Italian delights from Gennaro Contaldo’s

Round & About

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Berkshire

We’re sharing a taste of Gennaro’s Cucina: Hearty Money-Saving Meals from an Italian Kitchen by Gennaro Contaldo, out now published by Pavilion Books

Ä Linguine alla puttanesca

This typical Neapolitan dish is sometimes referred to as pasta alla marinara or simply as con olive e capperi, which are com-mon ingredients is this part of Italy. The name Puttanesca came about in the mid-20th century it was claimed that this dish was served in the brothels of Naples – puttana means ‘whore’ in Italian. Another theory was that a restaurant owner on the island of Ischia put together this dish when a group of late-night customers asked him to make una puttanata qualsiasi – in other words, make whatever you’ve got to hand. And that is exactly what he did with the ingredients he found in his kitchen. Whatever the reason behind its title, this spicy pasta dish is quick and simple to prepare with store cupboard ingredients.

Ribollita

This traditional hearty Tuscan soup is perfect for using up vegetables and stale bread. It was born out of a necessity to make meals go further and last longer. It was probably also made to be eaten for several days, hence its name Ribollita, which means “to reboil”. You can use any type of cabbage, spring greens and spinach and basically any vegetables you have.

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To prune or not to prune?

Round & About

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Berkshire

Cathie Welch of Cathie’s Gardening School turns her attention to one of the most pressing issues for gardeners this month – the pruning dilemma

With the extremes of temperature and subsequent plant damage I have attended many garden consultancies and answered numerous questions from my students and clients. All the questions and concerns have been exactly the same; do I prune now or leave well alone? This question is one that has stumped all of us experts as these climate extremes have never happened before.

Dead or alive?

Even though plants have suffered terribly some will have died and others will have just become defoliated or gone brown. The important bit is under the bark on the stems (the cambium layer where the cells divide). Using your nail or the blade of secateurs scrape away a little of the bark. It should be bright green. If it’s brown it’s dead. This all depends on the type of plant of course and it’s never that easy!

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Reading Charity Super.Mkt from 24th March

Liz Nicholls

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Berkshire

Design legend Wayne Hemmingway MBE chats to us ahead of a charity retail highlight at The Oracle this month

We love vintage shopping here at R&A. How do you fancy some resale therapy this month, while helping great causes, and the planet? 

The Charity Super.Mkt is a concept for social and environmental good, where people can shop the best of charity retail all in one place.  

You’ll find a mix of household names and local favourites, brought together as a purposeful collective. 

In January, Charity Super.Mkt opened in London’s Brent Cross Shopping Centre, for a 31-day stint, extended due to popular demand. The projected turnover for the month-long pop-up was surpassed on day four and is set to reach 10 times its original target and organisers hope for a similar smash-hit with the Reading highlight. 

We caught up with the design legend Wayne Hemmingway MBE…

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Good Hotel Guide to R&A counties

Round & About

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Berkshire

Take a road trip around Round & About land and stay at some of the best hotels in the area this summer

With summer around the corner there are holidays to plan, and while the temptation to go overseas is always strong, we’re heading towards the time of year when the UK is at its most beautiful and appealing. With each county offering its own unique charms, vistas and particular slant on hospitality, what could be better than a road trip across the seven R&A counties? From Berkshire to Buckinghamshire, Hampshire to Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex, here the Good Hotel Guide takes us on a roadtrip of some of their top hotels for UK staycations this summer.

Hotels in Berkshire
Hotels in Buckinghamshire
Hotels in Hampshire
Hotels in Oxfordshire
Hotels in Surrey
Hotels in Wiltshire
Hotels in West Sussex

Hotels in Berkshire

The regal heritage of Berkshire offers style, sophistication and convenience for those travelling around the UK, with lots of local attractions (not least, Windsor Castle), as well as pretty towns and villages to explore. Meanwhile, hotels in Berkshire add to the experience with their own unique characteristics.

