JUNE 2026 / £3.95
Over 30 pages of inspiration and insight SPECIAL
DRESS FOR ANY SUMMER EVENT THANKS TO THE LATEST FROM ANTHROPOLOGIE
ZARA MUSE Meeting the Essex artist celebrities love WHAT THEY DID FOR US Roman influences, from Colchester to the coast STATE FAYRE A new kind of festival comes to Chelmsford
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16 Agenda The pick of the June events in Essex
18 Zara Muse The grief behind the creation of an acclaimed artist
22 Roman Essex Why their influence travels much further than Colchester
32 Down Hall Behind the scenes of their returning garden gatherings
37 Drinks Raise a glass to English Wine Week
40 The Shoot Partywear glamour from Anthropologie
42 Braintree Village New fashion openings and style advice
52 Real Home A beautiful property by the water in St Osyth
64 Gardens How to ensure your outdoor space is summer ready
81 Trend Five of the best paint colours this season
For editorial enquiries please email: mark@zest-media.com
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84 Choices Exploring the di erent pathways post-16
87 Brentwood School The small school o ering big opportunities
89 Woodbridge School How they develop a life-long love for learning
ON THE COVER Anthropologie SS26 (anthropologie.com)
ABSOLUTELY’S
June issue highlights
O1
ne of my earliest ever memories is of the World Cup in 1986. I was seven at the time, just starting to really get into football. It was tough in a way as none of my family were into football themselves, but the World Cup was clearly something they all had an interest in as I do remember one particular moment: Diego Maradona's handball. And crying when England lost.
That feeling of deflation hasn't disappeared in the 40 years since. Every World Cup since the Hand of God I have got myself geared up, thinking "this is the one", only for some scandalous mishap seeing England's challenge hit the buffers. As the years have gone on, I have become more realistic, but I know come our first game on June 17th against Croatia I will feel maybe, just maybe, this is the year.
With all eyes on the global extravaganza, it's easy to forget there is still plenty going on right here in Essex. In this issue we meet Essex artist Zara Muse (who is inspired by wonders around the world), explore what the Romans did for us, enjoy ten top spots for al fresco dining and get the garden summer ready. Back of the net!
EDITOR
Wishlist
These products are certainly pretty in pink (p12)
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Melanie Georgacopoulos' beautiful jewellery collection includes this Ascending Tria ring with three white freshwater pearls and one larger lavender one. melaniegeorgacopoulos.com
‘Show Us Your Silks’, one of the themes in this year's Royal Ascot Handbook: The Art of Dressing Well. It's a playful nod to the bold graphics and colours of jockey silks. ascot.com
The Piccolo is an elegant miniature version of Neo 87100's Alice bag that comes in the brand's classic monochrome colour palette. We love the silver leather, but the orange suede is tempting too. neo87100.com
Bou Soie's scrunchies are handmade by a team of seamstresses in their studio/boutique, with a whole host of options to liven up any look. bousoie.com
Dior Maison's Champs de Tulipes collection is a tribute to fl oral poetry and art de vivre cra ed from Limoges porcelain and highlighted with 24-karat gold details. dior.com
Bikini season is upon us – and a top selection can be found at Amelie's Follies. For us it's pink gingham all the way. ameliesfollies.co.uk
Stripe & Stare is a certifi ed B Corp underwear and nightware brand that prioritises transparency and ethical sourcing as well as comfort. These are the so est things we've ever worn. stripeandstare.com
A sandal must always be magenta, we believe, and our current favourite is the beautifully so leather Nottibianchi from Tuscany's and memory foam, it's designed for
Bucherer, Mothridate, Soro Jewellery and Longines all contribute to this year's Ascot looks, as defi ned in the annual handbook. Make sure you're dressed to impress. ascot.com
Hotel Mike's upli ing new bath and body salts are designed with the environment in mind, formulated with a careful selection of fermented, upcycled and biotech active ingredients. hotelmike.co.uk
15 JUNE, BRENTWOOD CINEMA
Nuremberg is a powerful historical drama, set in the aftermath of World War II. The film follows U.S. Army psychiatrist Dr Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek), who is assigned to assess the mental fitness of high-ranking Nazi officials – including Hermann Göring (Russell Crowe) – as the Allies prepare for the landmark Nuremberg Trials. What begins as clinical evaluations soon becomes a gripping psychological and legal confrontation. brentwood-theatre.co.uk
4 June CLIFFS PAVILION
Strictly Come Dancing favourites Amy Dowden MBE and Carlos Gu are back with their live tour REBORN. This uplifting and inspirational show celebrates the transformative power of dance, featuring a dazzling cast of world-class dancers and vocalists. Audiences can expect an emotional journey through powerful and show-stopping routines that capture the joy, energy and beauty of dance. thecli spavilion.co.uk
27 June
2 JUNE, CLIFFS PAVILION
From his early days with Slik and The Rich Kids, to defining the sound of the 80s with Ultravox and co-creating the global charity single Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Midge Ure has always challenged musical expectations. With Ivor Novello, Grammy and BASCAP awards to his name, he continues to push boundaries with this ambitious new show.
thecli spavilion.co.uk
STOW MARIES GREAT WAR AERODROME
Historic military vehicles and living historians will give a taste of what Stow Maries was like during World War Two. The event includes an Evacuee Experience for children (additional fee, must be pre-booked) and a vintage cream tea in The Airmen’s Mess (additional fee, must be pre-booked). stowmaries.org.uk
ART
6 June
CHELMSFORD THEATRE
It's almost easier to say whom Ruby Wax didn’t meet, interview and coax fascinating insights from in her huge TV shows Ruby Wax Meets and Full Wax, which included Donald Trump, OJ Simpson, Pamela Anderson, Madonna and many more. Her provocative, abrasive, incomparable style was –just about – kept in check by lifelong friend and A-list producer, Clive Tulloh. Together live on stage they review clips from the extraordinary shows and tell scandalous stories never before heard. chelmsfordtheatre.co.uk
Celebrate English Wine Week at The Sun Inn, Dedham
Until 30 August
FIRSTSITE
Firstsite presents It's a Numbers Game, the first UK institutional exhibition by artist Godfried Donkor. Through a powerful body of new and existing work, Donkor transforms the gallery into a space where histories of empire, resistance, commerce and identity collide and are reimagined through the artist's distinctive visual language. firstsite.uk
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languid summer picnic turns haunting as innocence drifts into mystery beneath the looming shadow of Hanging Rock. Head to Beecroft Art Gallery for a screening of Peter Weir’s quietly unsettling classic, Picnic at Hanging Rock. Set in the Australian countryside at the turn of the 20th century, the fi lm follows a group of schoolgirls on a Valentine’s Day excursion to the ancient Hanging Rock, an outing that drifts into something far more elusive and inexplicable. southendmuseums.co.uk/beecroft
head of English Wine Week this June, The Sun Inn, Dedham, will host a special Wine Dinner on 18th June with Ben Walgate of Walgate Wines and Ben Witchell of Flint Vineyards, two pioneers of the new wave of English Wine. Guests will be treated to a curated five-course menu celebrating the very best of seasonal produce from Essex and Suffolk. Highlights include: Cured Mersea Rock Oysters; Ardleigh Asparagus with Ajo Blanco and Pickled Gooseberry; East Coast Wild Seabass; Ardleigh Baby Fennel and Leek; and Salt Marsh Lamb Leg, Grilled and Served with Chickpea Stew, Merguez Sausage, Peppers and a Summer Herb Salad. The experience concludes with a selection of Norfolk and Sussex cheeses. Each course will be thoughtfully paired with a selection of England’s most exciting wines. From Walgate Wines, their Champagne method sparkling Cuvée M; taut and vibrant Chardonnay; and their generous and plump Pinot Noir blend. Flint Vineyard in Norfolk will present their Charmat method Rosé (think dreamy summer a ernoons), their Bacchus done differently and multiblend Silex that is Chardonnay led. Situated on the Suffolk-Essex border, The Sun Inn is a characterful 15th century coaching inn in the heart of Constable Country, celebrated for its blend of historic charm and seasonal, ingredient-led cooking. Under the ownership of Piers Baker, it has received widespread critical acclaim and is known for its seasonal menus, Italian-influenced dishes and standout wine list, all enjoyed in a relaxed, countryside setting.
thesuninndedham.com
Absolutely meets acclaimed artist Zara Muse to reflect on a creative family, overcoming grief and the joy of Essex
Absolutely first met Zara Muse at her dazzling Diwali Reverie event at the Fairmont Windsor Park in 2025, surrounded by canvases bursting with jewel tones, movement and emotion. It was an evening that perfectly reflected the artist herself: vibrant, warm and impossible to ignore. Yet beyond the striking palette knife work and glamorous setting, there was a deeper story waiting to be told. We left that celebration wanting to know more about the woman behind Zara Muse, aka Alexandra Johnson, a former City trader and devoted mother, who transformed heartbreak into one of the most uplifting artistic success stories.
“Growing up my house was always full of people – aunts, uncles and cousins,” Zara recalls with a smile when we reconvene. “It was full of laughter, noise and love.” It is easy to see how that exuberant upbringing left its mark. Her memories are saturated with
colour, glamour and strong female figures. “My mum had two sisters and they were always dressed to the nines,” she says. “So that would be where my love of colour came from.”
That early immersion in beauty and personality would later become a hallmark of her work, but for a long time art remained a private passion rather than a public identity. Creativity may have been all around her – she is also cousin to a high-profile street artist – but Zara initially chose the safer route of finance.
“My cousin’s journey was always the talk of our family,” she says. “I had a safe job – he was the wild card. I was always so proud of him and fascinated by the work and colours he used.” While she spent her days on a trading floor in the City of London, another world was quietly pulling at her imagination. “For me gra ti is like going against the rules and not being held in any way accountable to being told what to do.”
There is something wonderfully telling in that statement: even before she picked up
a palette knife, Zara was already drawn to freedom, boldness and artistic rebellion.
In many ways, those years in finance gave her more than she realised. “I would say yes, my art is influenced by my younger days in the finance world,” she explains. “I am bold and never afraid. I used to say when I was at my trading desk every morning, ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’” It is the kind of fearless mentality that now defines both her paintings and her willingness to put herself out there creatively.
But the emergence of Zara Muse did not come because she was searching for a new career. It came because life stopped her in her tracks.
When her mother became ill, she devoted herself to caring for her. Those two years would alter everything. “Having had the privilege of caring for my wonderful mum for two years gave me courage to always think ‘why not’,” she says. “I have never been afraid to fail. I thought if I can survive my mum going, I can survive anything.”
It is a quote that cuts straight to the heart of who Zara is now. There is grief in it, of course, but also extraordinary strength. Her mother’s passing was followed by lockdown, creating a period of intense stillness in which Zara was left alone with her emotions. For many, that would have been paralysing. For her, it became the beginning of something transformative.
“After my mum passed away we went into lockdown so I had time, we couldn’t go out,” she says. “I was able to sit with my feelings and painting which was so mentally good for me, when you paint you can’t think about other intrusive thoughts.” Painting became less of a hobby and more of a lifeline – a place where grief could move through colour, texture and gesture rather than words.
The artistic alter ego of Zara Muse developed naturally from that process. “Zara Muse was an organic process after my mum died and how all the amazing strong women in my life keep me going and love me,” she explains. “It was such a hard time for me. Grieving is personal and we have to find ways to cope.” There is no sense of contrivance in the name; it feels instead like a stronger version of herself stepping forward when she needed it most.
