cover photo © JohnJoe photography
COUNTRY & TOWN IN THE November 2024 The Property & Lifestyle Magazine
Property Previews INSIDE
Editorial Features INSIDE
Exceptional Properties INSIDE
NOVEMBER A Great Month For House Hunting - Get Ahead Of Next Years Stamp Duty Changes
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Showbiz: Film Gladiator | Lifestyle & Editorial | Property For Sale & To Let | Food With Kate Humble |
Within This Issue...
P.12 Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire Guide £1,750,000
P. 73 Kate Humble’s Thai- spiced fish stew recipe
P.52 Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Anticipated Guide £795,000
P.8 Riseley, Hampshire Anticipated Guide £1,400,000
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P. 71 Food - Kate Humble’s cauliflower curry recipe
P.26 Showbiz: Film Gladiator
P. 34 First Drive: Ferrari’s new 12Cilindri is a sonorous celebration of the V12 engine
P.38 Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide £1,250,000
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A collection of exquisite properties and engaging editorial
P. 62 Kate Humble: ‘We’ve become so disconnected with the whole process of food’
P.76 Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide £650,000
P.12 Guide Offers In Excess of £3.250m.
P. 80 WELLBEING Katie Boulter - ‘I’m coming out of my shell’
P. 102 Oti Mabuse: ‘I was singing through the pain’ giving birth
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P.132 SHOWBIZ - Film Paddington In Peru - Paddington in ‘much more in a position of jeopardy and risk’ as he braves the jungles of Peru
P. 110 - Tasteful Christmas décor tips for Scandi-style schemes
P. 128 - 9 ways to style your space with this season’s wintry, earthy tones
P. 40 Upton Grey, Hampshire Guide £3.0m.
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IN THE COUNTRY &TOWN Welcome to
Creating the inspiration to move
The Market
Residential Landlords Be Aware – A Change Is Coming
Since our last magazine in October, the residential property market has continued to thrive with distinct buyer demand drivers in the sub £500,000 sector and the £1.5 to £3.0m. sector. In the sub £500,000 sector there was an immediate boost in buyer demand following the recent Budget, when it was announced the favourable stamp duty relief for first- time buyers of a nil rate band up to £450,000, will change from 31 March, 2025 and will revert to £300,000. So the rush to buy in this sector is now on! At the higher end of the spectrum, the buyer drivers in the £1.5m. to £3.0m. were very much about moving out of towns and cities to enjoy a rural life.This was particularly evident in our Hartley Wintney branch where a record sales arranged was achieved with notable increased sales in the £1.5m to £2.0m sector.Typical of this activity was seen when one of our London buyers snapped up the property shown on page 50 and on which a sale was agreed on a guide of offers in excess of £2.0m.
Understanding the Renters’ Rights Bill will be an important factor of being a residential Landlord in the UK.The Renters’ Reform Bill was introduced to the UK Parliament on 11 September 2024 and if passed, the Bill will bring significant changes to the private rented sector, including the abolition of Section 21 evictions.The bill could be enacted by late summer 2025 so we recommend Landlords start to prepare now. If you are a residential Landlord or thinking about becoming one then please speak to our Lettings department (phone 01252 622550 and ask for Nicola Bremner MARLA).
The Up -Tick Continues
We hope you will enjoy this November edition of In The Country & Town, and as regular readers will know we have been reporting a resilient property market for over a year now. At McCarthy Holden the volume of unit house sales is up in 2024 and this means a house seller can be confident about securing a buyer, providing a realistic price is set to go to market with. The market up-tick is now likely to continue through to the New Year and the house market remains in good shape as we move ahead to the Autumn and Winter seasons. Our invitation to anyone thinking of selling their property is to join the up-tick with a free no obligation valuation, and discover not only the likely price you will achieve but also the level of buyer demand.
Will Interest Rates Fall Soon?
Perhaps not, well not as quickly as we had thought. In fact, mortgage rates have been rising in recent days, despite the Bank of England cutting the base rate from 5% to 4.75% on November 7, 2024. In many ways this trend is being driven by a combination of rising swap rates, increased demand for competitive products, and lenders trying to balance profitability. Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential race is also likely to have an impact on prices globally owing to his position on tariffs, and this will influence the Bank of England’s decision making in the coming months. Indicating that further mortgage rate reductions will be slow,The Office for Budget Responsibility’s most recent forecast in October 2024 was that average interest rates on the stock of mortgages are expected to rise from a low of 2% in 2021 to a peak of 4.5% in 2027 across all properties.
