IN THE
November / December 2025 The Property & Lifestyle Magazine COUNTRY & TOWN - Autumn Budget - Smart Moves or Market Chaos?
Cover - AI generated image
Property Previews INSIDE
Character Properties INSIDE
Editorial Features INSIDE
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 1 | Property For Sale & To Let | Food: Rick Stein & Dr Clare Mosley | Lifestyle & Editorial |
Within This Issue...
P.82 - Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide £825,000
Due to the market soon....
P.12 PREVIEW - Bramley, Hampshire Anticipated Guide £1,895,000
P.16 Fleet, Hampshire - Guide £1,400,000
2 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
P. 60 Upton Grey, Hampshire Guide £495,000
P. 64 Fleet, Hampshire Guide £295,000
P. 50 SHOWBIZ Film Blue Moon ‘Larry Hart would be so happy his music is still alive’: Ethan Hawke on playing the Broadway lyricist in Blue Moon
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 3
A Collection Of Exquisite Properties And Engaging Editorial
P. 96 INTERIORS - 5 trending festive themes for Christmas decor
P. 54 Fleet, Hampshire Guide £950,000
P. 91 Hartley Wintney Guide £625,000
P. 68 FOOD Rick Stein
4 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
P.36 South Warnborough, Hampshire To Let - Guide £3,995 p.c.m.
P. 116 MOTORING - Bentley creates go-faster Supersports
P. 84 FOOD - Dr Clare Mosley: ‘Michael, in the early days, liked his chicken nuggets’
P. 110 MOTORING - Porsche’s 911 Turbo S is back and more powerful than ever
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 5
IN THE COUNTRY &TOWN Welcome to
Creating the inspiration to move
No Rabbits
This Autumn Budget was like no other, because the leaky lead up to it had a negative impact on the property market and the wider economy. So much uncertainty was generated in recent months and many people simply shut down and did nothing. So the Budget day is over and people can now plan their property moves and investments with the knowledge of what’s to come as a result if this Budget. There were no rabbits pulled out of the hat and the only surprise was that the government’s financial position is nowhere near as bad as had been suggested in the run-up.
Property & Taxes
Landlords were further impacted if their investment property is held by them as an individual as opposed to a limited company. From April 2027, property income (e.g. rents), as well as savings and dividend income, will be taxed 2 percentage points higher than today.That brings property income tax bands to 22%, 42% and 47%. The Budget stops short of replacing or abolishing Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). Stamp duty remains in place for now, despite earlier speculation. The so called “mansion tax” has now arrived and it’s worth remembering that Labour previously voiced this intent back in 2019 and in part it impacted on them losing that General Election. In early 2025 rumours abounded about a forthcoming “mansion tax” and for the remainder of this year the top end of the market has been on hold. Now we know that for owners of high-value homes, a new “mansion tax” — formally a high-value council tax surcharge — was confirmed. From April 2028, properties
AI generated image
valued at £2 million and above will face an annual surcharge.
The tax will differ depending on the value of a property and will be determined by the following four bands.
£2 million to £2.5 million– You will pay £2,500. £2.5 million to £3.5 million– You will pay £3,500. £3.5 million to £5 million – You will pay £5,000. More than £5 million - You will pay £7,500.
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.
6 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
This will be an annual tax and the charge will be imposed on top of the existing council tax.The money will go to the Treasury rather than the local authority.
From a property perspective across all price sectors, the Budget has little or no impact and any “bounce back” is likely to be moderate, not a dramatic boom.The weight of new taxes and limited reforms means we’re more likely to see steady growth and cautious investor re-entry rather than a surge in building or housing-led economic growth.
What It Means For The Property Market & Landlords / Tenants
The decision not to scrap stamp duty means there is no relief for home buyers and no increased incentives to move or buy. For landlords, higher taxation on rental income (from 2027) will erode net returns. But one thing is for certain, this added cost will be passed on to Tenants so this move alongside the Renters Right Act earlier this year will cost Tenants more for their rented homes. There is much speculation about the new “mansion tax” suppressing demand at the very top end of the market, but we don’t believe this will be the outcome. The buyer demand will now return because the level of the “mansion tax” is known and whilst it might keep a lid on prices in this sector, at least transaction numbers will return. The tax isn’t coming in until 2028 and by then another General Election will be on the horizon so disgruntled home owners wary of property taxes in general will take their discontent out at the ballot box.
In other word, a steady business as normal outlook for the short to medium term.
Overall, expect steady demand property sales and rentals, modest rental growth in strong micro-markets, and continued importance of quality and location.
John Holden - Chairman McCarthy Holden
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 7
Guide Price: £1,850,000 Telephone 01252 842100 Hartley Wintney / Elvetham, Hampshire
• Wonderful Grounds • Exquisite Character Spaces •
8 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
COMPLETED NOVEMBER
Hartley Wintney, Hampshire
Character House In Prime Location
• similar property wanted •
Join the UpTick
arrange a free valuation
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 9
Equestrian House Buyers will be on the move early 2026!
If you are thinking of selling an equestrian / country house with land contact McCarthy Holden to have a free no obligation valuation and discover buyers in this niche market.
Telephone 01252 842100
www.mccarthyholden.co.uk
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 10
10 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
On Your Doorstep AWARD-WINNING INTERIOR DESIGN
Interior Design & Curated Interiors Made-to-Measure Curtains, Blinds, Upholstery Extensions, Conversions & New Builds Paint Consultations
Scan to book a no- obligation Discovery call!
