From City to shoreline

Interior architect Marta Nowicka’s recently remodelled cottage, nestled on the edge of Camber Sands, is the definition of a retreat. Tucked away from the bustle of urban life, this special house offers a pared-back, lived-in aesthetic that allows the atmosphere...

The Mother of Invention

With a background in fashion, Susan Wild has brought her individual aesthetic to the adventurous renovation of an old office building in Faversham, transforming it into an interest-filled family home that’s taken its cue from an ageing French chateau When...

Ski Safe

Paul Hamilton, Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon at Ashtead Hospital talks us through his guide to how you can try to prevent the most common ski injuries Common Ski Injuries Ankle twists and sprains are frequent, even with supportive ski...

4 spas we love

Enter the New Year feeling refreshed and rejuvenated with a trip to one of our fab four local spas 1 The one for fitness At Foxhills in Chertsey, Surrey you’ll find all the best spa facilities but also active leisure...

All About the Optics

Eye tests are ever-evolving and it’s not just about going for your new pair of glasses any more! So we are asking the experts at Wilson, Wilson and Hancock to explain the latest in eye scanning technology Our eyes are...

Your skin & the gym

Sarah Maxwell explains how to adapt your skincare regime to your workouts Happy New Year – fit healthy bodies and skin are in! Whether lifting weights at the gym, hitting the great outdoors or giving it your all in yoga...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lau explores nutritional ways to help balance your hormones Hormones are chemical messengers that have profound effects on your mental, physical and emotional health. They play a major role in controlling your appetite, weight and...

Take me to…Winter Sun

Don’t catch a cold, catch a plane and catch some rays Treasured Island The secret of Bermuda has been so well kept over the years that the tiny sub-tropical island has remained just as idyllic as it ever was. Those...

Flower Power

The experts at Health’s Angels explain the benefits of using Bach’s Flower Remedies for enhancing wellbeing Bach Flower Remedies are a set of 38 flower essences developed by Dr. Edward Bach, designed to help balance emotions and support mental wellbeing....

Meet the…Biohacker

Introducing Ryan Ashford-Smit. He and his wife Victoria, have opened the UK’s first OsteoStrong in Tunbridge Wells, a new way to biohack your way to bone health, posture and strength What is OsteoStrong? OsteoStrong is a wellness centre focused on...

Butter bean & kale soup

Gently fry the leeks, garlic and herbs in a large, heavy bottomed pot for 5 minutes until the leeks are soft, but not going brown. Add the stock and 1 can of butter beans to the pan. Bring to a...

Hearty lentil, chorizo & tomato soup

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil (optional) in a large pot, add the diced chorizo and cook for 4-5 minutes until it starts to crisp. Remove the chorizo with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the oil in the...

Seasonal greens & Stilton soup

Gently sauté the chopped onion and potato in a large, heavy bottomed pot, for about 8 minutes. Add broccoli and pour in the stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes or so –...

The gardening year

Jo Arnell shares her tasks, tips and seasonal joys for the year ahead We start to groan under the weight of all our January plans, but the lovely thing about the garden in winter is that it is asleep and...

Something to think about

A Head for 25 years, Mike Piercy is now an educational consultant and school governor. Here, he explains the importance of encouraging reflection The wrapping paper fills the recycling bin, already overflowing with bottles and cardboard. It has been a...

Farm Fables

Jane Howard explains how January's earned the title of maintenance month at Coopers Farm So another New Year arrives. That means farm resolutions as well as the lose weight, drink less, join a Pilates group variety. Top of the list...

A house of Creativity

Susan and Sam Pearson have adapted the creative skills they have amassed during their careers in fashion, to undertake the renovation of their striking St Leonards home that now reflects their keen eye for design and effortlessly cool style Hastings...

Urban Code

Beatrice Ancillon and John Alfredo Harris’ 1960s home is a masterclass in updating. Maggie Alderson finds out how they have transformed the interior into an inside/outside California dream house It’s not unusual to describe a house as a Tardis –...

Prawn, avocado, coriander & lime mini tortillas

Mix the garlic, chilli, sugar, red onion and the juice of a lime, add the prawns then cover and chill for 3 hours, or ideally overnight. For the tortillas: Preheat the oven to 180°C. Brush a baking sheet with olive...

Smoked Stilton shortbread with beetroot purée, caramelised red onions, roasted grapes & thyme

To make the biscuits: Tip the flours, sugar, cayenne, salt and pepper in the food processor to mix. Then add the cold butter, blitz again to mix. Finally add the cheeses and pulse in the food processor until a dough...

Hot smoked trout in filo cups

The ‘hot’ in the smoked trout in this recipe refers to the smoking process. I used trout from the wonderful Weald Smokery in Flimwell, where whole fillets of rainbow trout are hot smoked over local oak logs producing a firm...

Farm Fables

Jane Howard explain there's more to bovine hierarchy than meets the eye The cows have recently come into the barn for the winter and, right now, having them close by in the farmyard is still an enjoyable novelty. But it...

‘Could do Better’

A Head for 25 years, Mike Piercy is now an educational consultant and school governor. Here, he looks ahead to school reports The long Autumn Term draws to a close. Nativity costumes have been procured (not a dry eye in...

Hair in despair?

Sarah Maxwell tackles post workout barnets Christmas is around the corner, fun social events and family gatherings abound. You know that keeping up at least some of your exercise routine will give you more energy, reduce stress and help get...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lauexplores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month it’s sprouts Brussels sprouts are a member of the brassicaceae family of vegetables and are closely related to kale, cauliflower and mustard...

