Luxury afternoon Tea in Berkshire

Karen Neville

Berkshire

Celebrate Afternoon Tea Week, August 12th-18th, with pure indulgence at the Royal Berkshire, Ascot

Guests can take a seat for a luxury afternoon tea at Royal Berkshire, whether in The Polo Bar, Fork restaurant, or out on the terrace during the warmer months.

Those visiting will indulge in this English tradition in a charming English setting, a treat for everyone who experiences it. Royal Berkshire also offers special family-friendly afternoon teas on Halloween and Easter, with specially curated menus and activities designed to delight even the youngest guests.

Head Chef Jamie Brown and his team are behind the menu development, which features seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Menu highlights include honey roast ham and wholegrain mustard sandwiches, Early Grey tiramisu and Baileys cheesecake. Available all year round: from 12:00pm to 5:00pm daily, Monday to Friday in The Polo Bar or garden terrace weather permitting and Saturday & Sunday in Fork restaurant, for £42 per person. With 15% off Adult Afternoon Tea Monday-Friday for the whole of August.


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Summertime Live at Windsor Racecourse

Liz Nicholls

Berkshire

Summertime Live returns to Windsor Racecourse for its sixth year, on Saturday, 17th August, starring the Classic Ibiza orchestra, Lisa Maffia, Fabio & Grooverider, Artful Dodger and more.

This summer’s Summertime Live is set to be the biggest event to date.

The event has gone from strength to strength since 2018 and now features three stages of live music and DJs. As well as the Classic Ibiza orchestra, expect performances from The Shapeshifters, Majestic (KISS FM), 24hr Garage Girls, Fabio & Grooverider, Artful Dodger and more.

As well as some of the UK’s biggest dance acts, festival goers can enjoy a variety of bars, street food, festival fashion stalls and live entertainers.

Event organiser Anthony Ellis, says: “We are so excited to head into our sixth year of Summertime Live Windsor! This event started as a small concert and has grown into an all day event with multiple stages. Myself and my business partner Jonathan were born and raised in the area, so it’s great to see an event of this nature growing in Windsor.”

Tickets, which typically sell out a long way in advance, are available for £35 for a limited time. With a premium VIP option priced at £85. Please visit https://www.summertimelive.co.uk/windsor


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10 Must Try Cafes in Oxford

Ellie Cox

Berkshire

These cafes and coffee shops offer a diverse range of experiences, from historical and opulent settings to cosy, intimate spots, making Oxford a great destination for coffee lovers.

Tired of drinking underwhelming coffee? This guide brings you the best coffee hot spots & cafes around Oxford. So, if you’re making plans to visit Oxford any time soon, make sure to add these to your to-do list.

1. The Missing Bean

A favourite for students, this café is renowned for its Antipodean-style coffee and lively ambiance. The Missing Bean is perfect for a quick takeaway or a cosy sit-in.

2. Society Café

Situated on St. Michael’s Street, this café features a wide selection of espresso and filter coffee options, sourced from premier coffee farms and roasters. It’s a favourite for its spacious interior and co-working-friendly atmosphere.

3. Jericho Coffee Traders

Known for it’s micro-roastery, Jericho Coffee Traders offers tailored coffee blends and pop-up locations around the city. It’s a must visit for coffee lovers.

4. GAIL’s Bakery

Besides great coffee, GAIL’s offers an array of freshly baked goods, making it a perfect spot for breakfast or a casual coffee break.

5. The Handle Bar Café and Kitchen

Situated above a bike shop, this café is renowned for its atmosphere and delicious toasted banana bread. It also offers extended hours for evening hours.

6. The Grand Café

Located on the site of England’s oldest coffee house, The Grand Café is more famous for its tea and opulent decor, offering a unique historical experience.

7. Colombia Coffee Roasters

Located in the Covered Market, this café specialises in single-origin coffee from Colombia, complemented by tasty baked goods.

8. The Ashmolean Café

Located in the Ashmolean Museum, this rooftop café offers stunning views alongside a solid coffee and tea selection, with profits supporting the museum.

