If you’ve been searching for that exquisite 5-star rural escape, Combermere Abbey on the Cheshire/Shropshire border is one of those exceptional family and dog-friendly hideaways that will live up to even the most demanding expectation. So whether you’re looking for a romantic weekend away, a family retreat or a long-term business let, we think that Combermere Abbey will deliver the highest levels of quality throughout the duration of your stay.
Comprising of ten individually designed five star eco-friendly holiday cottages; there is a style to suit every taste, from understated contemporary to traditional elegance. The holiday cottages are the result of a conversion of the original stables and coach house, which are positioned around a beautiful cobblestone courtyard (dating back to Napoleonic times) that can sleep between 4 - 10 guests each. Every aspect has been carefully thought about to ensure your stay is the best it can be. As soon as you step into your cottage you will feel an extraordinary home from home comfort, which is immediately relaxing to the senses.
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The Ultimate Collection is the latest initiative from the wine branch of the Moet Hennessy Group – Estates and Wines.
The stunning collectors box (£500 and available from Harrods) contains six hero wines from around the world, including Argentina, New Zealand and Spain.
Designed by the sought after Parisian artist Pablo Reinoso, this is a not only a design feature but a sensory experience highlighting the breadth and quality of the brand.
This extraordinary collection of wines – one bottle of each estate’s “icon” wine - is a wonderful opportunity to savour the flavours and discover the tastes of such famous wines as Cloudy Bay, Cape Mentelle, Terrazas de los Andes, Cheval des Andes, Newton Vineyard and Numanthia.
Three of these wines have earned their icon status because they were the pioneers in the region: Terrazas de los Andes, Cape Mentelle and Cloudy Bay put their respective regions of Mendoza, Margaret River and Marlborough on the world wine map.
The other three have earned their “icon” status for the plaudits they have won as artisan wines, crafted out of the desire to push the winemaking boundaries out further.
These icon wines are produced in small quantities and it is often difficult to obtain these reserve bottlings.
But the collection is more than just six outstanding wines, the presentation is key. Pablo Reinoso has designed something on the same level as the contents inside.
The Ultimate Collection is perfection for wine buffs everywhere, and with Christmas just around the corner this would make a stunning gift.
The opening day of the Chelsea Flower Show 2011 saw HRH Her Majesty The Queen enjoying Judith Blacklock’s seasonal bouquet.
Simple, British blooms, grown by The Sun’s world famous horticulturalist, Peter Seabrook, were shaped into a pretty posy for The Queen by expert Judith Blacklock.
Using sustainable, seasonal blooms is a key trend when it comes to indoor and outdoor floral decoration – and in this Blacklock leads the way. A passionate advocate of using all available plant material for her floral displays, including a number of well known weeds – Judith puts her money where her mouth is!
Her demonstration at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show ‘Sustainable Style’ in the Chelsea Flower Show’s ‘Talking Flowers Marquee‘ was designed to show how the humblest bloom, even weeds such as Taraxacum oficinale (dandelions), can be used to create a stylish arrangement for the home.
Judith is renowned worldwide for her teaching skills in flower arranging and floristry. She set up her flower school in Knightsbridge 12-years ago. Today it is the only private flower arranging and floristry school in the UK with accreditation from the British Accreditation Council (BAC).
Many of Judith’s world-renowned classes follow her ethos of using whatever flowers are available. This direction has to be the way to go, eco sustainable materials used to produce something of beauty…we like.
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1 Zero 4 is a £ multi million home in North Yorkshire.
It’s more than just a luxury designer home in the UK, it is a super intelligent, eco building designed for the modern family.
Complete home automation, managed via a centralised AMX control system and ipad technology (6.5miles of cabling), at the touch of a button the house answers questions right down to how much rainwater has been harvested to how much solar energy has been generated.
This is a house that creates and allocates accordingly with no waste.
As an “eco” build, it looks pretty special too.
It is rare for this type of technology to be incorporated into a domestic build. Designers LaRock Construction have given us a glimpse of the future.
1 Zero 4 goes beyond the tag Luxury eco home. This is a more a life assistant.
Like other eco builds, 1 Zero 4 is responsible for water and energy. Unlike other eco homes, 1 Zero 4 allocates sensibly. Technology allows for minimising resources in some areas but having the capability to maximise in others.
Rightfully so, 1 Zero 4 has recently been shortlisted for the Pro-Yorkshire RICS Awards in the residential category.
For us, 1 Zero 4 is a clear winner.
Aman resorts now have 22 locations across the globe. The first of these was Amanpuri, in Thailand and it set a very high benchmark.
Amanyara, the luxury resort on the Turks and Caicos Islands, has just opened a new Nature Discovery Centre giving guests of all ages the opportunity to learn more about the island’s marine environment and exotic plant and animal life. Suddenly, this is more than a very special luxury holiday resort.
The new Discovery Centre is run by Lindsay Mensen, who has been working as a naturalist in the Turks & Caicos Islands for four years. She has developed a series of nature programmes in conjunction with the American Museum of Natural History
exclusively for guests of the resort. All naturalist programmes are complimentary for guests at Amanyara.
Children aged between three and fourteen can get involved with marine and terrestrial research expeditions, dissections, specimen collection and scavenger hunts.
Morning and afternoon sessions for children include beach walks to search for sea glass, corals and ancient conch shells and to learn about the animals and plants along the shoreline. There is also a pirate treasure hunt, where the history of the Pirates of the Caribbean is recounted and a trip to discover turtle nesting sites. Indoor activities include fish printing - an ancient Japanese art form and for older children there are kayaking expeditions.
For adults, Lindsay organises eco hikes along coastal trails to see indigenous and endemic plant and animal species. Guided kayaking and snorkelling are also available to explore the marine life around the island and learn about the ocean waves, currents and tides.
A night at super luxury resort Amanyara costs from £779 per night in a Pavilion. The price includes airport transfers, non-motorised watersports, daily snorkel trips, tennis lessons, yoga classes, drinks, afternoon tea and telephone calls.
It also includes educating the next generation in nature and eco issues in a truly unique and compelling fashion, and you cannot put a price on that.
