Star Q&A: Kate Mosse

Liz Nicholls

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Shows & Reviews

Best-selling author Kate Mosse OBE shares her thoughts ahead of her Warrior Queens & Quiet Revolutionaries tour at a theatre near you

Q. Hello Kate! How are you?

“Very well, thank you for asking! I’ve just become a grandmother, so loving everything about that.”

Q. It’s wonderful that you’re shining a light on previously overlooked trailblazing women. Can you tell us a little about any of your favourites?

“There are so many amazing women – from every corner of the world, in every period of history – but I love the extraordinary footballer, Lily Parr, who scored more than 1,000 goals in her professional career in the early 1900s, and also the legendary 18th century pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Reid, who were fierce and uncompromising – my next novel, The Ghost Ship, is partly inspired by their story.”

Q. What was your favourite book as a child?

“So many, but certainly The Golden Hamster, a beautiful story for young children about being true to who you are (a hamster, not a rat or a cat or a mouse). My beloved, and much missed Dad, used to read it to me at bedtime, and I still have that 1960s edition. I also loved The Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder for their sense of freedom, the amazing descriptions of the American mid-west in the 1880s and 1890s, and the feisty, principled heroine of the books herself.”

Q. And how about now – who is your favourite author?

“I try to avoid ever answering this question – too many of my friends are writers – but, going back in time, certainly Emily Bronte, Adrienne Rich, Rider Haggard and Agatha Christie would be at the top of the list.”

“It’s quite a challenge starting a new career as a performer at the age of 61!”

Q. Do you enjoy touring?

“I’m excited and nervous – what if nobody comes or my voice gives out – and it’s quite a challenge starting a new career as a performer at the age of 61! On the other hand, you have to keep having new challenges and pushing yourself. I’m not ready to hang up my boots and sitting dozing by the fire quite yet. I’m really looking forward to meeting audiences and hearing all the amazing women from history they would like to celebrate. The tour is about starting a conversation, having a great night out in the theatre, and putting some incredible women back in to the history books.”

Q. How well do you know the parts of the South East where you’re on tour?

“Very well. I grew up, and live now, in Chichester, so one of our days out was always to Guildford. My aunt and uncle lived in Woking, and my son-in-law comes from a beautiful village in the Surrey Hills. So, it’s home from home. Also, the Guildford Book Festival is one of my favourite festivals. I was lucky enough to go to university in Oxford, so I had three years of getting to know not only the city itself, but also the amazing countryside around about. The joy of being on tour is not only meeting audiences from all over the country, but also getting to know new parts of our beautiful country. Every day before the evening show, I’ll be out exploring.”

Q. What is your first memory of music?

“My fabulous Ma had an LP of Nancy Sinatra’s Swinging Safari, and I adored it and dancing along with her. In those days, you had to drop the stylus on to the record, listen, and then start again…”

Q. Who would be your dream dinner party guests?

“So many of the women I’ll be celebrating in my show – so, as well as those I’ve already talked about, the great British composer Ethel Smyth; the extraordinary 13th century Mongolian wrester princess, Khutulan – who was the inspiration for Puccini’s opera Turandot; Pauli Murray, one of the ‘freedom riders’ along with Rosa Parks who changed the racist ‘Jim Crow’ laws in America in the 1940s and 1950s; Josephine Cochrane who, in 1893, invented the dishwasher (yes, really!) Eunice Newton Foote, who discovered global warming but saw her discovery attributed to the men who came after her; and perhaps Beatrix Potter, to talk about her amazing work in conservation as much as her writing for children.  Oh, and of course, my own great-grandmother, Lily Watson, who is at the heart of the Warrior Queens tour, who I would have loved to have known.” 

Q. How much do you love life in West Sussex and why?

“I’m a Chi (Chichester) girl, born and bred, and it’s where all my family live.  So, my whole life – apart from a few years away at university, then working in London – has been spent in and around Chichester and Fishbourne.  There is something for everyone – amazing woods and beaches, incredible art galleries and an internationally-renowned theatre, the canal and Roman Palace, history and folklore, music and community. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.” 

Q. Can you tell us a bit about your first impressions of Carcassonne and how you fell in love with it, changing the course of your life?

“We first bought a tiny house in the shadow of the medieval city walls of Carcassonne back in 1989 and, from the moment I first saw the extraordinary ‘crown of stone’ sitting on the hill above the river Aude, 52 towers and turrets, two rings of defensive walls, everything stepped in history, I fell in love.   I didn’t intend to write about Carcassonne but, little by little as I read history about Languedoc and learnt about the people who had lived there in the 13th century, the ‘whispering in the landscape started’ … that’s to say, I started to hear the voices of characters and the outline of a story.  Those whisperings became my novel, Labyrinth, and since then, almost all of my fiction has been a kind of love letter to this beautiful corner of southwest France.”