01252 220 400 www.renaissanceinteriorshw.co.uk Virginia Villas, High Street, Hartley Wintney, RG27 8NW
hello@renaissanceinteriorshw.co.uk
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 11
DUE TO THE OPEN MARKET SOON magazine exclusive PREVI EW
Guide Price: £1,895,000 Telephone 01252 842100 Bramley, Hampshire
• Rural Location • Five Bedrooms • Grounds Of Circa 3.5 Acres •
12 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
See the following pages for more details
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 13
Bramley, Hampshire Guide: £1,895,000
• Exquisite Interior • Immense Character • Stables (7 loose boxes) • Paddock •
14 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Set in wonderful countryside on the Hampshire / Berkshire borders, this exceptional property provides an extraordinary mix of property assets, including a superb residential farmhouse, a brick stable building with 7 loose boxes and a tack room, and a long timber building for perhaps gym or home office use. Originally dating back some 200 years this character farmhouse is offered to market with a plot of around 3.5 acres, with the potential to purchase further acreage or outbuildings adjacent if so desired (by separate negotiation). EPC n/a - Telephone 01252 842100
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 15
Guide Price: £1,400,000 Telephone 01252 620640 Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire
• Five Bedrooms • Detached Double Garage •
16 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
See the following pages for more details
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 17
Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire Guide: £1,400,000
• Early Viewing Recommended • Open-Plan Kitchen/Dining •
18 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
This striking Berkeley Homes built five bedroom detached house, combines elegant and versatile living.With bright reception rooms, a conservatory, formal dining, study, and spacious kitchen/breakfast room, it’s perfect for family life. Easterly gardens, driveway, and a detached double garage complete this lovely family home..
EPC D (63) - Telephone 01252 620640
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 19
Guide Price: O.I.E.O. £1,250,000 Telephone 01252 620640 Fleet, Hampshire
• Wonderful Kitchen / Family Room • Five Bedrooms •
20 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
See the following pages for more details
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 21
Fleet, Hampshire Guide: O.I.E.O. £1,250,000
• Double Garage • Two En-Suite and Family Bathroom • Select Gated Development •
22 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Nestled within an exclusive private development, this impressive property offers an exceptional blend of luxury and tranquility.This detached family home boasts five bedrooms, including a main bedroom with dressing room and luxury
ensuite, and four elegant reception rooms. EPC C (73) - Telephone 01252 620640
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 23
Guide Price: £2,350,000 Telephone 01252 620640 Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire
• Wonderful Grounds •Around 6,000 sq. ft. of Exquisite Space •
24 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
SALE AGREED NOVEMBER
Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire
Character House In Prime Location
• similar property wanted •
Join the UpTick
arrange a free valuation
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 25
Guide Price: £1,595,000 Telephone 01252 620640 Fleet, Hampshire
• Desirable Location Near Fleet Pond Nature Reserve • Four Bedrooms • Annexe •
26 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
See the following pages for more details
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 27
Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £1,595,000
• Exquisite Interior • Immense Character • Stunning Kitchen •
28 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Set along a sought after residential road close to Fleet Pond Nature Reserve, this elegant Edwardian home has been thoughtfully extended and beautifully updated to provide versatile living space, further enhanced by a high quality one bedroom annexe . Brimming with character, the house retains many period features including exposed floorboards and charming fireplaces, while offering modern comforts and generous proportions throughout. EPC C (72) - Telephone 01252 620640
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 29
DUE TO THE OPEN MARKET SOON magazine exclusive PREVI EW
Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £660,000
• Sought After Location • Four Bedrooms • Early Viewing Recommended •
30 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Nestled in a cul-de-sac within the Pondtail area, this four bedroom family home features a spacious living room, kitchen flowing into a bright conservatory, a private garden with patios and lawn, plus driveway and garage, all situated within easy reach of Fleet Pond and Nature Reserve. EPC D (65) - Telephone 01252 620640
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 31
Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide: £895,000
• Four Bedrooms • No Onward Chain • Kitchen/Dining Room •
32 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
A modern, stylish four bedroom detached home in a quiet Hartley Wintney cul-de-sac, offering spacious living, kitchen/dining room, study, main bedroom with en suite, private garden, garage and parking for multiple vehicles — ideal for families and professionals seeking comfort and convenience. EPC B (85) - Telephone 01252 842100
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 33
Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £575,000
A beautifully presented four bedroom home on the popular Edenbrook development, offering modern, open-plan living, with a feature of the property being the landscaped garden which backs onto the tranquil nature reserve. EPC B (85) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Backing Onto Woodland • Four Bedrooms • Two Bathrooms •
34 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Eversley, Hampshire Guide: £525,000
Having undergone refurbishment in recent years to include new windows, doors and flooring, this three bedroom home in Eversley village occupies a corner plot in a quiet cul-de-sac. Features include modern interior and a private
landscaped rear garden backing on to fields EPC D (65) - Telephone 01252 842100
• Garage • Three Bedrooms • Corner Plot •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 35
South Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: £3,995 p.c.m.
This five bedroom detached family home has been fully refurbished and extended by the current owners to create flexible and spacious accommodation throughout. Finished to a high standard, benefits include garage with ample driveway parking, open plan kitchen/living/dining room with bi-folding doors to the rear garden.
Efficiency Energy Rating - C / Council Tax Band - F / Tenancy Length – 12 months. ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL APPLY – CONTACT AGENT FOR DETAILS Tel: 01252 622550
• Five Bedrooms • Sought After Location •
36 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
North Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: £4,200 p.c.m.