Cliveden, Taplow

This magnificent property has a reputation that precedes it. Architecturally awe-inspiring, and the former home of a Prince of Wales, two Dukes, an Earl, and the Viscounts Astor (not to mention Nancy Astor, wife of the second Viscount), it has also played host to a litany of famous guests, trysts and liaisons. It is little wonder that this is somewhere that attracts the good and the great – it is the pinnacle of luxury and excellence with five-star service, luxury spa facilities and award-winning restaurants, not to mention National Trust grounds to explore.

Cliveden House

Hurley House, Hurley

A great base for those who fancy exploring the Chilterns, Hurley House is a stylish hotel and restaurant in a picturesque riverside village. Offering laid back luxury, it has nine rooms and suites with five-star service. Following an extensive refurbishment, the interiors are contemporary and offer attention to detail from tranquil colours to underfloor heating. There are also electric charge points in the car park. Food is a big part of the experience here, with outdoor terraces and BBQ grill in the summer, as well as an elegant restaurant and bar serving Japanese menu, featuring the freshest sushi in Berkshire alongside more traditional dishes.

Hotel & Restaurant in Hurley, Berkshire

Hotels in Buckinghamshire

Brimming with chocolate box villages and historic towns, Buckinghamshire is also a favourite destination with easy transport links, making travel easy and exploration enticing. Home to attractions like Bletchley Park and Stowe National Trust property, hotels in Buckinghamshire offer refined elegance and a warm welcome.

Hartwell House, Aylesbury

Once home to the exiled King Louis XVIII of France in the 19th century, Hartwell House is now part of the National Trust but there’s still something distinctly regal about it. Decadent and luxurious from the food to the rooms, the Jacobean property is also home to an adult-only spa and it has an iconic ballroom pool. Luxurious spa treatments from Aromatherapy Associates await for those in need of a little extra R&R. Choose to stay in suits with four-poster beds for an extra special experience, and for those travelling with four-legged friends, there are also dog-friendly suites in a converted 18th-century riding school. Dress formally for dinner and turn it into a stay to remember.

Hartwell House

The Mash Inn, Radnage

The Mash Inn is a celebrated restaurant-with-rooms on a leafy back road in a scattered Chilterns village. Proprietor, Nick Mash, developed the retreat with the idea of helping guests to step back in time and reconnect with nature. As a result, the convivial 18th-century property is not only an enchanting combination of heritage style and contemporary comforts, but also has a unique and beautiful approach to food. Everything is authentic – for example, a wood-fired range forged by local ironmongers in the open kitchen. There are just four rooms above the restaurant and a further two in an annexe, all of which enjoy luxury features such as monsoon showers or hip baths and organic L:A Bruket toiletries. Dinner is a no-choice menu devised around the finest ingredients available on the night, courtesy of chef Tomas Topolar, who spends the day foraging, pickling, fermenting, curing and harvesting produce from the kitchen garden.

The Mash Inn

Hotels in Hampshire

Known for its New Forest ponies, national parks, stately homes and maritime history, Hampshire is an exceptional part of the UK to visit at any time of the year. Days can be spent hiking, exploring pretty villages or visiting two of Europe’s largest ports, Southampton and Portsmouth, with top attractions ranging from Queen Elizabeth Country Park to the resurrected Mary Rose. Hotels in Hampshire are also destinations in their own right – especially these two.

Chewton Glen, New Milton

A five-star country house hotel in Hampshire, combined with a celebrated spa, Chewton Glen is a quintessentially English escape with extra modern luxury. In addition to the rooms and suites in the main house (decorated in traditional style with sumptuous furnishings), the hotel has made use of its enchanting New Forest location by introducing treehouse suites. They allow you to wake amongst the treetops in decadent style, watch deer roam in the morning light and enjoy time and space to yourselves, all adding an extra layer of magic to your stay.

Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa

Montagu Arms, Beaulieu

A restaurant-with-rooms in the village on Beaulieu Water, the Montague Arms offers traditional architecture and contemporary hospitality. On the banks of the Beaulieu river on the edge of the New Forest, the wisteria-covered Victorian hotel is known for its food, offering both a fine-dining restaurant and a pub called Monty’s Inn. Many of the rooms overlook a Gertrude Jekyll-inspired garden, allowing you to wake and watch free-ranging ponies wander by. There are also dog-friendly, open-plan courtyard studios in the grounds, each with a private terrace, and there’s a general atmosphere of relaxation to ease you into your stay.

