Help Out the Village Youth

The Youth Committee of the VCC is looking to appoint Youth Workers on a sessional basis.

 

The youth group has members mainly ranging in age from 12-14 and is led by our well respected youth leader Amy. The group at present meet on Monday and Tuesday evenings. The hourly rate is £8-10 per hour dependent on qualifications and experience. The successful candidate must be enthusiastic and show commitment to high quality youth work. Suitable training will be available.

Youth Club Nights Volunteers Needed

The Committee is also seeking volunteers either on a regular or a one off basis. The regular volunteers are needed to help the smooth running of the club nights e.g. to serve drinks and make toasted sandwiches. Alternatively if you have a particular skill you might like to share with the youngsters you could come along to a session and demonstrate it.

 

If you would like to help out, or have any questions please contact Zena Gibson on 01590 644159

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Thank You to Someone

Out of the blue we received a thank you to an anonymous person in the village. We don't know the full story, who it was or where, but this was the message to someone in Milford on Sea:

 

"I would like to thank the kind gentleman who assisted me on Friday 27th September. My 73 year old mother was choking and a kind gentleman proved that there still are good kind people left In this world.

A massive thank you for your help (and your water!!), you will know who you are - and I can't thank you enough. If ever we are in the area again (we're from Wiltshire) I will pop in and thank you again personally!"

Mrs Linda Painter
------------------------------------------
Well done to whoever the Good Samaritan was.
 

Verveine Awarded a Michelin Recommendation

Our amazing village fish restaurant has been awarded a prestigious Michelin Recommendation.

 

The Michelin Inspector wrote: 'New England style restaurant fronted by a fishmonger's; sit bedside the open kitchen or in the bright rear dining room. Breads are baked twice-daily, veg is from the raised beds and smoking takes place on-site. The focus is on wonderfully fresh fish and cooking is accurate, original and bursting with flavour.'

 

Next stop a well deserved Michelin Star? Certainly hope so!

To read the Michelin Review: click here

Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant
98 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QE
01590 642176
www.verveine.co.uk

BNF Card & Great Dining Bus Discount

You may already have come across The Brand New Forest Card, which carries numerous benefits, including providing special offers and discounts in shops, pubs, restaurants, visitor attractions and other services across the New Forest. The Great Dining Bus now has an offer of a 5% Discount for all BNF Card Holders.

 

The BNF Card costs just £5, and you can easily redeem the cost of the card in its first use. You can order you BNF Card online, or at a number of outlets across The New Forest. You can also register your card online to receive our e-newsletter and details of the latest offers and enter our monthly draw which is exclusive to Cardholders.

 

BNF Card Offer: 5% Great Dining Bus Discount. Enjoy a unique dining experience, with each course served in a different Milford on Sea restaurant. Dining Tours range from £37.50 to £24pp. To claim your BNF Card Discount: Please enter the Code: ‘BNF Card’ when ordering tickets online.

Brand New Forest Card: www.brandnewforest.com
To claim your BNF Card Discount: Please enter the Code: ‘BNF Card’ when ordering tickets online.

For more information, or to book please contact to: info@greatdiningbus.co.uk

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About The Great Dining Bus Tours

 

The Great Dining Bus is perfect as a treat, a gift, for spending time with friends, special celebrations, anniversaries, birthdays, or just a great excuse to enjoy a unique dining experience whilst savouring great food in excellent restaurants.

 

There are four Dining Tours to choose from, two of the tours give people the choice to walk the short distances between courses, for a different type of dining experience. The village is fortunate to have many of the restaurants close to the village green which enables people to either take the bus, or enjoy a leisurely stroll between courses.

click image to enlarge

Great Dining Bus (37.50pp): Jump on the Great Dining Bus for a 4 course meal, with each course served in 4 different Milford on Sea village restaurants. The courses are: Canapés & Welcome Drink, Starter, Main Course & Sweet. Each course includes a non-alcoholic or paired drink.

Strolling Dining Tour (£32pp): Stroll to a savour a 4 course meal, with each course served in 3 different Milford on Sea village restaurants. The courses are: Canapés & Welcome Drink, Starter, Main Course & Sweet. Each course includes a non-alcoholic or paired drink.

