Dazzling seasonal highlights across Bucks

Liz Nicholls

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Winter is coming, which means dark nights! But here’s our guide to highlights which are sure to lift spirits & keep the gloom at bay…

November beckons… so are we safe to start talking about Christmas now?! I know it’s not technically Advent yet (before the sticklers write in!) but, after the dazzling delights of Diwali and Bonfire Nights have finished lighting up the skies, we’re looking for other seasonal highlights. And there’s plenty cheer here to light up our lives!

Get your flow on at The Realms of Mystica lantern festival walk at the Dinosaur & Farm Park in Milton Keynes, MK15 0DT, from 1st November; Land of Lights Festival Milton Keynes | Land of Lights Festival Milton Keynes

The atmospheric greenhouses at Peterley Manor Farm near Great Missenden, HP16 0HH, will be chock-full of goodwill and festive cheer for the Christmas Market, 14th-17th November. You’ll find more than 70 boutique shopping stalls, food and drink, a local talent music tent, street food area, fire pits & more; visit Peterley Manor Farm | A family run farm set in the Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire

With a sprinkle of magic, between 15th November & 5th January, Waddesdon Manor and its gardens, HP18 0JH, turns into a Sleeping Beauty-inspired wonderland with light projections on the manor’s façade. Explore the beautifully illuminated gardens and woodland trails; perfect for families or couples looking to light up date night! Inside the manor, opulent decorations and exhibits will offer a Victorian Christmas. The Christmas market, running until 22nd December, offers hand-crafted gifts, festive food and more. Waddesdon Manor | A French Renaissance-style château

Windsor Great Park Illuminated is returning for its fourth year to light up the iconic Great Park, SL4 2HT, 15th November to 4th January and dogs are welcome, too! For more info & to book please visit Windsor Great Park Illuminated: light up your year!

High Wycombe will offer you a warm welcome in the High Street & Frogmoor, 1-6pm on Saturday, 16th November for the Christmas Lights Festival featuring music, entertainment & more; visit – HWBIDCo for more info.

Marlow’s Christmas Lights Switch-On on Thursday, 21st November, will bring lots of sparkle to the high street with carol singers, live performances, and late-night shopping; Home – Marlow Town Council. More late-night shopping on 5th December, too! Marlow Chamber of Commerce | Business Networking & Events

Chesham’s Christmas Lights Switch-On is all set for 6-9pm on Friday, 22nd November. Enjoy live performances, Santa’s grotto at Chapter Two bookshop, a funfair, music and dance, food, drink & craft stalls. Visit Chesham Events.

Great Missenden High Street will be all-atwinkle, 3-8pm on Saturday, 23rd November. Head along to shop for artisan produce, tuck into street food and be dazzled by entertainment. Cooper’s Markets – Old Amersham Artisan Market

Enjoy a festive family adventure with rides, a Santa’s grotto & gifts, 23rd November to 23rd December at Gulliver’s Land Milton Keynes, MK15 0DT. Visit Gulliver’s Land Theme Park Resort | Milton Keynes

Christmas On The Cobbles in the Market Square & Exchange, Aylesbury, 12-5.30pm on Sunday 24th will offer market stalls, an illuminated parade, theatre stars, Santa & fireworks; Aylesbury Town Council

Christmastime at Stowe Gardens, MK18 5EQ offers a serene escape into one of Bucks’ most famous landscapes. From 24th November to 5th January, experience the stately grounds illuminated with interactive light displays, enjoy storytelling for children and warm up treats at the café or make a wreath.