The Montagu Arms Hotel

Hotels in Oxfordshire

Combining countryside with the beauty of Oxford itself, a trip to Oxfordshire is multifaceted. It would be remiss not to spend a little time in the collegiate city, exploring the world-famous university, the Ashmolean Museum and Bodleian Libraries. However there’s much to see beyond these hallowed streets, whether it’s shopping at the popular Bicester Village or exploring the grounds, the Baroque Blenheim Palace, or the hotels in Oxfordshire themselves.

The Feathered Nest, Chipping Norton

An 18th-century malthouse turned restaurant-with-rooms, The Feathered Nest sits proudly overlooking the Evenlode Valley. Combining modern hospitality, Adam Taylor’s gastropub-with-rooms is particularly well known for its food courtesy of Michelin-starred chef Matt Weedon. Alongside the luxury foodie experience however, the atmosphere is underpinned by an innately cosy vibe, complete with plenty of space for pint in the pub by a crackling fire and with live music in true pub style.

The Feathered Nest Country Inn

The Lamb Inn, Burford

In a quiet town on the River Windrush, The Lamb Inn has been welcoming guests since the 1750s. A weaver, cooper and chandler once occupied the 16-century cottages, and inside there are still lots of nods to that history around the property. The mullioned windows and log fireplace sit alongside beautiful interiors that envelope you as you walk in, and luxury touches such as homemade flapjacks and Molton Brown toiletries are ready and waiting in your room.

The Lamb Inn, Burford

Hotels in Surrey

Known for its world-class golf courses, home to one of England’s largest vineyards, Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking (as well as lots of smaller vineyards), Bronze Age forts and pretty villages, Surrey is an enchanting place to add to your summer road trip. The hotels in Surrey also serve to enhance the experience exponentially.

Broadway Barn, Woking

A restored 200-year-old barn in a historic village, Broadway Barn is a B&B that takes the experience to the next level. Described as ‘Nigh on perfect’ by one reviewer, it’s a pretty property filled with characterful antiques and artwork as well as little luxuries. Each room has its own style, and all guests are welcomed with dressing gowns, slippers, flowers and home-made shortbread. Breakfast is served in a bright conservatory overlooking a walled garden, as you tuck into a feast of home-made breads, jams and granola, and house-recipe chipolatas.

Broadway Barn Properties

Bingham Riverhouse, Richmond-upon-Thames

Overlooking the river in Richmond-Upon-Thames, Bingham Riverhouse combines the best of London with a sense of tranquillity and wellbeing. Spend time paddleboarding on the river or strolling to see the deer in Richmond Park, wake in stylish rooms and suites, and enjoy fine dining in a library lined with Penguin classics. Smart and sophisticated but welcoming at the same time, the Georgian house has a sense of theatre to it, with each room named after poems and verse dramas by Michael Field, nom de plume of two Victorian poets, Katherine Bradley and Edith Cooper, who lived here until 1914. It’s a unique experience and definitely worth the visit.

Bingham Riverhouse, Richmond

Hotels in Wiltshire

Head towards the South West and Wiltshire welcomes you with open arms. Brimming with prehistoric monuments and beautiful countryside, the area is well known for its foodie expertise as well – all served with skill at Wiltshire’s hotels and inns.

Widbrook Grange, Bradford-on-Avon

This Georgian farmhouse is a treasure trove of interesting details. Filled with upcycled agricultural salvage, it’s all about heritage and character. Honouring the history of the property, the owners have turned vintage miscellanea like churns, handcarts, seed spreaders and weighing scales into part of the shabby chic decor. The dog-friendly hotel is both fashionable and welcoming, with friendly staff and tasty food. Explore the surrounding countryside by day and tuck into large portions of regional fare in the evening.

Widbrook Grange – Country House Hotel in Bradford on Avon

Lucknam Park, Chippenham

A Palladian mansion in 500 acres of parkland and gardens, Lucknam Park is grand and decadent – a real treat on your road trip. Arrive in style along a mile-long avenue of lime and beech trees and enter a world with its own arboretum and rose garden, horse riding, a luxury spa and more. Children are treated like mini VIPs with sports and pony rides, while adults enjoy the understated elegance. For meals, choose between chef Hywel Jones’s Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant and the informal contemporary brassiere.

Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa | Luxury Hotel near Bath, Wiltshire

Hotels in West Sussex

Spanning Adur, Arun, Chichester, Horsham, and Mid Sussex, as well as the boroughs of Crawley and Worthing, West Sussex is known for its natural beauty as well as its arts and musical heritage. A diverse place of country, coast and city sites, the hotels in Sussex reflect the area’s heritage and virtues.

Belle Tout Lighthouse, Eastbourne

A unique destination, Belle Tout Lighthouse is a former lighthouse situated at Beachy Head. Built in 1832 it was restored after WW2 and today, it stands proud on the clifftop. Guests wake to 360 degree views of the English Channel, the South Downs and the enigmatic Seven Sisters. Stay in a choice of rooms ranging from the Captain’s Cabin to Old England or Keeper’s Loft, enjoy dramatic sunsets, picnic suppers in the lounge and then ascent to the lantern to view the star-spangled sky.

Belle Tout Lighthouse

Gravetye Manor, East Grinstead

A romantic Elizabethan manor house, Gravetye Manor sits deep in the countryside surrounded by 1,000 acres of historically important gardens. An exceptional destination with a fantastic reputation, the interiors both honour the heritage of the property whilst embracing the best of contemporary style. Food sees guests enjoy Michelin-starred menus with ingredients from the orchard and kitchen gardens as well as forged ingredients. The gardens are a treat to explore, overflowing with flowers and embracing both beauty as well as wild and natural gardening.

Gravetye Manor

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Adopt a grandparent and help out

Karen Neville

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Berkshire

Charity of the Year: ‘Adopt a Grandparent’ secures Co-operative support for fundraising push

‘Adopt a Grandparent’ has been nominated to benefit from Co-op’s Local Community Fund – being named as one of its charities of the year and making a major step towards its 2023 fundraising goals.

The independent charity works to pair elderly care home residents with volunteers worldwide to combat loneliness and isolation. What began as a project based out of one Surrey care home group became a fully-fledged charity in 2022 and now works with care homes across the UK, with almost 100,000 volunteers signed up to ‘adopt’.

The Co-op donates 1p from every £1 spent on selected Co-op members who chose to support Adopt a Grandparent will be directly benefiting the charity through this Fund when shopping. With the charity requiring a minimum of £100,000 a year to stay in operation, and hopes of growing this to £1million, support such as this is essential to maximise its potential impact. Co-op members can choose Adopt a Grandparent as their elected charity by visiting its page on the Co-op Membership site: Co-op (coop.co.uk)

Deborah Speirs, Co-op Member Pioneer for Surrey and Sussex Borders, said: “We’re thrilled that Adopt a Grandparent is one of the charities and causes set to benefit from our Local Community Fund. We proudly support projects across the UK that our members care about, giving local causes a helping hand whenever our members buy selected Co-op products and services. Since 2016, £117million has been raised by our members, helping to make a significant difference to countless people.”

As part of the package of support from Co-op, Adopt a Grandparents will be taking part in a community morning at its local Co-op in Farncombe, Surrey on Tuesday 21st March. The event will give the charity the chance to raise awareness of its work among local residents and encourage them to choose it as their nominated cause for the year.

Shaleeza Hasham, founder of Adopt a Grandparent explained: “Loneliness became a huge crisis during the pandemic. The health risks related to loneliness include a higher risk of mental and physical conditions including heart disease, depression, anxiety, dementia and premature death. By helping volunteers to virtually ‘adopt’ a grandparent, we hope to alleviate loneliness and generate companionship in as many communities as possible, with both parties benefiting from the enriching relationships.

“It’s exciting to be a part of Co-op’s Local Community Fund and we love that members are able to support a cause that matters to them while doing their regular shop. We’re hoping lots of people in our local community will nominate to support us for the year, but also that those further afield will do the same since the charity’s work benefits older people throughout the country.”

It costs £1 to become a Co-op member and those who wish to donate towards the charity’s £15,000 target through the initiative, will have until October 2023.