Spice Dining Tour (£24pp): Wander to enjoy a 3 course spicy meal, with each course served in 3 different Milford on Sea village restaurants. The courses are: Canapés & Welcome Drink, Starter, & Main Course. Each course includes a non-alcoholic or paired drink.

Party Dining Tour: Simply Choose Any Date or Day of Week, and Choose Your Preferred Dining Tour. You can even choose the restaurants you visit. Perfect for your special party, get-together or celebration. All you need is a min. party of 8 and a love of food!

If you love food and great company, a lunch on the Great Dining Bus in Milford on Sea is for you. Each Dining Tour gives people a great opportunity to experience fresh local ingredients and tasty creative dishes as the Milford on Sea village restaurants showcase their food offering and service. The village has a multi-award winning fish restaurant, French restaurant, cosmopolitan bistro, seafront British restaurant, and you can even enjoy authentic regional Indian & Thai food.

 

Booking Great Dining Bus Tickets: You can purchase tickets in two ways:

 

1. In Cash from:

The Community Centre Box Office, Sea Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PH  or from:

The Cave, 2 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH.

 

2. Online by Credit Card at: www.greatdiningbus.co.uk (Small Credit Card booking fee applies)

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Great Dining Bus Tour Dates & Vouchers

 

The Dining Tours run on a regular basis throughout the year, and dates are already available from June 2013 through to April 2014 (See Tour Dates here), after that a new programme will be published.  The courses each restaurant serves changes each time.

Dining Vouchers make a great gift with difference, and would be excellent for birthdays, celebrations, or just a great way to say thank you.  After all, who doesn't love a great meal and company!  The Dining Vouchers can be found on the Great Dining Bus website.

 

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About the Great Dining Bus

 

Milford on Sea runs what is believed to be the first & only Dining Bus Event in the UK.

The Great Dining Bus first ran very successfully at Milford on Sea Food Week in 2012, and the Food Week team now operate the Great Dining Bus as a regular and permanent event in the Milford on Sea village calendar. Around 16 Dining Tours will run each year.

 

The Great Dining Bus is for the pleasure of village foodies and people from outside of Milford on Sea, with the added benefit of bringing trade to various businesses in the village.

 

On the Great Dining Bus, diners will enjoy a different course in a selection of Milford on Sea restaurants. There are also 'Strolling Tour' options to add variety. Whichever way the diners arrive, each restaurant will delight in showcasing a taste of their food offering and service.

 

The Great Dining Bus is designed for diners to experience our excellent village restaurants, and as the concept is so unique, we hope to attract local and national exposure, and to put Milford on Sea on the map as a 'Foodie Heaven'!, and recognised as the 'South coast destination for great dining'.

 

Milford on Sea also has much more to offer; being blessed with a spectacular coastline, quaint seaside village & great places to stay, eat & shop. To go with our excellent restaurants, pubs & cafés, the village also has B&B's, hotels, self-catering, caravans & camping, in fact something to suit every taste and budget.

The Great Dining Bus is also encouraging people to come and ‘Stay & Dine’, which is great for the visitors' experience and for local businesses.

 

If you have any queries at all, please contact: info@greatdiningbus.co.uk 

To find out more please visit: www.greatdiningbus.co.uk - www.ticketsource.co.uk/greatdiningbus

Danes ‘Stream' or 'River’? | An Update

Since recently publishing the story: 'Danestream, Dane Stream or Danes Stream, who knows?' (click here to read), I have recalled some feedback I had from Terry Langford.

Now this is quite scary on two levels, firstly it means that someone reads the nonsense I write, & secondly he knows what he is talking about, something I have never claimed to do!

Terry writes: Dear Ed, As a freshwater biologist for over 50 years, I regard the Danestream as a "stream", one of the suite of New Forest streams, albeit more urbanised than most. Actually, the definition is immaterial...a stream or river to most of us is what we want it to be. In America the Danestream would probably be called a ditch.

The Danestream is quite interesting ecologically in that it suffers urban run-off but still manages to hold a head of sea-trout, quite large some of them. It has mayflies too, but the fauna is not a diverse as those of the less urbanised streams. There seem to be no major inherent problems apart from the urban run-off in the stream above Milford on Sea, but it is interesting. Probably a bit too much silt near the bridge but that is because the channel is too wide for the low flows and silt settles out then.

