Showing posts with label Hungerford. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hungerford. Show all posts

Monday, 28 September 2015

Biddy at Luna Boutique

One of the best boutiques in town is also one of Newbury’s best kept secrets.


It’s called Luna and it has become my favourite place to shop when I’m looking for something new to wear because this little boutique is packed with the most exciting range of clothes (and handbags and jewellery) I’ve come across in a long, long time.

Now, I am the first to admit I am a big fan of M&S for lots of basic items (their jeggings have long been making an appearance in my wardrobe) but when I want something a little bit special, a little bit edgy (ooh get me) but don’t want to break the bank, Luna is the place I head for. (The husband might say I head there a little too often …)

Luna opened nearly a year ago and since then I have revamped my wardrobe with some very stylish but easy-to-wear pieces. There is lots I like about Luna:
  • The way the clothes are racked by colour, so you can head for your favourites and find lots of different styles and designs in varying shades. (Though having said that, do try other colours too … I’m usually one for muted taupes and greys but surprised myself discovering how much coral suits me.)
  • The chic Italian/French influence. Luna stocks a great range of different fashion houses, and many of their pieces have a little twist that makes them a little bit different, a little bit unusual – maybe a polka-dot pocket on a plain top, or striped sleeves on a plain tunic, or an asymmetric hemline.
  • The sizing. Very cleverly, much of what Luna stocks is in a one-size-fits-all sizing system – and believe me it really does, thanks to the fluidity of many of their styles. I’ve been in there with a friend who is a very different body shape to me (she has the curves I was never blessed with, but my legs are a lot longer!) and the same item looks good on us both. Amazing!
  • The prices. When I first went into Luna I had to look twice at the price tags – and for all the right reasons. With such unusual, original pieces, I was expecting them to be at a much higher price point. Picking up a top, for example, for around £35–£45 that you won’t see everyone else wearing is good news in my book.
  • The regularly changing stock. Luna only stocks two or three of each item, and quite often these are in different colours. So I know the chances of me seeing someone else wearing my fab new jumper are slim. And once the pieces are gone, that’s it … so my advice is: if you see it and like it, buy it, because it’s unlikely to be there next week.
  • The staff. Without exception they are friendly and helpful, always glad to suggest, advise and comment when you are trying on (endlessly patient, and happy for me to try on as many things as I want, however long it takes).
Autumn is here: I’ve just packed away my summer dresses until next year and can hardly wait to wear my new poncho, courtesy of Luna. If you are in need of some stylish new items now that weather is turning cooler, I really recommend you give Luna a try.

There’s only one thing left to tell you … what makes Luna secret is that it is tucked away behind Costa in Parkway. The perfect post-Luna coffee stop! 

Biddy x

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

Hungerford Food Festival

Hungerford Food Festival - Sunday 4 October 2015

With over 50 stalls, sizzling street food and the buzz of live cooking demonstrations, this year's Hungerford Food Festival 11am - 3.30pm Sunday 4 October promises to be another inspiring celebration of local and seasonal fare.

This year's demonstrator chefs will include best-selling What's for Dinner? cookbook author and head of the Honesty Food Group, Romilla Arber; Head Chef of Blandys@Inglewood Gert Pienaar and leftovers queen Ilja Harvey for Love Food, Hate Waste.

As usual there will be plenty for local foodies to do. Come and test your ingredient knowledge (as well as your flexibility...) on the Young Farmer's Food Challenge version of Twister. Get your pinny on and enter the Hungerford Cook-Off or take up Barney's Pumpkin Challenge: last year local head gardener Barney Barnes displayed the largest pumpkin of his crop which weighed in at a whopping 95.5 kilos. Can you beat Barney this year? More details on how to enter our competitions can be found on www.hungerfordfoodfestival.com.


Local and award-winning food and drink producers will offer a tempting array of fresh produce, local meat and game, pies, beer, cider and wine, rapeseed oil, apple juice, honey, mushrooms, cakes, artisan bread and preserves ... with many offering free tasters and samples. And there will be plenty to feast on from Secret Pizza Society's popular wood-fired pizza, Andi's Finest German sausage and T.H.Burrough's burgers to Mrs B's saucy salads, Hog Crackle hog roast and Asian street food.

Hungerford Food Festival is proud to be part of British Food Fortnight and is kindly sponsored by Doves Farm, Audley Inglewood and Cobbs Farmshop.

Entry only £1 for adults (U16s free).

For more information please visit www.hungerfordfoodfestival.com or contact 01488 648534 or hungerfordfoodfestival@gmail.com