Verveine has a New Look

click image to enlarge

Always creating magic with food, David Wykes has now also had a brand new website built, which showcases the extraordinary delights on a plate he serves. It also features their traditional village fishmongers, and much more.....

 

Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant continues to receive rave reviews, including articles in The Independent and Sunday Telegraph. It is no great surprise that David (Chef/proprietor), has been voted Hampshire Chef of the Year in 2011 & 2012 to go with the other major awards they have won in the past two years.

 

Verveine has also received a No.1 accolade for food from the Harden's Guide, which is the highest mark this respected national guide gives. I suggest it is only a matter of time before they get a lot more national recognition in a big way.

 

If you haven't yet eaten in Verveine their two course lunch is amazing value at just £14.95.  The a'la carte menu is of course more, but worth every penny if you love exciting, creative food, and of course fish!

 

Should you be one of the people that uses (or understands!) Twitter, David does regular tweets and you can 'get in his nest' or whatever it is Twitterer's do, by visiting his website, or clicking here.

 

To take a look at Verveine's new website please visit; www.verveine.co.uk

 

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

 

New at Clubhouse at HCSC

click image to enlarge

The new clubhouse at Hurst Castle Sailing club is now complete and being used by the members.

The impressive new building was built by our renowned village builders, Adcroft Building & Renovation. Another splendid project, yet again enhancing our village.

The formal opening ceremony will be on Saturday May 11th at 17.00 hours, (5pm to landlubbers!), when a plaque commemorating the occasion will be unveiled.

In keeping with the club's our self help ethos, three of their most long standing members, who have contributed a great deal to the fund raising over the years, will perform the ceremony for us.

The Lookout Platform is particulary impressive to watch the boats at play.

 To see more of the building as it came together, please click here.


STOP PRESS....  Up to date news about Hurst Castle SC opening is that Pippa Wilson. Olympic Gold medallist will cut the ribbon for the club.

Hurst Castle Sailing Club
HCSC Clubhouse, Keyhaven, SO41 0TR | www.hcsc.org.uk

South Lawn goes Bespoke

South Lawn Hotel in Milford on Sea now has new owners, Bespoke Hotels.

Looking at the groups website they have some very impressive hotels and seem to like buildings with character. South Lawn certainly fit that brief.

We hear that significant refurbishments are underway and planned, these will be done whilst the hotel remains open. With a bit of luck, this brave investment in these troubled times, could be an exciting development for the village.

Will be watching how this re-design progresses with great interest, perhaps we will have another fine restaurant coming our way in the month's to come!

www.bespokehotels.com
www.bespokehotels.com/southlawnhotel
 

Tasty Sweet Dreams

click image to enlarge

Having originated from Milford on Sea, Hannah Middlewick (formerly Chamberlain) now runs a charming local business called Sweet Dream Events.

At Sweet Dream Events, Hannah organises all kinds of events, and whether a wedding, children’s party, birthday, corporate event, hen party, or just an excuse for a get together, everyone gets personal attention and a day to remember.

Sweet Dream Events will take on an event from start to finish, and Hannah believes that your event should be a reflection of your personality, so, she takes the time to get to know you and your style.

Her personal service shines through whether designing and dressing a special day, to providing anything from a vintage tea party to sweet & dessert tables and tuck shops.

Hannah’s mum & dad still live in the village, and her brother, Tom runs Adcroft Build & Renovation, a village business that has worked across the south coast for several decades, and has become synonymous with a very high quality of workmanship and a strong attention to detail.

On Sunday, 16th June from 10am to 4pm, Hannah is organising a free to enter Garden Party in aid of Macmillan Nurses. The Garden Party will be held in in the gardens of Langtry House, Lymington Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QN.

Hannah will be styling and decorating the garden into a beautiful summer fete extravaganza, and aims to provide a relaxed environment where families can spend the day drinking tea & pimm’s, eating cake, sitting on the lawn listening to music, and enjoying the variety of local stalls whilst watching children playing games.

 

Everyone one is invited, so please go along. You can also see how the event is progressing and what will be there by clicking here.

Sweet Dream Events
hannah@sweetdreamevents.co.uk
Tel: 01202 428097|07999 223473
www.sweetdreamevents.co.uk

Adcroft Build & RenovationTom Chamberlain
01590 644351|07990 547591
www.adcroftbuild.co.uk

 

Sean Cracks Marathon

click image to enlarge

Our local assistant solicitor at Hugh Whitlock Solicitors, Sean Reeves, has taken a break from the office and organising a number of Milford on Sea events, to recently complete the London Marathon.  Thanks of course in no small part to my unique training advice.

 

As you will see from the pictures, Sean did not listen to all I taught him, as it appears that he has actually decided to run all of the way. He also ignored all of the bus routes and underground lines that I had meticulously planned for him to complete the course without sweating.

