Strictly stars Karen Hauer & Gorka Marquez and their scintillating cast return with Firedance, featuring fresh flavours and super-charged choreography in a tour that includes Guildford’s G Live and Oxford’s New Theatre
“This is our third year doing Firedance,” says Karen, “and of course the first year we only got six shows in before it got stopped by the pandemic, so it still feels very new and exciting! It’s a show that is fresh, it’s sexy and it’s just a celebration! We have all the dances that the audiences love, like our tangos, our sambas and our salsas, so it just celebrates all the fun we have together as a friendship and everything we love to share with people. We just love dancing together so much, so we’re bringing that joy out onto the stage for everyone to have fun with us!”
Born in Venezuela and having grown up in New York from the age of 10, Karen Hauer is the longest serving professional dancer on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Joining the series in 2012 she has been partnered with household names including J Westlife’s Nicky Byrne, The “Hairy Biker” Dave Myers, Mark Wright, Jeremy Vine, Will Young and chef Simon Rimmer. In 2018 she reached the quarter-finals with actor Charles Venn and went a step further in 2019, taking comedian Chris Ramsey to the semi-final. In 2020 Karen reached her second final when she partnered with Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing and in 2021 was paired with Greg Wise. For this latest series, Karen is dancing with actress, comedian and podcaster Jayde Adams.
Gorka’s flair for dancing started from a very young age. Originally from Bilbao, Spain, aged 11 he attended Ballroom and Latin dance classes where he quickly excelled and became one of the top dancers representing Spain performing across the globe.
“I think people can be used to seeing us doing ballroom dancing on TV, but that is also a style that is meant to let us showcase ourselves, to express things and to interpret the way we feel things, not just the music, but whatever has happened to us throughout the year, we channel that into the dancing.
“I think this show is going to be even more epic than it was before, to be honest. The production and the fire in particular was always hugely important to us, so like the music and the dancing, we really wanted to make sure that the other aspects of the show like that were stepped up another gear too. It all has to complement each other, so what we have in store this time around is just incredible.”
“I think this show is going to be even more epic than it was before.”
Are you seeking something specially curated for you and your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Have your date set to sizzle at one of these Bucks beauties.
Atul Kochhar and his chef teams are cooking up extraordinary experiences for their locals this February – here is a round-up of regional specials for this most romantic time of the year:
Meaning ‘tradition’, Riwaz in Beaconsfield serves sensational Indian cuisine inspired by the history, cultural practices and rustic charm of the Indian states. The Valentine’s Day’s Menu (£65pp plus £49pp pairings) is a seven-course menu with vegetarian, vegan and pescatarian options, in addition to classic meat.
Highlight include Kekda West Coast Crab Cake with Green Chilli Mayo, which is paired with D’arenberg The Olive Grove Chardonnay from Australia. Atul has an extra treat in-store for Beaconsfield residents as singer/songwriter Ollie Wade plays live on Saturday 11th February from 6.30pm. There is also a Valentine’s Early Bird Menu (£49pp plus £35pp with wine pairings) available from 10th to 14th, served between 5pm and 6pm.
“Atul has an extra treat in-store for Beaconsfield residents”
In the gourmet town of Marlow, Vaasu stays true to Atul Kochhar’s passion for gastronomical discovery, with a focus on pan-Indian cuisine. The Valentine Weekend Menu is (£69pp plus £51pp with wine pairings) is a seven-course menu with vegetarian/vegan and pescatarian options, in addition to classic meat. Highlights include Reshmi Seekh Kebab with apple chutney and rice bhel, which is paired with Thelema Vineyards Chardonnay from Stellenbosch, South Africa. There is also a Valentine’s Early Bird Menu (£49pp plus £35pp with wine pairings) available from 10th to 14th, served between 5pm and 6pm.
Over in Amersham at The Crown Inn Hotel, Hawkyns Valentine Weekend Menu is (£69pp plus £49pp wine pairings) is a seven-course menu with vegetarian/vegan and pescatarian options, in additions to classic meat. Highlights include Scallop with petit pois Maderia and citrus segments to Lake District Aged Lamb with purple sprouting broccoli, sweet potato and Kashmiri gravy paired with Fina Del Alta Malbec, Argentina. There is also a Valentine’s Early Bird Menu (£49pp plus £35pp with wine pairings) available from 10th to 14th February, served between 5pm and 6pm.
