< Previous70 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWEDDINGS - VENUESLocated in the rural idyll of Gedney Dyke, a short drive from Spalding, Boston and Sleaford, TheChequers is rightly known for its food. Head chef Mike Binnington has created a menu thattantalises the tastebuds and should prove to be an excellent basis on which wedding and civilceremony receptions can be built. The Chequers sits bordering wide, open fields which provides an excellent backdrop forreceptions and will no doubt make for excellent wedding photography. Able to cater for around ahundred guests thanks to the ample space outside available for marquees, a more bijous option isavailable if smaller gatherings are required too.Mike says, “We’re a blank canvas essentially; we’re able to provide bespoke receptions for peopleso we’d urge people to speak to us or come for a visit to see what we have on offer here. We areable to work both with those trying to keep to a specific budget and those who want to create asense of occasion and extravagance.”With the space outside being a perfect size for a marquee, Mike says it is the perfect location forthe summer months, with seating outside it really lends itself to lending that special air to yourspecial day.We can’t imagine a better place to have a reception in the south of the county and combinedwith Mike’s incredible food it seems like a great idea to see what the team there can do for you.The Chequers,Gedney DykeThe Chequers is on Main Street, Gedney Dyke, PE12 0AJ. To book a table to dine or to find outmore about wedding receptions, call 01406 366700 or log on to www.the-chequers.co.ukThe Chequers is one of our favourite places to dine out in thesouth of the county. We paid them a visit recently to find outabout their plans for hosting weddings.The Chequers,Gedney Dyke070:Layout 1 20/5/13 10:27 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY71WEDDINGS - VENUESLaying just yards away from thefirst fairway of the Bracken course atWoodhall Spa’s National Golf Centre,the Dower House is in a peacefullocation, also just a stone’s throwfrom one of Lincolnshire’s hiddengems the Kinema in the Woods.Having been originally built in 1905as a residential home, it was run foryears as a hotel before its currentowners took over, making significantchanges. Step into the front door andyou are transported into a welcoming,opulent hotel with traditional, yetcontemporary decoration. We wereare given a tour by general managerSimon Eve and every time a door wasopened to one of the Dower House’s21 rooms we were taken aback withthe sheer standard and comfort onoffer. Two suites offer accommodationthat would stand up to centralLondon standards and the kingsizerooms offer something unique forevery room. This is thanks to Simon’swife Liz’s influence, having designedall the interiors to a high specification.The lodge that stands across abeautifully-manicured lawn completewith small bandstand has a uniquecommunal lounge downstairs andsome incredibly appointed roomsincluding the palatial Hotchkin Suitewhere we stayed overnight. With adeep, indulgent bath and walk-inrain shower as well as one of themost comfortable beds we’ve everslept in, it’s no wonder hundreds ofcouples plump for the Dower Housefor not only their wedding, but theirreception too.Over dinner in the hotel’s privatedining room, we meet a coupletasting their wedding meal twoweeks before their big day. Theirenthusiasm for the hotel is palpableand convinced us even more that wehad stumbled across one of the mostimpressive hotels in the county.The food on offer is of an equalstandard, with starters of bakedpeach with Boursin and cheddarcheese and an individual Camembertwith crusty bread we were bowledover from the start. The unusual butincredible melding of sweet andsavoury of the peach and cheesesmade for an exciting dish that Simonclaims they ‘simply cannot’ take offthe menu, we can see why! TheCamembert was also incredible, adrizzle of olive oil made it a creamy,satisfying option.Main courses of slow-roasted lamband duck with seasonal vegetableswere also to die for. The duck cookedto perfection it was both filling yetdelicate at the same time. The lambwas a revelation, cooked for overthree hours, it was melt-in-the-mouthperfection and we can appreciate