And what she was creating was unlike anything else. “My work is full of layers, the paint is always rich and tactile,” she says of her now instantly recognisable technique. “I love that the paint is impasto on the canvas.” Using palette knives and spatulas rather than brushes, Zara builds her paintings almost sculpturally, giving them a sumptuous three-dimensionality. They are not paintings you simply look at – they are paintings you feel. Each thick sweep of pigment seems to hold an emotion, which perhaps explains why they resonate so deeply with collectors.
Some works carry especially personal significance. “I have been so lucky there are
“My work is full of layers, the paint is always rich and tactile”
many pieces I feel a real connection with,” she says. “I did a little homage to Mum when she was bald in her favourite pink colour.”
Of course, one of the collections that first brought her to Absolutely’s attention was Diwali Reverie, a celebration of Indian culture, colour and spirituality that felt every bit as joyful as its title suggested. “The Diwali Reverie collection was special as I actually went to India for my research,” she says. “It is one of the most amazing places I have ever been to, the colours, the people and the love is something I felt so hugged by.” The collection itself carried exactly that same embrace, inviting viewers into a world of warmth, radiance and festivity.
Yet for all the international inspiration, Zara remains firmly rooted in Essex, where she has lived for the past quarter of a century. “I have lived in Essex for 25 years,” she says. “I moved over to ‘the dark side’ as my mum used to call it before my oldest son was born. I love it here. It is my home.” Now based in Leighon-Sea, she enjoys views across the estuary and finds daily inspiration in the county’s natural beauty. “Of course it inspires my work, nothing beats a walk with the sunrise and the sea, I am really grateful to live in Essex.”
There is something wonderfully grounding about that. For all the glamour, all the bold colours and striking canvases,
Zara’s life is still anchored in simple rituals: family, home, sea air, gratitude. It makes sense that her paintings manage to feel both dramatic and comforting at once.
As for what she is working on next, Zara remains tantalisingly discreet. “I am working on something really exciting at the moment, not sure I can say just yet,” she teases. “As they say, watch this space!”
And we certainly will. Because what makes Zara Muse so compelling is not just the art –though that alone is enough to stop you in your tracks – but the spirit behind it. She has built a second act from sorrow, turned personal loss into public beauty, and done so with the kind of optimism that feels increasingly rare. If there is one quote that perhaps defines her best, it is this: “If I can survive my mum going, I can survive anything.” In those 11 words sits the whole essence of Zara Muse: courage, colour, vulnerability and a determination to keep creating no matter what life throws at her.
Discover more by visiting zaramuse.com
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The Roman and Medieval Festival returns to Colchester this month, but the rest of the county is also home to historic links
When you think of the Romans and Essex, Colchester probably springs to mind immediately. Quite rightly too, given its importance in Roman Britain, reflected in the return of the Roman and Medieval Festival at Colchester Castle on 7th and 8th June. But dig a little deeper and the (Roman) roads lead to many other parts of the county.
Everyone knows that Essex can point to Colchester and make a very loud claim on Roman Britain. Colchester was Camulodunum, the first great Roman prize after the Claudian invasion, the earliest colonia, and for a crucial early period the administrative heart of the new province. Yet
the mistake is to imagine that Roman Essex begins and ends behind Colchester’s walls. In reality, once you start moving around the county, a far broader Roman map appears – one made not of abstract road lines on an archaeology plan, but of market towns, estuary forts, villa country and river crossings that still shape the Essex landscape now.
The Roman occupation in Essex feels unusually tangible because it was never confined to one ceremonial centre. Rome built a system here. Colchester was the political statement, but the rest of Essex supplied the movement, the food, the security and the wealth that allowed that statement to endure.
Long before Chelmsford became the administrative centre of modern Essex, it was already serving a Roman purpose. The settlement of Caesaromagus stood on the
crossing of the Rivers Can and Chelmer, e ectively halfway between Londinium and Colchester, and grew in the decades after the Boudiccan revolt into a substantial Roman market town and o cial stopping place. Excavations have shown a mansio, or government guest house, bath buildings, workshops, religious precincts and a defended earthwork around the settlement. Modern Moulsham Street still follows the same Roman alignment through the town. What matters about Chelmsford is not simply that the Romans were there, but that the modern place still sits on the same practical crossing point they chose. Even now, it feels like a hinge in the county –the point where routes gather, rivers can be negotiated, and east-west movement becomes organised. That is exactly why Rome developed it. Essex’s Roman story survives not only in buried masonry, but in these stubbornly useful locations that have never stopped being useful.
If Chelmsford was the county’s Roman service town, then Great Chesterford was its northern administrative outpost. Sitting near the Cam valley, Great Chesterford began with a military fort and then developed into a thriving small town with temples, stone buildings, a defended circuit and evidence of tax collection and agricultural control. Archaeologists have long argued that it functioned as an inland nodal point where Roman authority met the rich farming country to the north-west. What is striking about Great Chesterford is how unassuming the village looks today. There is no monumental ruin announcing its Roman significance. But that is part of the fascination of Essex Roman history: major Roman places often survive as ordinary English settlements under which the older geometry remains hidden. The broad village floor, the relationship to the ford, the position beside route corridors – all still make geographical sense in Roman terms.
Travel to the Essex coast and the Roman mood changes completely. At Bradwell-onSea, on the lonely lip of the Dengie peninsula, stood Othona, one of the late Roman Saxon
Shore forts. This was not a market town or veteran colony but a defensive station, built in the troubled later centuries when the empire’s east coast had become vulnerable to raiding and instability. The walls are mostly gone, but the line of the fort still governs the site occupied by St Peter-on-the-Wall, and the sense of exposed remoteness is unmistakable. Bradwell gives Essex a Roman coastline of a very di erent character from postcard seaside England. Here Rome was looking anxiously outward, scanning estuary and North Sea, trying to hold a maritime frontier. The county’s Roman inheritance is not just urban confidence but also imperial unease.
The Essex estuaries were economically valuable long before marinas and yacht clubs. Around Mersea Island, the Blackwater and the Colne, archaeologists have found concentrations of Roman salt-working sites, farmsteads and villa complexes. Essex’s famous marsh-edge “red hills” – low mounds stained by briquetage and industrial waste –are the residue of large-scale salt production, one of the essential industries of the Roman food economy. Fish, oysters, preserved meat and traded goods all depended on it. This matters because it shows that Roman Essex was not simply being crossed
by armies or o cials. It was productive, monetised and tied into supply systems reaching London and the wider province. Along these tidal inlets Rome was making money. The still-flat horizons, creeks and saltings of coastal Essex are therefore not just atmospheric scenery; they are industrial Roman landscapes in disguise.
One of the most revealing things about Essex is how many Roman villa and high-status farm sites continue to appear once one looks beyond the obvious public monuments. More than 60 villa sites are now known across the county, many clustered around the fertile land south and west of Colchester and through the Chelmsford hinterland. Stanway, Layer Breton, Great Tey, Chignall and the Mersea corridor all show evidence of heated domestic buildings, tiled roofs, imported pottery and organised agricultural estates. These places are important because they tell a quieter Roman story – not conquest, but settlement. Roman Essex became comfortable. Veterans, local elites and Romano-British landowners were investing in country residences and managed farmland. In many cases there is little for the casual visitor to see beyond a fold in a field or a cropmark on aerial photographs, yet that almost makes the county more evocative. Roman Essex is often sensed rather than spectacularly displayed: a parish church built with reused Roman brick, a suspiciously rectangular field boundary, a lane that seems too straight for chance.
All of these places finally lead back to Colchester, but they do so in a new way.
Colchester was not an isolated Roman wonder dropped into an otherwise empty county. It was the centre of a network. Chelmsford fed movement into it; Great Chesterford linked it to northern administration; Bradwell guarded the coast beyond it; Mersea and the estuaries supplied its trade; the villas of inland Essex fed and enriched its population.
That is what makes Essex unusually compelling as a Roman county. In some English counties, Roman remains survive as disconnected curiosities – a fort here, a mosaic there, an oddly named field somewhere else. In Essex the pieces still feel related. You can move from one place to another and understand what each was doing in the life of the province.
Rome came first to Essex in force, but it stayed because Essex worked: rich farmland,
navigable estuaries, manageable distances from London, and native settlements that could be absorbed into imperial administration. Nearly two thousand years later, the county still follows many of those same practical rules. Its principal towns sit where Rome found advantage, its coast still feels both fruitful and vulnerable, and beneath a remarkable amount of ordinary Essex lies the plan of an imperial landscape that never quite vanished.
The Roman and Medieval Festival takes place on 7th and 8th June at Lower Castle Park. See more at visitcolchester.com
In April, V&A East Museum launched through two opening events celebrating both the arrival of the new institution and its inaugural exhibition, The Music is Black: A British Story. The first, held on Tuesday 14th April, o ered an exclusive viewing of the museum and its permanent displays, ahead of its public opening that weekend. This was followed by a vibrant reception on Wednesday 15th April, celebrating The Music is Black: A British Story – an exhibition exploring the voices, talent and global impact of Black British music, in collaboration with BBC Music. Attendees included AJ Tracey, Beverley Knight, Clara Amfo, Eve, Grace Carter, Kojey Radical, K-Trap, MNEK, MJ Cole, Nia Smith and Nectar Woode.
The Music is Black: A British Story brings together hidden stories of early legends and contemporary artists through objects ranging from groundbreaking musician Winifred Atwell’s piano to the Nintendo JME used for early music experiments, as well as fashion worn by Little Simz, Seal, Dame Shirley Bassey and Skin, and newly acquired photographs of Kemistry and Storm, Mis-Teeq and Skepta. Curated by Jacqueline Springer, who also curated Africa and Diaspora Performance at the V&A, the exhibition reveals how British-born Black music genres – from lovers rock and Brit funk, to 2 tone, jungle, drum & bass, trip hop, UK garage, grime and beyond – have inspired and impacted lives across the UK and around the world.
The private view followed the grand opening event of V&A East Museum, hosted by Gus Casely-Hayford, Director of V&A East Museum, alongside the Museum’s Board of Trustees. Notable guest attendees on Tuesday included Amelia Dimoldenberg, Archie Madekwe, Andy Bell, Bianca Saunders, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Goya Gumbani, Hale Zero, James Massiah, Kai-Isaiah Jamal, Mia Regan and Vick Hope.
V&A East Museum opened on Saturday 18th April, joining sister venue V&A East Storehouse, which opened in May 2025. Across two sites, V&A East is one of the UK’s most ambitious new museum developments of the last decade. Both sites are on East Bank, the new cultural quarter in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, as part of the Mayor of London’s 2012 Olympic legacy. The Music is Black: A British Story also marks a collaboration with the BBC that includes a complementary season of programming and educational resources across its channels and launches The Music Is Black Festival, a summer 2026 programme of displays and performances in collaboration with East Bank partners.
vam.ac.uk
Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th June
Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th June
Set in the glorious surroundings of medieval barns,
Catering, Licensed Bar and Live Music
Adult £6 Concession £5 Children Free
Advance tickets available at:
Open 10 - 4
The Australian artist Carmen Delprat captures an allegory of the world around her and transforms it into dream like interpretations with vivid colour and imagination.
Carmen’s art merges in several styles including fine art, surrealism and symbolism. Her work is a symbol of empowerment and visual delight. Visit the full collection carmendelpratart.com IG Carmen Delprat Art.
BARGE
Absolutely discovers more about a very special Sunday lunch due to be on o er at Down Hall over the coming months
This summer, Down Hall Hotel, Spa & Estate invites guests to step outside for something far removed from the traditional Sunday lunch, as its Garden Gatherings return to The Woodland Table – an immersive open-air dining experience shaped by seasonality, smoke and open flame. Starting on Sunday 28th June – with further events to be held on 19th July, 16th August and 6th September – these one-of-akind open-air feasts unfold within the estate’s al fresco dining concept, The Woodland Table. Beneath open skies and surrounded by the living larder of the two-acre kitchen garden, long organic tables carved from Down Hall’s own felled trees are set among gently smouldering fire pits, with live music drifting through the afternoon air.