Celebrate Christmas with a Scandinavian twist at Hughenden Manor, HP14 4LA, from 25th November to 3rd January. Disraeli’s former gaff will be transformed into a Nordic winter wonderland, the manor house, gardens, and stable yard adorned with decorations. Follow a festive trail, enjoy storytelling, take part in crafting activities, enjoy choir performances and seasonal food. Visit National Trust

Buckingham’s light switch-on will draw happy families, 4-7pm on Thursday, 28th November, outside The Old Gaol with stalls, lots of live entertainment & food; Buckingham Town Council

Beaconsfield Festival of Light will dazzle in the new town on Wednesday, 4th December, from 6pm. Enjoy the children’s lantern parade, Christmas Shopping, market stalls, a food court and lots of entertainment. For more info please visit Beaconsfield Festival of Lights

The Feast of St Peter team have organised a family friendly highlight in Chalfont St Peter on Friday, 6th December in Market Place. Head along to enjoy stalls, entertainment, family fun & more; Christmas Fun Night — Feast of St Peter

Finally, don’t miss perfect panto; Aladdin, 13th December to 5th January at Wycombe Swan. We’ll bring you our interview with shining star Vernon Kay next month! Book Show Tickets | Wycombe Swan Theatre

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Comedian Josh Widdicombe spills the tea

Liz Nicholls

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The TV star & dad chats to Bruce Dessau ahead of his tour which next year visits Guildford, high Wycombe, Reading & more

You may well know Josh Widdicombe from Channel 4’s award-winning show The Last Leg, his podcast Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett, or his many appearances on panel shows.

In his brand new show, entitled Not My Cup of Tea, he takes stock of the little things that niggle him, from motorway hotels to children’s parties.

Q. How is the preparation for the tour going?
“It’s going way better than I thought. To the point where I could probably get away with doing it in the spring but I didn’t want to put any pressure on myself. I want to enjoy it because in the past I was so busy with Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo and stuff I was chasing my tail and desperately trying to have enough material for each tour. This time I’m able to enjoy the process of creating the stand-up.

Q. What is it like returning to tiny clubs to road test material after doing arena Parenting Hell gigs in 2023?
“I’ve been doing 20 minute sets and it’s almost divorced from the fact that I’m going on tour, which I think is the best way to write a tour, like you’re just doing it for the sake of it, in the same way I suppose it must be nicest for a musician to just write songs for the sake of writing songs. I’m doing stand-up for the sake of doing stand-up at the moment. I love the experience of coming up with ideas and just being able to go and do them.”

Q. You’ve called your new show Not My Cup Of Tea…
“Yes, because I like the phrase. And since I gave up alcohol in 2023 I drink a lot of tea. As you get older you realise who you are a bit more and I’ve realised that the things I love are like parochially British things like Martin Parr’s photography or Blur or Alan Bennett.

Q. Is there a theme?
“If there is a theme it’s probably about accepting that I prefer being at home and not having to deal with any other human beings. Which is a weird way to approach a tour show where you have to travel around the country talking to thousands of people!”

Q. You are more of an introvert comedian than a show-off comedian then?
“When I stopped drinking I realised how much the reason I drank was really for social situations because I didn’t feel comfortable in them. I grew up in Devon, I was an only child in a small school and watched TV for hours a day so I was quite introverted. Here’s a good example, I’m currently doing The Last Leg every day in Paris and everyone’s like ‘do you want to meet up in the morning?’ and I’m like ‘no, I’m spending 10 hours a day working with you, I want the morning to myself so I can read a book in bed.’ And there’s something about observational comedy, it’s about watching from the outside, so I wonder whether that is part of why I do comedy.”

Q. Are there any other new routines you think will make the finished show?
“There is a bit about children’s parties and party bags so as you can see I’m dealing with the big issues! I take a huge pride in the banality of the topics I talk about. I think that’s my favourite type of stand-up – really niche observations about silly little things that you wouldn’t think about. I’ve got no interest in the big topics.” 

Q. Has Parenting Hell’s massive success changed your stand-up style?
“I think the podcast has had a huge impact on how I understand myself as a comedian. I spent years terrified of letting the audience know who I was and then we did Parenting Hell and I suddenly saw that the more I showed myself the funnier I am. So I think it will almost certainly be the case that I’ve changed, but I wouldn’t ever do it consciously. I saw Ed Gamble at the Hackney Empire recently and – I’d hate him to know this – I found it incredibly inspiring because he was funny every 20 seconds for an hour and 10 minutes and that is everything I want to be. Just be as funny as possible.” 

