< Previous50 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY The atmosphere is outstanding at this quaint village pub-restaurant with its delightful stone framed log burners and décor, somewhere between rustic and shabby chic. It’s immediately inviting and stepping inside for the first time, it was clear that The Red Lion has a special place in the community. As well as new owners, there’s also a new menu to get excited about with its weekly specials, extensive choice and locally-sourced food all made in-house by chef Mark. When I say everything’s made in-house, I mean literally everything, right down to the chutneys. Each meal is truly a celebration of local produce. To start, I tucked into the tandoori dusted battered calamari. Though it wasn’t the first time I’d eaten calamari, it was the first time I’d seen it presented in such a unique way. A skewered slice of lemon allowed the squid rings to be stacked in a tower, making it look elegant and ensuring they all stayed crispy. It was served with a mango ketchup and raita and all those potent Indian flavours really highlighted the squid. The creamy garlic mushrooms and chorizo bruschetta caught my partner’s eye, and who can blame him? This was a hearty, flavoursome dish that ticked all the right boxes. The velvety sauce was rich and creamy, with that smoky peppery hit from the Spanish sausage. And with the addition of The Red Lion’s homemade bread, it was truly a delightful start to the evening. It’s a good job The Red Lion serves such generous portions as I was feeling ravenous. Selected from the weekly- changing specials board, my pan-fried rib eye steak strips served with a luxurious Diane sauce was the perfect winter dish. The rich and creamy flavours were not overwhelming and paired well with the accompanying seasonal vegetables. I really have to mention the mashed potatoes here, which may just be the best I’ve ever had. Keeping things traditional, my partner opted for the beer battered haddock with hand cut chips, salad and mushy peas. In his own words, this was a beautiful piece of white fish cooked perfectly with “proper” chips. The home-made tartar sauce was a highlight that we both would have happily eaten off the spoon. After two fabulous courses, I knew dessert was going to be something special. My baked banana and salted caramel cheesecake did not disappoint. I can’t praise apprentice chef Cam here enough. This was decadent, indulgent and absolute bliss. My partner’s chocolate mint torte was not only delicious but was beautifully presented on the plate. RED LION INN, CAYTHORPE Located in the picturesque village of Caythorpe between Lincoln and Grantham, The Red Lion is a charming pub-restaurant offering superb food and a real community spirit. Now under new ownership, we stopped in to sample the new menu. Trust me when I say you’ll want to visit The Red Lion for yourself. To book a table, visit www.redlioncaythorpe.org.uk, email info@redlioncaythorpe.org.uk, or call 01400 272632. THE Now taking Christmas Fayre bookings 2 Courses - £22.50 3 Courses - £25.00 44-50.qxp_Layout 1 14/10/2019 13:03 Page 7LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 51 WEDDINGS Winter weddings are perfect for the couple that wants to stand out, or just to show their wilder side – and with many people proposing during the holiday period, it can be a great way of remembering the moment. © Shutterstock/Wedding and lifestyle 53 Á Winter weddings 51-57.qxp_Layout 1 14/10/2019 11:43 Page 152 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 7 Chain Lane, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 1AU 01636 703511 l fashions@jane-young.co.uk l jane-young.co.uk Stunning styles & expert advice for the big day Home to one of the UK’s best Mother of the Bride collections Personal one-to-one service | Comfortable and relaxed surroundings | In-house alterations service Please contact us if you have an enquiry or would like a quote: Tel: 01522 528708 enquiries@pyewipe.co.uk www.pyewipe.co.uk The Pyewipe, Saxilby Road, Lincoln LN1 2BG Welcome to the Pyewipe, set alongside the picturesque Roman Fossedyke Canal The Pyewipe was first licensed in 1788 trading on the Fossedyke as a Barging Inn. Today with its canal side setting, acres of mature trees, Big Hat Tipis, 21 en-suite rooms including a four poster bridal suite included in your package, and ample free car parking, makes the ideal setting for your big day. Not to mention you have the option to arrive in style on a boat if you so desire; an ideal stage to create memories that will last forever. Here at the Pyewipe we are the first location in the UK to be offering the Big Hat Wedding with an all inclusive package, from Tipi hire, to the food and beverage all in once place bought together to create a special once in a lifetime atmosphere set amongst the spectacular background of the Fossedyke Canal. With offering the Tipis and Catering all in one package you can have that special day within a budget making your dream