Tom’s greatest hits at The Coach

Liz Nicholls

Round and About

Tom Kerridge & Sarah Hayward have brought some of their best-loved dishes back to menus to celebrate 10 happy years at The Coach

Behind every great team is (at least one) great woman, to mangle the phrase! And Sarah Hayward, who has worked alongside Tom Kerridge for 10 years, is at the heart of The Coach’s success.  

“The Coach has been my home for so many years and celebrating its 10th anniversary is incredibly special,” says Sarah.  

A selection of the pub’s most loved dishes from the past decade will be incorporated into the main menu throughout the birthday year and will change periodically to bring back a variety of cherished favourites from The Coach’s history. Each dish is embossed with a bespoke 10th anniversary logo. Dishes include potted Cornish crab with smoked paprika butter and cucumber chutney (£16.50), The Coach Chicken Kiev with Cauliflower Cheese (£29) and The Coach profiteroles with soured vanilla cream and dark chocolate sauce (£12.50). 

“This menu is a tribute to our loyal guests and the amazing team who make The Coach what it is,” adds Sarah. “I’m excited to revisit some of our best dishes and share them with everyone.” 

Tom Kerridge has also teamed up with the team at local brewery Rebellion Beer to create an IPA for the occasion called Decade. A local institution since 1993, Rebellion is renowned for its high-quality ales crafted using the Chiltern Hills’ natural resources and have collaborated with The Coach since the opening 10 years ago. A portion of proceeds will be donated to local charity, Meals from Marlow. 

In 2015, Sarah joined The Hand & Flowers, Tom Kerridge’s two-Michelin starred pub and after just three months was promoted to chef de partie. Just two years later in 2017, Sarah joined The Coach as junior sous chef, before promotion to her first head chef role at The Bull & Bear in Manchester’s The Stock Exchange Hotel in 2019. In 2021 Sarah returned to The Coach as head chef where she knows the kitchen inside out. She has led the team, and herself, to achieve prestigious accolades, including being named Michelin Young Chef of the Year 2023, retaining a Michelin Star since 2018, Number 21 in Top 50 Gastro Pubs 2024, and 3 AA Rosettes 2024. 

Tom Kerridge adds: “The Coach has always been about serving high-quality food in a relaxed and welcoming environment, and Sarah embodies that vision perfectly. I’m so proud of what the team has achieved and can’t wait to see how we continue to evolve in the years ahead.” 

For more info, the menu or to book please visit The Coach Marlow


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Pia Gill’s burnt peach design inspo

Liz Nicholls

Round and About

Pia Gill, who is a local mum, graphic designer & founder of burnt peach design, tells us what she loves about Bucks life

Graphic artist, mum and self-proclaimed type addict Pia Gill cites her boys as inspiration for her creative portraits & gifts collection. 

After decades in the design and advertising world, Pia couldn’t find affordable wall art that suited her style…“That’s when I had my ‘aha’ moment and created burnt peach design,” she says. “My daily inspiration and exhaustion comes from my boys. They sparked the Little Peach Portraits collection. What began as a few portraits transformed into thousands of unique pieces sold worldwide. As the business expanded from my kitchen table, my customers grew from friends to celebrities. Soon, the portraits were featured in magazines and on popular gift guides. 

“As time went on, I decided to revisit my typography obsession (which started back in university!), and expanded my wall art offerings. Enter My Type Of…, a massive collection of designs that includes bold statement prints, graphic tees, cosy sweatshirts, cards, and so soon to me much more. My friends and family always joke that if you say a good quote in my presence, there’s a chance I’ll jot it down and turn it into something!” 

Pia, who lives in Haddenham with her boys aged nine and 10 and their cockapoo Lola, grew up in Chearsley. A freelance designer creating branding and logo design for businesses, Pia loves Bucks life, setting up burnt peach design after leaving London 12 years ago. “Our little Lola thinks she’s human!” she adds. “She always gets the best seat on the sofa! Our favourite walk is Haddenham to Dinton, ending in the Seven Stars Pub. We love lots of walks in the Chilterns, normally ending in a pub! 

