible ethos towards attendance has subsequently attracted people from many walks of life including the police, military, civil service & wider civilian community.”

You’re all invited to book your tickets to enjoy an evening of music to suit all tastes by the Surrey Police Band and support The ABF – The Soldiers’ Charity – at the same time. The ABF The Soldiers’ Charity is the Army’s national charity, supporting soldiers, past and present, and their families for life. You can find out more about the great work the charity does at ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

Doors open at 6.30pm for the concert on 18th June at Waverly Borough Hall, GU7 1HR, and the band will play 7-9pm. Free parking is available and there will be a licensed bar and a raffle.

Tickets are £15. For more details about the concert & to book please visit Surrey Police Band Concert – The Soldiers’ Charity (soldierscharity.org).

Globe Theatre – a great all-rounder

Round & About

London’s iconic open-air wooden ‘O’ shaped theatre has lots to enjoy over the summer…

With tickets to shows starting from £5, the Globe is a world-class and affordable way to experience the best the city has to offer. Spend a full day exploring the world of Shakespeare in the new exhibition, on a guided tour or in a family workshop, and enjoy a delicious meal at the Swan, before watching a show.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs until 12th August starring artistic director Michelle Terry as Puck, there’s a special Midsummer midnight matinee on 24th June.

The Comedy of Errors runs until 29th July, Macbeth 21st July to 28th October, and As You Like It 18th August to 29th October.

Midsummer Mechanicals, The Olivier Award nominated family show, based on A Midsummer Night’s Dream, runs 22nd July – 26th August, following Peter Quince’s acting troupe – known as the Mechanicals – as they attempt to recapture the success of their first hit Pyramus and Thisbe, a show so bold, brilliant and chaotic that it went down in theatre history.

Running throughout the summer, Family Workshops and Storytellings are the perfect way to introduce younger audiences to Shakespeare and bring his plays to life. Guided Tours and Sword Fighting Demonstrations created for younger audiences are the perfect addition to a full family day out at the Globe.

Audiences can enjoy a pre-show drink with a stunning view across the Thames and overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral, or indulge in A Midsummer Night’s Dream themed afternoon tea at our on-site restaurant Swan at the Globe.

Build It Live home inspiration

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Grab your free tickets to kick-start your dream home project, with a visit to Build It Live in Bicester on 10th & 11th June

If you’re planning a self-build, renovating a property or looking to add more space to your current home, then you can’t afford to miss this! As the UK’s most practical self-build and renovation show, Build It Live has been designed to help people through each stage of the process – from finding land to hiring an architect, and sourcing materials for your build.

The exhibition, which will take place at Bicester Heritage, will provide two full days of inspiration, advice and practical tips to ensure you get the home you want – finished on time, and on budget. Within the exhibition hall, you’ll be able to meet hundreds of the UK’s leading suppliers and manufacturers, offering everything from build systems to sliding doors, so you can compare products before making those important buying decisions.

But that’s not all! The show has been designed as a one-stop shop for all your information needs. Over the two days, you’ll be able to attend free seminars and workshops, hosted by industry experts and covering topics such as how to fund your self-build project, heating options for your home and the different routes to managing your project.

Architects, planners and finance experts will also be on hand, offering free, independent advice in one-to-one sessions. You’ll be able to sit down and have a face-to-face chat, talk through your plans or concerns, and gain the insight you need to move your scheme forward!

Here are just some of the other great features you’ll be able to experience at the show:

THE LAND ZONE

Stop by the Land Zone to browse real plots for sale across the UK, gain advice about the various route to finding land, and speak to representatives from the latest serviced plot projects.

THE NAKED HOUSE

See a cut-away show home at ‘first fix’ – a fascinating insight into how things are installed in a new home, from insulation and underfloor heating, to the roof trusses and floor joists.

SELF-BUILDERS’ OWN STORIES

Gain inspiration and confidence from Build It readers who have already completed their own project. Hear their story, pick up some top tips, and learn from their mistakes.

