Rosa’s Thai is the new kid on the block at Jackson’s Corner in Reading…. We popped by to sample the sizzling menu and hear from the inspiring founder, Saiphin Moore.
February oozes the usual grey gloom. But the good news is that Rosa’s Thai has landed in Reading to provide some welcome helpings of colour and flavour!
So… what’s on the menu? Dorothy Geteloma visited the new branch to find out more about the team’s viral 56 Chilli Challenge (they put 56 chillies in their papaya salad, one for each of Saiphin’s birthdays) and tuck into must-try favourites, including the incredible pad thai and (Saiphin’s favourite) Pad Kra Pow.
Rosa’s Thai was co-founded by Saiphin and Alex Moore, who brought dishes from Saiphin’s native Thailand to London when they opened a market stall in Brick Lane in 2007. A year later, they took over Rosa’s Cafe in Spitalfields and opened the first Rosa’s Thai restaurant—keeping the Rosa’s sign on the building’s façade as testament to what stood before. Now, more than 17 years later, Rosa’s Thai is celebrated for bringing signature Thai hospitality and fresh, vibrant cooking to neighbourhoods across the UK.
“When I first saw the Jackson’s Corner site, I was immediately taken with the history of the building,” says Saiphin. “It reminded me of when we opened our first restaurant and kept the sign to honour the previous owners. To have the opportunity to open a Rosa’s Thai in such a historic Reading landmark is truly an honour. We are excited to bring our authentic Thai flavours and warm hospitality to this vibrant community and become a part of its ongoing story.”
While settling in to enjoy a spicy chili cocktail (the thirst-quenching Thai-inspired cocktails menu also includes the Kopiko Espresso Martini and Chilli Lageritas, as well as bubble teas, wine, Singha on tap, house “Thai-PA”, Mai Mao beers, and Thai iced teas) we loved hearing about. Saiphin’s passion for her motherland.
Spice fans are sure to love the four Hot Right Now dishes, including Guaytiew Kee Mao Drunken Noodles, packed with Thai basil, krachai, and fresh chillies; Gaeng Kiew Wan Green Curry’ (thick, creamy, spicy and aromatic, made with Rosa’s own curry paste – not for the faint-hearted!) and Som Tum’ Green Papaya Salad andPad Kra Prow Chilli & Basil Stir Fry.
Other highlights include Crispy Pork Bites, a classic beer snack, served with homemade Sriracha chilli sauce; Tod Mun Goong Prawn Doughnuts, and Rosa’s Pad Thai noodles which utilises a special recipe for the sauce, using tamarind grown from Saiphin’s hometown (trust us, this sauce takes things to another level!). The Rosa’s Thai menu also features an extensive selection of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes, with spice levels ranging from “a bit of a kick” to “Thai spicy”, allowing guests to customise their meals. Families will love the Little Rosa’s children’s menu, and food will be available for delivery, click-and-collect, and takeaway.
As impossible as it sounds, make sure to leave some room for pudding! Rosa’s Thai’s brownie and coconut ice cream is divine – their homemade tamarind sauce took it to another level.
This open-plan restaurant is a welcome addition to reading’s foodie scene, with its duck-egg blue exterior, large windows flooding the space with natural light and offering a view of the bustling town centre, while neon lighting and wall art add touches of Bangkok café culture.
Lovely Bit of Crumpet is winning fans all over the UK thanks to Bucks-based baker Judith Bonne whose artisan goodies include an array of sweet & savoury flavours too
Cousin to the English muffin, crumpets can be classified as small griddle breads… “However, they are not wholeheartedly accepted within the bread category and are often compared to their American relative, the pancake,” says lawyer turned crumpet baker Judith Bonne.
Judith is on a mission to make sure crumpets are revered, not just as members of the bread family but as the upper crust. Her artisan crumpets – sold online at lovelybitofcrumpet.com & delivered fresh to foodies’ doorsteps since February 2023 – have been winning fans all over the nation. And since November, these crumpets – available in classic, cheese, chocolate and cinnamon and raisin flavours – have been selling like hot cakes in the bakery and farmshop in Manor Stables, Long Crendon.
