cover photo © JohnJoe photography
IN THE
The Property & Lifestyle Magazine COUNTRY & TOWN August 2023
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 1 August 2023 and Savvy House Buyers are on the move!
Within This Issue...
P. 60 Beekeeping has gone viral – but how easy is it?
P 46 Emily Scott on the joy of simplicity and cooking for President Joe Biden
P. 55
P. 14
P. 40 Cillian Murphy: Playing Oppenheimer
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DUE TO THE OPEN MARKET SOON PREVI EW
P.8 Equestrian property in c. 42 Acres
P. 36
P. 13
P. 28
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A collection of exquisite properties and engaging editorial
P. 21
P. 26
P. 25
P. 22
P. 57 3 of the best vineyards in the world
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P. 16 Unusual birds you may spot in your garden in summer
P 54 Emily Scott’s roast chicken with chorizo, garlic and rosemary
P. 52 Emily Scott’s Dauphinoise potatoes with spinach and clotted cream
P. 54 Emily Scott’s roast chicken with c6orizo, garlic and rosemary
P. 72-75 First Drive: Lotus Eletre By Jack Evans, PA Motoring reporter
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 5
IN THE COUNTRY &TOWN Welcome to
Creating the inspiration to move
Summer House Moving On The Go!
With properties from £375,000 to £3.0m in this magazine edition we are pleased to showcase some of the finest properties for sale or to let, so we hope you will enjoy exploring the pages of In The Country & Town.
We like to bring our readers previews of properties which are not yet on the open market and not showing on property portals, thus creating an exclusive opportunity for potential buyers to view early. One of the preview properties new to the market can be seen on page 8 , which is a significant equestrian property in about 42 acres with a £2.0m. guide price.
There are many character properties to see including this property which is on the market with our Odiham branch at a guide of offers over£950,000.
If you visit page 28 you will see the
wonderful interior and the character exterior of this fine home, located Potbridge which is between Odiham and Hartley Wintney villages.
And if you are a buyer with a budget around £375,000 to
£400,000, then take a look at this property on page 12 which offers exceptional value for money with the benefit of a beautiful interior at a guide price of offers over £375,000.
Published by Kilbricken Publishing and John Joe Photography Limited,Telephone: 07470 707275, email jjtopshot@outlook.com, web johnjoe.co.uk. Publishing 2022 - All rights reserved. Reproduction is forbidden except by express permission of the publishers.The content of this magazine is believed to be correct but its accuracy is not guaranteed and it does not form part of any offer or contract. John Joe Limited cannot accept responsibility for any omissions or errors.
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Editorial Features
We hope you will enjoy reading some of the editorial features we have pulled together for our readers, including recipes from world renowned chef Emily Scott, who describes what was it like emerging from the kitchen at the end of the meal to greet diners including then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel! Her story on page 46 and some recipes can be found pages on P52 (potatoes with spinach and clotted cream), P. 54 (roast chicken with chorizo, garlic and rosemary) and on P. 56 (blackberry and peach crisp). In addition we also have varied editorial including, an interview with Cillian Murphy about playing Oppenheimer in the recently released film on pages 40 to 43, some interesting insight into the unusual birds you may spot in your garden in summer on page 16 and how Beekeeping has gone viral on pages 60 . For the car enthusiast we have a First Drive of Lotus Eletre by Jack Evans, PA Motoring reporter on pages 72 to 75.
Emily Scott
Amanda John
Cillian Murphy
House Market Insight - Continued Resilience, with wise buyers thinking about next years prices
Since our last months magazine issue the house market has remained broadly the same, with house sellers more realistic on price and plenty of buyers willing to secure their dream home, seemingly conscious that house prices next year could be on the move up again.
For the immediate months ahead the market will be impacted by the likelihood that The Bank of England will raise interest rates again despite UK inflation cooling, so this factor alone will stop any market rebound and keep prices static.
This resilience in the market is no doubt underpinned by the labour market conditions, but buyer caution is unlikely to be calmed until they can gauge where the new peak in the bank rate will be, but in the meantime savvy buyers are cashing in on the buying opportunities available in this years market, which they perceive are unlikely to be around this time next year. The residential letting market is in very good shape with plenty of tenant demand, and properties are being snapped up by eager tenants in all price sectors from £1,000 p.c.m to £15,000 p.c.m. If you need market insight at any time in 2023, just go to our web site and ask your nearest branch for a free no obligation house price appraisal. We hope you enjoy reading this August edition of In The Country & Town and we look froward to the following edition in September when we will give our readers further market insight and will again showcase some of the finest properties for sale or to let.