Q. What advice would you have for any woman out there who has always dreamt of writing a book? “Do it! A little writing every day, just so you start to get your muscles used to the process, that’s how a novel or biography takes shape. Don’t worry about how good it is, or quite where it’s going, just get some words down. Soon you’ll have a sentence, then a paragraph then, before you know it, a chapter. Once you have a rough draft, then you have something you can start to edit into the novel you’ve always wanted to write.” 

Q. If you could make one wish for the world, what would it be? “That we all share the same planet. So, more kindness, more remembering how to listen and respect one another’s point of view – even if it’s not the same as our own – more attention to saving the planet, and a return to public service not self-interest built on values of decency, honesty and equality.  I’m still an idealist and believe that we can all work together, we can leave the world in a better state than we found it.  And most of the women I’m celebrating in Warrior Queens did precisely that.” 

Book at katemosse.co.uk/events 

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David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny in Woking

Liz Nicholls

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Shows & Reviews

David Walliams answers some questions ahead of the theatre adaptation of his book landing at New Victoria Theatre in Woking from Wednesday 9th February to Saturday 12th February

Calling all families! The coolest Granny around is coming to Woking from Wednesday 9th February to Saturday 12th February.

The West End production of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny is being brought to Woking by the producers of the hit stage shows, Horrible Histories and Billionaire Boy.

Inspired by Walliams’ own granny the show follows Ben as he dreads going to stay with his cabbage-obsessed granny every Friday. But what Ben doesn’t know is that Granny has a secret – and Friday nights are about to get more exciting than he could ever imagine, as he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime with his very own Gangsta Granny!

David Walliams Q&A:

Q. What inspired Gangsta Granny?

“When I was a child I would spend lots of time with my grandmas. Sometimes I would selfishly think spending time with them could be boring but when I got them on a subject like living in London during World War II when bombs were raining down, they would become very animated and I would be enthralled. I realised everyone has a story to tell.”

Q. What were your grannies like and are there any elements of their characters in Gangsta Granny?

“There was definitely a smell of cabbages in one of my grandmas’ houses. The other did break wind like a duck quacking when she walked across the room.”

Q. Many people would say there’s a special bond between children and their grandparents, why do you think that is?

“I think grandparents love being grandparents because they get to give the children back to the parents! Children love spending time with their grandparents because they love hearing their stories and being allowed to stay up past their bedtime.”

Q. When did you decide to write children’s fiction and what encouraged you?

“Ten years ago I had an idea for a story. What if a boy went to school dressed as a girl? I thought it would be a thought-provoking children’s book. That became The Boy in the Dress, the first of my children’s novels.”

Q. What are the delights of writing children’s fiction?

“The only limitation in a children’s book is your imagination. You can take children on magical journeys in books that many adults would be reluctant to go on.”

Q. And the challenges of writing for children?

“Children love to be scared but it can’t be too horrifying. Children love to laugh but it can’t be too rude. You always have to be the right side of the line.”

Q. You’ve often talked about Roald Dahl, what do you think makes him special?

“I think Dahl’s books always feel a little bit forbidden. He manages to balance the humour and scary elements in his stories perfectly.”

Q. Which Dahl books do you particularly like and why?

“The Twits is utterly hilarious and I love that it is a children’s book with no child characters.”

Q. Which other children’s writers did you enjoy as a child and why?

“I loved Dr Seuss books as a child, especially ‘Green Eggs and Ham’. His books are like nightmares come to life. They are rich and strange and utterly unlike anybody else’s work.”

Q. What do you think children enjoy in your books?

“I imagine they like the humour and that I don’t patronise them. I deal with quite big topics, crossdressing, homelessness, grief. I know children are a lot smarter than most grown-ups think.”

Q. What were your feelings on seeing Gangsta Granny adapted for the stage?

“It’s a huge thrill seeing Gangsta Granny have this whole new life on the stage. It has already been a TV film. People seem to really like the story. In fact, Gangsta Granny is my best-selling book by far and the stage production is brilliant.”

“There is lots of action in Gangsta Granny, especially when they try to steal the Crown Jewels.”

Q. Do you feel there are any particular challenges or difficulties with staging Gangsta Granny?

“There is lots of action in Gangsta Granny, especially when they try to steal the Crown Jewels – so it’s quite a challenge for the Birmingham Stage Company to bring those scenes to life, but they do it so wonderfully well.”

Q. Are there any scenes you particularly like seeing on stage?

“I like the characters of Ben’s mum and dad. Their obsession with ballroom dancing is very funny brought to life in the play.”

Q. Why were you keen to work with Birmingham Stage Company on the adaptation?

“I saw their Horrible Histories show which was superb. I loved the humour and the interaction with the audience, so I knew they were the right people to stage my book.

Q. What do you hope children will take away from watching Gangsta Granny on stage?

“The moral of the story is ‘don’t assume old people are boring just because they are old’. In fact, they are likely to have had a much more interesting life than yours. Talk to old folk, listen to their stories. They are bound to be full of magic and wonder.

Q. In what way do you think experiencing the stage show will differ from their experiences when reading the book?

“The great thing about seeing Gangsta Granny on stage is you will get to share it with an audience. So hopefully you will laugh and cry along with everyone else. That’s what makes theatre so special.”