Led by Executive Chef Robert Pearce, the experience showcases flame cooking with menus shaped by the fresh produce growing in the hotel’s two-acre kitchen garden and sourced from trusted local suppliers. Every Garden Gathering begins with estateinspired cocktails and canapés, before chefs introduce the inspiration behind the fourcourse surprise menu. Guests can expect the likes of grilled hispi cabbage with houmous and creamed taramasalata to start, with mains of fire-kissed lamb rump, miso-glazed cauliflower, and wood-charred Chalk Farm trout, followed by desserts such as toasted pavlova with rhubarb compote. Throughout, seasonal cocktails crafted with Down Hall’s own gin and vodka are infused with freshly picked herbs from the kitchen garden.
Robert Pearce sat down with Absolutely to explain the thinking behind the concept, what’s exciting about the cooking process and what surprises may be in store for guests.
EVERYONE LOVES TO EXPERIENCE THAT SMOKY, BARBECUE FLAVOUR TOGETHER
Q The Woodland Table is such a distinctive setting – what inspired you to create an open-fire dining experience at Down Hall?
A Open-fire cooking is very much on trend, and I think it is set to stay that way. The experience of outdoor dining draws people in, even those who don’t cook much at home, because everyone loves to experience that smoky, barbecue flavour together.
Q Cooking over flame plays a central role in these gatherings. How does it influence the flavours and storytelling of your menus?
A It’s brilliant on so many levels. You get those incredible smoky notes right from the first lighting, and then the intense heat of the flames themselves immediately set the tone for the evening. In the same way a classic tableside flambé creates a sense of restaurant theatre, our flame cooking is o ering a summer version of that. Who doesn’t love to see a bit of a fiery spectacle when they’re dining outdoors?
Q With ingredients coming directly from the two-acre kitchen garden, how closely does the menu evolve with what’s growing week to week?
A It’s not just the kitchen garden, the whole estate gets in on the act, from elderberries to birch sap. If we can eat it, we use it. I tend to have the summer menus mapped out in my head, but the British weather always has a say, and I’ll often need to adapt at the last minute.
Q Guests don’t know the menu in advance – what’s the thinking behind the “surprise” element?
A Not knowing the menu is key as it creates a real family feel. You wouldn’t
UP THE
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expect a set menu at a family barbecue, and that’s exactly the spirit we’re after. We’re inviting guests into our world for the day with the chefs moving between the tables throughout the experience, and all it takes is one familiar flavour to spark a memory. That’s when the magic happens.
Q There’s a strong sense of theatre, with dishes prepared in full view. How important is that interaction between chefs and guests?
A Hugely important! Let’s be honest, every chef wants instant feedback, and when you’re cooking in front of people you get exactly that. Seeing guests’ faces light up the moment a dish arrives at the table is everything.
Q You mention “ingredients travelling metres, not miles” – how does that proximity change the way you approach menu development?
A People might assume it’s simple, just step outside and throw things on the fire, but there’s real planning involved in the menu development. The weather might change, something might not be quite ready to harvest, or I might have ten ingredients available that simply don’t work together on a plate.
A lot of that thinking actually begins at the planting stage.
Q Are there particular ingredients from the garden this summer that
you’re especially excited to showcase?
A Our tomatoes and rhubarb are extraordinary this year. People might think they’re straightforward, and they are in one sense, but you simply can’t replicate the depth of flavour you get from our soil.
Q The cocktails use Down Hall’s own gin and vodka infused with garden herbs –how closely do you collaborate with the bar team when shaping the experience?
A We always try to weave the two together. If the rhubarb is rocking and ready to go, why not serve it as a canapé on arrival, paired with a Down Hall rhubarb gin cocktail? It creates a real thread running through the whole experience.
Q Beyond these Sunday feasts, what else can guests expect from Down Hall’s culinary o ering this summer?
A This summer, we’re very much centring our focus around an immersive ‘plot-toplate’ philosophy with the relaunch of Garden Gatherings at The Woodland Table. Alongside the Sunday feasts, guests can enjoy four-course sharing menus cooked over live fire pits in the heart of the kitchen garden. We’re also introducing Alfresco Jazz Afternoon Tea on the Terrace, and curated gourmet picnics designed for exploring the wider 110-acre estate.
Find out more by visiting downhall.co.uk
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Hailing from a small estate in Hampshire, Candover ’s Brut has big ambitions and the awards to match. Recognised by the IWC and Decanter, it delivers lemon blossom, toasted brioche, creamy vanilla, and a precise, mineral finish, £43. candoverbrook.co.uk
Blackbook Controversy is London winemaking with a little attitude. Crafted from 100% Pinot Meunier and fermented in old Burgundy barrels using indigenous yeast, it delivers strawberry, redcurrant and grapefruit peel with a depth you won’t forget in a hurry, £22.50. blackbookwinery.com
Tinwood’s Rosé is West Sussex sparkling at its most charming. It’s a crafty blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay that delivers heaps of raspberry, strawberry, and rose petals, with a dry, creamy finish of real elegance, £35. tinwoodestate.com
Wildshark’s Bacchus Fumé takes England’s favourite grape somewhere unexpected. Smoky, aromatic, and alive with citrus and elderflower, it has the kind of wild energy the name promises, and the finesse to back it up, £18. wildsharkvineyard.co.uk
By NATALIA SUTA
Denbie’s Wild Orange Solaris 2024 is English winemaking with nothing to hide. Wild fermented and left on skin for almost ten months, it arrives unfiltered, unfined, and full of character –tropical fruit, orange blossom, and a whisper of earl grey tea, £29.95. denbies.co.uk
Natalia Suta is a WSET-certified wine writer and educator with a knack for making wine accessible and fun. When she is not writing, she’s busy curating wine experiences and offering consultancy to help others discover the joy of wine. Follow Natalia on Instagram @_winerocks_
HansonsHertfordshire auctioneers and valuers are pleased to invite you to our regional valuation days. We are currently consigning jewellery, watches, antiques and collectibles for our monthly auctions. Our experienced valuers would be delighted to meet and advise you on auction estimates. We also offer FREE home visits if you are unable to attend our valuation days.
EVERY Wednesday at Burston Garden Centre, North Orbital Road, St Albans AL22DS
10am – 1pm
EVERY Thursday at The Kings Arms, 147 High Street, Berkhamsted HP43HL 10am – 1pm
EVERY Friday at our auction house
Hansons
Hertfordshire Unit 1, Lumen Road, Royston, Hertfordshire SG8 7AG 10am – 1pm
EVERY third Thursday at Saracens Head Hotel, High Street, Great Dunmow, Dunmow CM6 1AG 10am – 2pm
AND the last Wednesday of every month at The Acorn Room Pendley Manor Hotel Cow Lane, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 5QY 10am –2pm
ALBARAY X LAETITIA ROUGET
Albaray has launched a vibrant summer collaboration with artist and designer Laetitia Rouget: a capsule collection that captures the spirit of sun-soaked days, artistic freedom, and wearable joy. albaray.co.uk
Anthropologie’ s summer event wear will bring the cool and glam to your outfit ANTHROPOLOGIE.COM
Braintree Village has announced the arrival of three iconic British womenswear brands: Hobbs, Whistles, and Phase Eight. Located in a joint 2,366 sq ft store next to French Connection, the trio of brands join the outlet’s lineup of highstreet and designer womenswear labels, including Radley, Monsoon, and GUESS.
The store’s opening marks a significant milestone for the Essex-based outlet shopping destination, o ering guests three heritage womenswear brands at up to 60% o the RRP.
Synonymous with the best of British design, Hobbs’ clothing is tailored to the multifaceted nature of the modern woman. Originally starting as a sought-after shoe label in London in 1981, the brand has evolved into a global name known for its celebrated footwear, feminine tailoring, and smart coats.
Whistles is set to bring a contemporary edge to the joint store, stocking its range of e ortless silhouettes designed for independence and individuality. Renowned for its unique print and colour handwriting, the brand specialises in high-
quality, timeless foundational pieces.
Completing the trio is Phase Eight, which has spent over 45 years designing luxury womenswear for all life’s moments. From e ortless outfits to show stopping event styles, their London-based studio combines hand-drawn prints with luxe fabrics to create unique collections for the modern woman.
To celebrate the opening, guests who spend over £150 will receive a gift with their purchase (whilst stocks last). Josef O’Sullivan, Centre Director at Braintree Village, says: “We are thrilled that Hobbs, Whistles, and Phase Eight have joined our lineup of fashion brands. Bringing these three iconic brands together at Braintree Village significantly strengthens our womenswear o ering, and we’re sure our guests will love the new additions. With the store now open in time for the summer, it is the perfect opportunity for our guests to stock up on stylish holiday essentials and occasion wear at outlet prices.”
The trio’s arrival follows Australian jewellery brand Lovisa’s opening in April, and the reopening of both new White Stu and Pavers stores. In the coming months, ProCook will reopen following a refurbishment and Mint Velvet will join the outlet's growing womenswear o ering. .
The sessions are a social event for friends, family or colleagues
PERSONAL TOUCH… WHY BRAINTREE VILLAGE’S STYLE SOCIALS IS A GAME CHANGER
In addition to the exciting womenswear launches, Braintree Village has also redefined the personal shopping experience with the launch of ‘Style Socials’. Designed as a shared experience in addition to their personal one-on-one appointments, these sessions are tailored for groups of 3-8 people, making them a social event for friends, family, or colleagues. Each session is hosted by one of Braintree Village’s expert personal stylists, who provide insight into the outlet’s selection of over 80 high street and designer brands – including Coach, GUESS and Ralph Lauren – allowing guests to master their personal look while accessing discounts of up to 60% o RRP.
THE COLOUR ANALYSIS
SOCIAL (£80 PER PERSON)
This three-hour session is designed for those looking to discover their most flattering colour palette. The experience begins with a welcome consultation featuring drinks and nibbles, followed by a professional colour analysis. This process identifies the shades that complement a guest’s
complexion and make their features pop, before finishing with a curated shopping trip, where the stylist helps guests apply their new colour knowledge to select pieces in their most flattering shades.
For a more comprehensive transformation, this four-hour session o ers a deep dive. In addition to the professional colour analysis, guests receive a body shape assessment to help them understand the silhouettes, proportions, and tailoring that best complement their natural frame. The session is accompanied by an exclusive in-store brand experience, adding a refined and indulgent touch to an already thoughtfully curated experience.
The Company Social is a bespoke three-hour package that blends professional styling with team bonding, o ering colour analysis and style-based exercises. This session also includes an exclusive experience with one of the outlet’s premium brands, providing a unique alternative to traditional corporate events that focuses on personal branding and confidence in a creative environment. As well as Style Socials, guests can attend Braintree Village’s Style Sessions events led by the outlet's personal stylists. Located in the PLUS+ Lounge, the sessions allow guests to discover how to build a timeless capsule wardrobe to suit all seasons.
braintree-village.com/en/style-socials
the traditional sauna experience, upgraded
CLEVERLY COMPACT FOR THE CITY
LUXURIOUSLY LARGE IN THE WILD
classic design, best in class, built to last
Fast and convenient access to treatment, so you can get back to doing the things you love.
We offer a range of ways to pay including selffunding and using your private medical insurance. Contact our team on 0808 258 3918 or scan the QR code for more information.
