News and views July 2018

Keeping you in the loop.

A shopping experience like no other at Prestige Furniture

Prestige Furniture in Newton Abbot offers you the chance to escape the everyday with an exciting shopping experience. Visit the store and be inspired by a wide range of furniture that will make your living space come to life. With every room covered, from sumptuous and beautifully crafted sofas to rustic dining collections, you can transform your house into a home.

Don’t miss out on Gin Fridays, every week between 3pm and 5.30pm, when you can enjoy a complimentary gin from the new gin bar, while you explore the 55,000 square foot complex. What better way to start the weekend – the perfect tonic for soothing your soul at the end of a long week!

For more information call 01626 830707 or visit www.prestigefurniture.co.uk

Don’t miss Van Morrison at the Princess Theatre this October!

Born in 1945, Van Morrison heard his shipyard worker father’s collection of blues, country and gospel early in life. Feeding off musical greats such as Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Muddy Waters, Mahalia Jackson and Leadbelly, he was a travelling musician at 13, singing and playing the guitar and saxophone in several bands, before forming Them in 1964.

Morrison’s talents would later find a full and astonishing range in his solo career and after working with Them’s New York producer Bert Berns on Top 40 pop hit ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, he moved into another realm.

This October, Van Morrison will be gracing the stage of the Princess Theatre in Torquay and it’s fair to say that tickets won’t be available for long!

For more information and for tickets, visit www.atgtickets.com/venues/princess-theatre-torquay

A hidden gem by the river

If you’re looking for a nice quiet spot for a short break without having to travel too far, why not try the Budock Vean Hotel and holiday cottages by the Helford river in Cornwall? Tucked away down a private lane in 65 acres of gardens and woodland leading down to the river, it’s a real oasis of peace and quiet.

On site, there’s a Natural Health Spa, indoor pool, restaurant and cocktail bar. And, if you’re looking for more of an active break, then the on site golf course, tennis courts, guided kayak adventures and boat trips give you plenty to do. Some of the region’s best gardens are just a short walk away, as is the coastal footpath and a selection of picturesque waterside pubs.

For more information call 01326 250288 or visit www.budockvean.co.uk

The Fresh Coffee Company continues to pass on the art

The Fresh Coffee Company has been busy setting up its newest client – the Pilot Boat in Lyme Regis, and what a venue it is! Murray James tells us: “We installed two coffee machines for them and spent two days training with their team.”

“These training sessions provide a platform for looking at coffee afresh, and are often as insightful for us as they are enlightening for those on the receiving end.”

Murray continues: “The espresso is science – the ‘recipe’ creating the shot according to fine tuning the grind, measured dosing and timed extraction. Milk is where the art comes in. Is that flat white really a small cappuccino? Or is it a beautifully poured example with silky milk, a fine layer of microfoam and an expertly executed fern, heart or swan?”

If your supplier is simply turning up with the coffee and letting you get on with it, perhaps it’s time to speak to The Fresh Coffee Company!

For more information call 07776 184141 or visit www.thefreshcoffeecompany.com

Celebrating one year in Salcombe!

South Devon based holiday letting agency, Blueriver Cottages has enjoyed a prolific first year in Salcombe, with more than 200 properties on the books! To celebrate, the team held an open day on the May Bank Holiday, inviting holiday makers, holiday homeowners and local businesses. The team soon found themselves busy wandering around Salcombe handing out Blueriver goodie bags, and the Blueriver Cottages mermaid even joined in the fun, offering mermaid glitter to the children!

They also ran a competition with Kidz and Co – the soft play café next door – where children had the chance to win a colouring set. Melanie Toms, Portfolio Development Manager at Blueriver tells us: “It was such a great day and it was good to have so many enquiries from potential homeowners. We have an increasing demand for properties in Salcombe so we’re keen to expand our portfolio even further on this side of the River Dart.”

For more information call 01803 833682 or visit www.bluerivercottages.co.uk

Be sure to visit Pecorama, near Beer, this summer!

One of east Devon’s leading visitor attractions, Pecorama sits high on the hillside above the picturesque fishing village of Beer on Devon and Dorset’s World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast.

Landscaped gardens offer spectacular views of Lyme Bay and feature the award-winning Beer Heights Light Railway, whose miniature steam locomotives pull passenger-carrying trains on a mile-long route through the grounds.

In the heart of the grounds lies the Millennium Celebration Garden, designed by Chelsea Flower Show medal winner, Naila Green. Here, five garden rooms, based on a celestial theme, combine traditional and innovative garden styles with plants from around the world.

There are also indoor and outdoor play areas, a licensed restaurant, even a crazy golf course and at the peak of the summer, a juggler, jester, clown or magician provide daily entertainment in the Peco Marquee!

For more information call 01297 21542 or visit www.pecorama.co.uk

Discover stockists of handcrafted  artisan bread near you

As we discussed in the previous edition of Devon Living, Vicky’s Bread is seriously good. Deliciously crisp on the outside and delightful on the inside, the lovingly prepared hand-made loaves are worth looking out for! From Ivybridge to Exeter, and at many stores in-between, Vicky’s Bread is becoming increasingly popular. Traditionally made by hand with organic ingredients, the bread has become a common addition to farm shops and health stores due to its homemade taste and natural ingredients; forget homogenised bread that is churned out exactly the same loaf after loaf, each loaf of Vicky’s bread is wonderfully unique and perfectly imperfect. So, if you’re tempted to try Vicky’s Bread then head to the website to discover a stockist near you.