“The idea for Lovely Bit of Crumpet was hatched a few years ago following a tête-à-tête about the virtues and versatility of the crumpet,” says Judith, who lives in nearby Quainton with her husband Greg, children Billy and Rose and chocolate labrador Atticus. They are keen members of Chinnor Rugby Club, where Greg is the coach for U7 and U6s, alongside others who volunteer their time.
“Our crumpets are handmade using locally sourced ingredients to guarantee texture and taste,” adds Judith, an alumna of Dr Challoner’s. “With reduced salt and no added preservatives, our artisan crumpets never compromise on quality. We make them fresh every day, with online deliveries sent next-day delivery on Wednesday, guaranteeing a crumpety weekend brunch, tea or supper. Sweet or savoury, crumpets are the ultimate comfort food, Britain’s unsung baking heroes.
“Made from a batter of flour and yeast, their unique, hole-riddled structure makes them easily identifiable and gives them an edge over your more usual bread or pancake. Indeed, it’s these glorious hollows that make the crumpet the perfect vehicle for butter, and any of the usual toast, bagel, pancake, muffin toppings you might be familiar with. Sweet or savoury shouldn’t be a question. Both. Sometimes at the same time. Crumpets are wonderful with any jam, syrup or sweet topping, make beautiful desserts and are an excellent alternative to a scone. Equally delicious as a savoury option, crumpets and eggs are natural bedfellows, but topped with any kind of cheese (and chutney) or encasing a juicy burger are also popular options. Not forgetting Marmite!
“Toasted and topped, the crumpet delivers every time and yet no two crumpets are the same, with their individual ‘fingerprint’ holes. Crumpets are the most versatile of breakfast produce. So versatile, in fact, that their potential extends beyond the first meal of the day and should be enjoyed at any meal possible. Including elevenses!
Shop for crumpets, hampers, crumpet making kits & more, which make great Mother’s Day gifts, atlovelybitofcrumpet.com
You’re all invited to admire the screenprints, etchings, paintings and textiles of Mary Moser at The Kendrew Barn, St John’s College, OX1 3JP, from 28th February until 9th March
This exhibition celebrates the extensive artistic output of Mary Moser (1921-2022).
The visual world around her gave her immense pleasure. Reflections in a puddle or a glass-fronted office block; the beauty of industrial landscapes; the juxtaposition of the old and the new, the natural and the man-made. Electric pylons – which many find an eyesore – she saw as figures dancing across the countryside. Her artwork – screenprints, paintings, etchings and textiles – captures these things beautifully. The exhibition includes works inspired by Mary’s extensive travels – buildings and landscapes in Hong Kong, Bali, the Australian outback and Japanese temples. Music was another great influence in her life: her husband Claus was Chairman of the Royal Opera House for many years and she often attended rehearsals. They also hosted chamber music gatherings at their home, and at both she would sit and sketch musicians. The exhibition includes sketches and monoprints of musicians captured in the moment. Also included will be several works with an Oxfordshire theme. But rather than images of iconic Oxford buildings you`ll see instead screenprints of the Cowley works and Didcot Power Station!
Mary spent much of her childhood living in the Swiss Alps, then returning to London where she spent most of her life. She studied at the London School of Economics during the war after which she trained as a Psychiatric Social Worker. She was elected to Holborn Council in 1945 as the youngest Labour councillor in the country. Throughout her life Mary combined art with her various other work and family commitments. This continued when she moved to Oxford in 1984, when her husband Claus became Warden of Wadham College.
Mary had a major role with Oxfordshire Artweeks, taking on the role of chair for many years until 2001. During this period, she oversaw the organisation’s development from a struggling festival to arguably the most successful open studio visual arts festival in the country, and she always considered her role in Artweeks to be one of her proudest achievements. During Artweeks she also exhibited her own work in various settings, including at Wadham College and Sutton Courtney Abbey.
During her years as chair of Artweeks Mary particularly loved meeting artists for whom art was not their first career. This led to the establishment in 2003 of the Mary Moser award – a prize given to an artist exhibiting in Artweeks who had taken up art later in life as a second career. It continues to be awarded annually.
As chair of Artweeks Mary was instrumental in developing their educational work, widening access to art by setting up both Kids@Art and Art4Age. These local projects involved artist residencies in schools and care homes.
