Italian delights from Gennaro Contaldo’s

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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?

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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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Amaze-ing round trip to the Ashmolean

Liz Nicholls

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The Ashmolean Museum rooftop restaurant is the perfect setting to enjoy a selection of Greek-inspired highlights to enjoy to tie in with the LABYRINTH: Knossos, Myth & Reality exhibition until the end of July.

I’ve often thought that the rooftop restaurant on top of the Ashmolean – the world’s oldest museum, no less – occupies the most impressive spot in the city.

Perched high above the Dreaming Spires, within spitting distance of the grand old Randolph Hotel, it’s a dreamy space of blonde wood, fluffy globe lighting & trippy round window holes that’s bright, breezy & rather fabulous, even on a drizzy winter’s day.

So it’s wonderful that the new menu buzzes with Greek pizazz to tie in with the fabulous current exhibition centred on Knossos, especially that mythic beast The Minotaur.

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National Trust spring gardens in Sussex

Karen Neville

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Image: National Trust / Mark Wigmore

Here are the best places to see spring flowers at National Trust gardens in Sussex this season. From blossom to bluebells, daffodils to rhododendrons, the signs of spring are sure to raise the spirits.

Everyone’s got a favourite spring flower, one that makes us happy, or brings to mind someone close to us. The hopeful sight of a swathe of purple crocuses or cheerful carpet of delicate bluebells can make our day.

As we emerge from the hibernation of winter, this is the perfect time to meet up with loved ones for a spring pilgrimage to see the bulbs and blooms, followed by a catch-up over a cuppa.

Find out more about the National Trust’s spring gardens near you:

Spring bulbs and magnolias at Nymans

Near Handcross, West Sussex, normal admission applies

The romantic garden at Nymans is dreamy in spring, with the Wall Garden full of blossom and bulbs. Spring starts with the first daffodils, narcissi and fragrant daphnes in March and April, followed by unusual heritage varieties of bulbs, along the recently replanted Edwardian spring border. Look out for the large collection of magnolia trees throughout the garden, which are spectacular at Nymans. These are followed by bold, colourful azaleas and rhododendrons, which come into their own as spring warms up in April and May.

Views out across the Weald are beautifully clear at this time of year and you can spot wildflowers along the pathways in the woodland, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Joe Whelan, Head Gardener at Nymans gives these gardening tips: “Early spring is a good time to plant trees, before the ground starts to heat up too much, it will give them a chance to get established. A lot of tender annuals can be sown indoors, or on a windowsill, in February and March. Keep on top of the early spring weeds, it will save you time later in the year.”

Image: National Trust / Andrew Honour
Image: National Trust / Andrew Honour

Rhododendrons and blossom at Sheffield Park and Garden

Near Uckfield, East Sussex, normal admission applies

With shimmering sweeps of lakes, woodlands glowing with bluebells, bustling rhododendrons and a vast parkland you can lose yourself in, Sheffield Park is the perfect spot to energise and feel the excitement of nature awakening. Bring family and friends, or just treat yourself, as you dive into a blossom-filled Sheffield Park and find your sense of wellbeing within nature.

Each year the gardeners at Sheffield Park plant new trees, to ensure the beauty of the garden for years to come. This year they are focusing on planting blossoming trees such as ornamental cherry, crab apple and magnolia in the newly reopened stream Garden, café border and throughout the formal gardens. Look out too for early-flowering blackthorn and hawthorn blossom, which are so crucial to native insects and wildlife at this time of year.

Image: National Trust / Andrew Butler

Apple blossom and spring bulbs at Standen

Near East Grinstead, West Sussex, normal admission applies

Standen comes to life in springtime, with banks of daffodils and fritillaries around the garden and tulips on the house terrace. The bluebells in Rockinghill Wood are spectacular in late April. Rhododendrons from Mrs Beale’s original collection can be seen around the garden from mid May. While in late spring, wisteria clothes the wall by the lavender lawn with fragrant purple blooms. The garden team at Standen recently replanted the cafe borders with over a thousand alliums and a narcissus called Goose Green.

