Four Shires

Friday, May 18th

Last update09:24:26 AM

Headlines:

Suzy Prior photography in June issue

Meet the new chairman with French ancestry

Laphroaig Jubilee commemorative edition

Food festival fever in Thame

West Oxon Councillors appointed

Skip to content

You are here: Home

Business

Laphroaig Jubilee commemorative edition

Jeremy Wilton

Laph To celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 60^th year on the throne, Islay single malt whisky Laphroaig, is launching a special Diamond Jubilee commemorative edition. Bearing Prince Charles’ Royal Warrant, the 3,000 Jubilee cartons and bottles are set to become collector’s items. Laphroaig has also pledged to make a donation of £3000 to The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST).

Each limited edition carton will display that it is only one of three thousand in existence and will contain the Double Gold Medal * winning Laphroaig 18 Year Old single malt (48% abv). Bright gold in colour, the Laphroaig 18 Year Old offers a toffee sweet flavour, accompanied by its trademark peat smoke taste.

Laphroaig’s Diamond Jubilee bottling is especially fitting given their Royal Warrant, appointed personally by HRH Prince Charles when he visited the distillery in 1994. He also returned again in 2008 as part of his own 60^th birthday celebrations.

Distillery manager John Campbell said; “With Laphroaig’s royal connection to HRH Prince Charles, and as our most famous patron, we thought it only right to create a special pack to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne. As proud bearers of a royal warrant Laphroaig is delighted that our 18 Year Old has become part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in its beautifully designed, premium Jubilee packaging.”

Reinforcing its special royal connections, Laphroaig is donating £3,000 to QEST. The charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, the funds will go towards awarding craftsmen throughout Britain to help them further their careers, celebrating the excellence of British Craftsmanship as symbolised by the Royal Warrant of Appointment.

The 3,000 bottles are available to buy in the UK only from June in selected whisky specialists and retailers (RRP £77).

Marmalade Vodka!

Oliver Kemp

marmalade-vodka The deliciously distinctive Marmalade Vodka from Chase Distillery in Hertfordshire is a worthy winner of a gold medal at the San Francisco Spirits Awards, and is all set to become a summer sensation here at home in Britain, lubricating the hottest events of the “season”.

Last year William Chase’s potato vodka – made from home-grown ingredients and distilled on his family farm – beat out 115 competitors to claim the title of “World’s Best Vodka” in San Francisco. This achievement was followed up this year with a gleaming gold medal for Chase’s unique Marmalade Vodka, which competed against more than a thousand brands of flavoured vodka from dozens of countries.

What makes Chase’s Marmalade Vodka extra-special is its unique flavour, acquired from marinating fine English marmalade preserve with Chase potato vodka and infusing it with fresh orange peel in a bespoke Alembic copper pot still.

“Flavoured vodka is hot right around the world at present, but I believe it is our pure potato spirit at the base, and the precise fruit infusion, that makes our unique Marmalade Vodka stand out from the crowd,” said Mr Chase.

“It began as a bit of a quirky experiment with a limited edition, but proved such a hit that we have now decided to make it a permanent part of our portfolio,” he said.

Chase Marmalade Vodka is crystal clear, with a slight golden hue, exuding a zesty orange aroma. The rich, bitter-sweet flavour is ideal for cocktails, or extremely refreshing sipped neat over ice.

It’s already being enjoyed by connoisseurs of fine spirits around the world since it became available at World Duty Free outlets, and has had several promising pre-view outings at special events at home in England, including the opening of the new London Bistro du Vin.

Chase Marmalade Vodka is going high society at the Henley Regatta in July, when William Chase will be hosting a pop-up bar at the half-way line.

It certainly seems that anybody who is anybody will be mixing with Marmalade Vodka this summer.

