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A little step back in time…
Step into the warmth and charm of Dolly’s Vintage Tea Rooms, a 1940sinspired, family-run tearoom in the heart of Gosport.
We serve beautifully brewed looseleaf teas, artisan coffee, homemade cakes and bakes, and traditional cream teas, alongside wholesome breakfasts and comforting light lunches — all lovingly prepared and served on vintage china.
- Vintage teas & coffees
- Homemade bakes & classic cream teas
- Community-centred & family-run
- A cosy space to slow down and connect
Open Monday-Saturday Every cup and plate tells a story
We offer private hire for birthdays, gatherings and special occasions, with afternoon teas, themed weeks and candlelit evenings available. Guests are welcome to bring their own alcohol if they wish, glasses provided.
· Free venue use for groups
· Cuppa Kindness pay-it-forward scheme
The way to my heart can definitely be with chocolate! I’m always thrilled when I hear how good it is for you. I was very happy when I listened to Dr Sam Watts’ words, in which he says cacao is a true superfood that scientific evidence shows can optimise human health in many different ways; top three benefits include helping you look younger, it helps you feel happier and improves heart health. He advocates eating cacao or good quality dark chocolate every day. One healthy thing I can definitely stick too!
If you’re wanting to win the heart of someone special or keep the heart of someone special healthy, then this months recipe goes a little way to do that! It’s by the one of my favourites, Meera Sodha, for her Chocolate Miso Brownies. It uses that all important, good quality, dark chocolate. You’ll find it on page 10.
This recipe for me doubles up as a celebratory cake. Yes, it’s our birthday! We’ve been circulating this magazine locally for 20 years. And we have an advertiser who has been in every single edition! I’d like to thank you all for all the love you have given us over the last 20 years! Here’s to the next 20!
If you love where you live but still haven’t explored it all (who has?!) then some of the local events we have listed may be a great idea to do just that. Have you been behind the
pale green gates and big wall on Haslar Road? Behind it you’ll find the Shore Leave Haslar Memorial Garden. After a winter break their Open Days are back. You’ll find quite an oasis behind that gate, along with refreshments you’ll find crafts, plants and produce for sale. Walk around, take a look and see what the Veterans and Volunteers do. The date and time are listed inside.
You’ll find more events listed on pages 24 & 28. If you have an event you’d like us to share for you please get in touch, details are below.
A lovely lot of advertisers are inside to help you ugrade your house, your vehicle, yourself! And much more.
Need more customers? Are you a local business? Want more customers? Book an advert in the next edition, get in touch! We’d love to help! You’ll love our prices!
Don’t forget you can view our online edition with even more local news and info. Simply go to our website; gosportchoice.com. And if you subscribe it’ll land in your inbox each month.
Wishing you a fabulous February! See you next month! Hello
With
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Specialising in transporters and small low mileage cars. (The cars are ideal for first time drivers.)
Sometimes only a brownie will do. Meera Sodha described these as ‘dense and fudgy’ and they are just that. They aren’t too sweet and are super easy to make. You really can’t go wrong with making these.
Makes 16
You’ll need:
• 4 ½ tbsp milled chia seeds
• 150g flavourless coconut oil*
• 250g dark chocolate (85%), broken into small pieces
• 350g light brown muscovado sugar
• 120g plain flour
• 3 ½ tbsp white miso (shiro miso)
• 1 tsp flaky sea salt**
Method
Heat the oven to 190°C (180°C fan)/390°F/gas 6, and line a 20cm x 22cm square tin with greaseproof paper. In a small bowl, mix the milled chia seeds with 270ml water and set aside.
Put the coconut oil and broken chocolate into a medium-sized saucepan, and set over a low heat. Stir occasionally until melted, then mix in the sugar, flour and miso, and crumble in the salt flakes. Finally, stir in the soaked and bloomed chia seeds, then pour into the lined tin and gently shake to distribute evenly.
Bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 45 minutes, then remove. The brownies might still be a bit wobbly in the middle, but they will soon settle down as they cool and be deliciously fudgy. Leave to cool completely, then cut into 16 squares.
Find everything Meera Sodha at meerasodha.com
*Make sure you use flavourless coconut oil, unless you actually want to add a coconut flavour
**I added half the amount of salt in the mixture and sprinkled the other half on top.
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Any amount, any condition- top CASH prices paid!
