In The Country & Town Magazine February 2024

cover photo © JohnJoe photography

COUNTRY & TOWN IN THE February 2024 The Property & Lifestyle Magazine

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Within This Issue...

P.11 Herriard, Hampshire EXCLUSIVE MAGAZINE PREVIEW. GUIDE £900,000

P. 92 Are any ultra-processed foods safe to eat?

P. 90 Dancing On Ice pro Vanessa Bauer: Growing up

P. 88 Lioness Chloe Kelly: Female athletes have to overachieve to be accepted

P. 12

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P. 18 Caroline Quentin: Being an actor and a gardener

P. 26 Paloma Faith: Becoming a mum left me ‘irreversibly changed’

P. 84 Audi creates limited-edition RS 6 GT, BMW returns to the manual gearbox with new Z4, and Polestar 4 goes on sale

P. 78 Michael Sheen hopes The Way ‘gives voice’ to Port Talbot

P. 31

P. 70 Bob Marley: One Love star Kingsley Ben- Adir asked ‘what would Bob think?’

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A collection of exquisite properties and engaging editorial

P. 30

P. 28

P.12 Guide Offers In Excess of £3.250m.

P. 56 Why going plant-based could transform your health – as study links it to ‘better sexual health in men with prostate cancer’

P 50 You don’t really see people like me presenting a food travelogue show

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P. 8

P. 64 How to renovate your kitchen sustainably

P. 20 - Long Sutton, Hampshire. Guide £1.795m.

Wonderful grounds of circa c. one acre

P. 32

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IN THE COUNTRY &TOWN Welcome to

Creating the inspiration to move

An Exciting Start to 2024

We are please to bring you this edition of In The Country & Town, providing an opportunity to provide our readers with market insights and also showcase some great properties to buy or to rent for those starting their 2024 property search this month. In January and early February 2024 the house market has moved quickly with positive buyer activity turning into a healthy amount of new property sales, confirming in our view that house buyers believe that the best in house buying opportunities will be during the first six months of 2024.

Our advice to those home owners who are contemplating a house sale this year is to go to the market early and benefit from the buyer activity that is currently being experienced by McCarthy Holden.

The most notable market up-tick has been experienced in the sale of properties between £1.5m. and £5m., and a few of these recent sales are shown below.The hottest price point in the market currently is around £2.0m. to £2.5m., so vendors in this price range especially can experience a positive outing to the market if they go to market early in 2024.

Sale Agreed February On Guide £2.250m

Sale Agreed January On Guide £5.250m

Sale Exchange January On Guide £1.895m

Published by Kilbricken Publishing and John Joe Photography Limited,Telephone: 07470 707275, email jjtopshot@outlook.com, web johnjoe.co.uk. Publishing 2022 - All rights reserved. Reproduction is forbidden except by express permission of the publishers.The content of this magazine is believed to be correct but its accuracy is not guaranteed and it does not form part of any offer or contract. John Joe Limited cannot accept responsibility for any omissions or errors.

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Take A Look!

There are many fine properties to see within these pages and you will see the wonderful interiors of some of the finest properties on the Berkshire / Hampshire borders, so we hope you will enjoy exploring the pages of In The Country & Town.We also hope you will enjoy reading some of the editorial features, including recipes from new chef Big Zuu, Caroline Quentin on her gardening experience, Paloma Faith: Becoming a mum, why going plant-based could transform your health, Michael Sheen on why he hopes The Way ‘gives voice’ to Port Talbot,TV & Film on One Love star Kingsley, how to renovate your kitchen sustainably, and motoring.

Paloma Faith

Gabriela Peacock

Caroline Quentin

Motoring

Film

Plant Food & Cancer

TV

kitchen Sustainably

Market Up-tick By Throughout 2024?

In many ways this is already happening, as demonstrated by the January and February increase in house sales.At the moment the up-tick relates to the amount of sales and this has not yet transferred into house prices starting to move upward.This is likely to come in time, but interest rates need to tumble which is expected in the second half of the year, Only then are we likely to see house prices increasing again, albeit likely to be at a modest rate.

We hope you enjoy reading this edition of In The Country & Town and we look forward our next edition, when we will give our readers further market insight and will again showcase some of the finest properties for sale or to let.

John Holden - Chairman McCarthy Holden

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Church Crookham, Hampshire Guide: £500,000

This attractive looking three bedroom semi-detached property is situated in the popular Courtmoor area of Fleet, close to local schools and amenities whilst being within easy access of Fleet town centre with its extensive range of facilities. EPC D (64) - Telephone 01252 620640

• Close To Local Schools • South Facing Garden • Garage & Driveway Parking •

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Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £1,150,000

This impressive four bedroom detached property is presented in excellent decorative order and offers accommodation in excess of 2,400 sq. ft. Features include a superb kitchen/dining room with sitting area to the rear of the house with a comprehensive range of solid wood wall and base mounted units with oak work surfaces and a selection of integrated appliances including extractor fan, two integrated fridge/freezers, dishwasher and wine fridge. EPC C(75)Telephone 01252 620640

• Close To Fleet Mainline Railway Station • Open Plan Kitchen •

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Odiham, Hampshire Guide: Offers In Excess Of £450,000