John Holden - Chairman McCarthy Holden
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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DUE TO THE OPEN magazine PREV
Anticipated Guide Price: £1,400,000 Telephone 01252 842100 Riseley, Hampshire
• Mature Grounds • Superb Interior •
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N MARKET SOON exclusive VI EW
See the following pages for more details
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Riseley, Hampshire Guide: 1,400,000
• High Specification Interior • Grounds Of Around ½ Acre • Sought After Location •
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An attractive thatched cottage having been recently extended and modernised throughout to create a simply stunning four bedroom family home with a masterful blend of character charm and modern style. Now with four bedrooms and three bathrooms, culminating in a master suite with Juliet balcony overlooking the landscaped garden beyond. Approached via a long tree lined gravel driveway with generous parking, nestled on the Hampshire Berkshire border in the village of Riseley, just 25 minutes by car from Reading town centre and 10 minutes from Hartley Wintney. EPC TBC - Telephone 01252 842100
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Guide Price: £1,750,000 Telephone 01252 620640 Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire
• Mature Grounds Circa One Acre • Superb Interior •
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See the following pages for more details
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Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire Guide: 1,750,000
• Five Bedrooms • Grounds Of Around 1 Acre • Sought After Location •
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This beautifully presented and well-proportioned five bedroom family home sits on a stunning one acre plot in one of the most prestigious roads in Fleet, within easy access of Fleet mainline railway station, the M3 motorway and Fleet town centre. The property is approached via double gates and is screened with well established hedging, shrubs and trees. EPC D (67) - Telephone 01252 620640
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Guide Price: £1,750,000 Telephone 01252 620640 Fleet, Hampshire
• Mature Grounds • Superb Interior •
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See the following pages for more details
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Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £1,750,000
• Five Bedrooms • Sought After Location •
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This immaculate, substantial family home occupies a delightful plot in one of Fleet’s most sought-after areas. Benefitting from five bedrooms and three reception rooms (one of which is currently used as a living/cinema room), its ideal location, close to Fleet’s mainline railway station and the town centre, EPC C (78) - Telephone 01252 620640
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Exceptional Interior Guide Price: £1,199,500 Telephone 01256 704851
• Exquisite Interior • Immense Character • Superb Location •
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See the following pages for more details >
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The Firs, Odiham, Hampshire Guide: £1,199,500
• Wonderful Interior • Sought After Location • C. One Third Acre Grounds •
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A charming well-presented four-bedroom detached family home situated on The Firs, a much sought after location on the outskirts of the desirable village of Odiham. Set within approximately 1/3 acres Clump Cottage provides flexible family living and is offered to the market with no onward chain. EPC F (29) - Telephone 01256 704851
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Church Crookham, Hampshire Guide: £925,000
Nestled within a cul-de-sac in Zebon Copse, this impressive, detached ‘Martin Grant’ home offers a spacious and versatile layout, perfect for modern family living.With over 2,700 square feet of thoughtfully designed accommodation, this property provides ample room for relaxation, entertainment, and work-from-home needs EPC C (70) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Around 2,700 sq. ft. • Excellent Kitchen / Breakfast Room •
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Crookham Village, Hampshire Guide: £425,000
Situated within the sought after Crookham Village, this two-bedroom semi-detached home is part of an exclusive development constructed by Taylor Wimpey in 2016. Offered to the market with spacious and flexible accommodation throughout, benefits to this property include driveway parking leading to a single garage, two bathrooms and an enclosed rear garden backing onto open countryside. EPC B (82) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Excellent Kitchen / Breakfast Room • Garage •
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Photo: Paul Mescal as Lucius.
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SHOWBIZ Film Gladiator Denzel Washington says ‘the sky’s the limit’ for Paul Mescal after turn in Gladiator II
By Rachael Davis, PA Entertainment Features Writer
Many cinephiles regard Ridley Scott’s Gladiator as one of their favourite movies. Collecting five Oscars – including Best Picture and Best Actor for its star Russell Crowe – and becoming the second highest grossing film in 2000, the historical epic began a new millennium of filmmaking with an unforgettable story of ambition, corruption, bloodshed and warfare in Ancient Rome.
Now, almost 25 years later, a new generation of cinema-goers are being treated to their own slice of Roman glory as Scott rebuilds the Colosseum for a monumental sequel.
Irish actor Paul Mescal, whose career has gone from strength to strength since he shot to fame in 2020’s TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People, seems to begin a new chapter of blockbuster filmmaking as he portrays Lucius – son of Crowe’s Maximus – in Gladiator II.
“When Ridley comes knocking, you just say yes,” says the 28-year-old, who was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar for 2022’s Aftersun.
“It’s definitely been a career highlight for me to watch the way the master’s brain works, and he was incredibly generous about sharing his knowledge and talent with me.”
When we meet Lucius in the sequel, which is set 15 years after Maximus’ death, he’s living with his wife and child in Numidia, far from Rome.When the Roman army invades his home, however, he’s taken prisoner and forced to fight as a gladiator, following in his father’s legendary footsteps.
Angry, exiled, abandoned, Lucius is a lost prince who finds himself wanting to destroy the city that both made him and betrayed him.
Gladiator II marks Mescal’s first foray into action blockbusters – until now, he’s been known for touching, emotional dramas like Aftersun and All Of Us Strangers – but the weight and scale of this undertaking is not lost on him.