Brethertons launch hub

Oliver Kemp

Property Management specialist solicitors Brethertons is pleased to announce the launch of the Property Management Alliance (PMA) Knowledge Hub. The Hub is designed to provide up-to-date information on legal matters affecting the residential property management sector. It contains a range of articles, factsheets and newsletters that clients, contacts, students or potential clients can subscribe to free of charge.

Alison McCormack, head of property management at Brethertons explains: "Whether you are a client, contact, student or potential client, we hope that you'll find this a useful and informative resource, our new PM Alliance Knowledge Hub underlines our specialist approach to solving your legal problems."

"We hope that those working in or connected to the residential property management industry, including managing agents, freeholders, developers, suppliers, members of residents associations, directors of RMC's and RTM companies together with members of ARMA, IRPM, ARHM, FPRA and the RICS will subscribe to this new online service."

For a direct link to the PM Alliance Knowledge Hub visit: http://www.brethertons.co.uk/pm-alliance featured factsheets include:

Understanding Collective Enfranchisement
What is Commonhold?
Energy Performance Certificates
Liability of Service Charge after a Flat is Sold
Consultation Regarding Major Works and Long Term Contracts
Reserve and Sinking Finds Explained
Understanding Residents Association
Understanding the Lease Ground Rent and Service Charge

Subscribers to the Hub will also be able to book onto forthcoming webinars, subscribe to Brethertons newsletters and will be able to join the PM Alliance Linkedin group.

Brethertons' property management team operate in the complex area of recoveries, dealing with landlords and residential property managers to recover ground rent and service charge payments. The team of 23 property managers work with their clients to recover service charge arrears for their sizable property developments throughout the UK.

The team also works closely with the main recognised industry professional bodies, the Association of Residential Managing Agents (ARMA) and the Institute of Residential Property Management (IRPM). They deliver training sessions to hundreds of ARMA /IRPM members via a series of web based seminars throughout the year and are soon to host the fourth IRPM legal training weekend at which student members attend.

New agents strengthen the Penny & Sinclair team

Oliver Kemp

As part of their on-going expansion, Penny & Sinclair announce the appointment of two highly respected practitioners, Angie Parmenter and Jeremy Turner, who will be running the new City office in St Clements.

Jeremy joins as Associate Director and head of office, bringing with him a wealth of experience and industry knowledge. He is a Member of the National Association of Estate Agents (MNAEA) and of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA).

Jeremy explains: “It’s an incredible time to join the progressive Penny & Sinclair team which is going from strength to strength. We have a great deal in common, particularly in seeking to offer people in the residential property sector a professional and personal service, which has been my approach for many years.”

Angie joins as Senior Sales Negotiator and brings with her a vast range of contacts along with a rich background in entrepreneurial ventures. Her experience in owning and managing highly successful, innovative businesses, positions her well for working in the firm’s new City office.

Angie says: “I was delighted to join Penny & Sinclair, who have such a good reputation and to be given the opportunity to take part in their expansion of the firm and its continued success.”

James Penny Director who jointly heads up Penny & Sinclair said of the appointment: “I am extremely pleased that Jeremy and Angie are joining us, as much respected characters with prominent profiles, they will prove a substantial asset to our practice. These appointments come at an important time for Penny & Sinclair as we launch our new City office, which will extend the firm’s reach into the central, east Oxford and Headington market. Passion, energy, enthusiasm and professionalism underline the approach at Penny & Sinclair and these appointments fit nicely with our company ethos.”

Food festival fever in Thame

Jeremy Wilton

‘There’s nothing quite like the buzz of a local food extravaganza to get you excited about the food you’re growing, cooking and eating,’

We are pleased to confirm another amazing line-up for Thame Food Festival, to be held on Saturday 29^th September 2012, with stall holder numbers and festival attendees expected to exceed last year: all packed into the centre of this beautiful historic market town to enjoy a fantastic, free, fun packed, family day of food.

Festival ambassador Raymond Blanc is scheduled to attend and his reliable assistants from festival supporters Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, Adam (or should that be ‘Ad-aam’?) and Kush from the hugely successful BBC series ‘The Very Hungry Frenchman’, will definitely be there on the day.

