IN THE
The Property & Lifestyle Magazine COUNTRY & TOWN June 2023
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 1 cover photo © JohnJoe photography
Within This Issue...
57. The pests you really don’t want invading your garden and how to deter them
36. Joanna Vanderham and Dougray Scott on Irvine Welsh’s latest drama, Crime
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70. Five minutes with… Maryland’s Suranne Jones
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44
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45
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A collection of exquisite properties and engaging editorial
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43
76. It happened today – June 22-28
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20
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50.Andi Oliver’s tea-brined spiced barbecue chicken recipe
40.The Pepperpot Diaries: Stories From My Caribbean Table by Andi Oliver
48.Andi Oliver’s coconut and lime cheesecake recipe
40.Andi Oliver’s aromatic shrimp curry recipe
73-76. All of the star cars to look out for in the new Fast X film By Ted Welford, PA Motoring reporter
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 5
IN THE COUNTRY &TOWN Welcome to
Creating the inspiration to move
Summer House Moving Activity In Full Swing!
In this magazine edition we are pleased to show a selection of properties from £375,000 to £3.0m., so we hope you will enjoy exploring the pages which showcase some of the finest properties available on the open market.
One of the properties new to the market in recent days can be seen on page 10 , which is a superb house with a glorious garden which hasn’t even gone live on the open market yet so a real In The Country & Town exclusive preview.
If you are in the market for a project, then take a look at the challenge and opportunity on page 23 with a detached house up for sale at a guide price of £500,000. Alternatively, if your desire is for a country house in Finchampstead Berkshire, then go straight to pages 12 and 26 where we are showcasing two highly individual properties with £2.500m. and 2.995m. guide prices.
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 top chef and Great British Menu host Andi Oliver on pages 40,48 and 50, an interview with Suranne Jones on page 70, some interesting insight into the pests you really don’t want invading your garden and how to deter them on page 57 and Joanna Vanderham and Dougray Scott talk about the “dark, dark world” of Irvine Welsh’s latest drama, Crime on pages 36 and 37. For the car enthusiast we have a slightly different take on motoring this month on pages 73 to 76.
Suranne Jones
Andi Oliver
Dr Andrew Salisbury RHS
House Market Insight - Resilience, Resilience, Resilience
During every month in 2023 when we start to write about the house market for this magazine, we expect to be reporting a house market in trouble because of the relentless UK media reporting of house prices falling and interest rates rising.The facts and experience from the shop floor is of a house market showing remarkable resilience half way through 2023. Yes house prices have levelled off and in some sectors there has been a small reduction in values, however this is minimal and the buyer demand remains very good. House sellers are now more realistic on price if they are serious about moving home, so we have a more balanced market with buyers and sellers more aligned on pricing, which in some part has impacted on the fact that house sales productivity at McCarthy Holden are performing better than last year. When the Nationwide recently reported the annual rate of house price growth as -2.7% in April and to -3.4% to end of May, we need to remember that these sums represent the UK wide position, so in our area of operation in the Hampshire / Surrey / Berkshire borders house prices have held up well with some sectors only slightly lower compared to a year ago. This resilience in the market is no doubt underpinned by the labour market conditions, which remain solid and also household balance sheets appear in relatively good shape because we get few if any house sales occurring because of financial stress. The residential letting market is in very good shape with plenty of tenant demand, especially around the £4,000 p.c.m. price point where properties are being snapped up by eager tenants. 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 look forward to producing the next edition of In The Country & Town in July when we will give our readers further market insight and bring you some of the finest properties for sale or to let.
John Holden - Chairman McCarthy Holden
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 7
LET AGREED GOING TO PRESS
South Warnborough, Hampshire Guide For Sale: £1,450,000 - Guide To Let:£3,950 p.c.m.
• Almost 2,700 sq.ft. • Superb Kitchen / Vast Living Space •
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Situated within the sought after village of South Warnborough, this five-bedroom detached family home has been fully refurbished and extended by the current owners to create flexible and spacious accommodation throughout. This impressive house has been finished to a high standard and benefits of this property include garage with ample driveway parking, open plan kitchen/living/dining room with bi-folding doors to the rear garden, four bathrooms, enclosed landscaped rear garden and no onward chain. LET GOING TO PRESS. EPC - Telephone 01256 704851
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 9
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
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 11
Finchampstead (The Ridges), Berkshire Guide: £2,500,000
• 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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Finchampstead, Berkshire
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Guide: £2,500,000
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 15
Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £800,000
This extremely well-presented five bedroom property is situated on the popular Ancells Farm development in Fleet, and has benefitted from both a rear extension and a loft conversion, offering generous family accommodation.