James Masters, Head Gardener, describes his favourite spots to see blossom at Standen: “The Orchard is beautiful in the mornings with the sun behind, the beehives dotted throughout and daffodils underneath. We have apple, pear, cherry, quince and medlar blossom at Standen – in the orchard, around Goose Green and the kitchen garden. Pear blossom is normally first out in mid-March, with pink apple blossom coming through in April. Most of our fruit trees are local varieties. The large espalier apples in the lower Kitchen Garden were planted in 1893 and are still producing fruit. They are some of the most impressive trees we have in the Garden. The best places for photographs include the medlar, which is a lovely small tree on the Green and the first tree you see at the property: it has rocks around it which are great for group shots, perched in front of the blossom.”

Image: National Trust / Laurence Perry

Tulips at Bateman’s

Burwash, East Sussex, normal admission applies

In the walled Mulberry Garden, at the home of Rudyard Kipling, an array of early flowering tulips in ruby red, bronze, orange and purple are planted in drifts with complementary wallflowers. Visit in mid to late April to enjoy a visual feast of spring colour and delight in the blooms from around 4,000 bulbs – including fourteen different tulip varieties. Watch them open in the sun and follow the sun’s path throughout the day. The fragrant, colourful wallflowers and provide forage for early bumblebees such as the common carder.

Spring in the pleasure garden at Petworth House

Petworth, West Sussex, normal admission applies

The pleasure garden was designed by ‘Capability’ Brown in the late 18th century. Today it is one of Petworth’s best kept secrets and well worth exploring. The serpentine paths, stone follies and spring blossom make this a beautiful place to walk. Crab apple and cherry blossom is interspersed with bluebells, rhododendrons and azaleas.

A great place for a spring photo at Petworth is the Ionic Rotunda, which was constructed in 1766 and is reminiscent of the Temple of Vesta at Trivoli, Italy. The ground leading to it is filled with daffodils in early spring – and then bluebells. You can also see these flowers in the formal beds near the mansion, along with primroses and cyclamen in the garden.

Daffodils at Uppark

Near Petersfield, West Sussex, normal admission applies

Hundreds of fragrant white narcissus ‘Thalia’, and creamy white and yellow frilled variety ‘Ice Follies’ greet you just outside the main gates to these landscaped gardens. Delicate pale yellow dwarf narcissus ‘W.P Milner’ lines the driveway to the mansion house – a favourite spring display with visitors.

Keep an eye out for pale blue spring starflower and a mix of irises in the border next to the café. In the formal garden, a magnificent magnolia tree produces large waxy pink petals and perennial honesty provides a profusion of scented, lilac-white flowers that bees and butterflies love.

In late spring, Uppark’s small wildflower meadow begins its changing displays, as the long grasses are gradually dotted with yellow rattle, crown imperials and fragile orchids. On a warm spring day this is a lovely space to wander into and sit for a while, surrounded by the gentle yum of wildlife.

Garden rooms at Woolbeding Gardens

Near Midhurst, West Sussex, entry by prebooked tickets, travel by minibus from Midhurst, admission applies

Woolbeding Gardens delights at every turn with its distinctive garden rooms set against thoughtfully composed borders – look out for primulas, geraniums and other early flowering perennials. Apples trained to climb the historic walls of the herb garden reveal displays of blossom set around a central sundial and English thyme beds. In the Ruined Abbey, cherry trees show their white and pink blossom, which create a carpet of petal confetti on the grass below, in the spring breeze.

Cottage garden at Alfriston Clergy House

Alfriston, East Sussex, entry by prebooked tickets, admission applies

The cottage garden at Alfriston Clergy House is a lovely place to find inspiration on a domestic scale. The orchard is planted with rare varieties of apples such as Lady Sudeley, Crawley beauty, Monarch and the local Alfriston apple.

Blossom and bulbs at Monk’s House

Rodmell, Sussex, entry by prebooked tickets, admission applies

A beautiful English country garden designed by Leonard Woolf with incredible views of the Sussex Downs. Virginia Woolf was greatly influenced by the garden and her short story ‘The Orchard’ was inspired by the garden at Monk’s House. In spring the garden is bursting with buds and flowers, including tulips, daffodils, hellebores and magnolias. While the orchard is a flurry of apple and pear blossom.