Nestled just outside Odiham Village, this beautifully presented five-bedroom family home offers a blend of modern design and comfortable living.The property has been thoughtfully designed to provide bright, airy spaces. Unfurnished, available now. Energy Efficiency rating - TBC /Council tax Band - TBC (NEW HOME) / Tenancy Length – 12 months ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL APPLY – CONTACT AGENT FOR DETAILS Tel: 01252 622550
• Five Bedrooms • Well Presented Interior •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 37
Rotherwick, Hampshire Guide: £2,475 p.c.m.
A 4 bedroom property with a large lounge/dining room, fitted kitchen with built-in appliances, study/family area, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom to the ground floor. On the first floor is a spacious landing leading to a bedroom, shower room and a further bedroom/dressing room. Detached single garage, large rear garden with patio.
Energy Efficiency rating - E /Council tax Band - F / Tenancy Length – 12 months. ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL APPLY – CONTACT AGENT FOR DETAILS Tel: 01252 622550
• Four Bedrooms • Sought After Location •
38 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Crondall, Nr Farnham, Surrey Guide: £1,800 p.c.m.
A well-presented three bedroom cottage that has been refurbished throughout located in the much sought-after village of Crondall. Unfurnished and available from 20th January 2026. Energy Efficiency rating - D /Council Tax Band - D / Tenancy Length – 12 months ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL APPLY – CONTACT AGENT FOR DETAILS Tel: 01252 622550
• Three Bedrooms • Well Presented Interior •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 39
Letting Agency Services With Experienced Personnel • Fleet Branch Focus •
Landlords can rest assured that representatives of McCarthy Holden looking after their properties are experienced and highly professional.
At our Fleet branch you will find a wealth of experience and abilities and the re-assurance of ARLA and SAFEAGENT memberships.
If you are a Landlord looking for excellent property marketing and reliable property management, then contact us for a free valuation.
Telephone 01252 622550
www.mccarthyholden.co.uk
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 40
40 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Nicola Bremner (MARLA) Director - Almost 20 years with McCarthy Holden and leader of this division.
Penny Quinn Property Management - Vast experience in this specialised job for house maintenance.
Sandra Gardner (MARLA) Property visits and renewals - 15 years with McCarthy Holden in this key job role.
Ashlyn Moss Property Consultant - Sales, viewings and initial lease agreement drafting.
Elizabeth Busbridge Property Consultant - Sales, viewings and initial lease agreement drafting.
Julie Adams (MARLA) Manager - All aspects of the lettings functions in our Fleet branch.
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 41
Offer Received Going To Press Check Availability....
Guide Price: £3,500 p.c.m. Telephone 01252 622550 Hazeley Heath, Nr. Hartley Wintney, Hampshire
• Four Bedrooms • Far Reaching Rural Views •
42 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
See the following pages for more details
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 43
Hazeley Heath, Nr. Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide: £3,500 p.c.m.
• Early Viewing Recommended • Excellent Kitchen/Dining Room •
44 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
A substantial 4 bedroom detached period home with character, offering flexible accommodation and countryside views. Gated entrance, ample parking plus 2 garages. Unfurnished, available now.
Energy Efficiency rating - E /Council Tax Band - G / Tenancy Length – 12 months ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL APPLY – CONTACT AGENT FOR DETAILS Telephone 01252 622550
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 45
Guide Price: OIEO £1,500,000 Telephone 01256 704851 Dogmersfield, Hampshire
• Three Bathrooms • Six Bedrooms •
46 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
See the following pages for more details
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 47
Dogmersfield, Hampshire Guide: OIEO £1,500,000
• Superb Kitchen / Diner • Beautiful Garden with Countryside Views •
48 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Entered via private electric gates, this impressive six bedroom detached family home sits within private grounds in excess of one acre, and is nestled in the desirable Hampshire village of Dogmersfield enjoying wonderful countryside views. EPC D (59) - Telephone 01256 704851
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 49
Photo: Andrew Scott as Richard Rodgers and Margaret Qualley as Elizabeth Weiland.
50 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
SHOWBIZ Film Blue Moon
‘Larry Hart would be so happy his music is still alive’: Ethan Hawke on playing the Broadway lyricist in Blue Moon
By Lynn Rusk PA
For more than 20 years, Broadway songwriting duo Lorenz Hart, the lyricist, and Richard Rodgers, the composer, combined their talents to create a string of musical-comedy hits. Often referred to as America’s Gilbert and Sullivan, Rodgers and Hart are celebrated for classics such as My Funny Valentine, Manhattan and, of course, Blue Moon. In 1943, the partnership dissolved due to Hart’s severe alcoholism and increasing unreliability, prompting Rodgers to form a new collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein. Rodgers and Hammerstein would go on to become the most successful songwriting team in American musical theatre history, creating landmark works including South Pacific, Carousel,The King And I and The Sound Of Music. Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon focuses on the evening of March 31, 1943, when Hart confronts his shattered self- confidence in Sardi’s bar as his former collaborator Rodgers celebrates the opening night of his ground-breaking hit Oklahoma!.
Continued on following pages >
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 51
film?
The film, written by Robert Kaplow, stars Ethan Hawke as Hart,Andrew Scott as Rodgers, and Margaret Qualley as Elizabeth Weiland, a Yale student with with whom Hart is infatuated. Hawke, a collaborator with Linklater on the Before trilogy and Boyhood, says he first read the Blue Moon script more than 10 years ago. “Rick (Linklater) sent me the script I would say around 10 or 12 years ago and I cackled with laughter. I called him and said,‘let’s make this movie,’” recalls the 55-year-old actor. “He told me I wasn’t old enough and that we had to wait. So, every two or three years, we’d get together and read it aloud.As the years ticked by, the script kept getting better until finally it was time to make it.” Reflecting on his character, Hawke says:“Larry Hart would be so happy that his music and his words and his poetry are still alive.They have cheated death. “And I think his perverse sense of humour – we get a huge kick out of this night of all nights of his life would be the one people would choose to dramatise – debatably, the worst night of his life, but perhaps the most poignant.” For the role, Hawke undergoes a physical transformation, sporting a combover and being digitally reduced in height to reflect Hart’s five-foot stature.