For more information call 01326 572084 or visit www.vickysbread.co.uk

Get the clear-cut advice you need from Devon Law

Based in the South Hams, Devon Law provides commercial legal advice to a wide range of sectors. Jenny Jones who owns the practice tells us: “We consider the business as a whole and look not only at what your business needs now, but what it needs to nourish it into the business you want it to be. We can help you buy and sell your business, advise on structures, help directors and shareholders determine their rights and liabilities, and document it in an appropriate agreement. We also prepare agency and distribution agreements for our clients and can help them protect their trademarks.”

Jenny and her team pride themselves on offering jargon-free advice and making complex problems much more clear-cut.

They also host a Devon Cream Tea in aid of a different charity every month and this July, they’ll be supporting the RNLI, so be sure to pop into the office on Saturday 21st July between 1pm and 3pm.

For more information call 01548 831514 or visit www.devonlaw.co.uk

We hear about Waterside’s exciting clubhouse refurbishment, just in time for summer!

One of the south west’s leading holiday resorts, Waterside, has now completed an exciting renovation of its spacious clubhouse just in time for summer! Led by award winning design and creative consultants DesignLSM, the new design is rooted in the local area. Project Leader Chloe Mager tells us: “I’ve used Cornwall, the beaches and the countryside as inspiration, we’ve included Cornish stone on the reception desk and have used reclaimed timber cladding, which gives a rustic feel to the building.” The clubhouse renovation is just part of a series of projects that are being carried out to improve the customer experience at Waterside, and next on the list is external landscaping and some accommodation improvements to make your stay as comfortable as can be.

Choose between Nordic style lodges or bungalows and enjoy the state of the art facilities, including a swimming pool, gym, restaurant, café and bar. The tranquil grounds offer the perfect escape from the office and with a range of activities available on site, there’s always something to keep you entertained. Roam around on Segways or head to the lake for a spot of fishing, then return to your luxury lodge of an evening and sink into your very own hot tub. The resort covers over 100 acres of parkland and forms an ideal base from which to explore further afield in Cornwall. Its central location means you can travel either the north or south coasts at ease, be it the stunning Camel Estuary, or the captivating and enigmatic grounds of the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

For more information call 01208 831808 or visit www.watersidecornwall.com

Enjoy your retirement to the full with Retirement Villages

If you’re dreaming of your perfect retirement, don’t make any plans until you’ve experienced the carefree lifestyle on offer with Retirement Villages. The age-exclusive private villages offer independent living options in a wonderful community setting. Village life typically revolves around a clubhouse with a vibrant social calendar that you can enjoy at your leisure. Set in beautifully landscaped grounds, each village offers fantastic facilities for the exclusive use of residents. With all maintenance and gardening taken care of, all you need to do is sit back, relax and enjoy yourself. Don’t take our word for it though, book a viewing and take a closer look at Glittisham Hill Park in Honiton or The Priory in Abbotskerwell, and discover what living in a retirement village is really like.

For more information on either village call 01372 383950 or email info@retirementvillages.co.uk

Introducing Meat59, a burger joint that is bound to leave you wanting more

Founded by passionate foodies Jenna Heasman and brother-in-law Vince Aggett, Meat59 offers full-bodied burgers packed with flavour. With restaurants in Torquay and Exeter, look out for unique flavour combinations that will explode in your mouth. Take the Smoking Cow for example: hamburger patty, bourbon glaze, smoked cheese, gem lettuce, crispy onions and homemade smoky mayo. Meat59 use only the highest quality locally sourced beef and pork from Devon, and all burgers are lovingly prepared by hand. Owner Jenna tells us: “We hand press our patties, breadcrumb our chicken, pull our pork and make our veggie patties from scratch,” providing freshly prepared burgers dripping with flavour. All of this along with craft beer, local ciders, a tempting breakfast menu and music to boot, the team are already drawing praise for their incredible offering, and they’ve certainly got our vote!

For more information call 01392 672043 or visit www.meat59.com

Award-winning Veg in a Box takes ‘box-fresh’  to a whole new level

Now covering two counties, using local produce that can all be traced from within 25 miles, Veg in a Box is a family run business that champions Devon’s finest fruit and veg.

In addition to delicious pre-made boxes, the team also offers completely bespoke boxes via their ‘Pick your Own’ boxes, where you can choose your own selection online. The team’s online click and collect service is available with lots of local drop off points, including various farms, butchers and restaurants, and it’s proven a huge success! In fact, this fantastic company won Devon Life’s Best Newcomer Award in 2015, as well as Best Independent Retailer of the Year 2017!

After such success with the veggie side of the business, the team have also launched a sister company called The Devon Meat Box Company, working with a number of local producers and butchers to bring you the finest ingredients for a proper home cooked meal.

For more information visit www.veg-inabox.com or www.thedevonmeatboxcompany.co.uk

South Sands Hotel launches  new ‘Seasonal Seafood’ menu

This summer, experience the new seafood menu at South Sand Hotel’s beachside restaurant. The menu reflects executive chef, Allister Bishop’s love of fresh, local produce. Allister tells us: “Our seasonal lunch menu introduces our guests to the best ingredients of the season, from seafood to meat, salads to foraged flavours. After several trials in the kitchen with my passionate team, we can’t wait to hear our guests’ reactions to the latest dishes on offer.” The menu boasts an array of the finest local seafood from the best Salcombe suppliers. Warm crab claws sourced from Favis are served with an Asian inspired sauce and the Salcombe crab crumpet is served with soft herbs and dandelion butter. Demonstrating our coastline’s plethora of flavours and all served to ocean views – what could be better?

For more information call 01548 845900 or visit www.southsands.com/events