So there you have it, you can call it what you like, you can fish for the odd sea-trout, & if you hear an American call it a ditch, tell them that it is a river which is full of salmon.

To read previous article on the Danestream, please click here.

RNLI Concert raises £600

The Crescendi Choral Group were the stars of the RNLI Concert on Saturday 21st September. The talented singers, led by Jo Corbin, romped through a varied and entertaining programme of modern songs.

 

The evening was organised by our very active Milford on Sea Branch of the RNLI, and thanks to the generosity of an appreciative audience, just over £600 was raised for RNLI funds.

Lio's 7 Hour Lamb is back!

click image to enlarge

La Perle, the delightful French Bistro in the heart of Milford on Sea village, have launched their new winter menu.

 

From October they have added some great new dishes for winter, along with their fantastic offer of 1/2 Lymington Lobster or 1/2 roast chicken available every wednesday evening. Plus of course, they serve a great value £10 lunch with a glass of wine.

 

Winter also sees the return of Lio's classic 7 Hour Lamb!

 

Some of La Perle's new dishes include... Tartiflette style roblochon souflee with bacon & onion garnish, - Langoustine, confit belly of pork, jerusalem artichoke & almond veloute, - Poule au Pot, guinea fowl, pilaf rice, seasonal veg & gribiche sauce, - Turbot Cutlet, cockles, pumpkin puree, celeriac & potato gratin, - and Monkfish roti, wrapped in parma ham, spinach, leeks.

 

Lio & Emily's menus are designed around seasonal & local ingredients, and all of the beef served on 'La Grillade' menu are New Forest Marque and sourced locally from the New Forest. It is one of the best cattle breeds available and is farmed & butchered on site. The beef is then aged for a minimum of 28 days and goes directly to La Perle from the farm.

 

I am getting hungry just writing about it! So, polish up your French, and treat yourself to a meal at La Perle.

La Perle
60 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD

www.laperlemilford.co.uk
01590 643557

Opening times
Tuesday - Saturday / Lunch 12pm - 2pm / Dinner 6.30pm - 9pm



 

The Marine Gears Up for Autumn

As the summer season closes, visiting the seafront naturally becomes a less frequent event.

 

To try to ensure that you don't forget to visit The Marine, Richard and the team have introduced a range of Autumn Dining Offers to tempt you any time of day.

 

The Marine also loves to hold a party, and have a Jazz Evening coming soon, a Halloween Disco and Christmas Party Nights. It is also worth keeping an eye on their website, as more new events are being planned. Indeed, signing up to their newsletter from their website would ensure you did not miss a thing!
 

Don't let them get lonely, pop down and see them!
 

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Autumn Offers at The Marine Cafe Bar: 

Breakfast: served between 9.30am and 12.00noon Monday - Sunday
• Free cup of coffee or pot of Tea with every Marine Classic Breakfast

Mid morning break: served between 10.30am and 12.00noon Monday - Sunday
• Free piece of Homemade Cake with every cup of Coffee or pot of Tea

 

Lunchtime: served between 12.00noon and 3.00pm

• Free cup of coffee or pot of Tea with every Main course including from the grill

 

Afternoon Tea: served between 3.00pm and 5.30pm Monday - Sunday
• Cream Tea – Buy One get the second one Half Price

Evening: served between 6.00pm and 9.00pm every Wednesday – Saturday
• Free pint of draught beer or a glass of house wine (175ml) with every Cod & Chips platter

The Marine
Hurst Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PY
Tel: 01590 644369
enquiries@themarinerestaurant.co.uk
www.themarinemos.co.uk
 

Free Electric Blanket Safety Check

Free local electric blanket safety checks are going to be available in mid-October.

 

Old or worn electric blankets can be dangerous and even cause a fire. It's therefore worthwhile before winter sets in to have your blanket checked for safety particularly if your blanket is fraying, showing scorch marks, if the tapes are damaged or the flex is worn.

 

Free checks are available at New Milton Fire Station on October 14th. To make an appointment phone Hampshire County Council Trading Standards on 01962 833 358.

 

You will have to take your blanket to the Fire Station yourself, but if you can't manage to do that, contact Tony, the Milford Village Agent, and he will take it for you. His phone is 07806 659 452 and his email address is milfordonseava@ageconcernhampshire.co.uk

 

Your Party Tour on Great Dining Bus

The Milford on Sea Great Dining Bus has launched the 'PARTY Dining Tour'.

