Happy Winter Solstice & a look ahead to 2024
Today is the start of the Winter Solstice and Luke and I will be dipping in the Lyme bay later to celebrate the longest night and look forward to the days becoming lighter and lighter from now on. It’s a time when we want to hibernate, to bunker down with fairy lights, fires and candles lit, movies on and a sense of stillness. But also, and this is why I love the Winter Solstice, we celebrate Spring coming back and the first signs of darkness leaving. This is one of my favourite photos of our outdoor feating table in Spring, showing the lush greenery surrounding it, and the way how being at High Grange means being totally immersed in the tranquility of nature.
Last Minute Gifting!
You’ve missed the last date for posting hard copy vouchers but you can still buy vouchers to be sent by email for you to print off at home. We have Money Vouchers from £25, Takeaway vouchers at £40, Signature Feast vouchers at £85 or Fire School vouchers at £225.
You can also buy tickets for an event - if your recipient prefers another date we can happily transfer them!
WHAT’S ON IN 2024
Our 2024 calendar is taking shape nicely. We’ve been catering for lots of private events and we’ve had some fantastic feedback (take a look here if you have a celebration coming up!) and Luke is producing some brilliant recipes and photo shoots as ambassador fo the ceramic Kamado Joe barbecues and Vulcanus Grills. We’ll be sharing those reels on our social media pages.
We have a decadent Feast scheduled every month from our Burns night in January to July (more to be added once we’ve worked out our wedding catering schedule for August!) and we plan to add Fire Suppers into the mix during the warmer summer months. We have Fire Schools scheduled and we are adding more events to our Wellbeing ‘24 series…
We also have our brilliant new woodland bar which means bigger and better events - watch this space!
And finally, we’re turning our mind to sustainability, with a new policy and aims for the future in terms of reducing waste, using renewable energy and maintaining our beautiful woodland. Take a look at our plans.
SPECIAL EVENTS COMING UP…
We love to collaborate with local businesses and are really looking forward to this one with our friends Giselle and Ed of the Strawberry Tree in Lyme. Luke has created a delicious Galician Feast menu to be served at their beautiful venue, and the Strawberry Tree will add drinks and nibbles as well as a traditional ceremony, much like a Spanish Burns night.
2nd February - Galician Feast with Spanish restaurant Strawberry Tree in Lyme Regis. The evening includes ‘Queimada’, a flaming Galician boozy punch, a traditional reading to honour the punch, a tapa appetiser and petit fours on top of the pop-up menu that Luke is bringing to the party. It’s sure to be a fun evening, and costs £45pp. Read more about it here. Please call Strawberry Tree or email us to book.
25th January - Burns Night. On the birthday of the Bard, we’ll be coming together in our Shippen for drams of whisky, Luke’s home-made haggis, veg from the garden, Ode to the Haggis, our bagpiper Jean, and HG Cranachan with a twist. This is our favourite night of the year and is almost sold out - we can squeeze 2 more in if you’d like to join!
WELLBEING AT HIGH GRANGE
Sara recently gained her Level 3 in Counselling and has really enjoyed building on our wellbeing support. Anxiety levels are through the roof this year and she’s been focusing on talks and classes she loves that helps, with a focus on regulating our nervous systems, and inspiring us to reach our full potential.
We are starting off in January with a Vision Board Workshop by Helen Langdon. Claire Quick is coming to offer techniques on how to combat feelings of overwhelm, and then Tamara Jones, a local nutritionist with a focus on women’s health, is doing a cookery class on Healthy Eating. These classes start at £25 and are always joyous, convivial occasions which enhance connection in a supportive and safe environment. And pastries!
Lastly we’ve been looking back at 2023 and while it’s so hard to choose, Luke thinks his favourite Feast menu from the year is from our Christmas Feasts - Jerusalem artichoke from the garden, Lyme Bay sea bass and crab curry with prawn crackers and seaweed “crack dust:, ex dairy steak tartare with caviar, roast and sampled goose with quince gravy, and a burnt Basque cheesecake as a nod to our travels to San Sebastian in the Summer.
“If you haven’t been to try his food yet then you really must as it’s amazing!” (this is a quote from one of our regular customers who was at this Feast!).
Whatever you indulge in over this festive time, may it be plentiful! Thank you so much for all of the support to our business this year, we’ve appreciated every mouth fed.
See you in the New Year!
Sara, Luke & Team High Grange x x