The Old Rectory in Farnborough has been lovingly tended for more than half a century, helping raise funds for charity thanks to the National Garden Scheme, so why not visit?
Great gardens will inspire & delight in equal measure and that’s certainly true of The Old Rectory. Regional finalist in The English Garden’s The Nation’s Favourite Gardens 2019, this eight-acre garden features a series of immaculately tended garden rooms.
The garden is especially stunning in the springtime, when it opens to visits who book through the National Garden Scheme (ngs.org.uk), which raises life-changing funds for charity.
It features herbaceous borders, arboretum, secret garden, roses, vegetables, pool, bog gardens and woodland, with an explosion of rare and interesting plants, beautifully combined for colour and texture. The Old Rectory was once home to John Betjeman (you can see the memorial window by John Piper in church). It also offers magnificent views, from a blessed position, 250 metres high.
Despite being subject to winds from the downs, this garden has been created over more than 60 years, helped by the original planting of large trees and hedges. The house is very pretty and sits at the heart of the garden. Deep parallel herbaceous borders are backed by yew hedges. The planting in front of the house is subtle and effective, and the smaller areas have been laid out for sun or shade-loving plants.
Woodland contrasts with shrubs and lawns, and the fast-growing arboretum now contains more than 150 trees. The swimming pool is surrounded by a large hydrangea sargentiana and potted lilies, with mixed roses and clematis around the outside walls. There is a collection of old roses and small flowered clematis, and wild flowers line the front lawn by the ha-ha.
The tennis court has been turned into a “boule a drome” with four large beds, beautiful wrought iron gates and a gazebo.
l You can visit The Old Rectory, OX12 8NX, between 2pm & 5pm on 18th May, 25th & June & 30th July. Adults £7pp, children free. You will also find specialist plants and homemade preserves for sale, as well as teas & cakes.
Sam Drake steps up to the oche to enjoy a great night of darts, plus great food and drink, as the fabulous Flight Club atop Oxford’s Westgate
If you’re looking for a top-flight night with friends, or a quirky date night, check out Flight Club which landed at the Westgate at the end of last year.
Flight Club offers 11 social darts playing areas, a beautiful fairground-themed bar, and a great outdoor terrace which is perfect for the longer evenings.
I had such a great experience at Flight Club from the moment we stepped inside. The staff explained how the different games work and how to order food and drink, regularly checking in to see if we needed any more food and drink. It’s so refreshing to enjoy such a warm welcome rather than being rushed along, and I can’t fault the service.
And, as a foodie, oh my word the food was amazing and the portion sizes impressive; my personal favourite (I know it’s very basic) was the hummus board with plenty of pitta which kept us going and was to die for!
With more bank holidays on the horizon, Flight Club is a great venue to welcome to sip, savour, and celebrate! Enjoy a drink or three in the lively, cocktail bar, or alfresco on its beautiful rooftop terrace, offering a tranquil escape from the city’s hustle and bustle, with a picturesque view of Oxfordshire.
If spring sips and picky bits sound like your perfect plan, Flight Club’s limited-edition seasonal Spring Tipples cocktail menu is a must-try, from the sweet and tangy Sunkissed Rhubarb, to the creamy Pistachio Martini or how about the alcohol-free Botanical Burst? Food on offer includes yakitori beef skewers or pizzas, from classic pepperoni to Italian plant-based pork sourdough.
You can book in for a two-hour bottomless brunch at £38pp which includes an hour competing for Social Darts glory, a choice of a bottle of Prosecco or four beers each, two hours of endless sourdough pizza paddles and a table at the bar to polish off the pizza and Prosecco post-darts, with a live DJ for unforgettable vibes.
I will definitely be back with a larger group next time; my birthday is coming up so it’s on my list for sure!
Jewellery maker Heather Larson tells us about her craft, inspired by her childhood on the Canadian prairies, ahead of Bucks Art Weeks
If you’ve ever wanted to peek underneath the layers of creativity, Great Missenden jeweller Heather Larson is one of the hidden gems whose process you can explore in Bucks Artweeks, 7th to 22nd June.
