Lifestyle

Craig Mason almost ‘broke the internet’ with his fake bamboo and he gave the dogs at Battersea a pop-art inspired room that was fit for a King Charles Spaniel, but it was his pub in Edinburgh that had Interior Design Masters on BBC1 sending him back to us in Hastings. Most definitely their loss, our gain I say!

‘This is just like any other salon’ I think to myself as I trot through the door… scissors snipping, clippers clipping, background chit chat and the underlying hum of hairdryers… but then I notice a member of staff is wearing ear defenders, and one of the little clients is what I can only describe as ‘butt-scooting’ across the floor with glee. I’ve booked into Tails of St Leonards, a local destination for pampered pets, and which this little Shih Tzu evidently thinks is the h

When chef Benjamin Cumberpatch invited myself, photographer, Steve and designer, Laura to come for dinner, we jumped at the chance.

Katja has beautifully decorated her lemon syrup cupcakes with delicate buttercream pansies. Why not put your nozzles to the test and have a go at creating a delicious field of flowers of your own.This recipe makes 9 large cupcakes.

I’m forever harping on about how lucky we are here with our abundance of great, interesting and well-curated independent shops. In this feature we celebrate seven of them that we hope, cover some of your Christmas bases for gift buying this year.

‘To keep balance, you must keep moving’. It’s Einstein’s words that Maria McErlane quotes in her recent memoir Bumps in the Road, and which are particularly apt for this woman whizzing about our town. 

It’s the motto imprinted on badges, flags and the forearms (I like to imagine) of soggy folk across the land. Emma proudly declared it as I joined her for coffee, along with the rest of the St Leonards Blue Tits… Blue Bells or Mermaids.

The importance of having land designated or communities to grow food on is a long-standing British tradition. In World War II we were digging for victory on allotments, in 1845 the Victorians passed laws compelling local authorities to provide them, in fear of a peasants’ revolt and even the Anglo-Saxons had them.

Meet Ollie Hunter: mushroom fanatic, Masterchef semi-finalist and author of two cookbooks. Ollie and his partner, Laura are on a mission to serve up plant-based dishes that pack an umami punch (something that they both had missed since becoming vegan). You can try Lion’s Den menus from pop-ups in various pubs and restaurants in the area.

Approaching Doon Mackichan’s doorstep, busy with its flower-filled plant pots, I am brandishing a bunch of roses and a packet of Dead Fly biscuits (AKA Garibaldi). From the doorstep, I hear her on the phone, to her agent as it turns out – how showbiz! She opens the door and I’m greeted by two large, very friendly grins: one from Doon, and the other from her elegant Staffordshire bull terrier, Stella, who wants to show me her ball.

Deborah Bowness grew up near York, and attended Leeds College of Art before embarking on a Constructed Textiles MA at The Royal College of Art. She now resides and works in St Leonards, designing iconic wallpapers that are shipped all over the world. Mel sat with Deborah and had a very ‘Northern’ chat about processes, inspirations and claims to fame.