Situated within the desirable village of Odiham, this well-presented, three-bedroom semi-detached home is positioned within close proximity of the village centre.The property has been tastefully updated to a high standard by the current owners.The property benefits from: three bedrooms, kitchen/breakfast room, living/dining room, bathroom and externally: garden and parking. EPC C(70) Telephone 01256 704851

• Three Bedrooms • Exquisite Interior • Close To Village •

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DUE TO THE OPEN MARKET SOON PREVI EW magazine exclusive

Herriard, Hampshire Guide: £900,000

Situated within the sought after village of Herriard, this exquisite three bedroom detached family home built in 2020 by Forays Homes, is located within an exclusive development of just three detached properties. Benefits to this property include a detached double garage with ample driveway parking, air source heat pump, dressing room, underfloor heating, and wonderful countryside views. EPC D (68) - Telephone 01256 704851

• Superb Kitchen / Breakfast Room • Countryside Views •

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Fleet (Blue Triangle) - Hampshire Guide Price: £1,825,000

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See the follow pages for more details

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Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire Guide: £1,825,000

This immaculately presented and substantial family home sits on a delightful half acre plot on one of the most sought- after roads in Fleet.The property has been completely redecorated with new carpets, beautifully re-fitted bathrooms and underfloor heating to the ground floor.There is also planning permission granted

for a single storey extension to the rear. EPC C (72) - Telephone 01252 620640

• Half Acre Grounds • Beautifully Presented • Sought After Location •

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Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire Guide: £895,000

This attractive and well-proportioned double fronted detached property is located in the prestigious Blue Triangle area of Fleet, close to the town centre with its excellent range of facilities and also within easy reach of Fleet mainline railway station. EPC TBC - Telephone 01252 620640

• Character Features • About 150ft Rear Garden • Town Centre Location •

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Church Crookham, Hampshire Guide: £700,000

This five bedroom detached family home was built by Charles Church to their Oakley Design and has since been extended to offer generous and flexible accommodation.The property is located on the popular Netherhouse Moor

development in Church Crookham. EPC C(74)Telephone 01252 620640

• Extended Family Home • Close To Local Schools • Open Plan Kitchen •

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things to be immaculate,but my vegetables are in a rotational system. I’ll mow a path through the grass rather than cut all the grass. I garden organically.” The book also features a chapter on wellbeing, an important element to Quentin, whose mother suffered from bipolar disorder and spent periods in a psychiatric hospital, she recalls in the book. When she was allowed to visit, she’d spend time in the hospital gardens, surrounded by marguerites, which she still loves. “I genuinely believe that growing things, watching the birds, smelling the roses, eating the green stuff and drawing and painting, all help keep me this side of sanity and one step away from the big dark house on the hill,” she writes.

Here, she tells us more…

How much has gardening benefited your mental health?

“I consider it responsible for my wellbeing. I am by nature someone who goes up and down. I have mood swings, I get low.And if I do feel low, the first thing I turn to is my garden, or if I can’t be near my garden, the nearest open space or natural environment.”

Photo: Cameron Diaz

Caroline Quentin: Being an actor and a gardener is not a happy combination By Hannah Stephenson, PA The Men Behaving Badly and Life Begins star, who recently appeared in Sky sci-fi series The Lazarus Project, also offers a wealth of advice and tips to her 150k followers on Instagram (@cqgardens). Her husband, Sam, does much of the filming when she invites followers into her home near Tiverton in Devon, where she makes all sorts of dishes from ingredients she has grown, and shows us what she’s up to in her two-acre garden – which features an orchard, pond, greenhouse, raised vegetable beds and a flower garden, where the magic takes place. Now, Quentin has written – and illustrated – a new book, Drawn To The Garden. It’s part memoir, part guide, with chapters on seeds, salads, fruit and veg, water, herbs, pets and pests, memories and anecdotes meandering through each section. Her garden, she says, is “not immaculate”. Weeds haven’t taken over, but she allows some buttercups and daisies to encourage bees.

Did you always have access to a garden?

“As a little girl, we had a long strip of suburban terraced house lawn. It was not really a gardening space. Nobody in my house was particularly interested in gardening. “I wouldn’t say I was a gardener when I was young but at primary school, I’d put a seed on a bit of blotting paper or a bulb in a jam jar with water underneath and it was fascinating. The whole optimism about growing things is always a good thing.”

What was your garden in Devon like when you first moved there?

“It was a derelict property, with just a field and a trickle of stream at the bottom.There was no garden.That was about 17 years ago. “I put the pond in first because I knew when you put water into a garden, nature comes, and that was what I was most interested in. It was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done with a garden. I swim in it too.”

How do you juggle your acting career with looking after the garden?

“You tend to film in the summer months, and gardening obviously happens a lot in the summer months as well. So

“By my nature, I’m quite a chaotic person, so I don’t need

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I tend to be in the greenhouse in January, February and March, getting everything ready, sowing my seeds, getting the garden ready, and then suddenly the phone will ring and I’ll need to be away from the garden when everything needs to go in and be planted out. Being an actor and a gardener is not really a happy combination.The time balance is somehow wrong. “I’m filming two dramas this year. I do get homesick. I’m really bad at being away from home, which is weird given that I do it for 90% of my life. But it’s a small price to pay for what has been a very enjoyable career.”

and maybe it’s time for me to start thinking about a garden for someone in their 60s. I want to make my next garden as well, I don’t want to inherit one.At the moment I’m fixated on having bees. So I’m thinking of an orchard with bees in it, and possibly some wildflowers.”

