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Venue & Location Spotlight: Be inspired by our selection of river and sea view venues. A walk to the river or sea in between meetings can boost energy levels and enhance passion, views are also stunning at all these unique spots. Make the most of nature at your next event.

Captain’s Club Hotel, Christchurch, Dorset

The Captain’s Club Hotel is located on the banks of the picturesque River Stour in Dorset and is a luxurious and contemporary hotel boasting panoramic river views. As well as the enviable position, the surrounding peace will ensure full concentration is maintained throughout any meeting. Current offers include a day meeting or residential conference in April through to November 2009 at a special rate of £40 (reduced from £65) per daily delegate (based on a minimum of 8 delegates) and with free views of the river!

www.captainsclubhotel.com Wick Ferry, Wick Lane, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1HU

The Deck, London

The Deck above the National Theatre offers some of the most impressive views of London. This light, modern structure and its adjoining terrace make the most of this prime location and being up there at an event can only inspire you. The venue can support the following capacities: maximum capacities may be dependent on room set-up but are roughly 90 seated on rounds, 100 theatre style and 120 standing. Drawing inspiration from the National Theatre’s own architecture, The Deck’s size and form echo the building’s rooftop sculptural park of gigantic cubes. Not only is the area synonymous with high culture and the arts, but it is just a five-minute walk from Waterloo Station.

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/thedeck The Deck, National Theatre, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX

Seaham Hall and the Serenity Spa, County Durham

Just outside Durham, this 19 bedroom hotel and leading Spa is the perfect spot for meetings. The beach is a 2 minute walk and is empty - so perfect for jogging or walking. Seaham Hall is also home to a Michelin starred restaurant so your events catering will be spot on. This small gem of a hotel offers the most up to date conference facilities for business meetings in the North East. Light, airy meeting rooms, air conditioning, comfortable chairs, ISDN, 50” plasma screen, ample parking and all the technology you need are included in a price you’d normally pay for
something pretty ordinary.

www.seaham-hall.co.uk Seaham Hall, Lord Byron’s Walk, Seaham, County Durham, SR7 7AG

Karen Hardy Studios, London

The glamorous Chelsea studios are owned and operated by Strictly Come Dancing star Karen Hardy, and offer
professional tuition in all dance disciplines to newcomers and professionals alike, as well as a range of bespoke
corporate events packages for company celebrations, team-building days, client hospitality, and general venue
hire. Karen Hardy Studios is a luxury dance studio space on the banks of the Chelsea Riverside in London.

www.karenhardystudios.com 10/11 The Boulevard, Imperial Wharf, London, SW6 2UB

The Samling, Windermere, Cumbria

A few hundred feet above one of the most beautiful lakes in Britain beckons a small gem of a hotel. It’s called The Samling. The Samling is one of those houses you wish was yours. And it can be, in its entirety. For a day, for a week, for however long you want, you and your guests can have the run of this beautiful hideaway with its garden and sixty seven acre estate.

Ideal for conferences and corporate events, The Samling can cater for a discreet gathering of the board, a corporate
reward or a motivational weekend. It has a meeting room which can seat up to fourteen people, a breakout area and all the technology a forward-thinking company would expect. The 11 bedrooms are all individually designed.
Sheep herding activities can also be arranged and are a great bonding activity.

www.thesamlinghotel.co.uk The Samling, Ambleside Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1LR

Due South, Brighton

At Brighton restaurant Due South the views are rather special. Due South is fully licensed to hold weddings and civil partnerships – so you can tie the knot right here on Brighton beach. The restaurant is between Brighton’s piers in a restored Victorian archway with a beachside sun terrace. The restaurant is also available for private parties & functions seating up to 50 guests. To celebrate the official start of British summertime head chef Michael Bremner has launched his fun and summery ‘Delights of the Beach’ menu.

www.duesouth.co.uk 139 Kings Road Arches, Brighton Beach, BN1 2FN

The Vine Hotel – Funchal, Madeira

The Vine is part of the evolving story of Madeira as a destination, and offers a new generation of visitors to
the island a dynamic luxury five-star hotel experience with some truly unique views. A new hotel on a beautiful island in the centre of the island’s capital – Funchal, The Vine won’t remain a secret for too long.

The Vine Hotel’s meeting spaces include a conference/meeting room with space for up to 100 people with
translation, concierge and secretarial services. Facilities available include high-speed wireless Internet access, DVD players, dual-telephone lines with conference call capabilities and fax machines.

There are also rooms available for smaller group meetings. The gourmet restaurant and rooftop pool and bar area are both a wonderful setting for small group events. The 79 bedrooms are simply divine and unique, as stylish as they come.

You can’t fail here – from the rooms to the restaurant to the views…this is a hotel that will be talked about for many years to come as a must visit for business and leisure breaks. It just oozes cool and sophisticated.

www.hotelthevine.com 3.5 hours from London to Funchal Rua dos Aranhas, 27ª, 9000 044, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, Tel: +351 2691 009 000

Halen Môn is a Welsh sea salt sensation which has caught the attention of chefs and food lovers across the world. A different gift ideal for gourmet lovers. Sea salt flavours include Oak Smoked and Organic Celery.