The new Party Dining Tour enables you to simply Choose Any Date or Day of Week, and Your Preferred Dining Tour. You can even choose the restaurants you visit!

The PARTY Dining Tour is perfect for your special party, get-together or celebration. All you need is a minimum party of 8 and a love of food!

*We are also able to arrange an Optional Private Area in The Cave for drinks before or after your Party Dining Tour.

For more information, or to book please contact to: info@greatdiningbus.co.uk

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About The Great Dining Bus Tours

 

The Great Dining Bus is perfect as a treat, a gift, for spending time with friends, special celebrations, anniversaries, birthdays, or just a great excuse to enjoy a unique dining experience whilst savouring great food in excellent restaurants.

 

There are four Dining Tours to choose from, two of the tours give people the choice to walk the short distances between courses, for a different type of dining experience. The village is fortunate to have many of the restaurants close to the village green which enables people to either take the bus, or enjoy a leisurely stroll between courses.

click image to enlarge

Great Dining Bus (37.50pp): Jump on the Great Dining Bus for a 4 course meal, with each course served in 4 different Milford on Sea village restaurants. The courses are: Canapés & Welcome Drink, Starter, Main Course & Sweet. Each course includes a non-alcoholic or paired drink.

Strolling Dining Tour (£32pp): Stroll to a savour a 4 course meal, with each course served in 3 different Milford on Sea village restaurants. The courses are: Canapés & Welcome Drink, Starter, Main Course & Sweet. Each course includes a non-alcoholic or paired drink.

Spice Dining Tour (£24pp): Wander to enjoy a 3 course spicy meal, with each course served in 3 different Milford on Sea village restaurants. The courses are: Canapés & Welcome Drink, Starter, & Main Course. Each course includes a non-alcoholic or paired drink.

Party Dining Tour: Simply Choose Any Date or Day of Week, and Choose Your Preferred Dining Tour. You can even choose the restaurants you visit. Perfect for your special party, get-together or celebration. All you need is a min. party of 8 and a love of food!

If you love food and great company, a lunch on the Great Dining Bus in Milford on Sea is for you. Each Dining Tour gives people a great opportunity to experience fresh local ingredients and tasty creative dishes as the Milford on Sea village restaurants showcase their food offering and service. The village has a multi-award winning fish restaurant, French restaurant, cosmopolitan bistro, seafront British restaurant, and you can even enjoy authentic regional Indian & Thai food.

 

Booking Great Dining Bus Tickets: You can purchase tickets in two ways:

 

1. In Cash from:

The Community Centre Box Office, Sea Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PH  or from:

The Cave, 2 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH.

 

2. Online by Credit Card at: www.greatdiningbus.co.uk (Small Credit Card booking fee applies)

-----------------------------------------------------------

Great Dining Bus Tour Dates & Vouchers

 

The Dining Tours run on a regular basis throughout the year, and dates are already available from June 2013 through to April 2014 (See Tour Dates here), after that a new programme will be published.  The courses each restaurant serves changes each time.

Dining Vouchers make a great gift with difference, and would be excellent for birthdays, celebrations, or just a great way to say thank you.  After all, who doesn't love a great meal and company!  The Dining Vouchers can be found on the Great Dining Bus website.

 

-----------------------------------------------------------

About the Great Dining Bus

 

Milford on Sea runs what is believed to be the first & only Dining Bus Event in the UK.

The Great Dining Bus first ran very successfully at Milford on Sea Food Week in 2012, and the Food Week team now operate the Great Dining Bus as a regular and permanent event in the Milford on Sea village calendar. Around 16 Dining Tours will run each year.

 

The Great Dining Bus is for the pleasure of village foodies and people from outside of Milford on Sea, with the added benefit of bringing trade to various businesses in the village.

 

On the Great Dining Bus, diners will enjoy a different course in a selection of Milford on Sea restaurants. There are also 'Strolling Tour' options to add variety. Whichever way the diners arrive, each restaurant will delight in showcasing a taste of their food offering and service.