“I’m glad we had that decade to really think about it and kind of get the right tone. By the time you’re finally making it, you feel like you’ve answered those questions.And then it was like, how to pull it off? Technically? Ethan had to really transform. It was the height thing – a lot, a lot of technical challenges.
“It was fun to see Ethan actually looking [up] at the world.”
Hawke adds:“It’s also a movie that’s ultimately about naturalism.
“That’s a huge challenge, there are other movies that would have been easier to make.We didn’t want it to be a stunt. “We wanted it to be about Larry, and it’s important how he viewed the world and how he thought other people viewed him. “We wanted the film to feel intimate, so you really get to know these people.What if you could be at the opening- night party of Oklahoma! in 1943, walk into Sardi’s and meet them? “That, for me, was the great blessing that would have been impossible without it: Richard gave me this unbelievable supporting cast. Each of them could carry their own movie, and yet they were there serving Larry and it was they who made the lift so much lighter.”
“It was a lot to take on,” reflects Hawke.
Linklater reflects on the poignancy of culture leaving artists behind.
“The script was so good and the value of having a long lasting artistic collaboration is you are free to take chances and make a risk that you might not make otherwise because somebody’s daring you, and you feel safe that you know you trust the collaboration completely, so you can take a bigger swing.
“I know artists think we’re just going to go forever, but you never know in life,” he says.
“Your tastes can change. In this movie, it’s not only the artistic break-up between him and Rodgers, but also the times are changing. His kind of show tunes and musicals are becoming passé. It’s a new era. “So the times are leaving him behind as well. It’s kind of poignant, you realise there’s an expiration date on your art. You think about yourself but, fortunately, great art does survive.”
“And that’s the great value of this kind of collaboration.”
Linklater, 65, who had held the script for more than a decade, appreciated having the time to refine both the tone and technical aspects of the film.
“There was something so beautiful and sad about the story,” says the Texas-born filmmaker.
Hawke adds:“Poor Larry has so much to be proud of and instead he’s heartbroken.
“We do real character-based things, and what a character, what an opportunity to show the range of the human experience.And it said so much about artistic relationships and life.”
“The party ending is always hard. He has 25 years of writing significant, amazing poetry and being heralded for it, he just doesn’t want it to stop.”
He adds:“It was just kind of a brilliant piece of writing and such a great character. So it’s like, how does it work as a
Blue Moon is in Irish cinemas now and out in the UK on Friday, November 28.
52 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Photo: Director Richard Linklater with Bobby Canaval as Eddie
Photo: Margaret Qualley as Elizabeth Weiland and Ethan Hawke as Lorenz Hart.
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 53
Guide Price: £950,000 Telephone 01252 620640 Fleet (Elvetham Heath), Hampshire
• Six Bedrooms • Around 2,727 sq. ft. of Exquisite Space •
54 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
See the following pages for more details
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 55
Fleet (Elvetham Heath), Hampshire Guide: £950,000
• Good Specification • Stunning Open-Plan Kitchen/Dining/Family Room •
56 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
This extended six bedroom home offers modern, versatile living across three storeys. Featuring an impressive open plan kitchen/breakfast/dining space, three reception rooms, study, gym, and high quality finishes, the property provides space, style, and convenience for family life
EPC C (74) - Telephone 01252 620640
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 57
Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide: £640,000
Well presented detached home with three spacious bedrooms, bright bay fronted living room, dining room with garden access, modern kitchen, utility and garden room. Features a generous rear garden, off-road parking and single garage—ideal for family living. EPC D (68) - Telephone 01252 842100
• Three Bedroom Detached • Garage • Walking Distance To Village Centre •
58 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide: £625,000
A high specification three bedroom mid-terraced home built by Millgate Homes in 2007. Set in a gated development near the village centre, features include a modern kitchen, bright living room, en-suite, and allocated parking. EPC C (76) - Telephone 01252 842100
• Gated Development • Three Bedrooms • No Onward Chain •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 59
Upton Grey, Hampshire Guide: £495,000
This attractive, three-bedroom Victorian cottage, dating from around 1850, is located in the highly sought after and picturesque village of Upton Grey.The property beautifully combines period charm with modern comfort and is offered to the market with no onward chain. EPC E (40) - Telephone 01256 704851
• Three Bedrooms • No Onward Chain • Village Location •
60 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
South Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: £665,000
This charming Grade II listed, three-bedroom cottage, is nestled in the sought-after village of South Warnborough, effortlessly blending period charm with modern comfort.With many original features such as exposed beams and brickwork, stone flooring, and an impressive inglenook fireplace, this home exudes warmth and authenticity throughout. EPC n/a - Telephone 01256 704851
• Three Bedrooms • Village Location • Superb Kitchen / Dining •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 61
North Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: £425,000
This charming, well presented two bedroom Grade II listed character cottage is nestled in the sought after village of North Warnborough, offering a wealth of charm and period features throughout, including exposed beams, original
fireplaces, and traditional latch doors EPC D (68) - Telephone 01256 704851
• Superb Kitchen / Breakfast Room • Beautiful Interior • Village Location •
62 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Odiham, Hampshire Guide: Offers In Excess Of £500,000
This charming two bedroom character cottage is situated within the sought-after village of Odiham within close proximity of all amenities on offer. This Grade II listed cottage was built in 1310 and is full of original features, including exposed beams/brickwork, fireplace and latch doors.The current owners have sympathetically updated and modernised the interior and exterior to a high standard. EPC na - Telephone 01256 704851