 

However, my personalised training programme kicked in a bit later, as you can see in picture two. I always say that the energy taken in drinking a pint of beer in 30 seconds is equivilent to a two mile run.  I am unable explain why the girl next to him is playing patience, but I expect that Sean may have been attempting to talk to her.

 

Sean completed the London Marathon in a respectable time of 4 hours 29 mins.  Whilst not quite the time he had trained for, no one had anticipated that it would be such a glorious day, after many hours of winter training around the zero mark.

 

Sean recalls that he hit 'the wall' at around 15 miles, and just after 26 miles he hit the bar.

 

Sean said: "My feet suffered an awful lot in the heat and I could feel every step, but I completed it which was the main thing. The crowds were amazing I have never had so many people scream and shout my name (it is estimated that there was in excess of 850,000 in the crowds!) they certainly kept me going when I was at the low points of the race."

 

You can see more of Sean's marathon pictures by clicking here and typing 'reeves' and then select 'Virgin London Marathon 2013'.

 

Having got the running bug, Sean's next challenge is the New Forest Marathon, shortly followed by the Bournemouth Marathon. He has also just entered the ballot for next years' London Marathon. (That is a lot of training beer to drink in the coming months.)

 

Finally, Sean wants to say a big thank you everyone who kindly sponsored him to raise in excess of £3,300 for charity. The money is being donated for Spinal Research (281325) and if you would like to add any more to his total, please click here.

 

 

Big Beach Clean Up

Join the fight against marine litter by taking part in the MCS Big Beach Clean-up this Saturday.

Over 110 beaches across the UK and Ireland are going to see volunteers coming together to do a beach clean and litter survey which will highlight the issues of beach litter around our coastlines.

The Milford on Sea beach clean and survey will last a couple of hours, leaving the rest of the day free for you to enjoy the beach. Everyone welcome.

What to bring: Water, Gloves and Suitable clothing.

Beach leader: Lymington M&S store team

Additional information: The beach clean will start at 2pm, so please arrive a few minutes beforehand.

Meeting place: In the car park next to the Milford on Sea Parish Council Bowling Green

Register here: www.mcsuk.org/foreverfish/details.php?beach=Milford-on-Sea or just turn up on the day.

Top Marks at School

Youngsters in Milford Pre-School appear to be benefiting from a great start in life. The local Milford on Sea school they attend has recently had their Ofsted Inspection, and they have come through with flying colours.

Milford Pre-School achieved the highest level ‘1 Grade’ in each measured category, with the statement that ‘This provision is outstanding.’ Current & future mum's and dad's must be very pleased what the school is doing for their kids'.

To view the full report please click here, and then click on the PDF Document as indicated below.

Milford Pre-School PlusLymington Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0RF
Tel: 01590 644684 | milfordpreschool@aol.com

www.milfordpreschoolplus.co.uk

Have Your Say!

The Parish Council are holding their third Community Engagement Event  this Friday & Saturday to present an update and to collect views on the Neighbourhood Plan.

A number of landowners have come forward with deliverable sites for development and you are now being asked for your preferences.

You will be able to see where the sites are located and learn about the potential for sustainability development of each site. You can talk to Steering Group members, make comments and raise your concerns and issues. At the event you can take your time to study the alternatives and then record your preferences anonymously and return your survey form to the Parish Office by Friday 24th May.

All the choices received by Friday 24th May will be used by the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group to prepare a multi-site proposal. Naturally some preferred sites might fit into a multi-site solution better than other preferred sites. The final proposal will be recommended to the Parish Council to go forward to our June Community Engagement Event.

Neighbourhood Plan  | Community Engagement Event

Friday 26th April between 2pm and 7pm and again on Saturday 27th April between 9am and 3pm. Venue: Community Centre, Sea Road, MoS.

They will then be holding their fourth Community Engagement Event in June and you will be asked to decide which you prefer: the Parish Council’s multi-site development or the District Council’s single site development (MoS1).

Neighbourhood Plan | Community Engagement Event

Friday 21st June between 2pm and 7pm and again on Saturday 22nd June between 9am and 3pm. Venue: Community Centre, Sea Road, MoS.

The website will carry information about the sites and how to record your preferences from Friday 26th April.

Further information on the Neighbourhood Plan can be found at www.ourplan.org.uk

Other local events: www.milfordonseacalendar.org

New Tourist Information in Village

Next time you visit The Village News in Milford on Sea High Street you will see a new Local Information Point.

The information service is organised by New Forest National Park, and Mark now has an attractive wooden sign outside, together with a well stocked rack of brochures of local attractions, days out and places of interest across the New Forest. He also has a full range of maps.