Q. What do you think are the elements that make up a good theatrical production for children?

“Those for children need to be fun and fast-paced which Gangsta Granny certainly is.”

Q. Strictly Come Dancing raises its head in Gangsta Granny – would you like to be in the show and, if so, how do you rate your hopes of holding the glitter ball?

“I can’t dance at all (as you might have seen in the TV adaptation of Gangsta Granny when I tried to dance with Miranda Hart). So I would say my chances are less than zero.”

Gangsta Granny was adapted from David Walliams’ book by Neal Foster, actor-manager of Birmingham Stage Company. He has also directed the show. The show is suitable for ages 5+ and duration is about two hours.

Tickets from £13, fees apply. You can book tickets by calling the Box Office on 0844 871 7615 (Fees apply. Calls cost up to 7p per minute, plus your phone company’s access charge), Groups Booking Line 0207 206 1174 or online at ATGTICKETS.COM/Woking (fees apply).

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Electric vehicles – myths and misconceptions

Round & About

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Shows & Reviews

Dave Lamont of Plastic Free Home shares his reasons for finally deciding to go electric, can he persuade you by dispelling some of those myths and misconceptions?

This autumn, after much research and careful deliberation we finally took the plunge and ordered our first electric vehicle (EV).

In the UK, that still very much makes us ‘early adopters’. Of the 33 million cars on our roads, just 462,050 are battery electric vehicles (BEVs) according to the RAC. But the picture is changing. The number of BEVs registered in September rose 16.5% in September, with around 15% of all new cars registered now fully electric. With the sale of petrol and diesel cars and vans banned in the UK after 2030, and hybrid sales banned from 2035, that trend should only gather pace.

One thing that becomes quickly apparent when you delve deeper into things is there are many myths and misconceptions surrounding the electric vehicles. We thought it might be helpful to clear a few of them up…

The range isn’t good enough

How often do you jump in your car and go for a 200-mile round trip, or further? Not often would be the answer for most of us. In fact, according to the Department for Transport, the average car does just 5,300 miles per year, or 15 miles per day. So simply charging at home isn’t an issue for most.

Do you fill your petrol or diesel tank every time, especially with fuel prices high? If not, you’ll be lucky to get a range of 200-300 miles, comparable to many newer EVs.

They are powered by fossil fuels

EVS are not a perfect solution, but end to end they are better and, unlike fossil fuels, improving all the time. Zero carbon power formed nearly half of Britain’s energy mix last year, with the proportion coming from fossil fuels down from 75% in 2010 to 35%. In 2020, renewables accounted for over 43% of the electricity generated, overtaking fossil fuels for the first time. Growing demand for EVs will inevitably lead to growing demand for clean energy and only help to speed up that transition. Solar panels and other adaptation can also enable you to generate your own electricity at home.

You need specialist insurance

Most major insurers will happily provide you with cover. Sorting ours was as simple as with any other car in the past. Given the typically higher value of EVs, expect to pay a little more in the short-medium term.

The battery will drain

Listening to music or using your wipers won’t have a noticeable impact on your battery life but air con, for example, probably will. However, that’s not really any different to in a petrol or diesel vehicle, where air con can mean using an extra 5-10% of fuel. EVs can also hold their charge for long periods when not in use.

Charging is difficult

For most people charging at home will be the most convenient and cost-effective option – around a quarter of the price of charging on the go. On average, it will cost you around £1,000 to buy and have a home charging point installed but consider it a longer-term investment, like installing solar panels or fitting a new boiler. We opted for an Ohme Home Pro charger, as it’s compatible with the new Intelligent Octopus tariff which provides six hours per night of charging at 10p/kWh. It is true that much faster progress needs to be made on installing public charge points across the UK. According to ZapMap, there are currently 42,000 across the UK but The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders estimates that we will need around 2.3 million charge points by 2030 to satisfy demand. But, as above, how often will you need to charge publicly if you can generally do so at home?

Charging is too slow

Whilst a home charger (typically 7kW) will charge more slowly overnight, public chargers range from 25kW to 350kW and can charge a car’s battery from 0-80% in as little as 20-30 minutes. So, by the time you’ve picked up a few groceries or had a toilet break and grabbed a coffee you could be underway again.

The grid can’t cope with demand

In fact, electricity use in the UK has been falling (around 17%) since peaking in 2005 as technology continues to improve and as a result of energy saving and efficiency measures. From heat pumps to induction hobs, and of course EVS, it is clear that demand for electricity looks set to increase though. However, the ability to charge EVs when energy demand is at its lowest can help to smooth out and manage any pressure on the grid, and EVs can even store electricity to sell back to the grid. And, as above, you might consider generating your own electricity.

EVs are expensive

As with any new product, car companies will want to recoup the significant investment associated with bringing EVs to the market. They will also charge those at the front of the queue a premium. Expect EVs to gradually become more and more affordable over time but also remember that they can be around 70% cheaper to maintain over their lifetime.