• Close Proximity of Odiham Village Centre • Two Bedrooms • Exquisite Interior •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 63
Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £295,000
A two bedroom retirement maisonette offering relatively low maintenance living with no onward chain, a long lease, gas central heating, and a garage.The spacious kitchen/diner, balcony, communal gardens, and tranquil setting provides comfort and convenience, being within a short distance of Fleet High Street. EPC D (63) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Garage • No Onward Chain • Two Bedrooms • Retirement Property •
64 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Fleet (Elvetham Heath), Hampshire Guide: £600,000
Four bedroom detached home in a cul-de-sac on Elvetham Heath featuring a light L-shaped kitchen/diner/family room, three bathrooms, home office, garage, and driveway. Situated close to local amenities, the property is well placed for the active family. EPC D (57) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Close to schools • Four Bedrooms • Garage & Driveway Parking •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 65
Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire Guide: £350,000
Well presented two bedroom second floor apartment in Fleet’s sought after Blue Triangle. Featuring a spacious living area, en suite, separate kitchen, garage, and communal gardens, the property is ideally located near Fleet town centre. EPC C (79) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Sought After Location • En-suite To Bedroom One • Garage And Visitors Parking •
66 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Church Crookham, Hampshire Guide: £635,000
An impressive four bedroom detached home in Crookham Park, featuring a modern kitchen/dining area, spacious living room with access to the rear garden, and study. Externally, there is garage with driveway parking and low maintenance rear garden. EPC B (86) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Close to schools • Three Bedrooms • Early Viewing Recommended •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 67
Photo: Rick Stein’s Christmas (£28, BBC Books).
68 | mccartthyhollden..co..uk
undercooked which is very, very unlikely.
FOOD Rick Stein Rick Stein’s ultimate guide to cooking the Christmas dinner By Lauren Taylor, PA In a restaurant kitchen, even professional chefs don’t have to make every element of a three-course meal. But at Christmas,“When you’re cooking at home, you have to do everything,” says Rick Stein,“therefore your timing has to be really good. In a restaurant kitchen you’re doing four or five things really, and nothing else, also they’re all part of the same course.” The popular TV chef, who has published his first-ever festive cookbook, Rick Stein’s Christmas, including how to organise your time “to do it all painlessly”. He advises:“Don’t leave everything until Christmas morning, there are many, many things that you think need to be done at the last minute – they really don’t.” From festive canapes (think mini brioche toasts with whipped feta, fresh figs and pickled walnuts) and starters (Jerusalem artichoke soup with crispy bacon) to impressive desserts to wow your guests – like semifreddo cheesecake with clementine and campari syrup, or Black Forest trifle, Stein’s recipes are designed to be made in the fortnight around Christmas.And it wouldn’t be Stein without some seafood too.
“Buy yourself a [oven] temperature probe to make sure you don’t overcook it. I think the safe temperature for a turkey is something like 70 degrees C. Once you start going over that, you get this problem with dry meat. “I do suggest wrapping the turkey in buttered muslin [but] it’s really about not cooking it too long.”
The gravy
“The best advice – people that I’ve mentioned it to seem a bit surprised – is don’t make your gravy at the last minute,” Stein says. “I would always buy a free-range turkey or goose, so I get the giblets, and I’m making giblet stock the day before, to make that really nice and rich.Then I get some chicken stock as well.”I start with a little bit of duck fat and put a bit of flour in (I don’t like a lot of flour in my gravy). I cook that out, then make the gravy, because then I can absolutely make sure it’s quite intensely flavoured. “The next day, I’ve got that gravy, it’s made. Just having roasted my goose or turkey, take it out and use some of the gravy to de glass the roasting tray so I get all the goodness from that [and add it in].”
Roast potatoes
The trick is to make sure you parboil the potatoes, without over-parboiling them.“I go for seven minutes in lightly salted water,” says Stein.“Seven minutes is enough if you’re using Maris Piper or King Edward, to make them a bit crumbly on the outside.“Shake the potatoes in the pan or colander to roughen up the edges a bit. I always sprinkle in a bit of polenta or semolina, to give it a bit of crumbliness. “I tend to parboil the day before, but I don’t put them back in the fridge, I just leave them out.You can really tell the difference.And I always use goose fat or duck fat to cook them. “But the secret, I think, is having a fairly firm potato and not in any way elastic. It’s got to have a sort of brittleness but not too brittle. “I’m really hot on roast potatoes because I think actually the gravy and the roast potatoes are the most important part.”
Here’s his advice for getting the meal right on the big day.
The bird
“I think Christmas is special in that it is about celebrating the same things or every year,” says Stein.“I really quite like the repetitiveness because it only comes around once a year. So turkey or goose with all the trimmings is what it’s all about. I would feel like I’d sort of let people down if it was just roast beef, even if it was absolutely wonderful roast beef.” Although Stein’s new book also has plenty of alternatives for the big day – or other days in the festive period – think venison bacon and prune shortcrust pie, glazed bone-in Christmas ham, and roast butternut squash wellington with porcini gravy. So what are the main mistakes people make with turkey? “Overcooking it,” he says.“It’s just a big chicken really.The biggest mistake is getting too nervous and overcooking it. People worry they’re going to get food poisoning if it’s
The stuffing
“I don’t tend to put stuffing in the turkey anymore, just to cook it separately, but I always do stuffing,” he says. If he’s cooking goose, Stein prefers a sage and onion stuffing to accompany it – “because goose is so rich you want something quite bland to serve with it.