John Holden - Chairman McCarthy Holden
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DUE TO THE OPEN MARKET SOON PREVI EW magazine exclusive
Hampshire / Berkshire Borders Anticipated Guide Price: £2,000,000
• Family House & Equestrian Enterprise • Set in Around 42 Acres •
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Situated within in a highly regarded location between Sandhurst and Finchampstead, this is a rare opportunity to acquire a significant freehold with mixed use benefits of a family home and a significant equestrian yard. The detached family house is of generous proportions and provides 5 bedrooms and 4 reception rooms and a double garage.The equestrian enterprise / yard includes a mix of stables, open bay barns, indoor riding school, outdoor sand school and storage spaces. The entire property is in circa 42 acre of land. EPC - Telephone 01252 842100 or EMAIL FOR FURTHER DETAILS
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EXCHANGED JULY
Fleet, Hampshire (SOLD - buyers requiring similar property) Blue Triangle - Guide: £1,250,000
This generous and well-presented detached family home is located in the prestigious Blue Triangle area of Fleet and offers flexible accommodation including a self contained one bedroom annexe. EPC D (63) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Blue Triangle Location • Excellent Rear Garden • Superb Kitchen / Diner •
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SOLD stc GOING TO PRESS
Fleet, Hampshire (Sale agreed - buyers requiring similar property) Guide: £950,000
This charming five bedroom detached property is situated in the sought after Pondtail area of Fleet close to Fleet pond/nature reserve, Fleet mainline railway station and within easy access the town centre. Telephone 01252 620640
• Beautiful Interior • Sought After Location • Extensive Rear Garden •
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Odiham, Hampshire Guide: Offers over £375,000
Conveniently situated within close proximity of Odiham village centre, this two bedroom home offers well presented accommodation with a pretty garden giving direct access, via a gate to the rear, to the garage. EPC C (76) - Telephone 01256 704851
• Exquisite Interior • Lovely Rear Garden • Garage •
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North Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: £630,000
Located in the popular village of North Warnborough this charming, beautifully presented, character cottage is offered to the market with no onward chain. Accommodation includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen overlooking the rear garden and two reception rooms. The integral garage has been converted into a useful office space with
access directly to the rear of the property. EPC E (41) - Telephone 01256 704851
• Beautiful Interior • Three Bedrooms & Two Bathrooms • Excellent Rear Garden •
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Odiham, Hampshire Guide: £795,000
• Central Odiham • Superb Interior • Three Bedrooms •
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Situated within the sought-after village of Odiham and located on the High Street within a private location, a rare opportunity to purchase this Grade II listed three-bedroom town house which used to be a former Gospel Hall. The property benefits from a private south facing rear courtyard garden. Telephone 01256 704851
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Photo: Goldfinch
food provided in gardens, according to the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO).
5 unusual birds you may spot in your garden in summer and beyond By Hannah Stephenson, PA
To attract goldfinches to your plot, consider planting trees and shrubs that produce smaller berries, such as dog rose and coneflower. These berries are easier for the smaller species like finches and tits to consume.
2. Hoopoe
Have you ever noticed an exotic-looking bird in your garden and wondered what it was?
Partial to insects and spiders, this exotic-looking bird has, most notably, a long pinkish-brown crest which it raises when excited, as well as striking black and white wings and a long black downcurved bill. It doesn’t breed in the UK, yet some have been seen mainly on the south coast of England as they migrate north to Europe from Africa, and have even been spotted as far north as Shetland, according to the RSPB.
For those looking to attract unusual birds to their gardens, there’s a variety of plants readily accessible in the UK, which even the rarest of Britain’s birdlife can’t resist. Of course, the proximity of your garden to woodlands, water sources and its size will all have an effect on the species you see frequent your grounds, but it is possible to tailor the birds that visit with the plants that thrive right here in the UK. Here are some you may spot in your garden and in parks, woodlands, conservation areas and while exploring the great outdoors.
3. Roseate tern
This elegant seabird is known for its pale pinkish hue and long tail streamers. It nests on coastal sites and can be spotted in a few locations around the UK during the summer months.These birds are attracted by sea holly – the spiky, blue or purple flowers can provide nectar for insects, which in turn attract the terns. Alternatively, sea lavender produces clusters of small, lavender-coloured flowers that can attract insects and provide a food source for the birds.
1. Goldfinch
Populations of goldfinches have been rising steadily in the UK in recent decades, as birds have taken advantage of bird
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and peaceful environment, minimising disturbances to make your garden a welcoming haven for all bird species.
4. Red-footed falcon
This small falcon species is a rare visitor to the UK, primarily during the summer. It has a distinctive reddish- brown plumage and can sometimes be spotted in grasslands or wetlands. To attract them, try planting meadowsweet, a perennial plant with white or pink flowers that can attract insects, which are prey for the falcons. Marsh thistle also produces spiky flowers that can attract insects and provide a food source for the birds.
Any flowering trees or shrubs will attract insects, increasing the chance of bringing birds to your garden. The rarer species such as the redstart and blackcap will be drawn in by the caterpillars and insects that use the berries and flowers from these species.
5. Bullfinch
If you’re hoping to attract bullfinches to your garden, there are specific plants you can incorporate to make your space more enticing to these beautiful birds. Bullfinches are known for their striking colours, with males displaying vibrant pinkish-red breasts. One of the best plants to attract bullfinches is the crab apple, which produces small, colourful fruits that bullfinches find irresistible. The tree blossoms in spring also provide nectar for insects, which can attract bullfinches seeking a source of protein. Additionally, planting berries and fruits such as hawthorn and blackthorn can help draw these birds to your garden, as the berries provide an essential food source for bullfinches, particularly during the winter months when other food options may be scarce. Creating a diverse and layered garden with a mix of trees, shrubs and flowering plants will not only attract rare birds, but also provide them with a range of habitats and food sources throughout the year, the couple maintain.