By PENDLE HARTE
LA BOUGIE
La Bougie brings fragrance and sustainability together in its newest category launch: a luxurious collection of body care products designed to cleanse and nourish. Three years in development, this line places fragrance at the very heart of the experience. labougie.co.uk
EDITOR’S PICK
Bare Sculpt is a modern contour stick designed to add natural dimension and enhance the face’s most flattering features. Vegan and never tested on animals, this weightless balm-cream applies and blends e ortlessly for a seamless, barelythere finish, while the collagen-stimulating Lupeol supports firmer and more toned skin. cosmeticsalacarte.com
MILLER HARRIS
Capturing the essence of tea leaves, sparkling citrus, and subtle smoky warmth, Tea Tonique extrait de parfum is cra ed to linger on the skin, thanks to a higher concentration of perfume oils, making it the perfect scent for summer. millerharris.com
IMen’s Health Week returns this month
n the UK, Men’s Health Week takes place every June and focuses on raising awareness of the physical and mental health challenges faced by men and boys. Organised by the Men’s Health Forum, the campaign encourages men to take better care of their health, seek medical advice earlier, and speak more openly about issues that are often ignored. Key topics include mental health, suicide prevention, heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, and healthy lifestyles. The week also highlights the importance of regular exercise, balanced diets, reducing alcohol and smoking, and attending routine health checks. A major aim is to tackle the stigma that prevents many men from discussing emotional or physical problems. Workplaces, schools, charities, and healthcare organisations often run events, workshops, and campaigns to support men’s wellbeing. A top tip for men during Men’s Health Week is to use the opportunity to book a health check and start one positive habit that can realistically be maintained long term. Whether it is walking daily, improving sleep, or opening up to friends, small consistent changes often have the biggest lasting impact on overall wellbeing.
MEN’S HEALTH WEEK
Discover more by visiting menshealthforum.org.uk/mhw
BLUE LAGOON Mineral Mask, £80 uk.skinscience.bluelagoon.com
ZO SKIN HEALTH
ZO Sunscreen + Powder Broad Spectrum SPF30, £59 skin65.co.uk
CHITO CARE Body lotion, £49 chitocare.co.uk
GENTLE CARE
Lip balm, £18 uk.gentle-care.com
BLUE LAGOON
BL+ eye serum, £140 uk.skinscience. bluelagoon.com
EDITOR’S PICK
TEOXANE Urban Shield SPF30, £60 teoxane.co.uk
BELIF
Super Drops Sun Serum 50+, £22 harrods.com
ESK Enlighten Gold, £77 eskcare.com
High tech skincare for summer
By PENDLE HARTE
IMAGE SKINCARE Daily Prevention protect and refresh mist, £52 imageskincare.co.uk
IMAGE SKINCARE I Mask hydrating hydrogel sheet mask, £48 imageskincare.co.uk
Elevating outdoor spaces around the world for 30 years, Trex composite decking is the perfect choice for those looking for high-quality, lowmaintenance decking that is built to last. Made from 95% recycled and reclaimed materials, Trex boards come with up to 50-year limited residential warranties for total peace of mind. uk.trex.com
Waterside modernism meets Essex coastal calm: inside a standout St Osyth home
There are certain houses that announce themselves quietly. No sweeping gates. No theatrical driveway. No grandiose façade demanding attention.
Instead, they reveal their strengths slowly – in the quality of the light, the hush of the water beyond the garden, the thoughtful engineering hidden beneath polished surfaces, and the subtle sense that everyday life here would feel just a little easier, a little brighter, a little more expansive.
That is precisely the experience awaiting behind the front door of this Dumont Avenue home in St Osyth, a remarkable contemporary coastal residence that combines high-spec modern design with one of Essex’s most enviable waterside positions.
Part of the Fenn Wright Signature collection, this five/six-bedroom detached home sits within grounds of almost a third of an acre and enjoys uninterrupted south-westerly views towards the coast, complete with water frontage and the rare added luxury of mooring rights – a detail that instantly shifts the lifestyle proposition from merely attractive to genuinely aspirational.
Approached via an understated frontage, the house does not give everything away at once. A sheltered entrance porch with discreet downlighting leads inside, where the mood changes immediately. The reception hall is broad, bright and calm – tiled underfoot, cleverly arranged with concealed storage and designed with that increasingly sought-after sense of uncluttered flow.
From here, the house opens up. Straight ahead lies the principal living
space, and this is where the architecture begins to perform. Natural light pours in from the rear elevation, while bi-fold doors draw the eye beyond the terrace and down the garden to the glittering ribbon of water at the boundary. It is impossible not to pause here. This is a room designed around the view.
A contemporary inset fireplace anchors one wall, creating warmth and intimacy in winter, but the real star is the relationship between indoors and outdoors: doors folded back, sea air drifting through, the terrace becoming an extension of the room during long summer evenings.
A recessed dining area sits just beyond, tucked neatly off the main reception room. It works beautifully as an entertaining zone but offers flexibility too – something this home does particularly well – with scope to create a more formal separate room if desired.
As with any successful modern family house, the kitchen is not simply a practical space; it is the social engine. Here, it has been executed with both style and substance.
A substantial island with quartz worktops forms the centrepiece, housing an induction hob with drawdown extractor and creating a natural place for everything from hurried breakfasts to late-night glasses of wine. Along one wall, a bank of integrated storage keeps the look crisp and architectural, while dual ovens, an integrated dishwasher and room for an American-style fridge freezer underline the house’s family credentials.
There is a utility room beyond – often the unsung hero in homes of this scale
– equally well finished and thoughtfully hidden from the main entertaining spaces. And throughout, there is the sense that this is a house built not just to impress on viewing day, but to function beautifully every day after that.
The first floor is where the property truly begins to capitalise on its extraordinary setting. A dramatic vaulted landing, rising to approximately 16 feet, creates an immediate feeling of volume and airiness.
The principal suite is particularly memorable. Again framed by a soaring vaulted ceiling, it feels more boutique hotel than suburban bedroom. Builtin wardrobes maintain the clean lines, while bi-fold doors open onto a covered private balcony – a wonderfully indulgent spot from which to take in
This is not just a beautiful coastal house, it is a futureproofed one too
the changing colours of the estuary, morning coffee in hand.
Its en-suite is equally generous, fitted with a walk-in shower, bidet and vanity storage, all finished with the same crisp modernity that runs through the house.
Elsewhere on this level, the remaining bedrooms continue to play with scale and light. One guest bedroom enjoys commanding coastal views through fulllength glazing; another, currently arranged as a gym, features a charming portholestyle window; another is washed in sunlight from an impressive full-height feature window. A further bedroom is presently used as a study, demonstrating again the flexibility that makes this property adaptable for changing family needs, home working or multi-generational living.
For all its visual appeal, one of the most impressive aspects of Dumont Avenue is what lies behind the scenes. This is not simply a beautiful coastal house – it is an intelligently future-proofed one.
Underfloor heating, uPVC double glazing, solar panels, Cat 6 wiring and ethernet ports combine to create a property with an exceptional EPC A rating, a rarity even among premium homes. Oversized garaging adds further practical appeal, while the specification throughout speaks to owners who valued longevity and performance as highly as aesthetics.
In a market increasingly conscious of running costs and sustainability, that level of efficiency significantly enhances the home’s long-term desirability. Step into the rear garden and the full emotional pull of this property becomes clear. The grounds stretch gently towards the water, creating a sense of private coastal frontage that is hard to replicate elsewhere in the county. With mooring rights coming with the property, the lifestyle possibilities widen considerably: paddleboarding before breakfast, launching a small boat on summer weekends, or simply sitting on the terrace watching the changing tide
and evening sunsets reflected across the estuary. This is not just outside space: it is a front-row seat to the Essex coast.
Location is often reduced to postcode shorthand, but here it deserves more attention. St Osyth remains one of Essex’s most historically characterful villages – anchored by its medieval priory, independent amenities and a strong sense of community – while still offering direct access to the coast and countryside in equal measure.
Just minutes away lies Clacton-onSea, a destination long associated with traditional seaside charm but increasingly recognised for something more nuanced: accessibility, affordability compared with other southern coastal hotspots, and a pace of life that feels refreshingly unforced.
Residents have miles of sandy beaches, sailing clubs, coastal walks, golf courses and family-run seafood spots within easy reach. There are train links back towards London when required, yet day to day life feels defined by open skies, sea breezes and a sense of breathing room.
And for families, it represents the increasingly rare opportunity to secure substantial, design-led living by the water without crossing into seven-figure territory demanded elsewhere along the South East coastline.
Dumont Avenue is the kind of property that becomes more persuasive the longer you spend in it.
Initially, it captivates with the view.
Then come the architectural details, the vaulted volumes, the engineering, the energy credentials, the mooring rights, the flexibility of the accommodation.
By the time you step back outside, one thing is clear: this is not merely a large detached house near the coast.
It is a carefully considered lifestyle home — modern, e cient and quietly luxurious — o ering a daily connection to water, light and open space that is increasingly hard to find.
Dumont Avenue has an asking price of £800,000. Find out more by contacting Fenn Wright Colchester on 01206 763388 or visiting fennwright.co.uk
Visit our new garden room show village to explore six exquisite garden rooms and a luxury annexe - discover your dream space, f rom private gym retreat to refined of fices or elegant lounges and bars, tailored for discerning Home Counties living
Hemel Hempstead Garden Centre, 1 Piper's Hill, Great Gaddesden, Her fordshire, HP1 3BY
9:00am - 5:00pm Mon-Sat 10:00am - 4:30pm Sunday
Scanfor2026
CollectionBrochure, Designs&Prices
Step into a space where luxury meets lifestyle Just steps f rom your dooryour bespoke Garden Room of fers the per fect setting to work, entertain, train, or simply unwind in refined comfort Think boutique-hotel elegance, seamlessly nestled within your garden
Our f ully insulated, low-maintenance Garden Rooms and Annexes pair clean contemporary architecture with rich cedar finishes and thoughtf ully curated interiors Every detail is considereddelivering versatility, lasting value, and understated sophistication that enhances both your lifestyle and your home
Your space, your way.
Ready to transform your outdoor space by investing in a composite deck? There are plenty of different brands available – but to make sure your finished deck looks fantastic, performs well day-to-day and stands the test of time, it’s vital to choose the right option.
Here are the five things to prioritise when making your decision:
At first glance, one brand of decking board might look just like the next one. However, the materials and methods used to create composite decking boards differ widely and affect how the boards perform under everyday use.
For maximum performance and durability, choose solid decking boards that are ‘capped’ with a shell that protects them
against scratches, fading and stains, as well as mould, mildew and moisture.
The weather-resistant shell featured on Trex® decking means your deck will stay looking great for longer, standing up to kids, pets, entertaining – and, of course, our famous British weather.
One reason so many homeowners choose composite decking over traditional timber is that it takes much less effort to keep it looking fabulous. This makes perfect sense – after all, you want to spend your downtime enjoying your outdoor space, not maintaining it.
‘Low maintenance’ should mean no sanding, sealing or staining and only an occasional clean with water and a mild detergent to keep the deck looking its best. But not all composite boards perform equally – and choosing a low-quality product means running the risk of
staining, fading or mould growth, especially in shaded UK gardens.
Again, this is where Trex decking’s protective shell comes into its own, preventing moisture damage and staining* and withstanding everyday wear without the need for ongoing maintenance.
A warranty is a signal of a decking manufacturer’s confidence in their product, giving you peace of mind that your investment is protected over the long term.
The most reputable brands typically offer 25-year warranties, with Trex leading the pack with a 50-year limited residential warranty for boards in its premium Signature®, Transcend® and Transcend Lineage® ranges.