• www.seasalt.co.uk 01248 430 871
• £7.00 for 5×10g tube

Read

The Modern Vegetarian is the only book on the market that treats vegetarians as foodies – this is food that will stop you in your tracks. Maria Elia has created recipes full of sensational flavours, colours and textures. Learn how to smoke an aubergine over a gas flame, which you can then turn into a curry, or mash and mix with potato, griddle, roll in dukkah and wrap around mozzarella; grill with miso, Japanese style; or blitz into a Mediterranean salad.

• The Modern Vegetarian by Maria Elia is published by Kyle Cathie, priced £16.99.
• Readers can buy the book at the special price of £12.99 inc free p&p (UK mainland only).
• To order your copy, ring: 01903 828503, quoting ref. KC PA/MV, or email: mailorders@lbsltd.co.uk

Drink

Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages 2007. This delicious wine is particularly good as a summer gift to enjoy slightly chilled
outdoors or on a fresh spring day, on its own or with summer salads, cheeses and light dishes. The fresh, juicy cherry
fruit characters leave an appealing flavour lingering.

From £8.05 at Tesco, Budgens, Booths, Waitrose, Matthew Clark and www.everywine.co.uk

Cook

Farrington Oils Mellow Yellow. This looks great and tastes even better. It’s an unusual artisan oil containing Mellow
Yellow cold pressed rapeseed oil – great for cooking with.

Available at Waitrose and Sainsburys stores nationwide

Product

Stylish and contemporary, new CitiZ machines provide affordable luxury for urban coffee lovers. Nespresso, the leading innovator in luxury portioned coffee has launched a new range of machines for the style-conscious city dweller. Influenced by city life and urban culture, the Nespresso CitiZ is inspired by the landscape and ambience of major global cities and is aimed at those who appreciate affordable quality in every aspect of their busy lives. Nespresso CitiZ&Co (pictured) is the first of its kind, this machine allows the user to make two coffees simultaneously, perfect for those who enjoy entertaining, or the city-living couple who want to enjoy their coffee together.

0800 442 442 and www.Nespresso.com or visit Selfridges department stores nationwide

Gift

Culpeper Garden Trug. From a company that started in 1927 with a philosophy of ‘A life inspired by herbs’, Culpeper have sown many seeds. The perfect gift for garden lovers is the Culpeper Garden Trug Set which includes Garden Mustard Bath Salts 225g, Garden Warming Muscle Rub 60ml and a 200g Garden Soap packaged beautifully in a traditional wooden trug.

Their new Garden Range is out now. Priced at £25.00, Culpeper stores nationwide or visit www.culpeper.co.uk

Eat

Sharrow Bay Sticky Toffee Pudding. Sharrow Bay has always been famed for its desserts; originally known as
‘icky sticky toffee sponge’ the hotel invented sticky toffee pudding in the 1970’s. If there is a pudding to die
for this is it. One of history’s best kept secrets, it can now be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home.

From £6.99 at www.sharrowbay.co.uk or at Harvey Nichols stores

Eat

Godiva Chocolatier introduces Limited Edition Truffes Dessert. Godiva Chocolatier has produced the finest chocolate truffles for 80 years, incorporating their rich Belgian chocolate-making craftsmanship with innovation and flair. Indulge in Godiva’s new limited edition Truffes Dessert Collection; six sensational truffles, reflecting Godiva’s longstanding heritage for the utmost craftsmanship and innovation in chocolate. Look out for the Truffe Crème Brûlée – an exquisite blend of caramelised vanilla crème, enrobed in a white chocolate shell and sprinkled with brown sugar. Yum!

For Godiva stockists please call 020 7734 8113 or visit www.godiva.be

There are 2 main Detox options including the harder more devoted ‘Total Detox’ and the milder ‘Relaxed Diet’. Both programmes guarantee benefits. However to make it that bit easier late May sees the launch of the Royal Detox at the stunning Royal Crescent Hotel’s Bath House spa in Bath.

The hotel known for luxury and relaxation will introduce the Royal Detox using the Lemon Detox and a combination of Spa treatments spread over 3 days to introduce the body to the detox throughout the most difficult first few days.

DON’T assume this is a diet – it isn’t. While significant weight loss is a natural by-product of any real detox, the primary reason for doing The Lemon Detox should be to cleanse the body of toxins which eventually gives you a better fitness perspective.

www.lemondetox.com
www.royalcrescent.co.uk

Start as you mean to go on: Breakfast: Plan to eat a serving or two of fruit with breakfast every day. Mix it up so you don’t get bored.

Smart Snacks: Get added energy from fruit and/or vegetable snacks. The carbohydrates in fruit and vegetables are great sources of energy. Combine them with a serving of protein - say cheese.

Break 1 rule: Add more to your fruit and vegetable servings. As the recommended servings of fruit and vegetables can be small just add more - this is good for you.

Get Seasonal: Try a new fruit, vegetable, or recipe. Our bodies enjoy and need variety. So set a goal to
try something different each week. You may find a new passion in something you would never normally try. One good way to get variety is to eat the fruit and vegetables that are in season.