whyit is often served on couples’ big days.Dessert was a warm brownie withice cream and a chocolate nutsundae. Both were delicious androunded off the meal perfectly, asweet and sharp kick to the end of afantastic gastronomic offering.Weddings are another thing theDower House does well and we got asneak peek at a wedding set up forthe following day. A large, light andairy room with some dazzling lightoptions was spread out and provideda pleasant and pretty picture for thelucky couple’s reception. Able tocater for large or small celebrations,from 50 to 120 guests, the DowerHouse is full of options for coupleslooking to celebrate in style. Ouradvice is to go and take a look foryourself, why not enjoy Sunday lunch(reservations essential), with suchlovely surroundings, you’re bound tohave a time to remember whateverthe reason for paying them a visit.The Dower House Hotel is on Manor Estate, Woodhall Spa, LN10 6PY. To find out more or to book a table call 01526 352588 or log ontowww.dowerhousehotel.co.ukThe Dower House Hotel is known for its fine dining,luxurious accommodation and its presence as a breath-taking wedding venue. We pay a visit to find out more andfind it’s a location that just keeps on giving. Luxury and Style071:Layout 1 20/5/13 10:28 Page 172 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWEDDINGS - VENUESKelham Hall was originally the home ofthe Manners-Sutton family, and has beendestroyed and rebuilt several times overthe past hundreds of years. The presenthall was designed and rebuilt by thearchitect Sir George Gilbert Scott, famousfor the Albert Memorial and the GrandMidland Hotel in London, which nowprovides the frontage for St PancrasInternational Station – and bears astriking resemblance in design to KelhamHall.For a wedding Kelham Hall offers theperfect solution no matter what youdesire, as there are four rooms, which arelicenced for civil ceremonies from theintimate to the extravagant. The DrawingRoom is an ideal venue for ceremonies upto seventy people and The Music Roomcan accommodate over 120 people.For larger ceremonies, The CarriageCourt can accommodate two hundredpeople, with its elegant beauty of thisroom creating a very special atmosphere.For the biggest weddings, themagnificent Dome can seat five hundredand provides a stunning unique settingthat provides a real ‘wow’ factor. Built inthe byzantine style of brick and concrete,it still retains the impressive ‘flyingClassical eleganceIN A MAGICAL SETTINGThere can’t be many venues as magical as Kelham Hall & Country Park in Newark. Dating back to 1863 and sitting within42 acres of gardens and parklands, it’s a world class venue for weddings and welcomes many couples to get marriedthroughout the year. It’s now also enjoying a growing reputation as a top dining destination and family day out as well.Kelham Hall provides a fabulous backdrop for a very special day, whether you want to get active, find out about apiece of local history, enjoy fine food or indeed get married!072-073:Layout 1 21/5/13 09:12 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY73WEDDINGS - VENUESarchway’, while the balcony provides theperfect VIP option.Whichever room you choose, the hall isa fascinating example of Victorian décorand the beautiful grounds are the idealsetting for superb photographs – and ofcourse you can benefit from KelhamHall’s highly trained and experienced staffwhich will help to individually tailor yourrequirements in order to create yourdream wedding. Kelham Hall is alsobecoming an increasingly popular venuefor Asian weddings, with their dedicatedteam being well aware of the traditionsand conventions.Kelham Hall is a great place to visit fora family day out – especially now thesunshine is upon us. The landscapedgardens themselves are well worth a visitwith a number of woodland walks amongthe beautiful parkland and along theRiver Trent. The park is open daily from8am to dusk. If you really want to makethe most of the gardens, camping andcaravanning is now available withspacious pitches and the RefectoryRestaurant serving breakfast, dinner andlunch.You can also enjoy a tour of KelhamHall and experience all the aspects of thisfabulous building, and there arenumerous activities to keep you activeincluding tennis – on the recentlyrefurbished outdoor courts – plus cricket,fishing, croquet and many others. It’s agreat place to explore this summer!The dining options at Kelham Hall arebeing expanded over the next fewmonths. At present you can enjoy thefabulous bar and restaurant which offersa large variety of hot and cold food aswell as an extensive list of teas, coffeesand alcoholic and non-alcoholicbeverages. The Cafe is also open dailyVisit them on the Main Road in Kelham, near Newark, call them on 01636 980000 or visit www.kelham-hall.com.until late and serves a variety of hot andcold meals, cakes and ice creams as wellas snacks, while you can also relax in thePavilion tearooms which can be foundadjacent to the cricket pitch.Plans are also well underway to offer ala carte dining in the evenings, which willdoubtless benefit from the fabuloussurroundings of Kelham Hall and makefor a sumptuous and very specialevening.Kelham Hall welcomes thousands ofvisitors throughout the year and hostsnumerous special events. On the MayDay Bank Holiday a family fun day was ahuge success, with visitors enjoying apicnic on the lawns, a BBQ, largeinflatables, pedal go-karts, giant lawngames and tours of the house itself. Moreevents are being planned for later thissummer so keep an eye on www.kelham-hall.com to find out what they are.072-073:Layout 1 21/5/13 09:12 Page 274 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYWEDDINGS - PHOTOGRAPHYIt’s all too tempting to ask a friend,colleague or family member, with adigital camera, to shoot your weddingbut consider this…Professional photographers train formany years, learning how to composethe perfect picture, how to get aroundthe problem of shadows which can ruin agood shot, and they have the peoplemanagement skills to get guests intoposition without causing offence. CanUncle Bob do the same with his shopbought offering?After all, Uncle Bob most likely owns apair of pliers in the shed, but youwouldn’t ask him to provide dentaltreatment would you?You get one chance to photograph awedding and it has to be right first time.A professional photographer has nervesof steel, a calming nature and a big smilethat’s infectious which’ll get guestssmiling too.A professional photographer will alsohave countless back-ups on hand shoulda piece of his equipment fail andafterwards they will have the necessaryskills to colour correct images beforeputting them in an album. Engaging photography- One methodof making sure you have the rightphotographer is to have a pre-weddingphoto shoot. Often couples getengagement shots done to not onlyremember the moment but also to see ifthey gel well with the person working thecamera. If shots come off asuncomfortable or staged, then haveserious words, you only get to do this theonce!What do you get?– The amount ofextras photographers can offer these daysis incredible. We’ve seen a full leatherbriefcase holding a titanium photoalbum, so it’s clear there are plenty ofoptions as to what happens to yourphotos after the big day. Remember,you’re paying the photographerto edit the photographs after,but of course it’s as muchabout what you want, notsimply where theircreativity takes them! Ifyou want the fullPhotoshop treatment withcolour washes, airbrushingand the lot, ask. If, however,you want the natural look and youSNAPhappy!When you look back on your big day, you’ll want memories tocome flooding back. That’s why it pays to invest in professionalwedding photography. Here’s some advice to make sure you pickthe right photographer…Professionalphotographers trainfor many years,learning how tocompose the perfectpicture074-075:Layout 1 20/5/13 14:52 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY75WEDDINGS - PHOTOGRAPHYPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/RUSLAN KERIMOVPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/FOX_KROLCapturing candid momentscan make all the differencealongside the traditionalposed shots.want it kept simple, then they’ll be happy to advise andensure you get what you want. Don’t leave it to friends or relatives unless you areemploying them in an official capacity. The celebrations meanthey won’t be fully concentrating on everything unless theyare professionals. Remember, it’s their friends’ wedding andthey’ll want to join in too. Keep it separate, it might cost alittle more, but its one