I have a feeling that, had Brimington Hall survived the rapid industrialization of early 20th century Chesterfield, it would by now be listed grade I or II*, for it was, judging from our limited knowledge, a house of exceptional interest architecturally. An estate at Brimington was held from the earliest times by a family which […]
Taste Derbyshire – Yummy Mummies
As childcare costs rise, two thirds of mums surveyed* said they would love to run a business from home. Taste Derbyshire spoke to three mums who have made the dream a reality by turning their passion for food into a family-friendly business. Sitting in a sun-drenched café in Derbyshire, Michelle Belsom and I are talking […]
RHS Chatsworth Flower Show
Brian Spencer looks back on 2018 when describing what will be on offer in 2019 Unlike Show Gardens at Chelsea, those at Chatsworth are far more practical, giving ideas for what can be created in the average domestic plot. Now in its third year at Chatsworth, the Royal Horticultural Society’s (RHS) newest Show, RHS Chatsworth […]
Walk Derbyshire – Thor’s Cave & The Manifold Valley
7 miles (11km): moderate trail and field-paths. Two steep climbs. Muddy sections. RECOMMENDED MAP: Ordnance Survey 1:25000 scale Outdoor Leisure Sheet 24, The Peak District, White Peak Area. BUS SERVICES: None beyond Hulme End. CAR PARKING: At Wetton Mill. REFRESHMENTS: at Wetton Mill café. This walk criss-crosses the Manifold Valley, climbing its steep sides twice […]
Restaurant Review – M.A.D.E @ No. 18
To spend 2 or 3 hours in one restaurant it has to be good. To spend the entire Friday evening at M.A.D.E.@No.18 it has to be exceptional and something different. It was early on a Friday evening that our taxi delivered us to M.A.D.E. @ No 18; a café-bistro at the top of the old […]
Modern Collectibles – Royal Crown Derby Paper Weights
The Royal Crown Derby (RCD) china factory on Osmaston Road had been going since 1878 and received a Royal Warrant to prefix its name with ‘Royal’ in 1890. In 1935 the firm absorbed the King Street China factory, thereby acquiring a virtually unbroken ceramic tradition going back to the foundation of the original factory on […]
All About The Eyes – Clarins
New 4 Colour Pen £28 Fun, practical and innovative, Clarins multi-use make-up pen, loved by women the world over, is back! New shades, new packaging and all the magic of an all-in-one, these easy to apply automatic pens feature 3 eye liners and 1 lip liner using a retractable function meaning you can wave goodbye […]
Celebrity Interview – Sergei Podobedov
A strand of his wispy hair falls over bushy eyebrows as Sergei Podobedov, dressed in a dark T-shirt and casual trousers, makes coffee. There’s nothing unusual about his demeanour as he goes about everyday tasks without taking undue care of his hands. But this isn’t a manual labourer or someone who’s been thrust into the […]
Stowe Gardens
One of Capability Brown’s earliest works, Stowe Gardens in Buckinghamshire was looking at its best when Brian Spencer visited it during a recent autumn break. The gardens of Grade 1 listed Stowe House are the idyllic setting for Stowe School. The public school sits at the top of rising ground overlooking grounds that are, as […]
Restaurant Review – Alfreton Golf Club
The carvery is a brilliant concept; a meal served in a pub or a restaurant where cooked meat is freshly sliced to order for diners, served in a buffet style for a fixed price. It lends itself, in a casual way, to the traditional Sunday lunch. But all too often we associate it only with […]