Eating Outfour of kent’s finest reviewed inside

Bootcamphave you the gumption to shape up for summer?

issue eightmay/ june twenty-thir teen

BBQ Top Tips hot picks for your outdoor feasts

FROM SHERLOCK TO STAR TREK, HOLLYWOOD WELCOMES THE UK’S HOTTEST NEW STAR

Benedict Cumberbatch

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[title]

3

[title]

4

[welcome]

Hi there, and welcome to our May/June edition of East Kent Lifestyle. In my

welcome message last time out I was hoping for an early start to Summer, looks like that didn’t happen!

However, as I sit here now in late April, the sun is shining and short sleeves are tentatively out – for how long I can’t yet say, but let’s hope they’re just getting a taste for what’s to come!

As we truly are heading towards Summer we have a little more outdoors content this issue, we have some great garden tips for your green fingered types courtesy of Chilstone of Tunbridge Wells, and we check out some great additions to look out for when you’re out shopping for this year’s BBQ wares. Outdoor lovers will appreciate our East Kent walk around Chartham (page 22) and our latest cycle trail from Sandwich to Dover (page 18)

If you’re looking for some seaside dining inspiration we review new offerings “Restaurant 66” and “Wyatt & Jones”, located at the respective harbour sides of Ramsgate & Broadstairs as well as the ever popular Hythe Bay Restaurant overlooking the English Channel at Dover. We also take a trip to Mersham-le-hatch to partake of some lunchtime alfresco dining at the wonderful Secret Garden.

For those looking farther afield than the sunny shores of East Kent for some summer adventure, Jaillan Yehia takes us to Cambodia and Hong Kong with some exotic tales to tell.

Our cover star Benedict Cumberbath is the latest in a long line of dapper English gents making the move from TV to movie stardom in the latest Star Trek movie, we take a look back over his life and career on page 44.

With news, reviews, events and interviews we’re sure there is something for you to get stuck into in the latest EKL, so until next time here’s to a great couple of months.

Pete Nichols, Publishing Director

ISSUE EIGHT

EAST KENT LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

may/june twenty-thirteen

Sahara Modular Sofa Set featuring 2 Sahara Modular Sofa Middle Chairs including cushions and 3 Sahara Modular Sofa Corner Chairs including cushions.

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WOVENWith its natural and neutral palette our beautifully crafted woven garden furniture gives a classic look that will stay in style, create a chic garden space to drink coffee with friends on a summer’s afternoon and provide your garden, decking or patio with a perfect area for eating, entertaining, relaxing, working from and spending quality relaxing time.

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Fenwick Garden Furniture Full Page 2013 May_June.pdf 1 4/3/2013 2:17:34 PM

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[contents]

what’s inside...sustainable

living in east kent

15

papillon interiors

32

Benedict Cumberbatch

44

food and drink50 Wyatt & Jones53 Taste of Kent54 Hythe Bay56 Miles Bar57 Renee Health Food Tips58 Restaurant 6661 Cocktails by the Cuban62 The Secret Garden

home 26 Jacksons Fencing 30 Chilstone Garden Tips32 Papillon Interiors35 Pentland Homes39 Berkeley Homes music 40 Sons Of One

7

[contents]

wyatt & jones50

khmer cool68

east kent walks: chartham

22

health & fitness 86 Canterbury Bootcamp88 Spire St Saviours89 Coping with Period Pains91 Taking care of your joints fashion 72 Fenwick Fashion80 Trends and Fashion83 Harrison's Hair Tips84 Amy's Beauty Tips regulars & features 12 News15 Sustainable Living in East Kent16 Fabulous Finds18 Cycle Trail - Sandwich to Dover20 The History of Hythe 22 East Kent Walks: Chartham 28 BBQ Fabulous Finds44 Benedict Cumberbatch92 What's Occurring?94 Local Business travel 24 Manton Airport67 Hong Kong Hiatus68 Khmer Cool70 Letting it be in Brighton

motoring64 Chrysler 300C Review66 Lipscomb

fenwicks72

cocktails by the cuban

61

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9

[publication information]

ContributorsJaillan Yehia, Amy McManus, Bradley McManus, Nerissa Blower, Pete Nichols, BMI Chaucer, Spire St Saviours, Tony King, Martin McHugh, Jo Scott, Renee Maguire, George Pantelli, Deborah Eastlake, Sue Harrison, Lorna Morris.

Contributing PhotographersJo Doran, Deborah Eastlake, Jaillan Yehia, Amy McManus, Marion Morgan

For all advertising enquiries please contact sales on 01707 878 026

Publishing DirectorPete Nichols pete@psapublishing.co.uk

Sales ExecutiveJo Costellosales@psapublishing.co.uk

Travel EditorJaillan Yehiahello@savoirthere.com

Creative DirectorStuart Bennettstuart@bainesdesign.co.uk

Managing DirectorAndrew Bennettandrew@bainesdesign.co.uk

DistributionSam Holliday

psapublishingEast Kent Lifestyle magazine published by PSA Publishing Barley House, Sopers Road, Cuffley, Herts EN6 4RY

tel: 01707 878026 email: sales@psapublishing.co.ukwww.psapublishing.co.uk

The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the content of advertisements or contributed editorial in this magazine. Opinions expressed editorially are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher and no responsibility is accepted for loss, damage or injury incurred as a result of opinions, advice or comment.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission.

© Copyright 2013. No part of East Kent Lifestyle can be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the prior written consent of the publishers. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

BAINES design 01707 876555 Printed on environmentally friendly paper A57006

What happened to my swing...

Finally summer seems to be on its way - time for gardening, a game of tennis or swinging the

clubs on the local fairways. But what should have been a season of gentle leisure activities

has come to an abrupt halt because of a tooth-ache-like pain over the shoulder.

Finally summer seems to be here – time for gardening, a game of tennis or swinging the clubs on the local fairways. But what should have been a season of gentle leisure activities, fine tuning that killer serve or aiming for total ball control around the greens, has come to an abrupt halt because of a tooth-ache-like pain – maybe with the occasional very painful stab – over the shoulder.

What happened? Where did I go wrong? I am not that old – am I? You probably did nothing wrong. The pain appeared when you reached behind you in the car, trimmed the hedge for a bit too long, reached that little bit further out to return a volley or just threw a ball when playing with the dog. And after that movement, everyday activities such as tucking in your shirt, reaching for your rear pocket or your bra strap, combing your hair or drying your back becomes a real challenge. And putting your arm through a coat sleeve can be a killer! The over-head serve may be a thing of the past that you can only dream of; that is if you can dream – for when the shoulder is upset, nights are often even more uncomfortable than days.

So what is wrong? You are very likely suffering from the most common cause of shoulder pain in “The Aging Athlete” (sorry, but age often plays a part!). The condition is known as “Subacromial Impingement Syndrome”. This condition occurs when the Rotator Cuff muscles become irritated underneath a prominence from the shoulder blade. The prominence – called the Acromion – can be felt at the point of the shoulder. As the Rotator Cuff muscles rub against the undersurface of the Acromion they become swollen and inflamed.

The pain is felt in the fleshy part of the shoulder – often going much further down into the arm – occasionally as far as the thumb.

Any movement associated with rotating the arm inwards (such as reaching behind your body), outwards and upwards and in particular quick movements, may be associated with a very sharp stabbing pain.

As the inflammation progresses, the pain becomes more permanent, and the inflammation may result in a build-up of scar tissue which eventually may irritate the bone. There is also a possibility that permanent muscle damage may occur in the form of rupture of the muscles. But in most people it is a reversible process – mainly seen above the age of 40, although young athletes doing repetitive overhead activities may develop similar symptoms.

But what should I do? Do I need surgery? First of all, stop doing what brings on the pain – pain is nature’s way of saying DON’T!! Rest the arm, place a cold compress over the shoulder rounding, and take anti-inflammatory tablets (if you tolerate these). You may have promised to finish painting the ceiling, clear the gutters or play a match – DON’T DO IT!

Avoid overhead activities. If you have to reach up, stand on a stool or step. Use your arm at a comfortable below shoulder level. Do not allow your arm to stiffen up. Chances are that your symptoms will subside allowing you to return to activities (gently!). But if they do not you may benefit from further treatment.

If a course of anti-inflammatory tablets and rest have not cured the symptoms, the next port of call may be physiotherapy. The aim of this is to maintain shoulder movements whilst strengthening the painful Rotator Cuff muscles (in particular the muscles responsible for rotating the arm away from the body).

If physiotherapy should prove unsuccessful, a steroid injection close to the inflamed muscles may give relief.

But if the symptoms persist, surgery may be an option. At surgery, the undersurface of the Acromion (the bone irritating the Rotator Cuff muscles) is trimmed and any excess scar tissue removed. This is normally done as a keyhole procedure using a general anaesthetic. You would be expected to be in hospital for up to 24 hours, and back to work within a couple of weeks. Surgery is followed by another course of physiotherapy. The majority of patients will experience relief of symptoms within 3-6 months. But if a muscle rupture has occurred, recovery may take much longer.

So goodbye sports? By far the majority of patients will return to most previous activities – possibly with slight modifications to techniques – or lack of! For most the tennis racket and the golf clubs will still be there and should be used again. And there may still be time to practise the shot you read about in the Golf Magazine or work on a serve that will leave your opponent shell-shocked. Remember that it applies to surgery as well as sports – you have to work on the inner game. And hopefully your inner game will not require surgery!!

For appointments call BMI The Chaucer Hospital on 0800 092 8728

Name: Mr Matthew Oliver MBBS, MRCS(Eng), FRCS(Trauma&Ortho) Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon

Consultant Profiles

Name: Mr Jaikumar Relwani FRCS (Trauma & Orth), FRCS, MS (Orth), DNB (Orth) Consultant Orthopaedics Surgeon

What happened to my swing...

Finally summer seems to be on its way - time for gardening, a game of tennis or swinging the

clubs on the local fairways. But what should have been a season of gentle leisure activities

has come to an abrupt halt because of a tooth-ache-like pain over the shoulder.

Finally summer seems to be here – time for gardening, a game of tennis or swinging the clubs on the local fairways. But what should have been a season of gentle leisure activities, fine tuning that killer serve or aiming for total ball control around the greens, has come to an abrupt halt because of a tooth-ache-like pain – maybe with the occasional very painful stab – over the shoulder.

What happened? Where did I go wrong? I am not that old – am I? You probably did nothing wrong. The pain appeared when you reached behind you in the car, trimmed the hedge for a bit too long, reached that little bit further out to return a volley or just threw a ball when playing with the dog. And after that movement, everyday activities such as tucking in your shirt, reaching for your rear pocket or your bra strap, combing your hair or drying your back becomes a real challenge. And putting your arm through a coat sleeve can be a killer! The over-head serve may be a thing of the past that you can only dream of; that is if you can dream – for when the shoulder is upset, nights are often even more uncomfortable than days.

So what is wrong? You are very likely suffering from the most common cause of shoulder pain in “The Aging Athlete” (sorry, but age often plays a part!). The condition is known as “Subacromial Impingement Syndrome”. This condition occurs when the Rotator Cuff muscles become irritated underneath a prominence from the shoulder blade. The prominence – called the Acromion – can be felt at the point of the shoulder. As the Rotator Cuff muscles rub against the undersurface of the Acromion they become swollen and inflamed.

The pain is felt in the fleshy part of the shoulder – often going much further down into the arm – occasionally as far as the thumb.

Any movement associated with rotating the arm inwards (such as reaching behind your body), outwards and upwards and in particular quick movements, may be associated with a very sharp stabbing pain.

As the inflammation progresses, the pain becomes more permanent, and the inflammation may result in a build-up of scar tissue which eventually may irritate the bone. There is also a possibility that permanent muscle damage may occur in the form of rupture of the muscles. But in most people it is a reversible process – mainly seen above the age of 40, although young athletes doing repetitive overhead activities may develop similar symptoms.

But what should I do? Do I need surgery? First of all, stop doing what brings on the pain – pain is nature’s way of saying DON’T!! Rest the arm, place a cold compress over the shoulder rounding, and take anti-inflammatory tablets (if you tolerate these). You may have promised to finish painting the ceiling, clear the gutters or play a match – DON’T DO IT!

Avoid overhead activities. If you have to reach up, stand on a stool or step. Use your arm at a comfortable below shoulder level. Do not allow your arm to stiffen up. Chances are that your symptoms will subside allowing you to return to activities (gently!). But if they do not you may benefit from further treatment.

If a course of anti-inflammatory tablets and rest have not cured the symptoms, the next port of call may be physiotherapy. The aim of this is to maintain shoulder movements whilst strengthening the painful Rotator Cuff muscles (in particular the muscles responsible for rotating the arm away from the body).

If physiotherapy should prove unsuccessful, a steroid injection close to the inflamed muscles may give relief.

But if the symptoms persist, surgery may be an option. At surgery, the undersurface of the Acromion (the bone irritating the Rotator Cuff muscles) is trimmed and any excess scar tissue removed. This is normally done as a keyhole procedure using a general anaesthetic. You would be expected to be in hospital for up to 24 hours, and back to work within a couple of weeks. Surgery is followed by another course of physiotherapy. The majority of patients will experience relief of symptoms within 3-6 months. But if a muscle rupture has occurred, recovery may take much longer.

So goodbye sports? By far the majority of patients will return to most previous activities – possibly with slight modifications to techniques – or lack of! For most the tennis racket and the golf clubs will still be there and should be used again. And there may still be time to practise the shot you read about in the Golf Magazine or work on a serve that will leave your opponent shell-shocked. Remember that it applies to surgery as well as sports – you have to work on the inner game. And hopefully your inner game will not require surgery!!

For appointments call BMI The Chaucer Hospital on 0800 092 8728

Name: Mr Matthew Oliver MBBS, MRCS(Eng), FRCS(Trauma&Ortho) Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon

Consultant Profiles

Name: Mr Jaikumar Relwani FRCS (Trauma & Orth), FRCS, MS (Orth), DNB (Orth) Consultant Orthopaedics Surgeon

[news] east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS

12

Kent runners wanted to put best foot forwards for children’s charity

Leading children’s charity Action for Children is appealing to runners in Kent to put their best foot forwards and take part in the Bupa London 10,000 race on 27 May 2013.

“We would like people from across Kent to run for us and help raise funds for our work with vulnerable children and young people. We will provide a running vest and fundraising pack, and our team will be there to cheer you on,” said Selena Goldsmith, Action for Children’s Kent Fundraiser.

The popular 10-kimometre run starts and finishes at St James’ Park with Buckingham Palace as a backdrop. The race follows part of the 2012 Olympic Marathon route and will take

10,000 contestants past iconic London landmarks such as Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, the London Eye, Nelson’s Column and St Paul’s Cathedral.

The charity’s remaining places on the race need to be filled by the end of April. Each Action for Children runner pays a £20 registration free and is asked to raise at least £130 in sponsorship.

Anyone interested in taking part can contact Selena Goldsmith on 01622 230764 or 07525 731316, or email selena.goldsmith@actionforchildren.org.uk. Also see www.actionforchildren.org.uk/get-involved/events/bupa-london-10k-run.

Roll Up For The Medieval Market At The Canterbury TalesThe annual medieval market at The Canterbury Tales visitor attraction is on the look-out for craftsmen, artisans, musicians and other specialists. The fifth annual medieval market on Saturday 25 May is a great opportunity for traders eager to enter into the spirit of the outdoor fayre.

Previous markets have featured mead sampling, archery demonstrations, pottery making, and calligraphy lessons, with visitors shown how to write their names in a medieval style. A knight in armour has turned heads, while potions and ancient cures have been on show for visitors to examine and buy.

The medieval market is held in the churchyard at St Margaret’s Church. “It takes place at the start of the half-term holiday and adds a fun spectacle for visitors to The Canterbury Tales and passers-by. Entrance to the market

is free and people can have a go at medieval-themed events,” says Ken Broad, duty manager retail at The Canterbury Tales.

Traders can participate free of charge, with a £30 refundable deposit taken at the time of booking. There must be a medieval theme to their products or demonstrations and we insist that they dress in period costume.

To book your stand space at the medieval market contact Ken Broad on 01227 784600 or email kbroad@canterburytales.org.uk

Visit www.canterburytales.org.uk

Admission costs adults £8.50, children £6.25, concessions £7.50, family £25 (two adults and two children). Opening times: March-June 10am to 5pm; July-August 9.30am to 5pm; Sept-Oct 10am to 5pm; Nov-Dec 10am to 4.30pm.

[news]east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS east kent NEWS

13

WHITEFRIARS CANTERBURY CALL ON LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS - £500 PRIZE!Whitefriars is looking to brighten up the streets of the shopping centre with some festive floral banners for this year’s Canterbury in Bloom initiative... and is calling on local photographers for help.

The Canterbury shopping centre is asking photographers to submit their best floral digital photographs, with £500 to spend at Apple premium reseller Stormfront in the Marlowe Arcade on offer for the best picture - enough to buy a stunning new iPad or a Mac Mini computer. There are a further nine prizes of £100 in Whitefriars vouchers for the other winning entries chosen to appear on the banners.

To enter, visit the Whitefriars website at www.whitefriars.eu and follow the link on the home page. Complete your details and upload your digital picture(s). You will need to complete an entry for every photo you intend to upload (maximum of three). The competition is open to both adults and children.

Closing date for receipt of entries is 19 May 2013. Full terms and conditions can be found on the website.

Canterbury is hoping to build on last year’s successful entry in the annual Britain in Bloom Awards, which saw the city awarded a Silver Medal. Community planting schemes, river clean-up days, hanging baskets, school competitions, live music gigs, bee hives and a children’s book about bees were just some of the ways in which Whitefriars and other local businesses supported the campaign in its first year in the city.

New flights link East Kent to the Far East

Now’s the time to embark on an Asian adventure as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is offering a number of flights from East Kent to the Far East for under £600 return.

Holidaymakers are being given the opportunity to travel from Manston Airport to a host of

exotic Eastern destinations including China, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand at discounted promotional prices.