9. The Edge Eatery

Located in Witney, Oxfordshire, this café receives a huge amount of praise for its delicious brunch & speciality coffee offerings.

10. Gatineau

Gatineau offers a range of artisanal fresh breads, viennoiserie, cakes, savouries, biscuits and chocolates.


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London City Ballet at Theatre Royal

Liz Nicholls

Berkshire

Resurgence tour comes to Windsor for three performances, August 9th and 10th, after 30-year break

London City Ballet, the new company of celebrated dancers from around the world, will return to touring after a break of almost 30 years, arriving at the Theatre Royal Windsor.

Formerly the resident company of Sadler’s Wells, and internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading dance collectives, the prolific touring company was famously patronised by Diana, Princess of Wales. The original London City Ballet closed its doors in 1996 after 18 years of operations.

The Resurgence tour includes performances at many of the former company’s beloved venues in the UK, including the Theatre Royal Windsor. The company will also perform in Italy, Portugal, China and New York. The UK tour concludes at Sadler’s Wells in London in September.

London City Ballet is a touring company for a new generation bringing their experience and artistry to the stage, presenting engaging stories through dance. Under the direction of Artistic Director Christopher Marney (former principal dancer at New Adventures and director of the Joffrey Ballet Studio Company of Chicago), the company will present a programme of acclaimed works by British choreographers including the revival of Kenneth MacMillan’s 1972 one-act ballet Ballade, unseen in Europe for over 50 years.

The repertoire also includes Ashley Page’s Larina Waltz marking the ballet’s 30th anniversary, and Olivier award-winner Arielle Smith premieres a new creation Five Dances. A full company work by Christopher Marney called Eve, which premiered at Sadler’s Wells in 2022, will close the evening.

Christopher Marney has spent two years rebuilding London City Ballet with insights from its early pioneers. The works selected for the 2024 international tour pay homage to the company’s roots in the form of rarely seen archival footage. The Resurgence tour is shaped by the repertoire selected and to highlight the re-launch of this famous dance company.

He said: “London City Ballet informed my own career. Seeing the company perform as a child stimulated my enthusiasm for the artform.

“I am drawn to reviving past repertoire of influential choreographers alongside presenting dynamic new works from current dance talent.”

Christopher continues: “The Resurgence tour offers audiences the chance to enjoy some of the most compelling dancers from around the world perform choreography rarely seen, many of whom are former principals from leading dance companies. We’re a progressive and diverse company celebrating exceptional dancers presenting engaging work for a new generation.”

The company comprises 14 dancers, many of whom are former principals from leading dance companies. This international troupe originate from countries including Brazil, South Korea, UK, Romania, Canada, Spain and from ballet companies including the Royal Ballet, Scottish Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Ballet Black, San Francisco Ballet, Staatsballet Berlin and ENB.

Performances: Friday 9th @ 7.30pm and Saturday 10th @ 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Tickets: £23.50-£39.50. Book at Resurgence – Theatre Royal Windsor


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Water, water everywhere…

Karen Neville

Berkshire

Artist Helen Grimbleby unveils the next ‘episode’ of her Nature Sketchbook

August. Long school summer holidays in full flow. Seaside trips. Rock pooling, crabbing, fishing, sea swims, fish and chips, ice-cream.

Dip a bucket to find treasure; maybe shrimps, anemones, limpets, snails and crabs. Perhaps hiding in the seaweed, a starfish, a magical creature, textured moon rock, always holding form and what a beautiful form it is. Gently return the sea creatures to their rock pool home to refresh when sea water comes in or travel on the next tide.

If you don’t find a crab in a pool, dangle a line from the harbour and see what bites. Take care! Their claws can nip.

Carefully swim, not too far now. Or snorkel. There’s a whole mysterious world just below the surface.

Ice-cream can be so nice and cool on a hot summer’s day, especially for cheeky herring gulls.