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Reading Charity Super.Mkt from 24th March

Liz Nicholls

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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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Oxfordshire High Sheriff Young Engineer Awards

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State schools invited to nominate next generation of budding engineers

Calling for nominations for the Oxfordshire High Sheriff Young Engineer Awards!

The annual High Sheriff Young Engineer Awards are once again calling on Oxfordshire’s state schools to nominate the next generation of budding engineers.

State schools are invited to nominate students who have a passion for, and show great promise in, the fields of engineering, resistant materials and design technology. Prizes include £400 for the winning student in each category and £1,000 for the students’ respective school or college.

Now in their 13th year, the awards are sponsored by Abingdon & Witney College, The Engineering Trust and Lucy Group Ltd, a long-standing Oxford company that engineers smart electrics for the built environment. Applications must be submitted by Thursday 6th April and the top three students from each category will be invited to attend an awards ceremony on Monday 26th June at Abingdon & Witney College.

Commenting on this year’s awards Marea Brown, event organiser at Abingdon & Witney College, said: “The judging panel is increasingly inspired by the ingenuity of the nominated students and the rise in nominations for girls. Our aim is to help give talented youth a chance to ignite their interest in engineering, go on to reach their full career potential and help meet some of the world’s biggest challenges.”

For more information please contact: [email protected]

Download a nomination form: High Sheriff Young Engineer Awards 2023 – Lucy Group

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National Trust spring gardens in Surrey

Karen Neville

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Image: National Trust / Chris Lacey

Here are the best places to see spring flowers at National Trust gardens in Surrey this season. From blossom to bluebells, daffodils to rhododendrons, the signs of spring are sure to raise the spirits.

Everyone’s got a favourite flower, one that makes us happy, or brings to mind someone close to us. The hopeful sight of a swathe of purple crocuses or cheerful carpet of delicate bluebells can make our day.

As we emerge from the hibernation of winter, this is the perfect time to meet up with loved ones for a spring pilgrimage to see the bulbs and blooms, followed by a catch-up over a cuppa.

Find out more about the National Trust’s spring gardens near you:

Spring bulbs and blossom at Polesden Lacey

Near Dorking, Surrey, normal admission applies

Take in the views of the Edwardian house at Polesden Lacey framed by swathes of daffodils and spring bulbs, while the little ones can enjoy the brand new play area. Take a walk through the gardens to find floral fiestas in the spring borders, daffodils along New Lime Walk and anemones in the courtyard.

New for this year are 35,000 spring crocuses planted in the Ladies’ Garden to commemorate Mrs Greville. The garden team are planting a new Blossom Garden as you enter the property. In years to come 40 new cherry trees will blossom, among a meadow of wildflowers.

For well-established blossom trees, wind your way to Home Farm Orchard, where mature apple and pear trees are full of blossom in spring. Perch on a picnic bench under the apple blossom and breathe in the spring.

Image: National Trust / Megan Taylor
Image: National Trust / Eddie Hyde

Bluebells at Hatchlands Park

Near Guildford, Surrey, normal admission applies

The parkland at Hatchlands is a glorious place to visit for a spring walk. Delicate bluebells form a carpet of violet in the ancient woodlands in late April and early May. Pretty anemones and violets are scattered along the Long Walk, followed by the cheery sight of cowslips in the meadow and May blossom. Enjoy the scent of lilac and skimmia in the garden and see daffodils beneath a magnificent London plane tree.

The much-loved Hatchlands donkeys are moving to a new purpose built stable this spring. Close by will be a small play area for pre-schoolers and picnic benches.

Image: National Trust / James Dobson

Daffodils and rhododendrons at Claremont Landscape Garden

Near Esher, Surrey, normal admission applies

Take time out to enjoy the refreshing sights of spring, when Claremont Landscape Garden is at its loveliest. Swathes of daffodils and camellias first herald the new season, with azaleas and rhododendrons following on.

As the days get longer, stroll through corridors of rhododendrons, the sunshine sparkling on the lake and look out for tiny ducklings and goslings. There are wonderful viewpoints and vistas from which to watch the signs of spring emerge as the garden awakens.

