Loving Dorset

Pop Along to the Puddletown Plod

2013-05-11T11:28:00.001+01:00

This year, on Sunday 16th June, the Puddletown Plod returns. Starting at 10.30am, this 20k Road Race is your perfect opportunity for some fun fitness in a welcoming environment. The race supports funds for St Mary's School with all money raised used for continuing the refurbishment of the school library. This event is full of people who love energetic activities and who want to give back to their community in a fun, competitive way.

In the previous couple of years they have raised over £2,000, and this year's race is extra special! They are delighted say that they have been chosen as one of the races in the Dorset Road Race League calendar, so come along and imagine where you could end up.

The race is organised by a willing band of volunteers who welcome you to join them for a fun day of stunning scenery a friendly atmosphere. Come along if you want to achieve a high placing, attempt a personal best or just to enjoy the run; there's a place for everyone.

Check out the course and any other details you need at: http://www.puddletownplod.co.uk/?page=the_course

Broadmayne Brings Happy's Circus Fundraiser

2013-04-10T09:50:00.000+01:00

Here at Loving Dorset we were thrilled to hear about and share with you this fabulous new fundraising charity event taking place in Broadmayne. Happy's Circus will arrive at Broadmayne First School on Saturday, 27 April 2013.

Friends from Broadmayne First School PTFA have been putting a lot of work into staging this school fundraising charity event and would love for local families and residents to come along and join in the fun! The gates will be opening at 12pm for guests to enjoy the BBQ, Beer Tent, Bouncy Castles and Side Stalls. But the main event, the circus show, will be taking place from 2pm to 4pm.

If you want to enjoy the wonders of the circus in a fun-loving family environment then come and join in the fun at:

Broadmayne First School

Knighton Lane

Broadmayne

DT2 8PH

If you want more details, visit http://broadmayne.co.uk/ or head to their Twitter and Facebook.

For a fun filled family day of entertainment, come and join us at Happy's Circus!

For budding olympians...

2013-04-03T20:09:00.000+01:00

It's been an exciting year for the UK, London and Dorset alike. After a huge celebration for the Olympics that saw London and Weymouth in particular come alive with a series of excellent sporting successes, we've seen a nation inspired by a series of incredibly talented Olympians! Here at Loving Dorset we've been caught up in this as much as the next person, which is why we jumped at the chance to take a peek at some of the great products from The Medal Hanger Shop - a company selling a unique range of sporty-themed hangers for your budding athletes! We opted for the 'Wall of Fame' and the 'Runner Male' and we certainly weren't disappointed!

Our first thoughts when we opened the hangers were just what great quality they were! Well packaged, and made of thick, good quality metal, perfectly shaped and smoothed. Although even better than that, they come with a little packet containing all the bits and bobs you need to put them up on the wall! They're also much bigger in real life than they look on the website which was a pleasant surprise! All in all, they serve as the perfect way to display medals without using coat hangers, door knobs etc!

Their range features an excellent choice of hangers for all sorts of sports including swimming, running, football and triathlon, as well as some with humorous mottos! They make the perfect accessory for your little one's rooms, but they are also a great gift for a sporty friend!

To get your hands on one of these all you need to do is head over to their website! Prices start at an excellent £20.99, and gift vouchers are also available starting at £15. You can also catch them at this years London Marathon Expo on April 17th so be sure to pop and say hello and mention Loving Dorset!

Worth Waking Up To!

2013-02-17T23:06:00.000+00:00

Here at Loving Dorset we were delighted when the wonderful people at Jordan's Cereals got in touch to see if we'd like some samples of their new delicious goodies! We opted for the Super Berry Country Crisp aka "Golden Baked Oat Clusters with Blackcurrants, Cranberries and Blueberries". Jordans sell an amazing range of different cereal, granola, and oatmeal products that come in jam-packed boxes just waiting to be eaten! When ours arrived we certainly couldn't wait to get stuck in!
On first glance, we were surprised to see just how good it looks! A nice mixture of big and small chunks and a mouth-watering mix of colourful summer berries!

The first thing we noticed when trying the cereal was that it didn't have that horrible sugary taste that you find with a lot of cereals nowadays, especially some of the ones that have fruity bits in - it tasted natural, hearty and delicious! We were also pleasantly surprised with just how much fruit there was! You got berries in almost every spoonful! We are not usually cereal lovers, but we found this to be refreshing, filling and effective at making the early mornings slightly more bearable! We even found ourselves grabbing a handful from the box when time constraints meant that breakfast wasn't an option! We were also given a pack of Jordan's Absolute Nut Bars - cereal bars with big pieces of nut mixed with oat. They're the perfect snack to chuck in your handbag and enjoy out and about!

Since finishing the boxes, we have been perusing over what we should try next! We are torn between the Truly Fruity Muesli and the Crunchy Oat Granola with Fruit and Nuts!

Thank's Jordan's for improving this month's mornings!

Relax, Rebalance and Revitalise at Charmouth Reiki

2012-12-04T15:41:00.001+00:00

Reiki is pronounced Ray-Key. It is a method of healing through light touch which helps to promote the body's natural ability to heal itself. Reiki is a way to de-stress yourself without spending heaps of money on retail therapy or watching films and turning your brain to mush! This therapy encourages personal development on all levels, including emotional, physical, mental and spiritual.