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WANTED - rolex, breitling, omega etc
Please call in to see us. Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm. Alternatively, call to arrange a home appointment TELEPHONE: 023 9255 3428 MOBILE: 07767 304495
The Cedar of Lebanon, Cedrus libani, is native to the Eastern Mediterranean countries; Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, where it thrives in well drained soils on north and west facing slopes enjoying warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The example in Crescent Garden dominates the far end of the western lawn, spreading widely and creating dense shade. It was almost certainly planted when the garden was established in 1830 so is nearly 200 years old; a mere baby compared with the age that some cedars reach. The first Lebanon cedars in Britain were introduced in 1638 by Edward Pocock who had worked in Syria. On his return to Britain he was given the living of Childrey near Wantage, where he planted a cedar in the rectory garden in 1646, which is still therethe oldest Cedrus libani in Britain. Another very old one is in the grounds of Blenheim Palace, planted by Capability Brown in the 1760s. This one has become famous as it starred in the Harry Potter film “The Order of the Phoenix”. Cedrus libani became a very popular tree to ornament the lawns of a stately homes and many fine examples can be seen when visiting such places. They have also been planted in public parks and always make a dramatic statement in the landscape.
As our tree is fairly old its trunk has forked into several large erect branches and this shape, together with its rough and scaly bark make it a very tempting object to climb, which young people are sometimes seen to do. It also makes a sheltered, attractive place for birds and small animals to nest. The branches spread out
Crescent Garden
FEBRUARY
horizontally from the trunk with northernmost branches hanging over the road and the southern branches mingling with the nearby beech tree. There are large cones to be seen on the tree at the moment. They are over a year old having started their development in September 2024. Every September the tree produces tiny female cones and male cones two inches long and full of pollen, which spreads, not only over the female cones to start their development into the large seed bearing cones, but also over everything around the tree, including the cars parked in Crescent Road.
The cedar of Lebanon has been the stuff of legends, stories and religions for many centuries. The first mention came in the legends of Gilgamesh, who was a hero in ancient Mesopotamian mythology, written in the 2nd millennium BC. He travelled to a cedar forest to kill its guardian. Early versions of the story place the forest in Iran, but later Babylonian versions have the cedars in Lebanon. The cultivation of the Lebanon Cedar dates back at least 3,200years, when the Hittite Empire established the tree in Turkey where it did not occur naturally. Over the centuries, cedar wood was exploited by Phoenicians, Egyptians, Israelites and many others. The Phoenicians used the cedars for their merchant fleets and the timber was used to make them “the first sea trading nation in the world”. The Egyptians used cedar resin for the mummification process. The Cedar of Lebanon is also often mentioned in the Old Testament in the Bible. Hebrew priests were ordered by Moses to use the bark in the
treatment of leprosy. Solomon used cedar timber in the building of the Temple in Jerusalem. Isaiah used the Lebanon Cedar as an example of loftiness as a metaphor for the pride of the world and Psalm 92:12 says “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon”.
The Lebanon cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon and appears on the middle of their flag, on their coat of arms and is the logo of Middle East Airlines, which is Lebanon’s national airline. Time, along with the exploitation of the wood and the effects of climate change, has led to a decrease in the number of cedars in Lebanon. The remaining trees survive in mountainous regions, particularly on the slopes of Mount Makmel that tower over the Kadisha Valley, where a group of trees known as the ‘Cedars of God’ are found at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres (6,600ft). In 1998, the Cedars of God were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and the site is rigorously protected. Various attempts have been made
over the years to conserve the Lebanon cedars, the first by the Roman Emperor, Hadrian, who created an imperial forest and marked it with inscribed boundary stones, two of which are in a museum in Beirut. Such conservation and replanting efforts continue in much of the eastern Mediterranean area. In Turkey over 50 million young cedars are planted annually.
Much of the decimation of the cedar population has occurred because it is such a wonderful wood. It is prized for its fine grain, attractive yellow colour and fragrance. It is very durable and not attacked by insects, so is used for furniture making, construction and handicrafts. Cedar resin and cedar oil are also extracted from the wood and the cones.
So, a remarkable tree, with a long association with humankind.
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With over 35 years experience in the building trade, we offer a full range of services to both domestic and commercial clients throughout Gosport, Fareham and the surrounding areas, from erecting small gardens walls to full extensions and refurbishments.