“It holds a huge amount of weight for a vast number of people across the world, and the scale of it is huge,” Mescal says.
“It’s not like any other role I’ve played. Going from independent features to a blockbuster studio picture was intimidating, until I realised that acting is acting is acting, regardless of the context.” But it wasn’t just Scott that Mescal impressed – decorated actor Denzel Washington, widely regarded as one of the best actors of his generation, says that “the sky’s the limit” for the Irish star.“I can only imagine the pressure he felt,” says Washington, 69, who plays slave- turned-gladiator mentor Macrinus in the film.
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“I don’t know if I could have handled it, because you know you’re going to be compared – ‘Oh, it’s not like the other one’ – no matter what you do, you’re not going to be able to win.And he still won!
He envisioned 12 starving baboons being released into the arena, using stunt actors to perform the high-octane fight before using CGI to create ferocious apes. “I told our stunt coordinator, Nikki Berwick, that I was going to need some short people – no taller than 5ft 5,” Scott remembers.“I wanted them all in black with masks painted to look like baboons… We went into a full-bore battle between men and apes, then we transformed the stunt people into realistic baboons with CGI.” The lengths the crew on Gladiator II went to, to create an environment that was as immersive for the actors as it is for audiences were palpable, Denzel Washington says. “It made it easy, because everybody was in the right period gear… even one major street we had – everywhere you look was Rome.
“So good for him. Good for him! The sky’s the limit for him.”
Like its predecessor, Gladiator II is also a political drama, its thrilling fights partnered with scenes of manipulation and manoeuvring by those in want of power over Rome. Lucius’s mother Lucilla, daughter of the former emperor Marcus Aurelius, has watched Roman politics unravel, both through the rule of her brother, Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix in the 2000 film, and in the intervening years between the events of Gladiator and Gladiator II. Now Rome is under the control of Emperors Geta and Caracalla, played by Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger respectively, maniacal brothers who rule in unhinged, unpredictable ways – with the help of a pet monkey. “Marcus Aurelius was the last emperor of these four emperors who had created this absolute golden age of Rome, of enormous economic growth and lots of innovation, and even further frontiers, even more people folded in under this great idea of Rome… After the death of Commodus, she’s just watched as one charlatan after another has taken over,” says Connie Nielsen, 59, who reprises the role of Lucilla. “The Praetorian Guard is basically auctioning off the rights to the kingdom, so to speak, to whoever pays the most to them.And so what you have is this absurd mirror of what Rome was supposed to be.” Because of its political through-line, it almost feels like an understatement to call Gladiator II an action film. Peppered with emotion, psychology, and historical drama, it’s got a real weight to it – a weight only made stronger by the incredibly inventive set pieces of a scale that can only come from the mind of Ridley Scott.As Washington says, describing the feeling on set,“it was watching a master orchestrate a masterpiece”. One such scene is a gripping mano a mano arena fight between the gladiators and gigantic, terrifying baboons – a scene which, Scott says, was actually inspired by a video of a real-life baboon attack on tourists in South Africa.
“No green screen, horses kicking up the dust, and people begging – just like America!” he jokes.
“Being on set with thousands of soldiers in beautiful costumes and brilliant colours, and swords, and shields, and horses made this seem like more than a movie for me,” continues Washington, who describes Gladiator II as the biggest film he’s ever been on.
“It’s a world unto itself. People are going to be blown away by what they see.”
Gladiator II is in UK cinemas on Friday, November 15.
“It was absolute chaos,” says the South Shields-born director, 86, of the attack that inspired his arena brawl.
“Baboons are carnivores.They will attack people and they’re about 40 pounds of solid muscle.They can rip a person’s arm off.”
Photo: Connie Nielsen as Lucilla.
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Photo: Denzel Washington as Macrinus.
Photo: Pedro Pascal as General Acacius.
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Guide Price: Offers In Excess Of £1,500,000 Telephone 01252 842100 Finchampstead, Berkshire
• Mature Grounds With Far Reaching Views • Near Wellington College •
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See the following pages for more details
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The Ridges, Finchampstead, Berkshire Guide: Offers In Excess Of £1,500,000
• Five Bedrooms • Grounds Of Around 1 Acre •
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A charming family home set in one of the most sought after and desirable roads in Finchampstead, Berkshire; within easy reach of Wellington College. This landmark property is set in glorious Berkshire countryside and standing on high ground with the benefit of far reaching views to the ‘Hogs Back’ in Guildford. The character property dates to around 1780 and was originally three cottages whereas today this is a five bedroom family house. The grounds are of particular note extending to around one acre, with the benefit of extensive landscaping by the present owners many years of investing time in both the formal garden and terraces, as well as a productive vegetable garden and orchard area. EPC D (55) - Telephone 01252 842100
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First Drive: Ferrari’s new 12Cilindri is a sonorous celebration of the V12 engine
By James Baggott, PA motoring
What is it?