Q. Have you missed stand-up?
“It took a while for me to think I wanted to do stand-up again after the pandemic. I think I got really used to being at home. I hadn’t had evenings off for 12 years and for the first time I got my evenings back and I was like ‘oh this is what it’s like and it’s really nice.’ But now I’m really loving it again.”

Q. Do you ever worry about how long success will last? 
“It’s the curse of the freelance. You can go up and down in terms of venue size, I don’t know where I am on that graph. I’d rather work really hard and take the opportunities while they’re here now. One day they might not be here. People ask ‘why did you do that show?’ and you’re like ‘because it’s fun, because I love it and I get paid really well to do what I love so why wouldn’t I do it?’ I can’t believe that I got paid to go to the Paralympics. This is my hobby that got out of hand!” 

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Beautiful, bespoke lampshades made in Bucks

Liz Nicholls

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Tracy Watson has turned her creative hand to a range of beautiful lampshades. Check them out at Peterley Christmas Market, 14th to 17th November

Looking to light up your life!? Wife & Mum Tracy Watson, who lives in Great Kingshill, has had the same bright idea.. And we’re thrilled to share the results as we enter the darkest months of the year.

Blue Boy Furniture is named after Tracy’s beloved little boy Charlie, who passed away when he was five and forever remains her ‘little blue boy’. Using her grief as a spark for creativity, Tracy has spent the past five years refreshing stylish homes across Bucks & beyond. This year she began making lampshades and fixtures from cotton and linen fabrics – often limited-edition remnants – ensuring individuality and style.

Tracy says: “I came up with the idea when I needed a new lampshade for my own home, and could only find white or grey in main high street stores. I wanted something which would add an injection of pattern and colour to the room, without a full-on maximalist look.

“Our stock is continuously evolving, but if you can’t see something that catches your eye, or have a traditional frame you would like recovering, please get in touch and let’s talk about a commission for you!”

Suitable for both ceiling fixtures and lamp bases, Tracy’s handmade lampshades are fire-retardant and compatible with bulbs up to 40 watts. Tracy has been painting furniture and crafting home decor items since she bought her first house in the 1990s. Inspired by upcycling programmes she began painting and refurbishing the quality vintage furniture finds.

“Blue Boy Furniture has mushroomed,” says Tracy. “I begam painting furniture for resale, quickly progressing into refurbishing customers’ own furniture. Having a piece of your own furniture painted can turn it from dull, drab and unfitting in your home into a stunning, unique statement piece you love.”

Tracy’s painting has expanded to kitchen cabinets and built-in wardrobes too. She says: “I’m painting kitchens for customers who want to refresh their homes without the expense and inconvenience of installing new cabinets” Tracy stocks a range of paints online and offers training videos.

Visit Blue Boy Furniture | Painting and Upcycling Home Furniture & follow blueboyfurniture on Instagram for more info to get in touch.

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Talking turkey at Mayo Brothers!

Liz Nicholls

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Jenni & Rob Sawyer tell us a bit more about the much-loved Mayo Brothers butchers shop in Chesham Bois as the team get ready for the busiest season…

Christmastime seems to be celebrated earlier and earlier these days… So spare a thought for Jenni and the rest of the team at Mayo Bros butchers…

“We actually start our Christmas run-up in March!” says Jenni. “That’s when we put our order in to the turkey farmer, and then from September we really start prepping and preparing behind the series. We start opening our Christmas order book in October ready for the others and the busiest of the year.”

Beloved as a village institution by locals as well as foodies who flock from further afield, Mayo Brothers is an independent family butchers.

“We love being part of a community,” adds Jen who, along with Rob, grew up here in Chesham Bois. “It makes it even more special to be here.

“We believe in supplying a high-quality product to our customers and offer a wealth of experience and knowledge. The most rewarding aspect of business so far has been the support we felt from the local community during the pandemic and the support we had when we completed our new shop fit. Our customers are definitely the most rewarding part of the job.