We offer the full range of interior & exterior building services and property maintenance including: extensions loft conversions kitchens bathrooms conservatories general garden maintenance patios decking swimming pools
Do you have important legal documents in place to protect your interests and make life easier for you and your family, whatever the future brings?
If you have received a diagnosis of dementia, or are concerned about becoming ill and unable to cope with paying your bills, wouldn’t it be helpful for a family member to be able to step in and deal with your finances? If your family member needed to make decisions for you, instead of just acting on your instructions, they would need your formal written authority to do this.
Formal authority can be given by creating a Lasting Power of Attorney. This document will allow your family member to take over managing your money, either temporarily or long term.
You can also create a Lasting Power of Attorney which allows your family member to make decisions for you about medical treatment, if you are unable for any reason to make your own decisions. This is not the same as an Advance Decision, which is a document which sets out your decision to refuse medical treatment in the future, under specific conditions.
If you are caring for an elderly relative, or are likely to be doing so in the future, a Lasting Power of Attorney will mean that you can provide the support your relative needs and access services on their behalf, without the difficulties, stress and resistance you would otherwise encounter.
Having a Will gives you peace of mind that your money, property and personal possessions will be going to the people you have chosen to benefit. An out of date Will can cause problems within the family or mean that a chosen beneficiary receives nothing.
If you have any unanswered questions about Wills or Lasting Powers of Attorney, Christine will be pleased to help, so do please get in touch for a free, no obligation, chat.
Call Christine Davies Solicitor on 07860 772274 or email: christine@winterbornelegal.co.uk
Christine is a Fully Accredited Member of Solicitors for the Elderly and a Dementia Friend. Christine will visit you in your own home and aims to provide a warm personal touch to every meeting.
Christine Davies Solicitor
Now is the time to order dahlias, gladioli & other summer flowering bulbs. May I suggest remembering you will have to plant all these when they arrive! Talking from someone who always gets carried away and overexcited, go easy!
What we can be doing in the garden now:
Around the garden
• If there is a dry spell (here’s hoping!) water containers
• Plant your hyacinths that you’ve had indoors outdoors!
• Prune your clematis
• Prune your shrubs and trees
• Plant snowdrops in the green and divide any larger congested clumps you have in your garden.
• Prepare plant supports ready to be put in place soon.
• Cut back wisteria side shoots to three buds from the base, to encourage abundant flowers in spring
• Start your dahlia tubers into growth if you have them
In the Garden
DURING FEBRUARY
• Finish pruning fruit trees and bushes
In the greenhouse and on the veg patch
• Prune autumn raspberries
• Sow tomatoes, globe artichokes, radish, leeks, onions, broad beans, hardy peas, spinach, herbs and carrots under cover.
• Sow annuals such as cosmos, dahlias, lobelia, nasturtiums
• Sow sweet peas
• Pot on and pinch out autumn-sown sweet peas to encourage side shoots to form
• Cut back overwintered fuchsias
• Order your potatoes or chit them if you have them
House plants
• Water sparingly.
• Accept some leaf drop. You haven’t failed as plant parent! It's normal for some leaves to yellow or drop as plants conserve energy.
• Hold off repotting. Try and hang on until spring. We’re getting there!
A new creative wellbeing project is inviting people in Gosport and the surrounding area to slow down, walk the shoreline, and share stories inspired by the coast.
Beachcombing Together: Stories from the Coast brings local people together through walking and sharing stories. Participants are encouraged to notice what they find along the shoreline - shells, sea-worn objects, textures, memories - and use these as starting points for reflection, conversation, and creative expression.
The project is rooted in the idea that our coastline holds not just physical objects, but personal and collective stories. By beachcombing together, participants explore connections between place, memory, wellbeing, and local heritage.
Sessions are inclusive, relaxed, and suitable for adults of all ages. No previous creative experience is needed - just curiosity and a willingness to walk, notice, and share at your own pace.
The project will run across several dates and locations along the Gosport coastline, with opportunities to take part in shoreline walks, informal creative workshops, and the creation of a shared community zine celebrating local voices and coastal stories.
Beachcombing Together: Stories from the Coast is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hampshire Cultural Trust, as part of a wider programme exploring contemporary heritage and community wellbeing.