In an age when every other new car arrival heralds the birth of yet another electric or hybrid model, Ferrari’s glorious new V12 is a welcome breath of fresh air for petrol heads.
The Italian car maker claims to be the last one producing a naturally aspirated,V12 engine – and this is the firm’s breath-taking 830bhp new addition:The 12Cilindri.You’ll need to brush up on your Italian to say it properly, though. It’s pronounced:‘Doe-dee-chi Chill-endree’. In the words of the manufacturer’s famous founder, Enzo Ferrari, the 12-cylinder Ferrari will always be the ‘original’ and the carmaker has vowed to continue developing the legendary unit for as long as it’s allowed.
What’s new?
Ferrari says everything has been refreshed when compared to the 812 Superfast that this model replaces. Some four years in the making, the 12Cilindri is slightly heavier than the 812 – around 35kg to be exact – but that’s down to a lack of carbon seats, bigger 21-inch wheels and tyres, active aerodynamics and a powered rear boot (among other things). Previously, the V12 of the Ferrari range was designed to be the pinnacle, but that crown now resides with the SF90, so designers were given the opportunity to dial down some of the outright madness.That doesn’t mean this is anything less than furious to drive, but it does mean it can still behave as a comfortable GT car too.
What’s under the bonnet?
The spectacular 6.5-litre V12 is as tuneful as you’d hope. Ferrari calls it a ‘hallmark howl’ and as the revs rise to a heady 9,250rpm, it’s a symphonic cacophony that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. With 830bhp to play with, the 12Cilindri can hit 60mph in around 2.7 seconds and will go on to a top speed of 211mph. It’s brutally quick and drivers can dial in and out the anger with different settings, accessed by a dial on the steering wheel. In ‘Race’ mode with the suspension set to comfort, it’s close to perfect. Some 80 per cent of the 678Nm of torque available is delivered at just 2,500rpm which equates to plenty of punch in the mid-range.The dual-clutch, eight-speed gearbox (that eighth gear is a new addition to this model) rapidly fires through cogs with savagery. So much so that on some occasions the shunt through the transmission is stark.
What’s it like to drive?
What I love about this car is its breadth of character.When you want it to be a sedate, cruising companion it’s comfortable and easy to drive.Around town, the visibility is surprisingly good and while it looks huge on the outside, when you’re in the cockpit it feels manageable and is easy to place on the road.
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But it’s the car’s dark side that’s really intoxicating. Select the manual option for paddle shifts, bury your foot to the floor and the 12Cilindri picks up like the thoroughbred Ferrari it is.The V12 soundtrack is heavy metal addictive and it is incredibly rapid. It never feels heavy or overweight, either, with perfect balance and delicately weighted steering.
How does it look?
The 12Cilindri looks positively space age – and that’s no mistake.The designers took cues from 1970s wedge-like supercar designs and combined them with a homage to models like the Ferrari 365 GTB4. If you’re not familiar with the latter, it’s worth a Google, as the family resemblance is clear. The new model has a long, imposing nose with a clamshell bonnet that wraps around the front-mounted V12.The cabin sits back, nearer the rear wheels and is dominated by an arrow-shaped, body-coloured sash across the roof. Bold rear haunches and a dramatic rear diffuser give the GT car real drama while dynamic aero flaps on the rear quarters flick up under braking.
What’s it like inside?
Ferrari has designed the cabin with two distinct sides that wrap around both the driver and the passenger.Three screens dominate the cabin with the driver dials and information behind the steering wheel, a second screen centrally mounted for heating controls and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a third (optional) screen in front of the passenger. The latter can display the car’s speed, g-forces and revs as well as allow the passenger to manipulate some of the car’s controls.We found the seats a little uncomfortable, but they have plenty of adjustment and come with optional heating and cooling options, as well as a massage function (£8,957).
What’s the spec like?
Standard specification is understandably generous for a car costing £366,500 and includes full matrix LED headlights, 21-inch alloy wheels, rain and light sensors, climate control, rear parking camera, car cover, battery maintainer, wireless smartphone charger and lots more. There’s also an incredible array of personalisation options with everything from gold brake callipers (£1,512), carbon fibre rear boot trim (£4,478) to special paint colours that will set you back £8,316. Get tick happy on the options list and owners will easily be able to add £50,000 and more to the price tag.
Verdict
New V12 Ferraris don’t come along very often, so when they do you expect them to be very special indeed.And the 12Cilindri does not disappoint.
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Enzo Ferrari said the V12 could summon up a ‘harmony no conductor could ever create’ and he wasn’t wrong.While the savagery of the engine and speed of the gearbox are impressive, it’s the howl from that iconic powerplant that really makes this car an occasion.
Some might think a V12 engine is a bit of a dinosaur in an age dominated by EVs but, for car lovers, the continuation of a legend like this is vital if the world is still to be filled with pure, unadulterated automotive joy.
The 12Cilindri is available to order now with first deliveries arriving early in 2025.