Heather is an enameller who uses traditional techniques to create work with a clean and modern aesthetic. Most of her pieces are one of a kind and feature hand engraving, sometimes with a glint of gold or gemstones.
“I was born in Canada and grew up on the prairies, which are beautiful but in a very subtle way with big sunsets and waving grasses,” Heather tells us. “That environment definitely informed the way I look at the world and the style of my work.
“Bucks Art Weeks is the most important event of the year for many artists and makers. Professionals and amateur artists exhibit side by side and with some artists opening their studios to the public. It’s a great chance to see behind the scenes and learn how things are made. The committee does a super job with the directory and now with art trails springing up around the county, visitors can link together stops to see their favourite local artists and to discover new ones. It creates a buzzy atmosphere. I always look forward to exhibiting my new work and having time to chat with visitors in a more relaxed setting.”
Heather enamels on silver and hand engraves the textures you can see underneath. “I tend to use soft colours, sometimes with painting enamel or gemstones. My sketches have lots of notes jotted in the margins and usually start with a photograph. My phone is full of photos of interesting things I’d like to turn into jewellery ideas one day! Over time, these sketches develop into a series of work and most of my pieces are one of a kind. The lovely thing about enamel is that I get to play with colour in a way that most jewellers don’t.
“Enamelling is my second career. I spent 20 years working as an engineer and it was that work which allowed me to move around the world and to finally settle in Bucks. I like to keep busy! I’m in a band with my neighbours and we sometimes play at our village pub. I’m also a very keen but novice gardener.”
Heather now has a cat but when she first moved to Missenden she had a very elderly dog. “One of my favourite walks was through the woods from Nags Head Lane to Prestwood, then back down through Angling Spring Wood, stopping at Matilda’s Bistro for a coffee. Woody and Friends has been a great addition to the High Street, with pet food, gifts, and grooming.
“I’m a member of Buckinghamshire Craft Guild and I love their gallery at Layby Farm in Stoke Mandeville as well as Obsidian Art next door. Closer to home are Little Wren Collections and The Jeweller’s Bench. Peterley Farm holds several craft fairs and Pantry at 51 in Prestwood also hosts artists and makers through the year. It’s lovely to have so many businesses run by and supporting local makers.”
We chat to Chris Hopkins, the new artistic director of Amersham Festival of Music, about music & his love for local life
Chris Hopkins’ parents weren’t musicians… “but we did have a Casio keyboard,” recalls Chris, 39, a professional conductor and pianist who has been playing music for as long as he can remember. “I was sold on the ‘bossa nova’ button aged four, and from there I started learning piano and violin first with my auntie and then with other brilliant teachers.”
Chris began conducting in his late teens and now his career is a happy mix of the two. “A lot of my work has been in opera which would have been a surprise to teenage me,” he adds. “I’ve also worked with orchestras all over the country, and I recently started working at the Royal Academy of Music where I was a student some years ago – a place with an amazing energy and a terrifying amount of talent.
“My brilliant wife and I have been happily married for 10 years. We have two wonderful, and hilarious, children Emma and Louis, and a new rescue cat, thanks to Cats Protection.”
Chris & his family have lived in Chesham, a couple of minutes’ walk from The Queen’s Head, for six years. “We love this area, the independent businesses, walks, and the warm, friendly people. Our children have had great times at Hyde Heath and Great Missenden schools. Louis is in reception with Mrs Rolfe who is a legend, and we’ve been lucky to have a string of wonderful teachers. One of the highlights for Emma was when Little Missenden Festival organised John Webb – composer, educator and music leader extraordinaire – to run workshops in Hyde Heath and other schools, culminating in a performance with songs the children had written. It’s a reminder how integral live music should be in the curriculum to inspire young minds.