Book before Tuesday, May 14 to travel to Tokyo for just £583, Beijing for £445 or Bangkok for £498. All prices are return flights, include taxes and charges and are subject to the airline’s standard terms and conditions.

These Far East flights are among 130 destinations available from Manston via KLM’s twice daily flights from Kent to its hub airport, Schiphol, in Amsterdam.

The service took off on Tuesday, April 2. To date more than 5,000 tickets have been booked from Manston to dozens of destinations across the world.

Charles Buchanan, Chief Executive of Manston Airport, said: “This is the perfect opportunity to experience the many wonders of the Far East at discounted promotional prices.

“But if Asia is not for you, then there are similar deals available to countries across the globe, including Aruba, Brazil, Egypt, Qatar, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

“Manston now provides holidaymakers with a really competitive and convenient alternative to flying from London airports. With our 30 minute check-in times, combined with parking right outside the terminal, we are able to substantially reduce passengers’ overall travelling time.

“Why fight your way through to the larger airports when we offer such a speedy and stress-free service on your doorstep?”

People interested in finding out more about the latest KLM promotion and booking flights should visit www.manstonairport.com

14

[home]

A unique and sustainable venue,

set in six acres of beautiful

gardens and a stone’s throw

from the beach at

St. Margaret’s Bay

pinescalyx.co.uk

01304 851 737

The Pines Garden, Beach Road,

St. Margaret’s Bay, Kent

CT15 6DZ

PCx Wedding Ad 190x133.indd 1 06/03/2013 09:44

15

[sustainable living]

Something Old, Something New

sustainable

livingin East Kent

Every issue we will be sharing some tips and ideas to save you money, make you healthier, happier and become a little bit greener. As spring has officially sprung, our thoughts naturally turn to weddings as the Pines Garden and the Pines Calyx, Europe’s most sustainable venue, come into their own. If you want to make your wedding as natural and low carbon as possible, here are some suggestions: ♥ Something old - costume jewellery can be recycled and

combined with crocheted or knitted flowers, lace and ribbons to make favours, table decorations or even a bridal bouquet – they don’t wilt and make unique keepsakes.

♥ Something new – sow wild flower seeds in terracotta flowerpots, or pretty china cups or bowls to decorate your reception with fresh, living flowers. These will cost a fraction of traditional floristry displays. Bee friendly wild flower seed mixes are readily available to buy or you can create your own. The pots can be taken home by your guests to support the bees, butterflies and insects which are so vital to pollination and our eco systems. Alternatively, make your own invitations from paper embedded with wild flower seeds, these can then be planted and grown by your guests. See www.wildflower-favours.co.uk for supplies.

♥ Something borrowed – what about any old china? Bring interest and individuality to your wedding breakfast by using a variety vintage china tea cups, saucers and crockery. Floral designs look particularly pretty and are easily picked up in charity shops if your granny can’t supply any family heirlooms!

♥ Something blue – cornflowers, hydrangeas and lavender petals, as well as roses of course, make fantastic fresh or dried confetti. Beautiful, biodegradeable and slow falling - brilliant for photographs.

♥ Do something to make a difference – having your wedding or reception at the Pines Calyx shows your

commitment to creating a sustainable future for yourselves and your children. The building itself is beautifully constructed from local materials, has a wildflower meadow and bee hive on its roof and is set in a six acre organically managed garden, with dramatic views of the White Cliffs of Dover.

For more inspiration see Alistair Sawday’s The Natural Wedding Book by Louise Moon.

Brought to you by The Bay Trust team who manage the Pines Calyx, Europe’s first energy positive, carbon negative

wedding and events venue and Rippledown environmental education centre - committed to providing a wide range of opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn about practical sustainable living within a low carbon world.

| www.pinescalyx.co.uk | www.baytrust.org.uk

Photo credit: Rebecca D

ouglas | ww

w.rebeccadouglas.co.uk

16

Finds[fabulous finds]

They say the devil is in the details, and this bottle opener is no exception. One of Alessi's most recognizable pieces, the Diabolix bottle opener by Biagio Cisotti is a literal representation of design with bite, whimsically opening bottles with its teeth.

Price: £10.50

The Diabolix is available at www.papilloninteriors.co.uk

For all those Dads stuck in an office job dreaming of DIY, this desk tidy toolbox to store all his white collar “tools” will make him feel one step closer to his man shed!

Price: £28

Available at www.papilloninteriors.co.uk

DIABOLIX BOTTLE OPENER VITRA TOOLBOX

Stuck for an idea for what to get your Dad on 16th June? We’ve picked a selection of corkers to make your old man smile!

Let your Dad put his feet up this Fathers Day. He can check the scores and emails whilst his iPad or tablet comfortably rests on his lap along with a drink and a plate of food.

The iBed features passing so it will comfortably rest on his lap. Perfect for viewing in bed, on the couch, whilst travelling or anywhere else you can think of.

Price: £12

Available by telephone mail order from the Science Museum Shop 020 7942 4471

IBED LAP DESK

Father's Day

[fabulous finds]

17

If your dad is a big music fan but has trouble keeping track of his collection of CDs, vinyl and cassettes then the Cocktail Audio X10 could be a perfect Father’s Day gift.

The stylish little Cocktail Audio X10 sound system is small enough to hold in one hand, yet this revolutionary piece of technology can record and store thousands of albums – and you don’t even need a PC to do it. You can even record vinyl and cassettes.

It’s fun and easy to use and, because it fits on a bookshelf, it’s great even for small rooms or anywhere in the home where you need more storage.

Price: starts at just £379.95, including VAT and free delivery, and is available to buy online or at various UK stockists.

Visit www.cocktailaudio.co.uk.

We all know that Dads like to think they can handle their spicy food, so why not encourage them into the kitchen to whip up a curry or chilli with this funky chilli shaped cruncher with its vibrant casing and smart, stainless steel lid? It makes light work of chopping, crunching and storing chillies.

Price: £14.50

Available at www.papilloninteriors.co.uk

Ok, so neither you nor your Dad can afford the real thing but this remote control model is a great gift, sure to bring out the big kid in dads everywhere! This great replica can be controlled from your iPod or iPad using a free downloadable app which turns your device into a steering wheel.

At just £30 and running on AA’s rather than unleaded, it’s doubtlessly lighter on the wallet too!

Price: £30

Available at www.sciencemuseumshop.co.uk

COCKTAIL AUDIO X10

THE ALESSI PICCANTINO DRY CHILLI CRUNCHER

REMOTE CONTROL FERRARI ENZO

18

[cycle trail]

Sandwich to Dover CYCLE TRAIL

Enjoy an exhilarating ride along National Cycle Route 1, following stunning cliff paths from Sandwich to Dover. This rewarding 14 mile trail will lead you through fantastic wildlife destinations and from the historic Cinque Port to fascinating Dover Castle.

Your ride will begin in the heart of the beautiful town of Sandwich. The town boasts a rich history, shown through its many medieval buildings, yet its main historical significance lies in its position as one of the famed Cinque Ports. The Cinque Ports were built in Kent and East Sussex as a form of military defence and trade by Edward the Confessor in 1155. The bustling streets of the town have changed relatively little since the Domesday Book and

provide a striking start to your ride.

Nature lovers will enjoy watching the large flocks of migrating birds as they return for spring, encouraged by the rich and varied habitats of the fields, pastures, sand dunes and salt marshes of rural Sandwich.

Leaving Sandwich, follow the National Cycle Route 1 along scenic paths and striking coastline towards another of the famed five Cinque Ports. As your

trail climbs towards the traditional fishing town of Deal, take in the picturesque coastline, as you wind your way along this relatively traffic-free section of your ride.

As you pass through Deal you may wish to pause and admire this cliff top town. Lying just 25 miles short of the coast of France, this peaceful seaside resort was once a busy port. Today you can delve into its past by wandering through the

19

[cycle trail]

Location: Sandwich to Dover

Distance: 14 miles (22.5 km)

Time: Allow 2.5 hours

OS Explorer Map: 150, 138

Terrain: Cliff and seawall paths. Some moderate climbs.

Parking: at the Quay, Sandwich. Catch the train from Dover to Sandwich if you cycle one way only.

Refreshments & facilities: public toilets at the Quay; many cafes, restaurants and public houses in Sandwich, Deal and Dover.

Difficulty: Some steep climbs.

pretty streets and admiring the historic houses. Consider journeying past the fine Deal Castle, built by Henry VIII between 1539 and 1540 as one of five coastal forts. Deal’s pebbly beach makes for another perfect rest stop and a great place to enjoy a refreshing paddle or swim before you continue your ride.

The stretch of trail from Deal to Dover offers an impressive ride, running along a spectacular coastal path; your ride will take in beautiful views of the coast. This

invigorating stretch of the trail is uphill, yet stunning views towards the sea make for a rewarding journey.

As you head into Dover, dramatic views of the Castle lay ahead. The castle makes for a fascinating end

to your cycle trail and is the perfect reward after the steep climb to its platform. Dover Castle is the largest in Britain

and boasts a rich heritage; a visit to the English Heritage property will

allow you to take in the great expanse of its history, from its12th century creation to the myriad of tunnels from the Second World War. Dover Castle’s position atop the famed White Cliffs of Dover has led to it being one of the most famed strongholds of Britain and a must-see for any trip to Dover.

This ride is available on the Explore Kent iPhone and Android app. Download it for free today.

For more recreational cycle routes in Kent visit www.kent.gov.uk./explorekent. You can also follow Explore Kent on Twitter, @explorekent.

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Sandwich to DoverTraffic-freeOn-road

1 16 National/ Regional cycle route

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The town boasts a rich history, shown through its many medieval buildings...

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The History of

HytheEXPLORE the beautiful quaint coastal town of Hythe in the Shepway District; an ideal location for sightseeing and delving into Kentish maritime history.

Words by Nerissa Blower, Photography by Marion Morgan

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A bustling harbour for more than 300 years, Hythe was granted as a prominent Cinque Port in 1278 and is still held by Hythe Town Council with later charters from Richard the Second in 1392 and Elizabeth the First in 1575. This port along with nearby Dover, Romney and Sandwich were honoured as Cinque Ports in return for providing ships and men for the monarch to protect the Kentish shores from invasion.

The town became a prominent political power where the King’s Court sessions were held when disputes between the Cinque Ports couldn’t be settled by the individual boroughs themselves. During the Charter of Edward I from 1042 to 1066 these courts were held in the open on Lympne Hill. The Court was presided over by The Lord Warden who sat with freemen from the Ports and had powers equivalent to those of the Shire Courts which administered the law in England at the time. The Shepway Cross was erected in 1923 to mark this important site.

Despite continuous dredging of the area, the harbour began to silt up and became impossible to use as a port. The threat of invasion from Napoleon at the end of the 18th century led to the construction of the Martello Towers and Royal Military Canal.

The town, which name translates as ‘Haven’ or ‘Landing Place’, had a significant market in Market Square, now known as Red Lion Square and to this day hosts a number of farmers’ markets.

Taking a prominent course in the history of locomotion, the town became home to the Romney, Hythe

and Dymchurch Railway on July 16th 1927. With a 15 inch gauge track running 8 miles from Hythe to New Romney, the railway was extended a further five miles to Dungeness a year later and hosts a unique collection of steam engines.

One of the most mysterious tourist hotspots in this small coastal settlement is St Leonard’s Church which overlooks the town. The church hosts an ossuary, a rare collection of human remains. The ‘bone store’ which dates from 1220 holds 2,000 skulls and 8,000

thigh bones of early settlers dating from the medieval period which were stored to make way for new graves. Although this storage process was a common occurrence, bones were usually dispersed after being reserved for a long period so the accumulation of these

grisly artefacts remains unique.

The remnants of the Roman port of Portus Lemanis at Stutfall, the castles of Lympne and Saltwood and the ruins of St Mary’s Church still stand tall to this day.

Saltwood Castle which dates back to 488 CE was supposedly the site where four infamous knights plotted the death of Thomas Becket, the Archibishop of Canterbury, who was assassinated on December 28, 1170 at Canterbury Cathedral. More recently the castle became the home of the art historian Lord Clark of Saltwood followed by his son Alan Clark a minister in Margaret Thatcher's government.

Hythe has continued to attract visitors to the area with Port Lympne Wild Animal Park. Set in 600 acres of countryside four miles from the centre of Hythe, this wildlife park is home

to an exotic menagerie of African elephants, lions, tigers and gorillas. The expansive park also homes The African Experience, a safari where visitors ride buggies across the British landscape to watch giraffe, black rhino, ostrich, wildebeest, zebra and other African wildlife.

The town has been the unassuming home of literary genius over the decades. Novelist Elizabeth Bowen spent her childhood in Hythe and retired to a house on Church Steps, overlooking the parish church where she died. The father of science fiction and War of the Worlds writer H G Wells built Spade House at nearby Sandgate and Cornish author Daphne Du Maurier lived with her family at Hythe in the early years of World War II.

The town centre hosts a wealth of culture, history and art with a variety of boutiques, restaurants, pubs, tea shops and antique and art galleries. Visitors to the beautiful coastal town can stay on a caravan site overlooking the area's sandy beaches, be catered for in one of the many family-friendly bed and breakfasts or stay in a holiday cottage for a peaceful get-away.

A wide promenade overlooks a long stretch of beach ideal for picnics and bathing. The main shopping area and its history dates back many centuries and this is shown in the variety of architectural styles of surrounding buildings. One of the main features of the town is the Royal Military canal along Stade Street which was erected during the early 1800s as a defence against French invasion during the Napoleonic wars. The town hosts some of the best restaurants in Kent including the award-winning Everest Inn, Hythe Bay Seafood Restaurant and fusion dining at Sotirio's Restaurant.

The town hosts some of the best restaurants in Kent...

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harthamC east kent walks:

Enjoy a walk along the banks of the River Stour, through beautiful orchards, and winding woodland paths. This walk will showcase some of the beauty to be found in the Kent countryside and the stunning village of Chartham.

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This relaxing circular walk starts from St Mary’s Church Chartham. The church dates back to the 13th century and boasts a brass of Sir Robert de Septvans, a Crusader knight who died in 1306; the brass is considered to be one of the finest in the country.

Leaving the church, turn right before reaching the surfaced footpath just before the bridge, ascend the steps and cross the track to continue ahead along the path. Amble through the gate to the pavement and turn left to follow the Stour Valley sign, before crossing the road and turning right to follow the way-marked footpath. Bear left to follow the trail around the rear of the buildings.

Following the track, you will soon pass through a peaceful orchard, one of many to be found on this tranquil walk. Wandering past the banks of the Great Stour, look out for the herons and other wildlife which enjoy this area.

Across the water you may be able to catch a glimpse of the Larkey Valley Wood Nature Reserve. The reserve

suffered severe damage to its trees during the storm of 1987, yet today a visit to its regenerated woodland can provide sightings of badgers, dormice, hawfinches and nightingale, as well as a profusion of violets during the spring.

Turning left to walk along the road, continue following the way markers through the fields and head towards another road, before crossing over to follow the North Downs Way signposts to wander through a peaceful thicket.

At the end of the shady pathway, your route will emerge into No Man’s Orchard. The orchard was the first community run orchard in the country. The orchard has an abundance of traditional fruit tree varieties, meaning their fruit is often much larger than more modern varieties. Following the boundary edge out of the orchard, continue along another pathway, enclosed by woodland.

Leaving the wooded area, your path will soon pass alongside the recreation ground. From here continue to follow

the North Downs Way Trailmarker, which will lead you through an alleyway and towards New Town Street and the Chapter Arms Pub.

Follow the footpath sign on your left into the orchard. The blossom and windfall fruit of the orchard attract a variety of wildlife to the grassland. Ambling through rolling fields, enjoy a background of stunning views of Chartham.

Your route will soon bring you out onto the road, where you can turn left over the level crossing and follow signposts to return to Chartham. Enjoy a gentle stroll through the village, taking in its rich history and enjoying refreshments in one of the village pubs and restaurants.

This ride is available on the Explore Kent iPhone and Android app. Download it for free today.

For more recreational walks in Kent visit www.kent.gov.uk./explorekent. You can also follow Explore Kent on Twitter, @explorekent.

Location: Chartham CT4 7HZ

Distance: 5 miles (8km)

Time: Allow 2.5 hours

OS Explorer Map: 150

Gates: 5

Stiles: 4

Terrain: Field, orchard and woodland paths, some on-road sections. Moderate slopes.

Parking: Some on-road parking is available in Chartham, outside the church and in surrounding roads.

Refreshments & facilities: Local shops in Chartham.

Difficulty: This walk has some moderate slopes and stiles.

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[travel]

Things are on the up at Manston’s Kent International airport with the recent arrival of Dutch airline KLM and their twice daily flights from the East Kent airport to Schiphol, Amsterdam.

KLM, who merged with Air France in 2004, are opening up Kent to the rest of the world, with its destination airport, Schiphol, serving 190 destinations worldwide. Key destinations served by KLM include Brazil, Argentina, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Russia and the USA

KLM announced their intentions in Canterbury on November 13th last year, hailing the decision “A strategic move in the UK market that will have a significant and positive impact on regional businesses and leisure users". The announcement followed discussions with Manston earlier last year, with KLM tasking Manston to conduct an online survey of local residents to find out the level of demand for the service.

Ever since KLM Royal Dutch Airlines began operation back in 1919 (coincidentally the same year as

Manston Airport began operations) they have been instrumental in filling the gap between businesses wanting to grow and emerging economies by seeking out routes between Europe and developing markets. Just a few of the carrier’s highlights include;

• In 1920 KLM were the first airline in the world to operate a regular commercial airline route - Amsterdam to London. In the same year they also became the first airline in the world to operate a charter flight, the first to operate a cargo flight and the first to transport animals.

• In 1924 KLM were the first in the world to operate an intercontinental flight, from Amsterdam to Jakarta.

• In 1946 KLM became the first European carrier to operate schedule flights from Europe to New York.

• In 1958 KLM operated the world’s first trans-polar flight Amsterdam-Anchorage-Tokyo.