Naturally, this with be of great interest to our visitors, holidaymakers and tourists, but it will also be of use to local people in the village looking for ideas for a day out.

click image to enlarge

Mark as always, is looking to do something extra, he will also have a list of local B&B’s Hotels, Self Catering, Camping and places to stay for people not wanting to go home!

He is also happy for local accommodation providers and restaurants to drop in brochures and cards, which he is happy to give out on their behalf.

The new Local Information Point concept follows the demise of the New Forest District Council's TIC's (Tourist Information Centres) in Lymington and Ringwood. The New Forest National Park has selected local shops in nine villages to become places where leaflets and local information may be obtained.

Local Information Point at The Village News

74 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QD

Tel: 01590 645595

Village Doctor on The Run

I am sure many of you will have seen at least part of the London Marathon last Sunday. What you may have missed, was me running dressed as a Space Alien. The course was hard work, and twenty six miles is certainly a long way in draylon and foam. Fortunately, I did not hit 'The Wall', but I was tempted to slap a running Dustbin who trod on my intergalactic toe. The Dog who tripped the Duck was not so lucky.

The irony was that I was running for the 'UK Mascot Society', and the £7.50 I raised with go towards their planned new 'Mascot Anger Management Programme'.

My time wasn't quite as good as I hoped, as I stopped at each drink station looking for something eat, and my support team had filled my drinks bottles with Scotch & Coke. I had been going well, but then my refreshment meant that it took me over an hour to just zig-zag up The Mall to the finish.

Whilst I was making up this nonsense, one of our local doctors from Milford Medical Centre was running the London Marathon for real.

Dr Charlotte Woodward was running in aid of Prostate Cancer Research, and she completed the course in 4hrs 43 mins, 9 minutes (about an hour behind me), Charlotte's time was an improvement on her previous run.

Charlotte said; "I had a great day, the weather was perfect, the atmosphere amazing & the support from everyone fantastic. Thank you everyone who has sponsored me for such a great cause."

Charlotte has raised about £2000 so far, and she would like to thank all the patients of Milford Medical Centre who have sponsored her.

It is not too late to show your support for Charlotte and her great causes. If you can spare a few quid please sponsor her here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CharlotteWoodward

MiCo & Milford Memories

click image to enlarge

Whilst we prefer not to cover forthcoming events in this blog (as they are all detailed in www.milfordonseacalendar.org & it would take most of my life to mention them all in here!), we do think this one deserves a special mention.

 

The local kids from MiCo (Milford Community Organisation) are running an exhibition at St Barbe Museum in Lymington about their project based on the history of Milford and its people. (There is no payment to enter the museum to see MiCO's show)

 

 Also, on the 18th of May at 11am in the exhibition room some of the MiCO group are putting on a performance: A story of a girl who wishes to leave "boring" Milford for the more 'with it' life of McDonalds, Primark and better phone signal......(they did their research!) She meets a time traveller who takes her on a journey stopping at various points through Milford's past, and gently convinces her that Milford is much more interesting than she thought!

 

The exhibition will travel into Milford in June, firstly at the school, and then from the 10th to the 30th of June into the Community Centre.

 

The group are also doing smaller performances for St Georges' residents and Milford School children.

 

The children from across the village have gone to lot of effort to put on the show, and it would be great if as many of us from Milford could go along.  I am sure there are displays that will stir a few memories, and others that will tell us things we may not know about our village.

 

MiCo are also hosting an open tea party next week on Friday 26th April from 3:30pm to 5pm in the Community Centre, anyone is welcome to come in for some cake and tea and a good chat etc etc. The young group organise it themselves and will be baking up some treats.....

St. Barbe Museum & Art Gallery, New Street, Lymington, SO41 9BH

 

A Job in a Cave

As new business venture takes shape at The Cave in the village centre, an enthusiastic team is being assembled, who love wine and giving customers a great experience.

 

The owner/host, Jon Crouch, is also looking for some more people to join his team as:
Full-time or Part-time Bar Team Staff
Part-time Wine Retail Assistant

If, you, or anyone you know, may be interested please contact Jon on: jon@thecavemos.co.uk or call 01590 64219

I did apply, but I 'was deemed not suitable'. Apparently, 'The job did not involve tasting every bottle, and I could not be trusted to not drink all the stock'. Charming.

The Cave is an exciting new concept in enjoying wine. Situated opposite the picturesque Milford on Sea village green, there will always a warm welcome whether you are looking to taste, buy, learn, or simply enjoy a glass of wine, beer, or even coffee with friends. They also have gift vouchers for a present with a difference.

The Cave will be open seven days a week and if you have a taste for good wine, or beer, please pop in - there is plenty to browse and enjoy. Take a look at the website to find out more, or to register for the Newsletter or join the free Wine Club, please visit: www.thecavemos.co.uk

The Cave

2 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH

Tel: 01590 64219 | jon@thecavemos.co.uk

www.thecavemos.co.uk