“We love a high street wander – in Chesham it’s got to involve a stop in Roots, Amersham is often coffee at Sycamore and something naughty from Nena or the old town market, and we enjoy Great Missenden market after a walk in the park. We adore The Queen’s Head, a Sunday walk to the Boot & Slipper and Colombo 7 is top of the list for special occasions.
“This year’s is the first Amersham Festival I’ve been involved in. It’s been Iain Ledingham’s final festival as artistic director, after over 40 years in charge. In October we start the winter series, the first I’ve had a hand in programming. There’s lots to look forward to, including an epic two-piano concert in the round at the King’s Church in November, a brilliant internationally renowned big band and more!
“I’m a member of Chiltern Creative, a great group for meeting creative people. From a musician’s point of view it’s quite incredible how many musicians live in this area: half the BBC Symphony Orchestra for one! We are members at 1879 Tennis Club which is amazing for the kids and gets my step count up too.”
James Nixey, the new chairman of the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, will host Bucks Young Farmers Country Show at Manor House Farm, HP27 9PA, on 31st May
Farming involves a lot of hard graft to feed us all well. James Nixey, a member of Princes Risborough Young Farmers’ Club (YFC), is the new chair of the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs.
James, 28, who is a self-employed electrician, has been elected to represent more than 23,000 rural young people across England and Wales. He has been involved in his family’s farm for as long as he can remember. He went to Lord Williams School in Thame which, he says, gave him a great start in adult life.
“I cannot speak highly enough of the YFC,” he says. “There’s a certain pride in being surrounded by young people who are feeding the nation, supporting their communities. YFC is an organisation like no other – if you’re thinking about joining, go for it! The opportunities are endless. Perhaps you’ve seen the charity Christmas tree collections or tractor run we organise in and around Risborough?
“The highlight of my year will be Bucks Young Farmers Country Show on 31st May at Manor House Farm, Bledlow, by kind permission of Lord Carrington. It’s a great day out for all the family and showcases the best of rural life, from tractor displays, main ring entertainment, a market and craft stalls and entertainment with young farmers competing in an array of competitions to be crowned the best in Bucks. The atmosphere at a YFC show is unbeatable and there is something for everyone to enjoy. If you and your family are there on the day, make sure you come and say hi!”
You’ll often find James browsing in Lacey’s Family Farm Shop, just outside Lane End. “This award-winning farm shop and butchers sell produce from their own farm as well as many other local producers,” says James. “It’s so important to buy good-quality, locally sourced British produce whenever we can. British food is some of the highest-quality, safest and most nutritious food in the world and you can tell the team at Lacey’s have sustainability and quality at the forefront of what they supply. I’ve always been impressed with the range and they also run great events and tours, such as Open Farm Sunday. Definitely one to visit.
“We are so lucky to live in the foothills of the Chilterns – an area of outstanding natural beauty. With our lives more hectic than ever I think it’s super important to get outside and take in some of that countryside. Getting outside is so good for you, there are several studies showing nature helps our mental health, improving thinking and reducing stress. So, what are you waiting for? Get out and enjoy the countryside we have on our doorstep!
“If I could make one wish for the world, it would be for everyone to have access to safe, sustainable, and nourishing food, grown by farmers who are valued, supported, and empowered. A world where agriculture thrives in harmony with nature, and every hand that feeds us is respected and never forgotten.”
For more info about Bucks YFC Show & advance tickets visit bucksyfcshow.co.uk
Olly Murs fans, get ready! The Palmer Park Summer Series proudly presents Olly Murs Live in Palmer Park, Reading on Friday, 13th June
Some 15 years since Olly burst onto our screens, he remains increasingly ambitious about what’s to come. With seven hit albums, five of those reaching number 1, more than 2 million tour tickets sold, 7.6m monthly Spotify listeners & a combined following of more than 27m across social platforms, Olly has so far had an incredible career as a singer, songwriter & TV personality.
2024 was another busy year as Olly spent 44 dates on the road with Take That & rounded off the summer with a run of his own headline shows.