When comparing warranties, look closely at what’s included and what’s not. A worthwhile warranty should provide coverage against material
defects, splitting, splintering, rot and decay under normal usage conditions. Damage caused through incorrect installation, inadequate structural support or abnormal use wouldn’t typically be covered.
If, like many homeowners, sustainability is one of the reasons you’re choosing composite decking over traditional timber, look for boards manufactured using a high proportion of recycled materials, such as reclaimed wood fibres and recycled plastics.
As well as reducing the demand for virgin timber, this also gives new life to materials that might otherwise end up in landfill.
An extra tip: don’t take claims about being eco-friendly at face value – it’s worth looking beyond the marketing hype to understand what a brand is actually doing to reduce their environmental impact.
One of the biggest advantages of composite decking is the range of options available, making your dream deck achievable whatever your budget.
For example, the Trex range progresses from its entry-level Enhance® Basics collection to the mid-range Enhance Naturals range, the premium Transcend and
Transcend Lineage lines and the luxury Signature collection.
Every collection offers easy upkeep and resistance to fading and staining* in a choice of colours, with each step up offering higher-end aesthetics, greater durability and longer warranties. It means a budget-conscious project can still deliver performance and durability, with a more refined, design-led finish achievable at a higher price point.
Inventing composite decking 30 years ago, Trex is now the world’s number one decking brand, sold in more than 47 countries. Designed to be different, all Trex’s boards are engineered to be high performance and low maintenance and are created from 95% recycled and reclaimed materials. In fact, Trex has never felled a single tree to create its decking.
This year has seen Trex introduce two new colours to its UK range – Carmel, a light oak in its Transcend Lineage range, and Tide Pool, a soft, warm grey in Trex’s Enhance collection, both of which incorporate Trex’s innovative SunComfortableTM technology.
For more information on Trex visit uk.trex.com
(*Visit uk.trex.com/warranty and uk.trex.com/care for details)
TBoConcept explores the evolving role of the sofa, where Danish craftsmanship, sculptural design and everyday comfort come together at the heart of the modern home
here are few pieces of furniture as central to everyday life as the sofa. It is where mornings begin slowly, where conversations continue long into the evening, and where family, friends and quiet moments naturally come together. More than any other piece in the home, the sofa defines how a space feels – not simply how it looks.
In Danish design, this understanding has always been instinctive. Furniture is never created for appearance alone, but for the way it supports the rhythms of real life. Beauty and function exist together, creating spaces that feel both refined and deeply comfortable.
For more than 70 years, BoConcept has refined this philosophy, creating sofas that are architectural yet inviting, sculptural yet practical, and always designed around the people who live with them.
Today, as homes continue to evolve into spaces for work, relaxation, entertaining and connection, the role of the sofa has become more important than ever. It must offer comfort, certainly, but it must also adapt effortlessly to modern living while reflecting the personality of the home it sits within. This is where Danish design continues to lead.
A well-designed sofa does more than complete a room – it shapes how that room is experienced.
Whether placed in a compact city apartment, an open-plan family home or a dedicated entertaining space, the right sofa creates balance between comfort, proportion and functionality. At BoConcept, every sofa begins with this principle: furniture should respond naturally to the way people live.
From sleek two-seaters to expansive modular configurations, each design is created to offer flexibility without compromising aesthetics. Some interiors call for architectural clarity and structured silhouettes, while others embrace softness, depth and a more relaxed sense of comfort. The beauty of contemporary sofa design lies in its ability to offer both.
With more than 120 fabrics and leathers, multiple module options, interchangeable leg styles and tailored configurations, every BoConcept sofa can be customised to suit both space and lifestyle. It is not simply about choosing a sofa – it is about creating one that feels entirely personal.
SCULPTURAL COMFORT
If functionality shapes the experience of a sofa, form defines its presence. BoConcept’s latest sofa collections explore a softer design language, one
rooted in organic curves, generous proportions and silhouettes that bring warmth and character to contemporary interiors. At the centre of this expression sits Salamanca.
Low, lounge-like and unmistakably relaxed, Salamanca introduces a subtle 1970s bohemian influence into the modern home. Designed with oversized proportions and a distinctive floating base, it carries a strong architectural presence while maintaining a sense of visual lightness.
Its moveable back cushions allow for complete flexibility, creating a cocooning silhouette that adapts naturally to the way you sit, recline or gather. Whether configured as a freestanding sofa or expanded into a modular lounge arrangement, Salamanca is designed to encourage a slower, more relaxed way of living.
Where Salamanca embraces softness through scale, Bergamo refines comfort through precision. Designed by Morten Georgsen, Bergamo is an exploration of organic luxury, combining sculptural curves with an elegant, contemporary expression. Refined stitching flows seamlessly across the base, arms and backrest, creating a sense of continuity that feels both calm and considered.
Its curved forms soften contemporary interiors, while loose back cushions offer flexibility throughout the day, adapting naturally to different seating positions. The result is a sofa that feels quietly luxurious – modern in character, timeless in appeal, and deeply comfortable to live with.
For those drawn to softer silhouettes and a more cocooning aesthetic, Bolzano offers another interpretation of modern Danish living.
Also designed by Morten Georgsen, Bolzano is defined by its signature curved frame, which wraps seamlessly around the design to create a striking sculptural form. Rounded edges, generous proportions and carefully balanced comfort combine to create a sofa that feels as inviting as it looks.
Placed within open-plan interiors, Bolzano becomes more than seating. It becomes a focal point – bringing softness, warmth and quiet confidence to the room.
BoConcept’s latest collaborations continue to evolve the language of comfort. Milano, created in partnership with CLAUDIO BELLINI Studio, introduces a fresh dialogue between Danish restraint and Italian elegance.
Low, deep and effortlessly relaxed, Milano combines architectural structure with plush, sink-in comfort. Slim armrests, softly curved cushions and generous proportions create a silhouette that feels both sculptural and inviting, while its modular construction allows it to adapt
from an elegant three-seater to a more expansive lounge configuration.
Slightly lower and deeper than traditional seating, Milano creates an immediate sense of comfort – inviting you to slow down, settle in and experience the home in a different way.
Some designs evolve with time. Others define it. Since its introduction in 1999, Indivi has become one of BoConcept’s most iconic sofa designs – a true expression of contemporary Scandinavian living. Twenty-five years later, it remains as relevant as ever.
Its clean lines, compact proportions and exceptional configurability have made it a favourite across generations and interiors alike. Available in multiple modules, corner combinations and resting configurations, Indivi adapts effortlessly to changing homes and changing lifestyles.
Enhanced with high-quality foam for lasting support and available in a wide range of fabrics, finishes and leg styles,
it reflects BoConcept’s belief that great design is never static. It evolves with the people who live with it.
A sofa is one of the most used pieces in the home. It must feel beautiful, but it must also stand the test of time. That commitment to longevity is built into every BoConcept collection from the very beginning. Frames are engineered for structural durability, foam cores are selected for long-lasting resilience, and every seam, stitch and finish is crafted with precision.
Materials are equally considered. Leather offers timeless elegance and durability, developing character with age, while fabric introduces warmth, texture and personality through an extensive collection of tactile finishes and performance materials.
Every detail is chosen with intention, ensuring each sofa continues to feel as beautiful and comfortable in years to come as it does on day one.
Perhaps the greatest luxury in contemporary interiors is not abundance, but individuality. No two homes live in exactly the same way, which is why every BoConcept sofa is designed as a starting point rather than a finished statement. Through modular layouts, custom fabrics, tailored dimensions and expert design guidance, each piece becomes an extension of the people who live with it.
Through BoConcept’s complimentary Interior Design Service, customers can explore layouts, materials and configurations before making a final decision, creating spaces that feel beautifully resolved, deeply personal and designed for real life.
Since 1952, BoConcept has remained committed to the principles that define Danish design: craftsmanship, functionality, quality materials and timeless aesthetics.
Through BoConcept’s versatile collections, that philosophy continues to evolve – proving that true comfort is not simply about how something feels, but how naturally it becomes part of everyday life.
To explore the collection and discover a sofa designed around the way you live, visit one of BoConcept’s stores in Battersea Reach, Guildford, Harrods, Finchley Road, Tottenham Court Road, Notting Hill, Westfield London, Fenwick Kingston, Fenwick Brent Cross or St Albans. Wherever your design journey begins, BoConcept’s complimentary Interior Design Service offers expert guidance, helping you create a space that feels beautifully considered and deeply personal.
Jensen Beds: the sleep that makes your day
Jensen Beds has been creating premium beds in Norway since 1947, combining Scandinavian craftsmanship, innovative sleep technology and timeless design to deliver exceptional comfort. Deeply rooted in Norwegian heritage, the brand is known for its dedication to quality, attention to detail and the belief that great sleep is essential to everyday wellbeing – helping you wake up fully rested, every morning.
Just outside Oslo, along the shores of the Drammen Fjord, lies the small coastal town of Svelvik – home to Jensen Beds for generations. Here, skilled craftsmanship and a strong design tradition continue to shape every product. Each bed is handmade in Norway using carefully selected materials and advanced comfort technology, ensuring both durability and a refined sleeping experience. Every Jensen bed is backed by a 25-year guarantee against frame or spring breakage, reflecting the brand’s commitment to long-lasting quality.
Get your bedroom ready for the summer season
As the warmer months approach,
Jensen introduces one of its most innovative sleep technologies: Jensen TempSmart™. Designed to help maintain an optimal sleeping temperature throughout the night, TempSmart™ creates a more balanced and comfortable sleep environment, even during warm summer nights. Jensen TempSmart™ products are sold separately and are an easy and affordable way to upgrade your sleep experience. If you find yourself tossing and turning during the night, it is often because your body temperature is either too high or too low. The right duvet, pillow and bed linen is therefore important for a good night sleep.
The advanced temperatureregulating materials absorb, store and release excess body heat when needed, helping to reduce overheating and chilling during sleep. The result is a more
stable sleeping climate and improved comfort through the night.
Friendly to nature – and you Jensen’s beds are made in Norway using only materials, production methods and suppliers that live up to their highly set expectations. To prove their sincerity they work with leading sustainability labels, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). It makes them sleep better.
The planet demands us to be smarter when it comes to the use of resources. And beds are no exception. Working with circular design, Jensen extends the life cycle of their beds and accessories, without compromising their quality. Their aim is always to make beds that stand the test of time, while constantly working to reduce their footprint.
For those wanting to experience Norwegian sleep comfort firsthand, Jensen Beds can be discovered at the showroom in Chelsea Harbour Design Centre, London. Located among some of the world’s leading interior and design brands, the showroom offers visitors the opportunity to explore the full collection of Norwegianmade beds, experience the quality of the materials and receive expert guidance in creating the perfect sleep sanctuary.
Discover your perfect night’s sleep at jensen-beds.com/uk
It’s time to embrace the outdoors: here are Absolutely’s summer garden trends for 2026
Gardens in 2026 are evolving into something far more immersive than the traditional patch of lawn and borders. They are increasingly being designed as true extensions of the home – places where daily life unfolds just as naturally as it does indoors. This means comfortable seating, layered lighting, and even outdoor kitchens are becoming standard features rather than luxury additions. The shift is rooted in how people now use their homes: flexible living, entertaining, and relaxation all blend together, and the garden is expected to keep up. Instead of being viewed seasonally, outdoor spaces are being designed with longevity in mind, usable from early spring through to late autumn with the help of thoughtful design and accessories. At the same time, sustainability is no longer a niche interest – it is shaping the entire direction of garden design. In 2026, there is a strong emphasis on working with nature rather than against it. Gardens are being planted to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, with wildflower mixes and nectar-rich plants replacing overly manicured displays. Composting, rainwater collection, and reduced chemical use are becoming
standard practice rather than optional extras. This more ecological approach brings a softer, more natural aesthetic, where slightly untamed planting and layered textures are celebrated rather than controlled. The result is a garden that feels alive, dynamic, and in tune with its environment.