wedding a reality without the usual exaggerated costs associated with outside catering. To make the most of your wedding with us why not book an appointment with one of our advisors to discuss the details of your big day. The Pyewipe Tipi Hire! 51-57.qxp_Layout 1 14/10/2019 11:43 Page 2LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 53 WEDDINGS © Harvey and Harvey Photography / Caroline Chamberlain Couture Bridal Studio It’s surely one of the most romantic moments you can get – the final present under the Christmas tree is the smallest of them all, but when you open it, it’s accompanied by your partner going down on one knee. As winter approaches, this may well be the future for some happy couples, or perhaps they’ve already decided and are planning the wedding. Either way, winter makes a spectacular backdrop for a wedding. It’s not just the snow and scenery, but also the dimmer light. Yet if you thought organising Christmas was a challenge, imagine the equivalent of an entire festive season crammed into 24 hours, attended by almost everyone you know and – with a bit of luck – something you can’t repeat twelve months later. Planning a wedding has been likened to a military operation and certainly you’ll need your wits about you to make sure it’s a day that sticks in the memory for all the right reasons, but that doesn’t mean the planning can’t be great fun in its own right. Lots of that is thanks to Lincolnshire being home to a host of fabulous venues and wedding experts who have the knowledge and experience to turn your plans into reality. Some people are wary of making use of wedding planners and specialists, though, envisaging that their own views will be marginalised and that they’ll become bit-part players in a standard tried-and-trusted wedding template recycled for every other But that’s almost never the case. The role of a wedding specialist is to help make things happen, not tell you what those things are going to be. Their skill and experience in organising special events mean they have an innate knowledge of what will and won’t work in that context. This mean they’ll be able to let you know if one of your big ideas is likely to be unworkable before you’ve made a commitment to it – or think of a more effective way to do it that will be just as glamorous but less expensive. 55 Á Bridal studio set to open at Engine Yard retail village As the Engine Yard retail village at Belvoir Castle turns one year old, Caroline Chamberlain Couture Bridal Studio has been announced as a new tenant at the multi-million-pound shopping development in the Vale of Belvoir. “In little over 12 months the Engine Yard has grown from a group of newly restored buildings to a vibrant, dynamic and buoyant heart of the community,” says Emma, Duchess of Rutland. “I am delighted to welcome Caroline Chamberlain Couture Bridal Studio.” Opening in Vale House at the Engine Yard in early November, Caroline Chamberlain Couture Bridal Studio is relocating from Lincoln to offer her unique bridal gown design service. Owner, designer and expert seamstress Caroline Chamberlain specialises in one-off, handmade wedding and evening gowns. “I am very excited at the opportunity on offer at the Engine Yard,” she says. “The whole place has a wonderful, warm, welcoming feel and our newly refurbished building provides the perfect environment for relaxing fittings.” For more information, email caroline.chamberlain@yahoo.com. © Harvey and Harvey Photography 51-57.qxp_Layout 1 14/10/2019 11:43 Page 354 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Amongst some of the most truly divine landscapes lies an ultimate fairytale castle, the unique character that Cave Castle possesses makes it possible to ensure that your entire day can be the most special it could be. Cave Castle Hotel & Country Club, Church Hill, South Cave, HU15 2EU 01430 422245 weddings@cavecastlehotel.com www.cavecastlehotel.com On your Wedding Day enjoy the beauty and magic of Cave Castle Deliciously Deliciously Lincolnshire Platinum Awarded for outstanding quality and service by award WWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET T: +44 (0) 1472 872248 E: weddings@oaklandshallhotel.co.uk Oaklands Hall Hotel Barton Street, Laceby, DN37 7LF OAKLANDS WEDDINGS www.oaklandshallhotel.co.uk The perfect backdrop for your big day. Get in touch with one of our Wedding Coordinators and come have a look around our beautiful grounds, choice of 3 function rooms and the perfect spot in our garden for your civil ceremony. Located in the picturesque village of Messingham, North Lincolnshire, Grange Park offers the ideal venue for your wedding and the grounds provide wonderful, romantic scenery for those all-important photographs. Choose Grange Park as your wedding venue and from beginning to end you will be looked after by our in-house wedding coordinator dedicated to making your special day a truly memorable one & our friendly, professional events team will be happy to offer help & advice to