Having just announced a 2025 summer tour, Olly has another exciting year ahead & will be celebrating his 15-year anniversary performing all the hits as he takes to the road to Reading, Palmer Park with Legacy Live on Friday 13th June. Gates open at 4pm.
Don’t miss the chance to celebrate 15 incredible years of Olly Murs in Reading!
For an Exclusive Discount, please use code PPS and secure your tickets from – https://fatso.ma/1gLV
Diana Ross at Henley, DJ Charlie Hedges near Chinnor, Fabio + Grooverider at Stowaway & Mucky Weekender (see our Q&As with both!), & more… this summer is set to be a sizzler for festival fans, says Liz Nicholls
Summer Festival Season Is Here!
Drumroll, please! Festival season is officially underway—starting with a touch of class.
Surrey Hills International Music Festival (6–17 May)
Begin with something refined. The Surrey Hills International Music Festival features Grammy-nominated VOCES8 at Guildford’s Holy Trinity Church, and pianist Alim Beisembayev at the Menuhin Hall. Don’t miss the return of Lunchtime Young Artist Concerts at West Horsley Place. Find talks, guided walks, and more at shimf.co.uk.
May Highlights
Are You Listening? (9–10 May, Reading) Expect incredible performances across venues in Reading. Full details at areyoulistening.org.uk.
Pub In the Park, Marlow (15–18 May) Star chefs like Tom Kerridge, Yotam Ottolenghi, and Raymond Blanc will join forces with music icons like Dizzee Rascal, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, and Craig Charles. Full line-up at pubintheparkuk.com.
Shindig Festival, Wiltshire (22–25 May) A Glasto-style family-friendly rave! Featuring Gilles Peterson, Mr Scruff, art installations, wellness zones, crafts, and a kids’ area. shindigfestival.co.uk
Rokefest, Wallingford (23–25 May) Held at Home Sweet Home, this grassroots fest supports local charity Style Acre. Find updates on Facebook.
Chesham Fringe Festival (23–25 May) A joyful mix of comedy, cabaret, music, theatre, and kids’ entertainment. More at cheshamfringe.com.
Wasing Words & Wellness (25–26 May) A brand-new wellness and literary festival at Wasing Estate. Also check out their Solstice celebration on 20–22 June featuring James Blake. wasing.co.uk
Chippenham Folk Festival (24–27 May) Celebrating its 52nd year with music, dance, and colourful street fun. chippfolk.co.uk
Racing & Rock at Silverstone
Motorsport meets music! On 25 May, Silverstone hosts the thrilling MotoGP. Later, enjoy Sam Fender, Raye, and Fatboy Slim (3–6 July), then Craig David and Ministry of Sound Classical during Silverstone Festival (23–25 August). silverstone.co.uk
Shynefest & Local Gems
Shynefest, Merrist Wood (30–31 May) Celebrating 10 years with Reef and Nirvanher. Supports Treloar’s charity. shynefest.uk
Camp Bestival (31 July–3 August) A family fave with Tom Jones, Mr Tumble & Dick & Dom. dorset.campbestival.net
August Keeps the Beat Going
Boardmasters (6–10 August, Cornwall) Surf, sun, and music with Central Cee, The Prodigy & Raye. boardmasters.com
Boomtown (6–10 August, Winchester) A fully immersive world featuring 12 stages, 50 hidden venues & a secret lineup! David Rodigan, Phil Hartnoll of Orbital, Don Letts, DJ Yoda & more will star. boomtownfair.co.uk
Retro Festival (8–10 August, Newbury) Dress up and party to the past. retrofestival.co.uk
Rewind South (15–17 August, Henley) Classic acts like Soft Cell, Holly Johnson & Midge Ure. south.rewindfestival.com
Closing Summer with a Bang
Creamfields (21–24 August) Massive electronic party with David Guetta, Swedish House Mafia & Eric Prydz. creamfields.com
Big Feastival (22–24 August) With Nelly Furtado, Faithless, Justin Fletcher, and Raymond Blanc. bigfeastival.com
We’re sharing a recipe from Tom Kerridge to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Hand & Flowers & 10 years of The Coach
Vanilla Crème Brulee
Ingredients: 750ml double cream One vanilla pod Four medium free-range eggs 30g caster sugar
Put the cream and vanilla pod into a heavy-based saucepan and bring to the boil over a medium heat. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.