Janice Pritchard, the driving force behind it all, is a wonderful Reiki Master. She practises and teaches Reiki in Charmouth and Bridport. Janice worked for the NHS as an Occupational Therapist and also has a qualification in Anxiety Management, so we know you're in good hands! She enjoys teaching Reiki and offers teaching on a one-to-one basis because she understands that everyone is on their own path. As part of the Reiki workshop Janice gives Reiki attunements, a simple spiritual ceremony which activates your chakras, and allows you to give Reiki. Janice says,

I love to give attunements at sacred sites and stone circles wherever possible such as at Kingston Russell stone circle or Nine Maidens stone circle near Winterbourne Abbas. Reiki is my passion and is all I can do now! It has truly changed my life and thousands of people around the world will say the same too!

Janice offers taster Reiki treatments for charity events and ladies pamper evenings. We love this idea, here at Loving Dorset, and think this is a great way to discover Reiki for yourself as well as meeting the genius that is Janice!

Our followers (you guys) are eligible for a 15% discount on Reiki treatments during October and November and 10% discount on all teaching workshops! Don't miss out. Get down there asap for a lovely atmosphere and tranquilizing experience.

Visit her website: Charmouth Reiki or pop along. We hope to see you there!

The Dining Room - Distinguished Dining for All!

2012-12-04T15:39:00.000+00:00

Come along to The Dining Room in Weymouth centre. We first heard of this excellent restaurant through Twitter and saw them at the Dorset Sea Food Festival and Wessex Food Festival, which we all loved! So we know they have a good taste in events but what about their culinary skills?

Well if being a finalist in the 'Best Restaurant' category in the Taste of Dorset Awards 2012 doesn't convince you, then maybe popping along to taste their fine blend of culinary styles might. Their menu has been influenced by Arabic, Far Eastern and Modern European cuisine and is one of the most unique dining experiences in Weymouth.

The Dining Room also do culinary classes for all abilities. There is a basic course for beginners, including knife skills, simple ingredient knowledge and sample dishes like fresh fish pies or delectable desserts. You could also attend an advanced class for the accomplished cook that would like to learn a few tricks! How does a Chicken ballontine with oregano rosti, lemon and sage butter sauce sound? Classes start from £70 a person and are well worth the effort.

To Book call 01305 783008. Or email them at: info@thediningroomweymouth.co.uk.

For divine food visit them at The Dining Room Restaurant, 67 St Mary Street, Weymouth
or follow them on facebook and twitter. If you still don't believe me, here's someone else who has experienced it first hand:

'The food’s incredible, the wine’s wonderful and the staff are amazing. Weymouth has been waiting for a restaurant like this!' - Carole Malone

Come down and see for yourself... The Dining Room

Foraging Fun at Summer Lodge

2012-12-04T15:35:00.004+00:00

I experienced one of the most relaxing and interesting mornings ever on Saturday and I just have to share it with you. John Wright, professional forager, author and presenter took me along with a small group to Kingcombe Meadows in Dorset for a hedgerow mushroom forage. I live in a village and regularly walk my dog across the fields but John has opened my eyes to a whole new world of country life which I didn't know existed.

The event was organised by Kevin Reid and his team at Summer Lodge Country House Hotel, Evershot where we assembled at 9.15 on a bright and sunny October morning. A little apprehensive and not knowing what to expect I kept relatively quiet, for me, and waited to see how the morning would unfold. Well, what a great bunch of people. A couple from Hampshire, who had booked a weekend at the Hotel looking for something completely different to do, a journalist, a doctor, a lovely family from Bournemouth, a local couple who had recently moved to Dorset keen to familiarise themselves with the area, Kevin, John and me.

Our stroll around Kincombe Meadows revealed at least 30 different species of mushroom - I wasn't there for the final count later in the day but I now know there are thousands to be found. Many harmless and edible and several deadly and poisonous. All fascinating and in many cases beautiful. While the experience has opened my eyes to what lies beneath our feet and in nooks and crannies of the great outdoors I'm not about to start foraging for mushrooms to eat without John or one of his fellow experts at my side! The morning was perfectly rounded off with a Wild Mushroom Risotto at The Acorn Inn, Evershot. Which was absolutely delicious!

The afternoon involved a 'show and tell' with John about the varieties found throughout the day, which included over 47! 2 more couples joined at this point who has booked especially for the forage (as well as the delightful Mushroom Dinner Menu!)

If you are interested in find out more about foraging packages and other countryside pursuit events and weekends at Summer Lodge please get in touch with Kevin Reid and his team - www.summerlodgehotel.co.uk

Puzzle Pandemonium in Hope Square

2012-12-04T15:33:00.000+00:00

We have recently discovered an ingenious new shop which we are very excited about. You can find the Jigsaw Shop in Brewers Quay, Hope Square, Weymouth. Run by Dave Evans, this business produces high quality bespoke hand cut wooden jigsaw puzzles from everyones favourite photographs, art prints or posters. All the products are hand made by Dave himself, who was trained and worked at the world famous Victory wooden jigsaw puzzle manufacturer, so you know you will be in good, and very skilled hands. This shop provides the perfect gifts for birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries and many more occasions.
One speciality of Dave's is the wedding jigsaw. The idea is that each of the guests write on the back of a piece so the happy couple has a more interesting memory from the wonderful day. This is big in America but fairly new to Britain so you could be ahead of the trendand show your friends how much fun jigsaws can be.