Continued on following page >
mccartthyhollden..co..uk | 69
“With turkey, I tend to go for chestnut stuffing or sausage meat stuffing because turkey has got a less-rich flavour than goose. It can take a bit more flavour in the stuffing.”
Perhaps surprisingly, Stein doesn’t do sprouts with the classic chestnut and bacon combination, and prefers them alone. Stein adds:“It’s not a sort of purity. It’s the balance of the whole meal. If you put stuff with every veg, they’re just fighting against each other.” Rick Stein’s Christmas: Recipes, Memories & Stories for the Festive Season, is published in hardback by BBC Books, priced £28. Photography by James Murphy. Available now.
Brussel sprouts
“I have cut corners by buying pre-peeled from a supermarket.” He even did a test one year and bought some of each – “I tested them both and you couldn’t tell the difference.”
Photo: Rick Stein’s roast goose with sage and onion stuffing and apple sauce recipe.
70 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
clumps of fat from the inside of the goose cavity, put them into a pan and leave over a very low heat until melted. Pass the fat through a fine sieve into a bowl. Season the goose inside and out with salt and place it on a rack set over a large roasting tin. Roast for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and lower the temperature to 180°C/Fan 160°C. 2. Lift the goose on to a board with 2 wooden spoons (you don’t want to pierce the skin), pour off the excess fat from the roasting tin and then replace the goose on the rack. Keep the fat for future roast potatoes. 3. Put the goose back in the oven and roast for a further 1–1½ hours, or until the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced with a skewer and the temperature of the meat when probed in the thickest part of the thigh reaches 66°C for a minute. 4.To make the giblet stock for the gravy, fry the bacon, giblets and vegetables in a little goose fat until golden brown. Pour off the excess fat, add 1.2 litres of water, the bay leaves and peppercorns and simmer for 1 hour. Strain through a sieve and set aside. 5. For the stuffing, fry the onions in about 75g of the goose fat until soft and very lightly browned. Put the breadcrumbs, chestnuts, lemon zest, sage and parsley in a bowl, add the onions and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the beaten egg to bind the mixture together. Spoon the stuffing into a well-greased terrine dish or loaf tin, cover with a lid or foil and set aside to cook later. 6. For the apple sauce, put the prepared apples into a pan with 100ml of water and simmer for 12–15 minutes, stirring now and then, until soft. Season the sauce with a pinch of salt and keep it warm. 7.When the goose is cooked, lift it on to a board, cover it with foil and leave it to rest for at least 20 minutes. Put the stuffing in the oven and cook for 25–30 minutes. 8. Pour off most of the fat from the roasting tin, leaving about a tablespoon. Set the tin on the hob, stir in the flour and cook for a couple of minutes.Add the giblet stock and deglaze the tin by rubbing the base with a wooden spoon. Simmer for about 10 minutes, then taste to check the seasoning. Pass the gravy through a sieve into a warm gravy boat.
FOOD Recipe Goose
Rick Stein’s roast goose with sage and onion stuffing and apple sauce recipe By PA “I have probably enthused about goose elsewhere but for me, the great benefit is the roasted skin and delicious fat,” says TV chef Rick Stein. “I often think that goose is more like roast beef than poultry.The excellent goose for this photograph was supplied by Goodman’s Geese.”
Roast goose with sage and onion stuffing and apple sauce
Ingredients (Serves 8)
1 x 4.5–5kg oven-ready goose Salt and black pepper Sage and onion stuffing 3 large onions, finely chopped 75g goose fat 200g fresh white breadcrumbs 200g vacuum-packed chestnuts, chopped Finely grated zest of 1 lemon 4tbsp chopped fresh sage 3tbsp chopped parsley 1 large egg, beaten Oil, for greasing Salt and black pepper Stock/gravy 4 rashers of streaky bacon, chopped Goose giblets 1 small onion, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 2 celery sticks, chopped 2 bay leaves 6 black peppercorns 2 heaped tbsp plain flour Apple sauce
9. Serve the goose with the stuffing, apple sauce and gravy, plus roast potatoes and vegetables.
Tip: Not being a very neat carver, I like to carve in the kitchen and take the slices of goose to the table on a large, warm plate. I cut off the legs and cut each one in half, then carve the breast meat away from each side into long, thin slices.
4 Cox’s apples, peeled, cored and sliced
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 220°C/Fan 200°C. Remove any
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 71
salmon into small pieces. Spoon or pipe a teaspoon of the cream into each filo cup, then top with a piece of salmon, a caper and a sprinkle of sea salt. Rick Stein’s Christmas – Recipes, Memories & Stories for the Festive Season (£28, BBC Books) Photography by James Murphy.Available now.
FOOD Recipe Tartlets
Rick Stein’s filo tartlets with raw salmon, wasabi cream and capers By PA “I do think that cold canapés need plenty of what I can only describe as oomph and the oomph in this case comes from wasabi and white miso,” says TV chef Rick Stein. “My son Jack has introduced me to the glory of Japanese fermented soybeans in all their different guises and white miso is perfect for these tartlets as it is pale. I recommend looking out for large filo sheets, such as the Theos brand which is available in supermarkets and online.”