Feed the Birds

Jo Arnell explains how we can help our feathered friends through the winter with some thoughtful planting Supplementary food can make the difference between life and death for our garden birds in winter – there are few insects and the...

Trend Setters

The latest in education fromtwo of our schools Ashford School tells us about theGreat Work Ethic When sixth formers start to think about university, inevitably they have to consider potential career directions and life after study. Teenagers with a clear...

Brand new Chapter

Scale and impact abounds in Alex MacArthur’s captivating monastery in Rye. Undertaking the huge challenge of restoring this 14th century building single-handedly, antiques and interiors specialist Alex has succeeded in not only creating a breathtaking space in which to showcase...

Little house Next Door

Alex MacArthur’s Georgian cottage, attached to his remarkable 14th century monastery in Rye, is another example of his genius ability to imbue interiors with dramatic impact A small inconspicuous doorway leads from The Monastery, the magnificent scale-defying business end of...

Lessen the impact

Sarah Maxwell takes control of rollercoaster boobs Never underestimate the power of a good sports bra; the benefits are huge, and they look great, too! Gone are the days of buying a smaller bra in the hope of fastening your...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lauexplores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month it’s pomegranate Pomegranates are round, red fruits which feature a white inner flesh that’s packed with jewel-like seeds, called arils. They may...

When to Step In

A Head for 25 years, Mike Piercy is now an educational consultant and governor at two schools. Here, he looks at assessing when parents should intervene How was your day, darling?’ the routine words on collecting from school as he...

Best in Class

The latest in education from inside and outside the classroom We hear from Tuition Extra – who provide flexible education opportunities The Tuition Extra Group, led by celebrated CEO, Ruth Minhall, is an outstanding Kent-based education service offering aspirational learning...

How does your garden grow?

Jo Arnell gives her advice for identifying your gardening style If you’ve ever taken a personality test, you’ll be familiar with the questions that try to fit your characteristics into a type – or none of the above, if you...

Farm Fables

Jane Howard readies the Coopers Farm cows and bees for the onset of winter November is the time for tidying up the farm, fixing the problems and sorting the stock. And that includes the bees.At the heart of the summer...

A world of Inspiration

Potter Cherry Tewfik’s fifty year career has seen her and her artist and teacher husband Jonathan, travel the world drawing inspiration for their ceramics and paintings along the way. Settling in Canterbury – where they both studied at university –...

Made in Hastings

Having completely remodelled their 1970s home on the edge of Hastings, Kate Richards and her partner Steve set about finding the perfect interior designer to help them transform their new interior. Cue Sam Grigg – who has ensured their colour...

Keep padeling!

Sarah Maxwell explores the tennis/squash hybrid which is making waves When our lovely editor Lucy asked me to write about the gaining worldwide popularity of the sport padel, I admit that I was a little apprehensive due to my past...

Nourish to Flourish

Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach Charlotte Lauexplores the benefits of incorporating another healthy ingredient into our diets. This month it’s squash October brings a pop of colour and comfort to our plates with bright orange butternut squash and vibrant pumpkins. These...

Tulip mania

Jo Arnell explains what fuelled the European obsession with tulips and how they’ve weathered their seventeenth century popularity today In the heat of an auction situation things can get out of hand and we can end up paying more than...

Farm Fables

Jane Howard prepares to bid farewell to George the bull, as he moves to a new home in Canterbury Goodbye, George. A sad day at Coopers Farm. George, more formally known as Coopers Poll Regent 3rd, is a six-year-old pedigree...

Home on the Grange

Sophie Owen, Head of Admissions at Hilden Grange, gives us an insight into the school Located in the middle of Tonbridge, Hilden Grange School is a co-educational school for children from Nursery to Year 8.Spread over 22 acres of grounds,...

No Substitute for the Real Thing

A Head for 25 years, Mike Piercy is now an educational consultant and governor at two schools, here he looks at ‘artificial’ intelligence Can there be anything revolutionary about teaching as we hurtle towards the second quarter of the twenty-first...

Good Fortune

With a rich and fascinating history, Laura Walford’s elegant Surrey home doubles as the perfect exhibition space for the artists she represents through Belgravia Gallery Every house has a story to tell. A history woven within its walls, by those...

Creative Heart

Artist and fitness instructor Corinne Corbett-Thompsonhas had quite the 70th birthday year – from cycling 700 miles and planting 70 trees to going on 70 wild swims and circumnavigating the Isle of Wight on foot. Here, she tells Hilary Wilce...

What’s New?
For the latest education bulletins read on…

Marlborough House named Small Independent School of the Year in 2024 Shortlist Marlborough House are feeling like winners as they have been shortlisted for the ‘Small Independent School of the Year’ category of the Independent Schools of the Year Awards...

The New Beacon

We hear from The New Beacon about their extensive and enriching beyond-the-classroom opportunities Iceland or Paris, Ightham Mote or Wisley, Reculver or Ypres, Italy or Ramsgate?! At The New Beacon there is no need to choose, 30 trips ran for our...

Churchers’s College

Penny Daniel, who teaches English at Churcher’s College, runs the school’s First and World Challenge expedition programmes, alongside her husband who also teaches at the school. She tells us all about their wonderful travels. Standing above the clouds on top...