EPC E (53) – Telephone 01252 620640
• Five Bedrooms • Vast Kitchen • Exquisite Interior •
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Church Crookham, Hampshire Guide: £830,000
This attractive four bedroom detached family home is situated in a popular residential area of Fleet within easy access of the town centre and Fleet mainline railway station. The generous size accommodation includes a 21ft living room and 19ft kitchen/breakfast room as well as three doubles and one single bedroom. EPC D (64) – Telephone 01252 620640
• Four Bedrooms (en-suite to main) • Excellent Garden • Kitchen / Breakfast Room •
mccartthyhollden..co..uk | 17
LET AGREED GOING TO PRESS
Fleet (The Blue Triangle), Hampshire Guide: TO LET £4,000 p.c.m. (plus fees)
• Wonderful Interior • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Sought After Location •
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A distinctive and deceptiously spacious four bedroom detached family home approached over a private (shared access) driveway, situated in a sought-after area of Fleet known as The Blue Triangle. The vast ground floor area comprises of entrance hallway, cloakroom, living room, dining room, orangery/family room with log burner and doors opening out to the garden.The kitchen is fitted with a range of units, including double oven, dishwasher and integrated wine cooler. A central island with seating provides a sociable centre piece, with an additional dining area and double doors leading out to the garden.The separate utility contains appliances and storage with a door leading to the side of the property. The first floor is of equal merit, providing four double bedrooms.The main bedroom is complemented with an ensuite shower room whilst the three further bedrooms are served by a family bathroom. EPC D (58) - Telephone 01252 622550
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 19
North Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: £750,000
• Exquisite Interior • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Four Bedrooms + Three Bathrooms •
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This beautifully presented detached family home is situated in the sought after village of North Warnborough. Wesleyan, a former church, is a truly unique home offering a stylish finish boasting a blend of contemporary with character. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, kitchen/living/dining room, garden and parking. EPC D (57) - Telephone 01256 704851
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 21
Farnham, Surrey Guide: Offers Over £600,000
Situated within a sought-after cul-de-sac location within Badshot Lea, Farnham, this four-bedroom link detached family home has been extended to create flexible and spacious accommodation throughout. Benefits to this property include a garage with driveway parking, enclosed rear garden, a wonderful 22ft kitchen/breakfast room. EPC C (71) – Telephone 01256 704851
• No Onward Chain • Vast 22 ft. Kitchen • Four Bedrooms •
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OFFERS WELL ABOVE GUIDE Already Submitted
Odiham, Hampshire Guide: Offers In Excess Of £500,000
Situated within close proximity of Odiham High Street, this three bedroom detached home which requires full renovation throughout, is offered to the market with scope to extend or develop STPP. Benefits include ample driveway parking, enclosed rear garden, kitchen/breakfast room and no onward chain. EPC D (60) - Telephone 01256 704851
• Refurbishment Opportunity • Good Size Plot • Three Bedrooms •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 23
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
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 25
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
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 29
Hook, Hampshire Guide: Offers In Excess Of £800,000
• Exquisite Interior • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Four Bedrooms •
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This delightful four bedroom detached thatched period cottage offers a wealth of character and charm and is ideally situated within close proximity of the centre of the desirable village of Hook. The property further benefits from 2 reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room and externally; spacious garden, outbuildings and driveway parking. Telephone 01256 704851
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 31
Ed Sheeran taps into his pain to produce something special on Subtract By Alex Green, PA
He also faced a copyright battle over his 2017 hit Shape Of You and although he won that he then found himself in court in the US over a similar case that was ultimately also unsuccessful. This is by no means a perfect album but Sheeran, assisted by Aaron Dessner of The National – who helped Taylor Swift produce her two lauded lockdown albums, manages to tap into something truly novel. Tracks like Dusty are inspired by his morning routine with his daughter Lyra, while Eyes Closed tackles his intense grief following the death of Edwards. Sheeran’s skill as a commercial songwriter tends to smooth out the sharper edges of such tracks, despite their inherent rawness.
Subtract is billed as the most personal album Ed Sheeran has ever released.
The singer may be best known for his ability to crank out chart-dominating love songs that feel universal.
But this, the final part of his album series inspired by the mathematical symbols, is deeply personal.
It was written against a backdrop of perhaps the most difficult year of his life, in which his pregnant wife was diagnosed with a tumour and his close friend, Jamal Edwards, died.
This is a shame, but Subtract remains by far Sheeran’s best album.