Photo: Red-footed Falcon
Remember to also provide a water source and create a safe
Photo: Bullfinch
Photo: Hoopoe
Photo: Roseate Tern
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Hook, Hampshire Guide: £1,300,000
• Exquisite Interior • Superb Kitchen • Four Bedrooms + Two En-Suites •
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This beautifully presented detached family home is situated in the sought after Elms Road within Hook, which is within close proximity of Hook village centre.The accommodation provides four generous bedrooms on the first floor with two bedrooms offering en-suite shower rooms. On the ground floor there is a light and airy living room, a spacious study, a dining room, and a superb kitchen/breakfast room.There is a double garage with a utility room and the property features a truly wonderful rear garden providing a wealth of colour and interest. EPC C (71) - Telephone 01256 704851
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Finchampstead (The Ridges), Berkshire Guide: Offers in excess of £2,000,000
• Near Wellington College • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Grounds of c. 1.8 Acres •
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This is a distinctive looking house with considerable interior spaces, thought to have been first built during the 1920’s with additions in recent years.The property is situated in grounds of around 1.8 acres and located in a most sought after Berkshire location known as The Ridges, nearby to internationally renowned Wellington College. This property is built over two floors and provides around 3,646 sq. ft. of stunning space (circa 4,675 sq. ft. including garage). Of particular note is the vast kitchen, the hub of the home and ideal for family living or entertaining.
EPC D (66) - Telephone 01252 842100
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Fleet (The Blue Triangle), Hampshire Guide: £1,650,000
• House plus excellent 2 bedroom Annexe • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Grounds of c. 0.65 Acre •
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A substantial detached family home, distinctive in appearance and within a tree fringed plot measuring about 0.65 of an acre in arguably one of the most desirable roads in the Blue Triangle area of Fleet, close to the mainline railway station and the town centre. The property has been extended to offer generous and flexible accommodation over two floors including a double storey annexe. In the main house there is a large and welcoming entrance hallway with stairs to first floor, a cloakroom and doors into the living room, kitchen and the annexe accommodation. EPC C (74) - Telephone 01252 620640
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Fleet, Hampshire Guide: Offers over £635,000
This well presented four bedroom detached family home, with driveway parking for several vehicles, is situated on the popular Ancells Farm development, within close proximity to Fleet mainline station and junction 4a of the M3 motorway.
EPC TBC – Telephone 01252 620640
• Four Bedrooms • Pleasant Garden • Exquisite Interior •
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Church Crookham, Hampshire Guide: Offers in excess of £900,000
Sitting on a generous plot, this extended four bedroom property is situated in a popular location in Church Crookham with good access to local schools and amenities. A particular feature of this home is the stunning kitchen/dining/family room providing an ideal hub for the family or entertaining space. EPC D (57) – Telephone 01252 620640
• Four Bedrooms (en-suite to main) • Excellent Garden • Kitchen / Breakfast Room •
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Winchfield, Hampshire Guide: £1,350,000
• Wonderful One Acre Grounds • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Fine Living Room •
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A well proportioned character home in a semirural location, in grounds of approximately one acre.There is a generously sized sitting room with an open fireplace and French doors leading out to a patio area and home office/ summer house beyond.The kitchen/breakfast room has a range of fitted cabinetry and storage, a good amount of worksurface and a complement of fitted appliances.There are four bedrooms in total and the dual aspect principal bedroom is vast, with a generous amount of fitted storage in the dressing area and has an en-suite bathroom. EPC F (24) - Telephone 01252 842100
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Potbridge, Nr. Odiham, Hampshire - No Onward Chain Guide: Offers Over £950,000
• Exquisite Interior • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Four / Five Bedrooms •
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Situated within the semi-rural hamlet of Potbridge, this impressive Grade II listed character cottage has been extended to create spacious and flexible accommodation throughout. Providing four/five bedrooms and four/five reception rooms, the property is situated in a plot just under one acre. Available by separate negotiation is a paddock of just under half an acre.
Telephone 01256 704851
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Odiham, Hampshire Guide: £375,000
Situated just off Odiham High Street, this two-bedroom period apartment in Red Lion Mews is split over two floors and is offered to the market with spacious and flexible accommodation throughout. Benefits to this property include one allocated parking space, refitted kitchen/breakfast room, exposed timbers/beams.This property would make an ideal first time buy or investment property. Telephone 01256 704851
• Allocated Parking • Village Centre Location • Re-Fitted Kitchen •
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With careful planning, you could reduce the impact of Inheritance tax significantly or even completely. We can help you manage your finances and ensure you know all the relevant information to make the best decisions for you and your legacy.