EVs are unsafe

Firstly, our new EV has an NCAP five-star rating, the highest possible. Secondly, EVs are subject to the same stringent safety standards as other vehicles and their batteries are battery packs and system are sealed and isolated, meaning that whether you’re navigating a thunderstorm or the local car wash, you should be safe. A major US study also suggested that the risk of fire is on a par with or lower than in a petrol or diesel car.

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Dom Joly at New Theatre Oxford

Karen Neville

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Shows & Reviews

Award-winning comedian takes to the stage with tales of his weird travel adventures

Despite being a highly successful, multi-award winning comedian, Dom Joly have never been a stand-up. His work always been on television or on the written page.

Under pressure to tour he finally gave it a go in 2011 and was given a severe kicking by the comedy elite and press. This put him off for years.

Then 10 years later, he had an idea for a show about his weird travel adventures.

He was immediately told by several promoters that such a show would never interest more than a handful of people. Dom decided to prove them wrong.

He put the show together and then set off on a mammoth tour around every tiny UK venue that would have him. Slowly he learned how to handle an audience, how to perform live.

After 199 shows he is finally ready. Dom wants to end the tour with a big one and sell out the New Theatre in Oxford and prove everybody wrong, but will he?

Dom has also never done radio before. He joined JACKfm as the main station voiceover in July 2022 and also hosts the weekly show Dom Joly’s Sunday Session every Sunday afternoon, where he gets to play his own songs and chats to some of the singers who performed them.

JACKfm have booked the New Theatre Oxford for 20th January for his Holiday Snaps show.

Dom and the show are finely honed. All he needs now is for everybody to come and enjoy the end results.

Tickets are £26pp plus £3.80 transaction free and on sale at www.jackfm.co.uk/tickets

Dom Joly’s Sunday Session can be heard every Sunday from 12 to 2pm on JACKfm. Listen on 106 FM in Oxfordshire, smartspeakers (“play JACK fm”), online at https://www.jackfm.co.uk/ and on the JACK Radio App in mobile app stores.

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All That Glitters at Quaglino’s

Round & About

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Quaglino’s, the iconic restaurant in the heart of St James’s, has created a delicious menu specially for Christmas Day, as well as an all-day swing extravaganza for New Year’s Eve.

Where better to celebrate the festive season than the first restaurant the late HM Queen Elizabeth ll ever visited? The historic and stylish vibe is the perfect backdrop to enjoy contemporary European cuisine, vibrant cocktails, champagne and live entertainment.  

Christmas Day

Guests will revel the season spirit in a relaxed manner and glamorous style, feasting on four courses (£150pp) whilst listening to the sounds of live music from the wonderful String Infusion from 12pm – 8pm. The lavish meal begins with starters such as Wild mushroom tortelloni, winter truffle, aged parmesan or Duck liver parfait, clementine, candied walnuts, toasted brioche. Sumptuous mains includes dishes such as the classic Roasted bronze turkey breast, venison sausage roll, pigs in blankets, potato fondant, cranberry & red wine jus or Gnocchi, roasted Delicata pumpkin, oyster mushrooms, kale crisps. Desserts include delicate crowd pleasers such as Christmas pudding, hot butter rum sauce, redcurrants and Chocolate, raspberry & pistachio. This comes to a satisfying conclusion with a seasonal mince pie.  

New Year’s Eve:

See out 2022 with an all day swing extravaganza in the heart of London’s West End, with the theme of ‘All That Glitters Is Gold.” Live entertainment starts with the swing brunch at 12pm, followed by early dinner seatings from 6:30pm (£150pp) or there’s the option to choose the late dinner seatings (£280pp), meaning guests can keep their tables right up until 3am. Britain’s Got Talent winner’s Jack Pack will create a memorable atmosphere to welcome in the new year before a DJ sees the evening off. Guests can raise a glass of champagne, carefully curated cocktails and dance the night away with the incredible acts on the grand stage.

Quaglino’s, is the ideal place to indulge in contemporary European food, legendary cocktails and live music. Founded in 1929 by Giovanni Quaglino, the iconic restaurant became famous for its fashionably late supper followed by music and dancing. In addition to Quaglino’s own charm and grace, the venue struck exactly the tone which glamorous society favoured. Some of the restaurant’s most famous visitors include The Queen in 1956 as well as a number of royals, including Princess Margaret, who enjoyed a permanently reserved table. Quaglino’s was the first public restaurant the late HM Queen Elizabeth ll visited after her coronation in 1952 and this made it the first public restaurant a reigning monarch had ever eaten in. 

After Quaglino’s retirement, the restaurant was opened in 1993 by Conran Restaurant, once again creating excitement amongst Royals and celebrities alike. It is even rumoured that Princess Diana was known to sneak through the kitchen to access her table unseen by paparazzi.

in 2014, Quaglino’s relaunched again, now as part of D&D London, with a brand-new look and glittering stage. The venue’s famous staircase remains, making one’s entrance to the restaurant a truly glamorous affair and the rest of the interior is brimming with elegance, boasting mirrored walls, black and gold décor and a grand bar in the centre of the space. With its iconic history and unique dining experience, Quaglino’s maintains its reputation as the ultimate evening hotspot. With entertainment seven nights a week, the venue is always alive with conversation and live music.