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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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SOLD stc JUNE
Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire (SOLD stc going to press) Guide: £1,350,000
• Five Bedrooms • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Around 2,600 sq.ft. •
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Constructed in 1996 by the private builder Randall Developments, this substantial five bedroom detached family home offers 2,600 ft of flexible accommodation and is situated in a favourable position within the prestigious Blue Triangle area of Fleet. There are five bedrooms and family bathroom on the first floor. Three of the bedrooms have fitted wardrobes and two of the rooms have en-suite facilities including bedroom one which has both a bath and free standing shower. EPC D (66) - Telephone 01252 620640
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 35
Photo: ©ITV/Buccaneer Media/Off Grid Film and TV
Based on Welsh’s 2008 novel of the same name, Crime – the sequel to his earlier novel Filth – follows team DI Ray Lennox (played by the Emmy nominated Dougray Scott) and the newly promoted DS Drummond, as they investigate a schoolgirl’s abduction. But in true drama fashion, the twists and turns keep coming as Lennox, desperate to know what happened to this child, wrestles with inner demons driven by his troubled past and long-kept secrets. “If you were to describe Lennox, I think you would call him some sort of very rough, fragile, avenging angel who is determined to give a voice to those people who don’t have a voice in society, and to protect the vulnerable,” offers Scott, 57, who has been working on producing the series for a decade. “Stuff happened to him as a kid and so he went into becoming a copper because he felt that was the best way to avenge what happened to him as a child,” he explains. “So what makes him a great copper also makes him a bad copper: he’s impetuous, he works off the cuff, he works on instinct. He’s left field – he’ll go down alleyways that no-one else will go down in order to try and find the solution or the answer.
Joanna Vanderham and Dougray Scott on the “dark, dark world” of Irvine Welsh’s latest drama, Crime By Gemma Dunn, PA Entertainment Reporter
To be cast in an Irvine Welsh drama was a “pinch-me moment”, says Joanna Vanderham.
The actress plays DS Amanda Drummond in the Scottish novelist’s latest page-to-screen adaptation, Crime, a six-part psychological procedural thriller – coming to ITVX – that begets a battle for the soul. “Being Scottish, he’s just such an icon!” quips the 32-year- old, who was born in Perth, Scotland, and grew up in Scone and Dundee. “I was first introduced to his work through Trainspotting the film, and then I went back to the books. I was like,‘Who is this? What is this? This is incredible!’” she remembers. “And when I was at drama school, they made us do the famous ‘Choose Life’ monologue from the film.“So, to now get to reclaim it, and do it properly and to really be working on his work the way that he wanted it done feels so special.”
“Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t work. But he’s deeply passionate about what he does.”
On the other foot, “My character wants to do everything
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by the book, because she hasn’t spent much time with people, working on real crimes,” compares The Runaway star,Vanderham.“So together, they battle over the best way to solve a crime. “Eventually they start to see the light in each other’s practices, but it does take a minute for them to find their footing together,” she muses, “Which was fun to play. It’s that back and forth of, what am I going to do versus what are you going to do?” It was important that Drummond comes into her own, especially as “she doesn’t really feature that heavily in the novel”, reasons Vanderham, whose co-stars also include the brilliant John Simm and Ken Stott.“She features in Filth, so I read that, but she’s mainly talked about from a man’s point of view, rather than from her own perspective.” Representing her character, then, in a male-dominated space, was crucial. “It’s a big responsibility, because it is incredibly topical right now, and I felt like I wanted to do that justice,” she says.“But what’s interesting about Lennox is that he isn’t necessarily the dinosaur that she thinks he is. “They learn from each other quite quickly and she doesn’t feel that she always has to beat the feminist drum with him, which I found refreshing.” As for the heavy, all-consuming storyline – one of which Vanderham admits some friends refused to watch – it was a case of reading up on similar harrowing crimes for both her and Scott.“It was as cheery as you can imagine…” she states. “But the thing that stuck with me is that a sane person, such as myself, tries to find a rhyme and reason.We try and think, ‘Well, [child murderers] must be behaving like this because of XYZ’ and try to find a pattern. And actually, there very often isn’t one.“That’s because they aren’t sane people, they aren’t thinking logically like a normal person would.And that was something I had to wrap my head around.” “I am a bit of a geek when it comes to research,” adds A Town Called Malice star, Scott. “For years I’ve watched documentaries on serial killers. But obviously, for this, I’ve visited that whole dark, dark world. And I have this
guy who I’ve spoken to a lot, Ian, who is an ex-policeman; he’s an adviser on the show. So, I went through everything procedural with him.” The light relief came in Scott and Vanderham’s off-camera relationship, the pair confirm, which Vanderham praises for laughs and much-needed “companionable silence”. “We had long days where it was just the two of us in a car or in an office, and it could get exhausting if you felt like you always had to be on,” she notes. “And so there was a real peace that came with just having some quiet time.” “It did take me quite a long time to leave [the part] behind,” she follows.“I wasn’t sleeping terribly well, but I feel like that plays into the character because she seems like she’s got it all figured out, but as the series goes on, we realise that she’s this complicated person who’s also hiding something.