STRIKING GLAZING OPTIONS

The show will offer a wide variety of specialists, demonstrating a huge range of glazing options, from bifold and sliding doors, to windows and rooflights.

TROUBLESHOOTING CLINICS

The show will also have four dedicated clinics, for build costs, heating, basements and extensions – where you’ll be able to chat to experts and troubleshoot your scheme.

Don’t miss out! The standard ticket price is £12 per person, but as a Round & About reader you can claim a pair of complimentary tickets to the show. For further information and to book your free tickets, visit: Book tickets to Build It Live Bicester 2023

Family Day at Windsor Racecourse

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Enjoy a fantastic family day at Windsor Racecourse this Bank Holiday Monday, with 6 races to keep you on your toes

Racing is Everyone’s Turf. From thrilling sport action to spending time with the family, racing has something for everyone and Under 18s Race Free.

From thrilling sport action and the chance to dress up or down, racing has something for everyone and Under 18s Race Free. From June to September, Britain’s 59 racecourses hold more than 40 family days throughout the summer, with the aim of engaging younger audiences and introducing them to the world of racing with exciting and fun activities.

Enjoy a fantastic family day at Windsor Racecourse this Bank Holiday Monday, with 6 races to keep you on your toes. It will be the perfect day out with plenty of entertainment for the kids, including the chance to walk the racetrack and see horses up close, inflatable fun rides, Braniac’s live science experiments and the chance to meet the mad scientists.

WINDSOR RACECOURSE, MAIDENHEAD ROAD, WINDSOR, BERKSHIRE, SL4 5JJ

St Helen’s new sixth form centre

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Students, staff, governors and guests have celebrated the official opening of St Helen and St Katharine’s new Sixth Form Centre – the Benedict Building

Deputy Lieutenant of Oxfordshire – and former Headmistress of St Helen and St Katharine – Lady Cynthia Hall joined the celebrations to cut the ribbon and declare the Benedict Building officially open.

In her speech, Lady Hall emphasised the importance of a dedicated Sixth Form Centre that recognises the need for a more grown-up space and where Sixth Form students’ studying needs are attended to.

The new state-of-the-art building is a physical articulation of the school’s vision for Sixth Form and is all about creating spaces that respond to how students work and how they relax. It deliberately anticipates the design ethos of higher education, smoothing the transition from school to university. It features nine spacious classrooms, a range of study spaces, an HE library, a lecture and performance hall, a large common room – and, of course, the all-important café.

Headmistress Rebecca Dougall reflected on the occasion: “I am enormously proud that we have delivered on a vision to create a building that inspires the amazing students from St Helen and St Katharine – and indeed from Abingdon School – and one which anticipates the the aesthetic and utility of the best architecture to be found on university campuses. We are hugely grateful to our outstanding project partners from TSH Architects, Ridge and Partners, and Benfield and Loxley who translated our vision for Sixth Form into a wonderful space and design and delivered an environmentally considerate building.”

The Benedict Building has been warmly received by the school community and Sixth Form students have enjoyed choosing their favourite spots as they have settled into their new home. Esme (Lower Sixth) shared her experience of the new centre: “The spacious, bright, university-like workspaces make me feel so much more motivated to work. The common room is the perfect social area to relax and wind down during break times. When leaving for lessons or study periods, we feel ready to be productive, especially when being fuelled by snacks from the café.”

St Helen and St Katharine will be hosting an exciting Sixth Form Experience Open Day on Tuesday 20th June where students who are thinking of joining the school will have the opportunity to take part in taster lessons and extracurricular activities. Parents will join at the end of the day for a tour of the school and to hear from the Headmistress and current students about life in St Helen’s Sixth Form.

Find out more: shsk.org.uk/visitus.

South African wine treasures to uncork

Round & About

Our wine columnist Giles Luckett explores the best wines from South Africa worth trying

Hello. This article was inspired by a recent South African wine tasting, one that turned out to be a simultaneous trip down memory lane and a voyage of discovery (if that doesn’t win Mixed Metaphor of the Year, nothing will!).