Climate is also playing a major role in shaping trends. With hotter summers and more unpredictable weather patterns, gardeners are becoming more strategic in their planting choices. Mediterraneaninspired gardens are influencing UK spaces, with drought-tolerant plants like lavender, grasses, and hardy perennials taking centre stage. There is also a growing awareness of water management, from installing water butts to improving soil structure so it retains moisture more effectively. Rather than fighting changing conditions, the trend is to embrace plants that thrive in them, resulting in gardens that are both resilient and visually striking.
Visually, 2026 marks a clear move away from the cool, muted tones that dominated outdoor design for years. Instead, gardens are becoming more expressive and full of personality. Warm, earthy shades like terracotta and ochre are being paired with rich planting palettes – deep purples, vibrant
Gardens are increasingly being designed as true extensions of the home
pinks, and lush greens – to create depth and interest. Furniture and accessories are following suit, with patterned textiles, curved shapes, and a slightly retro influence bringing a sense of fun back into garden styling. This trend reflects a broader desire for individuality; people want their gardens to feel personal, not like a showroom.
Urban living continues to shape how gardens are designed, particularly in cities where space is limited. In 2026, the focus is on making even the smallest outdoor areas feel abundant and purposeful. Vertical planting, container gardening, and raised beds are all being used to maximise space without overcrowding it. Clever zoning helps create the illusion of a larger area, with different sections dedicated to relaxing, dining, or planting. Even balconies are being transformed into lush green retreats, proving that size is far less important than thoughtful design.
Alongside these aesthetic and structural changes, there is a growing interest in gardens that provide something tangible in return. The rise of grow-your-own culture continues into 2026, with more
people incorporating edible elements into their planting schemes. Herbs, vegetables, and even edible flowers are being woven into decorative borders or grown in pots for convenience. This approach not only adds a practical dimension to gardening, but also deepens the connection between people and their outdoor spaces. Harvesting ingredients straight from the garden brings a sense of satisfaction that purely ornamental planting cannot replicate.
Flexibility ties all of these trends together. Gardens in 2026 are being designed to adapt easily, whether that means rearranging furniture for a gathering, adding temporary shade on a hot day, or switching between relaxation and entertaining. Modular seating, portable accessories, and multiuse features are all part of this shift. The modern garden is no longer static; it evolves with the needs of the people using it, making it a far more dynamic and responsive space than ever before.
1. START WITH A DEEP CLEAN
The quickest way to make a garden feel summerready is to begin with a full clear-out and clean. Sweep away leaves, dead plant material and any debris that has gathered over the colder months, then pressure wash patios, decking and pathways to instantly brighten the space. Garden furniture should be wiped down, cushions aired out, and pots cleaned so everything feels fresh rather than forgotten. Pruning back damaged growth and edging lawns also gives the garden a sharper finish. Much like spring cleaning indoors, this creates a blank canvas and makes every other improvement feel far more effective.
2. REFRESH YOUR PLANTING
Summer gardens thrive on colour, texture and movement, so now is the time to replace anything looking tired with fresh seasonal planting. Add flowering perennials, hanging baskets, herbs or pollinator-friendly blooms to inject life into borders and containers. Mixing heights and tones helps create a fuller, more layered look, while fragrant plants such as lavender or jasmine add another sensory dimension. If space is limited, even a few statement pots near seating areas can transform the mood. The goal is to create a garden that feels abundant, lively and welcoming from the moment warmer weather arrives.
3. IMPROVE YOUR SOIL
Healthy plants always begin below the surface, which is why improving your soil is one of the smartest jobs to tackle before summer hits. A er months of rain and winter depletion, borders and beds o en need replenishing with compost, manure or nutrient-rich organic matter. This not only feeds plants, but also helps the soil retain moisture – essential during hotter spells when watering becomes more difficult. Loosening compacted soil also improves drainage and root growth. Investing time in this unseen layer pays off massively later, giving flowers, shrubs and vegetables the strength to cope with summer stress.
4. CREATE FUNCTIONAL ZONES
A beautiful garden is one thing, but a usable garden is what really makes summer enjoyable. Think about how you want to spend time outside and organise the space accordingly. Even modest gardens benefit from having a dining area, a quiet relaxation corner, and a greener planting section to so en the look. Rugs, planters, screens or furniture placement can all help define these areas without major landscaping. Zoning gives the garden a sense of purpose and flow, making it feel larger and more intentional. It also encourages you to use the space more o en rather than simply looking at it.
5.
To truly enjoy long summer evenings, comfort is just as important as planting. Introduce outdoor cushions, throws and rugs to make seating areas feel inviting and lived in, rather than purely practical. Shade options such as parasols or pergolas can also make daytime use much more pleasant. As the sun goes down, lighting becomes essential – solar lanterns, festoon lights and pathway markers create atmosphere while extending the hours you can spend outdoors. These finishing touches shi the garden from functional to welcoming, turning it into somewhere you naturally gravitate towards for meals, drinks and downtime.
SHADE SEEKER Channel vintage beach clubs and sundrenched Mediterranean terraces in your urban garden with this Bounder Stripe parasol in claret, £395. staycationvintageparasols.com
The Marcy sling chair is a a modern design made with robust tubular frames. All-weather fabric seat and backrest slings are bolstered by plump cushioning, £149. johnlewis.com
Cult Furniture’s reimagining of the classic deckchair includes a clever cushion, and perfects the simple folding mechanism. We’ll have the stripey one please, £69. cultfurniture.com have the stripey one please, £69.
New to Hay’s classic Palissade collection is the cantilevered armchair, which retains the original symmetrical design and adds a new lightness thanks to its fl oating frame,£485. hay.com
Add a touch of glamour to your garden with an impressive pergola from Raj Tent Club’s stylish selection. We love this fl oral print inner canopy, from £2,500. rajtentclubshop.com
Angraves vintage rattan chairs are a stunning addition to a conservatory, and Raj Tent Club is currently selling a lovely set of four, so be quick, £800. rajtentclubshop.com
Colours of Arley’s Elements Collection of fabrics is resistant to water, mould, UV and stains. Perfect for pool loungers then. coloursofarley.com
Bunting brings instant joy to any space, especially when it’s striped. Choose from a huge selection at the Stripes Company, £23. thestripescompany.com
Swy Home’s new garden collection offers 24 hour delivery for emergency barbecues and last-minute weather improvements. We love this garden sofa in olive, £479. swyfthome.com
The iconic egg is much more than a barbecue (though it does that too). When coupled with Falcon's classic heat resistant Enamelware it can produce things like this homemade focaccia. You can also make pies, tarts and cakes. Who knew?
biggreenegg.co.uk
Masterbuilt's Gravity Series XT is no joke. Holding up to 24 hours of fuel, it’s ideal for low-and-slow classics like brisket or pulled pork, while a WiFi-enabled digital fan ensures precise temperature control. masterbuilt.com
Also from Masterbuilt is the clever Pizza Oven insert, which quickly transforms any barbecue into a pizza oven, enabling you to switch from pitmaster to pizzaiola in no time at all. masterbuilt.com
The Konnected Joe is the world’s fi rst digitally connected ceramic grill. Combining the fl avour and theatre of traditional charcoal cooking with modern technology, it offers effortless fi re-lighting and precise temperature control. kamadojoe.com
Valoriani ovens are so much more than pizza ovens. They can handle curries, stews, roasted fi sh, meat or vegetable dishes, cakes, pasta dishes, jacket potatoes, shellfi sh delights, steaks and other grilled foods. valorianiuk.com
Atelierdb Architects is a long established RIBA Chartered Practice, specialising in helping homeowners unlock their properties potential.
This can be spatially, materially, environmentally but always collaboratively with all parties. We create tailored designs that fulfil the brief for today and for the future.
The fast pace demands to be greener and more energy-efficient are exciting and complex. We help our clients understand the benefits of differing approaches to wellness and climate goals in balance with budget.
Planning authorities increasingly require higher design standards to address ecological and environmental factors when determining applications. We help clients address such requirements and manage the process on their behalf.
Today’s homes are no longer simply places to live. They have become workplaces, sanctuaries, social spaces and environments that need to support wellbeing and everyday comfort. Homeowners are increasingly looking for spaces that are not only beautiful, but also practical, energy-efficient and adaptable for the future. Children are remaining in the family home for longer and designing flexible spaces adds quality and longevity to the home – allowing occupants to have privacy when needed as well as communal spaces.
With ever increasing technological advances, homes can become light flooded thermally efficient buildings. Old housing stocks were designed differently and we help clients rebalance the property to suit their needs and those of the future. In balance with the aesthetics of design, we critically advise on the importance of getting the heart and lungs of the building working right.
Our approach combines creativity, functionality and sustainability to create
Founder of Atelierdb Architects , David Bell, on how his practice is meeting all the needs of modern day living
homes that feel timeless, welcoming and deeply personal. Every project is carefully tailored to reflect the lifestyle and aspirations of the homeowner.
We have extensive experience working with homes of all periods and especially Listed buildings and Conservation Areas. Renovating Listed and historic homes requires architectural sensitivity, technical expertise and knowledge of traditional craftsmanship. We carefully balance heritage and innovation, introducing thoughtful modern interventions that support contemporary living without compromising the building’s identity.
A well-designed home should support both wellbeing and flexibility. Natural light, balanced proportions, open layouts and warm materials all contribute to spaces that feel calm, comfortable and enduring. As homes increasingly need to accommodate remote working, entertaining, family life and relaxation, our design process focuses on creating practical, elegant spaces that enhance everyday living while standing the test of time
020 3142 7672 / atelierdb.com
Designing flexible spaces adds quality to the home
Why the new John Lewis x Sanderson drop is the best yet
Spring doesn’t so much arrive as unfurl – softly at first, then all at once. Longer days, open windows, the scent of blossom drifting through the air. It’s a season that naturally invites renewal, and nowhere is that instinct more joyfully expressed than in the home. Enter the latest collaboration between John Lewis and Sanderson: a collection that captures the essence of spring while honouring the enduring beauty of heritage design.
At its heart, this new drop is a celebration of Sanderson’s rich archive – one that spans over 160 years of British decorative history. But rather than simply revisiting the past, the collection breathes new life into it. Traditional florals are reimagined with a contemporary sensibility, their intricate details sharpened, scales adjusted, and palettes refreshed to suit the modern home. The result is something that feels both familiar and entirely new: a dialogue between eras that speaks to today’s appetite for characterful, layered interiors. Florals, of course, take centre stage, but not in the predictable way. These aren’t your grandmother’s chintzes
(though they nod affectionately in that direction). Instead, they are bolder, more expressive, often paired unexpectedly with graphic elements like stripes and checks. This interplay is where the collection truly comes alive. A delicate trailing rose might sit alongside a punchy candy stripe; a painterly botanical could be offset by a structured geometric. It’s a masterclass in contrast, and a gentle nudge to be braver with pattern at home.