“So I hope it worked. I hope I didn’t just look like a tired actress.”
She must have been doing something right as a second series has been commissioned and filmed, with Vanderham and Scott once again leading a stellar line-up of Scottish talent including Stott, who will reprise his role as Chief Superintendent Bob Toal. “I was thrilled when we when we found out [about the second series] because my character’s personal life is hinted at in the first, but in the second, we really delve into what’s going on when she’s not at work,” teases Vanderham. “It explains so much of why she is the way she is, and then it starts to explore the power dynamics, which is also really topical.” As for a third run? “I would love a third season because I think that there’s potential for everything to get even more crazy!” she finishes, laughing.
“Irvine’s already written it; we just need to convince everyone else…”
Crime was available to stream on ITVX from May 11th.
Photo: ©ITV/Buccaneer Media/Off Grid Film and TV
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 37
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/Andi Oliver
Andi Oliver’s aromatic shrimp curry recipe By Katie Wright, PA “This is one of those brilliant I-can’t-believe-it-was-so-quick dishes that comes together in under an hour,” says chef and Great British Menu host Andi Oliver.
For the green seasoning marinade:
2 jalapeños, or other chillies of your choice, finely chopped
“The fragrant broth is packed with succulent prawns.”
2tbsp chopped chives
Aromatic shrimp curry
1tbsp green seasoning (see below)
Ingredients (Serves 4):
Pinch each of salt and freshly ground black pepper
450g king prawns, peeled and deveined
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For the curry sauce:
2tbsp sugar (demerara or dark soft brown sugar work best)
1tbsp rapeseed oil
2tsp coriander seeds
2 onions, very thinly sliced
2tsp ground allspice
2 garlic cloves, grated
2tbsp green seasoning
1 red chilli, chopped
Airtight jar or container
2tsp ground cumin
Method:
2tsp ground coriander
1. To make the green seasoning, add all the ingredients to a food processor and season to taste with salt and pepper. Whizz to the consistency of a salsa verde and keep in an airtight jar in the fridge for up to two to three weeks. 2. To make the tamarind chutney, put all the ingredients into a small saucepan with 80 millilitres of water. Set over a medium–low heat and warm through, stirring now and again, until everything is melted and combined. Leave to cool, then transfer to a sealed jar or container and store in the fridge to use as needed. The chutney should keep well for three to four weeks. 2. Put the prawns in a medium bowl and add all the marinade ingredients. Mix well and rub the marinade into the prawns with your hands so that all the prawns are well coated. Refrigerate and leave to marinate for about 20 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, to make the curry sauce, get a medium, high sided frying pan over a low–medium heat and pour in the oil.When the oil is hot, add the onions and cook down for 10–15 minutes until soft and fragrant. Add the garlic and chilli and cook for a further three minutes. 4. Add the cumin, coriander, turmeric, curry powder, and cinnamon to the pan and cook, stirring, for one minute.Add the tamarind chutney, chopped tomato, coconut milk and 350 millilitres of water. Bring to a steady simmer for five minutes. 5. Heat a griddle pan or a heavy-based frying pan until red hot, then chuck on the marinated prawns, cooking on each side for around two minutes until nicely charred all over. Transfer the prawns to the curry sauce and simmer for around four minutes to bring it all together. Finish the curry with a sprinkling of some freshly chopped coriander and/or chillies. Serve with roti or plain or coconut rice. The Pepperpot Diaries: Stories From My CaribbeanTable by Andi Oliver is published by DK, priced £27. Photography by Robert Billington.Available now. Andi Oliver’s coconut and lime cheesecake recipe P.48 Her tea-brined spiced barbecue chicken recipe P.50 Andi Oliver on turning 60 P.52
2tsp ground turmeric
2tbsp Caribbean curry powder
1tsp ground cinnamon
1tbsp tamarind chutney (see below)
1 tomato, finely chopped
1 x 400ml can of coconut milk
Chopped coriander and/or fresh chilli, to serve
For the green seasoning:
2 sprigs of thyme
10g fresh bay leaves
1 small bunch of flat-leaf parsley
1 small bunch of coriander
4 spring onions
10 garlic cloves, peeled
1 green chilli or 1 Scotch bonnet, depending on how much heat you like
6 little Caribbean seasoning peppers (about 20g), or a mix of red, yellow, and/or green mini sweet peppers
½ white onion
400ml cold pressed rapeseed oil or any neutral oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the tamarind chutney:
4tbsp tamarind paste