The European menu offers exciting, vibrant dishes and much-loved classics using seasonal ingredients. Complementing the live music and a decadent dining experience, the talented bar team at Quaglino’s offer a new depth to the drinking experience and have a created an innovative list of cocktails that reflect the style and elegance of the venue.

To book please email [email protected] or call 020 7930 6767.

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Copper celebration at the Coppa Club

Round & About

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Michelle Miley is left in seventh heaven at The Georgian, Coppa Club’s new boutique hotel in the heart of the Surrey Hills, Haslemere

Seven years ago, my husband and I said: “I do!” so, in celebration of our copper wedding anniversary we gleefully headed to The Georgian, Coppa Club for a rare night away together. We arrived at the charming Grade II listed property on a bitterly cold, frosty night so we were thankful that the fires had been stoked as we walked through the grand entrance to a warm welcome. It was Friday night and amidst the beautifully decorated Christmas Trees, the bar and restaurant hummed with the sound of clinking glasses and festive cheer, putting us in the mood for an evening of fabulous cocktails and feasting.

The Hotel

The Georgian, Coppa Club opened its doors in May and since then has been stirring up the Surrey hospitality scene in the leafy streets of Haslemere. The tenth property to join Coppa Club’s portfolio of clubhouses and third hotel location, The Georgian offers an all-day lifestyle venue with no membership fees. It’s an escape for the community of Haslemere and a destination that is accessible to everyone, where visitors and locals alike can enjoy the exceptional facilities to work, eat, drink, meet, relax and stay. Complete with a café, bar, restaurant, lounge, terrace and private dining space, available from morning to night, visitors can pop in with their laptop for a morning coffee or casual business meeting, sit for cocktails at the bar or in a cosy booth for an indulgent dinner.

“The Georgian, Coppa Club opened its doors in May and since then has been stirring up the Surrey hospitality scene in the leafy streets of Haslemere.”

The interior is an inspirational mix of traditional and contemporary style that allows the building’s Georgian features to shine alongside fun design features. I particularly liked the playful use of brass hands as coat hooks in the bar. Georgian-inspired patterned floor tiles and Georgian panelling in gorgeous hues of green create a relaxed feel in the bar and snug areas. There is also a more formal, wooden panelled private room that can be used for meetings or private dining. The tiles and panelling feature again in pastel pink tones in the plant-filled Summer House, making it ideal for children’s parties or casual meetings. The lounge has dark blue panelling and matching ceiling that highlights the Tudor-style wooden beams and emulates a snug feel where you can relax with a drink.

The Georgian has 13 individually designed bedrooms for a comfy getaway. Although the hotel welcomes everyone, we chose to leave our young son at his grandad’s house for a sleepover enabling us to appreciate the blissful peace and fully unwind. Our spacious bedroom felt very tranquil with its calming green palette and huge bed, and the ensuite was luxurious with an incredible rainforest shower. The room was also well equipped with a flatscreen TV, hairdryer, ironing facilities and fridge with water and fresh milk for that essential morning coffee.

Dining

There are several dining spaces each offering a different fantastic experience. The main restaurant is large and airy with ‘Bonbon’ lanterns that create an atmospheric glow. Leading off the restaurant is a glass-enclosed terrace with a large fire pit keeping it toasty, and for year-round dining under the stars, three iconic heated igloos dominate the garden.

First things first, we ordered from the inventive cocktail menu a refreshing Raspberry Moscow Mule and a sweet Tiramisu Martini. Premium ingredients are blended with flair and creative twists are incorporated into classic cocktail recipes.

The food menu is focused on European, British and Mediterranean dishes, and the festive specials menu features this season’s favourites served in a modern way. Ordering from the festive specials, to start, I had Salmon Tartare paired with baby capers and tangy ponzu which I slathered on crispy flatbreads. My husband tucked into perfectly tender smoked Duck Breast served with celeriac.

For mains, I savoured Slow cooked Duck Leg with a crisp skin and meat that glided off the bone served with braised butter beans and accompanied by roast potatoes, roast root vegetables and pan-seared Brussels sprouts (served with all the festive specials). My husband enjoyed his house classic, 10oz Rib Steak on the Bone cooked pink to perfection and served with a side of skinny fries and spicy chimichurri sauce.

After our indulgent dinner, we just about had room for dessert. I opted for classic, fruity and rich Christmas Pudding drenched in sweet brandy butter, and my husband had Spiced Cranberry and White Chocolate Cheesecake. Feeling contented, we snuggled up in a cosy nook by a fireplace and finished the evening with an ice-cold Baileys and warm mince pies – it is Christmas after all!

In the morning we headed to the terrace for a hearty breakfast of creamy, crushed avocado, poached eggs and crispy cured English bacon stacked on sour dough, and an impressive Skillet Breakfast served piping hot. I feel that the mark of an excellent English breakfast should be judged by the quality of its sausages and the Cumberland sausages at The Georgian were superb.