This vast county has 30 diverse wine districts and 60 Wine of Origin (WO) designations, boasts a mix of microclimates and soils to enable it to grow pretty much every grape variety brilliantly. They’ve also been making wine since the 1650s, so they have had plenty of time to perfect their art. 

I became a fan of South African wines in my student days, as they offered affordability and drinkability in equal measure. Three decades in the wine trade has burnished my love of the country’s wines and allowed me to try everything from mighty Cabernet Sauvignons that aren’t so much dry as desiccated to that well-known heart condition treatment (well, well-known to Jane Austen) the luscious Klein Constantia. Such long experience meant I attended the tasting expecting great wines but no surprises. What I encountered came as something of a shock… 

Alongside the usual cavalcade of world-class Cabernet Sauvignons (the Vergelegen Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch 2017 (Wine Society £16) was in marvellous form, so full, so refined, and typical of this wonderful vintage), cool climate Chardonnays (Journeys End Winemakers Chardonnay) (Laithwaites £14.99), and native grape classics such as the Beaumont Family Pinotage, Bot River, Walker Bay 2018 Pinotage (the Wine Society £18) was a line-up of newbies the like of which I didn’t know existed. Luscious, fruit-bomb Viogniers like the Mount Rozier Estate Queen Bee Viognier 2022 (Laithwaites £12.99), a previously unseen Tempranillo, from Mellasat Vineyards (Brompton Wines £20.9%) which took this Riojan classic and gave it even more oomph and even an orange wine. Well, no one’s perfect. 

(Another) South African Wine Revolution

I’d read that South African wine had undergone one of its periodic reinventions in the past few years, but I didn’t appreciate how significant this one was. On the evidence of this extensive tasting, this is as significant a change as they moved away from making South Africian ‘port’ and ‘sherry’ and moved into table wines.

What is the revolution this time? Well, in essence, it’s about working with nature. It’s about aligning the right grapes, exploration of sites, and using the right grapes and the right production methods to give wines that are authentic, and which convey a ‘taste of place.’ The rationale behind this move varies hugely, but what is universal is the exceptional quality of the wines being produced, as the following highlights show.

Boschendale Chenin (Tesco £9) is about as traditional as South African wine gets. Chenin, or Steen as it’s known here, is planted all over the country as it used to be used for fortified wines. These days it’s mainly used to produce crisp, apple, and melon flavoured wines, the best of which, such as Boschendale’s, have a shot of citrus, honey, and minerals giving them complexity. 

South African Sauvignon Blanc isn’t a wine I’m that familiar with. Like many of my generation, I was introduced to Sauvignon by the thrillingly fruit-driven gooseberry and green pepper wines of New Zealand in the late 1980s. After a year or so of drinking this style, the thrill wore off, and I’ve avoided New World Sauvignon ever since. It seems I’ve been missing out, however, as when I tasted the Journey’s End Identity Sauvignon (£9 Sainsbury’s), I found a wine of subtlety and class. The notes of gooseberries, rhubarb, and peppers are still there, but the volume’s been turned down, and peachy, yellow plum notes have fleshed it out, making for a jolly, food-friendly glassful. 

Kleine Zalze is another South African winery whose wines I’ve always enjoyed. Hailing from the prestigious Stellenbosch region, their Vineyard Selection Chenin (Vinum £13.10) is a serious, grown-up wine. Oak-aged, there’s a creaminess to this wine that compliments the rich peach, guava, and apricot tones before a fresh, firm acidity pulls everything together. This would be brilliant with lemon roast chicken or mushroom risotto. 

Spier is one of South Africa’s oldest wineries, and yet they produce one of its newest and rarest wines. Albarino is a grape most commonly associated with Spain, where it produces some of the country’s greatest whites. Ranging in style from the dry and crisp to the very dry and very crisp, it’s a wine I’ve always liked. The Spier Albarino (Majestic £9.99) has all the citrus you’d expect, but with its full, glycerine-rich body, it has softer, fatter notes of baked apple and pear that make it eminently drinkable. 