Contact us today.
info@murdochasset.co.uk or call 01420 83517
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Finchampstead (The Ridges), Berkshire Guide: £2,995,000
• Wonderful Interior • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Heated Swimming Pool •
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A fine home with many breath-taking interior features, first built during the 1930’s with Art Deco influences of the period and more recently the property has benefitted from significant enhancements and vast enlargement by the present owner.The property is situated in grounds of around 1.5 acres and located in a most sought after Berkshire location known as The Ridges, nearby to internationally renowned Wellington College. This significant property is built over two floors and has been enhanced with meticulous attention to detail, providing almost 6,500 sq. ft. of stunning space (almost 7,400 sq. ft. including triple garage and outbuildings). EPC D (66) - Telephone 01252 842100
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Finchampstead, Berkshire
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Guide: £2,995,000
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Elvetham Heath, Hampshire Guide: Offers In Excess of £575,000
This four bedroom detached family home is situated on the favourable Elvetham Heath development.The property is ideally located for local schools and amenities as well as being within easy access of Fleet mainline railway station and Fleet town centre EPC TBC – Telephone 01252 620640
• Four Bedrooms • Pleasant Garden • Elvetham Heath Location •
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Crowthorne, Berkshire Guide: £375,000
This property is a fine example of spacious and well designed living spaces, providing around 800 sq. ft. of excellent living spaces. The living room is of particular note, because of the balcony which overlooks the tree fringed grounds to the rear. This apartment provides an impressive reception hall, a fine living room, a kitchen / breakfast room, a main bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, a second bedroom and a family bathroom. One allocated car parking space. EPC B (81) – Telephone 01252 842100
• Two Bedrooms • Two Bathrooms • Near Wellington College•
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Eversley, Hampshire (To Let) Guide: £1,295,000 p.c.m. + Fees
• Wonderful Setting • Available mid August• One Bedroom Apartment •
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Exuding charm and character, this one bedroom apartment is situated in a converted Grade II listed building, set in approximately 3.5 acres of communal grounds, surrounded by paddocks and woodland. The property comes unfurnished. Available Middle of August.
Efficiency Energy Rating - C / Council tax band - C / Tenancy length 12 months ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL APPLY - CONTACT AGENT FOR DETAILS.
Telephone 01252 622550
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Photo: Matt Damon as Leslie Groves and Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer
By telling the story through the eyes of the man himself, it poses the question: what does creating the deadliest weapon ever known do to a person, and how do they cope with the aftermath? Portraying the physicist in Nolan’s three-hour feature is Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy, who says that the immense moral quandary explored in the film sat heavy in his mind, too.
Cillian Murphy: Playing Oppen- heimer was ‘the biggest, most ex- hilarating challenge’ By Rachael Davis, PA Entertainment Features Writer Upon witnessing the detonation of the world’s first nuclear bomb on July 16 1945, J Robert Oppenheimer, the “father of the atomic bomb”, reportedly displayed an expression of “tremendous relief”. Having worked tirelessly on this weapon of mass destruction as head of the Manhattan Project, fearful that Nazi Germany could develop a nuclear arsenal before any other country, it’s no surprise that the world-leading physicist was glad that the Trinity test was successful. However, this relief carried with it an enormous weight: Oppenheimer and his team had irrevocably changed the world forever. Man now held colossal destruction in the palm of its hand, setting the stage for large-scale attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and for the Cold War. Oppenheimer and his deadly victory are the focus of Inception director Christopher Nolan’s latest venture, the epic biographical thriller Oppenheimer.
“It does affect you, for sure,” says Murphy, 47, of the existential weight of the intense role.
“You don’t know it on a conscious level, but on an emotional, kind of atomic level, it really, really affects you.
“And in this movie, the moral dilemmas and the paradoxes that the character was grappling with, emotionally and morally and psychologically, were huge.
“So it does take a toll, but in a brilliant way… It was the biggest, most exhilarating challenge.”
Oppenheimer’s story, fraught with moral quandary and existentialism, is perfect fodder for writer-director Christopher Nolan. Nolan’s back catalogue, which includes 2000’s Memento, 2014’s Interstellar and 2017’s Dunkirk as well as the Christian Bale-fronted Batman trilogy, shows he is no
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stranger to philosophical filmmaking.
Damon joins a star-studded cast list which, alongside Cillian Murphy, includes Robert Downey Jr, Florence Pugh, and Emily Blunt. Pugh and Blunt portray two of the central women in Oppenheimer’s life – his romantic partner Jean Tatlock and his wife Kitty Oppenheimer, respectively – and Nolan’s portrayal doesn’t underestimate the influence the women in the scientist’s life had on his trajectory. Blunt, known for starring in The Girl On The Train and A Quiet Place, says Oppenheimer’s wife Kitty – a biologist turned housewife – was “unusual for the time because there was a kind of unwillingness to conform to the 1950s ideal housewife – she certainly wasn’t reading Good Housekeeping!” “She was like: ‘When can I have a martini? And when can I pass my children off to someone else?’” adds the 40-year- old actress. “I think that she was such an exhilarating person to play. She’s super-complicated, and not without her demons. But it was very true to what was real about her… there was a lot of inner struggle at having to be a housewife. “She was probably meant for vast intellectual endeavours, similar to him. But she did adore him and worship him.And so there was so much to play with, with that marriage.” For Midsommar and Little Women star Pugh, 27, playing the Communist Party member and psychiatrist Jean Tatlock meant plenty of “unique, quiet moments” as she explored the couple’s relationship with Murphy.
“It’s hard to know exactly when I first got interested in Oppenheimer’s story,” says Nolan, 52.