Location

Considered a fashionable hotspot and just a short drive from the beautiful Surrey countryside, Haslemere is a charming market town. Boasting boutique shops, independent cafes and interesting tourist attractions – these include a nearby vineyard, distillery, national trust property, classic car show and food festival. With easy access from London, Hampshire and Sussex, Haslemere is the ideal staycation destination for those looking to enjoy a weekend in the Surrey Hills, where you can spend some time in the great outdoors and unwind.

“Treat yourself to a supper and stay this Christmas time.”

The Georgian, Coppa Club is a fabulous, welcoming retreat for celebrating a special occasion like we were, or to spend time with friends or family catching up over drinks or a meal. Indulge in a treat for yourself and book the Festive Supper and Stay (available throughout December from £184) before (or after) the masses descend on your home this Christmas.

For more information on The Georgian, Coppa Club, please visit https://coppaclub.co.uk/the-georgian/ or call 01491 525 879. High St, Haslemere GU27 2JY

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Fantastic festive fizz worth a pop!

Round & About

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Round & About’s resident wine columnist Giles Luckett gives his top ten choices for bubbles at this most wonderful time of the year

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” So the song goes, and while I wholeheartedly agree with Andy Williams on this, I do wonder if our reasons for thinking so are the same. For while he seemed focused on marshmallows toasting and kids “jingle belling” (1963’s equivalent of TikTok?), for me it’s all about the fizz.

The festive season gives me the excuse (like I need one!) to indulge my passion for sparkling wines. When I first started taking a serious interest in wine, this meant champagne. While there were non-French sparkling wines out there most were either brilliant but expensive (Californian), lovely but hard to find (New Zealand), or affordable, available, and avoidable at all costs (Lambrusco).

“The festive season gives me the excuse (like I need one!) to indulge my passion for sparkling wines.”

Roll forward 30 years, and the world of fizz is a better place. From Spain to South Africa, Australia to England, the US to France (yes, I was surprised) great, affordable sparkling wines now abound.

So, in my final column of 2022 for Round & About, I’ll run down my top ten festive fizzes, wines that are bound to put some sparkle in to your Christmas.

10. Tesco Rosé Cava – at the time of writing (and until mid-December if my inside source, OK our delivery driver) is to be believed, the Clubcard price and 25% off any six wines makes this £4.50 a bottle. At such a price I’m prepared to forgive the fact that this should be called “rosado” rather than rosé. Pedantry aside, this is an excellent bottle of affordable fizz. Pale pink, the nose offers red cherries, raspberry sherbet, and earth. On the palate its fresh, with strawberries leading the charge, quickly followed by cherries, boiled sweets and just a hint of salinity. Great fun, and amazing value.

9. Champagne Bruno Paillard “Dosage Zero” MV (Multi-Vintage) (Hedonism Wines £49.80) A wine I came to late in the year, from a producer I fell for early in my career. Bruno Paillard is an exceptional champagne house, one that has consistently wowed me with the quality of their wines, and their willingness to innovate.

The “Dosage Zero” element refers to the fact that this wine doesn’t receive a shot of sugar before bottling, which is the case for almost all champagnes. This is a bold move as dosage can balance out a wine and add creaminess to the mouthfeel. Paillard have achieved a similar effect by using 50% reserve wines from previous years, and by giving it extended ageing of three-to-four years prior to release.

The result is a striking, fascinatingly complex wine with a style that is all its own. The nose is piercing and intense, with notes of white berries, citrus, and yeast. The palate is at first clean, and lively, but soon a creaminess joins the pear, grape, grapefruit, and chalky tones, so that by the time the finish hits you get a taste of brioche with lime marmalade. Bravo, Bruno!

8. The Wine Society’s Celebration Cremant de Loire 2019 (£12.95) – a vintage fizz for under £20, yes please. Cremant de Loire is one of the world’s oldest sparkling wines and is traditionally made from Chenin Blanc, though a proportion of Chardonnay is also often included these days. Cremant’s have slightly less C02 than Champagne, and this and the choice of grapes can give them a richer, more luxurious mouthfeel. Produced by leading producer Gratien Meyer, the bouquet is complex and subtle, with notes of yellow plums, apples, and honeysuckle. In the mouth it’s well-fruited, but elegant and stylish, the white fruits balanced by a clean acidity and a ripe note of yeast.

7. CVNE Cava (Majestic £9.99 when you buy any six wines) – CVNE is one of my favourite producers. They make a huge range of wines including the Rioja Reserva (Sainsbury’s £12), which is never out of my cellar, up to world-class fine wines such as the Contino Viña del Olivo (Waitrose £66) a wine I would urge any lover of Rioja to try. Their Cava is a new wine, to me, and it didn’t disappoint. Rich, creamy, and full of autumn fruits, there’s serious depth and complexity on show here, with highlights of citrus and white currant, balanced by honey and yeast. Another class act from CVNE.