Image: National Trust / Andrew Butler
Image: National Trust / Andy Millar

Bluebells and azaleas at Winkworth Arboretum

Near Godalming, Surrey, normal admission applies

Spring arrives at Winkworth with pops of daffodils and magnolias in bloom at first, then an explosion of colour: with rhododendrons, azaleas and bluebells spreading glorious colour across the arboretum.

Walking down the azalea steps at Winkworth Arboretum on a May morning is a moment of heaven in Surrey, with their boldly coloured flowers and the echoing song of blackbirds. The upper slopes of the arboretum and bluebell wood fill out with an unmissable carpet of native bluebells.

Thanks to recent conservation work by the countryside team, the bluebells will have even more opportunity to emerge throughout the arboretum this year.

Image: National Trust / John Millar
Image: National Trust / James Dobson

Rhododendrons and bluebells at Leith Hill

Normal parking charges apply

At the foot of Leith Hill, the winding paths of Caroline Wedgwood’s historic rhododendron wood are lined with vibrant rhododendron blooms and gently scented azaleas. The towering specimen trees, including redwoods, provide dappled shade and a place to relax.

A climb up to Franks Wood will be rewarded with the wonderful haze and scent of native bluebells and spectacular views across the south downs.

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Good Hotel Guide to R&A counties

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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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Get Fully Charged LIVE in Farnborough

Karen Neville

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Fully Charged LIVE is a fun-filled, knowledge packed festival of electrification from April 28th to 30th at Farnborough International

Designed to inspire people to #StopBurningStuff, this year’s show includes an array of visitors attractions, dozens of ‘live sessions’ and an exhibition of hundreds of companies, with electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes. And a huge selection of home energy options too.

An array of experts will offer advice and tips in the Giga and Mega Theatres where you can get involved in more than 50 expert live sessions. Among the experts is Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden,

One of the most popular ‘attractions’ is the home energy advice team. Powered by OVO Energy, home energy experts will be on hand throughout the show to offer advice on ways to improve your home, whilst reducing your impact on the planet. They can offer help with heat pumps, insulation, batteries, smart meters, home EV charging, solar PV, solar thermal and energy bills. Appointments are available for a chat and it’s advisable to book a session on arrival at the show.

Fully Charged LIVE also offers the chance to test out the latest micro machines on an outdoor test track – hop aboard a scooter, skateboard or bike and put micro mobility to the test.

If you’re thinking about changing to an EV, get behind the wheel and take one for a test drive. There’s a display of the latest EVs on show and if you’re considering making the switch with your business then take a look at the commercial vehicle zone.

The zero carbon kitchen will be serving up plant-based cookery shows and food tastings and children are never too young to start learning in the Kids Zone with an eco-themed Lego city and inspirational artwork on show.

Find out more and book tickets at https://uk.fullycharged.live/south/

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Hogs Back welcomes Little Ginger Swine

Karen Neville

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New addition to the low alcohol beer family for Surrey brewery

Surrey-based Hogs Back Brewery is adding to its Little Swine family of low alcohol beers with the launch of flavoured craft ale Little Ginger Swine.

With an ABV of 0.5%, and spiced up with natural ginger extract after brewing, Little Ginger Swine is a full-bodied, flavoured pale ale, brewed with four speciality malts and three hop varieties including aromatic Cascade from Hogs Back’s own hop garden, and dry hopped with Mosaic for a robust citrus finish.

The addition of ginger gives a spicy kick which complements the crisp, smooth, ale, creating a memorable beer that punches well above its weight in flavour terms, despite its low ABV. Little Ginger Swine join Little Swine 2.8% and Little Swine 0.5% in Hogs Back’s expanding range of low alcohol beers.

Hogs Back Brewery managing director Rupert Thompson said: “We’re delighted to be expanding our Little Swine family. The strong consumer response to the existing Little Swine beers has shown that demand for low alcohol beers with plenty of character continues to grow.

“Little Ginger Swine has all the fiery character you’d expect from ginger with some to spare. We think that’s all part of its charm. It has a wonderful flavour that offers something different for the increasing number of beer drinkers enjoying low alcohol beers, making Little Ginger Swine a welcome new addition to the Little Swine family of beers.”

Little Ginger Swine 0.5% ABV is available in 500ml bottles with an RRP of £2.40.

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