Meet just outside each coastline location from 1-3pm on the following dates:
Saturday 7 Feb
STOKES BAY Pebbles Café
Sunday 22 Feb
GOSPORT HARBOUR Coffee #1
Saturday 7 March
HARDWAY The Powder Monkey
Sunday 22 March
LEE-ON-THE-SOLENT Lee Arcade
Places are free but booking is essential. To register visit: https://forms.gle/nWV2TajBNWUKgukJ9
For updates, session dates, and booking information, follow Mind Mentors Education CIC on social media or contact the project team directly mindmentorsCIC@gmail.com
CRAFT AFTERNOON MAKING KUSANAMI
ORIGAMI FLOWERS
5th February 1pm. Alverstoke Parish Centre. Tickets £10pp. Tea & cake available. Tickets from Alverstoke Post Office.
SHORE LEAVE HASLAR MEMORIAL GARDEN
Wednesday 11th February 11am-1pm. Free entry, donations gratefully accepted. Crafts, plants, produce for sale. Homemade cake and drinks. Walk around the peaceful garden. Please park in main Haslar site.
SPITHEAD ARTS MONTHLY LECTURE
24th Feb 7pm. Bay House School, Gosport. Masterpieces of 20th Century Photography. Lecture by Barry Venning. Everyone welcome. Guests £7 per lecture, £1 for students. Annual subscriptions £50pp. www.spitheadarts.co.uk
LEE PLAYERS – DIRTY BUSINESS
20th & 21st March. Doors 7pm, curtain 7:30pm. Crofton Hall Theatre, Crofton Community Centre, Stubbington. Tickets, £10, from 01329662128 or the community centre or on the door on the night… The local council is making cuts and redundancies so the workers are worried. What devious plans do the office cleaners have to keep their jobs? Don’t miss this brilliant comedy by Derek Webb.
Local Events
GUIDED SOMA BREATH WORKSHOP
4 week course every Saturday 10:30-11:30am from 28th of Feb - 28th of March. Royal Haslar opposite Coffee Quarters. Jeanette Ribeiro from Skin Somatics is offering a guided Soma breath session at an introductory price to celebrate her completing her Soma breath facilitator training. Limited spaces available. To book Whatsapp 07557789439 or email enquiries@skinsomatics.com
ANCHORED IN GOSPORT BESPOKE MARKET Sat 28th March. Gosport High St 10am-4pm 40+ local traders, Tasty food and drink stalls. Free activities for kids. Live music & entertainment. Everyone’s welcome. Free to attend.
BEACHCOMBING TOGETHER - STORIES FROM THE COAST
Sat 7 Feb - 1-3pm Stokes Bay Pebbles cafe Sun 22 Feb 1-3pm Gosport Harbour Coffee No1 Bringing local people together through walking and sharing stories. You must register to take part. See page 22 for more details.
CROFTON PROBUS CLUB Monthly lunch at Leeon-the-Solent Golf Club. Are you a retired gentleman, missing social contact? Come to a trial meeting. New members welcome 07508711299 morton.wouter@gmail.com
SHORE LEAVE HASLAR MEMORIAL GARDEN
FRIENDS OF STOKES BAY LITTER PICK
14th Feb 10am-12noon. Meet at Splash Park. All equipment supplied.
Future dates; 18th April, 5th September, 7th November.
FRIENDS OF STANLEY PARK LITTER PICK
Litter pick first Sunday of the month 10-11am
Meet in car park at rear of The Alverbank Hotel. Free car parking if you join us in a car, also pickers, gloves etc.
COFFEE MORNING
Alverstoke Parish Centre 10.30am-12noon. Every fourth Tuesday of the month. £4 for coffee/tea & cake. Book stall and raffle. All proceeds towards Regeneration Project.
STUBBINGTON AND HILL HEAD HISTORY SOCIETY
Roman Catholic Church Hall, Bells Lane,
Monday 9th Feb 7.30pm HMS Victory - what's going on? - speaker Tony Noon.
Monday 9th March 7.30pm The Fareham Area
Clay products industry - Pottery, bricks, chimney pots and more 1760 to 1960 - speaker Martin Percival
Guests are welcome for a £5 admission charge
- pay cash on the night. Annual membership fee £15 pp. For info www.shhhs.co.uk
Local Events
MONTHLY QUIZ - POWDER MONKEY TAP HOUSE
7pm Last Thursday of the month. Priddy’s Hard, Heritage Way, Gosport.