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 41
Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide: £850,000
This generously proportioned four bedroom chalet style bungalow is set in a quiet rural position in the sought after hamlet of West Green, just outside of Hartley Wintney village in Hampshire. EPC D (68) - Telephone 01252 842100
• Sought After Location • Southerly Rear Garden • Superb Kitchen / Diner •
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Rotherwick, Hampshire Guide: £950,000
Offering spacious accommodation, this 3/4 bedroom detached bungalow is situated in a plot of around a third of an acre in a quiet semi rural village location. Having been reconfigured and modernised in recent years the house now offers flexible, open plan living. EPC D (58) – Telephone 01252 842100
• Beautiful Interior • Sought After Location • Grounds of c. 1/3 rd Acre •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 43
Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide: £550,000
A charming three bedroom semi-detached cottage in the centre of the Hampshire village of Hartley Wintney. Having just undergone complete refurbishment this property offers a unique opportunity to purchase a fine home in a highly desirable location. EPC D (56) - Telephone 01252 842100
• Sought After Location • Superbly Refurbished • Superb Kitchen / Diner •
South Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: £1,100,000
A generous and flexible detached family home set in beautiful grounds located in a cul-de-sac within the desirable village of South Warnborough. Benefits to the property include: four/five bedrooms, three/four reception rooms, garden room, utility room and externally; garden, double garage, driveway parking and solar panels. EPC D (67) – Telephone 01256 704851
• Beautiful Interior • Sought After Location • Countryside Views •
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 45
Winchfield, Hampshire Guide: £1,250,000
• Exquisite Interior • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Four Bedrooms + Two Bathrooms •
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A fine country residence in the centre of a converted and re-developed Victorian workhouse, where many original features have been restored and recreated to provide a sense of grandeur and space. The vast entrance hall accessed from the central main front door opens to an inner hallway with oak parquet flooring and equally impressive ceiling heights.There is around 3,326 sq. ft of beautiful space, with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and fine reception rooms on the ground floor. EPC D - Telephone 01252 842100
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 47
For the filling:
280g full-fat cream cheese
4tbsp coconut condensed milk
200ml coconut milk
150ml cream
Grated zest and juice of 2 limes
100g white chocolate, melted
For the topping:
1 fresh coconut
1tbsp maple syrup
Grated zest of 1 lime
1 fresh mango, peeled, cored, and diced
22–24cm fluted tart tin, base lined with baking parchment
PAPhoto/Robert Billington
Method:
1. Put all the biscuits in a sealable food bag and bash them up to fine crumbs using a rolling pin or similar.Tip the crumbs into a bowl and mix with the toasted coconut, melted butter, and salt. Press into the bottom and sides of the tart tin and chill in the fridge for one hour or until set. 2. Combine all the filling ingredients, apart from the chocolate, in a large mixing bowl. Beat together using an electric hand whisk until smooth and slightly thickened. Mix through the melted white chocolate. Spoon the filling on top of the set base and chill for a couple of hours in the fridge until set (do note that this cheesecake has quite a soft-set finish).
Andi Oliver’s coconut and lime cheesecake recipe By Katie Price, PA “The first sweet things I ever made were cheesecakes – they provide endless opportunities to explore flavour and are easy peasy!” says chef and Great British Menu host Andi Oliver. “This particular iteration brings together the creaminess of white chocolate with toasty coconut and vibrant lime to sublime effect. Not too sweet, just right.”
3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180°C fan.
4. Crack open the fresh coconut and peel off flakes of the flesh using a vegetable peeler.You want about two handfuls in total. Toss the flakes in the maple syrup and half of the lime zest on a baking tray, then toast in the preheated oven for around 10 minutes until crisp. Leave to cool, then top the cheesecake with the toasted coconut. 5. Mix together the diced mango and remaining lime zest and serve a little spoon of this alongside slices of cheesecake, or pile it on top of the cheesecake as well. The Pepperpot Diaries: Stories From My CaribbeanTable by Andi Oliver is published by DK, priced £27. Photography by Robert Billington.Available now.