• In 1999 they were the first European airline to initiate a joint venture agreement with a US carrier, the then Northwest Airlines (now part of Delta).

• In 2004 KLM merged with Air France and now operate a strategically important dual-hub network with complementary routes across the globe.

Clearly, KLM know their business, and their confidence in Manston as the right place to be is encouraging news to say the least for the Thanet based airport.

At a press gathering to celebrate the inaugural flight from Manston to Schiphol on 2nd April, Manston’s Chief Executive Charles Buchanan said,

is Movingon Up

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“The start of the KLM service marks the next exciting chapter in the airport’s history. For the first time it connects Kent residents and businesses with the world through a global hub thanks to a national flag carrier airline. Passengers can leave home without the worries of road congestion, arrive at Manston, park adjacent to the terminal and enjoy an easy check-in. Importantly, being outside London air space means flights are not delayed on take-off or landing, which means a hassle-free experience that makes air travel a pleasure. And on arrival back at Manston it is a quick and easy exit from the airport, and a short drive home.”

Along with passengers and staff, the press were able to witness the traditional aircraft ‘baptism’ performed by the Airport Fire and Rescue Service, who sprayed water over the aircraft, after landing from Amsterdam at 9:15am.

The launch flight came just two weeks after the announcement that Manston Airport has been identified as one of 12 economic priorities for the future growth of East Kent.

The East Kent Growth Plan is jointly produced and agreed by the five local councils of Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Shepway and Thanet, and also Kent County Council. It sets out their economic priorities and how the partners will work together to unlock key opportunities for new homes, new jobs and new business investment.

The importance of Manston Airport, and the central island of Thanet, are recognised by the East Kent Growth Plan as key places, alongside Discovery Park, the port, marina and waterfront of Dover, Canterbury Knowledge

City and Folkestone’s seafront and town centre, and others, to drive forward the region’s economy.

The Growth Plan highlights maximising the benefits of the recent high speed rail link (High Speed One) and exploiting the area’s aviation potential as a way of improving the area’s connectivity.

Buchanan was keen to praise the decision, noting that, “With the UK eager to retain its role as a global aviation hub, it is pleasing to see that the East Kent local authorities and KCC have recognised the role that Kent’s airports can play in delivering economic growth.”

All in all it has been a monumental year so far for Manston Airport, as it has also recently been announced that Manston is once again to be a base for the nation’s Search And Rescue (SAR) service, following the Government’s decision to appoint Bristow Helicopters Ltd to deliver the service from April 2015.

Manston will join nine other strategically located bases across the UK. Bristow Helicopters will operate a total of 22 specially commissioned helicopters – the Sikorsky S-92 and the AgustaWestland AW189, each fitted with state-of-the art SAR supporttechnology. Two of the helicopters will be based at Manston, with an experienced crew with world-class skills, trained, qualified and certified to coordinate and execute SAR operations.

These are exciting times indeed for Kent’s International Airport, and we look forward to reporting on the continued growth and success of both KLM & Manston.

[travel]

Flights from Manston Airport to Schiphol, Amsterdam leave twice daily, at 06.35 and 10.40, with return flights leaving Amsterdam at 10.10 and 20.50.

For more information visit

www.klm.com or www.manstonairport.com

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Jacksons Fencingnews, topical treats

and more...After one of the worst winters for years I feel it may be best to not even mention the weather for fear of ‘tempting fate’. May is here, traditionally the month we have at least two bank holidays in, well that’s probably enough to scupper summer altogether!

So enough of that, here’s something to take your mind off the weather and to keep you busy on those bank holiday weekends. We are running a photo competition for the next few months. Throughout May, June and July I would like you to email pictures of Jacksons products to me. Here are the sorts of photos we’d like to see: If you have installed a Jacksons product recently, it can be anything from a simple fence or gate, to a more ambitious project like a garden makeover with decking and pergola. Or, any Jacksons product, new, middle aged or old. We are well known for our products lasting in excess of 25 years, so we aren’t age-ist.

We’d also like to see photos of your family and pets enjoying your garden with Jacksons products in view. Or your horses, cows, sheep or even your pigs! So long as there’s something Jacksons in the shot. I think you have probably got the idea.

Remember, most of our products sport our very special brass badge, so if you spot a badge like the one on this page, stop and have a look, is it one of ours? If yes, and it’s worth taking a snap of the product, whip out your camera or phone.

We will be awarding a prize of £300 of Jacksons vouchers to the best photo, and ten runners up will receive prizes too.

For full details on the photo competition and how to enter.

go to your local page – www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/ashfordlocal

You can get updates on other things as well on your local page like what’s happening with the Jacksons show gardens competition and which shows you can see us at throughout the season, to name just a couple of things.

louise@jacksons-fencing.co.uk

A previous Jacksons photo

competition entry: Ed and the post and

rail fence

Another previous Jacksons photo competition entry: Jaktop fence and cheeky girl

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[home]

To view the full range, visit jacksons-fencing.co.uk or call0800 41 43 43 for a brochure.

From the boldest ideas to the finest detail, we understandexactly what goes into the areas you create. That’s why,since 1947, we’ve guaranteed to meet your vision withour guarantee.

We guarantee great British fencing designed around you.We guarantee a seamless installation by ourteam of specialists, and most of all, weguarantee all of our products for 25 years.

JacksonsJacksons Fencing Head Office 586 Stowting Common Ashford Kent TN25 6BN

Show Gardens Open day - Saturday 18th MayVisit our show gardens & meet thewinning designers. There will also be afarmers market with local Kent produce forsale & Jacksons workshop tours. Open10am - 4pm with FREE parking, located atStowting, near Ashford. For more detailsvisit www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/showgardens

YOUR VISIONOUR GUARANTEE

Jacksons fencing_Layout 1 26/04/2013 10:11 Page 1

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[bbq fabulous finds]

our top bbq picks for the summer

Planning on throwing a big summer BBQ? Then if you have the means, we suggest you take a peek at this behemoth of an outdoor cooker.

Joe’s can use charcoal or wood and can cater for up to 80 people!

With a cooking chamber, a smoking chamber, meat hanger, cooking plate, steel cooking grids and grease drain, as well as handcrafted wagon wheels, this bad boy is the ultimate beast of a BBQ!

Price: £3,999

Available at www.ukwaterfeatures.com

Maybe you’re hosting a somewhat smaller affair, then the hot pot BBQ maybe just the ticket. It’s an ingenious combination of a pot plant and BBQ in one single package.

It may appear to be a terracotta pot and plant but lift of the top and inside is a fully working grill. Why not grow some herbs in the top to complement your food?

The HPBBQ is made from stainless steel and heat insulating ceramic coating.

Price: £74.25 (until 31st May, £99 thereafter)

Available at www.prezzybox.com

JOE’S BBQ SMOKER CHUCKWAGON

THE HOT POT BBQ

With National BBQ Week running from May 27th- June 2nd, it’s time to head out to the stores to stock up on kindling, charcoal briquettes, long armed tongs, corn on the corb, and plenty of meat and salad. Here’s our pick of some of the best and most innovative new BBQ products on the market.

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[bbq fabulous finds]

A fabulous and cost effective piece of kit that works hand in hand with the vacuum sealer. Fill the marinator with meat, vegetables or food of your choosing in addition to your oil, herbs and spices. Plug the marinator tube from the vacuum sealer into the marinator and use the marinator function to suck all of the air from the unit – your meat and vegetables will be marinated in minutes!

Price: Food Saver Vacuum Sealer, £179.99 Quick Marinator, £19.99

Both Available at www.amazon.co.uk

The British BBQ always goes a little better with a nice crisp glass or three of vino. This sleek and modern wine chiller is expertly designed to keep your wine cool. There is no need for ice or water... there is a built-in fan to speed up chilling. Simply choose the grape variety from the Menu and the Intelligent Wine Chiller will pick the perfect temperature. The LCD digital control gives you precise temperatures in either Centigrade or Farenheit. The alarm will sound when your wine is ready.

Price: £79.99

Available at www.GettingPersonal.co.uk

Based on a recent blind test undertaken by popular US news website “The Huffington Post” the no.1 BBQ Sauce on sale in the USA (and now UK) today is the Bull's Eye Original BBQ Sauce. Forget the rest and get the best!

Price: £2

Available at Asda

This sexy solo speaker is wireless and connects through Bluetooth connectivity enabling you to use it anywhere. Ideal for Summer when entertaining in your garden as you can just pop the speaker outside without having to worry about wires or batteries. They come in a range of vibrant colours just like the British Summertime!

Price: £55

Available at www.kakkoii-me.com

The Food Saver vacuum sealer enables you to seal fresh ingredients and delicious dinners in bags and containers at home, removing the air so it can be kept fresh for longer.

Once food is vacuum sealed, it can be frozen, marinated or put in the microwave, staying as tasty and flavoursome when you’re ready to eat it as the day it was sealed.

FOOD SAVER QUICK MARINATOR

INTELLIGENT WINE CHILLER

BULL'S EYE ORIGINAL BBQ SAUCE

THE WOW SPEAKER

FOOD SAVER VACUUM SEALER

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[home]

A focal point is a very important but often misunderstood part of a garden. A focal point can be any object that attracts the eye to a favoured area of plants or shrubbery. Well sited, the object or ornament can ensure that the best feature of the garden is observed by the visitor. Several focal points can lead the eye to important prospects in the garden and was a tactic employed by all the great designers including Brown, Repton and Kent.

Bird tables and BirdbathsAfter our harsh and prolonged winter, birdtables have proved to be lifesavers for small birds and other garden wildlife. It is very hard for small animals to feed themselves over winter so it is a great idea to have one of these in your garden.

Not only is a birdtable a terrific focal point, it is important for your wildlife and properly sited will provide hours of entertainment. A birdtable should be sited near a window so that you can actually see the animals using it and it should be sited away from trees so that it will not be covered in leaves in autumn.

Birdbaths are similar to birdtables but they usually contain water – this is for drinking and splashing as birds tend to bathe in dust!

SundialsSundials are a classic focal point and can be used in large and small gardens.

Carefully aligned, a sundial can tell the time and sundials were used to set the earliest mechanical timepieces. Even today scientific sundials are still available. The sundial naturally needs to be placed where the sun will fall upon it at all times of the day and must be specifically aligned using GPS. Of course purely decorative sundials can also be used for decorative effect.

FountainsFountains add a dimension of sound and movement to a garden and are one of the greatest features than can be added to your garden. Although undeniably impressive, a fountain can be easy to install and can conserve water using a closed system.

PlantersPlanters are boxes filled with soil that act like small portable gardens. They can be filled with special soil for alkali loving plants or alpine plants for example and can be moved around to suit different

planting schemes. Planters are also effective at protecting prized plants from weeds. A good planter can provide a plant with a weed-free environment. They can also be placed on raised platforms to aid elderly gardeners.

StatuesThe first gardens were laid out in ancient Greece and would feature a statue of a god, this tradition has passed down to the present day and even today familiar Greek and Roman statues are a popular feature in parks and gardens. Stonework can help a garden to look pleasing in the winter months when many plants have died away.

Like many things in the garden there are no hard and fast rules. It is your garden and you must please yourself above all.

Chilstone of Tunbridge WellsTel: 01892 740866www.chilstone.com

Focal Points in the Garden

A Chilstone Kew Fountain

Persephone – spirit of spring

By Martin McHugh, Chilstone of Tunbridge Wells

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[home]

Return to Salad Days

MATERIAL WORLD With modern materials and great designs readily available, the perfect outdoor retreat or dining area is now no longer just the preserve of beachfront mansions or exclusive hotels.

New outdoor ranges from Cane-line allow for beautiful outdoor settings that can be left out all year round....so no longer will the weather dictate the style of exterior surroundings.

Many ranges are equally at home indoors or out due, in part, to the clever use of a man made cane like material that does not deteriorate or lose colour by exposure to the elements. This technology allows us to choose from a great array of dining, seating and lounging options and to break away from the traditional white/green plastics or brown hardwood options that seem to look very tired within a year or two.

WINING AND DININGMany tables and chairs now exist that can look stunning in both a conservatory and an outdoor setting and often be moved between the two during seasonal changes. Extending tables also allow for extra guests whilst not relying on larger spaces full time.

OASIS AREASEven smaller gardens or terraces can benefit from creating a little relaxed zone. Maybe it’s that small ‘suntrap area’ or where a cool breeze sometimes occurs. The point is that relaxing furniture and the right position can allow you to shut your eyes and feel like you are on the Cote d’Azur.

Patio doors, Wood Decking, Verandahs, Sun Decks... The British obsession with embracing the great outdoors never abates...whatever the weather!

And whilst we might struggle predicting if the jet stream will bring us sunshine or showers, what we can influence is how our outdoor space works.

ARTICLE BY TONY KING FROM PAPILLON INTERIORS,FORT HILL, MARGATE

BISTRO SETSOften the preserve of smaller gardens or balcony flats, the modern Bistro set can make a stunning statement when combined with small outdoor coffee tables or indeed an easy chair if room permits.

The main point is to get out and embrace your outdoor areas. With the right care and attention these spaces can be as useful and made as beautiful as your home interior.

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[home]

Country WarmthTop quality fireplaces from a top quality company

Traditional to ultra modern • Established 30 yearsFull design & installation service througout the south east 1-3 Sandgate High Street, Sandgate, Kent • 01303 240300

www.countrywarmth.com • GAS SAFE, HETAS

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Kingfisher PlaceS H A L M S F O R D S T R E E T, C H A R T H A M C T 4 7 D J

SPRING INTO SUMMER IN A BRAND NEW PENTLAND HOME

Looking for a brand new, highly specified home in a beautiful location? Kingfisher Place is for you. A collection of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes in a variety of styles. Some homes are ready to move into.

Prices from £249,500 • Call today on 01227 731407Show home and sales office open Thursday to Sunday 10:30am to 5pm & Mondays 10:30am to 3pm

www.pentlandhomes.co.uk*On selected plots only and subject to scheme rules

SPRING INTO SUMMER IN A BRAND NEW PENTLAND HOME

HOUSE TO SELL? We can help, talk to us about our Early Bird Scheme today*

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[home]

Pentland Homes is putting the spirit back into community living at its new development in Hawkinge, Terlingham Forum. For many, the desire to be part of a thriving neighbourhood has long been at the heart of any home purchase, and it’s no different for Colin Mico, Pentland’s first move-in at the site.

Colin, who moved into his apartment at Terlingham Forum in February, says he was initially attracted to the development because of its promise to create a diverse neighbourhood

that serves the wider community. He comments: “I have always loved Hawkinge, especially the terrific walks in the surrounding countryside. After previously living in an old Victorian period property that required a lot of time and effort into maintaining its upkeep, I knew it was the right time for me to downsize. I especially like how everything is on my doorstep and that there’s a neighbourly atmosphere!”

Perched on the crest of the North Downs in the village of Hawkinge, Terlingham Forum offers the very best of apartment living. The cathedral city of Canterbury, Ashford and the M20 to London are all within easy reach, and a

high speed rail from Folkestone to St. Pancras takes commuters to London in less than an hour. The development will house a mixed community, including young couples, single professionals, and the elderly, and there will also be a designated ‘market square’ for community events.

All apartments benefit from integrated appliances, audio operated door entry system with lift access to all properties, and a choice of fixtures and fittings from the Pentland Homes range.

For further information, please contact the sales office on Tel: 01303 893080 or visit the website www.pentlandhomes.co.uk.

Pentland Homes put the spirit back into community living at new development in Hawkinge

Uniquely designed to fitinto existing timber framesor direct to brick or stone

01732 461 919www.thwc.co.uk

Conservation by design

Accurately replicate yourtraditional style windows

Available in over200 RAL colours

Installed by ourown craftsmen

Full consultation service

145 High Street, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1XJ

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R O M AK I T C H E N SA S H F O R D& M E DWAY

www.roma-interiors.co.uk

Unit 15, Heron Business Centre,Henwood, Ashford, Kent TN24 8DHTelephone 01233 645530

Kitchen showroom open9am to 5pm Monday to Fridayand 10am to 4pm Saturday

Walderslade Shopping Centre,Walderslade Rd, Chatham, Kent ME5 9LRTelephone 01634 868721

Kitchen showroom open9am to 5pm Tuesday to Fridayand 10am to 4pm Saturday

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R O M AK I T C H E N SA S H F O R D& M E DWAY

www.roma-interiors.co.uk

Unit 15, Heron Business Centre,Henwood, Ashford, Kent TN24 8DHTelephone 01233 645530

Kitchen showroom open9am to 5pm Monday to Fridayand 10am to 4pm Saturday

Walderslade Shopping Centre,Walderslade Rd, Chatham, Kent ME5 9LRTelephone 01634 868721

Kitchen showroom open9am to 5pm Tuesday to Fridayand 10am to 4pm Saturday

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Terlingham ForumD E F I A N T C L O S E , H AW K I N G E C T 1 8 7 R H

THE PERFECT INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY 2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS FROM JUST £129,500

A collection of spacious and highly specified, two bedroom apartments in a convenient location close to shops and great communication links.

Show apartment and sales office open Thursday to Monday 10am to 5pm.

Call today on 01303 893080

www.pentlandhomes.co.uk

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[home]

MALCOLMSHAIRSTYLIST91 High Street | Broadstairs | Kent

Modern & TraditionalMen’s HairstylingAppointments Optional

01843 865230 / 864256

sinc

e19

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To Buy or to Rent in East Kent?According to latest research figures from the Halifax, it is now 16% cheaper to buy a home with a mortgage than it is to rent.

The average monthly costs associated with buying a three bedroom house stood at £621 in December 2012, which is £120 (or 16%) lower than the typical monthly rent of £741 paid on the same property type. Over the course of a year this is equivalent to a saving of £1,440.

The research confirmed that buying a house is now more affordable than renting across all 12 UK regions. In the South East, a typical homebuyer is paying 6% (£51) a month less than the average renter (£839 vs £889).