Come and join us and buy your loved ones their most memorable present yet! Check them out at : The Jigsaw Shop (www.jigsawfilms.me)

Angel Additions - Beautiful Accessories

2012-08-29T17:06:00.003+01:00

Earlier this year we visited a little craft fair in Lyndhurst in the New Forest where we came across a wonderful lady selling a range of beautiful jewellery. Her range, Angel Additions, specialises in accessories that adorn the mind, body and spirit. They are the only authorised worldwide stockist of crystals charged by Judy Hall. Just has charged some of the crystals that they have available to buy, many of which are from her own private collection. After looking on her website, I particularly love this one:

While at the Craft Fair, I did buy this one, which at the time I claimed was 'for a friend's birthday' but I did end up keeping it! It's one from her range of Tibetan Silver Jewellery:

Angel Additions products are available to buy from various craft fairs and on their Groovy Cart page

A Catch up with Dorset Newbie, Gina!

2012-08-14T16:56:00.001+01:00

Dorset does have a real arts-y feel to it, what with Dorset Arts Festival, and who can forget the never ending beautiful scenery and landscapes that make artists and photographers weak at the knees! So we couldn't blame Gina for heading to Dorset to embrace her inner-art!
Gina works under the name Zuleikha's Art, named after her daughter, with her work varying from land seascapes and floral displays.
Since moving to Dorset, Gina is planning to exhibit and sell in local galleries and craft boutiques, which includes a new online craft event 'Craftfest' with whom she will be listing work and selling prints!

Zuleikha's Art comes in all shapes and sizes including bookmarks, greetings cards, silk painting, quilling, various sized paintings and watercolours, and more interestingly, aceos. "I create aceos which are miniature works of art, measuring 2.5 by 3.5 inches (small I know but really popular for those who do not have the wall space or budget to collect large works of art but still love art none the less.)" she said.
If you want to find out a bit more about Zuleikha's Art, you can visit her website, or follow her journey via her blog. In the meantime, we'll leave Gina to get arty, as she's itching to get creative on her new surroundings - and can you blame her?!

The Premier Weymouth Food Festival is on its way!

2012-07-30T16:57:00.005+01:00

The first ever Wessex Food Festival is on its way in September this year! They already have over 40 amazing local food and drink producers booked to attend the show and more are coming on board every minute. They anticipate having over 60 stall holders at the Festival selling some of the finest produce the region has to offer.

The Festival is taking place at Weymouth's Pavilion Complex over the weekend of 15-16th of September, and will be open from 10am - 5pm both days. During the course of the weekend there will be live cookery and wine tasting demos by some brilliant local chefs and experts, as well as lots of other fun activities.

This year they have decided to raise money for the Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund, to help the families of 3 local fishermen that were lost off the coast of Portland in May. 10% of the entry fee takings will be going to the fund and there will be collection points at the festival for people to make donations.

The entry fees are:

£2.50 for adults
£2.00 for concessions,
Children (under 16) get in for FREE!

It's a great cause so I hope to see you all there enjoying some wonderful local Dorset produce! For any more info, check out their website

Seafood bringing people together - Dorset Seafood Festival 2012

2012-07-12T14:37:00.001+01:00

The Dorset Seafood Festival is over for another year, 2012 has been our favourite to date. The festival ran over the weekend, Saturday 7th July and Sunday 8th July and took place in two locations; Trinity Street and Custom House Quay. A huge thanks to everyone involved for making it such a special day.

There were over 80 stalls, celebrity chefs and the amazing seafood made right on our doorsteps. Some of the fun activities included a fish auction, experiencing Pommery Champagne, watching Lesley Waters (famous TV Chef), and many more.

This fabulous event not only provides you with a fun day out, but also raises money for The Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen. It was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone:

Even though it has now ended, Weymouth Harbour is still home to some great restaurants, so a visit at any time of the year will provide ample opportunity to sample the wonderful Dorset Seafood that this area can offer.

Mallams Reveal New Menu

2012-07-12T14:37:00.000+01:00

Loving Dorset couldn’t resist paying a visit to Mallams on the harbourside in Weymouth when we heard Steve and Janice had launched their new menu.

Steve and Janice Gosson have owned Mallams since 1990, they planned to run the restaurant for just 5 years but lucky for us they are still there serving delicious food and fine wines. Hard to believe in this age of farmers markets and sourcing local produce but back then they were pioneers. The husband and wife team have always been passionate about supporting local suppliers, putting valuable time and effort into bringing their diners the very best Dorset has to offer. Needless to say this has won them a broad base of loyal local guests plus many visitors from out of town, seeking them out time and time again when they are in the area – many of whom have become friends.

Steve trained for a career in the catering industry at what is now Brookes University in Oxford – he completed his training in Switzerland before returning to England. Janice started out in retail management but for a long time now now their passion is food and they say they never lose interest in it or stop learning about it.