Coconut and lime cheesecake (Serves 12)
For the base:
100g gingernut biscuits
100g oat biscuits, such as Hobnobs
50g desiccated coconut
120g melted unsalted butter
Pinch of salt
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SOLD stc JUNE
Odiham, Hampshire Guide: £975,000
Situated within close proximity of Odiham High Street, within a cul-de-sac location offering fantastic views over the deer park, this extended four/five bedroom detached family home offers spacious and flexible accommodation throughout. Benefits to this property include a double garage with driveway parking, four/five reception rooms, a beautifully presented landscaped rear garden and no onward chain. EPC C (74) – Telephone 01256 704851
• Four/Five Bedrooms • Double Garage • Superb Garden •
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PAPhoto/Robert Billington
For the final glaze:
Andi Oliver’s tea-brined spiced barbecue chicken recipe By Katie Price, PA “To brine or not to brine, that is the question. I would say I’m firmly on the side of brine,” says chef and Great British Menu host Andi Oliver. “It means you start to pack in the flavour early on and it really does bring a succulence to the meat.This recipe uses an Earl Grey tea brine, which holds the citrus flavour of bergamot at its heart.”
1tbsp tamarind concentrate 1tbsp molasses 1tsp sugar of your choice 100ml chicken stock
Method:
1. First, make your tea brine. Put the Earl Grey tea bags, clementine peel, thyme, sugar, and salt in a pot that is large enough to hold your chicken. Cover with the boiling water, stir a little to help dissolve the sugar and salt and allow to cool.Take the two lemon halves and rub them all over the chicken. 2. Now, put the chicken into the brine mixture, making sure it’s covered by the liquid. Place in the fridge and leave for a minimum of four hours, or even better, overnight. In the morning (or after four hours), blitz together all the ingredients for the seasoning paste in a food processor to make a thick paste. 3. Remove the chicken from the brine, pat it dry and add to a large bowl with the seasoning paste. Give the chicken a good rub all over with the paste, making sure it’s completely coated. Leave to marinate in the fridge for at least one hour, ideally three hours or even a bit longer if you have time. 4. Heat the barbecue to a high heat.When it’s hot, sear the chicken all over to give it a nice bit of colour, then reduce the heat if using a gas barbecue, or move over indirect heat for charcoal. Cook the chicken low and slow for about 40 minutes with the lid closed, turning occasionally, and brushing the meat with more of the spice paste as you go. Meanwhile, combine all the ingredients for the final glaze together in a saucepan. Set over a medium heat and bubble until thickened. 5. Brush the glaze over the chicken for the final 10 minutes of cooking, turning the chicken over often and making sure the glaze covers every part.When the juices of the chicken run clear, the chicken is cooked. Brush one last time with the glaze, remove from the heat and rest for about 20 minutes.
Tea-brined spiced barbecue chicken (Serves 6)
Ingredients:
6 chicken thighs, skin on and bone in and 6 chicken drumsticks, skin on and bone in. Plus 1 lemon, halved
For the brine:
3 Earl Grey tea bags Peeled skin from 2 clementines 2 sprigs of thyme, leaves picked 2½tsp sugar of your choice
13⁄4tbsp table salt 1 litre boiling water
For the seasoning paste:
6 spring onions, roughly chopped 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1½tbsp rapeseed oil 2tsp ground cumin 2tsp paprika 1tsp cayenne pepper Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
50 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
SOLD stc JUNE
Odiham, Hampshire Guide: £595,000
Situated within close proximity of the desirable Odiham village centre, this well-presented four bedroom detached family home, which has been updated by the current owners, is located in a prime cul-de-sac location with far- reaching views over the Deer Park. Benefits to the property include; four bedrooms, family bathroom, kitchen, living/ dining room, conservatory and externally; driveway parking, a garage, garden, office/summer house. EPC E (52) – Telephone 01256 704851
• Four Bedrooms • Overlooking Deer Park • Office / Summerhouse •
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out of the lesson,” she says, chuckling at the memory.
Andi Oliver on turning 60 and channelling her anger into power By Katie Price, PA Andi Oliver was already whipping up cauliflower cheese at the age of seven, and could make a full roast dinner by the time she turned nine. So when she witnessed a home economics teacher pouring a packet of rice into a big, bubbling pan of water, leaving it to simmer then straining and rinsing it, she was puzzled to say the least.
“I had to stand in the hallway. I was like,‘What is she doing to the rice?’”
Not that this incident derailed the culinary career of the 59-year-old chef, restauranteur and Great British Menu host, who was born in Kent and has lived in East London for 25 years. Oliver was taught to cook by her mother, who was born on the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts (her father hails from Antigua – the pair met in Leicester). Soon, she was in charge of dishing up dinner for herself and older brother Sean, who died of sickle cell anaemia in 1990, aged 27.
“I was like,‘That’s not how you cook rice’.And I got kicked
52 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
though it may be, is right there in your face.”
“My mum was a teacher and my dad was off working and having philandering affairs, so when I came home from school I would make the tea for me and my brother.”