While financial support is critical to the charity’s continued work, so are people. The charity is currently on the lookout for ‘Adopt a Grandparent Community Champion’ volunteers, who can help spread the positive work of the charity in their local communities. Those interested in getting involved and being trained up as a volunteer, can email Michelle Husserl at [email protected].

Those who wish to sign up as a volunteer can do so by visiting the website or downloading the free app, which is available through Apple’s App Store and Google Play. They can also donate to the charity’s GoFundMe page.

For more information on Adopt a Grandparent, please visit Adopt a Grandparent

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RHS wildlife show stoppers

Round & About

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Berkshire

A garden with nature’s recovery at its heart will be premiered by The Wildlife Trusts at this year’s RHS Malvern Spring Festival.

The Wildlife Trusts: Wilder Spaces garden promises to take wildlife-friendly gardening to a new level, combining beauty with biodiversity.

Wilder Spaces is sponsored by The Wildlife Trusts, led by Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) and its ecological consultancy Future Nature WTC. Working with experts from Oxford Garden Design, the team will demonstrate how wildlife habitats can be designed into the structure of a garden, using building waste, reclaimed material and untreated timbers. With biodiversity designed into the garden, hopes of winning a prestigious RHS medal are high.

The Wildlife Trusts believe gardening has a vital role to play in nature’s recovery, with long-term benefits for climate and people’s wellbeing too. The aim of the garden is to inspire visitors to think differently about the appearance of a garden designed for people and wildlife, and to show how we can all nurture nature, no matter what size or style of garden.

Estelle Bailey, BBOWT’s chief executive, said: “Nature is in crisis and not enough is being done to reverse this terrible decline in the UK’s biodiversity. We want to see 30% of land well managed for nature by 2030 and our gardens are a vital part of that wild jigsaw. Private gardens make up a bigger area than all of Britain’s nature reserves combined – they can provide a mosaic of mini-habitats that support a diverse range of species, so they are key to helping create more nature everywhere. RHS Malvern Spring Festival will be a great opportunity to showcase to people everywhere what they can achieve in their own gardens for nature, for climate and for themselves.”

The garden will include a range of nature and climate positive features, including grassland, wetland & deadwood, pollinator and larval friendly planting, a steam, waterfall and pond, a compost channel and hoverfly stumpery, recycled materials – timber, steel, building aggregate, a biodiverse roof and solitary bee columns & climate resilient planting and landscaping.

The garden features a watercourse that meanders through the plot towards a central pond and a section of bog planting. A pavilion, created in conjunction with Charlie Luxton Design and constructed from reclaimed steel joists and grating, will be topped with a living roof.

Oxford Garden Design, with Jamie Langlands as lead designer, is returning to the RHS Malvern Spring Festival following its successful 2022 show garden. Jamie has designed a garden that’s beautiful to behold and beneficial for the natural world. Jamie says: “I love creating spaces that are wild and untamed whilst having a little wonder within them.”

“I love creating spaces that are wild and untamed”

Sheena Marsh, owner and founder of Oxford Garden Design, which is also building the garden, said: “We are delighted to be working with BBOWT on The Wilder Spaces Garden, bringing together our learnings from BBOWT with Jamie’s creativity. We hope that this garden will inspire home owners to create wilder spaces in their own gardens.”

Once the RHS Malvern Spring Festival is over, the garden will be distributed across various Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust sites and projects. The seating will go to BBOWT’s College Lake visitor Centre, near Tring or Sutton Courtenay Education Centre’s wildlife garden near Didcot. The RHS Malvern Spring Festival runs from 11-14 May 2023 at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern, Worcestershire.

For more information and tickets to the show visit The RHS Malvern Spring Festival 2023 / RHS Gardening

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Blue Collar Corner’s 1st birthday weekend

Karen Neville

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Berkshire

Viral festival favourites The Showhawk Duo announced for celebration at Reading’s popular street food and drinks arena

On Friday 10th March, Reading’s popular street food and drinks arena Blue Collar Corner is celebrating 12 months as a permanent site in Hosier Street with a big free entry birthday bash.