Overlooking the River Thames, Sindhu at The Compleat Angler in Marlow pays homage to Atul Kochhar’s love of traditional Southern Indian cooking. The Valentine’s Menu (£79pp plus £51pp pairings) is a seven-course menu with vegetarian/vegan and pescatarian options, in addition to classic meat. Highlights include Turbot & Mussels in a Keralan Seafood Moilee with purple sprouting broccoli, which is paired with Rhythm Winery’s Peach Wine from India.
If you’re looking for romantic dining to spice up your Valentine’s Day then look no further than Atul Kochhar Restaurants. Please get in touch for a review (please note we cannot host in the evening on 10th, 11th and 14th)
Keep the little ones entertained this February with a visit to Squire’s to paint a bird flowerpot
Squire’s Garden Centres are hosting February half term with a ‘Create & Grow’ ‘Paint a Bird Flowerpot’ activity (booking essential for ‘Paint a Bird’) as well as ‘Bird Treasure Hunt’ (no need to book).
Young visitors will have the opportunity to get artistic, using their painting skills to create a unique bird-shaped ceramic flowerpot (plant not included), to take home and put on the windowsill – and bring colour to their bedroom. Sessions may be booked online and in-store.
The Bird Treasure Hunt is free and there is no need to book, simply turn up on the day. Children will follow a paper trail of birds around the centre to help find the magic word, with five images to find, to receive a free sticker.
Squire’s ‘Create & Glow’ activities are on from 9.30am-1pm, Monday, 13th to Friday, 17th February at centres in Surrey and Berkshire including at Wokingham, Woking, Milford, Frensham and Cobham.
Make the most of Valentine’s Day with these romantic wine recommendations from our wine columnist Giles Luckett
Hello!
I’ve always liked to think that when Ernest Dowson penned the immortal line, “Days of wine and roses” that, he took his inspiration from Valentine’s Day. As a self-confessed romantic and someone who has more than a fleeting infatuation with wine, the two have always been inexorably intertwined in my eyes. After nearly three decades of marriage, I can recall the wines that marked significant anniversaries in our lives. Proposal accepted, Krug NV. Our first house, Dom Perignon 1990. Wedding Day, Laurent Perrier (innumerable bottles!). Daughter adopted, Lafite 1961. Silver wedding anniversary, Comte de Champagne 2009.
“As a self-confessed romantic and someone who has more than a fleeting infatuation with wine, the two have always been inexorably intertwined in my eyes.”
And so, with the annual excuse for romance upon us again, here are my wine recommendations for making February the 14th a date for the diary and the cellar book.
Let’s start with a couple of rosés. Rosé wines are versatile, often delicious, and obviously pretty in pink. My first recommendation is from my favourite Rioja producer, CVNE. While I’ve loved CVNE’s wines since my Harrods days, their rosé is a wine I only discovered last summer. The CVNE Rosado (the Co-op £8.50) is a joyous wine guaranteed to bring a smile to your lips. Mid-pink, the nose is all red berries, and cherries, with a touch of blossom, while in the mouth, there are gentle notes of strawberries, peaches, and a whiff of pepper.
My next wine is the oh-so-chic Whispering Angel (Laithwaites, £20). The Cotes de Provence producer has become the darling of the wine trade – Jancis Robinson described the winemaker as “the golden boy of rosé”. The estate’s top wine, Garrus, goes for an eye-watering £100 a bottle, but even their entry-level wine is something special. Easy on the eye and powerful on the palate, this is a rich, opulent rosé that exhibits peppered strawberries, dried raspberries, and watermelon notes, before the dry, full finish. Food-friendly, this is excellent with lamb or baked cheese.