Beat the eggs and sugar together in a bowl until smoothly blended. Bring the vanilla-infused cream back to the boil, then slowly pour onto the beaten egg mixture, whisking as you do so to combine.
Pour the mixture back into the pan and cook, stirring constantly, over a medium-low heat until the custard thickens and reaches 88°C (check the temperature with a digital probe). Immediately remove from the heat and pass through a fine chinois into a clean bowl. Press a layer of cling film on to the surface to prevent a skin forming and leave to cool for 20 minutes or until the custard is at room temperature.
Pour the custard into a high-powered jug blender (Vitamix) and blitz for 30 seconds; this will lighten it slightly. Now pour the custard into crème brûlée dishes or ramekins, dividing it equally (about 125ml per dish). Cover each dish with cling film, leaving a small gap on one side, to allow any moisture to evaporate. Stand the dishes on a tray and place in the fridge to set; this will take about three hours.
Caramel Glaze 200g demerara sugar
When ready to serve, sprinkle a generous, even layer of demerara sugar over the surface of each set custard. Wipe the edge of the dish with a clean cloth. Using a cook’s blowtorch, caramelise the sugar, starting from the edges and working towards the centre. Take the caramel to a dark brown – this dish is all about balancing the rich creamy egg custard with the slightly bitter caramel flavour.
Leave to cool for about five minutes before serving.
Liz Nicholls chats to Tom Kerridge, the double-Michelin starred chef who opened The Hand & Flowers 20 years ago & The Coach 10 years ago
Hello Tom! What’s your first food memory?! “Oooh, I grew up in the ’80s, in a single-parent family on an estate in Gloucester. So Birds Eye potato waffles, Findus crispy pancakes, tinned corned beef… I still love it!”
Q. Would you have imagined you’d be where you’re now 20 years ago? “My God, no! The idea was to set up and create somewhere where we loved the food that we cooked for people. I’m so proud of the team of people who have been around us for so long. Lourdes, our general manager, has been with us 18 years, and you’ve got Katie, who’s been there 15 years, Gabby who runs front of house, has been with us for another 14 years. And then you’ve got the likes of Tommo, who’s the head chef and Sarah, who’s the head chef of The Coach since the beginning. So it’s been this long, progressive journey of not just the businesses, but people, professionally and personally. And then we’re so grateful for the continued support of Marlow & everyone around here. We just wanted to create great food and relaxed, informal service. Two Michelin stars later, ending up on telly and doing books are added bonuses. We’ve gone with it. But it’s always been about great food and that’s down to continued hard graft that everyone puts in.”
Q. We’re celebrating festivals this month! What are your favourite festival memories? “Well, Pub in the Park has been amazing and I love doing it every year. The energy, the buzz people get from it, and Marlow is very special because it’s my home town. The sun always seems to shine, we’re very, very lucky with that! I’m sure Dizzee Rascal will be great, bringing the energy and I love the brilliant cookery demos, the stuff on the fire pit.”
Q. What’s your most rock’n’roll food moment? “We’ve had so many famous people in our restaurants, probably the most famous being Beyoncé and Jay-Z. They were great, warm, not divaish at all. And they loved their fish and chips!”
Q. Cliche I know! But what’s your best ever meal? “For me it’s always about situation and place. So fish & chips on a beach in Brighton, in the winter when you have to wrap up warm, with loads of malt vinegar on. Some street food I had in Singapore, maybe eight or 10 years ago, was unbelievable, absolutely stunning. And awesome tacos from a shack in Tucson, Arizona. They’re some of the best food experiences I’ve had.”