Liz Nicholls chats to dad and Chelsea & Gardeners’ World star Adam Frost whose new book For The Love Of Plants is out on 13th March ahead of his spring UK tour
Q. Hello again Adam, lovely to talk to you again! Last time we spoke about mental health… how are you? “Hi Liz! I’m ok thank you. I always struggle those first couple of weeks at the start of January… Actually part of this tour is about what happened to my mental health. With me, I need to be out doing things, and I keep busy. As my old Nan would say: busy hands…”
Q. How’s your garden now? “Yeah it’s all right; I was out over the weekend. The bulbs are about to pop up; the leaves on some tulips are coming , I’ve seen some Iris Reticulata. Things are just starting to push through the ground, so give it a few weeks and that first flush of bulbs will come alive. They provide a smile don’t they?”
Q. Tell us how your grandparents’ allotment inspired your love of gardening… “I had quite a difficult childhood so my grandparents played a massive part in my life. I had Tidy Nan and Scruffy Nan. Tidy Nan had that a classic allotment, rectangular 1970s lawn, little rockery, concrete path, washing line. She was a bit of a control freak, so she’d tie everything up within an inch of its life. But it was a safe place to be. If I wasn’t with them, I was across the road with Scruffy Nan. They both had quite high-flying jobs: Grandad was a gun engineer. At the weekends they lived quite a bohemian existence, they were on the wild side, also never threw anything away. Nan had these Belfast sinks all over the place that were these little worlds, you know? There was freedom there; we were allowed to be out until dark. Mrs Frost says I’m scruffy but I’m always tidy in my head!”
Q. Are you still on a mission to help youngsters get into gardening? I know you weren’t happy at school…. “Yes, I’m dyslexic. I was that kid; I was told you can join the Army, be a chef or be a gardener, because you’re not going to equate to a lot else. Horticulture is often sold to the less academic kids like me, the ones the education system has failed, which I find bizarre, in the sense that not only is it a career that you can go into and train as a horticulturalist and end up in the sciences, in the arts, in retail. But also why does anything that’s done with your hands have to be given to someone who doesn’t fit the system? I always say to young people: if you don’t know what to do, go and train in horticulture for a few years because you’re learning a skill set that’s going to lead you through life in various different directions. Saying that, it is getting better; we’ve got more people going into horticulture – interestingly – from geography. Biology in our schools is mostly animal-centric, whereas actually we don’t learn much about plants. I think it’s a great industry to get involved in. Let’s face it most of the young people leaving school are going to be working until they’re nearly 80; learn how to look after a garden, how to grow your own food. These are going to be of value in your life, even if you go and drift off to do something else. I keep shouting about it and keep spreading the word!”
Q. Tell us about your book! “Well, I did the last tour, the first one (I thought it was like a big joke, I didn’t think anyone was going to turn up! Well, they did!) Anyway, that tour finished, and at that time we were going through a lot as a family. My wife had been poorly and one of my littl’uns had been poorly, then the wheels came off me. We moved house, and this moving house became quite a big thing in the media world; the papers were phoning up, asking ‘why are you leaving this big farmhouse with massive garden?’ The reality is, I got locked in a room with Covid, and I was sat with a psychiatrist, and he said you’ve got burn-out and depression. So I finished the last tour being honest with people on stage. We start the book locked in a room with the psychiatrist. Also I’ve got this huge connection with music: I’ve used music all the way through my life. The book really is about moving, creating a new garden, but each part’s got a song attached to it, and there’s 150 plants in it. I look upon them as old friends. It bounces about, the book, and that will become the stage show, with some naughty stories, places I’ve been, the pickles I’ve got myself into along the way. The book’s quite personal; I’m halfway through doing it as an audio, which is a bizarre experience… mate!”