The ocean is hugely important to “Regulate rainfall and droughts, hold 97% of our planet’s water, and absorb CO2, help keep the carbon cycle in balance. From food to jobs, it’s a lifeline for billions of people, too” (World Economic Forum)

All is not well with our water systems. 75% of UK rivers pose a risk to human health. Only 14% of the UK’s rivers are in good ecological health, even then, they fail to meet chemical standards. Read more from The Rivers Trust or Surfers Against Sewerage. Significant polluters are often large organisations. We can care and be responsible for how we use our sewerage systems. Better to start somewhere, no?

De-stress. Walk along a river or a canal. Rest by a beautiful lake or pond.

Dragon flies, damsel flies, kingfishers are just a few streaks of bright colour you might see. According to scientific research being around water is fantastic for our emotional and psychological well being and an antidote to our often otherwise frenetic lives.

“Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man.” Stewart Udall

Helen Grimbleby is a West Berks/ North Hants based artist who is inspired by the natural world’s changing seasons. After exploring outside, she enjoys writing, illustrating and painting larger landscapes at her home studio (@helengrimblebyart).


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Take a seat on the HelloBench

Karen Neville

Berkshire

Give a warm welcome to the HelloBench – reset a while, chat and beat loneliness with the new initiative in Woodley & Wokingham

Sit down and have a chat – that’s the simple invitation going out around Woodley and Wokingham in a bid to combat loneliness and help people to make connections.

The initiative called HelloBench will see plaques placed on benches in parks, town precincts and shopping areas inviting you to ‘sit down and have a chat’ and encourage people to ‘get us all talking to each other”.

One of those behind the project is Aliya Musa. She explains a little more about the idea: “Loneliness and depression are close bed fellow and here in Woodley and Wokingham, a grass roots initiative is growing to get us all talking to each other, maybe a little bit more.

“To scoop up those of us, who find it not so easy to start a conversation. It’s for people who for whatever reason find themselves on the margins. Maybe you spend quite a lot of time on your own at home, maybe you are a new mum, maybe someone who works from home, maybe you’re retired. No matter your age, if you’re lonely perhaps you haven’t even noticed it creep up on you.”

In 2018, the Government published a strategy to combat just this problem and many organisations, both central and local government, have been investing in and implementing programmes to reduce the stigma around loneliness. The 2023 Campaign to End Loneliness report acknowledged the effect Covid had on the issue and believes people need to be more connected.

There are already programmes to combat loneliness in the local community with over 50s clubs, ‘chatty tables’ in cafes, lunch clubs and outreach programmes, many of which were set up during the Covid lockdown and continue and others which Aliya concedes have fallen by the wayside adding there’s always room for more.

Friendship benches or buddy benches are not a new idea and many already exist in schools.

The initiative was launched on July 13th, two days after World Loneliness Day. HelloBench benches will all be labelled clearly and marked on Google maps which you’ll be able to find on the Facebook page. Aliya says: “The hope is that even if one or two people are helped each week on these benches – that’s a worthwhile hello.”

She issued a special thanks to Vicky Cooke, owner of Vammahs Print and Design who has provided the signs for the benches and a banner on T-shirts on launch day last month.

More benches are welcome and if anyone in the locality, wants one in their area, just get in touch, support is available to make that happen. Visit HelloBench – Facebook for more details.


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Eighties fun at The Lexicon

Karen Neville

Berkshire

Enjoy an 80s style roller disco rink, follow the sticker trail and take your seat for top class sporting action this summer at The Lexicon

Embrace the retro colour and music vibes of the 80s with a fabulous roller disco at The Lexicon this summer holidays.

The roller disco will open every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until September 8th, with bookable 30 minute sessions throughout the day.

Sensory-friendly sessions, featuring quieter music and dimmed lighting will also be available at 11am every day the rink is open.

The Summer Sticker Trail is open to everyone guiding you around the town centre, searching for 10 huge old-style stickers placed in shop window. Not only is it a fun, free activity but there is also the chance to win one of five £200 gift cards from The Lexicon.

The sports screen on The Avenue will remain until September 8th, showing live screenings of Wimbledon, The Olympics, and the Paralympics at a temporary sports terrace located opposite Pandora.

There’s plenty of tables and chairs, so grab your favourite snacks and drinks, perhaps a couple of friends, sit back and enjoy the sporting entertainment.