What will you take from your old garden to your new garden?

“Probably water.What’s brought me the most joy is watching swallows over the pond on a summer’s evening. I would definitely grow apples again and I would have maybe three or four raised beds, and a greenhouse or potting shed.”

Do you have help?

Drawn To The Garden by Caroline Quentin is published by Frances Lincoln on February 15, priced £20.

“Sam will water for me, but he’s not a gardener. Anthony (her gardener) has helped me over the years. He comes in for a morning a week.”

How do you maintain your wellbeing in the garden?

“I hug trees, I talk to trees, I spend as much time as I can in woodland.They call it forest bathing. It’s a deeply rooted human thing to want to be in the shade or dappled light of a tree on a summer’s day. “I don’t formally meditate, but I do have a process where I try to breathe well when I’m outside if I’m feeling stressed or trying to learn some lines and they’re not going in, or there’s too much to do. I do a little bit of yoga every day. In the summer, I can do that outside and get my breathing organised to just slow my heart rate down and breathe in some good air.”

What’s next?

“I’m planning to downsize and start a new garden (in Devon). My children (Will and Rose) have left home and we have a big house and big plot of land. I’m getting older

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Wonderful grounds of circa c. one acre

Long Sutton, Hampshire Guide: £1,795,000

Superb Kitchen / Diner • Wonderful Setting & Grounds • Vast Kitchen / Diner

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Set in grounds of around one acre, this substantial four/five bedroom detached family home, is nestled within the heart of the desirable village of Long Sutton enjoying uninterrupted countryside views. The location and outlook is exceptional and the property has been extended by the current owners and provides flexible living accommodation of around 3,750 sq. ft. EPC D (63) - Telephone 01256 704851

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Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire Guide: Offers In Excess Of £1,050,000

This exquisitely presented five bedroom detached home has been refurbished by the current owners to offer luxurious accommodation throughout. Measuring approximately 3,000 sq. ft. over three floors, the property offers flexible living for the modern family.The property is located on the popular Edenbrook development in Fleet which is ideally situated for local school, leisure facilities, country walks yet within easy access of Fleet town centre and Fleet mainline railway station EPC C (71) - Telephone 01252 620640

• Beautifully Presented • No Onward Chain • Open Plan Living •

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SALE AGREED JANUARY

Fleet (Blue Triangle), Hampshire Guide: £1,250,000

Superb Kitchen / Diner • High Specification New Build Home

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McCarthy Holden are delighted to offer to the market this newly built executive home constructed to a high specification by the renowned local builders North Hants Homes.The property sits on a generous plot measuring approximately half an acre within the prestigious Blue Triangle area of Fleet. EPC B (88) - Telephone 01252 620640

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Photo: Paloma Faith

of it. And I think that’s what I did – and I think that’s what killed my relationship. I was like, that’s not me anymore.”

Paloma Faith: Becoming a mum left me ‘irreversibly changed’ By Lauren Taylor, PA Paloma Faith has revealed that the level of resentment she felt during the relationship with her children’s father was “stifling”.

Since becoming a single mum, she said: “I feel like the lack of resentment is so tangible. I found it really stifling – and I don’t resent anything anymore.” Faith’s new album, The Glorification of Sadness, is “a manifestation of [the] break down” she had after the split from Lahcine. From her latest empowering single Bad Woman, to album track Eat S*** And Die, it’s a raw and vulnerable account of the rollor-coaster of emotions during a break-up. One thing she struggled with post-children was having to act as ‘a mother’ to other people as well – “and not just my boyfriend but lots of friends, my own mother, family members…” She added:“I just can’t do those things anymore. I think a lot of women who don’t say ‘I can’t’ are sort of pretending that they can, and then suffering from burnout. “I’ve never really understood the word boundaries because I came from a crazy, traumatic childhood” (her parents separated when she was two). “But after having kids, I became very boundaried and I think people didn’t really recognise me. I didn’t even recognise me, because [it’s in] my nature to feel guilty.” Ultimately, the decision to leave was hers – but, she added, “it takes two to end it, so whoever says it, it’s sort of irrelevant”.

The 42-year-old said: ” I just felt like I did not have the capacity to be a mother to anyone other than my children.”

The singer announced her separation from French artist, Leyman Lahcine – with whom she shares two daughters, aged seven and nearly three – in August last year. And the How You Leave A Man hitmaker has been vocal about the impact having children can have on relationships. “You lose your entire identity, and not only have you got to adapt and get used to this new person [the baby], you have to learn and get used to yourself again – because you’re irreversibly changed,” Faith explained. “Your entire existence is completely dismantled [when you have a child] and then you’re told to put it back together, but there’s no manual and you don’t remember where the bits are. “And you have two choices: you either try and cobble it together to look a bit like a version of what it was before, or you go, I reject that, I’m making a completely new thing out

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Plus, there’s extra guilt attached to ending a relationship with someone you have children with, she agreed.“You feel like you’ve gone against your maternal duty or something.”

say ‘you’re brilliant’ to each other, which we didn’t do before. I’ll say,‘I’m so lucky that my kids are your kids’.”