Tina Dedman comments: “With interest rates at an all time low and analysts predicting a rise in property prices over the next two to three years, now is a great time to buy a new home.

Our Kingsbrook Park development in Canterbury is attracting interest from a diverse array of investors and owner/occupiers, from first time buyers and growing families to downsizers.”

The latest phase of homes at Kingsbrook Park includes a collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments and three and four bedroom houses, each benefitting from the high quality specification synonymous with Berkeley Homes. The stylish properties are set amongst beautiful landscaping and parkland on the banks of the River Stour, with many of the properties boasting stunning views towards Canterbury's ancient cathedral.

One, two and three bedroom apartments at Kingsbrook Park are priced from £159,950 and three and four bedroom houses from £329,950. For further information please call 01227 477100 or visit www.kingsbrookpark.co.uk

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[music]

SONS OF ONEBY BRADLEY MCMANUS

SONS OF ONE ARE THREE BROTHERS FROM KINGSDOWN IN EAST KENT. THE LADS HAVE ALWAYS PLAYED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS SO IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY STARTED THEIR OWN BAND.

Their debut track, “Traffic,” was released in April 2013 which clocked up over 1,000 views on YouTube in just over a day. The song was written well over a year ago, and though the boys have been playing odd gigs the reality of working hard in the group and fitting in the demands of life is something most musicians have to contend with.

They also had to overcome the problem of Chaz moving away for three years to study for a degree at Bristol, leaving the two younger brothers, Jamie & Nick at home biding their time.

“We did everything we could do to keep musically tight. I would go back home at least once a month and we would learn some new stuff or just play together. The last thing we wanted was to lose momentum.” – CHAZ

It was clearly worth it though because as brothers have a connection that makes their music seem simple. The group listen to a huge range of music but all agree that John Mayer is one of their biggest influences (seen clearly from the heartbreak decal on Jamie’s guitar). The track is pop-rock through and through which does not give a complete view of what they play.

Audioslave, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse and Foo Fighters are influences you’re more likely to hear.; and John Mayer of course!

“The main thing was to write something that people would remember. We played the track nearly a year ago at a local gig and we were encored to play it again and people were already singing it back to us. If we can get a song into someone’s head that quickly then we have to be doing something right.” – NICK

The following that Sons of One have is disproportionate to how long they have been pushing their music. Their track reached over 5,000 people on Facebook through people naturally sharing the track. So the question really is, "what’s next?"

“We don’t even know that. We obviously want to keep going, play more gigs and continue to record but I suppose time will tell how much of that we will get done. We’d love to keep doing this permanently so if you fancy buying our track on iTunes then it’s only going to help (laughs)” – JAMIE

You can find Sons of One on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sonsofone

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44

BenedictRISING out of the ashes of Britain’s golden age of acting a new star is born in the form of hotly anticipated actor, Benedict Cumberbatch.

Being

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[feature]

The chisel-jawed 37-year-old from London who grabbed the attention of the British public with his portrayal of super sleuth Sherlock Holmes in BBCs 2010 drama series, Holmes, has now turned to international stardom as villain John Harrison in the eagerly awaited Star Trek Into Darkness to be released in May.

But unlike many of his kindred British actors, Cumberbatch avoided the intrigue of Hollywood for many years until he built up a glowing CV on home soil.

Born on July 19 in 1976, Cumberbatch’s career choice was heavily influenced by thespian parents Timothy Carlton and Wanda Ventham. Despite appearing in many famous TV shows such as Men Behaving Badly, The Two Ronnies and a recurring role as Cassandra’s mother Pamela Parry in Only Fools and Horses, Wanda showed a reluctance for her son to enter the unstable world of acting.

Contrary to popular belief the unusually named actor did not magic up his namesake . His father Timothy changed his real surname from Cumberbatch to Carlton as it was deemed too wordy for an actor’s repertoire. Benedict on the other side of the spectrum found difficulty finding acting jobs with a less remarkable name and was advised by his agent to revert back to Cumberbatch. This choice would prove vital to keep his name on everybody’s lips.

As a student Cumberbatch attended Brambletye School and later Harrow School, which was deemed the most prestigious all male public school in the UK at the time. The young actor initially showed potential as a talented actor and completed an art scholarship at the school, specialising in painting large oil canvases. He eventually began to gain a thirst for acting in his later school years and dropped his ambitions in artistry. Keen to expand his experience of the world after his studies, Cumberbatch took a year to teach English at a Tibetan Monastery and on his return studied drama at Manchester University. This was followed by a one year course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. By the time he completed all his qualifications, he had already sought himself an agent to propel him towards a luminous acting career.

The young actor made some unexpected career choices, opting to play female characters at an early age. He played Anne in musical Half a Sixpence at the age of nine and later donned a wig and crown to play Titania, Queen of the fairies in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream as a pre-pubescent 13 year old boy.

The self proclaimed Shakespeare fan made his big break on stage with his portrayal of King of Navarre of Love’s Labour Lost at Regent Park’s Open Air Theatre and continued to star in many of the Bard’s plays including A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream – this time playing male love interest Demetrius.

The actor dipped his toes into the world of television with minor roles in dramas such as Heartbeat, Spooks, Silent Witness and took a more pivotal stance as Freddy in the ITV adaptation of Sarah Water’s lesbian romp, Tipping The Velvet in 2002.

Proof that the versatile young thespian was capable of great success was shown when he was awarded the Oliver Award for Best Actor in April 2012.

Cumberbatch won the award jointly with friend and fellow actor Jonny Lee Miller when the pair played the alternating roles of Victor Frankenstein and his monster directed by Danny Boyle and the National Theatre.

He expanded onto the silver screen in subtle and carefully chosen roles with the likes of snobby student Patrick Watts in university quiz movie Starter For Ten and his chilling portrayal of

rapist Paul Marshall in Atonement; both movies which starred close friend James McAvoy as the protagonist.

The flame-haired film star returned to his red-headed roots and gained critical acclaim with a passionate take on tortured artist Vincent Van Gogh in Van Gogh: Painted with Word.

Cumberbatch developed an affinity with Professor Stephen Hawking when he both voiced the physicist in audio dramas Into The Universe with Stephen Hawking in 2010, Stephen Hawking’s Grand Design in 2012 and played the protagonist in the BBC drama, Hawking in 2004. To prepare for these challenging roles as one of the most popular scientists of the modern day, Cumberbatch met Hawking several times to gain an insight into his brilliant mind and mimic his subtle mannerisms. Cumberbatch’s astounding resemblance to the scientist in the BBC drama was commended and he was nominated for a BAFTA as Best Actor in 2004.

Not only honoured for his malleable on screen performances, Cumberbatch has made a prominent name for himself as a voice actor with his memorable and deeply resonating vocals. He has narrated audiobooks such as The Tempest, Sherlock Holmes: The Rediscovered Railway Mystery and other Stories and played Captain Martin Crieff in BBC Radio’s sitcom, Cabin Pressure.

"The star is set to shine on a global scale this summer with the release of Star Trek Into Darkness."

46

[feature]

His booming voice can be heard in commercials for Jaguar, Sony, Pimms and Google+ and even lent his talent to haunting video game The Nightjar in 2011.

Cumberbatch became a household name overnight with his intense and eccentric portrayal of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective in BBC drama, Sherlock first aired in 2010. The first series was immensely popular and attracted an audience of seven million. Swapping the iconic pipe and deerstalker for a charcoal grey trenchcoat and nicotine patches, Cumberbatch is joined by Martin Freeman as sidekick Dr John Watson in the contemporary adaptation. The show was the brainchild of Doctor Who writers Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat, who offered the prestigious role to Cumberbatch as first choice. The writers had more difficulty to cast bumbling everyman Watson, but when Freeman and Cumberbatch were brought together in the first auditions, the instant chemistry between the two was electric.

Coincidentally, Cumberbatch’s old theatre companion Jonny Lee Miller who shared the role of Frankenstein on stage was cast as the modern day Holmes in US drama, Elementary.

To prepare for the role, Cumberbatch learnt how to play the violin and tried his hand at amateur detective work by investigating and taking painfully meticulous notes of peoples’ clothing and mannerisms as Holmes does in the series. The actor showed a high degree of dedication for the part by losing a large amount of weight to portray the PI as a man that values mind over matter. Both Freeman and Cumberbatch are currently filming the third series of the show. The pair have proved such a dynamic duo on screen they have both taken on pivotal roles in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit Trilogy with Martin Freeman as pint-sized hero Bilbo Baggins and Cumberbatch voicing bejewelled beast Smaug the dragon.

The star is set to shine on a global scale this summer with the release of Star Trek Into Darkness; the sequel to JJ Abrams’s hugely popular reboot of the science fiction series.

Described as a manipulative psychological terrorist, Cumberbatch lavishes in the role of villain John Harrison who uses his wicked ways to destroy the unity on the starship enterprise. The job pushed Cumberbatch to extremes and became his most physically demanding role to date. The actor had to undergo a gruelling regime of fight choreography and stunt training and bulked up his body mass by eating 4000 calories a day.

Benedict Cumberbatch & Jeremy Irvine arriving to Golden Globes 2012 After Party: WB / In Style on January 15, 2012 in Beverly Hills, CA

"Proof that the versatile young thespian was capable of great success was shown when he was awarded the Oliver Award for Best Actor in April 2012."

✇ Star Trek Into Darkness opens in UK theatres on May 9.

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[food and drink]

WYATT J O N E S

W Y A T T A N D J O N E S . C O . U K

B R I T I S H R E S T A U R A N T

B R O A D S T A I R S

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OPEN FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AFTERNOONTEA AND CAKE, AND DINNER

WYATTANDJONES.CO.UK01843 865126INFO@WYATTANDJONES.CO.UK | |

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[food and drink]

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[food and drink]

MONDAY – SATURDAY:Breakfasts: 9.00am – 11.00amLunch: 12pm – 3pmAfternoon tea: 3pm – 5pm

EVENING:Dinner: 6pm – 10pm

SUNDAY:Breakfasts: 9am – 11am Sunday Roasts: 12pm – 5pm

WYATT AND JONES IS THE LATEST ADDITION TO BROADSTAIRS’ CULINARY SCENE – AND WHAT AN ADDITION IT IS. KAT HUGHES-JONES AND JAN WYATT MANAGE TO JUGGLE FAMILY LIFE AND A FULL ON RESTAURANT, SERVING FROM EARLY MORNING BREAKFASTS THROUGH TO EVENING MEALS. SITUATED AT THE BOTTOM OF HARBOUR STREET, WITH GORGEOUS VIEWS OF THE BEACH AND SEA, WYATT AND JONES HAVE AN ENVIABLE POSITION.

We love being by the sea and Broadstairs is such a great place to raise children,” says Kat. “But we’ve had to wait years for the ideal location to become available.”

That wait was certainly worth it. The world and its dog walk past Wyatt’s on the way to the jetty so trade was brisk when we visited, even on a blustery cold April evening.

As we were early, we were able to secure one of the best tables where we could not only watch the sun slip down over a boisterous sea but also follow the very able Head Chef, Jess, as she and her team worked the open kitchen.

The evening menu is a simple affair with a range of appetisers, five first courses and an equal number of main

dishes. But whilst the menu selection is simple, the food certainly isn’t.

Differing to my partner , who cannot abide even the sight of oysters (Philistine!) I skipped that choice and kicked off with crisp, buttery triangles of anchovy toast, while he had the blokey option of brawn: coarse textured strands of meat accompanied with a spoonful of Wyatt’s chunky piccalilli.

Words & pictures Jo Scott

51

[food and drink]

A coastal restaurant menu cries out for a good fish dish and Wyatt’s is no exception. Jess, from Malta, has concocted a fish soup like no other. The bowl arrived, crammed to the brim with mussels, prawns and juicily soft scallops, over which a hot fennel-hinted broth had been poured. A whole slice of home-made bread had been sliced paper thin to create a salty crouton, adding a good crunch to the dish.

I had expected him indoors to continue the bloke’s choice with the pork pie and rhubarb ketchup but to my surprise, he chose a salad to begin. Salad? Greenery on a plate is usually an anathema to hi m but, lured in with the addition of beetroot crisps and the word ‘fried’ he succumbed. Tangy Bath soft cheese oozed onto the plate as he cut through crisp-crumbed triangles.

With the first courses, we shared a Uvam Mavu Pinot Grigio, delle Venezie, Italy: a citrus edged fruitiness suiting the fish soup, and at only £16.50, suiting the pocket too. Wyatt’s wines are mainly European with the odd Aussie extra as a teaser. Pleasing to see two Kent sparklies in the offering, from award winning Chapel Down and Throwley Vineyards.

Choosing a main course proved to be somewhat of a dilemma as every dish was crying out to be ordered. The salmon and clams in lemon butter? The rather adventurous Jerusalem artichoke soufflé with celery and cider cream sauce? Or should we be mundane and go for the sirloin and pork belly?

The meat won the day but there was nothing mundane about either offering. The sirloin was meltingly tender, topped with an anchovy and watercress butter, accompanied with robust roasted onion and a health slab of dauphinoise potato. Equally soft was the crusted pork tenderloin and slow cooked pork belly with its crown of golden crackling (fearful of shooting the crackling onto your fellow diners lap? Try turning it over and attacking it from the underside.) The delicately smoked mash had a blanket of chicory so beautifully caramelised that it almost tasted of toffee apple.

The main dishes needed a wine with more oomph and the list didn’t disappoint. The list includes a Rioja and a Malbec but we chose a less well known but utterly delicious gem: a youthful Biberius Tempranillo, jamminess sitting nicely against the richness of the two meats.

Sadly we were too full to indulge further so the pleasure of puddings would need to wait for another day. Even my utter downfall, the cheese board featuring Wigwell and Cropwell Bishop had to be waived.

But the smoked mash was still intriguing me so I had to tackle chef Jess. Cleverly, Jan has installed their own smokehouse in the back of beyond, so not only are the meats and fish smoked in-house, so are potatoes for this dish. Hence the delicate hint of smoke rather than the heftiness of a bacon background.

All the breads, pastries and cakes for afternoon tea, pickles, preserves and meats and bread are prepared in-house so this is one team that is certainly kept busy whatever time of day.

Jan and Kat may have waited seven years for the right place – but that wait has certainly paid dividends. I cannot see them going anywhere else in a hurry.

www.wyattandjones.co.uk

THE MEAT WON THE DAY BUT THERE WAS NOTHING MUNDANE ABOUT EITHER OFFERING.

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[food and drink]

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[food and drink]

The county’s leading food and drink producers, retailers and hospitality providers gathered at the Mercure Great Danes Hotel in Hollingbourne on March 8th for the Produced in Kent inspired Taste of Kent Awards 2013, with ten companies taking home a prestigious Taste of Kent Award title for the very first time.

The outstanding winner of the night was undoubtedly Cheesemakers of Canterbury, based in Faversham, who swept the board with three Taste of Kent Awards including Kent Artisan Producer, Best Kent Food Product and the Dairy Class in Kent Food Product Category – with its Bowyers Brie. Owner and driver behind the multi-award winning business, Jane Bowyer who set up the business just under six years ago in May 2007, was delighted by her triple win.

One of the categories which annually create some of the greatest public interest, were won by newcomers with The Ambrette in Margate picking up the Kent Restaurant of the Year and The George Inn, in Molash winning Kent Dining Pub of the Year.

Another hotly contested category, Kent Local Food Retailer of the Year, was picked up by former finalist Quex Barn of Birchington with its innovative concept in local retailing.

Newcomer Little Stour Orchard in Margate picked up the Best Kent Juice Producer, despite 2012 being only its second harvest. Another young drinks’ producer, Duddas Tun, which has only

been producing cider for three years from its own Pine Trees farm on the top of the North Downs near Doddington, pushed past its finalist position in 2012 to be crowned with the Best Kent Cider or Perry 2013.

In the Kent Farmers’ Market category, newcomer Elm Court Farmers’ Market edged ahead of the 2013 finalists Cliftonville and Tonbridge, to clinch the title for the very first time. Based near Hempstead, Gillingham, this new farmers’ market has been trading for less than a year and displayed “a wide range of produce and a lively series of food demonstrations” providing a focal point for the community.

The return of the popular Food Farming & Landscape Award for the second year proves again the strong link between the Kent countryside and the food we eat. The decision to award it to Winterdale Cheesemakers from Wrotham near Sevenoaks was unanimous and the judges praised Winterdale for achieving “such a high level of recognition for the cheese” and “working so closely with their landscape”. Their attention to detail was considered to be “of a very high standard”.

The Food Product Category Awards (split into five classes) also saw three first time Taste of Kent Awards winners for Sloe Seduction with its Sloe Gin (in the Bakery & Confectionery Class), Dine Thyme for its delicious Quail Egg Pie (in the Prepared Food Class) and Roundwood Orchard Pig for its Free Range Dry Cured Gammon (in the Catering Class).

Gadd’s No 3 from Ramsgate Brewery won Best Kent Beer for the fourth consecutive year with its outstanding “local credentials and strong USP”; whilst consistent Taste of Kent Award winner Biddenden Vineyards picked up Best Kentish Wine 2013 for its Biddenden Ortega 2011 – a vintage that has won a string of other wine awards during 2012.

Sankey’s of Tunbridge Wells, a previous winner in the Kent Fishmonger of the Year was judged “a clear winner” again for 2013; whilst Godmersham Game just shouldered Doughtys out of the top spot to be crowned winner for the third consecutive year as Kent Butcher or Meat Retailer of the Year.

taste of kent awards

New Talent Leads the Way in 2013

54

[food and drink]

The hardest dishes to get right – fish. So easily overcooked and overpowered by sauces and seasoning, fish is unfortunately not a common site on the conventional High Street menu. It requires expert skill and attention to make it great. This however makes visiting seafood restaurants especially exciting and Hythe Bay in Dover was no exception.