This spirit of experimentation is exactly what the designers had in mind. Bronwyn Erskine, Sanderson’s Senior Stylist, describes the collaboration as an invitation: a way to make maximalism feel approachable rather than intimidating. The pieces have been thoughtfully designed to work together, meaning you can layer prints, mix textures, and play with colour without fear of clashing. It’s about creating a home that feels collected rather than curated: personal, expressive, and a little bit unexpected. What makes this collection particularly compelling is its versatility. It spans an impressive range of categories, from statement furniture and lighting to softer touches like bedding, cushions, and ready-made curtains. Wallpaper options allow for a more immersive
approach, transforming entire rooms into botanical sanctuaries or graphic playgrounds. And for those looking to extend their interiors outdoors, there are garden-ready pieces that carry the same design language into alfresco spaces –perfect for spring entertaining.
Despite its breadth, there’s a clear cohesion running throughout. The colour palette is carefully considered, balancing soft, romantic hues with more saturated tones. Think blush pinks and sage greens alongside deeper indigos and warm ochres. This harmony ensures that whether you’re introducing a single accent piece or embracing the look wholesale, everything feels connected.
To fully appreciate the depth of this collaboration, it helps to understand the heritage behind Sanderson itself. Founded in 1860 by Arthur Sanderson, the company began as an importer of fine French wallpapers before quickly establishing its own manufacturing
and design identity in Britain. By the late 19th century, Sanderson had become synonymous with quality and innovation, producing wallpapers and fabrics that reflected both the tastes of the time and a distinctly British sensibility. Over the decades, Sanderson built an archive that is now one of the most extensive in the world, housing thousands of original documents, hand-painted patterns, and historic printing blocks. This treasure trove has become a cornerstone of the brand’s creative process, continually inspiring new collections that reinterpret traditional motifs for contemporary audiences. Its designs have graced everything from stately homes to modern apartments, demonstrating a rare versatility that transcends trends. Sanderson’s reputation for excellence was cemented in 1924, when it received a Royal Warrant – an honour it still holds today as a supplier to the British royal household. This
endorsement speaks not only to the brand’s craftsmanship, but also to its enduring relevance. While many heritage brands struggle to evolve, Sanderson has consistently found ways to balance tradition with innovation, collaborating with contemporary designers and adapting its aesthetic to suit changing lifestyles.
Today, Sanderson sits within the Sanderson Design Group, continuing to champion British design on a global stage. Its commitment to quality materials, sustainable practices and thoughtful design ensures that each piece carries forward a legacy more than a century in the making. It’s this rich history – combined with a willingness to experiment – that makes Sanderson such a natural partner for John Lewis, and what gives this latest collection its distinctive sense of modern heritage.
There’s also a reassuring sense of quality underpinning the collection. Both brands are synonymous with craftsmanship, and that heritage is evident in the details – from the weight of the fabrics to the precision of the prints. These are pieces designed not just to look good for a season, but to become part of your home for years to come.
In many ways, the collection taps into a broader shift in how we think about interiors. There’s a growing desire to move away from minimal, paredback spaces in favour of something richer and more layered. People are rediscovering the joy of pattern, the comfort of colour, and the stories that come with design that has a sense of history. This collaboration captures that mood perfectly, offering a way to embrace maximalism without losing a sense of balance.
Ultimately, what makes the John Lewis x Sanderson collection so appealing is its optimism. It feels joyful, generous, and full of possibility – much like spring itself. Whether you’re drawn to a single floral cushion or ready to transform an entire room with bold wallpaper and clashing prints, it encourages you to experiment, to trust your instincts, and to create a space that feels uniquely yours.
The full collection is available to explore online and in stores now. Consider it your invitation to refresh, reimagine, and bring a little more beauty – and personality –into your home this season.
johnlewis.com
Outdoor spaces are at their best when they can be used regularly, not just on a rare warm day. Pergolas, verandas, gazebos and other garden buildings offer shelter and structure, but can be compromised by the effects of sun, wind, glare and overlooking. Adding external blinds to these existing features can change that, turning a fair-weather space into one that works from one season to the next.
External blinds are a practical retrofit for almost any existing structure. They can be fitted to shield the sides of pergolas and verandas, giving homeowners greater control over the conditions inside the space without altering its character. In summer, they help reduce heat and keep the area cooler. They also cut glare, soften harsh sunlight and provide privacy when overlooked by neighbouring windows. That flexibility matters in both urban and rural settings. In a town or city, an outdoor room may feel exposed to nearby homes or overlooked gardens.
In the countryside, the challenge is often wind and shifting weather. External blinds help create a more comfortable setting in both cases. When the sun is high, they provide shade, and when the breeze picks up, they offer welcome shelter. On colder days, they help retain a sense of enclosure, so the space remains pleasant for longer.
One recent project that won a British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) award earlier this year showed how effective this approach can be. Sudburybased solar shading company Caribbean installed six of its ‘Dominica’ external blinds on a full-width slate-roof veranda as part of a whole-house renovation, helping the space to work more comfortably across the year. It is a clear example of how thoughtful shading can improve an existing structure without the need for a complete redesign.
The appeal lies in the way external blinds respond to everyday use. They make it easier to enjoy breakfast outside, read in the shade, entertain friends in the evening or sit out without feeling exposed. They also help protect furniture and furnishings from strong sunlight, which can make outdoor areas feel less inviting over time.
For homeowners who already have a pergola, veranda or gazebo, the addition of external blinds can bring that structure into better use. Rather than sitting empty when the weather is too hot, too bright or too breezy, the space becomes somewhere to spend time in comfort. It is a simple idea, and one that can make an outdoor area feel far more complete.
To find out more about Caribbean’s work, visit their website at cbsolarshading.co.uk
Reds are very 2026 and Lick's Red 01 is a burnt, earthy tone that looks great in a living or dining room. The matt texture won't reflect light, creating a cosy, welcoming feel, while the red is intense without being overwhelming. lick.com
BENJAMIN MOORE
Golden Chalice is a mustard colour with a hint of green that feels both retro and contemporary. Pair it with similar colours from the same palette of golds, browns and yellows for striking results. benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk
Marshland Muddle is a warm taupe inspired by damp soil and dri wood. Earthy, grounding, and an easy mid neutral. Available in all six paint finishes, from £28 for 1 litre. fenwickandtillbrook.com
Riverbank is an unapologetic green that looks great with a muted pink. We love it for kitchen cabinets, but it will bring energy to any room, whether on the walls or the woodwork. earthbornpaints.co.uk
Sybill is a deep plaster pink with a terracotta edge that pairs excellently with browns, reds and pinks. It works in all spaces. coatpaints.com
WOODBRIDGE SCHOOL
Woodbridge School is a leading independent coeducational school in Suffolk, combining academic excellence with outstanding pastoral care, sport, music and creative opportunities. With a rich heritage and forward-thinking approach, it inspires pupils to achieve, contribute and thrive within a community. Absolutely finds out more on page 89. woodbridgeschool.org.uk
Exploring the post-16 crossroads for students across the county
For many young people across the UK, turning 16 marks more than the end of compulsory schooling – it signals the beginning of one of the most consequential decisions of their lives.
The post-16 crossroads is not a single path but a complex junction of choices, each carrying its own expectations, pressures and possibilities. Whether students opt for A-levels, vocational qualifications, apprenticeships or alternative routes, the question remains the same: what happens next?
Traditionally, A-levels have been seen as the default academic route, particularly for those aiming for university. Schools often frame them as the “gold standard”, and for good reason: they provide a well-established pathway into higher education and are widely recognised by universities and employers alike. Yet this route is not without its challenges. A-levels demand a high level of independent study, subject specialisation at an early stage, and resilience under pressure. For students who thrive in exambased environments, they can be a natural fit – but they are far from the only option.
Increasingly, vocational qualifications such as BTECs and T Levels are gaining recognition and respect. These courses blend academic learning with practical skills, often including industry placements that give students direct experience of the workplace. For many, this applied approach makes learning more engaging and relevant. It also helps bridge the gap between education and employment, something long identified as a weakness in the UK system. However, awareness and understanding of these qualifications remain uneven, with some students and parents still unclear about their value or progression routes.
Apprenticeships, too, are reshaping the post-16 landscape. O ering the opportunity to earn while learning, apprenticeships appeal to students who want to enter the workforce early without sacrificing training and development. From engineering to digital marketing, the range of sectors has expanded significantly in recent years. Higher and degree apprenticeships, in particular, challenge the notion that university is the only route to a professional career. Yet competition for places can be intense, and access is not always equitable, with some regions o ering far more opportunities than others.
Beyond these structured routes lies a less discussed reality: uncertainty. Not all students feel ready to commit to a clear pathway at 16. Some may retake GCSEs, explore foundation courses, or take time to reassess their goals. While this can be a valuable period of reflection, it is often accompanied by anxiety – both for students and their families. In a system that prizes progression and clear trajectories, taking a less direct route can feel like falling behind, even when it is the most appropriate choice.
The role of schools and colleges in guiding students through this crossroads is crucial. High-quality careers education, information, advice and guidance (CEIAG) can make a significant di erence in helping young people understand their options and make informed decisions. However, provision varies widely. Some students benefit from tailored advice, employer engagement and exposure to a range of pathways, while others rely on limited or outdated information. Ensuring consistency and quality in careers guidance remains a key challenge for policymakers.
Parents and carers also play a pivotal role, often acting as sounding boards, advisers and sources of reassurance. Yet they, too, may feel ill-equipped to navigate a system that has evolved considerably since their own school days. Misconceptions about certain routes – particularly vocational ones – can influence decisions, sometimes steering students away from options that might suit them better.
What happens next, then, is not determined solely by grades or ability, but by a complex interplay of information, perception, opportunity and support. The post-16 crossroads is as much about identity as it is about education: who am I, what do I enjoy, and where do I see myself in the future? These are not easy questions, especially at a time when young people are already navigating social, emotional and academic pressures.
As the UK continues to reform its education and skills system, there is a growing recognition that no single pathway should be seen as superior. Parity of esteem between academic and vocational routes is not just a policy ambition – it is a necessity in a rapidly changing economy that demands diverse skills and talents. For students standing at this crossroads, the most important message may be this: there is no one right path, only the path that is right for you. Ultimately, what happens next is not a fixed destination, but the beginning of a journey – one that may twist, turn and evolve over time. The challenge for educators, policymakers and society as a whole is to ensure that every young person has the knowledge, confidence and support to take that first step with purpose.
At Brentwood Preparatory School, they have found the ‘sweet spot’ of modern education. By combining award-winning, world class facilities with an individualised approach to pastoral care, they o er a rare dual advantage: the expansive opportunities of a progressive learning environment delivered within the warm, nurturing environment of a small school community where pupil wellbeing is at the heart of everything they do.
It is often assumed that a school must choose between being small and nurturing or large and well resourced, but Brentwood Prep is the exception to that rule. Having fully integrated their state-of-the-art developments, they provide their children with a breadth and depth of academic and co-curricular programmes that few schools in the country can match, all while maintaining a village-school atmosphere where every child is known and valued.
Head of Prep, Alice Goodfellow, explains: “Every child at Brentwood Prep is important,
Big school opportunities, small school feel: life at Brentwood Prep
they only get one shot at their education and we take that responsibility very seriously. Our established Pastoral team, which includes two Pastoral Mentors, and Heads of Year, ensures our care remains highly personalised. Class and Form Teachers play a significant role in being a child’s constant in school life, someone that knows them well and who they can turn to for advice at any point. All adults at Brentwood Prep go out of their way to have positive, regular interactions with the children, this is their community, this is where they belong.”
This growth of the Shenfield Road campus was meticulously planned to achieve an optimum balance. Paradoxically, as the school’s facilities expanded, the pupil-tosta ratio was significantly reduced: more sta means more time to dedicate to each child. This investment in people ensures that the ‘small school feel’ is protected by a dedicated team that provides a personalised experience for every child.