Mentally, Faith, whose UK tour starts in April, is in a better place now after “the most dramatic period” of her life.

Making the decision was complex, she acknowledged.

“I just think certainty is an unattainable idea… I don’t know if anyone ever really knows what they want. They might know for a split second, and go, I’m just gonna do it – and then you live with the consequences. “It would have been just as difficult to stay as it was to leave. I would have written just as emotional an album if I had stayed with him, that was all about the suffering of being in a long-term relationship.” Faith’s children now spend two nights a week at their dad’s house. “So I get two very set days off and I get a break – quite a lot of married women don’t get a break,” she added. “If they want to go out, they have to say,‘Is it OK if I do this?’ sheepishly.Which I know, because I’ve been in that situation as well….‘Sorry, if you don’t mind, I’m going to have a night to myself’ – and usually it’s once in a blue moon.” Their new co-parenting arrangement feels “very modern – Gwyneth Paltrow-y”, said the singer. And with “no one to resent”, the pair are on good terms.

“When I first ended it, I felt I had to sort of perpetuate this idea that I could power through and continue to kind of do everything, and I think that I burned out, I do think that I had a kind of breakdown when I broke up with my kids’ dad,” she said. “Now I feel better in the sense that [I’m] a bit more kind to myself in knowing what I have capacity for. My priorities are clearer and less blurry to me than they have been for several years.” And although she’s “on route” to a period of happiness, she can’t quite yet see the decision to split as choosing a happier path for herself.

“I think to feel that way, I’d need to have forgiven myself, and I’m not there yet.”

Forgiven herself for what exactly? “For him not being enough for me.”

The Glorification Of Sadness is released on February 16.

“I think with the distance, my kids’ dad really appreciates me in ways that maybe he didn’t say before.We take time out to

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Odiham, Hampshire Guide: £1,150,000

• Exquisite Interior • Four Bedrooms • Central Village Location •

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Situated within the sought after village of Odiham, a rare opportunity to purchase a beautifully finished Georgian Town House within the centre of the village.Wessex House offers spacious and flexible accommodation throughout and benefits from four bedrooms, allocated parking with an EV Charging point, three bathrooms, two reception rooms and a private courtyard garden. EPC C (78) - Telephone 01256 704851

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Odiham, Hampshire Guide: £630,000

Situated within the historic Bury at the heart of the desirable Georgian village of Odiham, this Grade II Listed three- bedroom cottage is offered to the market with a wealth of charm and character throughout. Benefits to this property include courtyard gardens front and rear, exposed beams, three reception rooms, feature fireplaces, within close proximity of Odiham High Street and no onward chain. EPC D (56) - Telephone 01256 704851

• Charming Character Cottage • Three Bedrooms • Central Village Location •

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SOLD stc GOING TO PRESS

Odiham, Hampshire Guide: Offers In Excess Of £300,000

Situated within the sought-after village of Odiham, in a central location, this three-bedroom cottage requires full renovation throughout and is offered to the market for the first time in over 100 years with no onward chain.The property includes; three bedrooms, two reception rooms, kitchen, bathroom and downstairs W.C. EPC E(53)Telephone 01256 704851

• Full Renovation Project • Three Bedrooms • Central Village Location •

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Hartley Wintney Hampshire Guide: £735,000

• Beaautifully Updated • Overlooking Woodland To Front • Drive Parking •

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A rare opportunity to acquire a uniquely positioned and well-proportioned four-bedroom family home on the popular St Marys Park development. Having been recently extended and modernised throughout to a high specification by the current owners creating a comfortable and modern family living space. EPC ??? - Telephone 01252 842100

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Hampshire / Berkshire Borders Guide Price: Offers In Excess Of £3,250,000 Telephone 01252 842100

• Exceptional Family House • Stunning Indoor Swimming Pool • Just Over 3 Acres •

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See the follow four pages for more details

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Finchampstead, Berkshire / Hampshire Borders Guide: £3,250,000

• C.7,000 sq. ft. of Exquisite Space • Superb Kitchen • Indoor Swimming Pool •

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This exceptional country house dates from the mid 19th Century and beautifully fuses historic character with contemporary additions, especially seen in the breathtaking indoor swimming pool complex and the exceptional luxury kitchen/living room. Overall this fine property provides impressive spaces of around 7,900 sq. ft. and this property has been in the same family ownership for 30 years, making this a rare opportunity. EPC E (53) - Telephone 01252 842100

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Finchampstead Ridges - Berkshire sale agreed on guide £5.250m.

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SALE AGREED JANUARY

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South Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: Offers In Excess Of £650,000

This spacious, three-bedroom family home is situated in the desirable village of South Warnborough providing flexible living accommodation and is offered to the market with no onward chain.The property offers an ideal opportunity to further extend subject to planning permission. EPC D (67) - Telephone 01256 704851

• Countryside Views • Three Bedrooms • Possible Planning Potential •

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North Warnborough, Hampshire Guide: £495,000

Situated in the centre of the popular village of North Warnborough, this well-presented, characterful, three bedroom home is set back from the road in a desirable location.The property is offered to the market with no onward chain. EPC C (69) – Telephone 01256 704851

• Three Bedrooms • No Onward Chain • Superb Interior •

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Eversley Centre, Hampshire Guide: Offers In Excess Of £1,100,000