 

The Great Dining Bus is designed for diners to experience our excellent village restaurants, and as the concept is so unique, we hope to attract local and national exposure, and to put Milford on Sea on the map as a 'Foodie Heaven'!, and recognised as the 'South coast destination for great dining'.

 

Milford on Sea also has much more to offer; being blessed with a spectacular coastline, quaint seaside village & great places to stay, eat & shop. To go with our excellent restaurants, pubs & cafés, the village also has B&B's, hotels, self-catering, caravans & camping, in fact something to suit every taste and budget.

The Great Dining Bus is also encouraging people to come and ‘Stay & Dine’, which is great for the visitors' experience and for local businesses.

 

If you have any queries at all, please contact: info@greatdiningbus.co.uk 

To find out more please visit: www.greatdiningbus.co.uk - www.ticketsource.co.uk/greatdiningbus

Hurst make splash on Coast

Hurst Ferries: Wild Rose
click image to enlarge

Last week the BBC TV programme, Coast were out at sea with the Hurst Castle Team filming one of their more unusual and least known jobs, - a burial at sea.

A lot of people may not be aware that bodies can still be buried at sea, and one of the few grounds in UK open for this ceromony is to the South of The Needles.

 

Whoever the person was, it is clear that they had a love of the sea, and this beautiful coastline.

 

The person's body was loaded aboard Wild Rose at Keyhaven Quay by the teams tractor and using a heavy lift, as the coffin is partially filled with concrete.

The Coast film crew were aboard Wild Rose for the committal. They were accompanied by our RIB Wightwater Rose with another film crew aboard. In spite of a little chop on the water all went well and the program is due to be shown in the next series of Coast.

Sean, Mary, Jason and the team at Hurst Ferries do a wide variety of sea-based jobs and services. Most well known is the Keyhaven Ferry which sails daily from Keyhaven Quay to and from Hurst Castle approx every 20 minutes. Return: Adults £5.50/Child £3 or Single: Adult £3.50/Child £2.

They also run a Water Taxi, which is licensed for 12 passengers in the Solent and available for transport to yachts, sightseeing, bird watching and other water taxi services in the west Solent.

Another unusual service, is that of Scattering of Ashes. Any size of group may be catered for from a single mourner to parties of 90 passengers. Within the Hurst Ferry fleet of seven boats there will be a vessel of the appropriate size. On board the boat there will be specially designed equipment which you may wish to use to ensure greater dignity.

Added to this, they also do a lot more usual work, suc has; scheduled & private Sea Sightseeing Tours, Adventure Rib Boat Rides, and commerical work, including ferrying various workmen out to The Needles Lighthouse.

 

Whilst Hurst Ferries do not operate angling trips, sea fishing trips do run from Keyhaven Quay with Ray Pitt Sea Fishing: www.raypittseafishing.co.uk

 

News from Hurst Castle

The Hurst Ferries Team have a 'Ferrymans Notes' section on their website, is is worth a regular visit, and an example is below.

Bird Spotting: 3rd September 2013
Summer tends to be a bit quiet but good broods of Scheld duck and Mallard have been raised. Now seeing the swallows and Starlings starting to feed up ready for departure. The Rock pipits at the Castle enjoyed a good season as did the Turnstones who think they own the low tide pontoon. The first of the Godwits now arriving.

Boat News: 3rd September 2013
Busy summer for boats Wild Rose and Solent Rose started their season on the Hythe to Southampton ferry and then moved to Cowes for the I.o.W Festival before returning to Keyhaven for the main season. Rosebud spent Cowes week ferrying yachtsmen around Cowes.

The ferry fleet: The custom is to name boats with names of monarchs or consorts from the period whilst the castle existed.

Fishing News: 3rd September 2013
Good numbers of Bream and Bass off Hurst beaches at present but Mackeral a bit patchy.

Hurst Castle
07766 310751 | 07802 503678
www.hurstcastle.co.uk

A Week of Curry

Some things just make you feel good. For me, one of those is seeing 'National Curry Week' approaching! This glorious celebration of Britains' favourite food take place from the 7th to 13th October 2013.

Red Tractor Beef and Lamb took a poll of 2,000 people in 2011, and concluded that; The average Brit will spend £34,070 on curry in their lifetime.

Researchers found the typical adult splashes out £8.19pp on spicy delights a week, including takeaways, ingredients and sauces. Sounds like £425 a year very well spent!