Back to the new menu

The full menu can be found here: http://www.mallamsrestaurant.co.uk/menu/ and these are a few of our favourite dishes (which we’ve sampled and can highly recommend. These dishes also form part of the fixed price menu. 2 COURSES £24.95 inc VAT)

We loved...

Starter - Local Portland crab and sweet apple topped with chilli crème frâiche served with dressed leaves.

Main course - Rack of English lamb served with a potato and red onion rösti, a purée of butterbean, garlic and rosemary with a port and redcurrant sauce.

Sweet - Bakewell Tart flavoured crème brulée.

A special new addition not to missed on the wine list is a wine from Dorchester Wine Vineyard!

What are you waiting for? – Weddings, birthdays, family get togethers and celebrations, business meetings or just out to have a great meal. Janice and Steve are looking forward to seeing you.

Mallams Restaurant

5 Trinity Road,
The Harbour, Weymouth,
Dorset, DT4 8TJ.

Telephone: 01305 776757

E-mail: enquiries@mallamsrestaurant.co.uk

www.mallamsrestaurant.co.uk

Something that Weymouth always gets right!

2012-07-12T14:36:00.003+01:00

This was the Veterans Day Parade in Weymouth on 24th June 2012.

The Day began with a church service at the memorial by the Pier Bandstand to remember the deceased. This was followed by a fun yet sincere march down to the Pavilion and back along the seafront with most of the town out enjoying the parade.

Luxury Escapes

2012-07-09T13:00:00.000+01:00

We recently visited Launceston Farm in Blandford where we decided to explore the different elements that make a luxury escape. What should you look for? What should you avoid? After a great chat with Sarah, her daughter in law Catherine and a brief hellogoodbye with her farmer son Jimi, not only do we feel utterly overwhelmed by how amazing Launceston Farm is, but we could now almost class ourselves experts when it comes to choosing a luxury retreat!

Their beautiful bed and breakfast, which has remained in the family since Sarah's grandfather owned the property and land years ago, has an amazing classy and stylish feel about it, that still hits the nail on the head perfectly when it comes to a farm/countryside stay.

Owner Sarah highlighted a few things to us that she felt made Launceston luxurious and unique, and we agree;
- Family Run
- Strictly adults only!

- Emphasis on the great location.

- Excellent locally sourced food (from their HUGE working farm)

- Constant effort to ensure peace and tranquility for guests.

- Beautifully designed rooms that certainly have the 'wow factor' when it comes to beds, baths and artwork!

- The little details - homemade biscuits in room, chalkboards for breakfast orders etc

- Gay friendly

- Large dining tables for banquet style dining at breakfast, dinner etc

- Personalised tours of the farm and local area

- Personal recommendations (Sarah makes lists of 'Top 5...' in the local area including places to go, places to eat, places to get coffee and cake etc!)

- A swimming pool (well, who can blame her)

- 'Real Life' farm experiences. Sarah described how a recent guest was and still is mesmerised after seeing a calf being born as he arrived.

One of the main things that stood out to us, was the real focus on the farm and food. The farm supplies to various local supermarkets, and Sarah offers evening meals to guests on Mondays and Fridays. We were absolutely awestruck as Sarah began to explain the food available to guests, which includes her famous Goat Tagine, Andalusian Lamb and Rustic Casseroles. (one of her dishes is even featuring in the Waitrose Magazine soon so look out for it!).
From the beautiful roll top baths, outstanding furniture, gorgeous outside gardens, well-stocked honesty bar and beautiful countryside views, the whole experience just oozes luxury and tranquility.

When Loving Dorset arrived at Launceston Farm, we became very aware very quickly that this was not going to be a place that we forgot in a hurry, and after being greeted so warmly by everybody there, we are already checking our diaries for our next free weekends....!

For anyone looking to get away this summer to either explore the area or avoid Weymouth and Portland's Olympic Mayhem then this will certainly be a great place for a luxury retreat and with prices starting at £55 for single occupancy £80 for double occupancy, you can't NOT really....! Plus, if you visit over the next few months, you may even find a little potted conker plant in your room - a little souvenir from Sarah's home-grown conker tree to remind you of your stay! (how amazing is that!).
For more information about Launceston Farm, visit their website, like them on their Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter! You won't be disappointed! Now lets enjoy a couple more images......

Escape, Unwind & Find Yourself at Middle Picadilly Holistic Spa Retreat

2012-06-27T16:33:00.000+01:00

You can be forgiven if you have never heard of Middle Piccadilly Holistic Spa Retreat. It’s not particularly well hidden and lots of people know and love it, including Loving Dorset, but Middle Piccadilly, like its owner and guiding hand Dominic Harvey, is understated and discreet.

Located on the outskirts of Sherborne, Middle Piccadilly attracts guests from all over the world – many head down to Dorset from London and there is a loyal following of more local clients too. I was introduced to Middle Piccadilly by a good friend a while ago but it was only when I actually visited the retreat recently that I really began to appreciate the tranquillity and the real opportunities offered there to reflect and ‘find yourself’.

Accommodating a maximum number of 9 guests at any one time the atmosphere is very informal and guests are made to feel instantly at home. Dominic’s view is that only when people are completely relaxed can they truly unwind and be receptive to holistic treatments and rejuvenation.