The line-up includes Beverley Glock of Splat Cookery. Beverley Glock is a TV Cook, Broadcaster, Author and Food Writer with a passion for encouraging children and families to cook http://beverleyglock.com/

Top chef Adam Simmonds from Danesfield House, Marlow, will be starring in the Demo Kitchen along with festival regulars Kate & Giancarlo Caldesi and festival patron Lotte Duncan. Lotte will also be judging the ever popular competition for the best Thame Tart – the sophisticated version of the classic jam tart invented by John Fothergill, owner of The Spread Eagle Hotel in central Thame in the 1930’s.

Smoothie Bike Hire with their awesome custom built smoothie-making bicycles will also be promoting healthy eating, exercise and sustainable energy for all the family http://www.smoothiebikehire.co.uk/

The James Figg pub will be hosting sausage making and wine tasting events and we are even promised an ‘Oyster Meister’.

Thanks once again are due to the list of our fantastic sponsors, headline sponsor McCormick UK (Schwartz^TM), South Oxfordshire District Council, Rectory Homes, Aga, Sainsbury’s and The Thatch and James Figg pubs.

Please do join us on the day for this wonderful regional celebration of artisan local food and drink produce, fantastic local food producers and great local food retailers.

West Oxon Councillors appointed

Jeremy Wilton

West Cllr Barry Norton will continue as Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council after being re-elected at the Council’s Annual General Meeting

Cllr Barry Norton, who has served as Leader of the Council since the introduction of the Cabinet system eleven years ago, thanked councillors for their on-going support and confidence in him and said: “As always I will continue to serve the Council, this District and its residents to the best of my ability. I am certain that members of the Council will continue to play an important role in the life of the District and help keep it the very nice place it is to live, work and play.”

Cllr Norton announced that Cabinet membership would be reduced to six members, with some changes to roles and responsibilities. He explained this was due to Cllr Verena Hunt’s decision to stand down on health grounds.

Thanking her for the work she has done as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member, he said, “Cllr Hunt has been an excellent member of Cabinet for many years. I am sure we will miss her very much on Cabinet, but she will continue to be an important member of the Council and support residents in her ward.”

Cllr Mark Booty was appointed as the new Deputy Leader taking on additional responsibilities relating to community safety. Cllr Warwick Robinson has also taken on additional responsibilities relating to housing and homelessness.

Below is a breakdown of Cabinet portfolio arrangements:

Innovation, Health and Community Safety – Cllr Mark Booty

In addition to his appointment as Deputy Leader, Cllr Booty’s portfolio includes the Council’s work on improving efficiency while continuing to provide high quality services. This includes aspects such as two-tier working, partnership arrangements, councillor development and performance management. His portfolio also covers health, community safety and Scrutiny of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Environment – Cllr David Harvey

Cllr Harvey will continue to cover all areas of waste and recycling collections, climate change, street cleansing and grounds maintenance, environmental enforcement and environmental health, as well as licensing, car parking and transport issues.

Resources – Cllr Simon Hoare

Cllr Hoare remains in post covering finance and management, customer services, IT services, asset management, project management, human resources and equality and diversity, and ‘Procurement Champion’.

Local Economy and Communities – Cllr Richard Langridge

Cllr Langridge continues with responsibility for economic development, rural development, business liaison, inward investment, parish and town council liaison and supporting the voluntary sector. As part of this portfolio, Cllr Langridge is responsible for tourism and Visitor Information Centres, sports and leisure facilities and strategy, arts and sports grants, lifelong learning and is the Council’s ‘Young Persons’ Champion’ and ‘Broadband Champion’.