• Rural Views To The Rear. • Character Features Throughout • Gated Drive Parking •

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A truly unique four bedroom detached character property in the heart of Eversley Village. Built in 1812 and extended and modernised throughout Centre Cottage offers modern living, stunning interior design and character charm.With a generous rear garden including a summer house, breeze hut and large patio areas, all complimented by

views over adjoining countryside. EPC ??? - Telephone 01252 842100

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Fleet, Hampshire Guide: £900,000

This six bedroom double fronted detached property is situated on the ever popular Elvetham Heath development, close to local amenities.The property is offered to the market in excellent decorative order with accommodation

measuring approximately 2,260 sq. ft. EPC C (71) - Telephone 01252 620640

• Open Plan Kitchen • Converted Double Garage • Close To Local Schools •

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Church Crookham, Hampshire Guide: £500,000

This extremely well presented three-bedroom detached property, which is located on the popular Zebon Copse Development in Church Crookham, has the benefit of backing onto a wooded area. On the ground floor there is an entrance hallway, living room and dining room and excellent kitchen. On the first floor are three bedrooms and a family bathroom. Bedroom one has an en-suite shower room and fitted wardrobes. EPC D (66) - Telephone 01252 620640

• 3 Bedrooms • En-Suite to Bedroom One • Garage •

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Sale Agreed In 3 Weeks - In Excess Of Guide multiple offers received similar equestrian property wanted

SOLD stc

Hampshire / Berkshire Borders Anticipated Guide Price: £2,000,000

• Family House & Equestrian Enterprise • Set in Around 42 Acres •

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Situated within in a highly regarded location between Sandhurst and Finchampstead, this is a rare opportunity to acquire a significant freehold with mixed use benefits of a family home and a significant equestrian yard. The detached family house is of generous proportions and provides 5 bedrooms and 4 reception rooms and a double garage.The equestrian enterprise / yard includes a mix of stables, open bay barns, indoor riding school, outdoor sand school and storage spaces. The entire property is in circa 42 acre of land. EPC - Telephone 01252 842100 or EMAIL FOR FURTHER DETAILS

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what’s linked to the history and culture of a place, it’s also about the now.

Photo: Big Zuu

“I feel like now more than ever we’re seeing people embrace the fact that different cultures are in their country. What was super sick was in the first episode, we went to Bologna and we got to talk about Ethiopian food. “And a clip [of that] went crazy on the internet, people actually went mental. If you watch that clip, you wouldn’t even know we’re in Italy, you’d just think we’re in a random Ethiopian restaurant – but Italy has such a connection to Ethiopia because of colonisation.” While Zuu is doing things his way, he’s still inspired by those who have come before – mentioning shows fronted by the likes of Rick Stein, Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay.

“Watching all the greats of British television do it gave me the inspiration to do it myself,” he says.

“But I just felt in terms of representation of people like me, young people from the hood – you don’t really see it. So it was sick to kind of be the first person for my generation to do something like that. “People might feel like, oh yeah, Big Zuu – he’s been doing food stuff for years, so it’s normal. But it’s actually not normal to be part of a travel show on primetime TV.” In 12 Dishes In 12 Hours, Zuu eats his way around cities like Bologna, Nicosia, Amsterdam and even his hometown, London – but he says Cyprus was his favourite. “I always knew that Cyprus had good food, and being Lebanese we have that connection. But I wasn’t ready for the amount of good food they had – everything, the kebabs, the bread, the bakeries. Super fresh, super flavoursome.”

Big Zuu: You don’t really see people like me presenting a food travelogue show By Prudence Wade, PA

He also pushed himself out of his comfort zone – particularly thinking of the pickled herring he sampled in Amsterdam.

Big Zuu is fully aware it’s “not normal” for someone like him to be fronting a major food travelogue show.

Bubbly and enthusiastic, you’d think Zuu liked everything he tried – but not quite. “We had cake in Bologna, certosino or something like that. It’s like a traditional Christmas cake they have out there – it just wasn’t nice. It was very dry,” he says, without mincing his words at all:“It was quite butters.” But Bologna certainly wasn’t all bad – particularly as Zuu was joined by Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 star Will Poulter, who has a bit of experience in the food world after his cameo in Hulu show,The Bear, as pastry chef Luca. The two ate spaghetti bolognese for breakfast, tried some aged Parmesan and sampled a whole lot of gelato – and Zuu was impressed by the way Poulter spoke about food.

The genre has historically been dominated by a certain type of presenter, but with his latest show, Zuu is on a mission to “change what I think a travel show should be like for someone like myself”. Big Zuu’s 12 Dishes In 12 Hours sees the rapper, cook and presenter – real name Zuhair Hassan – travel to various cities with celebrity friends, sampling 12 local dishes in 12 hours. Zuu, 28, brings his signature wit and bubbly personality to proceedings, as well as providing a perspective we don’t always see in travelogue shows.

“I knew – especially from working on The Bear, even though

He wanted to make it clear that “food is not just about

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he wasn’t in it for a very long time – I knew that he had some experience doing stuff in the kitchen. So for me,Will had that excellence when it came to getting his point across in a small amount of words and making you feel the emotion that he felt when he ate the food.”