Round up your team for the chance to win a cash prize! Make sure you book ahead to avoid missing out. Max 6 per team. £2 pp. Call 023 9252 3970 to book.
GOSPORT JAZZ CLUB
Gosport RFC, Dolphin Crescent, Gosport 8-10.30pm 11th Feb Andrew Clancy Quartet & Friends 25th February Otis B Driftwood G/NM£12 book early gosportjazz.org.uk NM £12
QUEENS RISING AT THE QUEENS HOTEL
Southsea 22nd February 10am–5pm
A Transformative Women’s Immersion. Guided movement, Gentle flow Yoga, Coaching prompts, Cacoa ceremony, Sound Healing / Gong bath. A sacred, supportive space to gather as women and witness the magic of intentional connection.
Investment: £111. Light lunch included. To book visit www.theyogabeing.co.uk
INTERNATIONAL FOLK/CIRCLE DANCING
February 10th, 24th 10am-12noon, RC Church Hall, Bells Lane, Stubbington. No Partner required & all dances are taught. New members welcome. £7 Contact Bob & Mary 01329 609589, 07748009838 neal.bob61@gmail.com.
STOKES BAY WI holds friendly meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of the month in St Mary’s Parish Centre, Alverstoke 10am-12pm. Our motto is Inspiring Friendship and Fun and we enjoy companionship and laughter in our meetings, outings, special events and interest groups. Our members choose charities to support which, for 2025/26, are Level Up Gosport and Rowans Hospice. Find us on Facebook and our website: www.stokesbaywi.co.uk
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT
Visit gosportchoice.com and head to the ‘submit an event’ button from the menu.
SEA SHANTY EVENING
2nd February 7-9.30pm. Caffe Lee, 16 Pier Street, Lee-on-the-Solent Rocks N’ Groynes performing sea shanty songs, with lots of laughter & beer!
ALVERSTOKE ALPHA COURSE
Thursdays from 5th February to Easter 2026
The Parish Centre Tea & coffee from 7:15pm Session starts at 7:30pm
Alpha is a relaxed and friendly space to explore the Christian faith, ask questions, and share thoughts with no pressure and no judgement. It is open to everyone.
It’s an excellent way to journey through Lent with others.
To book your place, or to find out more please contact Rev. Andy: rector@alverstoke.church
At our Stokes Bay WI meetings each month we raise money from contributions by members for their refreshments which go into our Community Chest funds. Some of these funds were used recently to support a local community hub at Leesland Federation in Gosport. It provides sessions for babies, toddlers and children for safe play and interaction while giving parents and carers a chance to relax and connect. Stokes Bay WI provided 25 lidded mugs which will help them enormously.
As President Angela MacCallum said “If we can give a little back to our community here in Gosport, from just doing the things we enjoy, it benefits everyone. Members enjoy coffee and conversation and it helps others at the same time. We ask everyone to vote on our choice of charity and they unanimously supported the proposal of helping Leesland Federation in Gosport.”
Becky, from Leesland Hub, wrote to us and said “I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you for your generous donation in support of our community hubs with stay-and-play sessions for babies and toddlers, where children enjoy messy play and interaction, while parents and carers have the chance to relax and connect.
Cuppas galore
LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUP
Each session also hosts two to three visiting agencies such as school nurses and mental health support teams among many others. This offers families access to valuable support and guidance.” Becky went on to say “These hubs are open to the entire Gosport community and have become an essential resource at a time when schools are being asked to provide much more than education alone. Thanks to the donation from Stokes Bay WI we can now offer hot drinks and make the space even more welcoming. For some of our parents a warm drink and a friendly chat can be a lifeline.”
Stokes Bay WI holds friendly meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of the month in St Mary’s Parish Centre, Alverstoke 10am-12pm. Our motto is Inspiring Friendship and Fun and we enjoy companionship and laughter in our meetings, outings, special events and interest groups. Our members choose charities to support which, for 2025/26, are Level Up Gosport and Rowans Hospice. Find us on Facebook and our website: www.stokesbaywi.co.uk
£595,000
3 BED DET BUNGALOW. REQUESTED CUL-DE-SAC. SIZEABLE GARDEN PLOT GARAGE. NO CHAIN.