I’ll leave the whites with Jordan Wines’ The Real McCoy Riesling 2022. Like Pinot Noir, Riesling seems to be a grape that every nation wants to do well. The quality of the grape is such that everyone wants to create ones that can rival the French and German versions. Jordan has done pretty good job, if you ask me. While this is very much a South African wine, the lovely floral, apple and honey nose, taut, crisp, green and white berry saturated palate and cleansing, mineral-laden acidity make for a compelling Riesling. I plan to try this with a stir fry, but as a solo sipper, it’s a pearl. 

Pinotage is South Africa’s signature grape. Created in 1925 by crossing the noble Pinot Noir and commoner Cinsault (at the time, the Pinot wasn’t so much cross as flaming furious), the idea was to give a noble vine with good heat resistance. It’s a vine capable of great things in the right hands (and utterly forgettable dross in the wrong hands), as the Spier Pinotage shows. Mid-red, the nose is an inviting mix of crushed red berries, warm spices, cherries, and earth. These impressions flow onto the palate where the amble, yet rounded, tannins give it structure, and a hint of mint adds freshness. A great BBQ wine, should the sun ever shine. 

Blends have always worked well in South Africa. Some of my earliest memories of South African wine are of tasting the likes of Simonsig and Meerlust’s mighty Rubicon. Having such a wealth of grapes to call upon, it’s easy to see why they are popular. One I caught up with at the tasting was Kanonkop’s Kadette (Tesco £12), the entry-level wine from the superb Kanonkop estate. Blending Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, this is an inky dark, brooding, spicy, and super-ripe wine that doesn’t so much caress your palate as give it a cuddle and offer it a blanket. If you like big, rich, spicy, and intense wines, this is a great choice. 

Syrah, one of the great grapes of the Rhone Valley, is another variety you rarely see adorning South African wine labels. So when I saw the Griffin Syrah (£20 Ocado), I was intrigued. I tasted the 2016, and the bottle aging had clearly helped it. Young Syrah can be a handful, closed, tannic, brooding, and acidic. This was deep, mellow, and open. It offered a huge weight of plum, black cherry, and bramble fruit alongside signature notes of herbs, white pepper, and raspberries. Drinking well now, it has time on its side and would be fantastic with roasted red meats or hard cheeses. 

I couldn’t write a piece on South African wine and not mention a Cabernet Sauvignon. This noblest of vines seems to like South Africa and consistently produces world-class wines that are as good as they are affordable. I reviewed the Major Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 by Ernie Els Wines last year, and it was outstanding. This time out, I looked at the 2017, which, if anything, was even better. Very dark with only a glimmer of crimson at the rim, the nose offered an intensely concentrated mix of cassis, green peppers, mint, cherries, and smoke. In the mouth, it was powerful yet elegant. Fresh blackcurrants take centre stage, but there’s excellent support from black cherries, chocolate, spicy vanilla, and a shot of cranberry acidity. A delicious wine, I’d give it plenty of time open before drinking. 

I’ll finish this piece as I finished the tasting with a fizz. I’ve tasted the Graham Beck Pinot Noir Rosé (Majestic £16.99) around a dozen times in the past year, and my notes have been consistent in their praise. While I love all of Beck’s sparkling wines, the Pinot Noir Rosé is on a different level. Sweetly toned strawberries and raspberries mingle with softer flavours of brioche, black fig, creamy yeast, and a hint of saline. This will undoubtedly be our summer fizz, and with its weight and freshness, it will partner all kinds of food admirably well. 

I hope this whistle-stop tour will prompt you to explore South Africa’s great wine treasury. Next time out, I’m heading back down under for some splendid summer sippers.

More soon…!

Giles

Vintage shopping in Oxford this weekend

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Book your tickets to buy second hand treasures by the kilo at a pop-up store in Leiden Square on Friday 19th, Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st May.