Q. What would young Adam say about you doing all this now, doing audiobooks, being on stage? “’You’re having a laugh!’ At school, in English, they’d be coming round the classroom asking you to read out loud…. At the time didn’t realise I was dyslexic, so all I was thinking was ‘how do I get out of this classroom?! I will do anything! I’d rather have the slipper from the headmaster than read out loud’. Fast forward 30 years and here I am doing this book, literally, reading out loud, thinking ‘what am I doing?!’ Ultimately, I finished the book eight months ago so it’s been a nice way to go back in, but it’s exhausting. Being dyslexic, your mind bounces about. It’s been crackers. That’s the other thing about me going into schools now, and even with my kids. One thing the psychiatrist said to me at one point was ‘I reckon statistically you don’t exist’. I said what? He said ‘think about your past, where you come from, what you’re doing now… if you were fired into a computer system, statistically there’s such a small percentage [of the old you] that you wouldn’t even show up on a graph!’ I don’t think the young me would have believed any of it. I never set out to do it. I left home at 16 and all I wanted was life to be a bit better than it was. And the harder I worked, the better life got. When I was ill, I learned that if you don’t change those survival habits you have as a youngster, by the time you get into your late 40s, early 50s, those habits start to unpick you. That’s been fascinating, understanding how the brain works, and how we are as human beings.”
Q. You’re exploring your love of music in the tour too, aren’t you? What piece of music lifts your mood? “I asked the family group chat: ‘what’s one song that gets you going’ and they all came back with Mr Brightside by The Killers. We’ve seen them live, there’s pictures of us going absolutely crackers. Wherever my kids were, if they were at a party they’d be jumping up and down to that song. Mrs Frost, too. It’s a great song, for my family. Just for me? Probably an old one: Johnny Nash, I Can See Clearly Now. I’ve always loved the lyrics, how you can relate to parts of your life. But it’s endless, I get totally lost in music!”
Q. Do you watch much telly? “Not loads but yeah. For us it’s that 9 o’clock drama, sit down and watch for an hour… well, whatever her ladyship, known as Mrs Frost, decides! She tells me. As you can see behind me is a picture of Peaky Blinders in our snug room… Mrs Frost loves a naughty boy!”
Q. Do women still proposition you in the supermarket? “Yeah! And she just throws me under the bus, she finds it hilarious, while I’m [miming] ‘help!’ I come across as confident but I get so shy! One lady said something about me doing audiobooks that I can’t repeat! It was along the lines of how my voice did… certain things to her and she’d like to take the audiobooks to bed at night.. I came out with something like ‘oh that’s nice’ but I could feel my heart getting quicker. Life’s mad!”
Q. Have you ever been star struck? “I’ve met loads of people who have blown me away and lots of talented people I class as friends now. But people are people! Apparently one of the reasons I get sent to do interviews, like The King, Adam Clayton from U2, is because I talk to everybody the same. Having said that, we went to Jools Holland’s Hootenanny and it blew my mind! So much talent in one room: Bob Geldof, Roger Taylor, Jungle, CMAT, Ruby Taylor – who I love – said she couldn’t believe she’d met her favourite gardener! (I asked her to repeat that for Mrs Frost). Now we’re going to Ronnie Scott’s later this year. Musicians are magical people.”
Q. What’s your essential bit of gardening kit? “I got some secateurs while in Japan 10 or 15 years ago; they’re not expensive out there. Also a little Dutch planting trail which I always get asked about, as well as Ash the cat!”
Q. If you had a magic wand what would you wish for? “Just to live in a nicer world. To put the news on and hear that all was good with the world…. I’d need some magic wand, wouldn’t I?! Hence going into the garden and losing myself.”
You can win a copy of Adam’s book, For The Love of Plantshere.