“We are looking at providing new products all the time and the development of our ‘prepared by us’ meals continues all the time. Keep an eye on social media for new products!”

Jen, Rob and the team are very much involved in village life, especially Chesham Bois summer fete every other year. “It’s a real village atmosphere, and we enjoy doing the barbecue,” says Jen. “We now also provide our BBQ service for other local villages for their summer fetes and larger events. We are already booked for next year at Stoke Poges village fete and the Chorleywood car show. It’s so popular because it’s professional, friendly BBQ service, a fully managed BBQ for parties, weddings, special occasions… or just an excuse not to cook!”

All successful businesses have to evolve and, understanding that modern life keeps us busy, Jen and Rob recently created a range of homemade products for customers to take away and bake in the oven at home.

“We only use meat from our shop and fresh ingredients to produce the finest quality meals with the majority of our sauces being allergen-free,” says Rob.

“As for our favourite cut of meat… it has to be a rib-eye steak – a Saturday night treat! We also really like to eat at independent restaurants and support them, as we know how important it is to have the support of your locality. We love visiting Darmon Deli, the brewery shop in Amersham, and Jen loves a coffee (and sometimes an early breakfast before work) at Jester in Hill Avenue.”

Mayo Brothers, 32 Bois Lane, Chesham Bois, HP6 6BP. Find out more on the Facebook page & visit Welcome to Mayo Brothers award winning Butchers and Speciality Grocery for more info.

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Pumpkins & more at the palace!

Liz Nicholls

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Get ready for an unforgettable half term experience at Blenheim Palace, where families can enjoy a range of eerily exciting activities from Monday 26th October to Sunday 3rd November

From pumpkin decorating to captivating storytelling and fire performances, this October half term, Adventure Play, the Walled Garden, and the Great Court at Blenheim Palace are all being transformed into a spook-tacular sensation for all ages.

In the Walled Garden visit the Pumpkin Patch for decorating and the Wizard Walkabout with Bumblebore the Wizard. The Walled Garden will also host daily Family Circus Shows at 12.30pm and 3pm, and a Circus Workshop at 1.30pm. Amid hay bales and playful scarecrows, capture spooky memories of the enchanting experience with special photo spots.

In the Great Court witness mesmerising Fire Performances every hour from 12pm to 3pm, lighting up the backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In Adventure Play, families can experience the all-new immersive Pip and Posy trail based on the delightful episode of the ‘Grumpy Pebble’, that will guide children through a series of imaginative and engaging activities. Along the way, little explorers will complete tasks and traverse the immersive play area featuring secret chambers, clamber nets, tunnels, slides, rope bridges – and giant carrots!

What’s more, for just £1 per person, hop on board a miniature train ride through the Terrifying Tunnel that will be running all day for families from 10am until 3.45pm. 

The themed activities will be available exclusively during the half-term week only and require a valid Pass or day ticket. Full details of the October half term line-up along with terms and conditions can be found on the Blenheim Palace website. 

The Palace & Play Pass is £150 for a family of four (two adults and two children) and is £50 per adult and £40 per child for individual day passes. Existing Family Annual Pass holders (two adults and two children) can upgrade to the new Palace and Play Pass for £51 and individual annual passes can be upgraded for £18 per child and £12 per adult.  

*Please note that this lineup for Haunted Half Term is a separate event to the Halloween light trail which is a ticketed event that can be experienced from dusk into darkness from Friday 25th October to – Sunday 3rd November 2024. 

For information on the spooky schedule of events and to book tickets visit, blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/haunted-half-term.html 

For further information about the Halloween light trail visit, tickets.blenheimpalace.com/shows/Show.aspx?sh=BLHALLO24  

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Dazzling fireworks above local skies

Liz Nicholls

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Bright & beautiful is not just a description of the pupils at Great Missenden C of E School but also the fireworks display with music on Saturday, 9th November, with more on 2nd in Holmer Green, too! 