Middle Piccadilly was originally the brainchild of Dominic’s mother – anecdotally her father was the first osteopath to practice in Harley street London. Established in 1985 the retreat has evolved and is still evolving to meet the needs of guests looking to escape the stresses of everyday life for a while and re-charge their batteries.

Radios and TV’s (with the exception of one room) are nonexistent and other electronic equipment is discouraged. Food as you would imagine is organic, locally sourced and delicious. Celebrity guests over the years have included the likes of Lulu, Maureen Lipman and Terence Trent d’arby!

A six sided stand alone wooden building on stilts in the grounds provides a tranquil location for yoga practice and meditation

Dominic explains his philosophy, “In order to meet the demands of stressful 21^st Century working life, it’s important to implement sustainable strategies to enable you to maintain a healthy lifestyle that will allow you to manage all the daily challenges at home and at work.”

Middle Piccadilly’s recipe for positive change, a renewed sense of self and an empowered outlook on life includes:

· An inspiring list of transformative, potentially life changing and empowering healing treatments for the body mind and spirit.

· Therapists that work from a holistic perspective – considering all the aspects of your being in wholeness

· A ‘home from home’ atmosphere to assist you to be your most comfortable

· An opportunity to clear away anything in your life that doesn’t serve to benefit you

· Mouth-watering ‘Feel Good’ vegetarian cuisine, the taste sensation that is Roaw Food and all our own freshly prepared recipes

· Specific and tailored breaks with Detox, Raw or Retreat options.

For more information visit their website or email Dominic E.dominic@middlepicadilly.com

She certainly is all art!

2012-06-20T10:13:00.000+01:00

This week we've been musing over the great work by Claire Streather, a Dorset based artist with a small studio on Portland. Claire recently set up She Is All Art which see's her exhibiting around once a year, selling online and putting a name to her work!

Claire has studied painting, photography, textiles and graphic design and continues to research, study and explore, in order to keep her work informed, exciting and fresh.
Some of Claires many influences include the feminine form, the changing seasons, nature, paint, photography, film and digital, textiles, colour, layers, texture, surface pattern, light, the modern world, graphics and advertising.

Claires future looks promising with continued development both artistically and professionally. Her work has been stocked in Mary Portas’ Living and Giving shop in Kensington, London, with 50% of the proceeds going to Save the Children, her work is also widely available around Dorset at the following locations;
- Poundbury Garden Centre, Dorchester

- Every Cloud Boutique, Dorchester

- Gallery on the Wey, Upwey, Weymouth,

- Bibis, St Alban Street, Weymouth,

- Miss Trudy, Bridport,

- Whitestones Cafe Gallery, Easton, Portland,

- Elite, Chiswell, Portland

You can also purchase pieces of the She Is All Art collection from Claires Etsy and Folksy.

Claire creates all sorts of things, including paintings, photographs, cards, cushions, bags and many more and describes making things as "like breathing, it's essential".
When we asked her who inspired her work, she gave us an eclectic mix which included Frida Kahlo, Tracey Emin, Howard Hodgkin, Moholy Nagy, Rothko, Damien Hirst, Itten, Stella, and Vivienne Westwood to name but a few.
Loving Dorset loved the entire She Is All Art Collection, but this one of the red rose particularly caught our eye - we love the contrast of colours!
Claire's personality is what we can only describe as a perfectionist and she is constantly striving for new ideas for her artwork, as she combines different techniques to achieve new and varied outcomes.
If you're loving Claire's artwork as much as we are and want to see more, She Is All Art is currently exhibiting at The Engine Room in Dorchester until 1st September so make sure you go down and check it out! There is more information on our Events Page. To find out more about She Is All Art, you can visit her Facebook Page or follow Claire on Twitter @SheIsAllArt

Dorset Seafood Festival - Fanatic about Fish?

2012-06-15T12:53:00.000+01:00

One of our favourite annual events around Dorset is the Dorset Seafood Festival, taking place this year on the 7th and 8th July! Bringing hundreds of people down to Waterfront Weymouth every year, the festival boasts over 100 stalls and a range of expert and celebrity chefs and foodies!
With 2 large demonstration stages, you get the chance to get up close and personal as the chefs teach the crowds some basic skills for cooking fish and show off their talents at whipping up delicious meals! (If you're close enough to the front you may even be called up to taste!)
As you walk round the festival, the crowds are awash with visitors sampling all sorts of fishy treats ranging from oysters, scallops and 'new and upcoming' delicacies as they chat with local restaurant owners, chefs, and fishermen who really know their stuff about catching, buying and cooking!

Once again the festival is sponsored by Pommery Champagne who, as we know from past experiences, keep the crowds hydrated with iced buckets of scrummy champagne. (Let me tell you now, a chilled glass of fizz beside Weymouth Harbour is something you NEED to experience!)

Celebrity chefs in attendance this year include Dorset’s very own Ashley Palmer Watts (Heston Blumenthal’s No 2) plus River Cottage contributors, Tim Maddams and John Wright, Lesley Waters, Mat Follas, Richard Bertinet and Russell Brown. They will all bring their own unique skills and interests to the demo stages and teach the basics (filleting, gutting etc).
For those less able in the kitchen, there is also champagne pouring demonstrations and expert wine tasting (yes, there will be samples!) to help all visitors become the perfect hosts at functions, dinner parties and more!