Beautcamp Pilates is one of the latest fitness fads to come out of Hollywood and was introduced to the London public by Dominique Day who runs two studios, one in the City and one in West London. Beautcamp Pilates, unlike normal mat-based Pilates, is dynamic and a state of the art contraption called a reformer with pulleys and springs is used. It promises to realign the spine, lengthen and tone the body, improve overall posture and it is also great for achieving that flat, taut stomach that we all covet as your core muscles are continuously engaged throughout the work.

The instructor was very hands-on and kept correcting us which is very reassuring, especially if you are a newcomer. If you are a fan of Pilates but would like to be challenged and try something a bit more vigorous and effective, this is definitely worth a try and as it also incorporates weights you definitely work up a sweat.

On a slightly negative note, some people may be put-off by the prices with a single peak class costing a whopping £25. However, the first class is complimentary and if you book 20 classes it will set you back £14 per class while there is also the option of an early bird class which costs £12. The toilet facilities could do with a make-over but on the whole it was a positive experience and one that I can recommend.

Contact: Dominique Day
Address: The Colonnades, 34 Porchester Road, South Suite,
First Floor, London W2 6ES. 020 7034 0000 Email: info@beautcamppilates.co.uk

Unit 10 (Basement), 10-50 Willow Street, London EC2A
4BH 020 7739 1130 Email: city@beautcamppilates.co.uk
www.beautcamppilates.co.uk

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Spring is finally here, so what better time for a thorough spring clean? However if rubber gloves and Mr Muscle aren’t what you had in mind, why not start with something easier such as a spring clean of your working day?

Matt Watson from Filofax, brand leaders in personal organisation, shares some tips and tricks to streamline 
your working day, and leave more time to do the fun 
things after work.

Time management has been very much the buzzword for several years. But if things were that easy we would all work strict office hours, take an hour for lunch, and never miss a deadline. There are some easy steps that you can take to make your day more productive – they’re not hard and fast rules, and not all of them may fit with your particular job, so adapt them to your personal working style and environment.At the beginning of the week write a list of objectives and deadlines – this may sound obvious, or you may think that writing lists is a sign of impending old age, but it really does help. And the action of physically writing something down, rather than typing it, is thought to ingrain it more into your memory. It is helpful to have an organiser or diary with a blank notes page opposite your week’s schedule – if not, insert a loose blank page into your diary.

Every morning, take 10 minutes out to plan your day, rather than diving head-first into your inbox. But don’t over-do it – we’ve all fallen into the trap of spending hours creating elaborate time plans with carefully shaded boxes (remember school revision timetables?).

Don’t take on too much – be realistic and only prioritise 2-3 important tasks per day of the week – there is nothing worse than being confronted with a never-ending To Do list, as tasks can easily get lost. Transfer the ‘A list’ tasks into the relevant day in your diary, and then keep the ‘B list’ tasks for the week on a page next to your diary.

Your body and brain has a natural in-built rhythm and chemical balance which makes certain tasks easier at different times during the day. Wake your brain up with repetitive tasks first thing in the morning, move onto analytical areas before midday, then creative work is best after lunch.

Avoid distraction – that little yellow envelope at the bottom of your screen announcing new email doesn’t mean drop everything and check your inbox. The chances are it will be a ‘hilarious’ joke from the boys in accounts, or an update from your Facebook page. Try to restrict checking your inbox to once every 10 minutes.

Last thing on Friday, before your brain switches off from work mode, write a list of things to remember for the following week.

In an ideal world, if you could stick to the above rules your life would be a lot easier. But inevitably you will get requests from colleagues that do not fit into your daily plan. You can deal with this in one of two ways – confirm a deadline, or say no.

Confirming a deadline establishes just how urgent a request is. How often have you dropped everything to complete a last minute request, only to then find that the so-called ‘urgent’ report you slaved over has been languishing in your colleague’s in-tray for a week? Establish just how urgent the request really is, and try to fit it into your plan.

Alternatively, be prepared to say “no” to requests that will prevent you from achieving your objectives. But learn to say no in an acceptable way – be assertive, rather than aggressive (getting a reputation as the stroppy one in the office isn’t going to win you many friends).

If you don’t want to bite the bullet and say “no” (and there are obviously going to be situations where you can’t), explain that you could start the new task, but changing your schedule will delay another piece of work, and ask your colleague to make that decision. Confirm the conversation by email if necessary to avoid any future repercussions.

Finally, if you know you are going to unavoidably miss a deadline, deal with it before the time. Nobody’s perfect, deadlines are often flexible, but you run less of a risk of annoying the person that is waiting for your work if you give them fair warning it is going to be late.

Hopefully by applying some of these tips, you’ll be able to speed through your workload and leave the office at a reasonable time! But we’d love to know your top time-saving tips – simply email your tip and your details to competitions@filofax.co.uk by 31st May and the best ten tips will win a Filofax Finsbury personal organiser in raspberry grained leather.

For a whole variety of ways to brighten up your desk, and get organised in the process, visit www.filofax.co.uk.