James Graham, talented head chef at The Bell at Ramsbury shares two gorgeous recipes to make and tuck into at home
Baked egg custard tart (makes eight portions)
Ingredients: For the sweet pastry case: • 125g cold butter • 85g icing sugar • One egg • 200g plain flour • A pinch of salt
For the custard: • Nine egg yolks • 195g caster sugar • 750g double cream • Vanilla essence to taste • Nutmeg
Method:
For the sweet pastry 1. Lightly cream together the butter & sugar 2. Gradually add the eggs mixing well in between each addition 3. Add the flour & salt until you have a dough 4. Wrap in cling film and rest in a fridge for at least 30 minutes 5. Roll it on floured surface to 2mm thick 6. Line tart case and blind bake at 170C for 20 minutes
For the custard 1. Boil the cream 2. Whisk eggs & sugar together 3. Pour cream onto egg/sugar mixture 4. Seal base of tart case with egg wash 5. Pour mixture into the case 6. Finely great nutmeg over the tart 7. Bake at 110C until it sets
Banana caramel souffle (makes six)
Ingredients:
For pure base: • 180g ripe bananas • 50g set caramel (200g caster sugar + 80g water)
For meringue: • Four egg whites • 70g caster sugar • Juice of half a lemon
Method:
Steam the bananas in their skins for about 40 minutes
Make caramel: cook sugar until caramelised, put on heatproof tray, allow to cool, break into pieces
Blitz banana & caramel mix to form pure base
To make meringue: whisk egg whites, sugar & lemon juice until soft peaks
Place 150g of pure in a bowl and add meringue in two stages folding between additions
Line ramekins with soften butter using a brush (brushing upwards)
Coat inside of buttered ramekins with caster sugar (shake off excess)
Place souffle mix in piping bag, pipe in circular motion until filled
Scrape top to flatten
Score the edge of the bowl with tip of your thumb
Bake at 180C for five or six minutes
Situated in the heart of the idyllic East Wiltshire village of Ramsbury, near Marlborough, The Bell is owned by the surrounding 19,000-acre Ramsbury Estate which supplies the pub with beer, gin and vodka at its own award-winning brewery and distillery and served from its light and airy bar with wood-burning stove. On its daily changing à la carte, farm-to-fork menus with innovative twists and a range of elevated pub classics, multi-award winning head chef James Graham showcases abundant, homegrown and seasonally relevant estate produce with vegetarian and vegan options always available.
Fellow tea addicts Giles Oakley & Mark Lawson tell us about their epic round-the-world journey that led them back to Bucks, and to creating Two Spoons Tea
Chances are, you’re slurping on a cup of tea as you read this… After all, we Brits drink 100 million cups of the stuff every day. Well, next time you’re making a brew, slinging that used teabag away, spare a thought for the thousands of expert tastebuds that helped perfect your brew…
“I wish people knew how much effort went in to producing tea!” says married dad of two Giles (AKA “Big Spoon” at Two Spoons Tea towers) who lives in Penn. “Some 14 million people are involved in the trade worldwide – in the field, factory, warehouse, trucking, shipping, buying, selling, marketing. Did you know your tea gets tasted as many as seven times on its journey before it gets to you?”
Giles and his fellow tea addict Mark (“Little Spoon”, who is married with three sons and lives in Pednor) are on a mission to spill the tea about, well… tea! As well as their award-winning teas, which are sold at twospoons.co.uk and served at Peterley Manor Farm and Little Wren in Missenden, A Lovely Bit of Crumpet in Long Crendon, Norsk in Haddenham, P.E. Mead and Son’s in Tring and Kitchen Larder in Chalfont St Peter, the pair often give talks at local WI groups, and collaborated on a gin, with Amersham’s Griffiths Brothers (featured here in January).
“We’re ardent fans of tea and never get tired of talking about it!” says Giles. “Tea is refreshing, good for you, comes from some beautiful places, has a fascinating history and traditions, but – perhaps most importantly – it brings people together. If everyone drank one more cup of tea a day, the world would definitely be a better place… And don’t get hung up on green tea – black tea is just as beneficial!”
Both spoons’ journey began in 1998, thanks to a job advert that read: “TRAINEE TEA TASTER WANTED – MUST BE PREPARED TO TRAVEL THE WORLD”. Both applied… “We got through (somehow!) and one million cups later, here we are. We each spent a year living overseas in tea-producing countries. We visited plantations, tea factories, warehouses and ports. We bought in tea auctions, met the tea trade and made some great friends. We learnt that, wherever you go in the world, people are incredibly passionate about this amazing product. At Two Spoons, we want to showcase great tea, the passion and the stories we’ve accumulated along the way.”
“I’ve always loved tea: it must be the Irish roots,” adds Giles. “My favourite cuppa? I’ve got three: an Assam, second flush, malty and jammy (with a bacon sarnie). Masala Chai, drunk on the streets of Kolkata from a clay cup. And anything made by my kids: yes, it might not taste great and it comes round once in a blue moon – sorry boys! – but it’s made with love! I’ve travelled all over the world during my 25 years in tea, from Pakistan and Papua New Guinea to India and Indonesia. This has offered a series of brilliant experiences, meeting passionate people involved in the production of an amazing crop.”