Filo tartlets with raw salmon, wasabi cream and capers
Ingredients (Makes 24)
2 large sheets of filo pastry (about 45 x 25cm) 30g butter, melted 150ml double cream 1½tsp white miso paste 1–2tbsp wasabi 80–90g raw salmon fillet, skinned and pin-boned 24 capers
Sea salt
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/Fan 160°C.You’ll need a 24- hole mini muffin tin.
2. Lay a sheet of filo on a board, brush it with butter, then cut the pastry into 5cm squares. Place a square into each of the 24 holes in the tin, pushing it down well. Repeat with the second sheet of filo, this time placing the squares in the tin at right angles to the first squares to create attractive star shapes. 3. Bake for 5–6 minutes until crisp and golden brown, then leave to cool.You can store the baked cases for up to 24 hours in an airtight tin. 4. For the wasabi cream, whip the cream very lightly until it is only just beginning to hold its shape – it will thicken when you stir in the seasoning. Fold in the miso paste, add a tablespoon of wasabi and taste, then add more wasabi according to your heat preference. Set aside.
Photo: Filo tartlets with raw salmon wasabi cream and ca-pers.
5.About 30 minutes (or less) before serving, cut the
72 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
and dried out. Leave them in the switched-off oven to cool completely.
FOOD Recipe Pavlova
4. For the berry sauce, blitz the fruit and sugar in a food processor, then pass it through a sieve. Store in the fridge until ready to use. It will be fine for up to 2 days if you want to prepare ahead. 5.Add the nuts to a hot dry pan and toast for a minute or so until they’ve taken on a little colour.Watch them carefully so they don’t burn. Chop the nuts and set them aside in a bowl.
Rick Stein’s hazelnut pav- lovas with white chocolate and dark berry sauce By PA “I am a bit of a purist about pavlova,” says TV chef Rick Stein.“As it is one of Australia’s classic dishes, I feel it should be made with something exotic like passion fruit, but when Andrew Sullivan, the pastry chef at The Seafood Restaurant [in Cornwall], made these I was very taken with them. I asked Andrew to send me the recipe, which was for about 50 portions of a lovely seasonal dish using cobnuts and damsons. “I have cut it back to a more manageable eight servings and made it suitable for winter by using hazelnuts and frozen berries.Thanks,Andrew.” Hazelnut pavlovas with white chocolate and dark berry sauce
6. Melt the white chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water.
7.When the meringues are completely cool, dip each one into the melted white chocolate and then into the bowl of chopped nuts. Set aside to cool on a wire rack. 8.Whip the cream until it holds its shape. Spoon a tablespoon of berry sauce on to each plate and top with a teaspoon of the cream, then place a meringue, nut side up, on top. Spoon some cream on to each meringue and use a clean measuring spoon to scoop a hollow in each dollop of cream. (Dip the spoon in water between each plate to get a clean scoop.) Spoon a little berry sauce into the hollow and top with a fresh berry and a few more nuts. Serve immediately.
Ingredients (Serves 8)
For the meringues: 4 medium egg whites 220g caster sugar 2tsp cornflour ½tsp white wine vinegar For the berry sauce: 500g frozen Black Forest berry mix, defrosted 2–3tbsp icing sugar To serve:
75g blanched hazelnuts 150g white chocolate 500ml double cream Fresh raspberries or blueberries
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 120°C/Fan 100°C. Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper.
2. In a clean, grease-free bowl, whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Gradually whisk in the caster sugar, cornflour and vinegar and continue to whisk until the mixture is thick and glossy and the beaters leave a thick ribbon trail in the mixture. 3. Spoon the meringue mixture on to the sheets to form 8 round nests about 10cm in diameter. Place in the oven and cook for about 1½ hours or until the meringues are crisp
Photo: Hazelnut pavlovas with white chocolate and dark berry sauce.
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 73
Due to the open market Spring 2026....
Anticipated 2026 Guide Price: O.I.E.O. £2,500,000 to £3.0m. Telephone 01252 842100 Finchampstead (The Ridges), Berkshire
• No Onward Chain •Almost 7,400 sq. ft. of Space • Wellington College nearby
74 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 75
Sale Agreed Going To Press....
Guide Price: Offers In Excess Of £1,275,000 Telephone 01256 704851 North Warnborough, Hampshire
• Wonderful Grounds • Superb Setting •
76 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
SALE AGREED NOVEMBER
North Warnborough, Hampshire
Character House In Prime Location
• similar property wanted •
Join the UpTick
arrange a free valuation
See the following pages for more details
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 77
Sale Agreed Going To Press....
North Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: Offers In Excess Of £1,275,000
• Swimming Pool • Five Bedrooms • Two Bathrooms •
78 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
SALE AGREED NOVEMBER
Situated within the sought after village of North Warnborough, this wonderful Grade II listed former barn was converted in the1970’s to a family home and offers a wealth of character and charm throughout. EPC n/a - Telephone 01256 704851
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 79
North Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: £795,000
• Exquisite Character • Superb Kitchen/Dining •
80 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
SOLD stc GOING TO PRESS
Beautifully presented, charming two bedroom detached home in a North Warnborough cul-de-sac. Features include air source heat pump, underfloor heating, oak flooring, exposed beams, private garden with office and further social room, barn-style carport with charging point, and allocated parking. EPC C (71) - Telephone 01256 704851
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 81
Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide: £825,000
• Exquisite Character • Superb Kitchen/Dining •
82 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Recently renovated two bedroom end of terrace cottage overlooking Hartley Wintney Cricket Green. Newly fitted kitchen, garden room with vaulted ceiling, two bathrooms, front terrace, rear 100ft garden, and driveway. Ideal blend of
modern comfort and charming views. EPC E (42) - Telephone 01252 842100
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 83
Photo: Clare and Michael Mosley from The Fast 800 Favourites by Dr Clare Bailey Mosley
84 | mccartthyhollden..co..uk
FOOD Mosley Clare Mosley: ‘Michael, in the early days, liked his chicken nuggets’
By PA
“It really happened! I was sitting at the desk where I am now, and I stood up. I was rummaging through the books at the back of the shelves and there was just this loud clunk,” says Dr Clare Bailey Mosley, remembering the day she wrote the introduction to her new cookbook, The Fast 800 Favourites. “It was one of the chocolate bars he’d asked me to hide. It was a message from another world really.” She is talking about her late husband, the celebrated TV presenter, 5:2 diet and fasting pioneer and science writer Michael Mosley, who might have been committed to improving the nation’s metabolic health, but also had quite the sweet tooth. Michael, 67, died on the Greek island of Symi in June 2024, after succumbing to heat stroke while on holiday with his family. Mosley’s love for her husband of 37 years is felt on every page of The Fast 800 Favourites, which brings together dishes from the pair’s own kitchen, and from the series of Fast 800 books they co-created. “Really, it’s a tribute to Michael and the lovely recipes we put together over the years,” says Mosley, 64, who, the morning we speak, has spent “a ridiculous amount of time” going through their “really nostalgic” shared meals. “I got absorbed in them.There’s something about recipes that are so personal, and you often remember them, and they have a feel to them,” she says thoughtfully.“I’m sitting here looking at Michael’s favourite breakfast, which was chorizo omelette.That’s one he used to cook. I would come down and it would be there, ready for breakfast, which was such a treat. He didn’t do that much of the cooking, but he absolutely mastered that one.” She says it’s a recipe that defines the way they ate:“Not too starchy [or] sweet, but plenty of protein, plenty of fibre, and [a] healthy meal that keeps you full for longer.” It is how she’s almost always eaten, especially “once the children were a bit older and no longer living on chicken nuggets,” she says wryly of their four kids, now all grown up.“Michael, in the early days, liked his chicken nuggets too,” she adds with a laugh. It is also how she still cooks, even when she’s cooking for one.“I did go through a short period of buying lots of takeaways, and then I got really fed up,” she admits, which is understandable, as grief can so easily make cooking for yourself seem utterly pointless. “I could see people in the supermarket looking at my trolley sometimes, and it had completely, radically changed,” she says, but Mosley found her way back to cooking from scratch.“I feel better having eaten well. It’s been one of the things that has really kept me resilient. It’s so easy to have a glass of wine with your supper, or two glasses, and to just grab food as you pass, because why not? And this isn’t a moral thing. It’s a practical thing.When you’re not really paying attention to it, you’re not feeding your body and your brain as well as you could do, and it’s a time when you need every [bit of] resilience.” The Fast 800 Favourites is Mosley’s second recipe collection to be published this autumn, following September’s Eating Together, which focuses on healthy meals the whole family can sit down to eat as a clan.
Continued on following page >
mccartthyhollden..co..uk | 85
“There is that irony after Eating Together, that I’m not eating together, so to speak,” muses Mosley, but notes:“I have a lot of people who come through the house, which is really nice, family come and stay. People come for supper.” “I’m a big fan of promoting getting children and families around the table,” continues the retired GP, noting the many physical and psychological benefits of having dinner as a unit.“We did it as children. Michael did it with his family.And I think for us, it held us together. It was our core cement in the day.” After Michael’s death, Mosley and their children made a pact to remember him by eating together, as they did the day he disappeared.“Yes, it’s very emotional,” she says quietly.“On the other side of it, we, the family, I think, are much closer in many ways since then, but we miss him hugely.” Working on two books in such quick succession and staying busy has seemingly helped Mosley tether herself. “It’s a difficult one when you are in bereavement, you never quite get the balance right,” she says.“To be honest, I have really enjoyed working. People have said,‘It’ll catch up with you,’ and it might do, and it does at times, but I’ve had a lot of support.” Michael was dedicated to boosting peoples’ metabolic health – which, when poor, can lead to chronic conditions, such as diabetes, non-alcoholic liver disease and sleep apnoea – mainly through diet and rapid weight loss.
explains Mosley, hence the Fast 800 books, which contain healthy, balanced recipes that are low in starchy carbs, revolve around a Mediterranean-style diet, and ‘fast days’ where you consume 800-1,000 calories,“which is plenty for you to go into fat burning and lose weight, but also have some bright nutrients”. The Mosley family, in honour of Michael, have partnered with King’s College London and the Chronic Disease Research Foundation (CDRF) to advance research in this area, to help people live longer and more healthily. It’s the importance of continuing “Michael’s amazing legacy” that drives Mosley on. “He was really passionate about his work and improving the nation’s health. It felt important to do. I’m really pleased, and I feel very privileged to be carrying on his legacy, because he had such a huge impact.We had not realised quite how much an impact he had been making over the years,” she says.“The response [from people when he died] was so incredibly touching. It really did make a difference.” The Fast 800 Favourites by Dr Clare Bailey Mosley is published in hardback by Short Books, priced £26. Photography by Smith & Gilmour.Available November 20.
“It’s about how your body processes energy from food,”
86 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Page 99 Page 100 Page 101 Page 102 Page 103 Page 104 Page 105 Page 106 Page 107 Page 108 Page 109 Page 110 Page 111 Page 112 Page 113 Page 114 Page 115 Page 116 Page 117 Page 118 Page 119 Page 120 Page 121 Page 122Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator