New Milton Advertiser 20th Nov 2020

Friday 20th November 2020 · 15

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Brasserie aiming to be No.1

Christchurch eatery launched between the two lockdowns

look forward to becoming a Christchurch staple.” To complement the menu there is a dedicated wine list which has been specially select- ed by Ryan who is also a certi- fied sommelier. He will be on hand to advise customers what wine goes best with their food. There are also cheese and meat platters made up special- ly to go well with a good bottle of red or white. House wine is £18 while for lovers of fizz, prosecco is avail - able for £5 a glass. Visitors fan - cying a hot drink in the autumn weather can pick up coffee and cake for £4. For people after a drop of the hard stuff, there is a flight of three vodkas, gin, rum, or whis - ky with any two mixes for £12.

counts for locals. Residents of Christchurch and surrounding areas will be able to claim a 10% discount off their final bill. A Clocking-off Club, which is free to join, will give members 15% off all drinks during special hours or 2-for-1 on cocktails. Covid-19 safety measures are observed throughout the bras- serie when it is open, with all official guidelines followed. Tables are socially distanced, Test and Trace in place, and masks must be worn by cus- tomers when not seated. The brasserie is set to reo- pen 10am-5pm Monday, Tues - day and Sundays. The rest of the week it is open 10am to midnight. Visit www.no 1churchst.co.uk or email info@ no1churchst.co.uk

Cocktails include the No.1 Lemon Shortbread which is a heady combination of lemon gin liqueur, cacao blanc and Ab - solut vanilla. The creamy Latte Martini is a take on the favour- ite espresso martini. No.1 will also be hosting themed evenings and dis- “During lockdown, I realised just how important family and friends are to me and I wanted to create a space where people could reconnect with one another”

BY ANTONELLA LAZZERI

AS WE fall deeper into the au- tumnal season, it is not unusu - al for many people to get dark- er moods, feel sad, or increase other mental health issues, such as loneliness, despair or a general feeling of lack of inter- est or pleasure out of life. Many will refer to this as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which has no known cause but is thought to origi- nate from low exposure to the sun affecting the production of melatonin (the sleep hor- mone), serotonin (the feel- good hormone) and the body’s internal clock, known as the circadian rhythm. Sometimes this “condition” is also said to run in families and perhaps is passed through the genes, but that doesn’t mean that we have to stay like it. It’s strangely akin to a form of hibernation that animals ex- perience. According to the Royal Col - lege of Psychiatrists, it affects approximately three people in every 100 in the UK – a figure which is doubled in the US, and is most common in women of childbearing age. It is typi- cally three times more com- mon in women than in men, reducing as we age. For those that are affected by it, the symptoms are very real and can be very distress- ing, bringing a real sense of sadness and, in some, depres - sion. TWO New Forest hotels have been honoured in this year’s world-renowned Conde Nast Awards for Excellence. The Chewton Glen in New Milton was crowned Best Coun- tryside Hotel, and the Grade II listed Burley Manor took the top spot for Best Value Experi - ence. Condé Nast Johansens is the leading reference guide for luxury hotels, spas and venues around the world, with over 36 years’ experience of inspecting and recommending places to stay. Andrew Stembridge, manag - ing director of Chewton Glen, which also recently took home AA Hotel of the Year in the AA Hospitality Awards, said his team was especially proud to receive the honour given the tough time the industry was facing. “This is an acknowledgment of the hard work and dedica- tion from all the teams who continue to strive to improve,” he said. “We are extremely proud and honoured to be part of a com- pany which continues to evolve and distinguish itself as some of the best hotels in the UK, and offer our gratitude to Condé A NEW eatery in Christchurch which opened just weeks be- fore the new lockdown, offering everything from pie and mash to cocktails, has pledged to be back up and running as soon as restrictions are lifted. No.1 Brasserie & Bar, in Church Street, had been doing well after taking the brave step of launching at a time when the sector was already suffering badly from the pandemic. But now, along with other restaurants, cafes and bars, it was closed down after Boris Johnson put the country back into lockdown. However, a spokesperson for the brasserie said: “We will be reopening as soon as the lock- down is lifted, which at the mo - ment is 2nd December. It is a shame we have had to close but it cannot be helped.” All events planned for No - vember, including a Spanish night, have now been post - poned to December. Run by business partners Ryan Smith and Stephen Caunter, the new brasse - rie has proved popular with Christchurch residents who