area that’s definitely not worth cuttingback on.074-075:Layout 1 20/5/13 14:52 Page 276 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFOOD & DININGAs it takes so long for the bees to producethis wonderfully sweet stuff, it’s good toknow it’s one of the best things out there foryou. Known as nature’s sweetener andenergy booster, the fact it’s produced frombees regurgitating pollen is probably best notto think about but here’s just some of thebenefits.Athletic power– Thanks to being packedwith carbohydrates and natural sugars,honey is often praised for its instantaneousand effective energy-giving properties.Athletes use it to quickly gain a boost or tolast longer in endurance sports. For example,a spoonful of honey before a workout mighthelp you to stay at the exercise for longer asthe instant boost from the glucose isabsorbed quickly, while the fructose isreleased gradually, giving you both benefits. Pick me up– A spoonful of sugar helps themedicine go down as the song goes, but trya serving of honey first thing in the morningif you’re finding it hard to wake up. Eitherspread on hot toast or in a cup of hot water,PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/SUBBOTINA ANNAAs we mentioned elsewhere inthis issue, bees are under threat,so we thought we’d look into themany wonders of the fruits oftheir labour.Honey,honeyHoney,honey076-077:Layout 1 20/5/13 12:53 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY77FOOD & DININGThe Ship InnBARNOLDBYLE - BECKMain Rd, Barnolby le Beck, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, DN37 0BGTelephone: 01472 822308 www.the-shipinn.comThe Ship Inn offers a wide selection of special boards and specialist fish dishes.12 - 2pm & 6 - 9pm Monday - Saturday and 12 - 5pm Sunday. We look forward to seeing you in the near future!To avoid disappointment booking is advisable.COUNTRY PUB, RESTAURANT & MOTELCOUNTRY PUB, RESTAURANT & MOTEL• GREAT LOCAL FOOD & LOCAL ALES• OPEN 11.30-2, 6.30-9 pm. CLOSED MONDAY LUNCH• AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT CALL AHEAD• ESPRESSO COFFEE, AIR CON & FREE WiFi STIXWOULD ROAD WOODHALL SPA LN10 6UJT: 01526353312villagelimits.co.ukthe hit of natural sweetness can pick you upbetter than plain old granulated. It can evenbe added to coffee or tea as a naturalsweetener. If you also feel lethargic afterlunch, perhaps adding honey to whateveryou eat for your midday meal could make adifference. Add some to a ham sandwich ormixed in with a salad and you could feel thebenefits.Sweet immunity– Honey is a greatantibacterial and antioxidant that can helpregulate your digestive system. A cup of hotwater and honey in the morning can helpyou feel less full but can also help fightcarcinogens and therefore prevent cancerfrom developing. It’s by no means a cure,but there’s no harm in adding a little honeyto your list of preventative foods is there?My poor head– Hung over? Guess whatwe recommend to stave off the unpleasantafter-effects of overindulgence! For thosewith weak stomachs after a long session onthe ale or wine, honey is a gentle way toease your way back to the land of the living.Try blending a small quantity of honey withorange juice and natural yoghurt to makesure you remain feeling fine, rather thanqueasy. Trust us!Sing on!- For those ofyou who need to bein fine voice forsinging, work orpublic speaking,honey is perhapsyour saviour.Honey is a naturaland reliable remedyfor a sore throat, itsantimicrobial properties itcan not only soothe with its silkysmoothness, but can also help kill thebacteria that cause the soreness in the firstplace.Honey is agreat antibacterialand antioxidant thatcan help regulateyour digestivesystemHeathers Fruit Shop 28 Bull Ring, Horncastle LN9 5HUTel: 01507 522237www.heathersofhorncastle.co.ukFlowers forall occasionsLocally deliveredLOCAL DELIVERIESSEASONAL & EXOTIC FRUIT & VEGFRUIT BASKETS MADE TO ORDERLOCAL LINCOLNSHIRE PRODUCEHeathersFruit Shop~Florist~HeathersFruit Shop~Florist~MUMBAIBLUESINDIAN DINING EXPERIENCE75 High Street, Waltham, DN37 0LT Tel: 01472 822 779 / 827 367 Email: info@mumbai-blues.co.uk www.mumbai-blues.co.uk076-077:Layout 1 20/5/13 12:53 Page 2Having just arrived at the Redwood, Rebecca hasactually been in food since the age of 14 havinglearned the basics at the New Midge Inn