Mark & Giles are delighted that tea is now being appreciated in the same way as coffee. “Coffee has evolved from the instant offering we saw 25+ years ago. There is now more access to diverse, better quality coffee. Whilst both have caffeine (tea has half that of coffee), tea also has a great compound called theanine, which has a relaxing effect. We describe the impact tea has as giving ‘calm alertness’.”
“The five years of training were fantastic,” adds Giles. “We spent a year at origin. I lived in India, Kenya and Malawi where I visited estates, auctions and learnt from some of the best tasters in the world. Tasting alongside them meant trying thousands of cups every day. I then came back and did a year or so on blending. This is a real skill because you have to take all these different teas, mix them together and come out with a consistent blend. People don’t realise how much tea can vary because of growing, weather and factory conditions. At the end of the training, we were given our cherished spoons… silver-plated and engraved.
“Darjeeling in the foothills of the Himalayas was epic. I have a bit of family history in the region; my great, great uncle Freddie was a tea planter here. The views are idyllic, the tea is incredible, the people so hospitable. I visited the factory in the middle of the night whilst processing was happening. I drank the same tea at 6am as the sun was coming up over the mountains: an experience I’ll never forget.”
Did you know that China produces more tea than anywhere else in the world? Tapping two fingers on the table after being poured tea is a sign of gratitude in the country. The people of Turkey drink more tea per head than anyone else. The first advert for tea in England appeared in 1658 and handles were first put on teacups at the end of the 17th century. And – a fun local fact for you! – Anna Russell, the seventh Duchess of Bedford and inventor of afternoon tea, is buried at Chenies.
“We set up Two Spoons Tea four years ago and it probably took a while to adjust to being our own bosses,” they add. “We do everything from creating blends to emptying the bins! There are great spots for afternoon tea all over Bucks and The Chilterns. If they are serving Two Spoons Tea, they are almost certainly worth visiting!
“It seems crazy to think that there are ¾ of a million cups of our Two Spoons tea being drunk every year now. On our horizon – other than world domination – we’ll be launching a couple of loose leaf products this year and hopefully visiting the tea estates again soon.”
These beautiful pictures were loved by judges of Bucks Photography and Young Photography Open competition organised by Discover Bucks Museum. Vote in the people’s choice award!
This month saw the launch of the Celebrating Bucks Photography Exhibition at Discover Bucks Museum in Church Street, Aylesbury.
The exhibition showcases stunning photographs that capture the landscape, people, heritage, wildlife and beauty of Buckinghamshire – all taken by talented local photographers. Both amateur and professional photographers of all ages have taken part and were inspired by the theme of Celebrating Buckinghamshire. The team received almost 150 entries and 100 are on show in the exhibition.
The judging panel included Professor Sri-Kartini Leet (Bucks New University) and Richard Carr (Bucks Radio) and the prizes were presented by Cllr Mini Harker (Chairman of Buckinghamshire Council).
A huge congratulations to our competition winners, whose exceptional photos are featured in the exhibition. The winners in each age group are; Bucks Photography open competition (age 18 & over):
• 1st prize: Babes in the Wood by Marie Thorphe • 2nd prize: Brill Windmill at Sunset by Victoria Timms • 3rd prize: Kite Flying in The Chilterns by Jenny Seabrook
Young Photography Open Competition (age 17 & under) Award winner: Playing with light around the bonfire by Tobias Haseldine, age 12 Award winner: Experiencing Autumn by Ibrahim Mirza, age 12 Award winner: Autumn at Stowe – falling leaves by Emilia Skinner, age eight.
Visitors to the exhibition can also vote for their favourite in both age groups in the People’s Choice Award.
The last day of voting will be 21st April and the People’s Choice Awards will be announced at Discover Bucks – Discover Bucks and on social media.
The exhibition runs until 4th May, so don’t miss your chance to experience this visual journey through our beautiful county. Many of the photographs are for sale.