This year the event will open with the Weird Fish Cross Harbour Challenge at 10:30am on the Saturday, judged by Sarah Ayton OBE, double Olympic sailing gold medalist, that sees swimmers race accross the cold waters of the harbour to be the first to down an oyster and a class of Pommery Champagne!

For the younger ones, restaurateur Mark Hix will be judging The Dorset Young Seafood MasterChef of the Year Competition and for the cookbook collectors there will be book signings from famous chef authors - there really is something for everyone! So, if you fancy going along, just get down to Waterfront Weymouth on the 7th/8th July! See you there! More information available on the Website, Facebook and Twitter.

Sensational Sculpturing - Sandworld Weymouth

2012-06-13T11:16:00.000+01:00

Popular Dorset attraction, Sandworld Weymouth, is home to some of the most amazing sand sculptures you will ever see in the UK, on a scale that will certainly surprise you.

Under the cover of a giant marquee, international artists have been creating scenes from Greek Mythology, including Hercules, Medusa, Icarus and The Trojan Horse, plus a 3m high Royal Coat of Arms in celebration of the Queens Diamond Jubilee and a 5m high sandcastle.

Set up in 2011 by Weymouth’s own sand master – Mark Anderson - with friend David Hicks, Sandworld is a progression from the traditional beach front displays synonymous with Weymouth, and made world famous by Marks grandfather Fred Darrington.

Fred started creating sand sculptures on Weymouth beach as a young man back in the 1920’s and worked with sand all his life, retiring eventually in his 80’s but not before he had passed his passion on to Mark. Mark has now been sand sculpting for 25 years, and David has been working alongside Mark for the past six.

Apart from the main displays, Sandworld has a giant covered “Sand Pit” where you have a chance to get stuck in and have a go for yourself! Instruction boards and a selection of tools are available, and the staff are very happy to give essential tips and tricks to create the perfect sandcastle or sculpture. (A great idea for children's birthday parties and school trips!!)

To keep younger children entertained, there is an under 5’s play area with play equipment while older children have a go at sculpting. The main marquee is also home to The Wildflower Café which serves hot and cold snacks and drinks and icecreams. If you manage to visit Sandworld on a sunny day, there is an area with picnic benches for a bit of Al Fresco dining! The environment is very relaxing!

The Sand Art area provides the opportunity to fill shaped bottles with coloured sand or create a Sand Art card (at additional cost) and we thought these were just lovely, and perfect gives to bring home for family and friends or keep as a souvenir of your day! We love the heart ones! There is also a small gift shop selling branded merchandise, postcards and gifts completes the experience.

Sandworld runs sand carving competitions from time to time, an “Easter Egg” carving competition at Easter, which proved very popular, and for The Diamond Jubilee will be running a “Crown Carving” competition – check Website and Facebook for details

One of the best...

2012-06-11T11:38:00.002+01:00

I'm sorry but how AMAZING is Wimborne Folk Festival?!

Crafts and Giggles - A Twist on the Traditional Hen Party!

2012-05-30T11:12:00.000+01:00

Since Loving Dorset joined Twitter, we have come across lots of unique and unusual people and businesses, and often sit pondering over all these wonderful places we'd love to go one day or see. This is one of those. How wonderful would it be to sit around a table with all your girlfriends and make something you can keep forever?
We noticed Crafts and Giggles and felt it was definitely an upcoming trend that needed shouting about! Katie Rand, Dorset based artist and founder of Crafts and Giggles, offers party entertainment in the form of bespoke craft workshops. These can be part of any party, event or occasion and can be tailored for all sizes from a selection of different craft workshops.

The best part of this concept, we felt, was that it is such a more memorable way of celebrating your hen party. (Who ever really remembers what happened in that night club when you were wearing them ridiculous flashing sashes and shot glass necklaces?)
During the workshop parties, hens will have the chance to make something as an individual, collectively, or as part of a group, and the bride will have a treasured memory to keep at the end of it all! We loved these hand-painted ceramic plates - these come as part of a workshop costing around £18 per person and suitable for all ages. During the workshop, the hens each choose an item to paint, resulting in a full, personalised tea set for the bride. (Which can be given as a collective wedding present to the bride and groom!).

The best thing is, you could choose to make something that will actually feature at the wedding day itself, such as floral decorations and wedding favours. Here are some paper bows and paper teacups that come under the 'Paper Table Decorations' workshops costing around £20 per person. This workshop is run by Dorset based artist Annisa Lee.

There is a huge range of workshops available for all occasions which you can see on the website - Katie offers a mobile service too, covering Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Devon and even London on request. Every workshop includes all materials and expert tuition, and costs are dependent on location and duration. We are definitely hoping the next hen party we attend will be with Katie!!!
For more information, please contact Katie on 07824396645 or email katie@craftsandgiggles.com - they're also on Facebook and Twitter

The real meaning of the word Luxury!

2012-05-02T09:53:00.000+01:00

Mention Summer Lodge to anyone who's visited and their eyes light up and a recommendation quickly follows. I was lucky enough to be taken to dinner there one evening last winter so I can speak from first-hand experience. The atmosphere, food, wine and service were all exceptional and definitely made it, for me, a Loving Dorset must have post. With this in mind and being keen to see the hotel in the full light of day I called to ask for a show-round. To cut a long story short, Kevin Reid, Director of Sales at Summer Lodge, very kindly met with me at Summer Lodge this week and gave me the full low down on what really is (and I hate the over use of ‘unique’) a unique venue!