Red is the colour of romance, so let’s look at a couple of red wines. Given its still winter, I’d recommend a couple of heart-warming winter reds. First up, a winery that has become very dear to my heart over the past couple of years, Vina Zorzal. Hailing from Navarra (head to Rioja and turn left), this is one winery I cannot fault, but if I had to pick my favourite, I’d say it was the Vina Zorzal Ganarcha (The Wine Society £8.50). Plump, luscious, easy-going, and brimming with soft blackberry, cherry, and plum fruit, this is a lovely cheery wine that is great with food or conversation.
If you’re looking for something more serious – perhaps to accompany a serious question…? then try the Joseph Drouhin, Chorey-lès-Beaune (Waitrose £21.99). Burgundy has enjoyed a succession of good vintages so that even (relatively) lowly villages wines such as this have been turning in mouth-watering wines. With a bouquet of fruits of the forest tinted with woodsmoke and a palate that offers red cherries, raspberries, cranberries, and a touch of spice, this is an easy wine to love.
And so on to fizz. Regular readers of this column will have gathered I have a bit of spot soft for sparkling wines. And when I say soft, I mean butter in the Sahara at midday, and when I say spot, I mean every fibre of my being. Now while there are lots of great ones to choose from – Cloudy Bay’s Pelorus (Sainsbury’s £26), Nyetimber (Waitrose £38.99), Tesco Cava (£6), or Chandon Garden Spritz (Majestic £19.99) – I’m going to recommend one from my sparkling wine producer, Graham Beck.
The Graham Beck Pinot Noir Rosé 2017 (Majestic £19.99) takes Beck’s superb wines to a new level. Beyond the stunningly pretty rose gold colour, lies a wine that offers strawberries, red cherries, and dried raspberries with satisfying notes of yeast, peaches, and limes in weighty, yet clean and fresh form.
Of course, Valentine’s Day wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without champagne, and here are my three top picks for this year’s romantic night in. The first is Gosset Grand Rosé (Berry Brothers £58). I visited Gosset in September and was reminded of how special their wines are. The precision, clarity, and piercing beauty of Gosset’s wines is something to behold. Put in less winey language, they are bone dry, refined, high-toned, driven by pure red and white berry fruit, and are gloriously complex. Try this stunner with food from smoked salmon to chicken.
Bruno Paillard is another champagne house I’ve had a long-lasting affection for. This is a house of (relatively) modern origins that produces stylish, elegant wines of great complexity. Their Rosé Premiere Cuvee (Champagne Direct £55) is a delightful take on this classic style. Pale pink, it offers everything from rose petals and summer pudding to cranberries and brioche. This is a wine to sip and savour on its own.
And to finish a wine that a friend of mine at Laytons once memorably described one Valentine’s Day, as ‘A prelude to an happiness it’s the Taittinger Rosé (Sainbsury’s £44). Taittinger’s wines are framed for their elegance and refinement, and these fine traits are on show in this beguiling wine. Deep pink, the nose is fruit-driven, with lovely notes of super-ripe summer berries tinted with savoury yeast. The palate is light, yet the persistence gives it power and depth, and Taittinger’s hallmark preaches in syrup tone adds a luscious flavour to the finish.
Well, that’s it from me for now. I hope you’ll have a fine Valentine’s Day, and I’ll be back soon with some spring wine recommendations.
Valentine’s Day isn’t just about a romantic meal for two, it’s about spending time with those we love, from our family to our best friends. It’s the perfect time to create a tablescape filled with love for your partner, family, best friends or for a Galentines brunch!
You don’t need to get your cupid’s arrow in a knot, styling a romantic table doesn’t need to be expensive and can be created using handmade decoration, hiring items, and using what you have at home.
Here are our top 14 tips for styling a dreamy tablescape for the 14th February
1 – Start with thinking of a theme. Having a theme can add instant fun or a luxurious element to the tablescape plus it helps with the décor decisions & keeping to a budget and helps keeps the table look cohesive.
2 – Create a vision board on Pinterest, it allows you to keep all your ideas in one place.
3 – There are endless romantic themes like, a classic red & hearts, or soft baby pink & pastels, a fun ‘Love Heart Be Mine’, an XOX with your Galentine’s or a Be Mine theme with someone you love.
4 – Linen always adds a luxurious feel to a table, but you don’t need to necessarily buy it! This can be hired for a fraction of the price. If you don’t want a full tablecloth, you could always use a runner down the centre of the table. This will add texture, a pop of colour without covering the whole table.