In a wonderful dream, I imagined my wife serving me curry every night of National Curry Week. Some meals were takeaways, some home-made, and some eaten in Zaika after a visit to one or more of the village pubs. My mind savoured over the changing selection of spicy and mild meat dishes, accompanied by various breads and ... amazingly, vegetables were made edible due to great sauces. I even pictured having marmalade on popadums for breakfast.

Waking up with a warm glow, I turned to one side to see my wife happily dreaming. I suspect her dream was not the same as mine, and if I manage to convince her to have curry twice in the same week I will have done pretty well.

 

That however does not stop me doing my bit for the occasion. A couple of 'Boy's Night's Out', and a 'Business Lunch' or two, should ensure that I make my contribution to National Curry Week.

 

Word on the street is that Zaika in Milford on Sea High Street, are currently serving top draw dishes. Having been myself, plus feedback from my son, a couple of neighbours and some friends who stayed in the village, all said the food was excellent. Why not book your table for Zaika's 'National Curry Week' promotion (See below), - or before! 

 

Zaika Indian Restaurant

69-71 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QG

Tel: 01590 643084

enquiries@zaikanewforest.co.uk

www.zaikanewforest.co.uk

 

Regular Tuesday Night Buffet: Four Course Indian Banquet: Just £9.95pp

Zakia 'National Curry Week' Promotion: 7th to 13th October 2013:
10% OFF All Eat In & Takeaway Meals.

Regular Tuesday Night Buffet: Four Course Indian Banquet: Just £9.95pp

 

Restaurant Open 7 Days a Week: 

Lunches: 12noon to 2.30pm - Evenings: 6pm to 11.30pm.
 

Milford: World Fashion Capital

Seafront & Beach Huts
click image to enlarge

We recently had an interesting e-mail from Gwen Peden, formerly of Gwen's Ladies Fashions in Milford on Sea High Street.

 

The bug for clothing and fashion obviously runs in the family, as Gwen tells us; "Our granddaughter Emily, who lives in Toronto, came to visit us in July and enjoyed some lovely visits to our beach hut. Back home in Canada she was browsing a fashion company named Aritzia.com (Canadian company) and discovered that they had used Milford on Sea for a fashion shoot and that one of the photos was taken almost outside our beach hut!!! What an amazing coincidence!"

 

This prompted you intrepid and deluded editor to take a look. Sure enough, Milford on Sea is the background for a number of the fashion shots.

 

One set of pictures are taken on the Milford on Sea Seafront with the Beach Huts, another outside Mr Pinks Fish & Chip Shop (with one of the models eating a bag of chips, good girl!) Others have been taken at the New Forest Ice Cream factory in Lymington. (One fo their directors lives in the village.)

 

Mr Pinks Fish & Chip Shop
click image to enlarge

The big question is of course, how do scenes from Milford on Sea end up on the website of a major retailer in Canada, who doesn't even sell in the UK?

 

Gwen discovered that the photographer is Valerie Phillips, who is a New York born fashion photographer, based in London. I wonder if she has any connection with Milford on Sea?

 

If anyone knows any more, please post a comment below.

 

Aritzia began in 1984 as a single boutique in Vancouver, Canada, and over the years, expanded to over 50 locations across North America, including Chicago, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle, and Toronto. They have their own portfolio of exclusive brands, offering beautifully designed clothes that are on-trend, high quality, and of good value.

 

New Forest Ice Cream
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Aritzia.com

Milford on Sea Images are on the 'Tough Love' Pages. 

www.aritzia.com

Valerie Phillips Photography
www.valeriephillips.com

 

The Ladies Jump on Great Dining Bus

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The most recent Great Dining Bus consisted of a full contingent of happy diners, including two girls from 'Ladies Who Lunch in Hampshire'.

The  'Ladies Who Lunch in Hampshire' (LWL) are a lively group of four Hampshire women, who enjoy great food (and the odd glass of wine or two!). For several years now, they have liked nothing more than trying out just about every restaurant across Hampshire, and then sharing their experiences with a full unbiased restaurant review on their website:

www.ladieswholunch-in-hampshire.co.uk

The LWL score each establishment out of 25, and then, if they are good enough, we will award the location either a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.