ensure your celebration runs smoothly & put together for you a tailor made package. Come & see what hundreds of other couples have experienced over the years; book your appointment with our wedding coordinator today to view the venue and see how perfect a Grange Park wedding really can be. Contact our events co-ordinator for availability and book your special day today! Telephone: 01724 762945 Email: rebecca@grangepark.com 01724 762 945 info@grangepark.com Grange Park, Butterwick Road, Messingham, Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire DN17 3PP Packages from £1845 51-57.qxp_Layout 1 14/10/2019 11:44 Page 4LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 55 WEDDINGS Stunning bespoke bridal boutique without the luxury price tag This year saw Lisa Nash swap the hustle and bustle of Brighton for Grainthorpe Louth to set up her own business venture, Champagne & Lace. Now celebrating her sixth month in business, it’s easy to see her passion for the business. With over 20 years’ experience within the retail sector, Lisa’s ethos is to provide a bespoke luxury experience to each and every bride without the luxury price tag that usually goes with it. Lisa has sourced over 100 stunning off-the-peg designer dresses, offering up to 50% off the RRP. Dresses by Stella York, St Patrick, Sophie Tolli, & Mikaella are just some of the designers currently in stock and, as of January 2020, Champagne & Lace will become a stockist of dresses from designer Jennifer Wren. There is also a range of accessories including veils, belts, & tiaras to accompany that perfect look for each and every bride to be. For more Information visit www.champagneandlace.co.uk. One absolutely vital role for the wedding planner is that of an impartial voice. It’s likely that it won’t just be the happy couple-to-be who’ll have ideas about what they want to see on the big day but also their friends and, especially, their immediate family, and they won’t be shy in pitching them. Often it can be hard for unsuitable ideas to be rejected without looking as if you’re favouring one side over the other, which can cause tension, but the wedding specialist can offer their unbiased opinion on why they won’t be able to do everything they wanted. Best of all, the wedding specialists can do all the Is and cross all the Ts during the build-up while leaving you to look after the more interesting aspects. Certainly, deciding on the dress, the menu and the entertainment can be great fun and you’ll certainly want to keep control of those aspects. But what about the tedious business of making sure all the entertainment licences are up to date, or that the caterers have all the facilities they need? They’re vital aspects of ensuring the day can run smoothly but they’re not always the most fun, so the wedding specialist can take care of those mundane aspects while you concentrate on the bits that require your input. Certainly, there are plenty of things to consider when you’re planning your big day – and there are almost as many types of wedding as there are venues in Lincolnshire. The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that the highest number of marriages in England and Wales is between men and women aged 25 to 29, while the biggest increase in recent years comes from men aged 45 to 49 and women aged 30 to 34. This is certainly a change from a generation or so ago when you would almost always get married much earlier in life and this 5 7 Á © Mallory Dawn / Belle And Bouquet 51-57.qxp_Layout 1 14/10/2019 11:44 Page 5Lincolnshire Airsoft Club © is a friendly, enthusiastic and professionally run Open Club. That means you do not need to be a member to play! An exciting idea for Stag and Hen Dos. Our aims are twofold: 1. To provide challenging and rewarding Airsoft. 2. Have fun. For further details: Tel: 07775 877057 or visit: www.lincolnshireairsoftclub.co.uk FOLLOW US ON 56 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY Horncastle Cake Art & Hobby House Everything for the Crafter Cake Decorations, Knitting, Crochet, Felt, Ribbons & more www.horncastlecakeart.co.uk 25 North Street, Horncastle, Lincs. LN9 5DX Tel: 01507 525926/522659 53 Bargate, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN34 5AD Tel: 01472 356068 • www.millfieldshotel.co.uk Packages start from £2500.00 Included:- • Package price based on 60 day guests • 80 evening guests • Room Hire • Table Linen • Chair Covers & Sashes • Candelabras on each Table Situated by the first fairway of the Bracken course at the National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa – home of the English Golf Union, The Dower House Hotel is an elegant and intimate country house hotel, full of character and charm! SUNDAY LUNCH Nothing evokes more memories or gets the taste buds tingling like the smell of roasting meat, Yorkshire pudding, freshly made gravy and lets not forget roast potatoes. Sunday lunch at The Dower House Hotel is a wonderful family experience. Every Sunday, 12pm till 