The Hythe Bay Restaurants are owned by Turrloo Parrett, who is determined to see them flourish as his Eastwell Manor Country House Hotel and Spa, Ashford has done. The motto of ‘Quality not Compromise’ is clear to see from the moment the first member of staff greets you at the top of the

stairs. On entering the restaurant you are instantly welcomed by panoramic windows boasting views of the beach and harbour, which stretch the length of the restaurant. I cannot think of a better position to enjoy seafood than on the beach. Visiting before spring had really kicked in, it was rather nippy outside, but there is a balcony available for al fresco dining with views of Dover Castle and the White Cliffs. Perfect for warm summer days and nights.

After being seated by a charming member of staff it was refreshing to be served a selection of complimentary rolls and Mackerel pâté, rather than the usual bread and butter. The taster was simple and different, perfectly whetting

my appetite as I began to peruse the menu. When visiting a new restaurant I am always keen to be introduced to its specialities by an expert, luckily the manager Alistair was on hand to assist my decision making. Hythe Bay takes great pride in sourcing as many local ingredients as possible from Kentish farmers. All fish is sustainably sourced from Griggs of Hythe who bring daily deliveries of fish caught on the south-east coast, as well as speciality fish from further afield such as their Scottish salmon. The daily specials also differ depending on the morning’s catch and the chef ’s imagination on the day. This has always been part of the restaurant’s ethos and they are keen to see it continue.

It is probably no revelation to you that, as a reviewer, I am very particular with food (and the wine that accompanies it.) So many restaurants nowadays, particularly the chains, choose to follow identical dishes of chicken, pasta, salad and sometimes the odd piece of red meat.

Hythe Bay SeafoodRestaurant and Bar

By Amy McManus

55

[food and drink]

Alistair was quick to recommend the Bouillabaisse as my starter, which initially I was dubious about. A traditional Provençal dish, Bouillabaisse originated in Marseille and varies hugely from region to region. It is often the cause of many arguments in the area over the true ‘traditional recipe.’ I was intrigued to see what Hythe Bay would present me with having had terrible versions in the past. I am very pleased to report that it was delicious and served with traditional croutons and Rouille. My husband opted for the Whitebait which was classically fried and served with a homemade Tartare sauce. For a man who isn’t keen on fish,

the entire plate was thoroughly enjoyed. I particularly liked the addition of a fine cloth wrapped around each lemon so no pips or pulp entered the meal; a small example of the quality and care that is taken with each dish.

For the main Alastair selected Pan Fried Salmon with Red Pepper Pesto, Garlic New Potatoes and Fine Green Beans. The combinations of flavours were wonderfully balanced; I only wish there had been more of the pesto and juices for the potatoes to soak up. The meal was accompanied by a beautiful English white wine; The Bacchus Reserve 2011, from another local producer, Chapel Down in Tenterden.

When planning events such as a party it is always difficult to make sure that all individual tastes are catered for, which unfortunately sometimes leaves seafood restaurants out of the question. So, it is important to cater for those who may be put off by an all fish menu. Luckily there are a number of non-fish menu dishes for you to choose from such as Roasted Chicken Breast and Potato Gnocchi. The chips which accompanied my husband’s Battered King Prawns were fantastic so it’s not just seafood that Hythe Bay does well! The puddings are also delightful, particularly the bread and butter pudding which must be tried.

Thank you Hythe Bay for a lovely evening, I have returned home feeling sated and am looking forward to returning in the very near future on a Saturday for some for your famous Live music and to try something new on the menu.

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[food and drink]

RESTAURANT HOURS SUNDAY: Tuesday 8.00am - 9pm last orders

WEDNESDAY: 8.00am – 9.30pm last orders

THURSDAY – FRIDAY: 8.00am – 10.00pm last orders

BAR HOURS EVERYDAY: 8.00am – till late

website www.milesbarramsgate.comcontact sally@milesbarramsgate.commailto:mick@milesbarramsgate.com

Tel 01843 585008

Miles Café Culture Where to Watch the World Go By…

‘Miles’ has been at the heart of Ramsgate Harbour’s recent revival as a desirable place to sit back, relax and enjoy a capucinno or a glass of wine for the past decade. A few years back, it moved three doors down to a venue twice the size to facilitate more patrons, diners, and drinkers alike.

Current owners, Michael & Sally White, who took over the venue a year ago have embraced their roles with gusto and have worked hard to improve the customer service, promote the excellent menu, created from local fresh ingredients, and to make the customer experience one that will bring you back time and time again.

Miles Café Culture is open from 8.00am serving both traditional and continental breakfasts, and reputedly “The best coffee in Thanet” and most mornings, weather permitting, you will see a flock of regulars enjoying a coffee or a croissant from the outdoor terrace overlooking the marina.

Those wishing to enjoy a drink inside can lounge comfortably on deep leather sofas or check out the news/weather or footie scores on the free internet portals.

Come evening, Miles Café Culture is lit by candlelight, and with food served until late is the perfect spot to enjoy some great food, with the lobster a favourite among their many customers.

Night owls can also take advantage of Miles late license and with summer on its way, there is no better way to end an evening than sipping on a premium beer or a chilled glass of wine with friends inside or outside this most iconic of Ramsgate landmarks.

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[food and drink]

Spring clean your body, from the Inside out,

a day with a greensmoothie

Winter has dragged on this year and for many of us the cold weather has left us wrapping up in big, shapeless winter woollies and eating for warmth and comfort without necessarily eating for our health. Now spring has finally arrived, the blossom is on the trees, the summer wedding invites begin to drop through the letter box and each time you turn on the TV there is another advertisement for summer sun. It’s time to come out of hibernation and give your body a spring clean. Shake off those unwanted pounds, increase your energy levels, give your immune system a boost and look forward to the sunnier days ahead.

An easy way to do this is to begin the day with a greensmoothie. A delicious blended drink made from fruit and leafy greens, such as lettuce, kale, spinach, celery, ruby chard and parsley, or the tops of root vegetables, carrots and beetroot.

We are all told from a young age to eat our greens, but the secret to gaining optimal nutrients is to eat them raw. Many of you will experience, trying to get big kids or little kids to eat their greens, let alone enjoy them, is a mission in itself. The best way to achieve this, is to blend 40% greens and 60% fruits. This ratio neutralises the taste of the greens, and the fruit offers a natural sweetness to the drink. My nieces are aged 2 and 4 and now wake each morning and ask for a greensmoothie, yet try getting them to eat their greens chopped up on their plate and there would be a wrestling match.

Green smoothies are packed with nutrients, high in fibre, and due to the blended ingredients they are easy to digest. They are so filling you can easily replace a meal with a greensmoothie. Try this for a week and notice how your energy levels increase, how you gain more clarity and focus, and how easily the unwanted pounds slip away.

Give this greensmoothie recipe a go, you’ll be pleasantly surprised

♥ 2 cups spinach ♥ ¼ pineapple ♥ 1 apple ♥ 1 banana ♥ 3 ice cubes ♥ 1 cup spring water

For more information on superfoods, greensmoothie detox and diet tips go to www.rawchifood.com shop.rawchifood.com)

Blend all ingredients in the blender until smoothie and serve immediately; this will keep in the fridge for 1 day.

Add a teaspoon of superfoods, such as Baobab fruit or Spirulina to your smoothie for optimal nutrition.

Baobab fruit, hailed the new superfood to hit the UK, this delicious flavour enhancing fruit is just jam packed with antioxidants, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and a fabulous source of vitamin C, it also has anti-inflammatory and probiotic properties.

Spirulina is an immune building superfood that is a complete protein and a fantastic source of antioxidants, protein, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, polysaccharids and is so incredibly nutritionally rich, that some people believe you could live of Spirulina alone. It improves muscle strength, endurance, balancing blood sugar; helps fight inflammatory symptoms of arthritis.

Renee's Health Food Tips

Renee Maguire is a chef, raw nutrition coach, food writer and motivational healthy eating speaker. Through discovering the benefit of her own health improvements she has dedicated her work to helping others find a balance between the foods they love to eat and the foods their body needs.

Renee writes for a variety of newspapers, magazines and blogs, and tours the country delivering inspirational motivational talks and food workshops to find out more visit www.rawchifood.com or email renee@rawchifood.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JO DORAN

58

[food and drink]

RESTAURANT 66AT RAMSGATE HARBOUR

On a sunny April lunchtime, I sauntered down to the seafront at Ramsgate to try out the restaurant opened by Thorley Taverns, “Restaurant 66”.

In recent years, Ramsgate has undergone a regeneration of sorts, with the seafront and Harbour Parade in particular now offering a selection of quality, higher end venues for those who like to eat, drink or just generally watch the world go by.

From Miles Bar, past Enoteca, Rokka all the way down past the harbour to the Belgian Café across from the Main Sands, there has been a distinct shift from the out-dated amusement arcade and “Kiss me Quick” vibe to a far more continental ambience. Restaurant 66 sits comfortably among its peers, offering great service, great food, and in a great location.

Located on Harbour Parade, the restaurant has taken over from “The Atlantis” and has been totally revamped and modernised throughout. The Atlantis was a fine restaurant, but had been long overdue a change of direction and Restaurant 66 delivers that much needed shot in the arm to the venue.

We were given a table near the large bay window at the front of the restaurant, which afforded us a lovely view of Ramsgate marina, the harbour arm, and the maritime museum. The ground floor restaurant is small enough to exude an intimate charm with up to 35 covers, but there is also the option to open up downstairs, where there is room for another 40. When we took lunch, there were four other couples

enjoying a meal, so if it’s romance you’re after, you could do far worse than booking a table overlooking the marina on a summers evening – or take them underground where the soft lighting an décor creates a warm, cosy environment.

We started our meal with fresh bread and olives – an appetizer which was easily big enough as a starter for two (of course we also had starters!). There was a variety of fabulous, warm, freshly baked bread including sun dried tomato, raisin & spice, and olive bread to accompany a large bowl of mixed olives.

For starters my partner enjoyed mushrooms in a white wine & garlic cream sauce, served with another generous hunk of fresh bread, while I went “old school”, with a classic king

59

[food and drink]

prawn cocktail, served with wholemeal bread. Had we not wolfed down so much bread earlier we probably would have opted for one of the sharing platters for starters, more than likely the South Coast Platter of King Prawns, Smoked Salmon, Crab and smoked mackerel with lemon, dill and caper mayo (and fresh bread of course).

We had already been recommended the home made burgers, of which there is a choice of minted lamb, classic beef or sage & onion chicken – all served with home made chips. However, concerned we may not have room for dessert, we both opted for something a little lighter!

My partner chose the Sirloin Steak with Caesar Salad – an innovative twist on the usual, sometimes bland, chicken option. Head Chef, Kirk Zanre,

formerly of Marchesi’s in Broadstairs, who learned his trade at Thanet College, explained that the dish works perfectly for those who love their steak but who are seeking a lighter alternative to the standard steak & chips option. My partner readily agreed as she enthused about it being one of the best lunches she has had in ages.

I was tempted by the classic Moules & Frites, steamed in white wine, onion and lemon, served with a bucket of chips, but it was the cod which really caught my eye.

I wasn’t in the mood for something fried or battered so the grilled cod steak set on crushed new potatoes with a bacon and leek sauce was just the ticket. The fillet of cod steak was “ample” to say the least with mountains of tender,

flaky white meat sat atop the potatoes, drizzled in a sublime, creamy sauce. The flavours of the fish, bacon and leek were incredibly moreish and despite my increasingly full stomach there was no way I was going to leave any, using a bit of my earlier leftover bread to mop up the final remnants of sauce.

Despite our best intentions, there was simply no room for dessert, my partner reluctantly passing up her favourite sticky toffee pudding with more than a hint of regret.

For a great value meal with wonderful flavours, created by a locally trained and experienced chef with a passion for creating dishes with fresh, local produce in a fantastic location, East Kent Lifestyle can highly recommend Restaurant 66. A first class lunch!

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[food and drink]

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[food and drink]

CocktailsFROM THE CUBAN

MIDORI JUNE BUG

Midori Melon Liquor, Coconut Rum, Banana Syrup, Lemon & Lime Juice, Pineapple Juice, Shaken, Strained over Ice and garnished with a pineapple wedge.

ORANGE BLOSSOM

Beefeater Gin, Orange, Triple Sec & Grenadine, lightly infused and soured with fresh Lime Juice. Served over Crushed ice in a rocks glass and garnished with half an orange slice.

The Cuban Canterbury, 41-43 High St, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2RY | Tel: 01227 464464

Every issue we deliver some fantastic cocktail recipes for you to try out at home, courtesy of The Cuban, Canterbury. As we head into Summer here are some seasonal specialities from East Kent’s favourite Mixologists.

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[home]

at mersham-le-hatch

By Pete Nichols

On an unusually Sunny day in April (unusual for the UK in 2013 at least!) myself and a friend stopped by at The Secret Garden at Mersham-le-Hatch, on the outskirts of Ashford, to sample the venue, the ambiance, and of course the lunch time menu.

The Secret Garden certainly lives up to its name, tucked away in an old coach house in a charming courtyard which makes up most of which is known as “Mersham-le-Hatch business village”. The “village” is not far from the M20, sitting a couple of hundred yards back from the Hythe road, invisible to passers-by but for the signpost alerting you to its presence as you drive (you wouldn’t be walking) towards its entrance.

To say the other businesses and boutiques in the village rely on The Secret Garden for their trade would be a misnomer, as they largely rely on internet trade, but it certainly wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that most physical footfall in the village can probably be attributed to hundreds who patronise the restaurant each and every week.

Now in its seventh year, The Secret Garden has a reputation which not only guarantees the repeat business of local business people, ladies who lunch, families, and couples, but also pulls in business from as far afield as London and surrounding areas.

The Secret Garden takes on many guises; it is at once a great place for a glass of wine after a hard day’s work, with comfy leather sofa’s in a tranquil setting; the ideal place to enjoy an afternoon tea overlooking the perfectly manicured and extensive garden from the terrace, and a fine dining restaurant with outstanding contemporary European cuisine.

Thrilled at the opportunity to dine “al fresco”, we took to the terrace. The

terrace overlooks the beautiful “secret” garden, a fantastic space replete with a freshly installed petanque court to the right, and a lawn capable of holding a large event marque to the left. Ideal for the many functions and weddings which take place every year at the Secret Garden.

Before taking the menu we indulged in a couple of White Wine & Elderflower spritzers, the perfect accompaniment to blue skies and al fresco dining.

My friend opted for the venison Carpaccio with soused beetroot, hazelnut pesto and goats curd, a suitably sophisticated dish for our sophisticated surroundings with wonderful tastes and textures. I chose the pan fried scallops, served with a generous portion of pork

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[home]

belly with an apple dressing. Scallops are notoriously easy to overcook, but thankfully mine were melt-in-the-mouth – I can’t think of a better starter to eat whilst soaking up the sun with a refreshing (only slightly alcoholic) beverage on the go!

Although the mains all looked worthy of sampling but given the afternoon’s workload loomed, we both picked from the “light lunch” menu. This time my companion plumped for the fish course, devouring his whole grilled mackerel, sauté potatoes, and olive tapenade in short order.

Although not to everyone’s taste, I can’t help but I adore the taste and texture of lamb’s liver (if cooked well of course) so selected the pan fried lamb’s liver & bacon with mashed potato and red wine jus. Service was prompt and the meal was delicious. I particularly enjoyed the surprisingly wonderful texture and seasoned taste of the thin, crispy, onion rings atop the meal.

If I had been ravenous I think the Roast sirloin of Kent beef with braised cheek, baby spinach, fondant potato and red wine jus would have been my preferred choice from a wonderful selection of

inventive dishes cooked largely with fresh local meats, fish and produce by experienced head chef Stephen Piddock.

We finished the meal with another glass of the ever-so-moreish spritzer and a shared cheeseboard. Delicious.

With a two course set lunch at just £15.95 (3 courses for £19.95) The Secret Garden represents all that is good about a fine Kentish eatery; good food, good wine, good service, and wonderful surroundings. It may be hard to find but it’s an oasis worth looking for!

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[motoring]

THIS IS QUITE A CAR. I HAVE JUST SPENT THE LAST 48 HOURS FEELING RATHER SPECIAL. The Chrysler 300C looks like nothing else on the road and represents absolutely amazing value for money. The original Chrysler 300C arrived back in 2005 and represented a chance for British buyers to get their hands on a large luxury saloon that cost the equivalent of a (Basic) 5 series or Mercedes E Class but was specced and sized to the next size up and became a very good selling car for Chrysler. The second generation continues with the same theme. The new 300C carries on with the bold and characterful styling

of the previous model and turns the wick up on the German competition by representing amazing value for money.

Less than £40k will get you the top spec Executive model (as tested). Highlights include heated and ventilated seats and cup holders, heated and motorised steering wheel, automatic lights and wipers, an 8.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Garmin sat-nav and a panoramic sunroof. Leather adorns practically every surface in the cabin and the detailing is exquisite. Other toys include dual zone climate control, adaptive radar guided cruise control (which doubles up as a safety feature warning you of an imminent collision), rear reversing camera, full iPod connectivity and front and rear parking sensors. Spec the equivalent E-Class or 5 Series to

the same level and you will be paying somewhere north of £50k...

Ride and handling wise the 300C has close to a 50-50 front to rear weight distribution, allowing it to feel well balanced when steering through corners. The suspension is a new design, employing springs and dampers, and extra isolation around their mounting points to further remove vibrations and bumps from the cabin. There’s very little body roll in corners, and refinement has also improved. Even with the 20 inch alloys the ride is cosseting. In summary the 300 C is a relaxing and capable car to drive.

One of the biggest draws to the Chrysler is the exterior styling. Whilst the German competition can be very conservative in their styling the 300C is wilfully different. This is a car you would

REVEALING THE NEWBY JOHN SANSON

CHRYSLER 300C

&BALANCED ELEGANT

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[motoring]

buy purely for the looks alone. With the optional 20 inch alloys (go for it!) daytime slim line LED running lights, imposing grill, sculpted bonnet and large scale dimensions the 300C really does turn heads. I parked the car outside my house and enjoyed the appreciative looks of everyone that walked past for an hour or so. A group of school kids even spent minute taking photos on their mobile phones. You don’t get that with an E-Class....