And she’s keen to talk:“I think if you bring those things out into the light and discuss them we can divest ourselves of the pain of them and try to move forward in our lives.” Having experienced racism from a young age (“I’ve been told by people in England my whole life to ‘go home’, even though I was born here”), Oliver went through a “big angry phase” in her 20s.
Describing herself as a “latchkey kid”, Oliver doesn’t think she had a difficult childhood.
“That’s just how it was,” she says, as warm and jovial during our chat as she is on TV.
“I didn’t feel bad about it. I didn’t sit around wondering where my mummy was. It was just, that was life, that’s what you did, you got on with it.” Nor was she devastated when her parents eventually separated: “I was thrilled! I was delighted. They didn’t get on, they used to fight all the time. It was awful, so they were both much better when they weren’t together.” Oliver and her partner – restauranteur Garfield Hackett, with whom she shares daughter Miquita, the TV presenter – are still going strong after more than 27 years together. “The kindest man I know and my partner in life and all things” is how she describes Hackett in her inaugural cookbook, The Pepperpot Diaries. An ode to Caribbean cookery, as well as detailing essential eats, the book also chronicles three months Oliver spent in Antigua – a trip which started at Christmas 2019 and had to be extended (“the best luck in the world”) when lockdown began. How would the chef – known for her colourful outfits and infectious grin – describe the region’s cusine to the uninitiated? “The legacy in each island is very different,” she says. “But there are basic things like rice and peas, curry chicken and fried plantain, curry goat or goat water [a type of stew], fried fish.
“When I was younger, my anger and my fury used to work against me quite a lot,” she reflects.
“But now, as an adult woman who’s about to turn 60 I understand who I am and my power and where I come from and where I belong – where I have the right to be and where I want to be.”
How did that angry youngster harness those emotions and channel them into a more positive outcome?
“Age! Age helps enormously because you have so many different experiences.You start to learn that unbridled fury is in fact giving away your power,” she says. “You need to redirect it so that it becomes your strength, becomes the fuel and the fire that drives you – not the storm that wearies you.” The Pepperpot Diaries: Stories From My CaribbeanTable by Andi Oliver is published by DK, priced £27. Photography by Robert Billington.Available now.
“One of the things I really hope [with this book] is that people start to think about that difference and celebrate it.”
Even the classic titular dish – a slow cooked stew made with smoked beef and pork, veggies and beans – varies from island to island:“There’s a Guyanese pepperpot that’s a completely different dish to the Antiguan dish. And then they don’t really make pepperpot in Jamaica.” In her diary entries, the author doesn’t shy away from discussing the tragic history of the Caribbean, explaining how slavery influenced the islands’ food heritage.
“You can’t really be in the Caribbean without thinking about those things,” Oliver says. “The legacy of that past, dark
mccarthyholden.co.uk | 53
SOLD stc JUNE
Long Sutton, Hampshire Guide: £975,000
Situated within the sought after village of Long Sutton, this five-bedroom family home is set in an exclusive cul-de- sac location comprising of just five houses.The Granary at the Oasts is a refurbished original granary which offers spacious and flexible accommodation throughout. Benefits to this property include refitted double glazed windows, a spacious 853sq. f.t garage over two floors.There is a paddock area which measures just under one acre. EPC C (76) - Telephone 01256 704851
• One Acre Paddock • Five Bedrooms • Superb Kitchen / Diner •
54 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Ewshot, Surrey Guide: £575,000
Situated within the sought after village of Ewshot, up a quiet picturesque lane, this two bedroom end of terrace cottage has been updated by the current owners to create flexible and spacious accommodation throughout. Benefits to this property include ample driveway parking, a stunning refitted kitchen, limestone flooring on the ground floor, two bathrooms and elevated views across the countryside. EPC C (75) – Telephone 01256 704851
• Countryside Views • Re-Fitted Kitchen • Re-Fitted Bathroom •
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The pests you really don’t want invading your garden and how to deter them By Hannah Stephenson, PA
As responsible gardeners with positive attitudes to insects and biodiversity, it’s a bitter pill to swallow when vine weevil, carrot fly and aphids take hold – let alone the processionary moth caterpillar which can cause rashes and breathing difficulties. Dr Andrew Salisbury, RHS principal entomologist, says:“We don’t want to automatically label things as pests, because as soon as you do that people think they have to control it.
“But sometimes some of the creatures in our garden do damage our plants beyond the level of damage we can accept.”
Oak processionary moth
Photo: Dr Andrew Salisbury RHS principal entomologist
The Forestry Commission has warned of a toxic caterpillar which can cause rashes and strip native oak trees of their leaves.