Some might expect a venue like Summer Lodge to be extremely quiet on a damp spring afternoon but far from it. Alive, pleasantly busy and a haven of peace, in equal measures, would be a more accurate description. I saw several groups of people enjoying mouth-watering afternoon tea (which is served from 1.30pm), guests milling around and making the most of the hotel’s spa, relaxing beside the swimming pool.

Part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection Summer Lodge has an excellent reputation and very comprehensive website but nothing compares with ‘seeing for yourself’! Attention to detail, burning wood fires (because it’s a bit cool outside), sumptuous quintessential British country house decor with a quirky twist, fresh flowers and a warm and friendly atmosphere make for the perfect setting for any occasion. I’m thinking weddings, anniversaries, christenings, private parties, corporate meetings, product launches and events - but it would lend itself to much more besides.

Summer Lodge oozes tradition and history but the team of people running it are forward thinking and on the ball. Innovative packages include Adventures in Food where guests can rediscover the ancient art of foraging with acknowledged expert John Wright - star of TV show ‘River Cottage’. Here John introduces guests and diners to the joys of these fascinating food adventures and the hotels award-winning restaurant uses the produce collected during the day to create a sumptuous feast.

The forages are free of charge to guests staying in the hotel on Friday or Saturday night as well as non-residents with Saturday night dinner reservations. The next event is a Seashore Forage on Saturday 19th May 2012 – definitely worth checking out.

The Summer Lodge Wine Dinners are pretty exceptional too. They have been established for some time and are held monthly. For these evenings Chef Steven Titman teams up with Cellar Master Eric Zwiebel, recognised as one of the four best Sommeliers in the world, to create a series of extraordinarily enjoyable dining experiences. The next date is 5^th June and presents wines from Yerling Station, Yarra Valley in Australia which looks sensational but I’ve got my eye on the 5 Sommeliers Black Tie Dinner on 19^th September!

I have to say the thing that really impressed me the most was the relaxed and friendly atmosphere that greeted me throughout the hotel. I didn’t feel intimidated for a second. My experience was one of laid back luxury!

It also boasts some impressive awards – recent wins include ...

· Dorset Restaurant of the Year - Taste of Dorset Awards 2011

· Best British Cheese Board - The British Cheese Society Awards 2010

· Sunday Times - Britain's Top 100 Restaurants 2010 - 2nd in the South West, 27th in the UK, Top 10 Best Wine Lists
Conde Nast Johansens 2010 Awards for Excellence - Most Excellent Service in the UK & Ireland

· Recognised as Gold Standard Award Investors in People - the first company to gain this award on a worldwide basis.

Thank you Kevin – I really enjoyed my visit and will be back soon! For further information please check out the website www.summerlodgehotel.co.uk

The Good Old English Cuppa'

2012-04-26T10:23:00.000+01:00

Tucked away in the Tudor Arcade in Dorchester is a real hidden gem for all tea lovers - The Gilded Teapot. A truly independent tea and coffee specialist emporium, stocking over 130 different kinds of loose leaf teas, along with locally roasted coffees and all the paraphernalia to go with it! The shop can easily be found by following the smell of tea into the old tobacconists where you'll find Jo Davies at the helm!

Since opening in 2010, The Gilded Teapot has gone from strength to strength, despite the recession, and now supply tea for local delis, two cafes and a brilliant farm shop ! They even met Theo Paphitis last week and have been nominated for Entrepreneur and Small Business Awards which they're awaiting the results for! (Good Luck Guys!).

Their main business mission is to bring the finest loose teas from around the globe into our teapots - while diminishing the opinion that loose tea drinking is all part of an elitist club! Loose leaf is for everyone, and anyone whose been to The Gilded Teapot will have had the pleasure of experiencing the knowledge and passion that oozes from everyone who works there!
A big thumbs up came from us when we learnt about the effort that goes into making sure everything is sourced ethically! They work with the Ethical Tea Partnership alongside some of the greatest fair trade and organic estates in the world to bring and blend responsible tea.
How do I cope without a teabag?! Don't worry, we thought the same, so we asked Jo herself - "Bags stop tea from doing that they do best - infusing! If it's quality of leaf and flavour you're looking for, then our loose leaves will always serve you well. Although it sounds like a messy option, it really isn't - we stock a wide range of infuser teapots that don't drip, along with all sorts of strainers to help you on your way!"

As well as some fantastic teas, they also have a sensational range of locally roasted double-award winning coffees, made at the Dorset Coffee Company in Dorchester, if that's more your thing :)
The Gilded Teapot isn't just a one trick pony, they also stock a sensational range of locally roasted coffees from the Dorset Coffee Company and offer talks, tastings, wedding favours, cafe and restaurants supplies with training, as well as a take-away service!

For more info please visit their website , follow them @TheGildedTeapot or subscribe to their new e-newsletter where you can find discounts on their tea-of-the-month starting soon!