“As a kid growing up in England (in) the early 80s, the concern with nuclear weapons in pop culture was enormous. My friends and I, we were 12 or 13 at the time, we all discussed and believed that we would probably die in a nuclear holocaust at some point. “Sting had his song Russians out, somewhere in that period, and he referred to Oppenheimer’s deadly toys, meaning nuclear weapons. So (I had) been aware of the name for a long time. “At some point, I chanced upon this fact that Oppenheimer and his colleagues, during the Manhattan Project, had been unable to completely eliminate the possibility that the chain reaction would destroy the entire world when they triggered the first test of the atomic device – and yet, they went ahead and they pushed that button.”
“I think Oppenheimer’s story is the most dramatic I’ve ever encountered,” he adds.
And who better to take on the task of bringing this scientific, political, emotional, and ultimately human story to the big screen than Nolan? “There’s nobody working who does movies at this scale where the acting is so good, and he really understands the intimacy and the humanity of people, but also understands story and wants to ask big questions,” says Matt Damon, 52, who plays Leslie Groves, director of the Manhattan Project.
“His films are very ambitious, but they’re very human, too, and that’s why people relate to them.”
Continued on page 40.........
Photo: Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer
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Photo: Florence Pugh as Jean Tatlock and Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer
“And I think the most exciting thing for me was: it’s a completely unique world,” Pugh says of Tatlock and Oppenheimer’s relationship.
“Despite them meeting in these places, she really has nothing to do with the second chapter of what he decides to do.”
While Nolan’s film includes commendable performances portraying those closest to Oppenheimer, it is, at its heart, a first- person narrative centred around the man himself.
Nolan presented the script – which was also written in the first person – to Murphy, who he says is “one of the great actors of his generation”, and invited him to go on this journey with him.
“He has this incredible ability, the ability of a great actor to be empathetic with the audience, to allow them access to his feelings, to his thoughts,” says Nolan.
“And that was really the journey we were on.
“The first thing I told him is: I’m not looking for any kind of impersonation of the real life Oppenheimer. Use what works for you, use what helps you, gives you something to grab hold of in the preparation. But really, it’s an interpretation.
“The film is not a documentary. It’s his, it’s Cillian’s and my, everybody else’s, interpretation of what it would have been to be this man at this incredible time.”
“There’s no-one really making films like Chris, and the way he presents them,” echoes Murphy, who has worked with the director several times including on his Batman films, as well as Inception and Dunkirk.
“He’s an incredible writer, amazing with actors, an incredible visual filmmaker, and then the way he presupposes a level of intelligence in his audience. He never patronises his audience.
“So it was a gift, really. It’s always been a gift for me, every time I’ve worked with him.”
Oppenheimer was in UK cinemas from Friday, July 21.
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Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £1,150,000
• Sought After Location • Exquisite Interior •
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A unique 3 / 4 bedroom detached family home situated in a no through road in the popular Pondtail area of Fleet and with the benefit of a rear garden of approximately 120ft. in length. Offered to the market for the first time since being built, this property is offered for sale with no onward chain. . EPC D (62) - Telephone 01252 620640
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PA Photo/Emily Scott
and they lived out in Provence.”
Emily Scott on the joy of simplicity and cooking for President Joe Biden By Katie Wright, PA Emily Scott has called the UK’s southernmost county home for 25 years, but the chef’s roots in the region go back even further. “I spent a lot of time in Cornwall as a child, because my grandparents had a house down here,” says Scott, 48, on a video call from her home near Newquay.
Born in Sussex, she moved to the picturesque village of Port Isaac aged 23 and married her first husband, a fisherman, and the couple had three children, Oscar, 21, Finn, 20, and Evie, 18.
“Sadly, I divorced the fisherman – or not sadly, I’m not sure – but actually, it’s all very amicable.
“But I chose to stay in Cornwall… and my career has just grown and got better and better.”
Scott’s first foray into food was the seaside Harbour Restaurant in Port Isaac, followed by eight years running the much-loved St Tudy Inn gastropub and rooms.
“And also in France, because my grandfather was half-French
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Now, she’s creative director (“I’m not apron-on as much as I used to be”) at Emily Scott Food, the restaurant that sits on the sea wall at Watergate Bay. What unites all these culinary outposts? “I’ve been banging the simplicity drum for a long time – my food’s all about seasonality, but also not too much faffing around.” That ethos is evident in her second cookbook, Time & Tide, which includes plenty of one-pot main dishes, simple suppers and satisfying bakes.
in Cornwall’s Carbis Bay.
“They were looking for something slightly different – they didn’t want the very formal, old school, white gloves [style],” Scott says. “I submitted my menu and told them I’d be giving them tea towels as napkins, and we’d have French Duralex glasses, mismatched cutlery, that kind of thing, and they loved it.” On the menu was melon gazpacho, turbot with miso beurre blanc sauce, and strawberry and elderflower pavlova, followed by “little mini ice creams for the petit fours and Cornish fudge we made. So it was all quite nostalgic nods to the seaside”. What was it like emerging from the kitchen at the end of the meal to greet diners including then UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel? “It was literally like, you know when you go to a friend’s house for dinner, but you’re really late and you turn up and everyone’s had a drink? I was suddenly surrounded,” Scott recalls. “President Biden had his arm around me, I had Macron and his wife signing my book, because my book had come out the day before, then I had Angela Merkel saying, ‘We must get a photograph now, come on’. It was quite a moment really.” Even better, the proud mum got to share the experience with her kids: “Oscar, my eldest, and my partner’s daughter served the world leaders, and my son Finn was in the kitchen cooking as part of my team. I thought, as a parent, I’m done!”