The benefits of this ‘big school’ infrastructure are woven into the fabric of daily life. A rich, varied academic enrichment programme is
built directly into the timetable, ensuring every child – rather than just a select few – enjoys access to elite-level academic and co-curricular challenges. This sense of opportunity extends to their vibrant House culture, where children have ample opportunities for leadership roles and chances for pupils to represent their peers. Furthermore, their team of coaching sta and extensive grounds mean that every child, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to represent the school in sports.
“We have reached a point where we o er the best of both worlds,” Alice adds. “The growth of the school has actually allowed us to know our pupils better. We have the resources to o er an incredible range of activities, but we remain small enough to ensure no child is left on the sidelines. Our pupils are the main beneficiaries of an approach that o ers them the world, while keeping their happiness and wellbeing at the very centre of it.”
Brentwood Preparatory School will hold its next Open Morning on Saturday 6th June 2026. To register, or find out more information, visit brentwoodschool.co.uk
From the ages of 4 to 18, Woodbridge School helps develop a life-long love of learning for pupils, leading to excellent exam results
Woodbridge School, including a Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior School, Sixth Form and Boarding, is a co-educational school for students aged 4 to 18, where confident, kind, proactive free-thinkers gain the confidence, knowledge and skills to become everything they are meant to be.
Numerous areas of excellence across school life were highlighted in the exceptional report from their March 2026 ISI inspection, recognising that the values driven culture of their school and its inner workings means that every child thrives through the support of sta , governors, pastoral care, the curriculum, and an extensive co-curricular o ering.
WOODBRIDGE SCHOOL PREP
Children at the Prep School are encouraged to seek out adventure, rise to challenges and accept the value of mistakes, enjoying their own and others’ achievements. The Prep School’s aim is to ensure children develop lifelong skills and learning habits, with CLICK (Communication, Leadership, Initiative, Collaboration and Kindness) at the heart of everything they do.
SENIOR SCHOOL
At the Senior School, students continue to develop relationships with teachers, working together to take every opportunity to nurture their own talents; an education at Woodbridge School supports and encourages them to become the best version of themselves today, and in the future.
SIXTH FORM, YEARS 12 AND 13
O ering a wide range of academic subjects for further study at A-level, Sixth Form students receive the perfect balance of independence and support. Having celebrated record A-level results for their students last year, including almost a third achieving ‘straight A’ grades, and more than half of grades scoring A*-A, they combine high academic success with co-curricular activities.
BUS ROUTES AND BOARDING
A little over three miles North from Martlesham Retail Park in Ipswich, located just o the A12, Woodbridge School o ers a comprehensive system of bus routes reaching across Su olk as well as Essex. For those living further afield, the school o ers full and weekly boarding options.
VISIT WOODBRIDGE SCHOOL
Visit Woodbridge School at any time by appointment, or come along to their whole School Open Day on Saturday 26th September 2026. Please make sure you register your place by visiting their website, and they look forward to welcoming you.
woodbridgeschool.org.uk
very
In celebration of Mental Health Awareness Week in May, Runwell Community Primary School in Wickford has announced it is the successful recipient of a £5,000 grant to enhance its mental health provision for its pupils.
The grant will enable the school’s community to access mental health support from myHappyMind – an NHS commissioned programme that helps young people build positive mental wellbeing, resilience, confidence and self-esteem.
Charlotte Castle, Deputy Headteacher and Inclusion Manager at Runwell Community Primary School, says: “We’re proud to say, thanks to the new grant and our existing provision, our school is a space where children truly feel supported. As the programme’s support kicks into full swing, we look forward to continuing to further equip our children with the skills, experience and knowledge they need to understand their emotions, learn and thrive.”
Through the support, the school, and its on-site nursery, will have access
to additional mental health resources, including an NHS backed curriculum for its pupils, an app that provides wellbeing resources for parents and carers at home, and a separate wellbeing programme for the school’s sta . myHappyMind mentors have also been training a group of pupils, dubbed Happiness Heroes, on how they can successfully support their peers’ wellbeing during the school day.
A pupil trained as a My Happy Mind ambassador said: “The training has been really fun. I think it’s important for everyone to feel happy, and I’m excited to help my friends and class feel good every day.”
Alongside the new programme, Runwell Community Primary School o ers its pupils a range of existing wellbeing support, including regular visits from therapeutic support dogs.
To learn more about the school, its on-site nursery, and curriculum visit runwellprimary.co.uk
THE OLD CUSTOM HOUSE, OLD LEIGH SS9 £880,000 ASKING PRICE
urden & Hunt welcome to the market this exceptional residence, in a prime Old Leigh waterfront location. O ering living and entertaining spaces across three floors, the four bedroom home benefits from two bathrooms, one with sauna, living room, dining room, utility, study and kitchen. Externally, the privately owned courtyard o ers a secluded outdoor retreat.
James
the founder of Durden & Hunt, on how technology is redefining the industry
In today’s property landscape, technology and artificial intelligence are no longer future concepts, they are actively reshaping how we buy, sell and let homes. I see this shift not as a disruption, but as an opportunity to elevate the standards of service our clients receive.
Across the industry, we’re seeing a clear move toward digitalisation. From instant viewing bookings to fully online transaction management, the expectation today is speed, transparency and control. AI is also beginning to influence how buyers and tenants are matched with properties, while automation is helping streamline everything from enquiries to compliance. The direction is clear: a more e cient, data-driven and clientfocused property experience.
At Durden & Hunt, we’ve invested in new technology that brings a new level of visibility to the property journey. Vendors can track their sale in real time, buyers can book viewings instantly and landlords and tenants benefit from a more connected, transparent experience.
By digitising referencing, contracts and payments, we’ve created faster, smoother tenancies while ensuring full compliance in an ever-evolving regulatory environment.
The property industry has always been built on relationships, trust and local expertise and that will never change. What has changed is how we can enhance that experience. By embracing innovation, we remove friction, improve communication and ultimately give our clients more confidence at every stage of their journey.
Just as importantly, these advancements free up our team from time-consuming administration, allowing them to focus on what truly matters – people.
But while technology powers e ciency, it cannot replace empathy, negotiation or human understanding.
These are the qualities that define a great estate agency. At Durden & Hunt, we believe the future lies in balancing both, using technology to enhance, not replace, the personal service our clients value.
As the industry evolves, our commitment remains simple: to stay ahead, embrace innovation and deliver a smarter and more personalised property experience.
Durden & Hunt welcome to the market this five bedroom gated home featuring three bathrooms, two being en-suites, an open plan kitchen and dining room, large living room, conservatory, utility room and downstairs WC. Externally the property benefits from a substantial rear garden, multiple outbuildings, off road parking and garage.
Edward Close, Gidea Park, RM2
Asking Price £1,200,000 durdenandhunt.co.uk
Situated in the heart of a delightful village just a short distance from Epping tube station, The Bury is a classically proportioned character house of considerable charm. The seven-bedroom home in Upshirebury Green, Upshire, is listed for sale with estate agent Savills for a guide price of £2,950,000. The palatial property sits in 5.65 acres of landscaped grounds, with accommodation spanning 5,516 sq ft (512.45 sq m) over two floors.
Approached via a gravel driveway, it opens into a large reception hall with exposed timbers to the ceiling, wooden floorboards and a feature fireplace with woodburning stove.
Of particular note is an extensive kitchen/ dining/family room which perfectly reflects modern living requirements. The kitchen has a range of fitted cupboards and integrated appliances, including a two oven Aga, central island and pantry. The remainder of the room is arranged as a dining and sitting area.
The rest of the ground floor includes a part panelled drawing room with recessed shelving, feature fireplace and wooden floorboards and a panelled
dining room with fireplace, wooden floorboards and beams to the ceiling. There is also a study with panelled walls, fireplace and wooden floorboards, as well as a sitting room accessed from the kitchen.
The first floor is home to the main bedroom suite which includes a separate dressing room and bathroom. There is also a second bedroom suite, five further bedrooms, two family bathrooms and a utility room.
The rear of the house has a paved sun terrace leading to the main grounds, which are mainly laid to lawn, with formal landscaped gardens and a pond that forms the boundary with a neighbouring
The palatial property sits in 5.65 acres of landscaped grounds
property. There is also a stable yard with three loose horseboxes and a hay barn.
Property agent David Bloomfield, director in the residential sales team at Savills in Loughton, says: “The Bury is an elegant character house of considerable charm – full of magnificent period features in a wonderful semi-rural location that o ers the best of both worlds.
“Located in Epping Forest with easy access to many walking, cycling and bridle paths, the property is perfect for those who want the peace and quiet of the countryside, yet only three and a half miles from Epping tube station for regular commutes into Central London.”
Upshirebury Green is just a short distance from junction 26 of the M25, while Central Line underground services are easily caught from stations in neighbouring Epping or Loughton. Both towns are well-served by a range of amenities, while overground rail services also operate from nearby Waltham Cross and Chingford.
The Bury is on sale through Savills in Loughton for a guide price of £2,950,000. Visit savills.com or call 020 8498 6600 for more information
why everyone is talking about…
The new festival heading to Chelmsford has announced a stunning line-up
Brand new major weekend camping festival State Fayre has revealed that seven-time GRAMMY award-winning artist Alanis Morissette will be coming to Hylands Park in Chelmsford to headline the Saturday night of the inaugural event. Her appearance comes on the heels of her most acclaimed UK shows ever this past summer, with a sold out night at the O2 Arena and a careerdefining set at her first-ever Glastonbury appearance. She will also be joined by musical powerhouse group Skunk Anansie.
For 30 years Alanis Morissette has been one of the most influential women in contemporary music with her deeply expressive song-writing and performances earning vast critical praise. Her 1995 debut album Jagged Little Pill was followed by nine more eclectic and acclaimed albums, and her music, and most notable hits Ironic, You Oughta Know, Hand In My Pocket and Thank U remain as current today.
In 2019, Jagged Little Pill the musical made its Broadway debut and was nominated for 15 Tony Awards, winning two at the 2021 ceremony, and away from music Alanis has also acted on the big and small screen.
Formed in London in 1994, Skunk Anansie are known for their powerful fusion of hard rock, punk, and funk influences. They are fronted by the charismatic and dynamic Skin, whose distinctive voice and commanding stage presence have become the band’s signature. Skunk Anansie broke through with explosive hits like Weak, Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good) and Charity
After a hiatus in the early 2000s, Skunk Anansie reunited in 2009, continuing to tour and release new material that rea rms their
reputation as one of the most electrifying and thought-provoking bands in British rock, highlighted by the release of their recent top 10 album, the critically and commercially acclaimed The Painful Truth
The UK’s largest music and barbecue festival, with a capacity around 30,000, will also feature spectacular headline performances from Kings Of Leon and The Lumineers, plus The Black Crowes, Elvis Costello & The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, Counting Crows, Stephen Wilson Jr., Jack Savoretti, Orville Peck, Razorlight and many more.
State Fayre will bring a true taste of Americana to the UK in June 2026, with an incredible line-up spanning rock, country, and folk music. Inspired by American state
fairs, long summer nights and tailgate parties, State Fayre is a celebration of music, food and culture, blending contemporary and classic sounds with a distinctive American theme. Audiences will be able to immerse themselves in the sounds, sights, and tastes of Americana across the whole weekend.
The UK’s premier BBQ festival, FUME, will host The FUME Pit on-site, featuring award-winning pitmasters and vendorsfrom across the UK and beyond. Co-founded by social media sensation EatingWithTod, FUME has set the standard for BBQ excellence, with thelargest BBQ cages in the UKanddemonstrations from some of the most talented chefsin the industry.
statefayre.com