Facts at a glance:
Model: Ferrari 12Cilindri
Price: £366,500
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Power: 830bhp
Torque: 678Nm
Max speed: 211mph
0-60mph: 2.7 seconds
MPG: TBC
Emissions: TBCg/km
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DUE TO THE OPEN MARKET SOON magazine exclusive PREVI EW
Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Anticipated Guide: £1,250,000
• Detached Barn / Annexe • Countryside Views • C. 2.5 Acre Grounds •
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A suberb opportunity to acquire this attractive five bedroom semi-detached character cottage, with detached Barn/ Annexe, all set in grounds of 2.5 acres on the outskirts of Hartley Wintney village. The grounds are made up of a mixture of fields/paddock, attractive residential gardens and an area adjacent to the driveway which contains a natural pond. There is also a detached double garage adjacent to the main house. EPC C (72) - Telephone 01252 842100
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UPTON GREY, Hampshire Guide Price: Offers In Excess Of £3,000,000 Telephone 01256 704851
• Grounds Of Around Two Acres • Sought After Location •
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Situated within the sought after village of Upton Grey, Holborn Grange is a fine six-bedroom detached country house which has been meticulously rebuilt by the current owner, offering over 8,000 square feet of accommodation and set within around 2 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Benefits to this property include six reception rooms, a spectacular 32ft vaulted main bedroom with Juliet balcony that provides stunning views over the garden, ample driveway parking, an outdoor heated swimming pool, a separate pool house and a one-bedroom annexe with a double garage.
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UPTON GREY, Hampshire
Ground Floor
The vast light and airy entrance hall sets the scene for exploring superb spaces, with six spacious reception rooms the accommodation comprises of study with stairs to the first floor, 21ft family room with a beautiful bay window overlooking the garden and a feature open fireplace, dining room, a bespoke kitchen with quartz countertops, a functional island, and built-in Bosch appliances which include induction hob, double oven, laundry facilities and plenty of additional appliance space. French doors give you access into the rear garden.
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The 25ft living room offers a fantastic entertaining space with a raised floor and access to a cloakroom. Next to the living room you have a gym and a wonderful light/airy oak framed snug with vaulted ceiling and views/access over the garden and the Hoddington Estate. Also on the ground floor there is bedroom six / guest room which offers en-suite facilities and there is a second downstairs cloakroom.
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UPTON GREY, Hampshire
First Floor
On the first floor, the property offers five generous bedrooms with built in storage and a dressing room.The stunning vaulted main bedroom offers wonderful accommodation and views over the grounds through the Juliet balcony. Within this room you have a walk in dressing room, additional wardrobes and a beautifully presented en-suite with toilet, sink, bath and shower.The accommodation is finished with the substantial main bathroom with a generous bath, toilet, sink and shower.
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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS ON THESE TWO PAGES ARE OF THE MAIN BEDROOM SUITE
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UPTON GREY, Hampshire
Pool House & Swimming Pool
The detached pool house sits at the rear of the garden overlooking the heated swimming pool.The accommodation within the pool house is excellent, comprising of an entrance area with bi-folding doors opening to the patio beside the swimming pool, separate male and female changing rooms, shower facilities, utility area with a kitchen and plenty of storage. Upstairs a 30ft bedroom/living area gives guests extra spaces to stay over or relax and the accommodation is finished with the pump room and additional storage area.
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Odiham, Hampshire Guide: POA
• Wonderful Interior • Superb Garden • Excellent Location •
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This well-presented, substantial detached six-bedroom family home with a delightful garden, sits in a prime location within close proximity of the desirable Odiham village centre.The property has been extended by the current owners and offers flexible family living. EPC C (76) - Telephone 01256 704851
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SOLD stc OCTOBER
Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide Price: Offers In Excess Of £2,000,000 Telephone 01252 842100
Country home, with seven bedrooms, four bathrooms set in grounds of around one acre with beautiful gardens, a heated swimming pool, breeze hut and views over countryside. This property also incorporates a fully independent detached one bedroom annexe.
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Sale Agreed On This Country Property
similar property wanted
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DUE TO THE OPEN MARKET SOON magazine exclusive PREVI EW
Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Anticipated Guide: £795,000
• Exquisite Interior • Four Bedrooms • Superb Kitchen / Breakfast Room •
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A superbly presented four double bedroom family home situated in a cul-de-sac location at the top of the ever popular St Marys Park development, ideal for local schools and proximity to Hartley Wintney village centre.The house is located in a cul-de-sac at the top end of the development and benefits from driveway parking for two vehicles, EV car charging and space for guests.There is an attached single garage and an attractive front garden with lawn, hedging and shrubs. EPC C (80) - Telephone 01252 842100
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SOLD stc OCTOBER
Guide Price: £2,750,000 Telephone 01252 842100 Bramley, Hampshire
• Mature Grounds Of Around 12 Acres • Stables • Barns • Extensive Outbuildings •
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Sale Agreed On This Equestrian / Country Property
similar property wanted
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SOLD
Finchampstead, Berkshire Guide Price: £1,750,000 Telephone 01252 842100
• Grounds Of Around 1.7 Acres • Exquisite Interior • Near Wellington College •
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Join the UpTick
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Sale Agreed On This Country Property
similar property wanted
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Newnham, Hampshire Guide: £1,250,000
• Annexe Attached To Double Garage • Countryside Views • Five Bedrooms •
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This is a truly unique property in fantastic rural surrounds, with a plot of approximately half an acre, as well as the use of adjoining woodland.The property also benefits from three lovely timber cabins within the grounds, as well as a two storey annexe behind and above the garage.