“It’s about times of day,” says Scott, who lives with her partner Mark Hellyar, a winemaker, and her children.
“There’s a lovely chapter called ‘morning cafe’ with lots of nods to my French roots, because that’s just a very natural thing for me. We’ve got ‘rise and shine’, meaning breakfast time, we’ve got ‘seaside soirees’.” The recipes reflect Scott’s trademark Cornish- French fusion with seafood – scallops, mussels, mackerel,crab – taking centre stage alongside French culinary classics like beurre blanc, bouillabaisse, ratatouille and creme brulee, while Cornish sea salt and clotted cream appear on many an ingredients list. The book cover features a quote from American actor and foodie Stanley Tucci, who has become a friend.
“It’s just been a very natural coming together through food,” says Scott.
“You know, when you see him on television in his Italy series, he genuinely is that person. He genuinely loves food and wine, and that’s what connects everyone in my view.” The chef and author didn’t always have such a favourable view of feasting. She had anorexia in her teens and was forced to drop out of school.
Plus, the feedback on the food from the VIPs was top notch.
“They loved it. And what was so nice is I said to [the organisers],‘I want them to be relaxed. I want them to stay longer’,” Scott says.
“The secret service were like, ‘They ran over time, they were so relaxed’.We did our job.”
After going in and out of treatment, she was offered the opportunity to go and work in a hotel restaurant in France.
Time & Tide by Emily Scott is published by Hardie Grant, priced £28. Photography by Kristin Perers.Available now.
“It’s quite a normal thing for people with eating disorders to end up in food, I think, because, I mean, you can’t give up food,” Scott says. “I just ended up – kind of through choice – just recovering, and turning my rather unhealthy relationship with food around, and finding the joy of cooking for people.” In 2021, the restauranteur got the chance to cook for some very important people when she was asked by the Cabinet Office to cater a dinner for world leaders at the G7 summit
Emily Scott’s Dauphinoise potatoes with spinach and clotted cream P.52 Emily Scott’s roast chicken with chorizo, garlic and rosemary P.54 Emily Scott’s blackberry and peach crisp P.56
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 47
Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £1,000,000
This attractive detached property offers 2,200 sq. ft. of flexible accommodation including a large L-shaped kitchen/ dining room with direct access to the pretty rear garden, and five bedrooms, two of which have en suite facilities. EPC C (69) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Double Garage • Attractive Rear Garden • Superb Kitchen / Diner •
48 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £775,000
This five bedroom property situated on the Ancells Farm development has benfitted from both a rear extension and loft conversion, offering generous family accommodation. EPC C (74) – Telephone 01252 620640
• Beautiful Interior • Great Location • Excellent Rear Garden•
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 49
Lower Common, Eversley, Hampshire Guide: £625,000
Tucked away in a semi-rural lane in the Hampshire village of Eversley, this four bedroom, three bathroom house has been recently refurbished and extended to provide around 1250sqft of accommodation. EPC D (64) - Telephone 01252 842100
• Four Bedrooms • Three Bath/Shower Rooms • Superb Kitchen / Diner •
50 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
DUE TO THE OPEN MARKET SOON PREVI EW
Riseley, Hampshire / Berkshire Borders Guide: £725,000
A high specification four bedroom, modern family home in a semi-rural village location right on the Hampshire/ Berkshire borders. Of particular note is the high specification kitchen which has stone worktops, a full range of integrated Bosch appliances (including five burner gas hob), modern shaker style cabinetry and a good sized island with breakfast bar. EPC C (76) – Telephone 01252 842100
• Four Bedrooms (2 en-suites) • Excellent Garden • Superb Kitchen / Breakfast Room •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 51
Emily Dauphinoise potatoes with spinach and clotted cream By Katie Wright, PA Scott’s “Layers of potato interleaved with clotted cream, spinach, a hint of garlic and nutmeg – a dish that will bring you together with people you love,” says chef Emily Scott. “Wild garlic is a perfect replacement for the spinach, when it is in season. It has a subtle fragrance and works in pesto, risottos,pasta,scones and here in this delicious dauphinoise.”
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan/320°F/Gas 2). Grease the sides and bottom of an oven-to-table dish with a little of the butter and set the rest aside to use later. 2. Place the clotted cream and creme fraîche in a bowl and stir together, then add a pinch of sea salt, some black pepper and a grating of nutmeg. 3. Cut the potatoes into 2.5mm ( 1⁄8 in) slices. Place them in a heavy-based pan and cover with the milk, then add a good pinch of sea salt, another grating of nutmeg, the bay leaves and garlic. Bring to the boil and cook for 10 minutes (be careful – the bottom of the pan can catch). Drain, discarding the milk, garlic and bay leaves. 4.Carefully layer the potatoes in the buttered dish alternating them with layers of spinach, seasoning each layer with salt and pepper. Make sure the top and bottom layers are just potato. Pour over the clotted cream mixture, making sure the top layer is just covered. Finish the top off with some more grated nutmeg and a few knobs of the remaining butter. 5. Bake in the middle of the oven for 1 hour, or until golden brown and a table knife passes through with ease.Allow to rest.