6. Balfour Hush Heath Estate 2018 Blanc de Blancs – English sparkling wine has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame, and is now rightly said to rival the world’s best. I’ve enjoyed several excellent examples this year, and many have come from Balfour. We toasted the Jubilee with a bottle of their joyous Hush Heath Estate Rosé (Waitrose £33.99 on offer, down from £39.99), and two of their wines make this list.

The Hush Heath Estate 2018 Blanc de Blancs (Balfourwinery.com £45) is a serious, refined, elegant wine. The citrusy nose is tinted with coconut and lime leaves, while the palate offers apples, melon, biscuity yeast, and touch of peachy ripeness on the finish.

5. Balfour Hush Heath Estate 2018 Blanc de Noirs (Balfourwinery.com £45) provided a fascinating contrast. Still young, I let this breathe for a couple of hours, and it opened with a shot of pure raspberry fruit before robust tones of brambles, red apples, minerals and pears come through. This impressive wine will age well, I suspect, though it’s hard to resist now, and would be glorious with smoked salmon.

If you feel like pushing the boat out, Balfour have just released their Archive Collection 2008 (Balfourwinery.com £120). Showing the remarkable ageing potential of English fizz, it’s on my must-taste list for 2023.

4. Taittinger 2015 (John Lewis £60) – my second champagne is an absolute pearl of a wine, 2015 was an exceptional vintage and Taittinger have taken full advantage of this. Typically stylish, the nose combines grapes, white flowers, peaches and yeast. In the mouth flavours of white berries, peach stones, black grapes, vanilla, and minerals effortlessly flow together, to give a silken, seamless experience. It’s a beautiful wine, one the despite its delicacy has the capacity to age and develop.

3. Gosset Grande Reserve (Waitrose £50) – there are many wonderful things about Gosset’s wines. They are made to exacting standards in the pursuit of perfection, they are stylish, strikingly powerful and intense, yet have such charm. The Grande Reserve is incredibly precise, the nose wonderfully delineated with notes of red berries, citrus, yeast, and dried pears. On the palate it seizes your attention with an intense attack of red and white berries, followed by rich, creamy tones of peaches, vanilla, mirabelles and minerals. Try this with smoked fish and white meats.

2. Graham Beck Vintage Rosé – I’ve been an admirer of Graham Beck’s wines for decades. The Graham Beck Brut (Majestic £11.99) has been our house fizz for years and yet every time I open a bottle I exclaim “Such a good wine.”

The vintage rosé takes their efforts to a whole new level. This is a sublime, a fizz that’s fit to grace anyone’s festive table. Deep pink with amber highlights, the nose is a blend of strawberries, cherries, and a hint of minty citrus. The palate is broad, rich, and offers a range of red berries, cherries, lime, and orange zest. The best value rosé sparkler in the UK? Probably.

1. Taittinger Prelude (John Lewis £55) – and so we come to not only my wine of choice for Christmas, but my wine of the year. I had this for the first time in 2020 and I’ve used any excuse to open a bottle since. Made from grapes from Grand Cru vineyards and given a luxurious six years of bottle ageing (double the usual amount for a non-vintage wine), this is a remarkable wine. The nose is a mellow mix of yellow skinned fruits suffused with vanilla, and a lovely savoury tone. The palate is succulent, packed with fruit and has Taittinger’s signature peaches in syrup tone to finish. This is a wine that fascinates and delights in equal measure, and will certainly make for a happy Christmas in my house.

Well, that’s it for 2022 from me. I hope you will try some of these wines and that you will have a fine Christmas.

All together now, it’s the most wonderful time of the year…

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Celebrate with glorious chamber music

Round & About

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Shows & Reviews

Distinguished performers prepare to share their talent and love of music with Haslemere concert goers

Get the new year off to an uplifting start with a concert at Haslemere Methodist Church.

The London Chamber Music Group Wind and Piano Quartet will entertain with an evening of classical, romantic and 20th century works.

The quartet, professors of the Royal College of Music and the British Isles Music Festival, comprises Susan Milan flute, John Anderson oboe, Martin Gatt bassoon, Daniel King-Smith piano.

The distinguished musicians will perform on Thursday, 12th January, 8pm. Doors open 7.30pm, with refreshments available in the interval.

Tickets £18, 12-17 year olds £9 and under 12s free. Book at wegottickets.com

2023 continues with concerts from the London Chamber Music Group:

February 9th – romantic, impressionist and 20th century works

March 9th – classical, romantic and 20th century works

May 4th – classical, romantic and 20th century works

June 1st – Baroque works for wind and continuo

Future charity concerts are planned featuring outstanding young musicians from the Royal College of Music for February 23rd (oboe, bassoon, piano), March 23rd (viola recital) and June 8th with the Edenis String Quartet.

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Leftfield thrill fans with collaborative album

Round & About

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Shows & Reviews

Electronic and dancefloor pioneers Leftfield have delivered fans an early Christmas present with their new album This Is What We Do, out now

Just when we all needed a burst of energy, Leftfield’s new album This Is What We Do has delivered this with bells on.