5 – Fold your napkins into hearts, you could add a little chocolate love heart on the napkin too!
6 – Do you have enough seats for everyone or chairs that match? You can hire extra chairs & benches. Have a matching set to give your table the extra wow factor. You could hang a little heart to the back of them. This is a great way to bring your theme into all areas of your Valentines tablescape.
7 – Love notes, on each place setting write a little note to your guest about something you love about them.
8 – Have a creative afternoon and make heart fan decorations for your special meal, these could be hung from windows, on the back of chairs or scattered on the table – check out our social media pages for full instructions.
9 – A special table is all about layers, use charger plates to give an instant luxurious feel to each setting. They can add textures and colours without overpowering the setting. These can be hired, there is no need to buy them!
10 – For a special table setting, use crystal glasses, and gold cutlery, something you might not have at home, these can be hired and even given back dirty!
11 – Remember to think about the height of the centrepiece, your guests need to be able to see each other, without a great big candelabra blocking their view! Use odd numbers of items, it creates a much more pleasing effect on the eye.
12 – No romantic table would be complete without flowers, you could go with traditional roses, pretty gipsofila that you can buy in the supermarket or even used little potted plants. Incorporate all the winter foliage and pretty winter flowers into your table set up. You can create a table runner, then add in elements like mini bows, chocolate hearts or even packets of love hearts!
13 – Fruit is a fantastic way to add a pop of colour to your tablescape, scatter strawberries or grapes around your décor or onto your plates. You could fill glass containers with fruit!
14 – At AB Event Hire we are conscious about the environment & stay away from one-use plastic throw-away items. Instead of buying new tableware, hire it in at a fraction of the price. Not only does it help reduce waste, but we can wash it up for you too! Use matching plates, cutlery, and glasses to create an instant cohesive feel to the tablescape.
For more information about how to hire items & tips on creating Valentine tablescapes, head over to our social media pages @ab_event_hire or our website AB Event Hire.
AB Event Hire is a family run wedding, event & catering equipment company. We are based in Woking and can supply you with all the items you might need to create a perfect celebration. Please get in touch with us, we would love to hear from you! Our telephone number is 01276 856440 and the office email is [email protected].
Well done to the 20 brave men who have bared (almost) all for an outdoor winter fundraiser in Virginia Water raising more than £2,500 (so far) for the Mental Health Foundation.
We’ve all been feeling the cold in recent weeks. So praise is due to the local runners who braved the chilly trails of Virginia Water Lake togged up in just a pair of running shoes and “budgie smuggler” briefs.
The Budgie Smuggler Run 2023 event was founded by Brian Turner, Josh Lappin, Paul Dash and Jordan McDowell from Hampshire and Surrey in 2021 when they wanted to raise money and awareness for charity.
Since then, others have joined in the January spectacle, with 20 runners taking on the 7km route last Sunday (29th January) raising more than £2,500 for the Mental Health Foundation.
Brian said: “It started off as a bit of a laugh, but with a serious aim to raise money and awareness for charities that are close to our hearts. It certainly does turn heads, and after the first run I was surprised to find more people than just me willing to strip down and run the 7km route in the middle of winter.”
The Budgie Smuggler Run is now set to become an annual mass participation event in aid of raising money and awareness for men’s mental health.
World record holder Darren Hardy, a charity fundraiser and former British Army officer who was medically discharged from the army with PTSD in 2017, joined this year’s event. “It’s such a great event and certainly turned heads,” he said. “Despite the frosty January start we all rose to the occasion and drew quite a crowd at the finish line. I’d absolutely recommend it to anyone wanting to do something a bit different for charity.”
“It certainly does turn heads”
Over the last two years, runners have raised £2.5k for BulliesOut, an anti-bullying charity, and £1.3k for Cancer Research UK.
Wallingford Vehicle Rally and Parade is back this May and tickets go on sale on Friday 3rd February
Wallingford’s hugely popular vehicle rally and parade is back on Sunday, 14th May showcasing classic, custom and unusual vehicles from bicycles to tanks.