EPC D (61) - Telephone 01252 842100
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Camberley, Surrey Guide: Offers In Excess Of £800,000
This spacious five-bedroom detached house offers families a perfect blend of comfort, security, and convenience. Nestled within a small gated development, it provides peace of mind while remaining close to the vibrant Camberley Town Centre and the easily accessible M3 motorway at Bagshot. EPC C (71) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Five Bedrooms • No Onward Chain •
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Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £950,000
This well-presented four bedroom detached property is situated on the popular Edenbrook development, close to local schools, leisure centre and country park. EPC C (79) - Telephone 01252 620640
• Superb Property - Early Viewing Recommended •
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FOOD - Kate Humble Kate Humble: ‘We’ve become so disconnect- ed with the whole process of food’
By Lauren Taylor, PA
Despite self-describing as “the least crafty person in the world”,TV presenter Kate Humble is a bit of a “fan girl” for anyone with the skills to craft things by hand. “With the rise of AI and the whole workplace changing so quickly – if you’re a writer or photographer or in TV,AI can do all this s*** for us,” says the 55-year-old.“So there’s actually been a resurgence in people wanting to learn how to make things, build a drywall or do blacksmithery, because people are fearing that AI will take away white collar jobs.” Even in the age of careers made entirely on the internet,“There might be a real artisan uprising”, she says,“which would be amazing”. Humble, who has presented BBC’s Back To The Land, Springwatch and Animal Park, says she doesn’t have “the creative gene” but “I’m really good at manual labour, and my kind of creative side actually is with cooking”. The author of several books, her latest, cookbook Home Made, celebrates the beauty of artisan, handmade products – all of which are used in food and cooking in some way. Stories of individual artisan makers of aprons, knives, firepits, and pans are weaved in around simple, countryside recipes inspired by those people and their products. “We live in a society which is extremely wasteful,” says Humble, who lives in rural Monmouthshire,Wales,“because mass production makes things much more affordable. Of course I’ve bought mass-produced stuff, partly because I hadn’t always known there was another option. “A lot of people will say,‘Well, if you buy beautiful, handmade, artisan stuff, it’s very expensive’, which is also true. However, it will often outlast anything that is mass-produced. So I think you buy things like that with a different mindset, of them being almost heritage pieces that you will keep forever and you will look after. “If people go and buy lots of cheap clothes, they think it’s great, they’re cheap, but the expense to the planet is enormous.We’ve been pushed down a very virulent consumer route – which is buy, buy, buy.” The people featured in the book – from glassmaker Emsie Sharp and basket weaver Amanda Rayner, to Ben Ward who gave up his office job to become a professional vegetable grower – are “incredibly inspiring but also relatable,” Humble says.“These are all just ordinary people who’ve made an extraordinary choice to kind of really follow their hearts and do something that they love and that they’re skilled at. Because it’s not the normal way of [doing] things nowadays.” And there’s courage in pursuing that.“I hope it taps into everyone’s little brave bits of their heart and the free bits of their spirit – even if they don’t go off and whittle spoons forever.
After all, modern life is moving us further and further into what’s fast and convenient.
“We’ve become so disconnected with the whole process of food, even more so I think in the last sort of five years, with the rise of delivery companies that just deliver cooked food
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to a house. People are getting their supermarket shop delivered to their doors. So they’re not doing it.They’re not even choosing the fruit or the vegetables that they’re going to eat.” She notes that stories of where ingredients have come from are often used by restaurants to make it more appealing. “They’re really keen to tell you it’s locally sourced, or the name of the farmer – as a selling technique. But we don’t do it ourselves.” Humble learned how to cook from her mum.“I grew up in a household and in an era where people did cook.We didn’t have takeaways or deliveries – certainly not in the Seventies and not in the countryside.All the food that we cooked, my mum cooked from scratch and we grew a certain amount of vegetables.” She describes herself as “not a proper cook, just a home cook” and she hopes her recipes reflect that.“They are super easy,” she says,“and I’m unapologetic about that.To me, cooking should be a pleasure, not something that’s scary or a trial or an endurance test. “There’s something about cooking for me that is just very therapeutic. I don’t try and make anything that is really out of my comfort zone, I just think that is not what it’s about. I love the process of taking raw ingredients and transforming them in the most simple and uncomplicated but mindful way.” Humble grew up in rural Berkshire and, back in 2007, moved from London to Wales to live on a smallholding with husband Ludo, and went on to set up a working farm in the Wye Valley – where Channel 5’s Escape To The Farm is filmed. “I’m just not cut out for city living. It actually came into sharp focus when I was working on Springwatch, but still living in London. I loved doing Springwatch so much because I loved that reconnection with the process of spring. I loved the response of nature to the lengthening days and the temperature getting warmer – and I love being witness to that.