Neil Barnes and Paul Daley joined forces to create Leftfield more than three decades ago. Now led by Neil, Leftfield remain at the cutting edge of music. This is their fourth studio album and taps into the much-needed themes of connection, love, acceptance, diversity and healing.

You’ve probably heard the new single, Full Way Round, starring Fontaines DC frontman Grian Chatten with a spoken-word verse over banging beats and a poignant twist.

The other 10 tracks are also works of collaborative genius including Making A Difference featuring a poem by Lemn Sissay, the roots City of Synths and Kraftwerk-infused Machines Like me.

Full of raw energy, Accumulator, which Neil describes as the most fierce and aggressive on the album, is a blast from the past, tapping into the original Leftfield sound.

Many of the tracks were conjured up before the pandemic. Neil has spoken movingly about being diagnosed with bowel cancer last year, and of the tumult in his life, including divorce and depression. By opening up about his experience with other students on his psychotherapy course, Neil says that he was able to face down his demons and free up space in his mind, allowing him to be more creative. After an incredibly fertile time in the studio, Neil went into overdrive when he received his cancer diagnosis, finishing a batch of demos and handing them to the record company the day before his colon operation.

Now in remission, he has earned all the praise the new album is earning, infused with hope and urgency, which is why it feels like it is pulsing with life.

He says: “I just decided, if I don’t get this done now, I will probably either die, or it will never be done.”

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The Art of the Album Cover

Karen Neville

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Shows & Reviews

Henley-based art publisher Hypergallery welcomes browsers and buyers to an exhibition of signed, limited-edition prints by music’s most extraordinary visual artists

A collection of exquisite limited edition prints and affordable works by a collection of talented artists who have worked with some of the most iconic musicians from the 20th Century will be on display at Hypergallery in Henley from November 26th.

Celebrating the Golden Years of rock music through the album cover art that put a face on it, visitors can view pieces featuring David Bowie, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, T.Rex, Peter Gabriel, 10cc, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Beatles, Elton John, Genesis, Donovan, The Hollies, Cream, Pentangle.

The featured artists exhibiting include:

Vincent McEvoy was the art director of Polydor in the 1970s. As such, he had unique access to some of the biggest names in Rock, including The Who, Bob Marley and Eric Clapton. In recent years he has rekindled his passion for silkscreens, producing powerful pop-artworks based on some of the wonderful and iconic memorabilia that he accumulated throughout his career.

Karl Ferris is the man behind some of the most recognisable images of Jimi Hendrix. The originator of psychedelic and infrared photography worked closely with Hendrix on his image, styling and of course the photographs. With subjects including Cream, The Hollies, The Beatles and Donovan, Ferris was right at the epicentre of the psychedelic revolution.

Terry Pastor is a graphic artist who has worked for clients all across the world, creating iconic imagery with masterful flourishes of his airbrush. Pastor is best known for two images that jump-started the career of a young David Bowie, Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust. He has revisited and ‘remastered‘ his original source material in the creation of his stunningly sympathetic editions.

Barry Godber was a friend of King Crimson lyricist Peter Sinfield and a regular visitor to the group‘s rehearsal room in the basement of the Fulham Palace Road Cafe. Using watercolours, Godber gazed into a shaving mirror and constructed one of the most fearful self-portraits ever to grace a record sleeve.

Hipgnosis created some of the most innovative and surreal record cover art of the 1960s, 70s and 80s for the biggest bands and musicians of the era including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and 10cc. For fifteen years Hipgnosis (Storm Thorgerson, Aubrey Powell and Peter Christopherson) thrived as one of the best known photo design companies and latterly movie makers, creating timeless rock iconography.

Alan Aldridge created imaginative designs and intoxicating colour-rich images that captured the dreams and hallucinations of a generation; in The Beatles Illustrated Lyrics, on album covers for The Who, Cream and Elton John, and on the notorious Chelsea Girls poster for Andy Warhol.

Richard Evans began his rock’n’roll career as a shoe designer in the early 70s, putting multi-coloured platforms under the feet of Elton John, Roxy Music and The Osmonds. It was at this time that he met Aubrey Powell and Storm Thorgerson and later worked at Hipgnosis with them as their graphic designer for several years. Eventually, he set up his own design studio, working with many big names in the music industry. Since 1976 he has worked closely with The Who, designing tour visuals, merchandise and, of course, album covers.

Sir Peter Blake was elected RA in 1981, awarded a CBE in 1983, and was knighted in 2002. His seminal art for Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is probably the world’s best-known album cover, but Peter’s connections with pop music led to many other ventures in album packaging, including The Who, Live Aid, Paul Weller, Oasis, Ian Dury, Eric Clapton and Brian Wilson.

Exhibition details:

Dates: 26th Nov 2022 – 23rd Dec 2022

Open: 11am-2pm by appointment

Location: Hypergallery, 47 Market Place, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 2AA

Admission: free

If you would like to visit, just drop Hypergallery a line at [email protected] or call on 01491 637021 to ensure someone will be at the gallery to welcome you.

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