Tickets to take part in the 300 vehicle parade around Wallingford and park on the Kinecroft go on sale at 8pm on Friday 3rd February.
Organisers say: “On the 3rd February at 8pm we will share the GiveTap link via our website, email and on social media to enable you to purchase your ticket.
“All tickets are £20 plus a booking fee, like last year all profits raised are going to local charitable causes.
“We are also offering 30 PARADE ONLY tickets for any vehicle. These go on sale in a few weeks time (date tbc); this is to avoid confusion with the main ticket sales.”
Vehicles of all shapes and sizes take part in the parade through town in convoy – quite a sight – if you’re lucky enough to be on the parade route, pull up a chair and take a front row seat and watch the impressive sight. Where else can you see a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air parked behind a 2CV or a big American classic alongside a super car?
In addition to watching them drive past, visitors on the day will also get the chance to ride in a classic or supercar courtesy of The Sporting Bears Motor Club. Ride in the car of your dreams in exchange for a donation to charity, another great reason to attend the fun event.
There are stalls and food vendors for everyone to enjoy alongside an incredible selection of classic motors. Something for everyone and what’s more, it’s all in a good cause with a variety of local causes benefitting from funds raised on the day.
Here’s your chance to make like a caterpillar in an interactive trail at The Lexicon this half term
Young visitors to The Lexicon can wriggle their way through a fabulous interactive trail, based on Eric Carle’s best-selling children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Following the same journey of the caterpillar from egg to butterfly, visitors will wind their way through an assortment of larger-than-life fruit sculptures (starting at Waitrose and finishing in Princess Square), a cosy chrysalis and a beautiful butterfly, all based on artwork from the famous book.
From February 11-19, pick up a trail leaflet and free piece of fruit (while stocks last) at Waitrose to start your adventure and pop the completed leaflet into The Lexicon post box to be in with a chance of winning some fabulous prizes.
The interactive mini adventure, will help to teach children about the close relationship between plants and insects as they search for items such as apples and pears to complete the trial.
Feeling hungry? Then make sure to check out the various kids eat free offers at Fuego (Fenwick), Las Iguanas, Marks & Spencer Café, Tangs, The Real Greek, Wagamama and Waitrose Restaurant.
You won’t want to miss this fun event so pop the dates in your diary now.
Launchpad’s annual Pancake Race, Reading’s most egg-citing event is back, on Shrove Tuesday
Launchpad is inviting local businesses and organisations to compete for the coveted frying-pan trophy – and entertain Reading shoppers and workers as they do so in this year’s Pancake Race.
Teams of four are asked to do their best fancy dress and flip pancakes as they race the route on Broad Street on Tuesday, 21st February at 12.30pm. Registration is now open for the event.
Launchpad’s Pancake Race is now in its 26th year. All the money raised from this event funds the charity’s essential services for people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home in Reading.
These include supported housing; a free drop-in service for anyone in housing crisis; and a work and life skills centre so clients can build confidence, learn new skills and get back into work.
As well as the coveted frying pan trophy and the adoration of the people of Reading for the winners, there are also prizes for second and third place, best team spirit, best fancy dress and best fundraising team.
Last year’s cracking winners, local accountancy firm, Crowe UK, took their bird-themed fancy dress to the top spot. But what will this year’s winners be wearing? Whether you rock up as dinosaurs, chickens, fast food or astronauts – (almost) anything goes at Launchpad’s Pancake Race when it comes to fancy dress. There have been clowns, bananas, the Spice Girls, crows, barristers and Morph suits scrambling for first place.
Vicki Lewis, Launchpad’s fundraising manager, said: “The annual Pancake Race is a really popular event and is thoroughly enjoyed by all, whether you are taking part or spectating, it is a sight to behold! The costumes and Olympic-standard competition make it quite eggs-traordinary!
“Launchpad is very much a local charity working in close partnership with the Reading community. The ongoing support we receive from local businesses is greatly appreciated. The event is a really fun way for people to get involved and join in with this incredible sense of community spirit. And in such uncertain times, the money raised by our wonderful teams is more important than ever.”
To take part email [email protected] by Monday, 13th February with your name and contact details.