“And I realised how much I missed it. It was an inherent part of my childhood that I’d never really considered before.”
Moving, she says, brought her back to herself.“I found city life really difficult.”
Her life-long travel bug is deep-rooted, though.At 18 she was working in an office to save up to go to Africa and someone asked her why.“I just thought, there’s a whole world out there and I haven’t seen any of it yet. I was really surprised by the question. “I hope I never get to the stage where I’m happy just to be in one place and work in the same place all the time. I know it suits some people, absolutely fine, but I didn’t want it to be me. “I suppose I’ve always tried to engineer things are much as you ever can to lead a life that makes me happy and hopefully makes other people happy. “My mum still thinks I’ve never had a proper job – which is sort of true, but, yeah, it suits me, and it’s just being true to yourself, really. She gets “homesick” when she travels now though.“We live in such an extraordinary world full of incredible places and people and animals. I still have this real desire and joy to see it. But I also have this added element of really loving coming back.” Home Made: Recipes From The Countryside by Kate Humble is published by Gaia, priced £26. Photography by Andrew Montgomery.Available now
Recipe - Kate Humble’s cauliflower curry recipe on page 56 Recipe - Kate Humble’s Thai-spiced fish stew recipe on page 58 Recipe - Kate Humble’s autumn winter board recipe on page 60
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2.Add the cumin and mustard seeds and the curry leaves, if using. Cook until the seeds start to pop, then immediately add the onion, a big pinch of salt and a glug of oil or 1 tablespoon of ghee and stir well. Cook over a medium-low heat for 10–15 minutes, until the onion is softened and turning golden.
FOOD Recipe
Kate Humble’s cauliflower curry recipe By Lauren Taylor, PA Kate Humble created this recipe after being inspired by professional vegetable grower and custodian of Moor Park Garden in Wales, Ben Ward. Apparently cauliflowers are fiendishly tricky to grow though. “Luckily there is nothing tricky about this curry, which makes the most of the cauliflower’s ability to carry flavour,” says Humble.
3. Stir through the ginger and garlic and cook for a further minute.Then add the curry powder and stir through to mix.
4. Tip in the tomatoes with a pinch of salt and mix well. Cook for a further 5 minutes over a medium heat, until the tomatoes are collapsed and soft. 5. Stir through the cauliflower and another good pinch or 2 of salt, mixing really well so that all the florets are coated in the spices.Add the stock, cover and bring to a simmer. 6. Simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring now and again, until the cauliflower is tender. Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
Cauliflower Curry
7. Sprinkle the coriander on top and serve with steamed rice and mango chutney.
Ingredients
(Serves 4)
1tbsp cumin seeds
1tbsp mustard seeds
4 curry leaf sprigs (optional)
1 red onion, thinly sliced
Flavourless oil or ghee
4cm piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and finely grated
4 garlic cloves, finely grated
2tbsp curry powder
450g tomatoes,chopped,or a 400g can of chopped tomatoes
1 cauliflower, cut into florets
250ml vegetable stock
Sea salt and freshly ground
Black pepper
A handful of fresh coriander, to garnish
Method
1. Heat a large saucepan over a medium heat.
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FOOD Recipe
Method
1. Put the fish and prawns into a bowl and sprinkle over 1 teaspoon of salt. Mix well and leave to one side for up to 1 hour. 2. Heat a large saucepan over a medium heat, add a dash of oil and stir the lemon grass, ginger, garlic, two-thirds of the spring onions and the chilli over the heat until the garlic turns light golden. Add the tomato purée and stir for a further minute.
Kate Humble’s Thai-spiced fish stew recipe
By Lauren Taylor, PA
“This is heaven in a bowl and needs no more introduction than that,” says Kate Humble.
3.Tip in the tomatoes, the coconut cream and the stock and mix to combine.
Thai-spiced fish stew
4.Then stir in the fish sauce, sugar and tamarind and bring to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning, bearing in mind the fish with its salt will be added shortly. More fish sauce will give a saltier flavour, extra tamarind will increase the sour. 5.Add the fish, prawns and sugar snap peas and mix through. Simmer gently for a further 3–4 minutes, or until the fish is only just cooked through.