in Hattonbefore taking on work at the Sebastapol Inn in nearbyMinting where she worked under a head chef calledMark who produced fine dining and how to make asshe puts it: “Everything! Literally everything as it was allhome made.”Rebecca then had the chance to work at the PetwoodHotel in Woodhall Spa where she worked for five years, in avery busy environment. Weddings were a speciality andcatering for several weddings a day was the norm, “We’dsometimes have to make around four hundred starters forexample when it was a big ball or conference, which was achallenge but it was great!”It was there she completed an apprenticeship and got thechance to work with several chefs who were visiting from aMayfair restaurant and were so impressed they offered her apastry chef position. Rebecca turned this down for familyreasons, but this perhaps shows what level of cuisine theRedwood now offers.“After an injury, I came to work here part time and built myFOOD & DININGRebecca Belton has only been the headchef at the Redwood for a short time, buther style is already turning heads. Wemeet with her to discuss her influencesand to get a taste of summer with some ofher culinary creations.Tastes forsummerTastes forsummer078-079:Layout 1 20/5/13 11:23 Page 1way back up and I feelI’ve proven myself. I’m nowcatering manager which means I’mrunning everything from the kitchen tocostings and sourcing ingredients. It’shard work, but very rewarding when youget positive comments back fromcustomers or online. On Trip Advisor,we’ve moved up to the second place forthe area in the space of a month recentlyso that’s great news.”Talking of her influences, Rebecca tendsto rely on her gut feeling, “I tend to putthings together that complement eachother or look good on the eye. I’m intodesserts and so James Martin is someone IFOOD & DININGLamb marinated in garlic, lemon and rosemaryThis recipe is for Rebecca’s delicious marinated Lamb is served with new potatoes, mangetout, green beans and tomatoes.Ingredients:4 Lamb Chop1 Lemon2 Stalks of Rosemary1 Clove of Garlic (crushed)50mls Olive OilSeasoningPut the lamb into a bowl with the crushed clove of garlic, peel the zest of the lemon and cut thelemon into quarters, removing the rosemary leaves from the stalk. Add salt and pepper and olive oil,mix the lamb into the marinade cover and fridge for 2 to 3 hours or overnight to intensify the flavour.100g mange tout150g baby corn100g fine beans200g of sweet vine cherry tomatoes12 new potatoes2 small red onions200mls balsamic vinegarMethod:Pre heat oven to 180C. Seal off the lamb in a hot pan in oil until nicely coloured, then place in the oven for 14 to 16 minutesdepending on how you like it cooked with the cherry tomatoes and red onions cut into quarters.While the lamb is cooking, steam new potatoes and when nearly cooked, add babycorns, mangetout and beans. If you are reducing your own balsamic, place in a pan and reduce by half on amedium heat, remove lamb from oven and leave to rest, removing potatoesand vegetables from the steamer, place in the middle of your plate with vinetomatoes red onions presented round the outside. Slice the lamb and place ontop of the steamed veg, drizzling with balsamic vinegar.The Redwood is at Crowder’s Garden Centreon Lincoln Road, Horncastle, LN9 5LZ. To find out more or to make a booking, log on towww.crowders.co.uk or call 01507 528628.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY79really like. I’m also a fan of GordonRamsey, but perhaps just for his foulmouth rather than being influenced by hiscooking style!”“I tend to try and source localingredients when they are in season, butall our dishes from starters to desserts areseasonal. We recently had a rabbit dish forMother’s Day for example.”What you get from Rebecca is a sense ofknowing what she wants and the lamb dishbelow is full of complex flavours despite atfirst seeming like a familiar staple.Lamb marinated in garlic, lemon androsemary, served with new potatoes,mange tout, green beans and tomatoes. “This dish is great for the summer, youcould even cook the lamb on a barbecueand serve the new potatoes cold for areally great outdoor lunch.”For Rebecca’s recipe for a raspberry andlime meringue ice cream, log ontowww.lincolnshiretoday.net078-079:Layout 1 20/5/13 11:24 Page 2Next >