2pm. AFTERNOON TEA The Dower House, serve delicious afternoon teas, including a Festive Afternoon Tea available throughout December. Served Monday – Thursday, 2pm - 4.30pm. Choose from a selection of traditional teas or something a little different. The Dower House is a delightful setting for your wedding, providing exclusivity and ceremony’s in the beautiful grounds, and function rooms. A unique venue to celebrate a special occasion or hold an event. Whether it’s a wedding, leisure or business, the attentive service and attention to detail is second to none. We have 21 wonderfully spacious bedrooms, include 2 suites, all individually decorated to the very highest stands. Deliciously Deliciously Lincolnshire Platinum Awarded for outstanding quality and service by award WWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET LIGHT LUNCHES Our light lunches are all cooked fresh to order, using the best ingredients available. So, if you fancy lunch with friends or somewhere quiet to talk business with colleagues and enjoy a great meal you know where to come… We serve lunch on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12pm – 2pm. 51-57.qxp_Layout 1 14/10/2019 11:44 Page 6Museum Boston’s beautiful, medieval Guildhall can be the setting for your special day. Have your ceremony in the stunning banqueting hall, used for centuries for celebrations and have your photographs taken in any of our wonderful historic rooms. For more information please contact us ticboston@boston.gov.uk www.bostonguildhall.co.uk South Street, Boston, PE21 6HT (01205) 365954 Boston Guildhall Museum @bostonguildhall For more information please contact us guildhall@boston.gov.uk www.bostonguildhall.co.uk South Street, Boston, PE21 6HT (01205) 365954 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 57 WEDDINGS © Shutterstock/Dmytro Kapitonenko change, combined with the increase in those getting married for a second time, means people have more money to spend on their big day and are more interested in something different. The number of weddings that are taking place in England and Wales has actually gone up in recent years – albeit from a particularly low base – with an increase of 3.7% in the latest figures, though this is countered with a similar decrease in those getting married abroad. The increased options might also have something to do with it, too, and a change in the law means it’s now possible to get married at any time of the day or night. This was already the case in Scotland but now England are no longer limiting events to daylight hours. If you think it might be more romantic to enjoy a late evening wedding, you now have the option, though the various local authorities continue to have the final say. In Lincolnshire, most are offering it on a trial basis. By taking advantage of the skill and knowledge of the co- ordinators and planners at Lincolnshire’s top venues, you can be sure that a day you’ve been looking forward to for many years will live long in the memory for all the right reasons. Exclusive flagship collections arrives at Belle & Bouquet As Elite stockists of Enzoani, Belle & Bouquet offers the epiphany of sophisticated elegance designed and constructed to perfection making the fit of an Enzoani gown second to none. They are also inspired by modern romantics, big adventures and happy surprises with the classic romance collection from Maggie Sottero designs. As platinum stockists, Belle & Bouquet aim to create graceful and enduring bridal looks with a fresh and couture aesthetic. Whether your wedding is inspired by the rustic woodland theme, small informal or country elegance, Belle & Bouquet have the perfect wedding gown to suit your bridal style. They are also proud stockist of Ronald Joyce and Dessy along with a wide range of flower girl dresses, shoes, veils, tiaras and jewellery. Set in the beautiful Wellingore Hall, relax and enjoy the Belle & Bouquet experience. Call 01522 811122 and make your appointment to from a trusted RBA member. 51-57.qxp_Layout 1 14/10/2019 11:44 Page 758 LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY N umbers and quality of our churches are such that any article about them must be limited to a few examples and even when looking at just fenland churches we have to be selective. I am therefore concentrating on seven to the east of Spalding stretching in a line towards the Norfolk border, starting in Weston and ending in Long Sutton. One extraordinary thing about the seven churches we shall visit is that apart from Holbeach and Moulton, both All Saints, they are all dedicated to St Mary. Furthermore six of the seven (Fleet being the exception) receive starred entries in Simon Jenkins England’s Thousand Best Churches whilst Henry Thorold, Nikolaus Pevsner and Arthur Mee all praise them as amongst Lincolnshire’s best. So, for fans of church architecture, they provide a wonderful day’s tour. When I visited only one was closed (Weston) but the key was available from the local shop. Most