Spectacular fireworks will light up the sky above Great Missenden C of E School in Church Street, HP16 0AZ.

The sparkling display – set to music – will raise funds for the school PTA as well as spirits, with a bonfire, entertainment, fairground rides, a hog roast and licensed bar. Gates will open at 5pm.

The school’s headteacher Mr Magee says: “The fireworks event at Great Missenden is truly a highlight of the year, bringing together not only our school community but also families and friends from the wider local area. It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and enjoy a shared experience, strengthening the bonds that make our community so special.”

Family tickets (two adults, two children) are £29, adults £30pp, children £7pp and under-fours go free. To buy yours please visit Great Missenden School PTA
A reminder also about the evening of fireworks and fun planned for Saturday, 2nd November at Holmer Green Sports Association in Watchet lane, HP15 6UF.

The community event includes a professional firework display choreographed to music, licensed bar, food vendors, music, hot drinks, sweets, light up toys and more.

Gates will open at 5pm with the firework display at 7pm. Stalls, including those selling food and drink, will remain open after the display. This is a ticket only event, with a maximum capacity. For more info & to book visit Holmer Green Sports Association

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Rolling with Newbury’s Gourmet Pasta Co

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Tibi Magda, head chef at Gourmet Pasta Co in Newbury, shares his thoughts about food & local life as he prepares another batch of fresh pasta workshops for fellow foodies!

Newbury’s freshest new indie business on the block, Gourmet Pasta Co, offers both classic Italian and Italian-South American recipes, inspired by the waves of Italians who immigrated to South America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Dishes to make your mouth water include green ravioli filled with spinach and ricotta with a sage butter sauce and pink sorrentinos (South American circular shaped pasta) filled with roasted butternut squash and almonds and an orange butter sauce.

“We make all our fresh pasta in-house, and we also sell our gourmet pasta frozen so you can cook it at home,” says Tibi. “We run regular midweek events including pasta-making classes, cocktail nights, ladies socials, and a monthly live jazz night.”

Originally from Romania, where he says it was amazing to watch the transition from communism to democracy growing up, Tibi has lived in Newbury for nine years, working in a number of local restaurants. His passion for Italian food was also forged while living and working in Caravaggio, Italy for 10 years.

Tibi adds:”Newbury is a lovely historic market town, and it’s a great size – big enough to have lots going on, but small enough so you can walk everywhere, and you bump into friends. Newbury and its surrounding villages offer great off-the-beaten-track culinary hotspots, with independents, Michelin stars, and a very foodie Saturday market right outside Gourmet Pasta Co. I might be biased, but if you like fresh pasta, Gourmet Pasta Co is the best quality and value restaurant in Newbury. We’ve had Italian visitors rave about it, which is a true compliment! There are several other good independent restaurants too.

“It’s nearly the end of the year, but we run a really interesting series of events. It’s great to see the restaurant full and buzzing during these, even if we’re rushed off our feet in the kitchen! Personally, it’s exciting building the perfect team in the restaurant and exploring and innovating creating new fresh pasta dishes.

“As a chef, it’s hard to have a pet, as I work evenings and long days. If I did, I’d have a dog, partly because there are amazing walks in and around Newbury. A great starting place is following the Kennet and Avon Canal towpaths, which run for miles in both directions.”

“If I could make one Christmas wish for the world, it would be a world without borders, so everyone can travel anywhere.”

Gourmet Pasta is at 34 Market Place, RG14 5AG. To find out more please call 01635 635603& visit gourmetpasta.co.uk 

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From Princes Risborough to Portugal

Liz Nicholls

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Graeme Card BSc FCIPS (Retired) tells us abut his epic trip in aid of Cancer Research & urges you to donate if you can to The Rotary Club of Princes Risborough in memory of Barry Tomkins, Sharon Sullivan and Helen Harrison

Together with an old school friend, Martin, whom I have known for 55 years now, I walked the last section of the Camino Portuguese from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela.

For those of you who do not know, the Camino de Santiago is a series of walks setting off from various locations (even the UK if you are so inclined), but all converging on Santiago de Compostela in Spain.