Ingredients
(Serves 4)
300g firm white fish, cut into chunks
200g raw peeled king prawns
Flavourless oil, such as sunflower
6. Remove the lemon grass stalks and discard. Serve in bowls, scattered with the basil and remaining spring onion.
2 lemon grass stalks, trimmed and bashed
Home Made – recipes from the countryside by Kate Humble is published by Gaia, priced £26. Photography by Andrew Montgomery.Available now.
3cm piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and finely chopped or grated
4 garlic cloves, sliced
3 spring onions, sliced
1 long red chilli, sliced
1tbsp tomato purée
150g cherry tomatoes, halved
160ml coconut cream
500ml fish or vegetable stock
1tbsp fish sauce
1tsp sugar
1tbsp tamarind paste
250g sugar snap peas
Leaves from a small bunch of Thai basil
Sea salt and freshly ground
Black pepper
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Method
FOOD Recipe
1. Preheat the oven to 120°C, Gas Mark ½, and line two baking trays with baking paper. In a large, very clean bowl, whisk the egg whites with a handheld electric whisk (or you can use a stand mixer) until frothy.Add the lemon juice and continue to whisk until doubled in size. 2. With the whisk still running, slowly add the sugar one spoonful at a time, whisking constantly until all the sugar has been added and you have reached a glossy stiff peak. Spoon the meringue mixture into a piping bag fitted with a one centimetre nozzle. 3. Secure the baking paper to the trays using a dot of meringue mix in each corner, then pipe meringue mix onto the trays at intervals, leaving a small gap between each.You are aiming for meringues that are about two centimetres wide at the base.To achieve a point at the top, pipe vertically down onto the tray, release the pressure and pull the piping bag upwards as you do so.
Kate Humble’s autumn winter board recipe
By Lauren Taylor,, PA
Who says sharing boards only have to be cured meats and cheeses? Kate Humble’s version is a display of spiced, colourful fruits to finish off a meal.
And the best part is they don’t require much effort at all.
Autumn winter board
Ingredients
4. Bake for one hour in the oven. Then turn the oven off, leave the door ajar.
(Serves 4-6)
For the brown sugar meringues:
5.Once ready to serve,arrange all the fruit in a lovely pattern on a board, except for the pomegranate seeds, which you’ll use later. 6. Finely chop or grate the stem ginger balls and mix into the yogurt along with enough syrup to sweeten it to your liking. Dot the ginger yogurt over the fruit, or serve it in a small bowl for dipping.
2 egg whites, at room temperature
¼ teaspoon lemon juice
150g light muscovado sugar, at room temperature
For the fruit board:
7. Crumble the meringues over the top, then finish with a sprinkling of the orange zest and the pomegranate seeds.
2 clementines, peeled and sliced horizontally
2 persimmons, sliced
A handful of blackberries
2 pears, quartered, cored and sliced
100g Physalis, in their husks
2 balls of stem ginger, plus 1tbsp syrup
150ml Greek yogurt
Zest of 1 unwaxed orange or 2 clementines
75g pomegranate seeds
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Photo: Paul Mescal as Lucius.
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WELLBEING Katie Boulter British No1 tennis star Katie Boulter: ‘I’m coming out of my shell’
By Camilla Foster, PA
Currently the British number one in women’s singles, tennis star Katie Boulter has spoken about her increasing confidence on court and about the people who inspire her.
“The more I play on bigger stages, the more I come out of my shell,” shared the 28-year-old. “I can be quite shy sometimes, but tennis gives me that outlet to really express how I feel and to show how tough I can be in big moments.
“And that gives me a lot of confidence and really pushes me to be the best version of myself.”
The Leicester-born athlete says her family are the driving force behind her success, as well as her biggest source of inspiration.
“My family are my biggest inspiration in life and in tennis,” said Boulter.“They have given everything to me throughout their lives.
“When they’re proud of me, I know that I’m motivated and doing the best that I possibly can.”
Incredible racket skills clearly run in her blood, as her mother Sue Boulter is a former tennis coach who played tennis at the county level and represented Great Britain as a junior.
Her grandparents on her mother’s side, Brian and Jill Gartshore, were also avid players who met and bonded through the sport.
“My grandma was county captain for 20 years and my grandpa played tennis his whole entire life,” revealed Boulter.“That’s actually how they met, so I’ve kind of grown up with tennis and them being a huge part of it.”
Jill died two days before Boulter’s second round Wimbledon victory in 2022 against Czech Republic’s Karolína Plíšková who was seeded number one in the world at the time.
Boulter said her grandparents’ unwavering support has been crucial to her development as an athlete.
“I was always very close to my grandparents growing up and was lucky to have them around all the time,” reflected Boulter.“They were picking me up from tennis, taking me to school, along with my mum, and I would literally see them in the corner of the playground waving because they knew that was the time of my break.They were a huge part of my life. “I always used to go to the Leicestershire Lawn Tennis Club and spend a lot of time watching them,” she added.“They’d play fours and all have a nice cup of tea afterwards, and that was a huge part of their life, and just something they enjoyed, and it kept them competitive and active and healthy.”
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