“I’m a charity shop fanatic, so I love Thame, Haddenham, Princess Risborough and Marlow; all have fantastic charity shops where you can find amazing treasures. I love nothing more than a good rummage! My home is an eclectic mix of modern and vintage, as as my wardrobe.  

“As for food & drink, Cabin in Haddenham is run by my husband who’s an award-winning chef. We also love Arbequina in Oxford as well as the Magdalen Arms in Oxford.  

“I’m studying interior design and have slowly done up our bungalow over the years to make it a cosy home. I love sitting in our courtyard with a glass of wine! What I love most about this area is it’s so nostalgic from growing up here. I love being surrounded by the countryside. 

“The clothing has been selling really well at burnt peach so that’s something that I’m expanding. Still the focus is the artwork, customisable portraits and prints to create meaningful statement pieces for the home. I’m always coming up with new print ideas!”  

Pia has supported several children’s charities, including The Honey Pot Children’s Charity and Solving Kids’ Cancer and Pia sponsors a room at Centrepoint, providing shelter and hope for vulnerable youths facing homelessness.  


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Beauty is more than skin deep

Liz Nicholls

Round and About

Tess Corcoran followed her dream to train in beauty and, after a spell at Champneys, is loving welcoming clients at White Sage in her home village of Princes Risborough

Home is where the heart is for Tess Corcoran who, at the tender age of 22, has a laser-like vision for the TLC her customers deserve.  

Tess, an alumna of Longwick School and Lord Bills, took on a hotel apprenticeship in London, then followed her passion in health and beauty, retraining with Champneys, before working at The Oxfordshire and Susannah Nicholas as a therapist, finally buying the salon from Sue. “It’s always been a dream to have my own salon and now I am living that dream!” says Tess. “It’s lovely to welcome clients for pampering in a calming atmosphere. We’re surrounded by the beautiful countryside. My lovely springer spaniel called Misty is 11 and full of life. We love going for walks through the Chiltern hills. My favourite local pet food brand is Tribal, based in Bledlow Ridge. 

“Another favourite local business is Godwins Bakery in Princes Risborough; fresh food served daily and wonderful staff! I also love Fullers Flowers for wonderful bouquets and displays. My favourite restaurant is Radhuni: the best Indian restaurant in Princes Risborough! They serve fantastic, high-quality food and have a great atmosphere with welcoming and friendly staff.” 


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Pubs – how to use them

Round & About

Round and About

Music. Fires. Positioning. We’ll cover it all here says Robbie James in his last column for 2024

Hello and welcome to the time of the year where it’s acceptable to set up shop in your Local at 3pm on a Tuesday – the most wonderful time of the year (apart from summer). I’m aware that not everyone manages to insert pub play time into their schedules throughout the year as much as I do, so below is some advice if you’re planning a visit with friends, family, or just you to a public house this festive season.

I’ll get the boring one out the way. Know the good pubs. Do a quick recce if you need to. You don’t want to have spent three hours in some tobacco-smelling establishment with high ceilings to then walk fifty metres down the road, and spot something resembling a pub from a Richard Curtis film.

They have a DJ starting at 8pm do they? Leave. Dua Lipa should overrun many places, but not a pub. We’re happy to accept the following instruments: Guitar (acoustic, electrics will be considered on a case-by-case basis), Violin, Banjo, Accordion, Cello, and of course, a Hurdy-gurdy.

If you have the ability to roam, the ability to stand, do it. Under only the most extreme circumstances should you settle around a table. What happens if, in your mad and often awkward scramble to find a seat, you end up between your overly political uncle and your grumpy teenage niece? Game over.

Make sure to position yourself in the standing area, lean on a ledge if you like, or even better, encircle a barrel. This will allow you to adapt your socialising through the art of the pivot. If one conversation ends, simply pivot and find another. Want to invite someone else into the conversation? Sure, just enlarge the circle. A barrel will allow for a more structured version of this, while giving you somewhere to place your lime and soda while you show everyone the size of your Christmas Tree (head out of the gutter please).

Small talk is at a premium at this time of year. Use the pub to your advantage. Find one that has a selection of walking sticks on the ceiling (The Wykeham Arms, Winchester), or an old cricket scorecard by the bar (Bat & Ball, Hambledon). There’s a good chance this will buy you three minutes of valuable discussion.

The fire; a common misconception surrounds the fire. Sitting around one sounds wholesome doesn’t it, Christmas card stuff. However, thanks to our old foe greenhouse gasses, freezing temperatures are not likely. Putting yourself directly next to the fire is only going to set you up for a sweaty night. You’ll ‘’ooooo’’ and ‘’cwoaar that’s nice’’ your way through your first half a Guinness, and then the heat will set in, and you’ll realise your knitted jumper is clinging to you as if it were a modern day rugby shirt. Ensure the fire is always in sight and you can jump in with a ‘’doesn’t the fire look lovely’’ or ‘’ooop, someone needs to put another log on that! Go on Gary hahaha’’, but give yourself at least a three metre gap.

Finally, don’t ask why someone isn’t drinking. There could be any host of reasons, but ultimately it makes no difference to your life, apart from probably making your round considerably cheaper. Pubs are not great because of alcohol, they’re great because they offer a glimpse into life before any of us were born, and a rare opportunity in the modern world to feel part of a community.

Finally, use the pub. They’re one of the only things the UK actually does really well. Before I was born my grandparents owned a pub in Bursledon, and I know the joy they got from providing a space for the community to meet one another. They worked tirelessly to ensure everyone felt welcome and happy to mix. You don’t have to drink, and you don’t need to have pre planned company – in a good pub, those that don’t know you will talk to you.


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Limited edition Christmas macaron gift boxes

Karen Neville

Round and About

Treat your loved ones to the gift of festive macarons from Giselle Richardson – the most delicious way to celebrate Christmas this year.

The hunt for the perfect last-minute Christmas gift just got a whole lot sweeter. Giselle Richardson, the acclaimed macaron brand, has unveiled the irresistible flavours for this year’s Limited Edition Christmas Macaron Gift Boxes.

These festive treats, made with the finest British seasonal ingredients, offer a truly unique edible gift that’s perfect for the holiday season.

Presented in exclusive, limited-edition packaging designed by the talented illustrator Anna German, the macarons come in a vibrant Twelve Days of Christmas theme, adding an extra festive flair to your gift. From nostalgic Christmas classics to exciting seasonal gifts, each macaron is a testament to Giselle Richardson’s dedication to creating mouth-watering flavours that everyone will love.

“Our Christmas macarons are all about celebrating the season’s best flavours,” says Giselle Richardson, the pastry chef behind the brand. “I’ve worked hard to bring together the best of British produce and festive favourites in these macarons. From the rich indulgence of chocolate caramel sea salt to the refreshing zing of apple bergamot, every bite is a little taste of Christmas joy.”

This Year’s Christmas Macaron Flavours Include:

• Chocolate
• Chocolate Caramel Sea Salt
• Apple Bergamot
• Gingerbread Orange
• Brandy-Caramel Poached Clementine (contains alcohol)
• Snowball (contains alcohol)
• Caramelised Pecan Cranberry
• White Chocolate Pomegranate Peppermint

Pre-order now to ensure your macarons arrive in time for Christmas. Orders will be dispatched on Saturday 21st December via Royal Mail Track 24, with delivery available UK-wide. Alternatively, you can collect your gift box directly from Giselle Richardson’s London kitchen or visit one of their markets across the capital.

The festive packaging features a two-sided design, with playful illustrations inspired by the Twelve Days of Christmas, such as 3 French Hens and 7 Swans-a-Swimming. Choose your preferred design, or even opt for last year’s whimsical 9 Ladies Dancing or 10 Lords-a-Leaping designs.

For those gifting directly, you can also personalise your order with a note to add that extra special touch.

To order your Christmas Macaron Gift Box, visit CHRISTMAS MACARON GIFT BOX | PRE-ORDER NOW FOR XMAS DELIVERY – Giselle Richardson and pre-order today.


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Join Newbury’s Festival of Light

Karen Neville

Round and About

The illuminated parade takes to the streets of the town on Sunday, 15th December from 4pm in Market Place

The Corn Exchange Newbury is set to light up the streets of the town on Sunday 15th December, as their annual Festival of Light returns for another year to unite local people in an incredible illuminated procession.

From the terrific lantern making workshops, to opportunities to lead this phenomenal parade as part of their community Samba band, everyone is welcome to come together to celebrate the festive season.

The Festival of Light has seen over 30,000 people engage in the festival over the past 12 years, with 9,600 people having participated in the parade during that time. The parade will travel along Northbrook Street before arriving in the Market Place where locals can expect catchy live music.

The Corn Exchange have been running lantern making workshops at 101 Outdoor Arts and in local schools so pupils can ignite their creativity for the festive celebration.

Workshops have also been held for the community Samba band inviting as many people as possible to take part. Led by Reading based Music Charity Readipop featuring experienced drummers from Beatroots Bateria, they have guided participants through the process of learning the samba instruments, rehearsing the patterns and routines and forming a marching drumming troupe to perform at the magical winter parade.

Based on a former US nuclear airbase outside Newbury, 101 Outdoor Arts has grown to be a unique powerhouse for creativity, supporting the creation of hundreds of performances and installations destined to be showcased at festivals, major arts events and cultural programmes both across the UK and internationally. Whilst the Corn Exchange Newbury have been presenting outdoor events in Newbury for over 12 years, this year marks ten year since they opened the 101 National Centre for Arts in Public Space. With the support of Arts Council England and Greenham Trust, they host hundreds of artists every year in the centre’s unique facility, which includes residential accommodation and scenic fabrication facilities, and where the lanterns and festival programme will be created ready for the procession on the 15th December.

101 Outdoor Arts produces a year-round, free programme of national and international outdoor arts performances with the Corn Exchange Newbury, engaging thousands of audiences annually, and striving to involve thousands of local participants, volunteers and community groups across Newbury to widen the scope for creative engagement in the arts.

Corn Exchange Newbury’s Director, Jessica Jhundoo-Evans comments, The Festival of Light is always a highlight of the year for us; bringing together local people and volunteers to create beautiful lanterns and bringing our community together in an illuminated procession. It is a joy to see families and friends gather to enjoy this magical event and to know that people love it enough to keep it fixed in their calendars.


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Twelve wild days of Christmas

Karen Neville

Round and About

Fox © Jon Hawkins

12 Days Wild is the festive challenge by the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife (BBOWT), from 25th December to 5th January.

Are you up for the challenge of doing one wild thing every day or night…?

Sign up at 12 Days Wild (2024) | Berks Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust and you’ll receive daily inspirational emails packed with fun ideas to help you embrace winter walks in nature or the magic of night-time star gazing – to lift your mood and much more!

Illustration © Corinne Welch

You could:

• Track animals by looking for footprints in the mud or snow
• Go star gazing on a clear night
• Go winter wildlife watching on a walk at a nature reserve
• Or even volunteer at a nature reserve – nature will appreciate it
• Make a New Year’s resolution to help nature. What will you do in 2025?

BBC TV presenter and Wildlife Trust Vice President Iolo Williams, says: “From dawn to dusk, winter wildlife is busy all around us. Otters are always up early and if you see a trail of bubbles in the water, you’ll know they’ve spotted you first. Night-hunting barn owls venture out on cold winter days to find extra food and will woosh past you in the winter sun. Then, at dusk, starlings gather in the sky forming ever-shifting shapes and patterns known as murmurations. There are so many wildlife adventures to be had during 12 Days Wild – I hope you enjoy them.”