Dauphinoise potatoes with spinach and clotted cream
Ingredients (Serves 8):
• 50g (2oz) unsalted butter • 300g (10 1⁄2 oz/1 1⁄2 cups) clotted cream • 150ml (5fl oz/scant 2⁄3 cup) creme fraiche or Rodda’s double (heavy) cream • 1 whole nutmeg, for grating • 1.2kg (2lb 10oz) waxy potatoes, peeled (Desirée potatoes work well) • 900ml (30fl oz/3 1⁄2 cups) full-fat milk • 2 bay leaves • 1 garlic clove, halved lengthways • 200g (7oz) baby spinach, washed and stalks removed (wild garlic is a perfect alternative when in season) • Cornish sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
52 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £375,000
This two bedroom property is conveniently located for both Fleet town centre and Fleet mainline railway station and is offered to the market with no onward chain. EPC TBC – Telephone 01252 620640
• Two Bedrooms • Excellent Garden • No Onward Chain •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 53
Roast chicken with chorizo, garlic and rosemary
Ingredients (Serves 4):
• 1 whole properly free-range chicken (about 1.5kg/ 3lb 5 oz) • 50–100g (2–3½oz) unsalted butter, softened • 6 rashers of unsmoked streaky bacon • 2 lemons, halved • 8 rosemary sprigs • 12 garlic cloves, left whole and unpeeled • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 300g (10 ½oz) chorizo, thickly sliced • 500g (1lb 2oz) small new potatoes, left whole • Cornish sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan/400°F/Gas 6). Place the chicken in an oven-to-table roasting dish. Rub the breasts and legs with the butter, season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, then place the streaky bacon over the breasts of the chicken (this protects the breast meat for the first part of the cooking, keeping the meat moist and adding delicious flavour. The crispy bacon becomes the cook’s perk). 2. Place the lemon halves and most of the rosemary in the cavity. Arrange the garlic cloves around the chicken in the oven dish, then drizzle the whole chicken with the olive oil. Roast in the oven for 15–20 minutes until the bacon is crispy. 3. Remove the dish from the oven, remove the bacon and set aside. Baste the chicken with the buttery and lemony juices, then arrange the slices of chorizo and small potatoes around the chicken with the remaining rosemary sprigs. Return to the oven to roast for 45 minutes–1 hour until the chicken is golden brown and the juices run clear (test by inserting a skewer into a leg). 4. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Carve and serve with the buttery, golden juices, with the roasted potatoes and chorizo, accompanied by greens or a green salad.
Emily Scott’s roast chicken with chorizo, garlic and rosemary By Katie Wright, PA “There is nothing more comforting than a roast chicken – a go-to every week and something my family are always happy to see,” says chef Emily Scott. “The chorizo, lemon and rosemary create a wonderful gravy of buttery golden juices; with the potatoes and garlic, it really is a delicious one-pot recipe.”
Time & Tide by Emily Scott is published by Hardie Grant, priced £28. Photography by Kristin Perers.Available now.
54 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £390,000
This pretty end-of-terrace character cottage has been lovingly updated and is presented to the market in excellent decorative order.The property benefits from a town centre location close to all local amenities and easy access to Fleet mainline railway station. EPC TBC – Telephone 01252 620640
• Two Bedrooms • Excellent Garden • Superb Interior •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 55
Ingredients (Serves 4):
For the Amaretti crumble topping:
•
160g (5½oz) amaretti biscuits
• 80g (3oz/scant 1 cup) flaked (slivered) almonds • 75g (2½oz) unsalted butter, at room temperature • 50g (2oz/scant ½ cup) plain (all-purpose) flour • 50g (2oz/scant ¼ cup) caster (superfine) sugar
For the bramble and peach filling:
• 350g (12oz) blackberries • 6 peaches, skinned and stoned (pitted), sliced (if using frozen peaches, thaw and drain first) • 100g (3½oz/scant ½ cup) caster (superfine) sugar • 3 tablespoons cornflour (corn starch) slaked with 2 tablespoons water • zest and juice of ½ lemon
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan/400°F/Gas 6). For the crumble topping, blitz the amaretti biscuits with the flaked almonds in a food processor to a rubble. 2. In a mixing bowl, rub the butter and flour together to resemble breadcrumbs, then add the sugar along with the almond rubble and mix together.
3. Spread the mixture out over a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 10–15 minutes until golden.Allow to cool.
4. For the filling, place the blackberries, peaches, sugar, cornflour mixture, lemon zest and juice in a heavy-based saucepan and slowly bring to a simmer, stirring all the time to allow the sugar to dissolve. Cook until the fruit is tender. 5.Transfer to an oven-to-table baking dish and sprinkle over the amaretti crumble topping. Finish off in the oven for 5–6 minutes. Don’t forget the cream.
Emily Scott’s blackberry and peach crisp By Katie Wright, PA
“This recipe is so simple and versatile – I use it to top fruit throughout the seasons,” says chef Emily Scott.
“It is lighter than a traditional oat crumble topping, and delicious served with custard or crème fraîche.”
Blackberry and peach crisp
56 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Photo: Bodegas de los Herederos del Marqués de Riscal, Rioja, Spain
3 of the best vineyards in the world – and why you should visit them By Hannah Stephenson, PA The Oscars of the wine industry, the World’s Best Vineyards 2023 has been revealed and the top 50 wineries are a wonderland for wine lovers.