The No.1 Brasserie team, from left, Ryan Smith, Lauren Beeston and Stephen Caunter

quiches, among other produce. Ryan said of the new venture: “It is a privilege to own an icon- ic part of the Christchurch High Street and to bring something special to the locals. “During lockdown, I realised just how important family and friends are to me and I wanted to create a space where people

could reconnect with one an- other. “We have created a safe and welcoming environment and we are so happy to be open.” Stephen added: “We’re so proud to provide a place where everyone is welcome. We want to thank everyone who has supported us so far and

liked the wide range of food and drink on offer as well the dis- counts and membership deals. Barista coffees, cakes from a local bakery, cheeses, char - cuterie and special lunch dish- es, including tempting vegan plates, are on the menu. There is also a deli counter offering award-winning pork pies and

Forest hotels walk away with top prizes at excellence awards

and other well-known herbal concoctions. l Increase your social con- tact (where possible under lockdown). A problem shared is a problem halved and just being with someone who can listen or having that social in- teraction can really lift us out of the doldrums. l Buy a natural light lamp that mimics the sun. Follow- ing the prescribed exposure can help to alleviate some of the SAD symptoms for some people. l Find something you enjoy exercising in and keep it regu- lar, thus generating mood-en - hancing endorphins. It’s too easy to sit indoors when it is cold and watch TV and fall into unhealthy habits in the winter. Keep moving to keep the cir - culation going. l Watch more comedy and find things to do that bring you joy that you can lose your- self in. l Some find taking St John’s Wort to be very helpful as a natural anti-depressant but always check with your GP as this can interfere with other medicines you may be taking or you may not be able to take it. Remember, it starts to get lighter again after the winter solstice, so this time is only for a few weeks in reality and it will soon start to get lighter again. “We really thank everyone who voted for us and all our loy- al guests, familiar and new, who have visited over the last few months. “We want them to feel as if they are at home and enjoy the magic of our beautiful New For- est surroundings away from the hustle bustle of daily life when they are with us.” The hotel, set amongst eight acres of gardens and with views over an adjoining red deer sanc- tuary, has just launched the first of its luxury oak shepherds’ huts. The site also boasts an out- door pool, two Mediterrane - an-inspired treatment rooms and a stylish barn with vaulted ceilings and two working fire - places, offering a place both to do business and celebrate. Burley Manor managing di- rector Garry Baldwin, said: “Although we find ourselves in these unsettling times again, we are very much look - ing forward to the future, with plenty of exciting things to come. “We will welcome our guests back safely when we re-open our doors, to enjoy the Burley Manor experience they have come to know and love.”

Burley Manor won the Best Value Experience award

Nast Johansens and the AA for their recognition.” The Conde Nast awards were based on responses from online voting, guest feedback, and lo - cal expert reports drawn from the hotels featured on Condé Nast’s website and in the 2021 International Luxury Hotels Guide. The winners’ ceremony took place online. AdamWilson, general manag -

er of Burley Manor, said the ac - colade was a “true testament” to the hard work and commit- ment of his team, which he said “go above and beyond “every day. “Every year, there are only a small handful of properties that make it to the top of the awards, and we are beyond thrilled that Burley Manor has been recog- nized,” he said.

Darker days don’t have to mean darker moods HELP YOURSELF

Caroline Cousins on how the change in seasons might affect our mental health

It’s always wise to visit the GP if you are suffering con- sistently with any of the symp- toms, to rule out anything else that may be underlying and it may be that the GP will pre- scribe medication to help over- come this. However, there are some natural and self-supportive steps you can take to assist you through this time, if you are one of those people who get down or lack energy at this time of year. l Remember this is tempo- rary and look for 50 things to feel grateful about every day, no matter how small they are. l Consider taking Vita - min D3 supplements as it is thought, among the naturo - pathic community, that many of us in the UK may be low or

deficient in Vitamin D3 due to low sun exposure. l Get out as much as you can. Even at this time of the year, the sun is powerful and it’s very easy to stay indoors thus reducing the sun expo- sure. l Check your diet to ensure you are getting plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables – ideally some raw if you are able, to make sure you get the max- imum dose of vitamins and minerals in a balanced diet. At this time of year, we typically resort to more comfort foods, high in simple carbohydrates with little nutritional value. l Try substituting your nor- mal beverages for herbal teas known to bring calmness and lift your mood, like valerian, lemongrass, ginger, turmeric