Race registration is £99. There are 34 places up for grabs for teams of four. Places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Launchpad are also asking for volunteers to help with team registration, bucket collections and monitoring participating team’s pancake flips! To get involved, please email [email protected] for details.
“Pets just make us feel happier” – the simple reason why many elderly people benefit from the companionship of an animal
We are a nation of pet lovers and for many this doesn’t change just because you have to enter a care home – man’s best friend can become even more important at this time of life.
Ill health, loneliness, depression and anxiety-related issues can all make later life harder but pets can help ease the elderly through and studies have shown that interacting with a dog, cat, rabbit, ducklings and even fish can kindle memories about past experiences and provide an opportunity to talk.
One charity which knows a thing or two about the benefits our furry and feathered friends can bring is Oxfordshire-based Pets As Therapy who say a PAT pet can improve a person’s mental health and overall wellbeing, adding that there’s often an increased connection with carers and family too, and those living with dementia can feel energised and elated, “It comes down to a very simple truth: pets just make us feel happier”.
The charity was founded in 1983 by dog owner and volunteer Lesley Scott-Ordish and as it enters its 40th year, its vision remains unchanged to ensure everyone has access to the companionship of a pet regardless of their circumstances. In addition to its work in care homes, Pets As Therapy also extends the services to schools, hospitals and prisons.
More than 4,000 volunteers go out and about with their animal friends extending the paw or claw of friendship to day care centres, residential homes and hospices as well as the other facilities. Pets As Therapy volunteers are pet owners who give up their time to help, if you would like to help find out more and apply at petsastherapy.org/information/for-volunteers
One such home company which has benefited from the love and attention of a PAT dog is Brendoncare which has homes in and around Alton and Winchester in Hampshire and at Froxfield near Marlborough.
Staff and residents there have seen first hand the positive effects of the joy and companionship that animals can bring.
Rebecca Spicer, Volunteer and Activity Manager at Brendoncare, said: “Wellbeing is so much more than the word games and outings. Bringing animals to show our residents adds an element of home: a visiting PAT dog, social farm experience or even a pet animal for the home adds to this.
“Animals bring love and comfort to our residents, and for them the nurturing feeling of caring or parenting something is familiar. In practice all residents have a natural instinct to stroke a dog, hold a chick or pet a horse. It’s those integrated moments that are engrained in our memories that give us that warm fuzzy ‘good’ feeling in our tummy.”
Animals offer unconditional love and companionship. Sometimes, they provide a level of companionship that people can’t and many find interacting with pets such as simply stroking their fur to watching their antics can have a very calming and reassuring benefit.
Animal visits to care homes can bring back fond memories for residents, with many remembering previous pets or happy times with friends and family when they come face to face with visiting animals.
Brendoncare Alton recall a recent visit by a range of farm animals which for one resident was a special afternoon as he reminisced about the pig farm he used to run and remembered precious memories for him and his family – whilst stroking a pig!
Animals give residents a break in routine and something they can look forward to. But that’s not all – research suggests that animals and their calming nature and affection can offer health benefits such as lowering people’s blood pressure and heart rate, increasing levels of oxytocin (the stress-reducing hormone) and decreasing the production of the stress hormone cortisol.
Brendoncare say that while they love seeing their residents’ excitement when they get to hold a duckling or stroke a donkey, their lovely smiles aren’t the only benefit of petting these animals. Stroking an animal’s fur/feathers, hearing their unique sounds, holding them in their lap, feeding them and grooming them are all interactions which provide great sensory stimulation for residents and are particularly beneficial for people with dementia.
Brendoncare Park Road in Winchester helped welcome some baby ducklings into the world and alongside the familiar caring and nurturing aspects that bring back familiar feelings, cuddling and petting the ducks also provided sensory stimulation.
In addition to the work of charities such as Pets As Therapy in care homes, many residential homes welcome residents to bring their much-loved pets with them with they move in recognising the benefits to older people – improving mental wellbeing, decreased dementia rates, a sense of purpose and fun.
View the interactive care map
More care related articles
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Planning for the future – Get your financial affairs in order with a Will or Lasting Power of Attorney