Headlining the event will be viral sensation acoustic rave pioneers The Showhawk Duo, festival favourites famous for playing all the best dance/rave songs we know and love on two acoustic guitars, with millions of YouTube views.

Joining The Showhawk Duo on the night will be Rum & Donuts DJs, a trio of Blue Collar Corner resident DJs that know a thing or two about filling dancefloors, having recently warmed up for Grandmaster Flash and provided the soundtrack for Double Barrelled Brewery’s fourth birthday party last October. The party begins at 5pm and continues until midnight with Blue Collar bars serving celebratory booze all evening and Sarv’s Slice, El Asado and YouBao serving delicious street food until 10pm.

Blue Collar’s Glen Dinning said: “After the year of our lives, of summer boozing, next level street food, rotating beers and cocktails, a winter refurb, a cost of living crisis, World Cup screenings, massive DJ sets and live music, our baby will celebrate it’s first birthday on Friday 10th March.

“We’ll be going big that weekend,” Glen continues, “starting on Thursday 9th with the return of Thursday DJs and the launch of a special first birthday beer from Double Barrelled Brewery. On Friday it’s the big birthday bash with The Showhawk Duo & Rum & Donuts DJs. Saturday starts with an Indie Brunch followed by Six Nations rugby on our big screens then a party set from DJ Acronym.

“On Sunday 12th, we are raising funds for homelessness prevention charity, Launchpad, one of our partner charities, alongside local indie band Third Lung. Between 12-5pm we’ll have a stripped down live set from Third Lung, Loveless, Reliant & Who Ate All The Crayons.”

More events take place at Blue Collar Corner throughout March including the return of Big Jay’s Big Drag Brunch on Saturday 25th March. Reading Vintage Flea Market launches on Sunday 26th March, bringing a host of stalls from local dealers specialising in affordable original vintage, mid-century furniture, decor, home ware, clothing, signs, art and posters to the venue.

Full listings for DJs and events at Blue Collar Corner in March can be found below. More info on separate events is available at blue.collar | Facebook | Linktree

Thu 9th March – Feel Good Thursdays w/DJ Rich Sloman

Fri 10th March – 1st Birthday Party w/Showhawk Duo + Rum & Donuts DJs

Sat 11th March – Indie Brunch + Six Nations: England v France + DJ Acronym

Sun 12th March – Launchpad Fundraiser w/Third Lung (Stripped down) + guests

Thu 16th March – Feel Good Thursdays w/DJ Mark Fitzpatrick

Sat 18th March – Six Nations: Super Saturday + DJ Fajita Funk

Sun 19th March – Mother’s Day Specials

Thu 23rd March – Feel Good Thursdays w/DJ Rich Sloman

Fri 24th March – DJ Ryan MacGregor

Sat 25th March – Big Jay’s Big Drag Brunch + Rum & Donuts DJs + DJs Elle Cee & Kingpinn

Sun 26th March – Reading Vintage Flea Market + Boat Race Screening

Thu 30th March – Feel Good Thursdays w/DJ Rich Sloman

Fri 31st March – DJ Acronym

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Good year for the rosés

Round & About

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Berkshire

Our wine columnist Giles Luckett invites us to enjoy all things pink

Hello. You’ll have to excuse the punning on that famous Elvis Costello song in the headline… But given Elvis’s predilection for all things boozy back then, I’m sure wine played a part in creating his 1981 album. Surely he’d had to have had a few to think doing a country and western album was a good idea for a follow up to his Motown-inspired Get Happy!

Anyway, rosé wines have certainly been on my mind of late. The warmth of the early spring sunshine always gives me a craving for rosé, and a recent trawl past many a tasting table has introduced me to some glorious new wines, ones that will ensure that 2023 will be a good year for the rosés.

First up, the Moulin de Pontfract Rosé 2021 (Laithwaites £8.99). This is a Provençal-style rosé from the neighbouring department of Var. If it was from Provence, it would probably come in a bottle that Jean Paul Gautier rejected for being outrageous and have a similarly outlandish price tag. This is a lovely, gentle rosé that offers a softly scented nose of red berries and blossom, while the palate is suffused with notes of strawberries, cranberries, and a hint of citrus on finish – just the thing for a spring lunch aperitif.