Salisbury explains:“The oak processionary [moth] caterpillars can cause rashes and breathing difficulties and it’s now widespread in London and some of the surrounding areas.” They are most active in June, July and August, when the caterpillars form processions up the tree trunk and create a nest of white silk. Don’t touch the hairy caterpillars as they can cause reactions.
Solution:“If you have it on an oak in your garden, you need to seek professional advice,” Salisbury warns.
An information leaflet is available through forestresearch.gov.uk.
Vine weevil
If your patio pot plant suddenly wilts and collapses, and you examine it to find there’s little root left, it’s likely to be vine weevil larvae, which are laid by the adult beetle and feed off the underground roots in autumn through to spring – often until there’s nothing left.Their favourites include
Photo: oak processionary moth caterpillars
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heucheras, cyclamen, sedum and young yew – and it is generally plants in pots which suffer most damage.
“Vine weevil is there in people’s gardens in the open ground, but usually there are enough natural enemies to keep it in check,” he says.The adults feed on thick-leaved evergreen shrubs like rhododendron, eating the outside of leaves.
Solution: By June the damage has been done and there’s little you can do. However, nematodes (tiny microscopic worms that attack, invade and kill target species) offer biological control to eliminate the grubs.Apply a nematode solution to your pots in late summer/early autumn, which should solve the problem, he suggests.
Photo: adult vine weevil
Aphids
There are more than 500 species of aphid in the UK, including greenfly and blackfly, and their population expands rapidly.You’ll see them on the stems of many plants up to the flowers, sometimes resulting in the plant’s loss of vigour. “They breed faster than their natural enemies can catch up with them,” Salisbury explains.“There’s an endless list of enemies – many different species of wasps, beetles and ladybirds, lacewing and hoverfly larvae all eat them, as well as bluetits. “They tend to breed and get into high numbers in early spring. If you get through spring, by the time you get to mid-June and July, then those natural enemies really do their job and can wipe out aphids.”
Photo: aphids on a rose bud
Solution:As soon as you see them, put on a pair of gardening gloves and remove them with your fingers, running them up the stem.
Carrot root fly
It looks like a housefly but it’s the larvae – yellow-white maggots – which do the damage, burrowing into the carrot and leaving it inedible. It also feeds on related vegetables including parsnips, celery and celeriac.
There are two generations a year (spring and autumn) and the carrot fly is attracted to the smell of the leaves of the plant.
Solution:“Grow your carrots under insect-proof mesh,” Salisbury advises. Choose varieties which are less susceptible to carrot fly, like ‘Fly Away’, ‘Maestro’,‘Resistafly’ and ‘Sytan’.You could also companion plant pungent crops such as onion and garlic between rows, to put them off the scent. And grow them in raised beds, as it is said that the fly can’t fly very high.
Photo: carrot root fly on a carrot
58 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
Slugs and snails
As any gardener will know, slugs and snails can chomp through leaves and flowers at an alarming rate, often after rain or at night when it’s cooler.
“They are our number one inquiry in the entomology section of the RHS, but not all slugs and snails like to eat fresh plant material.There are more than 30 species in the UK and many of those feed on dead material,” he explains.
“But if you’ve got hostas in a nice damp patch in the garden, they will damage them.They also damage potatoes.”
Solution:“Accept there may be some damage and have some tolerance of a few leaf holes. If they are being very badly damaged in parts of the garden, consider planting plants which are less likely to be eaten by slugs and snails.
Photo: slug on a rhubarb leaf
“There are barriers out there to deter them, but we have found they are generally not as good as they could be,” he says.
You could also create a haven for wildlife, such as a pond, to attract their natural enemies such as frogs and birds. Handpicking them off in the evening, or after rainfall, is among the best solutions.
Box tree moth
The black-headed, greenish-yellow caterpillars of these moths can completely defoliate your box, working within white webbing which is visible on the plant.They are most active between April and October.The adult moth has often white wings with a brown border, although the wings can be completely brown. Plants will show patches of dieback.
“It’s particularly difficult to deal with, it’s relatively new to the country, it’s spreading and it can strip box plants, with two generations a year,” Salisbury warns.
Solution: Check plants frequently in spring onwards before the damage is done, picking off any caterpillars you see. Alternatively, choose alternative hedging and topiary plants such as yew.
Photo: box tree caterpillar
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Eversley, Hampshire Guide: £1,350,000
• Four Bedrooms • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Village Centre Location •
60 | mccarthyholden.co.uk
A unique four bedroom detached character property situated in the heart of Eversley Village. Built in 1812 and extended and modernised throughout, the property offers modern living, stunning interior design and character charm. EPC D (56) - Telephone 01252 620640
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