Liz Shearer, Community Engagement Director at BBOWT says: “To mark 12 Day Wild this year I’ll be pledging to connect with nature for at least 10 minutes every day. Whether it be a walk amongst the winter trees, watching birds in a tree across a cold and frosty park, or noticing the clouds on a bright day, I often find that stepping outside and taking a moment to connect with wildlife is a powerful way to recharge my batteries. 12 Days Wild is a great opportunity to create some space for yourself, which at this time of year can feel like a real gift.

“Committing to something manageable will make it even more enjoyable. Observe how weather changes the landscapes and check in with yourself – how do you feel within them? Noticing our own relationship with the natural world is the first step to taking action to safeguard it. So, I encourage you to stop for a moment, listen, and see what wild means to you.”

Spending time in nature – night or day – is proven to help people feel happier and healthier. A Wildlife Trusts’ survey found that participants of the 30 Days Wild summer challenge felt 56% more connected to nature after taking part, and that it boosted the health of participants by an average of 30%.*

There’s more information on the challenge at: 12 Days Wild | The Wildlife Trusts


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Metroland magic with Simon Pollock book

Liz Nicholls

Round and About

Author Simon Pollock tells us about the bits of Bucks & beyond that inspired his book, I Love Suburbia: The Joys of Life on London’s Outskirts

Suburbia used to have a bad name (especially if you were a teenager looking for fun). But Simon Pollock’s book I Love Suburbia, celebrating iconic landmarks on the fringes of the Tube map has proved one of the year’s runaway hits. Daisy May Cooper calls it: “Brilliant. A glorious celebration that will leave a big smile on your face.”

From stations that wouldn’t be out of place in Miami Beach to cinemas converted to mega churches, I Love Suburbia brings to life the joys outside Zone 1. Simon, creator of Instagram’s @LondonSuburbia, has revisited simpler days in the suburbs to discover the pioneering interwar architects who brought modernism to Britain, and delight in the elegance of Art Deco buildings given a new lease of life. Filled with stories of the people who live, work and play in the outskirts of London, this full-colour book over 200 original photos is an exploration of the capital’s overlooked everyday treasures.

“Without any Green Belt in place, London’s suburbs were expanding almost unchecked in the 1930s,” says Simon. “New railways and trunk roads were being built all around the city and, along the newly placed commuter routes, huge estates of semi-detached cottages sprang up. Nowhere was more famous for this rapid growth than Metroland, a vast area of rural villages and towns of northwest of London, heading from places like Wembley and Harrow and spreading outwards towards Buckinghamshire. Although the Metropolitan railway reached as far as Aylesbury back then, the sprawling suburbs never really made it much beyond Uxbridge before the war slowed everything down and gave the powers that be the chance to draw up the plans for the Green Belt, stopping the march of the semi just before the borders of Buckinghamshire.

“That’s not to say that Bucks is without its own interwar architectural gems. Indeed one of the buildings that inspired some of the coolest art deco houses in London’s suburbs sits high on a hill in Amersham. Built way back in 1931, the High And Over is considered one of the most important modernist homes in Britain with its white walls, flat roofs, sun decks and sweeping spiral staircases. Just down the road are the Sun Houses, a group of smaller modernist homes that are no less beautiful to look at.

“But to me, if you want the ultimate 1930s experience then you can’t beat an afternoon out at Bekonscot model village in Beaconsfield. Started in the 1920s in Roland Callingham’s back garden it grew to become one of the quaintest tourist attractions in the South East. Frozen in time and reflecting life in Britain just before the war you can find everything there, from tiny figures playing village cricket surrounded by thatched houses to pastiches of ultra modern buildings of the day, such as the Hoover Factory, Charles Holden’s tube stations and even a tiny art deco Odeon.

“Of course the Metropolitan Line is still there, even though it now only gets as far as Amersham, but it’s well worth taking a trip deep into Metroland.”