Westgate Oxford will welcome fast-growing sustainable fashion business ‘we are.’ on Leiden Square over Friday 19th, Saturday 20th, and Sunday 21st May.

The pop-up store will sell high-quality secondhand clothing, including womenswear and menswear from well-loved brands such as Tommy Hilfiger and Nike, alongside authentic vintage items.  

The clothing rails will be refreshed at regular intervals throughout each day, ensuring all visitors get a chance to find some hidden gems regardless of their time of entry. Guests will be able to purchase as much or as little as they like, with the total cost dependent on the weight of the garments. Prices will start from £5, with a full kilo costing £25.

Brendan Hattam, Westgate centre, said: “With sustainability at the forefront of everyone’s minds, we know that our guests are looking for more climate-conscious ways to shop. That’s why we’re partnering with ‘we are.’ to bring pre-loved fashion to Westgate Oxford in response to the growing popularity of shopping second-hand, while brining our guests a new mix of premium and vintage brands at accessible prices.”

Matthew Griffiths, founder of ‘we are.’ added: “We are thrilled to be launching our kilo sale style pop-up store at Westgate Oxford for the first time, bringing our sustainable shopping experience back to Oxford after a successful pop-up in Oxford Town Hall last year. Millions of perfectly wearable clothes are thrown out each year and we are here to prove that sustainable fashion can help you stay on-trend as well as help save the planet.”

To book tickets, please visit Oxford Vintage Second Life Fashion Pop-Up Tickets

Visit Westgate Oxford to find out more.

Mandrill monkeys descend on London Waterloo

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Surprise for commuters as station exhibits heralds launch of NEW World of Jumanji at Chessington World of Adventures Resort

Commuters at London’s Waterloo were brought to a standstill this morning (Wednesday, 10th May) as a horde of ‘wild’ mandrill monkeys took over the station.

Usually found in tropical rainforests, four mandrills were spotted nestled in a jungle scene to celebrate the launch of Chessington World of Adventures Resort’s NEW themed land –World of Jumanji, which brings Sony Pictures’s box office hit film franchise of Jumanji to life. 

All was not as it seemed though, as the mandrill monkeys were five models whose bodies had been intricately painted and then positioned in the unique living billboard, to resemble the colourful primates in their natural habitat. Hand painted by fine art body painter and master illusionist, Johannes Stötter, the undertaking took nine hours to paint using 20 different brushes of varying sizes. The illusion required paint in a variety of shades, including dark browns and taupe for the mandrills’ fur and vivid reds and royal blues for their prominent muzzles. 

The jungle scene that surprised bustling London commuters was created to launch Chessington World of Adventures Resort’s NEW themed land, World of Jumanji, which opens to theme park fans and families on Monday (May 15th). The new land will include the hugely anticipated, Mandrill Mayhem ride, which is the world’s ONLY Jumanji rollercoaster and Chessington’s first to incorporate an inversion.  

Mandrill Mayhem will sweep riders from 1.2m tall, up in the long arms of a mandrill, as the horde whisks them around the sites of Jumanji, all while dodging the hazards of the jungle.

The most fearsome of all the wild animals, the mandrills are unpredictable and will launch at full speed through the treetops, flipping upside down on a hair-raising adventure, spiralling to the summit of the 55ft tall Jaguar Shrine. Glimpse the Jaguar’s Eye glow before falling and bracing the adventure again, only this time… backwards!  

World of Jumanji is the single largest investment in Chessington’s history and will include two additional rides for families to enjoy – Mamba Strike and Ostrich Stampede – as well as maze of pathways, with some trickier to navigate than others, but all based on the iconic Jumanji board game.

Ramesh Ganeson, Divisional Director at Chessington World of Adventures Resort, said: “With the opening of World of Jumanji just around the corner, we wanted to surprise commuters with our unique mandrill billboard.

“With trains from Waterloo to Chessington taking just half an hour, the station was the ideal location for the horde of mandrills to make their mark! We can’t wait to welcome guests to the NEW Jumanji themed land next week, there is so much in store…”