An extensive and elite roll call of the very best in wine tourism, the list champions must-visit cellars across the globe, highlighting incredible experiences on offer – and of course, world class wines.
The ceremony took place in Spain’s Rioja wine region, and we’ve put the spotlight on three vineyards in the top five to fire your imagination and thirst…
1. Catena Zapata, Mendoza,Argentina
In the foothills of the Andes Mountains, Catena Zapata was voted number one in the World’s Best Vineyards Awards. Known as South America’s Grand Cru, the striking pyramid-shaped winery was inspired by Mayan temples.
With three tours on offer, a highlight is the Blending Games experience where you can turn your hand to being a winemaker for the day – and create something unique with your glass of malbec and cabernet sauvignon.
2. Bodegas Marqués de Riscal, Rioja, Spain
You can imagine the wild applause when Bodegas Marqués de Riscal was voted the top vineyard in Europe – and number two on the list.The Frank Gehry-designed pink and gold titanium-roofed building – inspired by the wines of the region – is a futuristic architectural feat in itself, before you’ve even stepped foot in the Michelin starred Restaurante Marqués de Riscal.The wines are for the most part tempranillo temptresses, with some ravishing rosés to pique your interest. Order an old vintage of Riscal and the sommelier will open the bottle with a pair of heated tongs – quite the spectacle.
continued on page 59.........
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 57
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Photo: Creation,Walker Bay, South Africa
3. Creation,Walker Bay, South Africa
Taking the number four spot and named overall African winner, Creation in Walker Bay is more a wine safari destination than cellar door. On a visit there, you’re encouraged to explore the showstopping scenery with cycling safaris and hiking across the magnificent estate. A highlight must surely be an overnight stay in a self-catering cottage made from eucalyptus timber with epic views across Hemel-en-Aarde valley which translates as ‘heaven and earth.’ With a fully-stocked wine cellar, braii outdoor fireplace and binoculars for watching wildlife (including big cats), it must taste and feel like heaven on earth.
Photo: Creation,Walker Bay, South Africa
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 59
and help me,” she explains.
Beekeeping has gone viral – but how easy is it? By Imy Brighty-Pottst, PA With urbanites setting up hives on their balconies, honey being made up and down the country and a whopping 1.9 billion TikTok views for #beekeeping, this summer might just be the busiest time for starting a buzzy new hobby. “Urban beekeeping offers people a rewarding chance to connect with nature, and contribute to conserving our pollinator pals in urban settings,” says Amanda John, a professional beekeeper who works closely with Rowse Honey. “This form of beekeeping has become increasingly popular, as the importance of protecting our bees becomes more prevalent.”
But, if you don’t have a garden, Ingham says you can put them on roofs and balconies, as long as you seek the right permissions and tell your neighbours.
Get kitted out
Many may be put off by the cost and fear of getting stung.
“People generally have a fear of bees, I did when I started,” says Ingham. “Looking at frames of thousands of bees was a bit frightening, but it’s something you get used to, and it becomes so inspirational and enjoyable. “You need a proper bee suit – full length with gloves and protective footwear, even wellies,” she continues.“It can be expensive, depending on what lengths you go to and the equipment you acquire. If you join an association, you can find stuff relatively cheaply – and it doesn’t have to be new.
“If you were to shop online from new, it would cost about £500. More carefully, it could cost £250.”
But, how do you get started?
Find a place to put them
But, what about the actual hives?
Retiree Caroline Ingham, 61, from Holmfirth,Yorkshire, has been beekeeping for five years.
“Basic equipment would be a hive, and here in the UK, we tend to go for a national type, with frames and a foundation, with a small number of tools for lifting the frames,” Ingham explains.
“I used to be a volunteer at our local high school on gardening projects. I was offered a short course and we got bees in the school, but it didn’t work out, so I acquired a beehive.They are in my garden and three other ladies come
Associations may be able to help you source items.
60 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
“There are British beekeeping associations for each district, I am part of the Huddersfield Beekeeping Association. As a member, you get insurance if there is a problem with the hive. Joining the association is around £35 annually.”
Finding bees
So, you have the gear, but where do you actually get the bees from?Well, associations may be able to help you find someone selling a hive, or someone looking to redirect a swarm.
“This year has been a big year for swarming, but you can pre-empt them (a swarm is a queen leaving the hive and taking some of the bees with her). If you witness the bees making queen cells protruding on the foundation, it will indicate they are not happy, so they are making a new one,” Ingham explains.
What should you be worried about?
“Winter is a bad time to get the bees through – it depends so much on the weather.They don’t come out of the hive until it is about 13 degrees, and in the winter, you need to insulate them,” says Ingham.“You also have to do treatments for insects they can be prone to, and making sure you do regular inspections of your hives is really important.”
“When getting started in urban beekeeping, it is essential to understand the safety and basic knowledge of beekeeping,” says John.
“If possible, this means attending beekeeping workshops – which can be booked online – and connecting with local beekeepers to learn more about bee behaviour, hive management and safety protocols. Understanding these basics is the key to success,” she continues.
While it isn’t easy, it is rewarding, for both you and the planet.
Photo:Amanda John
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 61
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