Next, a wine from Chile. Chilean wines offer an amazing combination of value and quality, and while the reds often steal the show, the rosés can be sublime. Take the Phantom River Sauvignon Blanc Rosé (Sainsbury’s £5.25). As you might expect from a Sauvignon, this is bright, zesty, fresh, and full of grapefruit and citrus. The addition of Shiraz (hence the colour) lends it weight and depth and imparts a satisfying note of blackcurrants to proceedings. Try this with green salads and roasted poultry or baked fish.

Spain is another good source of outstanding rosés – or rosados. Over the years, I’ve tasted hundreds, and rarely have I been disappointed. Recently I tried a new wine from a classic producer. Freixenet is best known for their excellent range of Cavas (more of those soon…), but they are also dab hands at still wines. Take their excellent Freixenet Rosado (Slurp £10). Garnacha-based, this is disarmingly pretty in pink but packs a punch. Bright strawberry and raspberry tones are joined by flavours of red cherry, orange and a touch of spice. Lovely on its own, I think this would partner well with rice dishes and cured meats.

As regular readers of this column may have gathered, I’m something of a fizz fan, in the same way that pandas are partial to bamboo. I recently had another encounter with an English sparkling wine with which we toasted the Queen’s Jubilee, the Balfour Brut Rosé (Waitrose £39.99). I recall being struck by how harmonious and refined this was when I first tried it and revisiting it; it’s even better. Bold strawberry, raspberry, and red currant notes tinted with creamy yeast, a lively, fresh mid-palate, and a long, salted digestive biscuit finish make this a class act.

“I’m something of a fizz fan, in the same way that pandas are partial to bamboo”

When most people think of Sancerre, their thoughts turn to gloriously leafy Sauvignons with their dry, mineral-rich finishes. Sancerre also comes in red and rosé styles which are produced using that most noble of vines, Pinot Noir. These tend to be more expensive and can be quite hard to find, so I was surprised to find an affordable example at Tesco, their Finest Sancerre Rosé (as opposed to their non-existent ‘ordinary’ or ‘value’ Sancerre Rosé – £13). This retains the classic Sancerre freshness and minerality, but with raspberry, strawberry, beetroot, black cherry, and pepper touches. This is fresh enough to be enjoyed on it’s own, but it would go brilliantly with pork or salmon.

And to finish, how about something indulgent, refined, and utterly exquisite? The Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Rosé (Mr. Wheeler £62.50) is all these things and more. This is one of the best rosé Champagnes I’ve ever had – and believe me, I’ve gone miles out of my way over the years to try as many as I can. The magic of this wine is how they manage to combine intensity with grace and generosity. This is a stunning wine offering layer upon layer of ripe strawberry, tangy blackberry, creamy yeast, soft apricot , and a dash of leafy blackcurrant. I’ve been fortunate enough to try this beautiful wine in various formats; the halves sit perfectly in the secret pocket of a Barber when you fancy a cheeky rinse at the cricket, and in magnum, it shows how well Champagne can age and develop. In any size bottle, this is a wine every wine lover should try.

Well, there’s a bottle of Freixenet Rosado in the fridge needing my attention, so I must away. Next time out, I’ll dive deeply into my favourite red wine region, Rioja.

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Sports Marketing In The Digital Age

Round & About

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Berkshire

The digital age has brought about a significant change in the way sports marketing operates. Sports brands, events, and athletes have had to adapt to the new digital landscape to reach their audiences effectively. The challenges and opportunities of sports marketing in the digital age are many and varied, and the following article will explore them in detail.

Cheltenham Racing Festival

One example of the challenges and opportunities of sports marketing in the digital age is the Cheltenham Racing Festival. This annual event, held at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire, England, is one of the most significant events in the horse racing calendar. The festival takes place over four days, with the Cheltenham racing dates set for March 14-17. The festival attracts a wide audience, including horse racing enthusiasts, punters and causal observers.

One of the biggest challenges facing sports marketers at the Cheltenham Racing Festival is the sheer scale of the event. With tens of thousands of people in attendance and millions more watching online and on TV, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd and make an impact. However, with careful planning and a strategic approach, there are many opportunities to engage with fans and create memorable experiences.

