The Archive › Autumn 2010
Delicious! Fabulous food, gorgeous gardens, retail heaven, wardrobe workouts and inspirational interiors
The launch issue of Valleys Life, full of food, gardens and the people who make the Valleys special. Amanda and Ben take over the running of Miskin Manor from Leah and Colin Rosenberg, Mike O’Leary and Bev Price open up their record-raising garden in Cefn Fforest, and we sit down to Sunday lunch at The Ivor Arms in Pontyclun.
On the cover
Valleys Life started out hungry. For the launch issue the cover went to a plate of steamed Cornish mussels at The Charthouse in Llanvihangel Gobion near Abergavenny, a pub we happened upon on the way to lunch and liked so much we reviewed it inside. Mark Roberts took the picture, and the headline came from George Eliot: "Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it."
Inside this issue
Features and people
* To the Manor Born: Amanda and Ben, the next generation at Miskin Manor* Music: albums that changed readers’ lives, with New Sound Wales* Future Homes, Ebbw Vale: interior designer Wendy Darke on the zero emission PassivHaus at The Works* The Vale Hospital, Hensol: cosmetic surgery at the hospital opened in June 2010* Nathan Cleverly, Cefn Fforest: the European light-heavyweight champion’s WBO eliminator* Quiet Confidence: how green is the new Toyota Auris hybrid?* The Last Word: stylist Suzanne Jaya on growing up as the local doctor’s daughter
Food and drink
* The Ivor Arms, Pontyclun: Sunday lunch review* The Charthouse, Llanvihangel Gobion: contemporary cuisine near Abergavenny* Matt Powell, Nant-y-moel: the former La Plie chef is writing a book
Homes
* Blooming Lovely: Mike O’Leary and Bev Price’s Hillcrest garden, Cefn Fforest* Designed for Life: Room For Living’s kitchen for Peter and Mary Murray* Nature Nurture: Pugh’s Garden Village, Radyr
Shopping and fashion
* V-Style: Suzanne Jaya’s advice for autumn/winter wardrobes* Retail Heaven: Hamptons, Penarth, celebrates its fifth birthday* Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay: shops and restaurants on the waterfront* Gauci, South Wales: new organic aromatherapy candles* The Ski Lodge: a new home in Cardiff Bay
Days out and travel
* Illuminata 2010: a light and sound show at Caerphilly Castle* Aberdare Park Road Races: 60 years of racing in the town park* Coed-Y-Mwstwr Hotel, Coychurch: a Victorian mansion near Bridgend
Regulars
* Welcome from the editor to our launch issue* Competitions: Sunday lunch for four at The Ivor Arms, a Wardrobe Workout worth £125* V-Biz: David Martin’s TurnersToolBox.com; new management at Pensord, Blackwood* Social Life: Hillcrest open garden, Cefn Fforest; Ascot Day at Miskin Manor
Businesses featured in this issue
The Charthouse, The Ivor Arms, Miskin Manor, Room For Living, The Jewellery Studio, The Vale Hospital, Pugh’s Garden Village, Hamptons, Coed-Y-Mwstwr Hotel, Mermaid Quay, Toyota World Cardiff and Gauci.
With thanks to all the independent businesses who supported this edition.