In terms of practicality the 300C is a big car and this pays dividends in interior space. Leg, shoulder and headroom in both the front and rear are generous to say the least. The 300C is pretty much the size inside of an S-Class or 7 Series BMW remember and feels more like a limousine inside. The boot is gargantuan and the seats split 60/40 further

enhancing practicality. The front and rear seats are generously proportioned too and the front seats benefit from electrical assistance as well as the already mentioned heating and ventilation.

The V6 3.0 litre diesel is a very characterful unit that makes a lovely noise when being given a workout. The unit produces 236BHP. Which is more than plenty. The 300C weighs around 2 tonnes but can be propelled to 60 miles an hour in around 7 seconds and on to a top speed of 144 miles an hour. More impressive is the mid-range performance. Very few owners would test the 0-60 time or top end figures but all will enjoy the muscular performance from 50-70 miles an hour on the motorway. The engine feels very unstressed and works really well with the automatic gearbox. At 70 miles per

hour the car is pretty much silent. There are also gearshift paddles on the steering wheel should you wish to have more direct control of the powerplant in front of you. Combined the 300C delivers just under 40 mpg. Impressive bearing in mind the performance available...

In summary then the Chrysler 300C is a very welcome addition to these shores. The car is wilfully different and for the money nothing really comes close. I have driven cars that cost twice as much but didn't make me feel as special as this does. Characterful and, well, likeable the 300C will make for a great companion over many relaxing miles and makes a great case for itself when analysed against the more mainstream (and dull) German competition. The 300C is a sound investment for both the private or business user and will be a joy to own.

ENHANCEDPRACTICAL&

[motoring]

66

P e r f o r m a n c e H o u s e , f o r s t a l r o a d , a y l e s f o r d , m a i d s t o n e , K e n t , m e 2 0 7 X a . w w w . l i P s c o m b . c o . u K

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£299 £36,000 £6,439 £4,575 £1,425 £23,561 £12,797 £30,000 37 0% 0% aPr

rePreSentatiVe examPle 300c 3.0 crd V6 limited

official fuel consumPtion fiGures for tHe cHrysler 300c ranGe in mPG (l/100Km): eXtra urban 47.9 (5.9) – 49.6 (5.7), urban 29.4 (9.6) – 29.7 (9.5), combined 39.2 (7.2) – 39.8 (7.1). co2 emissions in G/Km 191 – 185.VeHicle SHown iS cHrYSler 300c limited in black clear coat. Promotion aVailable on new 300c modelS ordered bY 30tH June 2013. witH cHrYSler Horizon You HaVe tHe oPtion to return tHe VeHicle and not PaY tHe final PaYment, SubJect to tHe VeHicle not HaVing exceeded an agreed annual mileage (a cHarge of 12P Per mile for exceeding 10,000 mileS Per annum in tHiS examPle) and being in good condition. finance SubJect to StatuS. guaranteeS maY be required. termS and conditionS aPPlY. at ParticiPating dealerS onlY. we work witH a number of creditorS including cHrYSler financial SerViceS. cHrYSler financial SerViceS, Po box 4465, SlougH, Sl1 0rw. PriceS and SPecificationS correct at tHe time of going to PreSS (04/13). cHrYSler iS a regiStered trademark of cHrYSler grouP llc.

t H e a l l n e w

c H r Y S l e r 3 0 0 c .

From £299 a month

Lipscomb Announce Chrysler and Jeep in MaidstoneKent based Lipscomb Cars have further strengthened their relationship with Fiat Group Auto by adding the Chrysler and Jeep brands to the multi franchise facility located on Forstal Road, Maidstone.

Chrysler and Jeep has seen a resurgence in the USA following the rescue from administration following collapse in 2008 and are now the leading motor manufacturer in Detroit gaining market share year over year. With the acquisition by Fiat, Chrysler have been able to take advantage of engine technology and further strengthened the hold that the Chrysler 300C holds in the market whilst the Chrysler Voyager holds the accolade of the ‘original MPV’.

The iconic Jeep brand is also surging ahead in the UK and with an ‘all new’ Jeep Grand Cherokee due to arrive in June alongside Cherokee and the recently introduced New Compass.

Peter Barnes, Managing Director of Lipscomb in announcing the reintroduction of Chrysler and Jeep in Maidstone commented. ”We are delighted to add this iconic brand to our stable further strengthening our relationship with FGA but also that customers with existing Chrysler and Jeep models now have a dealer who can look after all their motoring

requirements, this is a good fit within our portfolio allowing us to offer vehicles across all the sectors in the UK”.

Lipscomb Cars represent Volvo, Lotus, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Abarth and now Chrysler with Jeep operating businesses in Maidstone, Ashford and Canterbury. You can visit their website at www.lipscomb.co.uk for more details.

67

[travel]

HONG KONG HIATUS From Kowloon Bay and Hong Kong Island to the mysterious sounding New Territories, a buzz of neon constantly flashes before your eyes as you explore this confluence of capitalism, colonialism and communism.

But on a short stopover in one of the most densely populated corners of the planet, it’s hard to know where to begin? Here’s a how to tackle a short stay in Hong Kong:

KOWLOON WITH A VIEW

In a fast-moving city like Hong Kong, the first thing you should do is find the seminal viewpoint and get a bird’s eye view of what you’re about to tackle on foot. Victoria Peak combines a literally breath-taking view – you can see the whole of Hong Kong laid out before you, imposing, important, yet hushed and still - with a history lesson, a shopping opportunity, and a trip on a Hong Kong’s legendary old Peak Tram to get you up there.

www.thepeak.com.hk

A peak tram and skypass ticket costs 75 HK$ return.

ROLLS WITH IT

Another of Hong Kong’s famous cast of landmarks, the 1920’s Peninsula Hotel and its fleet of green Rolls Royces was made famous in Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun. Of course if you’re no Monsieur Scaramanga you may not be able to stretch the budget to a room here, but get inside for Afternoon Tea and you’re golden. The legendary feast of Britishness at this Hong Kong institution is served between 2-7 daily.

www.peninsula.com

High Tea at The Penninsula costs 388 HK$

THE VICTORIA CROSS

If Hong Kong is a film set, The Star Ferry is one of this picture’s biggest stars. A real living breathing character, the green and white ferries which cost about 20p to ride allow you to cross Victoria Harbour and experience Hong Kong from Kowloon where you can gaze at the view from the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront promenade.

www.starferry.com.hk

A single ticket costs 2.50 HK$

A NIGHT AT THE RACES

Surely one of the most impressively located race courses in the world, the stadium at Happy Valley is encircled by futuristic skyscrapers and hugged by the city surrounding it. Race nights are on Wednesdays and don’t tend to sell out in advance – if you’re lucky enough to be staying at The Cosmopolitan Hotel you can order room service and enjoy the action from the comfort of your own bed.

Basic seating is 20 HK$ but show your passport you can buy a tourist ticket to access the higher-ground standing area for 10 HK$. A course view room at The Cosmopolitan costs from 1000 HK$

www.happyvalleyracecourse.com and www.cosmopolitanhotel.com.hk

TEMPLE TO CONSUMERISM

It the quintessential Hong Kong night market, open until midnight, and the perfect way to get the most out of an evening in Hong Kong – it’s the Temple Street Night Market.

You can pick up everything here from food and fake goods to tourist T-shirts and electronics, via more traditional jade and antiques but it’s the atmosphere, the people watching and the shot of local culture that’s the real attraction.

You can haggle for the wares, so the price is somewhat up to you!

www.discoverhongkong.com

GETTING THERE

Cathay Pacific flies five times a day from London Heathrow to Hong Kong International with seamless onward connections to Phnom Penh with sister airline Dragonair. Book at www.cathaypacific.co.uk

Savvy and second-time round visitors allow themselves far longer to take in everything Khmer culture has to offer - friendly people and a laid-back atmosphere not to mention the amazing value Cambodia represents.

The town of Siem Reap - jumping off point for Angkor Wat - has its own very special appeal - there’s just as much fun to be had exploring what’s become an increasingly stylish destination of its own.

Here are the highlights of Siem Reap’s stylish side

[travel]

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KHMERCOOLThe average first time visitor to Cambodia comes for just three days to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Angkor Wat – barely scratching the surface of the endless temples, let alone the enticing town of Siem Reap, or the beguiling country of Cambodia itself.

PAMPER - AT FRANGIPANI SPA

There are plenty of places to get massages and manicures in town but none as stylish as Frangipani. Tucked behind an oasis of greenery this retro-styled spa has a zen feel and a full range of beauty services. You’re served a cup of hot tea and a cold flannel before being dispatched back into the real world post-treatment.

Frangipanisiemreap.com

YOGA - AT NAVUTU DREAMS RESORT AND SPA

Try a yoga class with a difference in the super stylish surroundings of Navutu dreams, an Italian-run Mediterranean-designed retreat ten minutes by tuk-tuk from the centre of town. Private classes can be arranged on the rootop or lawn and the resort holds advanced yoga workshops with international yogis.

Navutudreams.com

SNACK – ON HOMEMADE CAKE AT THE UPSTAIRS CAFÉ

The Upstairs Café is just a few minutes away from the well-trodden tourist-filled centre of town, but it might as well be another world. In the up-and-coming area of Wat Bo, ex-MAC make-up artist Sarah has brought her own brand of French style, eye for detail and predilection for baking to a tucked away secret space which you’ll spot from the road by the tell-tale red teapot.

69

[travel]LISTEN – TO JAZZ AT HERITAGE SUITES

Every Thursday evening exclusive boutique hotel Heritage Suites holds a happy hour and jazz evening in the refined surroundings of their atmospheric Asian-meets-colonial style bar. Enjoy a Khmer margarita or head to the dedicated wine bar to choose your two-for-one tipple to the sound of a trio of jazz musicians.

Heritagesuiteshotel.com

DRINK - COCKTAILS AT RAFFLES GRAND HOTEL D’ANGKOR

The Elephant Bar at Raffles Grand Hotel D’Angkor is a swish place to stop in for a drink, and you’ll be in good company: the Clintons have stayed here and the conservatory walls are adorned with pictures of Jackie O from her 1967 visit to Cambodia. The signature cocktail to try – to the sound of tinkling ivories - is The Airavata, a blend of rum, coconut passion, lime juice, crème de banana with pineapple and coconut juice.

Raffles.com

WHERE TO STAY STYLISHLY

MINIMALIST DESIGNER COOL - SHINTA MANI

Shinta Mani is the real deal of design hotels - a 39-room temple to modernity for those who love art, housed in what was Siem Reap's original post office building.

This ultimate chic bolt-hole is decorated in an achingly cool palette of muted grey tones, concrete textures and urban tiling, punctuated by flashes of orange which are said to represent fleeting glimpses of the monks as they move through the temples.

But Shinta Mani is more than just a trendy place to hang out, drink, sleep and eat. While signature restaurant Kroya (which means ‘food’ in Khmer) features modern interpretations of Cambodian cuisine which can be eaten on one the four-seater suspended swings, the real coolness comes from the hotel's not-for-profit foundation which has 22 students in the onsite hospitality training program.

Shintamani.com

REFINED COLONIAL LUXURY – SOFITEL ANGKOR PHOKEETHRA GOLF & SPA RESORT

The Angkor Phokeethra boasts the biggest free form swimming pool in Siem Reap and was voted in the top ten child-friendly hotels in Asia complete with swim-up bar, plus there’s a L'Occitane spa with sauna and steam room and a 24/7 babysitting service.

And despite having over 200 rooms on their 6 hectare estate, with over 5 times that number of trees, the overall impression is one of a tropical haven of water features and foliage rather than a concrete jungle.

For literal high fliers you can even swoop in straight from the grounds of the Sofitel Phnom Penh via helicopter - yet despite all this refined European-style luxury the hotel has a serious interest in the Cambodian community too, working with local organisation Agri Sud to help farmers diversify their crops, which the hotel then guarantees to purchase at market value. Tres Bien!

Sofitel.com

COMPLETE KHMER COOL FRANGIPANI HOTEL

Cambodia’s leading boutique hotel group started in Siem Reap with this villa-style 1960's building and they now have a second in Temple Town, as well as four hotels in the capital of Phnom Penh.

Being Khmer-owned and run, a stay at a Frangipani is the perfect way to feel you're part of Cambodian culture without having to give up any of your design pretensions - each hotel is completely unique, with a slightly different twist, though all very much in a contemporary and minimalist vein.

Their environmental and social responsibility credentials are pretty impressive too - from using solar powered hot water and supporting local charities who give bikes to under-privileged Cambodians to sponsoring their Khmer staff's professional development and vocational training it all adds up to a friendly, safe and welcoming environment, and a great base from which to explore the up and coming Wat Bo area.

Frangipanihotel.com

ADMIRE - LOCAL ART AT THE 1961

Long-time local resident, Filipino artist and the main man on Siem Reap’s art scene Loven Ramos exhibits his own work as well as that of other artists at this art retro-styled gallery meets hotel. Set in what was once a private house with large courtyard on River Road a visit is a great way to get in touch with the artistic side of Siem Reap culture.

The1961.com

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LETTING IT BE IN

BrightonI often evangelise about the saving grace of holiday lettings as opposed to hotel stays for a certain type of trip.

Usually I'm preaching to the converted but some people would need a miracle of water-to-wine proportions before they'd give up 24-hour room service, the breakfast buffet and a decent concierge (though perhaps not the in-room bible).

But even though the hotel versus apartment debate will run and run, and I'll always worship everything from boutique hotels and quirky B&Bs to luxury resorts, I've had something of an epiphany on a recent visit to Brighton: for the perfect large group trip finding the right rental apartment is like discovering the so-called God Particle.

That's because the bigger your group the more that the monetary value, sociability factor, and joy of having a home from home can't be ignored.

Enjoying extra space, a more relaxed environment and having access to your creature comforts creates a totally different experience and atmosphere to the trip. And the benefit of enjoying down time with family or friends together but apart rather than stuck in your own cubicles, is priceless.

Back in Brighton the perfect pad turns out to be Vine Street Studios, which sleeps groups of 10-18, and is planted right in the sweet spot amidst Brighton's famous Lanes, proving the old adage 'location, location, location' to be a cliché because it’s true.

Renting a holiday apartments, house or villa is all about 'living like a local' - but hearing the click of your heels on the industrial-style glass and metal staircase as you ascend from your open plan living quarters to the minimalist bedrooms in Brighton makes you feel a little more like your locale is East Village, New York not South-East England's favourite beach town.

As soon as you step outside you're re-oriented and plunged into Brighton's creative heartland. The special blend of this area's street style, laid-back eateries, vintage shopping, and good old fashioned decent boozers makes the fact that you're also staying a few minutes’ walk from both the sea and the station (which has gets you here from feels-like-a-world-away London in an hour) seem like a mere bonus.

The place has just undergone extensive refurbishment work and remodelled as a 'lived-in design studio' - everything from the bespoke beds to the art on the walls is available for purchase should you decide you prefer the decor here to that of your permanent home (which, let's be clear, I do).

The flexible space and the urban renewal feel means that Vine Street Studios is rented out for anything from parties to meetings as well as weekends away. So in nutshell, if you're bringing a group to Brighton for whatever reason, this place will be your saviour.

Staying ThereVine Street Studios, Brighton is available to rent via www.holidaylettings.co.uk.

It costs £37.50 per person per night on weeknights and £75 on Fridays and Saturdays and sleeps up to 10 people comfortably, 18 with sofa and fold out beds.

[travel]

By Jaillan Yehia

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[title]

“One of the UK's most fascinating and unique visitor attractions”

Quex House & Gardens

A world-class collection of 19th Century natural history and ethnography from Africa and Asia ~ Fascinating furniture and

objets d’art ~ Oriental fine arts ~ Ceramics ~ Weaponry ~ Local archaeology ~ Beautiful informal gardens & historic Victorian

glasshouses ~ Boutique café and tearooms ~ Groups welcome

Museum & GardensTuesday - Sunday 10am to 5pm

HouseTuesday - Sunday 1pm to 4pm

Please visit the websitefor seasonal dates andentrance fees.www.quexmuseum.org

Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens Quex Park, Birchington, Kent, CT7 0BH | T. 01843 842168 | E. enquiries@quexmuseum.org

[fashion]

Cleopatra Top £55

Cleopatra Pant £30

[fashion]

All from a selection at Fenwick

summerIt's time to give your wardrobe that summer feeling

Soak up the

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[fashion]

Key West Top £36

Key West Brief £32

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[fashion]

Santorini Top £36

Santorini Pant £20.50

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[fashion]

Hello Sailor Tankini Top £47

Hello Sailor Pant £23 Cleopatra Swimsuit £79

Hello Sailor Top £38

Hello Sailor Pant £23

Top £65

Pant £35

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[fashion]

Showboat Top £34.50

Showboat Pant £25.50

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[fashion]

Retro Riviera Top £45

Retro Riviera Pant £25

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[fashion]

Hepburn Navy Crop Trousers £49.95

Carla Apple Posy Shirt £39.95

Marilyn Apple Posy Dress £59.95

Meredith Cream Posey

Dress £59.95

Suki Cardigan £49

Sea Mist Narcissus Shark Print Skirt £55

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Denim jeans from GAP Outlet price £36.99

Stripy top from Phase Eight RRP £49.00 Outlet price £39.00 trends fashion&&

[fashion]

Tote Bag from Fiorellli RRP £ 69.00 Outlet price £48.50

Floral bag from FiorelliRRP £55.00 Outlet price £38.50

Sun hat from GAP Outlet price £14.99

Maxi dress from GAP – Outlet price £49.99

Floral play suit from Next Clearence. Outlet price £14.00

Denim jacket from GAP Outlet price £36.99

Leather belt from JaegerRRP £50.00 Outlet price £30.00

outfit oneTALL BODY

Balance your longer body shape with this seasons biggest trend; stripes! this top will visually shorten your waist. Team with

some super skinny jeans that are perfect for your longer legs and add a great accessory

like this large tote bag from Fiorelli.

outfit twoPEAR SHAPE

Choose an empire line maxi dress that will skim over your larger hips, this one from GAP

has a darker colour that over the hips and brighter colours on the areas that you need

them the most, wear with an attractive floral bag and sun hat for a great summer look.

outfit threePETITE

Shorter shorts are here to stay, we found this great little floral playsuit in Next that will visually lengthen your legs by having

more of them on show. Match with a denim jacket that finishes at your waist, highlight

it further with this versatile skinny belt.

