Out & About March 2017

Hilary Scott has a few ideas on how to spoil mum on Mother’s Day, March 26, from delicious cream teas, luxury overnight stays and fun classes to food and drink gifts – all bound to make her feel special We love that the Red House in Marsh Benham does a Gentleman’s Afternoon Tea, but don’t worry, it also does a traditional one. Both are £15. The Traditional is a pot of tea with sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam and a slice of that day’s cake. The Gentleman’s is a pot of tea with mini Scotch eggs, sandwiches, homemade sausage rolls, scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam. But for just £7.95 you can have a simple cream tea with tea, scones, jam and cream. And you can add a glass of Prosecco any of the teas for £7.50. The Red House is a traditional thatched pub with a refurbished restaurant overlooking marshland. It also has a lunch/ dinner menu, with daily specials. The Red House, Milkhouse Rd, Marsh Benham, Newbury RG20 8LY. (01635) 582017. www.theredhousepub.com. The Watermark Restaurant at the Regency Park Hotel, Thatcham, serves a real selection of treats. There’s scones, cream and jam with tea for £6.95, a full afternoon tea for £14.95 and a champagne tea for £19.95. You can also choose from its extensive sandwich menu, which includes chicken and tarragon mayonnaise, or smoked salmon with herb crème fraiche, all around £7, and add a pot of tea and then a cake from the cake menu which can include carrot, chocolate or banana. Set between Newbury and Thatcham, the Regency’s teas are available from 2pm-5pm every day. There’s a spa too if you really want to push the boat out for mum. Regency Park Hotel, Bowling Green Rd, Thatcham RG18 3BY. (01635) 871555. www.regencyparkhotel.co.uk.

On Mother’s Day itself The Vineyard is hosting a special Mother’s Day lunch.You can bet the three- course meal with a glass of Champagne as an aperitif will be delicious and mum will also receive a special gift to takeaway. The lunch is 12pm to 2pm and is £65 per person and £35 for children under 12. For £284 you could treat Mum to a stay at The Vineyard – one night in a luxurious room, a seven-course dinner, with two matching wines per course, a full English breakfast and full use of the “5 Bubbles” spa.

The Vineyard, Stockcross, Newbury RG20 8JU. (01635) 528770. Classes and chefs…

If your mum would like to learn how to make bread, Lucie Steel runs a run a micro bakery business just outside Hermitage. It’s unique in that her bakery is in a shipping container in her garden. Says Lucie: “I bake commercially three days a week, teach baking classes one to two days a week and sell at several community markets. “Vouchers can be bought for any bread class and, as well as the standard classes, I offer bespoke ones for groups of four people. I have already taught two bespoke classes this year, which were special birthday gifts for mums and the children and husband came too. “My classes start in my cottage with tea/coffee and toast on arrival, then into the bakery to make bread all morning, then a two-course lunch after which students go home with a bag full of their freshly-baked loaves.” See www.breadangels.com to buy vouchers or contact Lucie on birchcottagebread@yahoo.com or on 07766 203335.

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