For completing one of these walks, as long as it is longer than 100km (about 62 miles in old money) you get a Compostela (a rather nice certificate in Latin) and the option to attend the service held at the main Cathedral in Santiago each Friday.

The Camino’s roots can be traced back to a legend from the 9th century. It was believed that the remains of St. James the Apostle, one of Jesus Christ’s twelve disciples, were discovered in Northwestern Spain.

Upon hearing this revelation, King Alfonso II ordered the construction of a humble chapel to honour the apostle. Little did he know this chapel would blossom into the awe-inspiring Santiago Cathedral, the emblematic beacon for pilgrims known worldwide today.

As word spread of this sacred resting place, the Middle Ages witnessed a fervent surge in Christian pilgrims, making the arduous journey to pay their respects and seek spiritual solace.

Now I confess to not being in the least bit religious, but I am Rotarian and like to do ‘stuff’ whatever that may be, for charity, so, together with Martin we decided to raise money for Cancer Research, in my case in memory of a fellow Rotarian and in the case of Martin, in memory of his ex-wife and sister in law – both who died in their late 50s.

“I am a Rotarian and like to do ‘stuff’, whatever that may be, for charity”

We arrived in Vigo late Saturday 5th October to less than clement conditions, in fact, it was merrily chucking it down as they say. Things did not bode well. Sunday came somewhat overcast and we got into the habit of checking the weather forecast pretty much daily. Our route took us from Vigo to Redondela, then Pontevedra, Caldas de Reis, Padron, Teo and finally, Santiago. Each port of call was between 16km and 21km apart, except for the final day as we only had 11km to do, it just felt like 20km by that time.

We would spend between 4 and 5 hours walking each day, mostly uphill it seems and for the first 2 days, in very damp weather. The best part of the whole experience for me is fellow ‘Pelegrinos’ Pilgrims you meet on the walk, I have previously done the rather quiet Camino Ingles but this Camino was VERY much busier. We lost count of the nationalities we met along the way with a Cheery “Buen Camino!” as they walked by.

Each day you have to collect at least to staps for your ‘Credencial’, a sort of Pilgrims Passport, to confirm you had done the route, or so, one at start of day, one at the end, each little cafe or bar or church will have their own stamp, in some places people set up little stalls selling foods and trinkets by the pathway. The Galicians are wonderfully friendly and whilst of course some knowledge of the language goes a long way, quite a lot of the locals have a smattering of English. Our accommodation was arranged for us in advance by a company called Galliwonders, a local firm, all-female run, I cannot recommend them highly enough! Superb little two – and three-star hotels in each port of call, you can even have your luggage shipped from place to place too, which is useful in winter so you can take a change of clothing.

Whilst we only did 100km in six days, the entire Portuguese Camino starts in Porto… so you need a fair while to do the entire thing! I intend to do another Camino next year, maybe another section of the Portuguese, maybe the French Camino, whatever, it will be fun, a truly uplifting experience, even if you are not religious and you will meet some wonderful people, to cap it all you end up in Santiago which is beautiful city.

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Travel review: Devon for half term?

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Are the darker nights getting you down? Denise Barkley swaps Oxfordshire for Woolacombe to review a break at The Watersmeet Hotel

Half-term and it’s not just the kids who need some time off! Why not make the most of it with a cheeky break beside the sea?

There’s nothing more invigorating than the crash of waves, salt spray in the air and the cry of seagulls – and a perfect spot to indulge in all that is the dazzling Watersmeet Hotel in North Devon.

Named as luxury hotel group Conde Nast Johansen’s Best Waterside Hotel in the UK and Ireland 2024, this is a fabulous hostelry that’s getting everything right at it’s superlative clifftop location just outside surfers’ paradise Woolacombe.

This wildly romantic spot enjoys an inimitable vista of the wild Atlantic crashing on to the rocks of beautiful Combesgate Beach below. The hotel even has its own private steps down to it. When the tide ebbs, it’s body-boarding and rock-pooling central – I remember coming here with my kids many moons ago and it’s just as magical as it was then.  