Q. What are the ingredients for a perfect pub? “A warm welcome, great beers and food done with care; it doesn’t have to be Michelin star food, just made with love. A great pub has this kind of unwritten rule of connectivity. The problem is everybody wants that on a Sunday. You need to have it on a Tuesday lunchtime as well, and we should support pubs this way otherwise they won’t be there on the Sunday.”
Q. Who would be your dream dinner party guests? “I’m a massive Oasis fan so Liam Gallagher. I love rugby too, so maybe Joe Marler, oh and Lewis Hamilton, please! And we need someone extra funny so Katherine Ryan.”
Q. Do you cook much with your son Ace? “Yeah, I try to make sure Sundays I’m about and present. This weekend he wants to do an apple crumble. We’ll normally do some sort of slow roasting in the morning because we’ll be off to rugby training, and then the afternoon when we get back, it’s all cooked and lovely.”
Q. What kitchen gadgets or tools would you not be without? “Sharp knives and a good chopping board… Very simple!”
Q. What are your favourite restaurants except your own? “I’m a fan of Malik’s in Cookham, which is absolutely outstanding. I was first introduced to Malik’s 20 years ago by Heston Blumenthal and still, to this day, it’s the best curry you’ll find.”
Q. What foods are you borderline obsessed with? “I always have great cheese and grapes; that’s always a go-to snack. If I get in late at night cheese and grapes is always a winner.”
Q. What about the worst? “I had one of the worst burgers I’ve ever had at a water park in Portugal. Like, so bad like that it stands out as one of the worst things ever.”
Q If you had a magic wand, what would you wish for? “That everyone understood and respected the food pyramid, the way it all works. Good food doesn’t come cheap. You know, there’s a lot of heart and soul and care that goes in producing as well as cooking. So I’d give a little bit more love to farmers.”
Chesham artist Julia Batten tells us about her craft as she prepares to open her studios for Bucks Art Weeks, from 7th to 22nd June
As far as finished materials go, few are harder and as brittle as glass. But, as artist Julia Batten understands, glass can be fused and moulded at the creative stage, which brings her endless joy.
“Fused glass involves creating a design (which always evolves as I work), choosing and cutting coloured glass and then combining it to create the piece,” says Julia. “The work is then fired in a kiln at a very high temperature, which fuses it together as one piece. If the work is going to be a 3D piece, a bowl for example, it is fired again (this is called a ‘slump’ firing) to take the shape of a mould.
“My fused glass art is very colourful! I enjoy strong shapes and bold designs and this is reflected in my work. Many of my pieces depict abstract designs, but I also have colourful cats and florals in my portfolio. I create pieces most weeks as I love being in my studio, listening to music, audio books or true crime podcasts!”
Julia has created art since she was very little… “I went to school in Chesham in the 1970s and ’80s. My most inspiring teacher as far as art is concerned was Mrs Ronnie Powell, who was my favourite primary teacher. Thanks, Ronnie!
“Apart from my time at university in Southampton, I’ve lived in Chesham all my life. I’m 55 and have been a primary school teacher and school leader for over 30 years. I currently work in school part-time, having walked away from my leadership responsibilities a few years ago. I have three sons and two stepsons, a lovely husband called Alistair and two very demanding moggies called Calypso and Penelope.
“I still love drawing and painting, as well as teaching art to children. I discovered fused glass in my 40s and have never looked back! I’ve been an exhibitor in Bucks Art Weeks for several years now. I love welcoming people to my studio and talking them through the process of making fused glass, showing them my work and hearing their comments.”
If you fancy giving glass art a crack yourself, Julia runs very popular workshops throughout the year. To find out dates, follow her on Facebook or Instagram, or email her on juliabattenglass@yahoo.com. She’s also available for charity, youth group or corporate bookings, as well as school art weeks. She wishes there were more local galleries and craft shops and would welcome the opportunity to show her work in a local gallery.
To anyone who has a creative side they’d like to pursue, Julia’s advice is: “Go for it! You may have to experiment with lots of different art types before you find your ‘thing’ but do it!”