have guides; Whaplode’s and Long Sutton’s being particularly informative. We begin therefore in Weston at St Mary’s, greeted by a thatched lytchegate, a mounting block and a churchyard cross. Described by Thorold as “precious” we find a tower in the Perpendicular style but much of the rest is “perfect Early English”. Entering by a beautiful arcaded porch, once inside we find that although undergoing restorations (the first by Sir George Gilbert Scott) in 1860-1863 and 1882-1885 much of antiquity remains. Unusually the pillars in the nave are round on the south side and octagonal to the north, all with a wealth of stiff leaf (foliage) carving around the capitals. There is a C13th font with more foliage carving. Moulton’s ancient parish dates back to Saxon times when the Wapentake (court) met at the nearby Elloe Stone. Away from the main A17 road All Saints stands by the village green where its soaring tower and spire compete with Lincolnshire’s tallest windmill just yards away down the High Street. The church, begun about 1180AD took some 60 years to build. The tower is one of Lincolnshire’s finest with square pinnacles and flying buttresses to the crocketed spire that rises to 165 feet. Inside the nave’s massive rounded pillars confirm the church’s early Norman origins. This is accompanied by C12th arcades all topped by an Early English clerestory. Amongst Moulton’s treasures are a C14th Easter sepulchre and a font of 1830 supposedly inspired by one in London carved by Grinling Gibbons. Amongst the many images thereon are Adam and Eve and the Tree of Knowledge. Only two miles away, and again, hidden FENLAND CHURCHES One rich aspect of Lincolnshire’s heritage is its wealth of churches many of which are in the Fens. heritage Lincolnshire explored 58-59.qxp_Layout 1 14/10/2019 11:45 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 59 from the A17, we find St Mary’s, Whaplode surrounded by a huge churchyard; park-like in its dimensions. Like countless churches St Mary’s displays many architectural styles with Norman, Transitional, Early English and Decorated work in evidence. It is a big church too with a nave 100 feet in length and clear glass everywhere keeps it all light. Here too we have our first (almost) detached tower only just attached to a south aisle, and unusually at the southeast corner. There is a rare pre-Norman altar stone, a survival from the Reformation, having been removed from the church and found centuries later in a local dyke. The highlight however is the magnificent, columned and highly coloured tomb to Sir Anthony Irby, his wife and family dating from the 1600’s. (There’s an extremely detailed guidebook!) Moving on our second All Saints is in Holbeach, another large church which dominates the centre of this historic market town. (Its market charter dates from 1252AD.) It is largely of the Decorated style. Apart from the slender, broach spire rising to 180 feet, the most striking external feature is the north porch flanked by two round towers (possibly from Moulton castle) with an upper room that was a school until 1811. There are Last Supper and Ascension windows and some restorations took place in the 1860’s, 1870’s and 1880’s. St Mary Magdelene, Fleet, visible from the main road but best approached by back lanes from Holbeach, is a special pleasure and surprise in this flat countryside tucked away behind some cottages. There is a massive detached tower crowned with flying buttressed spire totalling some 120 feet in height with some fine gargoyles below the parapet. In spite of restorations in the 1790’s and 1860 the exterior remains of the Decorated period. Inside note even more beautiful figures carved as the corbels of the timber roof plus a Royal Arms of 1698 and a well-preserved funeral bier. Again, back lanes avoid the busy A17 to reach another St Mary Magdalene at Gedney, often referred to as the “cathedral of the fens”. It is “one of the grandest – sailing like a ship at sea” according to Thorold. The 86 feet high tower has a C13th base with C15th upper masonry and was restored in 1933. Both the porch and the chancel are C14th so the architecture spans the Early English and Perpendicular styles. Inside all is space and light, much helped by the twelve glorious clerestory windows. Amongst the stained glass is a “Jesse” window. The font base is dated 1664 and the pulpit is only forty years or so younger. And finally, we reach the magnificent St Mary’s, Long Sutton; a “marvel of Lincolnshire” to quote Thorold again. It’s another town centre church towering over the Market Place. And here the 162 feet high tower is the main feature if interest. Offset to the southwest, and again detached, it dates from the early 1300’s. Both it and the massive corner pinnacles are covered with geometric lead panelling that according to Arthur Mee is “renowned as the oldest and most perfect example of its kind”. The interior is mostly late Norman. by Hugh Marrows 58-59.qxp_Layout 1 14/10/2019 11:45 Page 2Next >