5 Minutes with the Baking Birds!

2012-04-15T14:39:00.000+01:00

We enjoyed a quick chat with the Baking Birds (aka Lizzie and Bekki) based in Upwey, Dorset!

Bakers start work notoriously early – when does the day begin for you and Lizzie?
Generally speaking our day starts at 6am – so it’s not too bad. We make our bread using a long fermentation method. The ferment is made the day before and left overnight to work its magic, then we make the dough in the morning so the bread is usually out by about 9.00am. During the summer season with all the food festivals it can be earlier, but hey – best part of the day and all that jazz.

All your baking looks delicious and so different – what are your best sellers/most popular?
Thank you! Both of us have a very low boredom threshold and are very keen on seasonality, so our range changes fairly regularly. There are, however, a few constants such as our seeded Maltstar bread and the omnipresent chocolate brownie (which Purbeck are now using in their new Chocolate brownie flavour ice cream - mmm). A couple of newbies have, over the last few weeks, become popular, such as the filled savoury croissants, the apricot and fennel seed bread and the mixed game pasties.

We love the idea that your ingredients are sourced locally and sound absolutely scrummy – how do you decide which suppliers to use?
Well proofs in the eating as they say, but joking aside it all comes down to quality, flavour and the fact that we live in a county with so many great producers. We are fortunate to be part of the Dorset Farmers Markets so we have met, and continue to meet, great people making awesome products at the markets. We are also very lucky in some cases – like we have a fantastic free range egg farm just down the road from the bakery. The provenance of the food that we eat I think is a growing concern to a growing number of people, so it’s important both to us and our customers that both the quality and the manner in which our ingredients are produced is spot on.

We apologise in advance for this one - how do you both stay so slim surrounded by so much yummy homebaking? Do you offer any healthier/ low calorie options – or is that just a silly idea!!?
Silly idea! Just yankin’ your chain. Well, for a start, we eat our food most days of the week. Not everything we make is sugar toting, butter laden work of the devil. There seems to be this fairly recent notion that bread is fattening, and to be honest everything is fattening if consumed in vast quantities! Bread is a great source of energy, and the wholegrain varieties we make are also a great source of fibre. An example of one of our bruschettas, for instance, is made using our bread, olive oil, pesto, fresh tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, which I would actually describe as a very nutritious lunch. I don’t think we could make such claims for the brownie or sticky date cake, but a little bit of what you like does you good. Variety is the key – cake for breakfast, lunch and dinner won’t do you any good, but neither will eating low fat, cardboard, God knows whats in ‘em versions of perfectly good food. Besides which, it’s incredibly boring to eat the same old thing day in day out.

What’s next for baking birds? (perhaps selling online, expanding outside catering, introducing new ranges etc?)

As ever – new ranges to keep ourselves, and our customers on their toes. There are also another couple of avenues that we will be exploring in the not so distant future, such as online sales though our website – brownie by post anyone? We have also had enquires about bread making courses, which is something we would like to explore further. Other than that, one day we would really like to scribble down how we make some of these crazy baked creations in a book.

We know you are at the Farmers Markets too - have you got any other events lined up?

Lots to keep us occupied over the coming months – Dorset knob throwing (no really), Melpash show, Bridport food festival, and Camp Bestival are among some of the events we will be attending this year. As always, we will be at Poundbury, Bridport, Sherborne and Dorchester Farmers Market, and we will also be holding an open day at the bakery in June to celebrate our first year at Windsbatch – check our website and Facebook page for further details.

Windsbatch bakery at Friar Wadden Road is open 9.30am to 1.30pm and we can definitely recommend popping in!

The wonderful Bekki and Lizzie are offering 10% off until the end of April. Just send them an email and quoting Loving Dorset and they'll send you a discount code!

Spring Fashion

2012-04-11T14:27:00.001+01:00

With spring in the air we find ourselves thinking – our clothes are drab and we can’t find anything to wear. Sound familiar? Well, if like us your thoughts turn to clothes shopping, why not take a look at Yard, Clothing and Lifestyle at Poundbury, Dorchester- one of our absolute favourite places to shop!

Walk into the Yard and you are met with a smile and an offer of a coffee – so you immediately relax and, even if you are in a rush, make yourself find the time to take a good look at all the gorgeous clothes, accessories and gifts.

We took a sneak peak at their latest Spring range and while we were there asked for some tips on what we should be wearing as the evenings get lighter and the days hopefully warmer.

What’s the big fashion trend for Spring 2012?

Spring summer 12 is all about brights, with the newest shades being lime, royal and coral. Print is still important, as are 'easy to wear' naturals. Shirts and jackets have made a big return, and skinny jeans and chinos remain the firm favourites. High summer is all about maxi, with the maxi skirts and palatso pants, wear these with super high wedges and a skinny top.

4 Wardrobe Essentials

- Bright Skinny Jeans from Amazing Woman offer a perfect fit and come in royal, red or white £90

- A Silk Tee by french brand American Vintage is a must. My favourite is the lime green at £

- Maison Scotch Chino in Coral are a fantastic fit for £110

- A Cotton Shirt from Great Plains in rather ballerina or coral just £55

To help you update your wardrobe, we've secured an exclusive Loving Dorset discount for you to use. Just print off the voucher below and take into the store!

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