Out & About Winter 2019

Out&About competition

Christmas at Highclere book and a bottle of Highclere Castle gin WIN

A sk Lady Carnarvon why she chose to concentrate on Christmas traditions at Highclere for her latest book Christmas at Highclere, recipes and traditions from the real Downton Abbey and her answer is simple: “In this fragmented world, Christmas is a time when people come together. “Whether we’re talking or just sitting in silence, it is a shared experience and the Christmas tradition gives us a sense of purpose and grounding.” There was plenty of material for Lady Carnarvon to draw from when writing the book. “I really enjoyed finding my way through it. While assembling the book, I realised how much fun and laughter was to be had in the planning and perparation of the Christmas festivities. “It really is a team effort at Highclere and I loved looking back at the archives and seeing how essentially what we do has not changed – from going into the grounds and finding greenery for decoration, to some of the tried-and-tested recipes that the family has enjoyed over the years.” Does Lady Carnarvon have a favourite meal? “I love our Boxing Day beef stew – actually so does the whole family. After the excesses of Christmas Day, it’s really good to just sit down to a simple home- made stew. Another really popular family meal is macaroni cheese – it just makes for such a good supper, as does fish pie... the list is endless.”

Highclere Castle on the front. For a chance to win the book and gin package, answer the following question*: What is Lady Carnarvon’s favourite Boxing Day meal? Send your answer on the form to Highclere gift competition, OUT&ABOUT, Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2AD. The closing date for entries is Tuesday, December 10. *Entrants must be over-18 For O&A terms and conditions please see p5.

You can find Lady Carnarvon’s recipes for these meals in the sumptuous coffee table book, which also offers a bit of history about Christmases past at Highclere. “People perhaps don’t realise that Christmas has been celebrated at Highclere since 800AD. Okay, the castle has not been here that long, but our ancestors certainly were. “We also have an old ledger from the late 19th-century, which records all the gifts people have received over the years, which makes for a fascinating insight and again shows how grounded Christmas is in tradition.” The book is illustrated with a range of photographs both old and new. “We have a fantastic archive of old photographs, but we also took advantage of the snowy days earlier this year and captured the grounds and the castle in the crisp wintery landscape that is so evocative.” A perfect Christmas present for Downton fans or lovers of tradition and history, Christmas at Highclere, recipes and traditions from the real Downton Abbey is now available to buy, but Lady Carnarvon has given Out&About a signed copy and a bottle of Highclere Castle gin to be won. Earlier this year, Highclere Castle launched a London Dry Gin, inspired by botanicals from the castle’s gardens. It has quickly established itself among the elite of artisan gins and comes in an elegant bottle with the image of

Highclere gift competition

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O&A WINTER 2019