For younger visitors, The Gruffalo, Paddington™ and Bluey & Bingo will all be visiting The Lexicon this summer. Meet The Gruffalo on 5th, Bluey & Bingo activation on 12th and Paddington™ story narration, 19th.

The character visits are free, but space is limited, so booking is required.

Another free favourite is also back this summer with The Lexicon Summer Proms on Saturday, 7th September, from noon to 7pm.

Sue Boor, head of marketing at The Lexicon, says: “We hope that the range of activities that we are running throughout the school holidays will appeal not only to children but also to adult visitors to the town centre, whether rolling skating, watching sport, listening to local entertainers or following the trail.”

Susan Halliwell, chief executive of Bracknell Forest Council, added: “There’s lots going on at The Lexicon this summer to encourage people to come along, get active, be entertained and explore our wonderful town centre. I hope as many people as possible come along and enjoy the fun.”

For more information and booking details, please visit The Lexicon Shopping, Bracknell, Berkshire.


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Dench and Blumenthal support OxTrail

Karen Neville

Berkshire

OxTrail host Sobell House Hospice has collaborated with famous names to create a very special sculpture as part of the trail

The herd of more than 130 oxen have taken over Oxfordshire on the OxTrail and one of those attracting attention is Postb-ox.

The very special calf-sized sculpture features signatures and messages from celebrities, musicians, actors and authors.

The incredible art collection, made up of 31 large oxen sculptures and 107 mini oxen, has been unveiled. Each of the large oxen is uniquely decorated and place in key locations in the city, with the smaller oxen in mini herds throughout the county.

The large oxen have been designed by international and UK artists – including children’s illustrator Korky Paul and author David Melling. One of the community-lead mini-herd is causing quite a stir.

Decorated with the doodles, scribbling and signatures, the oxen are patterned in postcards from some of Oxfordshire’s famous residents and friends including notes from Dame Judi Dench, Heston Blumenthal, Mel Geidroyc, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead and Prue Leith.

Families can explore the city and spot the oxen in and around the county, following the trail using the app or map. For those hunting for Postb-ox, it can be found in the out-patients window at Sobell House Hospice on the site of the Churchill Hospital in Oxford.

Around 85 schools and community groups are taking part in OxTrail as part of the mini oxen sculptures too, which will be displayed libraries, hotels and community spaces.

And keep your eyes peeled for the ‘mini-mini oxen’ which can be found in the windows of the Oxford Story Museum, and other specially designed mini oxen including two from noted interior designer Annie Sloan CBE.

The OxTrail art will be on display until the end of August. On Friday 13th September the sculptures will be auctioned off to raise money for the hospice. Postb-ox will be up for auction too, along with a scrapbook containing all the original notes and drawings from the celebrities.

For more information on OxTrail head to https://oxtrail2024.co.uk/


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Urgent plea for families in need

Round & About

Berkshire

Could you help The Link Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting children affected by domestic violence, bereavement, disability and poverty?

This amazing volunteer-powered local charity is currently experiencing an unprecedented demands for beds, cots and mattresses. The team are looking to partner with businesses and individuals who want to make a difference in our community.

Is there a challenge you have always fancied taking? Are you a business which could hold a team building fundraiser? Perhaps you fancy joining The Link Foundation as they raise awareness and funds at the Maidenhead Boundary Walk?

The team, who help families in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, are always excited to brainstorm ideas on how they could work together to provide all the beds needed to give local kids a good night’s sleep.

Please call 01628 400600 or donate at The Link Foundation – JustGiving


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Welcome Spaces project for Bracknell Forest

Liz Nicholls

Berkshire

Your local Friendship Ambassador, Laura, has been working hard to set up the Welcome Spaces Project for Bracknell Forest.

The purpose of this project is to encourage community, connection and friendship across the borough, by offering spaces where anyone can attend for free to relax, detox and destress, try new activities, and meet new people.

Throughout summer, the team are running various events including picnics and outdoor communal living rooms.

You can find out more about these events and upcoming dates and locations at Bracknell Welcome Spaces 🌈 – Involve Community Services


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