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Sleeping Beauty panto in Gerrards Cross

Liz Nicholls

Round and About

Take the family to GXCA (AKA the Memorial Centre), SL9 7AD, to enjoy Sleeping Beauty on Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd of December, in aid of a great cause!

Giggles the Jester & friends invite you to enjoy this magical tale retold by The Panto Company in an amazing touring production.

King Humphrey and Queen Bea are so delighted at the birth of their daughter Aurora that they throw the biggest party the kingdom has ever seen! However, when they forget to invite the land’s most powerful sorceress, Vestra, their happiness soon turns sour.

Vestra casts a spell on the baby, proclaiming that, upon her 18th birthday, she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. The spell is so strong that the comical Fairy Nuff’s only salvation is her spell to reduce its power by declaring that Aurora will fall asleep for 100 years. But how will she be woken?

“We are so excited to be performing again at the amazing GXCA in Gerrards Cross this year with our version of Sleeping Beauty,” says director Darren Mills. “Panto is a great time for all the family to get together and enjoy a great laugh, a superb sing-along and get wrapped into the love and adventure of the tale that is Sleeping Beauty!

“The show is suitable for everyone from the age of three to 93, and everyone can take part in booing at the evil Vestra and cheer the Prince into finding our sleeping Aurora.”

Shows are at 11am & 3pm. Tickets are £16pp, children £12pp, with under-twos free and family tickets £50, and all proceeds to the GXCA charity. Book at Community Events l Venue Hire l GXCA or you can call 01753 883759.


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Ivy’s Circus NYE

Round & About

Round and About

See in the New Year with a three-course set menu, a night of circus fun, celebration and spectacular food

This New Year’s Eve, The Ivy Collection invites guests to step into the enchanting world of the circus for an unforgettable evening of exquisite dining, refreshing drinks, and dazzling entertainment. With a meticulously curated set menu featuring The Ivy’s signature dishes, diners can celebrate the arrival of 2025 in style with family, friends, and loved ones at their nearest Ivy restaurant.

Available to book now, the evening promises a festive atmosphere, with each restaurant offering bespoke entertainment, such as live music or a DJ, ensuring a lively and memorable celebration to round off the year.

From spectacular performances to indulgent cuisine, the menu showcases seasonal touches on The Ivy’s classic dishes. Starters include the festive Chilled Lobster and Prawn Cocktail, served with marinated avocado and Marie Rose sauce, and the Twice-baked Stilton and Walnut Cheese Soufflé, paired with a rich and creamy sauce.

For mains, guests can savour celebrated favourites like The Ivy’s Festive Shepherd’s Pie, a hearty combination of goose, turkey, duck, braised lamb, and beef, topped with mashed potato, cranberry chutney, and orange zest. Other options include the Lobster Linguine, featuring tender lobster in a roasted garlic and chilli sauce, and the Pan-Fried Sea Bass, served with creamed potato, samphire, tomato concasse, and saffron sauce.

For dessert, guests can choose from options like The Ivy Chocolate Bomb, a decadent melting dome with vanilla ice cream, honeycomb, and hot caramel sauce, or a creamy Crème Brûlée accompanied by winter berry cinnamon compote and shortbread.

As midnight approaches, diners can raise a glass to the New Year, celebrating with loved ones amidst circus-inspired cheer and the thrill of the countdown.

The festivities don’t end there; The Ivy Collection will also offer a flavour-packed New Year’s Day Brunch to help guests start 2025 on a high note. From a savoury Bloody Mary to hearty dishes like The Ivy Truffle Burger with thick-cut chips, Chicken Supreme Milanese with Truffle Sauce, or a comforting Lentil and Aubergine Bake, the brunch menu caters to all tastes and ensures a delicious recovery from the night before.

The New Year’s Eve set menu is available to book now at restaurants nationwide* starting from £87.50 per person, while the New Year’s Day Brunch is offered in select locations, starting at £34.95 per person.

*Terms & conditions apply. Prices vary by location.


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