Big Zuu’s French taco recipe “The French took a Mexican dish, named it incorrectly and basically swapped the rice and beans in a burrito with chips and cheese,” is how Big Zuu describes this dish. “Bare meat combined with hella flavours in a massive tortilla, then pressed in a grill – it’s very mad.When I went to Paris and had this, it made me question the fast-food levels in the UK.”

The hardest thing for Zuu was actually managing to eat 12 whole dishes in 12 hours.

“I was so full. It was so tough – it wasn’t easy,” he admits.“I thought, 12 hours is not a big problem – bruh! I was done [by the end of it]. I was so done to the point of like, I started feeling sorry for myself.” He adds with an explosive laugh: “It’s funny, because a lot of people are like, oh you’ve got the best job in the world. I definitely do, but it’s not easy… I always think of the guy from Man v. Food, and I’m like – how did he do it for all those years? He’s a very mentally strong person.” Zuu keeps things light on camera, but he’s always got the bigger picture in mind – particularly when he thinks about how he’s pushing forward representation in the food TV space.“Sometimes naturally,it can be a little bit overwhelming and it can feel like I’ve got a lot on my shoulders,” he says. “Sometimes I feel like I can’t make a mistake. But that’s part of the game and that’s part of what I signed up for – and I’m very happy to lead the charge when it comes to food television in terms of new things as well… I’m proud to be part of this new wave of creators.” Big Zuu’s 12 Dishes In 12 Hours continues on ITV1/ITVX on Saturdays at 10pm, and Big Zuu’s Big Eats by Big Zuu is published by Ebury Press, priced £22. Photography by Ellis Parrinder.Available now

Fr ench taco ingredients: (Serves 2)

6 chicken breast mini fillets, about 250g 2tbsp olive oil ½tsp garlic powder

½tsp smoked paprika ½tsp ground cumin ½tsp dried oregano 2 merguez sausages

½ red pepper, thinly sliced ½ green pepper, thinly sliced 2 large tortillas 100g grated mozzarella 2tbsp nacho cheese sauciness 2 handfuls of cooked oven chips 2 spring onions, sliced 50g pickled jalapeños Salt and ground black pepper, to taste For the sauce Algérienne: Juice of ½ lemon 1tsp ground cumin 1tsp paprika

½tsp chilli powder 1tbsp tomato paste 1tbsp harissa paste 1 small onion, finely chopped 240g mayonnaise

Handful of coriander, finely chopped Salt and ground black pepper, to taste For the nacho cheese sauciness: 410ml tin evaporated milk 120g Red Leicester, grated 120g Cheddar, grated 1tbsp cornflour 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped 1tsp hot chilli powder 1tbsp hot sauce

Continued on following pages >

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Method:

Big Zuu’s fried chicken recipe “I grew up on fried chicken,” Big Zuu says. He’s so keen on fried chicken, he’s come up with three ways to cook yours at home – ranging from a crunchy Dorito crust and chicken nuggets fried with Rice Krispies. Just FYI, you’ll need to double the dredge quantities if you’re using legs, drumsticks or wings. Fried chicken ingredients: (Serves 4) 500g chicken tender or nuggets, or chicken legs or drumsticks or wings 2l vegetable oil, for deep frying (if using a saucepan; if using a deep-fat fryer follow manufacturer’s instructions for oil) Salt and ground black pepper, to taste For the brine for chicken tenders or nuggets: 100ml buttermilk 1tsp garlic powder ½tsp onion powder ½tsp paprika 1tsp salt For the brine for chicken legs or drumsticks or wings: 250ml buttermilk 1½tsp garlic powder 1tsp onion powder 1tsp paprika 1½tsp salt For the dredge if making Doritos fried chicken: 50g plain flour 25g cornflour 25g rice flour 50g Doritos, blitzed in a food processor or finely crushed, plus extra Doritos to garnish For the dredge if making Maggi fried chicken:

1. For the sauce Algérienne: Mix the lemon juice, cumin, paprika and chilli powder together in a bowl to form a paste. Add the tomato paste and harissa and stir to combine.Add the onion, mayonnaise, coriander and salt and pepper and whisk to combine. 2. For the nacho cheese sauciness: Pour the evaporated milk into a saucepan and bring to a simmer over a medium heat. Mix the grated cheeses with the cornflour, then add to the pan along with chilli, chilli powder and hot sauce, and whisk to combine. Simmer gently for five minutes until thickened, check the seasoning. 3. For the French taco: place the chicken fillets in a large bowl together with one tablespoon of the oil, the garlic powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, oregano and some salt and pepper. 4. Heat the remaining oil in a frying pan over a medium heat. Slice the merguez sausages in half lengthways and fry for three to four minutes, turning after the cut sides are golden and crisp. Once cooked, set aside and add the chicken fillets and sliced peppers to the pan. Fry over a medium heat for eight to 10 minutes until the chicken fillets are golden brown on all sides and firm, and the peppers are soft and lightly charred. 5. Spread a layer of sauce Algérienne in the centre of one tortilla, then sprinkle over a quarter of the mozzarella.Top with half the merguez sausages, followed by three chicken fillets and half the peppers.Add a spoonful of nacho cheese sauciness, half the chips, half the spring onions and half the jalapeños. Top with another quarter of the mozzarella and season with salt and pepper. Fold in the edges of the tortilla over the filling to create a rectangle. Repeat to make the other wrap. 6. If you have a panini press, heat on medium.When it’s hot, add the wraps, folded-side down, and cook for five to eight minutes until the outside is golden and crisp and the cheese is melted. 7. If you are using a griddle, heat it over a low heat. Place the wraps folded-side down on the griddle and weight them down with a heavy dish. Cook for four to five minutes on each side.