Amersham Concert Club invite you to enjoy a piano recital with one of their most popular star pianists, Viv McLean, on Saturday 22nd February at Amersham Free Church
Viv McLean will make a welcome return to play for Amersham music-lovers this month, with a programme taking the audience on a whirlwind trip from the late Baroque world of Scarlatti to the early Romantic music of Beethoven.
The concert opens with four of Scarlatti’s many sonatas written for the harpsicord and early piano, including Brahm’s intriguing Variations and Fugue on a Theme.
The second half of the concert will start with Mozart’s popular C Major Sonata, followed by Beethoven’s mighty and tempestuous Appassionata Sonata.
Viv won first prize at the Maria Canals piano competition in Barcelona, and since then has performed in all the major venues in the UK as well as throughout Europe, Japan, Australia and the USA. Viv’s concerto work includes appearances with the RPO, Philharmonia Orchestra, LPO, Halle Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, Sinfonia Viva, Orchestra of the Swan, Orchestra of St John’s, Northern Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Concert Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra.
In recent years, Viv has played for the club as a soloist playing Beethoven, Chopin and Gershwin, with cellist Anna Neary, and with Shiry Rashovsky and Jessica Duchen in a programme of words and music celebrating Vaughan Williams. Versatile and engaging, his performances never fail to delight.
The Colour Emporium is the brainchild of Katie Holman who creates hand-dipped candles in a rainbow of hues in Shamley Green, with her friend Charlie Hardesty
If you’re in need of a dopamine hit (and who isn’t at this gloomy time of year?!), a quick look at The Colour Emporiumshould do the trick.
Your retinas are sure of a turbo-charged boost thanks to the kaleidoscopic collection of dip-dyed candles and accessories crafted by Shamley Green mum of two Katie Holman who runs The Colour Emporium with her friend Charlie. The idea came after a year of lockdown gave Katie the itch to do something creative.
“Having spent the last five years raising my two children Bodhi and Zephie, I had a lot of time to toy with a lot of different ideas for a business premise,” she says. “Having trained in costume-making before becoming a design and technology teacher, I’ve always felt a calling to do something creative with my time.
“It’s incredibly important to me that the products I create are unique and ethically made, and items you’re proud to display in your home or gift to friends and family.
“I love colour in every shade that it comes and hope everyone can find something to suit your colour palette. All of the candles I make have been hand-dipped in colourful paraffin wax to evoke a fun and joyous feeling when placed in your homes or on the dining table.”
The huge variety of dip-dyed candles includes the likes of Neon Sea; a vibrant marbled concoction, the uplifting zesty Club Tropicana, and the pastel beauties Tender Tulips.
These have won The Colour Emporium lots of interest in interiors magazines and blogs all over the world and the global customer base to go with it, with fans Down Under.
Katie also shares her experiences on social media, including “the mess, the mistakes, the fun bits”. “There is nothing more satisfying than dipping these beauties but I know as much as the next person that we aren’t on here to watch perfection all the time,” says Katie on one video sharing the thrills and spills of her creative process in the family garage.
“I take inspiration from all sorts of places; my garden, the seasons, food, art and more, then work on creating a combination that I feel will work in a variety of settings and bring a splash of colour to your interiors. Because of the nature of handmade products, each candle may differ slightly from one another but I think this only adds to the appeal of having something truly one of a kind.”
Rosalia Ferrara’s capsule collection of colourful organic totes, tea towels, cards, T-shirts & more is a tribute to literary legends
Brontë Bitch is a collection celebrating the legacy of the iconic Brontë sisters and their family.
It’s a homage to the literary trailblazers who shaped English literature with their powerful narratives and complex characters.
Brontë Bitch offers an array of beautifully illustrated designs featuring iconic quotes from their best sellers, that resonate with fans of the sisters and literature enthusiasts alike. The collection includes colourful tote bags, organic T-shirts, premium hoodies, tea-towels, greeting cards, key-rings all adorned with creative designs & quotes that reflect the spirit of the brand.
Amongst the standout items is the must-have popular hoodie, available in three colours, perfect for those chilly days spent reading or exploring the moors that inspired the sisters’ works. Prices for these original pieces range from £4 to £55, making it easy for anyone to own a piece of Brontë-inspired merchandise.