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trends fashion&&[fashion]

Deborah Eastlake is a Personal Style Advisor at Ashford Designer Outlet. She has picked out a range

of up to the minute outfits from the centre to suit your body shape, whatever it may be.

Deborah spent years living in London running a vintage clothing boutique and has sold clothes to many high profile customers including Jenny Packman, Kate Moss and Jean-Paul Gaultier. Having returned to live in her home town Deborah is now keen to share her expertise with customers at the Ashford Designer Outlet.

Deborah Eastlake - Personal Shopper - Designer Outlet Ashford Management Suite, Kimberley Way Ashford TN24 0SD T: 01233 895 903 E: deborah.eastlake@mcarthurglen.com www.ashforddesigneroutlet.com Twitter: ashford_outlet

Stripy dress from Jaeger RRP £120.00 Outlet price £80.00

Red knitwear from Jaeger RRP £150.00 Outlet price £85.00

Leather belt from Jaeger RRP £50.00 Outlet price £30.00

Sunglasses from Phase Eight RRP £29.00 Outlet price £20.30

White denim jacket from GAP Outlet price £39.99

Orange maxi dress from GAP Outlet price £49.99

outfit fourHOUR GLASS

This outfit is all about accentuating your curves and highlighting your great waist,

do this with an on trend stripy dress from Jaeger, we teamed with a brightly

coloured cardi that cuts at the waist. Add a third element to your outfit that will also give extra shape to your figure.

outfit five APPLE SHAPE

A smaller print works better on a smaller body shape, as you have smaller hips this

is where to wear the prints you love! Go for a summery maxi dress like this one from

GAP and team with a light neutral colour jacket that finishes at the waist minimising

your larger shoulders.

Harrisons Hair Team

ARE YOU READY TO GO ‘SUMMER’ OMBRE?

Ombre Lights Services allows you to customize the perfect haircolour with luminous blonde and brillant brunette shades. So visit Harrisons Hair Team and brighten up with Chromatics!!

Full Head Foils From £54.00 Half Head Foils From £34.50

Conditioning Colour Gloss From £29.25 Gent’s colour from £22.00

Regrowth from £27.50 Blow-Dry From £20.25

Ladies’ Cuts From £21.00 Gent’s Cuts From £13.00

Wedding Packages, Brazilian Blow-dry

and Perming

Evegate Business Park Station Road, Smeeth, Kent TN25 6SX T: 01303 813 062 W: www.harrisonshairteam.co.uk E: info@harrisonshairteam.co.uk

53 Sandgate High St, Sandgate,

Nr Folkestone Kent

CT20 3AH T: 01303 245645

Go Longer Quicker!! Great Lengths hair extensions come in a range of 55 colours from natural shades right through to the most vibrant. Using only the finest 100% human hair with pH balanced bonds it is one of the kindest extension systems on the market and we can guarantee its origin and ethnicity. So visit Sam Meston at either salon for your free consultation.

Find us on Facebook the Harrisons Hair Team Page

GET READY FOR THE SUMMER Harrisons Hair Team offers a range of beauty treatments

using professional Celebrity Secrets Tanning Solution, Skin Ceuticals, Essie and Artistic Gel nail polishes so come and

treat yourself and get ready for the summer.

Spray Tans From £15

Nail Services From £15

Facials From £20

Eye Treatments From £8

Massage From £25

Waxing From £5

Valid To: 15/06/13

Off any service over £20 at our Evegate or Sandgate Salon

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Harrisons Hair Team

ARE YOU READY TO GO ‘SUMMER’ OMBRE?

Ombre Lights Services allows you to customize the perfect haircolour with luminous blonde and brillant brunette shades. So visit Harrisons Hair Team and brighten up with Chromatics!!

Full Head Foils From £54.00 Half Head Foils From £34.50

Conditioning Colour Gloss From £29.25 Gent’s colour from £22.00

Regrowth from £27.50 Blow-Dry From £20.25

Ladies’ Cuts From £21.00 Gent’s Cuts From £13.00

Wedding Packages, Brazilian Blow-dry

and Perming

Evegate Business Park Station Road, Smeeth, Kent TN25 6SX T: 01303 813 062 W: www.harrisonshairteam.co.uk E: info@harrisonshairteam.co.uk

53 Sandgate High St, Sandgate,

Nr Folkestone Kent

CT20 3AH T: 01303 245645

Go Longer Quicker!! Great Lengths hair extensions come in a range of 55 colours from natural shades right through to the most vibrant. Using only the finest 100% human hair with pH balanced bonds it is one of the kindest extension systems on the market and we can guarantee its origin and ethnicity. So visit Sam Meston at either salon for your free consultation.

Find us on Facebook the Harrisons Hair Team Page

GET READY FOR THE SUMMER Harrisons Hair Team offers a range of beauty treatments

using professional Celebrity Secrets Tanning Solution, Skin Ceuticals, Essie and Artistic Gel nail polishes so come and

treat yourself and get ready for the summer.

Spray Tans From £15

Nail Services From £15

Facials From £20

Eye Treatments From £8

Massage From £25

Waxing From £5

Valid To: 15/06/13

Off any service over £20 at our Evegate or Sandgate Salon

[fashion]

H A R R I S O N ’ S

HAIR TIPSOver 20 years established, Harrison’s Hair Team has the talent, experience, and expertise to answer all of your hair care concerns. Every issue the team’s top stylists field our questions, providing you with expert advice and solutions to everyday hair related issues.

QUESTION I have long flat hair but I want to add volume. How can I do this without compromising the length?

Answered by Neil Rickards Our stylist can cut your hair using a swelling technique. Using your own head shape to create more volume within your hair. When styling use volume products such as Redken’s Guts on damp hair to create volume when blow drying or Redken’s Powder Grip on dry hair to create amazing instant volume.

QUESTION My hairdresser uses permanent colour but my colour always fades what can I do to stop this?

Answered by Becca Barnard In our salon firstly we would do a very thorough consultation so that we know the full history behind your hair as well as a skin test. We only use Redken hair colours which enable our highly trained team to deliver vibrant long lasting tones. If required they can use a conditioning colour gloss to protect your hair if it has had too much permanent on.This will give your colour more longevity.

QUESTION I love having polish on my finger nails but hate the way they chip so quickly and I don’t always have time to keep touching the colour up, are there any alternatives?

Answered by Lucy Maxwell Artistic Gloss Gel polishes are perfect for you, they keep their shine and remain chip resistant for up to 21 days and come in a fantastic range of colours, plus with no drying time they are perfect for someone who doesn’t always have time to spend on their nails!

QUESTION I like to style my hair in a high quiff when I go on a night out but it never seems to hold, is there anything I can do?

Answer by Emily Saint Using a back combing brush and Redken’s Quick Tease will help you achieve the height you desire and to finish a mist of Fashion Works hairspray and your party hair will last the night.

Why not come in for one of our team to show you how to achieve this.

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[fashion]

Gone Tomorrow

AMY'S BEAUTY TIPS

By Amy McManus

Can you believe it? The sun is out and I can feel the Vitamin D already! With temperatures already in their twenties it’s out with trousers and woolly tights and in with skirts and sandals!

SHAVING Cost: (£) probably the cheapest form of hair removal

Advantages: quick, easy and painless (usually!)

Disadvantages: quick and stubbly re-growth, irritation from razor

58% of women in the UK use shaving as their main method of hair removal making it the most common of the hair removal methods. It’s quick, easy, cheap and pain free, but there are some vital set-backs to consider. The re-growth is extremely quick with a smooth finish sometimes not lasting more than a few hours. It is also very likely that the razor will irritate the skin causing redness and possible burns. To minimise these set-backs follow these simple tips for the perfect shave:

• Always use a clean razor. Most experts recommend only using a blade 1-4 times before throwing it away. Not only will you get a closer shave, but this will also help prevent the dreaded ‘day-after red bumps.’

• NEVER shave dry skin and always use shaving cream. Apply the cream against the grain of the hair growth. Not only will the cream help avert skin irritation, but it will also cause the hairs to stand up straight, resulting in a closer shave.

• NEVER shave in a morning shower or hot bath. This may save you time, but does not produce the smoothest shave. As you sleep your legs tend to swell slightly which can hide a percentage of the hair. Soaking in warm water also causes the legs to temporarily expand resulting in the same outcome...missed hair and a less than silky finish.

• After shaving, pat the area with a cool flannel to calm any redness.

One problem to also note is that with each shave your hairs will grow back thicker and darker. So not the best option for those with fair hair that can get away with a bit of ‘invisible’ stubble...you lucky things!

air oday,

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[fashion]

DEPILATORIES Cost: (£) Around £3 for 100ml

Advantages: painless and softer re-growth than shaving

Disadvantages: only slightly longer result than shaving, skin irritation, messy, THE SMELL

WAXINGCost: (££) Salon prices vary, but you can expect to pay from £15 for ½ leg, £10 for a bikini line or underarms and £6 for eyebrows.

Advantages: great results with slow re-growth

Disadvantages: painful, expensive if done professionally and possible in-grown hairs

TWEEZINGCost: (£) a decent pair of tweezers will cost around £10

Advantages: cheap, easy, gets the stubborn hairs that just won’t budge

Disadvantages: can be painful, only good for small areas

I’m not a big fan of hair removal creams. The chemicals they contain can cause severe skin irritation so it is extremely important to ALWAYS read the label and follow the instructions to the letter. They are more convenient than shaving and generally last a day or two longer before re-growth begins to appear.

• Always test an area of your skin first for sensitivity before proceeding with larger areas.

• NEVER leave on for longer than instructions state.

• NEVER use on the face unless the product is specifically formulated for use on these areas.

Try to opt for the ‘sensitive skin’ options which tend to contain almond oil extracts and are less harsh against the skin.

Waxing is my favourite form of hair removal for the great, long-lasting results. Unlike shaving and creams, it is perfect for large areas of the body as well as smaller sensitive sections on the face. A couple of Paracetamol half an hour beforehand and you’ll be fine! If you’re using a home kit always read the instructions carefully and practice on your legs before moving onto the sensitive underarms and bikini line. Always pull as close to the skin as possible in a quick, straight motion and pull the skin taut in the opposite direction. If

you pull away from the skin without stretching you can cause serious redness and bruising. Finally, if you didn’t get them with the kit, invest in a pre-wax cleanser and

after-wax soothing lotion to prepare then moisturise the

area.

• Do not shave / use hair removal creams in-between waxing sessions. Your hair must be at least ½ cm long so the wax has something to grab onto!

• Try not to have waxing around or during your period. Extra blood flow and hormonal shifts can heighten sensitivity and cause the treatment to be much more painful. It’s best to wax around the time of ovulation for minimal discomfort.

Tweezing is a wonderful form of hair removal for the face, particularly the eyebrows. It can get right to those stubborn little hairs that may have been missed by waxing. However, tweezing is no quick task and often involves a good half an hour or more in front of the mirror.

• Before you start, hold an ice cube over the area to numb the skin and reduce any pain.

• Draw your desired shape out first with eyeliner pencil. This can be changed easily until you are happy. You now have a guideline to follow!

• Relax the face as much as possible and never ‘lift the brow.’ This distorts the natural shape and makes plucking even eyebrows very difficult.

• Don’t go crazy with the tweezers on in-growing hairs. This may result in scarring.

One final tip, get exfoliating! This is your best defence against those pesky in-grown hairs (no matter what hair removal method you choose.) So get those silky smooth legs out and soak up the heat, because knowing the UK, it won’t be around for long.

The cold and dark days of winter have no doubt left an insulating ‘coat’ which has been covered up by layer upon layer of clothing. If you want beautifully smooth, summer ready skin then first things first... hair removal. A recent report suggested that the average woman will spend £12,000 on hair removal products in a lifetime and more than 58 days using them. With such a large investment at stake it is important to use the treatments that are best suited for you, turning this arduous and often painful routine into a more rewarding experience.

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[health and fitness]

Canterbury BootcampsWords by Lorna Morris

Think it’s too late to get fit for summer? Think again!

I first came across Canterbury Bootcamps last summer after seeing photographs on East Kent CrossFit’s Facebook page of several people looking puffed out in one of the parks in Canterbury and I wondered what it was all about.

In the past I’ve tried several forms of exercise to improve my fitness and with hopefully the added bonus of losing a bit of weight. I also once tried the Dukan diet which was a complete disaster and resulted in me gaining half a stone. So I have to admit I was a little bit skeptical about the effectiveness of a bootcamp but I enjoy trying new things but as I enjoy trying new things, and had recently signed up for Tough Mudder, I thought I could probably do with a bit of training. So I registered for the September camp. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Previously I had taken up the free session offer at East Kent CrossFit so I had met instructor James ‘No-Rep’ Jones before and knew that he wasn’t going to cut me slack and this, I hoped, would give my fitness a boost. I met instructor Luke on day one of bootcamp, shortly after bumping my car into one of the posts by the park we were training in.

Since finishing high school in Dubai James has made a living being a Welder in Australia; a professional kickboxer in Thailand; graduated with a degree in psychology; been a personal trainer in a ‘Globo-Gym’; opened up a 1000 sq ft training studio and is now the owner of one of the biggest ‘CrossFit’ gym’s in the UK. He’s 24.

From an early age Luke was active - ’very active’ according to his mother. He mainly practiced the Japanese

martial Karate until he was 20, achieving his black belt and instructor status. He went on to explore other martial arts and got seriously into running in his early 20s. Then in 2011 he stumbled across crossfit which seemed to fuse all the best elements of movement and sport together. He now trains in all three practices (running, crossfit and Karate) along with any sport that seems to be happening! As a personal trainer, he has developed a specialism in nutrition and endurance and qualified in Advanced Nutrition for Weight Management with Premier Training.

Luke began training with James at East Kent Crossfit and one evening, over

a beer at the Goods Shed, they quickly decided to work together and came up with the model for Canterbury Bootcamps. In July 2012, they put on their first outdoor bootcamp at Toddler’s Cove, Canterbury - they had seven recruits on their first camp. Now they work out of a 5000 square

foot functional facility and group sizes are closer to 15 with more time slots being created to meet with an ever increasing demand.

The bootcamp starts with noting your measurements and weight (not fun!), followed by the fitness test. It seems like the hardest workout ever and put fear into me as to what the rest of the bootcamp would hold. I wasn’t going to be disappointed.

The nutritional doctrine for the camp is strict and initially I was worried that I would be hungry for a month. How wrong I was. Admittedly the diet is tough to get your head around at the start, I still struggle sometimes now as to what should and shouldn’t be on my

plate, but Luke and James are always on hand to answer ANY nutritional questions or worries you might have. Every now and then I try to find ways around the limitations of the diet and once even made a chocolate ‘cake‘ out of black beans, a recipe I found online that I won’t be making it again. I’m beginning to learn that simple is better.

In fact I’ve learnt a lot about nutrition in general since starting with Canterbury Bootcamps and overall it has changed my outlook on food and improved my understanding of it. I think I can speak for a lot of bootcampers whose way of life and eating habits have seriously changed (for the better) since they started bootcamp and that wasn’t necessarily their intention. The results you can achieve in a month from bootcamp have the possibility of being so fantastic that the idea of going back to old ways doesn’t make sense anymore. It’s not unheard of for bootcampers to lose a stone during bootcamp and the average improvement in fitness is 27%.

Finally, the other unexpected bonus from the bootcamp is the people you meet and the support that they give you. The encouragement from everyone is brilliant and really gives you the boost needed to get through those extra tough moments in the workouts. I’m currently on my third bootcamp and they have all been full of friendly and fantastically supportive people. Luke and James like to see your bootcamp experience as a beginning and so they have created a clear exit strategy from the bootcamp into the East Kent Crossfit gym.

So it’s not too late to get fit for summer but, more importantly, it’s never too late to get fit for life and if that’s what you want then Canterbury Bootcamps couldn’t be a better way to start.

“I haven't feel this good for 20 years!” Darren

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[health and fitness]

WHAT BOOTCAMPERS HAVE TO SAY“Luke and James have changed our lives in 11 weeks! I have been to every diet club available and none have had results this incredible or been so easy to sustain. This is for life. My only regret is we didn’t do this 10 yrs ago! It is easily the best money I have ever spent. Not only do you get great advice, encouragement and motivation, you get nutritional advice that makes sense and is backed by scientific research and IT WORKS.” - Toni

“I feel like I now have the motivation to continue exercising and eating healthily. I feel so much better on this diet, my energy levels are much higher.” - Geri

“When I signed up for the bootcamp I was so nervous that I would be the most unfit person there and that I would feel embarrassed but from the first session I felt at ease. The motivation from the other bootcampers was amazing and even on the first day of meeting there was lots of cheering and clapping.” - Natalie

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[health and fitness]

Hythe, Kent

St Saviour’s Hospital, Hythe, has been part of the local landscape since 1964 and will be celebrating 50 years in 2014. Today, the building is a thriving hospital providing modern services for a range of conditions to the local community.

St Saviour's Hospital was originally situated near Regents Park, London where the buildings had been bought by the then governor of the Bank of England at the end of the 19th century. Inspired by Florence Nightingale, his wife became responsible for the running of the hospital until 1892 when administration was passed to three communities of Anglican Nuns.

In 1962 the original London premises were required for the development of the Euston Road, the compensation for this development scheme enabled the hospital to re-locate, building new premises in Hythe. Some of the original stained glass has been preserved in the current hospital.