Social Media

One way that sports marketers can take advantage of the digital age is by leveraging social media to connect with fans before, during, and after the event. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram provide a powerful way to build buzz, share news and updates, and engage with fans in real time. By creating compelling content and leveraging influencer partnerships, sports marketers can generate excitement and drive engagement in the run-up to the event.

During the event itself, sports marketers can use a variety of tactics to create memorable experiences for fans. For example, offering free merchandise, exclusive access, or VIP experiences can help to build loyalty and create positive associations with brands. Live streaming and social media activations can also be effective in engaging fans who are unable to attend in person.

Tradition and Innovation

Another challenge facing sports marketers at the Cheltenham Racing Festival is the need to balance tradition and innovation. While horse racing has a rich history and culture, sports marketers must also embrace new technologies and trends to stay relevant and engaging. For example, using augmented reality or virtual reality experiences can help to bring the excitement of the races to live in new and innovative ways.

Finally, sports marketers must also be mindful of the importance of data and analytics in the digital age. By tracking engagement metrics, analysing audience behaviour, and monitoring sentiment, sports marketers can gain valuable insights into what is working and what is not. This can help to inform future campaigns and improve the overall effectiveness of sports marketing efforts.

Bottom Line

Sports marketing in digital age presents both challenges and opportunities for marketers looking to promote their brands and products at events like the Cheltenham Racing Festival. By leveraging social media, creating memorable experiences, embracing innovation, and using data and analytics, sports marketers can engage with fans in new and exciting ways and drive long-term brand loyalty. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the key to success will be staying flexible, adaptable, and always willing to try new things.

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Perfect roast at The Oarsman Marlow

Liz Nicholls

Posted on

Berkshire

Meat-lovers (and even secret carnivores) are sure of sublime old-school classics & service at this perfect bistropub which is hosting a series of special guest chefs

With the weather still stubbornly wintry, and mojo levels decidedly lacking, the perfect roast is exactly what the doctor ordered. But where to find this mythical beast?

I had heard amazing things about The Oarsman, right in the heart of Marlow (the foodies’ favourite, with its pick of delicious delicatessens and boui bistros) and was delighted to find myself here last Sunday, with a leisurely lunchtime at my disposal as well as a similarly food-obsessed pal.

The indulgent interior of this gastro gem does not disappoint, with its arse-friendly banquettes and copper details glowing with promise at the pass. Last month saw the launch of The Oarsman’s special guest chef series creating one-off collaborative menus with head chef Scott Smith.

I had left my (mostly) vegetarian household far behind me for the day to indulge in some hearty doses of fresh meat… and it more than lived up to the hype. One of Scott’s classics (which apparently won the hearts and minds of the pub’s gaffers Nigel Sutcliffe and James McLean, and has stayed on the menu ever since) is bacon & trotters which we just had to try. This savoury joy more than delivers on its promise, as did the simply stunning classic fish soup with rouille and lacy cheesy croutons. After a refreshing marmalade martini, the main event, the holy grail of the perfect roast was then delivered not once but twice.

The perfectly pink entrecote of beef was matched by a towering Yorkshire pud and layered fondant tatties and spiced carrot that sang with the rich meaty gravy. Gina was genial enough to go swapsies halfway through, and it was a toss-up as to whether the porchetta, wrapped in the crispiest crackling of your foodiest dreams and cabbage (with a ladylike wodge of that dreamy potato again) was even better.

The staff seem rightly proud of everything served here and it was their warm praise of Scott’s Ecclefechan tart (a festive, fruity Scottish fave) with an impossibly gleamy and creamy artisan cheese that persuaded us to take a swerve from our usual chocolate choice that served us well.

I had to have a lie down after our feast – I haven’t felt that indulged since my post Christmas game-induced meat sweats. Hearty, old-school and satisfying, the Oarsman deserves a whole afternoon and a designated driver to do its offering the full justice.

The next star chefs to take the pass in the series are Simon Bonwick, Ben Tish and Daniel Smith. To book, call 01628 617755 or visit theoarsman.co.uk to find out more and check out the menu.

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