We revisited this summer, hoping for sunshine but figuring that if the weather wasn’t brilliant we could just sit and watch the majesty of the waves, sip a cocktail and put the world to rights. Well, the weather was true-to-form dull, but at least the rain held off and we had a fantastic couple of days cosseted within this delightfully traditional hotel and out in the open air walking the cliffs, getting blown away on the beaches and visiting nearby Ilfracombe where Damien Hirst’s vast statue of pregnant Verity dominating the harbour really is a showstopper – whether you love it or hate it! 

In keeping with its dreamy location, Watersmeet is setting the bar high with its slick but warm-hearted hospitality. The 28 individually decorated bedrooms and suites exude contemporary seaside chic, backed up by a two-AA rosette restaurant, galleried terrace for al fresco dining and drinks, indoor and outdoor pools. 

We couldn’t fault our ultra-comfortable deluxe sea-view room with its super-comfy beds. At one point, the skies cleared and we could see the island of Lundy on the horizon. It’s a bird-life haven and a popular visitor destination with boat trips from the harbours at Ilfracombe and Bideford.  

“At one point, the skies cleared and we could see the island of Lundy on the horizon”

If you’re an ardent foodie, then Watersmeet is for you. Head chef John Cairns is doing great things and my breakfast Eggs Benedict is probably the best I’ve ever had! Dining revolves around the elegant lounges, superb terrace and, the piece de resistance, the gorgeous Rocks restaurant where the wrap-round picture windows ensure you enjoy those sea views from dawn til spectacular sunset. 

From the lunchtime fresh crab sandwiches on arrival to the gourmet delights of dinner, the Watersmeet is a foodie gem. And there’s no teeny-weeny portions here – my asparagus with crispy hen’s egg starter followed by an entire sole drenched in brown shrimp butter were entirely divine. Another Watersmeet tradition is afternoon tea. It’s just a question of pacing yourself! And they do a cooked ‘high tea’ until 5pm for smaller children.

Come rain or shine, Watersmeet Hotel offers hospitality in the best tradition. It’s a comfortable base for enjoying all the delights of this scenic region. If you and the kids are feeling energetic then there’s surfing, kayaking, coasteering, horse-riding and gold – there’s two world-class links courses close by at Saunton and Westward Ho.

Non-sea-view rooms from £190 per night, sea-view from £270, suites/balconies from £330. There are some late availability offers next week. Visit Watersmeet Hotel: Edwardian Style & Luxury on Devon’s Scenic Coastline call 01271 870333, email [email protected]

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Concert to christen Bisham’s new organ

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Book your tickets to enjoy a recital by the internationally acclaimed organist, pianist and composer, Iain Farrington on the new organ on 1st November

Hallelujah: the new organ at Bisham Church has arrived!

On September 2nd and 3rd, Viscount Organs delivered and installed the new organ and speakers. They also “voiced” the organ (that means “tuned” for those of you who did not know the term). The whole process was completed in two days.

The organ was played for the first time at the service the following Sunday. By all accounts it is a fine instrument and a number of events have been planned to give everyone some appreciation of the organs potential.

On Friday, 1st November, 7.30-9.30pm you can enjoy a recital by the internationally acclaimed organist, pianist and composer, Iain Farrington. You may have heard one of Iain’s compositions at the coronation of King Charles and more recently, Iain’s piece weaving together TV sports themes performed at the Last Night of the Proms.

Rev John Smith of Bisham Church says: “Iain promises an evening to show off the possibilities of the new organ with music by a range of composers and in a variety of styles. We will hear Bach, Handel, Vaughan Williams and Widor. Iain is known particularly as one of the very few composers of jazz for the organ. We hope he will also play some of his compositions.”

Tickets cost £20 and are now available on the Ticket Tailor website: Buy tickets – Organ Recital by Iain Farrington – All Saints Church Bisham (tickettailor.com)

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