In 1989, the hospital was sold to Bupa, who sold it to Legal and General (Classic Hospitals) in July 2005. The Classic Hospitals group was sold in 2008 to become part of Spire Healthcare.

Today, St Saviour’s Hospital is one of 38 private hospitals within the Spire Healthcare group, employing a number of people from the local area. The hospital is continually investing in new services and technologies to ensure the highest standard of care possible for

patients in Kent. As part of this on-going programme, the hospital developed a two-bedded High Dependency Unit (HDU) and is currently upgrading its endoscopy suite (over £2m invested in the last three years).

There are 33 beds, six consulting rooms, two minor treatment rooms, two theatres, including one with laminar flow, a state-of-the-art system which draws air away from the theatre table and helps to reduce infection. There is an onsite radiology department allowing consultants and patients rapid access to scans such as X-ray, video fluoroscopy and ultrasound. The hospital also benefits from a separate physiotherapy department.

Fifty consultants work out of the hospital offering care for many different specialist areas including: ENT services, gynaecology, orthopaedic surgery, weight loss and cosmetic surgery. St

Saviour’s Hospital has recently added new paediatric services; a breastfeeding and tongue tie clinic and a full children’s allergy service and a new swallow clinic designed to help those who have difficulty swallowing food and drink.

St Saviour’s Hospital has recently opened two new out-patient clinics in Ashford and Whitstable, ensuring patients from across Kent can access the hospital’s services at their convenience.

St Saviour's Hospital has had a varied career, from the early nuns who looked after destitute children, through primitive efforts at cancer cure, on to more active minor surgery and up to its present day as an up to date 'acute' hospital. Staff at the hospital believe their role is more than just treating patients; it’s about looking after people. Spire St Saviour’s Hospital is committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service to all their patients.

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Many women at some stage of their life will experience problems with their monthly periods. Some women are embarrassed to talk to their GP, and some don’t know when they should be seeking medical advice. The fact is that period problems are one of the four most common medical complaints for females, so to help you decide whether you need to see a doctor, expert gynaecology consultants from BMI The Chaucer Hospital in Canterbury answer your questions on period problems.

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN TO SEEK HELP?

Women should seek advice when:

• There is a complete absence of periods.

• Periods are irregular and menstruation occurs anywhere between every six weeks and few months.

• Period pains such as cramps are severe.

• PMS is severe and mood changes are affecting quality of life.

• If periods are heavy.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I SEE A DOCTOR?

Firstly, details of your menstrual cycle, gynaecological and past medical history are taken. A physical examination is usually undertaken which is similar to a cervical smear test. You may then be recommended to have a pelvic ultrasound scan performed. This involves the use of a small internal probe, which is rarely uncomfortable. A small sample of the womb lining may be taken in some cases. Patients maybe asked to maintain a menstral diary for a couple of months. The diary alongside any examination results; personalised treatment plans can be devised.

WHAT TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE?

How you are treated depends on your age, reproductive aims and your diagnosis. Very few women with period problems caused by benign (i.e. non-cancerous) conditions will need

to have major surgery, in the form of a hysterectomy. The vast majority of women will be managed successfully with medication. Some successful treatments introduced in recent years include intrauterine devices that contain hormones which reduce bleeding and procedures which reduce the thickness of the lining of the womb, which is shed during a period and can be the cause of heavy and prolonged bleeding. Some patients will require keyhole surgery. This surgery is minimally invasive and can be undertaken as a day case procedure.

HOW DO I ARRANGE A CONSULTATION WITH A GYNAECOLOGY CONSULTANT FROM BMI THE CHAUCER HOSPITAL?

Appointments to see a gynaecology consultant can be made quickly and easily either via referral from a General Practitioner or by self-referral via the contact details below.

Our gynaecology consultants are specialists in the investigation and treatment of menstrual disorders and are able to offer a sensitive and understanding approach.

BMI The Chaucer Hospital gynaecology consultants are:

Ms Zoe Woodward - Consultant Gynaecologist Dr Kate Neales – Consultant Gynaecologist Mr Jonathan Learmont – Consultant Gynaecologist Ms Hasiba Hamoud – Consultant Gynaecologist Mr Nagy Rafla - Consultant Gynaecologist & Obstetricians Mr Ike Okorocha - Consultant Gynaecologist Mr Andrew Nordin - Consultant Gynaecologist Mrs Keyouri Shrotri - Consultant Gynaecologist

To book an appointment with one of our gynaecologists please call BMI The Chaucer HOSPITAL, CANTERBURY ON: 01227 825117

DON’T PUT UP WITH

Many women at some stage of their life will experience

problems with their monthly periods.

“

PERIOD PROBLEMS

[health and fitness]

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[title]

“I found out I could afford a hip operation… no more waiting!”

This is not an actual quote but accurately reflects the views of our patients.

Choose one-off private treatment from Spire St Saviour’s HospitalCall 01303 233 766www.spirestsaviours.com

Get fast access to clinical expertise at Spire St Saviour’s Hospital. Whatever you need treated, you just pay one amount and it might cost less than you think.

73 Seabrook Road, Hythe, Kent, CT21 5AW

1561 SPI SS SP Advert.indd 1 18/02/2013 15:08

Over time, bone density reduces with age. As the regeneration of bone cells starts to slow down, we begin to feel more stiffness, aches and pains after simple everyday tasks such as house-cleaning and gardening, even getting out of bed takes more effort.

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[health and fitness]

“I found out I could afford a hip operation… no more waiting!”

This is not an actual quote but accurately reflects the views of our patients.

Choose one-off private treatment from Spire St Saviour’s HospitalCall 01303 233 766www.spirestsaviours.com

Get fast access to clinical expertise at Spire St Saviour’s Hospital. Whatever you need treated, you just pay one amount and it might cost less than you think.

73 Seabrook Road, Hythe, Kent, CT21 5AW

1561 SPI SS SP Advert.indd 1 18/02/2013 15:08

Taking care of your joints

Over time, bone density reduces with age. As the regeneration of bone cells starts to slow down, we begin to feel more stiffness, aches and pains after simple everyday tasks such as house-cleaning and gardening, even getting out of bed takes more effort.

When the wear and tear on our joints becomes so great that it affects our quality of life; one of the options available is joint replacement surgery. In 2012, NHS and private hospitals in England and Wales, performed 183,667 joint replacement surgeries (hips: 88,051; knees: 90,596)1. At Spire St Saviour’s Hospital in Hythe, Kent, a specialist team of orthopaedic surgeons performed 217 joint replacement surgeries in 2012, most of which were for hips and knees2.

There are a number of reasons why joints start to hurt, including: inflammation inside the joints and to structures surrounding the joint, damaged cartilage and additional pressure on joints from carrying heavy loads or being overweight3.

Taking care of your joints is important at any age; here are a few tips from the Physiotherapy Department at Spire St Saviour’s Hospital to help you look after your joints:

WEIGHT: Being overweight puts more stress through the joints, particularly if you are doing high impact activities. Try and get your weight down first by choosing lower impact sports such as swimming, walking and cycling.

POSTURE: Make sure that you adopt good upright postures in everyday life. When you adopt good postural alignment your joints, ligaments and muscles are at their strongest.

EXERCISE: Make sure you take regular exercise. Sitting in front of computer screens, driving to and from work and sitting in front of the television will hold your joints in sustained, stressed

positions. You need to counteract this by moving your body out of these postures regularly.

ACTIVITIES: “Pace yourself”. Vary your activities so that you change the strains through the body. Don’t plan to spend the whole day digging the garden or hunched over doing craft work.

DIET: There is little scientific evidence about food types or additives improving or aggravating joint problems so try to eat a healthy balanced diet, with plenty of fluids. Your GP or Dietician can advise you about specific dietary conditions.

Early diagnosis and treatment: If you have an injury, a pain that lasts more than a week or a recurring problem, seek advice from a chartered physiotherapist. They will be able to diagnose the problem and help you resolve it, or refer you on to someone who can help.

For more information about orthopaedic services or the physiotherapy team at Spire St Saviour’s Hospital please call 01303 233766 or visit the website at www.spirehealthcare.com/stsaviours.

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Thursday 16th May, 7.30pmSuggs @ Leas Cliff Hall, FolkestoneIn Suggs: My Life Story the Madness frontman takes to the stage in a hilarious, yet moving, one man tour de force playing to rave reviews.

Is it a play? Is it stand up comedy? Is it Music Hall? Whatever it is hold on to your seats as Suggs goes on to stumble and plummet through the trap door of failure. Then trampoline back up to catch the passing trapeze of show business success!

Tickets: £25.50

Visit www.atgtickets.com for bookings or call 01303 228600.

Friday 17th – Saturday 18th May, 8pm-9amCulture24 @ Quex Park Powell-Cotton MuseumPart of “Culture24”'s festival of inspiring after hours cultural events in museums, galleries and heritage sites, families can camp out in the Quex Park Powell-Cotton Museum overnight on 17th-18th May. Places are limited, please book early to avoid disappointment, payment required at the time of booking.

Call: 01843 842168

Price: £25 for adults (inc. light breakfast)

Saturday 18th May, 10am – 4pmTheatre Royal Party Day @ Theatre Royal, MargateAn entertaining event that’s entirely free to visit with things to do for children, families and adults. You can find out more about the behind-the-scenes world of theatre, some of the fascinating history of the building, win a prize for completing The Curious Trail for Children, try your hand at writing and even have a go at a drama session.

For more info call: 01843 292795 or visit www.theatreroyalmargate.com

Saturday 25th MayCanterbury Tales Medieval Market @ St Margaret’s Church, CanterburyThis will be the fifth annual Canterbury Tales medieval market, a firm favourite with visitors, held in the churchyard at the rear of St Margaret’s Church, home to the award-winning attraction. Previous markets have featured archery demonstrations, mead sampling, pottery making using ancient methods, and calligraphy lessons, with visitors shown how to write their names in a medieval style.

For more information visit www.canterburytales.org.uk

Saturday 1st June, 10.30am – 5.30pmBridalwear Clearance Wedding Experience @ Ashford International HotelThis show is a must for anyone looking for some bargains for their big day. This bridalwear clearance sale also incorporates a full wedding exhibition with a range of professions covering all aspects of planning a wedding.

Entry: Free

Ashford International Hotel Simone Weil Avenue, Ashford TN24 8UX

Call: 01233 219988 for more info or visit www.wedding-experience.co.uk

Wednesday 12th JuneOpera at the Manor @ Eastwell Manor, nr AshfordDine in decadence at Eastwell Manor. Enjoy a Champagne Reception beginning at 6.30 pm followed by a four course Table d'Hôte dinner including freshly brewed coffee and Petit Fours as you enjoy talented musicians: Dorothee Jansen, Haydn Rawstron and Hanns-Heinz Odenthal who will be performing arias from 'The Marriage of Figaro'.

£65pp for Champagne reception, 4 course meal and performance

£35pp for Champagne reception and performance

Call: 01233 213020 or email: enquries@eastwellmanor.co.uk

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Saturday 15th June, 8.45am – 6.30pmFather’s Day @ Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch RailwayWhy not treat dad to a great day out? Dads will be offered the unique opportunity to driving world famous steam locomotives (on a first come, first serve basis). Or how about purchasing a ride on the footplate for him? (must be pre-booked). A full Sunday Roast will also be served alongside locally brewed Ales.

Tel: 01797 362353 for more information or visit www.rhdr.org.uk

Friday 21st – Saturday 22nd June, 10am -6pmOpen Quarter @ Creative Quarter, FolkestoneAn opportunity to visit the properties, shops, flats and artists' studios in Folkestone's Creative Quarter and meet the people who live, work and have fun in this vibrant part of the town.

Suitable for families and with guided tours, audience participation and plenty of refreshments near at hand it all makes for a great day out for those of you with an interest in the arts.

For more information please visit www.creativequarterfolkestone.org.uk

Saturday 22nd June, 10am – 6pmSouth East Airshow @ Manston Airport, RamsgateNearly 20 years since the last show, Manston Airport will host some of the world's greatest modern and historic air craft, spellbinding displays and interactive attractions at this year’s South East Airshow. The iconic Vulcan delta wing aircraft will be among the highlights, while a Typhoon aircraft simulator, helicopter flights and a fun fair will provide visitors with a great day out

Price: Adults £12, Children £9

Call: 0845 6526263 or visit www.heritage-events.co.uk for more details

Friday 28th June, 7.30pmAl Murray “The Only Was Is Epic” @ Margate Winter Gardens

Following a phenomenally successful 2012 Autumn tour, Britain's most irrepressible innkeeper will be serving up his premier brew of ale-inspired acumen and bar-room buffoonery as part of his hilarious new show THE ONLY WAY IS EPIC

This monumental new live stand-up show from the multi-award-winning

comedian, directly follows the nationwide success of the Guv's twice extended Barrel of Fun tour, and is sure to sell-out fast

Show starts: 7:30pm, tickets from £25.50.

Box office: 01843 29611 or book online at www.eticketing.co.uk

Friday 5th July, 7.30pmThe Proclaimers @ Leas Cliff Hall

lt's 26 years since The Proclaimers released their first album This is the Story. Strikingly individual, twin brothers Craig and Charlie Reid have over the years enjoyed huge successes across the globe and last year released their 9th album Like Comedy on leading independent Cooking Vinyl.

Expect to hear all the classics Sunshine on Leith, (I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles, Letter From America, I'm on My Way, Life With You, Lets Get Married and more.

Tickets from £25.50, visit www.atgtickets.com or call 01303 228600 for bookings

Friday 5th – Saturday 6th JulyThe Hop Farm Festival @ Paddock Wood, Tonbridge The Hop Farm Music Festival, Kent’s number one festival, will be take place on the 5th and 6th July 2013.

The festival will offer two days of music for up to 10,000 people. Headliners have been announced as: My Bloody Valentine (exclusive festival show England & Wales) and Rodriguez, with plenty of well known talent also on the bill

Over the years The Hop Farm has supported emerging talents that have gone onto great things including Florence and the Machine, Mumford and Sons, Ben Howard, Laura Marling, Noah and the Whale and Villagers.

For more information about acts, times, and prices visit www.hopfarmfestival.com

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Solley’s Ice CreamMAKING A RIPPLE AROUND THE WORLDNestling in a picturesque rural setting near Deal is a family-run business which has been supplying the South East with delicious ice cream for the past 28 years.

Solley’s Farms is one of the largest independent ice cream makers in the region. It is guided by managing director Stephen Solley, and is a real Kentish business, proud of its roots, loyal to the area and ambitious in its aims.

Stephen said: “Our ice cream is the result of generations of dairy production experience and we source 85 per cent of our base products from Kent and all of our milk from a Jersey herd on a neighbouring farm.

“We produce real Kentish dairy ice cream and we are proud of that fact. The provenance of our ice cream and the quality of our service is very important to us. We are Farm Assured and SALSA approved (Safe And Local Supplier Approval).”

Ripple remains the base from which it produces 250,000 litres of ice cream a year in 18 core flavours, as well as its almost limitless special commissions which have included such unusual flavours as garlic, bread and butter pudding, and chilli.

It recently produced Green Apple flavour for dental payment plan specialist Denplan to give away at a major industry conference; and made thick double cream for Leeds Castle’s afternoon teas. Solley’s innovation

extends to adapting their pots to suit their individual clients.

Stephen was born and bred in Ripple into a farming family. His grandfather, Fred Solley, started dairy farming in the area shortly before the Second World War, and the business was passed down to his son, Derek, and then to Stephen.

The family ran a couple of farm shops and by the early 1980s operated local milk rounds, thanks to their own Guernsey herd.

Stephen said: “I received a postcard from a friend holidaying in Yorkshire which said, ‘This is what you ought to be doing’ and showed ice cream. So we went up to Yorkshire to look at ice cream production and it all started from there.”

Ice cream production began in the mid-1980s and quickly went from strength to strength, gaining a Royal Warrant from the Queen Mother in 1990. Solley’s sold its own herd in 1999 and has been using the Jersey cows since.

Stephen is ably assisted by the next generation – his daughter Katie looks after much of the administration, while son-in-law Keith Morrison is production manager. Their 15-year-old son Alex also lends a hand.

The company has been regularly supplying farm shops, delis, visitor attractions and pubs in Kent and beyond for almost 30 years. Visitors to Kearsney Abbey in Dover frequently enjoy Solley’s ice cream from the café there.

But you don’t have to be in the South East to enjoy Solley’s ice cream. In fact, you don’t even have to be on the ground. Business Class passengers on Australian airline Qantas’ flights out of the UK regularly enjoy Ginger and Raspberry flavours.

All of this, from Ripple – and yes, Solley’s does make a Raspberry flavour.

“I love the place,” said Stephen. “I was born here and I wouldn’t want to live or work anywhere else. The rural location suits us perfectly. If you make a high quality produce, then customers will seek you out no matter where you are.”

For more information about Solley’s Farms visit www.solleysicecream.co.uk

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MSE KentLife + map A4 FPadvert_AW_PRESS.pdf 1 29/04/2013 10:45

Riverside living at Kingsbrook ParkKingsbrook Park is a beautiful collection of apartments and townhouses ideally located on the banks of the tranquil River Stour and set amongst beautiful landscaped lawns. Each home benefits from private outdoor space and high specification interiors.

The historic and vibrant city centre of Canterbury is a short walk away with its Cathedral, shops, restaurants, bars and museums. Travel links are excellent from nearby Canterbury West station, providing high speed trains to London St Pancras and to the continent (via Ashford International).

Our visionfor your future

www.kingsbrookpark.co.uk

Sales & Marketing Suite and Showhomes open daily, 10am to 6pmKingsbrook Park, 5 Westwood Drive (off Kingsmead Road), Canterbury CT2 7WY

1 and 2 bedroom apartments from £156,950 3 and 4 bedroom townhouses from £329,950

Call 01227 477100 or email kingsbrookpark@berkeleygroup.co.uk

Proud to be a member of the Berkeley Group of companies

Details correct at time of going to press. Photography depicts Augustine Place at Kingsbrook Park.