50g plain flour 25g cornflour 25g rice flour

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1 Maggi or other vegetable stock cube ½tsp chilli powder 50g roasted peanuts, finely chopped, to garnish For the dredge if making golden nuggets: 80g rice flour 40g rice cereal (e.g. Rice Krispies), blitzed in a food processor or finely crushed 20g panko breadcrumbs Method: 1. To make the brine, mix the buttermilk with the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and salt in a large bowl. Add the chicken and mix well to coat in the brine, then cover and marinate for at least two hours and up to 12 hours in the fridge. 2. For chicken tenders or nuggets, preheat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 165˚C or heat the oil in a deep saucepan over a low–medium heat to 165˚C. 3. For chicken wings or legs and drumsticks, preheat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 140˚C or heat the oil in a deep saucepan over a low heat to 140˚C.

4. To dredge the chicken, mix all your chosen dredge ingredients together in a large bowl. Using tongs, dip the chicken pieces into the dredge, moving them around to coat very well. 5. To cook tenders or nuggets, carefully move the pieces from the dredge into the hot oil, working in batches. Fry for four to five minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on kitchen paper, season and serve. 6. To cook wings or legs or drumsticks, carefully move the pieces from the dredge into the hot oil, working in batches. Fry for 12–15 minutes, turning a few times during cooking to make sure the coating is browning evenly. When golden brown and cooked through (the interior temperature of chicken should be above 72˚C when measured with a meat thermometer, or insert the tip of a knife or skewer into the thickest part; the juices will run clear if it is cooked – if you see any trace of pink, carry on frying or, if they are well browned on the outside, transfer to a foil-lined baking tray and cook for a further 10 minutes in an oven preheated to 195˚C/175˚C fan/Gas 5), drain on kitchen paper, season and rest for five minutes before serving.

mccarthyholden.co.uk | 53

Hartley Wintney, Hampshire Guide: £1,100,000

• Close To Village Centre • Refurbishment Opportunity • No Onward Chain •

54 | mccarthyholden.co.uk

A rare opportunity to acquire a superb five-bedroom family home on one of the most desirable roads in the village of Hartley Wintney. Built by renowned local builder Pool & Sons and extended by the current owner, this property is move in ready but also ideal for extension and modernisation.

EPC ??? - Telephone 01252 842100

mccarthyholden.co.uk | 55

Photo: Gabriela Peacock

Why going plant-based could transform your health – as study links it to ‘better sexual health in men with prostate cancer’ By Yolanthe Fawehinmi, PA Plant-based diets could improve the sexual health of men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, new research suggests. It found eating more fruit, vegetables, grains and nuts, and reducing your meat intake, was linked with less common side effects that can impact prostate cancer patients, including erectile dysfunction and loss of bladder control. The research – by a team at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, who analysed data from more than 3,500 men with prostate cancer – is the latest in a long line of studies linking plant- based eating with health and wellbeing benefits. So, how else could adopting more plant-based eating be good for you?

“A diet which is lower in meat and animal products can be associated with lower saturated fat consumption, increased vitamins and other health-promoting substances, and healthier body weight levels.”

Photo:Vassiliki Sinopoulou.

It’s not just avoiding the saturated fats in animal products that benefits health – it’s the added nutrients and fibre you get from consuming more fruit, veg and beans, too. “Polyphenols are beneficial substances found in plant- derived foods. They can be found in berries, nuts, olives/ olive oil, broccoli, and other fruits and vegetables that we all recognise as healthy. Polyphenols can also be found in foods with perhaps a more controversial reputation, such as chocolate, coffee, tea and wine,” Sinopoulou adds.

What are the wider benefits of a plant-based diet?

“There are several potential health benefits to a plant-based diet,” says Vassiliki Sinopoulou, a registered dietitian and senior research assistant at University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

“For example, they can have anti-inflammatory effects and

56 | mccarthyholden.co.uk

can also help our bodies regulate blood sugar levels, help with heart problems, and have anti-cancer properties.”

your day-to-day life. “Nutrition and fitness are important, but it’s a long-term game, which is why it has to become a part of your daily lifestyle, without a granular focus on a short-term outcome,” he explains. “Food is supposed to nourish, be enjoyed and even bring people together. It’s not meant to create anxiety, cause people to seek unsustainable crash diets and focus solely on short-term goals that don’t support their health. “Daily health-promoting habits practised consistently (daily exercise, good sleep habits, adding plenty of colour to your plate, and spending time with friends and family) are far more productive and effective in the long term.”

Take a whole lifestyle approach

It’s important to remember, however, when it comes to supporting your health, what we eat is just part of the picture. Plant-based coach and holistic wellbeing advocate Jeffrey Boadi (jeffreyboadi.com) suggests thinking about your lifestyle overall, rather than fad diets and quick-fixes. “Focus on how your daily actions — around your nutrition, training and sleep — support your long-term health, as opposed to quick hacks,” says Broadi, who went plant-based in 2017.