Strategic Planning and Housing – Cllr Warwick Robinson

Cllr Robinson takes on responsibility for housing, in addition to planning and development issues. His portfolio includes, Regional Spatial Strategy, the Local Development Framework, Government planning policies and guidance, conservation and design, landscape/biodiversity, building control, housing/homelessness, sheltered housing accommodation, affordable housing and supporting people. He is the ‘Design and Historic Environment Champion for the District.

Cllr Derek Cotterill, who represents Burford, will continue for a third year as Chairman and Cllr Louise Chapman, representative for Witney West, also continues as Deputy Chairman.

Following his re-election, Cllr Cotterill said: “I would like to thank councillors for their support and to ensure them I will continue to attend the various events required of the Chairman in order to promote and extol the merits of West Oxfordshire.”

As well as the appointment of the Cabinet, Chairman and Vice-Chairman, the Council appointed members of its various committees, sub-committees and overview and scrutiny committees.

Mallory Court 'Ten out of Ten'

Oliver Kemp

restaurant-customer-service Following the successful launch of ‘ten out of ten’, an exceptional industry led training programme designed to inspire young people and create leaders in hospitality, Mallory Court Hotel in Leamington Spa welcomed all hopeful ‘ten out of ten’ applicants to the hotel to run the gauntlet of interviews.

Mallory Court, alongside nine other prestigious hotels in the UK including Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck and Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons, are hoping to find the future stars of the hospitality industry.

The scheme attracted in excess of 80 applications, scrupulously short listed to the most promising 35 individuals who were all invited to attend a full recruitment day at the luxury Warwickshire Hotel on Friday 10^th June.

The day involved applicants taking part in group activities and a networking lunch, observed by industry heavyweights such as Andrew Stembridge, Managing Director at Chewton Glen, who was named Hotelier of the Year 2010/11. Applicants were then invited to final individual interviews to discuss their skills and knowledge of the industry. The ‘ten out of ten’ panel is to decide on the top ten fortunate people to be offered the opportunity of a lifetime within the industry.

The successful applicants will be rewarded with two and a half years of the best instruction imaginable, working across all sectors of the industry in ten of the best hotels in the country. The training programme will give the lucky few the chance to work alongside Michelin star chefs such as Simon Haigh at Mallory Court plus some of the best hoteliers in the business.

Mark Chambers, Managing Director of Eden Hotel Collection to which Mallory Court belongs, commented,

‘Mallory Court is excited to be part of ten out of ten and extremely proud to have hosted it. This event was the culmination of two years of hard work, resulting in the best young hopefuls in the industry being singled out and recognised for their extraordinary potential. We set out to find future stars of the industry and hopefully we have done just that’.

Free Insulation or cavity wall

Jeremy Wilton

Cherwell residents might now be able to take advantage of a free energy-saving scheme which could save them a small fortune.

Cherwell District Council’s partner, the United Sustainable Energy Agency, has managed to access grants to provide free cavity wall and loft insulation through its Cocoon scheme.

Anyone seeking to get the work done independently could expect to pay a combined cost of £700 for the work which will likely save them more than £300 in fuel per year.

Councillor Debbie Pickford, Cherwell’s lead member for housing, said: “I can’t see how anyone can afford not to have this work done.

“They will be able to choose between several council-approved local installers who will carry out a free survey to see if the work is needed.

“If so, it will be carried out at no charge and once complete, householders will notice an immediate difference.”

Installing double glazing can cut heat loss by around a tenth but having cavity wall and loft insulation installed can almost halve it.

Insulation also helps keep homes cool in the summer as it prevents heat penetration in both directions.

All Cherwell homeowners can now get cavity wall insulation free while loft insulation will be free for homes with less than 60mm of insulation at the moment.

“Those who could afford to have work carried out under the previous deal will have already seen the benefit in their bills,” added Councillor Pickford.

“Now even more people can take advantage, regardless of their circumstances, and I would urge everyone to book a survey.”

The free insulation offer starts today (Monday, 14 May) and is expected to be available until the end of September this year. Installation should take place within eight weeks with the council’s accredited firms.