Knowing that these seasoned diners were in Milford on Sea, trying the unique Great Dining Bus experience of enjoying four different courses in four different village restaurants, there was as you may expect, a lot of anticipation about the final LWL Review of their lunch on the move!

Well, Carol from Ladies Who Lunch, has just published her review, …..and it is excellent!  The food served sounded great and impressively demonstrated what is on offer in our excellent village restaurants. It is clear that all of the chefs are putting a lot of effort into showcasing their skills, and quality menus.

The LWL were so impressed, that the Great Dining Bus was awarded the ‘LWL Gold Award’.

The Great Dining Bus scored an impressive 21/25 – which is the same as Pebble Beach in Barton on Sea, and only one point behind the very highly renowned Hartnett Holder & Co restaurant at the 5 Star Lime Wood Country House Hotel just outside Lyndhurst. 

It is very pleasing to sit alongside the best dining options in Hampshire, and for the Great Dining Bus to offer a unique way to for people to enjoy great food. Where else can you try 4 different restaurants within the same meal?!!

(Our Milford on Sea village restaurants have also had some impressive individual scores from past LWL Reviews: Verveine 24/25 - La Perle 22/25 - The Marine 21/25 - The Raft 20/25 - Zaika 20/25)

Now that the LWL Review is on the web, it will do its magic and filter through to lots of people, which will help continue to put Milford on Sea on the map as a 'Foodie Heaven', and a destination for diners looking for quality food and dining experiences.

You can read the full LWL review by clicking here. Find out more about Milford on Sea's Great Dining Bus by clicking here.
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Extracts from the Ladies Who Lunch Great Dining Bus Review

"Verveine Chef/Patron, David Wykes's had unique canapés ready for us all to share. There were 2 beautiful rocks sourced from the local beach; on it were pieces of home smoked bass to eat in our fingers, a sardine tin containing cantaloupe melon, Lymington lobster and fizzy grapes, crackling pigs cheeks served with pear and mead ketchup, mackerel pate in a little flower pot covered with edible soil and planted with radishes and David’s version of pork scratchings, the pork skin is dehydrated for three days, scraped then deep fried so you've only got the skin with no fat.... very light and fluffy so obviously no calories! We were served a white wine spritzer mixed with elderflower rather than soda, very refreshing."

"The bus collected us at 1.30pm and drove us to our next destination The Raft. Love the décor in here, it has a very relaxed ambiance, appropriate as most of us separated from who we had come with to sit and chat to new friends around the table. We were given a choice of either a chicken or a mackerel tortilla. I chose chicken, it was delicious and a very substantial portion for a starter. Here we were offered the choice of a white wine sangria or iced tea to drink. SM was very impressed with the wonderful home made pizzas she enjoyed on her last visit here."

"La Perle is a very pretty French bistro and as Lionel, Chef/Patron and his lovely wife Emily are still offering their £10 Lunch prix fixe menu which includes 1 course and a drink or a small glass of wine was not surprised to hear they have had a very busy summer. We ate, on 2 tables this time, a beautifully presented dish, quenelle of lemon sole, crab bisque, courgette purée, confit tomato and tiger prawns accompanied by a glass of a Languedoc Sauvignon Blanc." 

"The bus collected us at 3.15 to take us to The Marine for our pudding. It's a wonderful Art Deco building almost on the beach. The upstairs fine dining restaurant where we were seated, has fabulous views over to the Isle of Wight and there's a café/bar downstairs. Our dessert was a large Milford Mess, the Marine's version of Eton mess and we were served tea or coffee." 

"It was sad to say goodbye, a fine time had been had by all. Interesting conversation and delicious food, the perfect lunchtime combination!"

"As it says on their website “The Great Dining Bus is perfect as a treat, a gift, for spending time with friends, special celebrations, anniversaries, birthdays, or just a great excuse to experience a unique dining experience whilst enjoying great food in excellent restaurants.” It does what it says on the tin and comes highly recommended!" Dining Tour prices range from: £37.50 to £22pp.

Ladies Who Lunch In Hampshire

www.ladieswholunch-in-hampshire.co.uk 
Click here for Ladies Who Lunch Blog

Great Dining Bus
Various Milford on Sea Restaurants
www.greatdiningbus.co.uk