Opt for ‘real’ foods rather than processed

Going vegan doesn’t automatically make you healthier either, especially if you’re still relying on processed foods and not getting that all-important variety of whole ingredients. “The rise of plant-based diets has seen a huge surge in ultra- processed plant-based foods that are ready to consume with no or minimal preparation. These foods can have similar profiles as ‘bad’ meat products and can negate the benefits usually associated with plant-based diets,” says Sinopoulou. “Ultra-processed plant-based foods can lead to higher body weights, just as other ultra-processed foods.Taking the time to prepare a healthy and nutritious salad is more beneficial than eating a pre-prepared vegan burger, high in calories from meat substitutes. “There are a lot of plant sources rich in calcium. Spinach, soy, chickpeas, almonds, tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, and oranges are a few good examples.”

Photo: Jeffrey Boadi.

What about protein?

Getting enough protein in our diets is always important – and it can be possible even with a fully plant-based diet.

“I shifted to a plant-based diet after coming across a lot of information about how it could be beneficial for long- term health,” he adds. “I fell in love with the process of cooking from scratch and creating dishes that tasted great and were able to continue fuelling my training and lifestyle. My preference is to steer towards whole foods, but I’m not dogmatic about it — particularly in social settings.”

“If you cut off meat and meat-derived products,then legumes (beans, lentils, peas), mushrooms, soy (tofu, soymilk), nuts and seeds are your friend,” says Sinopoulou. “There’s also protein in bread, pasta, potatoes and many vegetables. “Plant-derived protein used to be seen as of lesser quality than protein from meat products, however, that’s now considered old-fashioned thinking, as we know that the muscle mass of people who meet their protein requirements from plant-derived sources is not different to meat-eaters.”

Keep things simple

Boadi doesn’t think healthy eating needs to be difficult, but for it to really be beneficial, it needs to become a part of

mccarthyholden.co.uk | 57

Odiham, Hampshire Guide: £3,700 p.c.m. (plus fees)

• Exquisite Interior • Superb Kitchen / Breakfast Room • Fine Garden •

58 | mccarthyholden.co.uk

A unique Grade II property tucked away in the centre of Odiham Village. The property offers three bedrooms (two with en suites), 2 reception rooms and a kitchen/breakfast area with Aga. Additional features include a driveway with parking and an enclosed rear walled garden. The property is offered part furnished or unfurnished and is available from the end of November.

Efficiency Energy Rating - D / Council tax band - F / Tenancy length 12 months ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL APPLY – PLEASE CONTACT US FOR DETAILS Telephone 01252 622550

mccarthyholden.co.uk | 59

SOLD stc DECEMBER

Finchampstead (The Ridges), Berkshire Guide: £1,895,000

• Near Wellington College • Superb Kitchen / Diner • Grounds of c. 1.8 Acres •

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EXCHANGED JANUARY

This is a distinctive looking house with considerable interior spaces, thought to have been first built during the 1920’s with additions in recent years.The property is situated in grounds of around 1.8 acres and located in a most sought after Berkshire location known as The Ridges, nearby to internationally renowned Wellington College. This property is built over two floors and provides around 3,646 sq. ft. of stunning space (circa 4,675 sq. ft. including garage). Of particular note is the vast kitchen, the hub of the home and ideal for family living or entertaining.

EPC D (66) - Telephone 01252 842100

mccarthyholden.co.uk | 61

creating the inspiration to move

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Odiham, Hampshire Guide: £750,000

Situated within close proximity of Odiham High Street, this five-bedroom detached family home has been extended and updated to create spacious and flexible living accommodation throughout. Benefits to this property include driveway parking with garage, open plan living/dining/kitchen, three bathrooms and study. EPC C(75)Telephone 012526 704851

• Beautiful Interior • Stunning Kitchen / Breakfast Room • Excellent Rear Garden •

mccarthyholden.co.uk | 63

to produce all of the different elements, such as wood products for cabinetry, metals for appliances and stone for worktops, explains Mark Byers, director of Oliver Green Kitchens.

How to renovate your kitchen sustainably By Sam Wylie-Harris, PA When looking to transform your home, one of the first things that comes to mind is the kitchen – after all, it’s the hardest-working room in the house.

And with sustainability high on the agenda, chances are eco- friendly choices are right up there.

Indeed, according to the latest kitchen trends survey by home renovation and design platform, Houzz, it’s overwhelmingly a priority for homeowners, with the vast majority incorporating sustainable features during their renovation (93%). Interestingly, the majority do so because of the long-term cost-effectiveness (75%). So how do you tackle your kitchen renovation in the most sustainable way?

Photo: Amanda Pollard

“Fortunately, the industry has reacted to the high demand for raw materials by embracing recycling,” says Byers. “But consumers also have a part to play by making good material choices when replacing or updating their kitchen.” As Felicity White, director of Felicity White Interiors, points out: “Kitchen renovations are typically the most expensive area of the home to renovate, so creating a kitchen that’s going to stand the test of time is also important financially.”

Why it’s important

“A kitchen renovation is often a big project,” says Amanda Pollard, senior editor, Houzz. “It’s likely to create significant amounts of waste and will involve choosing numerous different materials and elements, which will all have an impact on the environment.”

The main things to think about

The kitchen industry consumes a lot of virgin raw materials

“There are three things to consider when choosing

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