We’ve all gone food mad! A recent poll from Kantar Media´s TGI survey revealed that 7.2 million British adults now watch food and cookery TV programmes with the ever popular MasterChef pulling in a record 5.2 million viewers for its series 9 finale earlier this month according to BARB data.

• 7.2 million Britons watch cookery programmes
• Sub-Zero fridge/freezers use NASA technology
• Wolf ovens cut cooking times by 15%

So what is driving this cookery revolution?

Jonathan Cranley, Sales & Marketing Manager at award-winning house builder, Millgate, comments,
“The seemingly endless recession is proving to be a challenge for many with austerity measures trickling from the top down through to everyday life. Eating out has become a luxury with more and more people looking to make their weekly shop go further as well as entertain on a budget at home.
“Preparing food and sitting around the kitchen table has always been at the heart of British family life and just as I grew up watching Fanny Craddock, today’s chefs such as Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsey and Nigella Lawson have become celebrities in their own right, even winning BAFTAs!“
Indeed health-scares such as the use of horsemeat in place of beef has also led to a rise in the home preparation of foods with home ware retailers such as Robert Dyers seeing increased sales of break makers, food processors and even sandwich boxes.
Taking into account the needs and desires of today’s modern families, Millgate places special focus on each and every kitchen in their luxury country homes. Working with expert designers Alexander James Interiors, the Millgate team seamlessly blend practical requirements with attractive design to create the perfect kitchen.
At this end of the market, the fitted appliances are of particular important to buyers and wherever viable Millgate fit Sub-Zero and Wolf machines in their kitchens. Only available via John Lewis and Harrods, they really do stand out from the crowd.
In Sub-Zero fridge-freezers compartments have a separate compressor enabling food to stay fresher for longer and humidity is variable between the fridge/freezer resulting in no frost build-up which can be so tedious to eliminate. It is also worth reassuring to know that there is a NASA patented antimicrobial air purification filter system which scrubs and refreshes the air within the fridge-freezer every 20 minutes removing any bacteria, mould and viruses in the process.
One popular appliance is the Sub-Zero wine preserver which does exactly what it says on the tin – preserves wine to keep it in perfect quaffable condition.  Dual evaporators save labels from getting wet – particularly important on high value wines and UV-resistant, bronze-tinted glass shields wine from harmful rays to help with ageing.
The Wolf ovens in Millgate homes are American and usually only available to caterers with the biggest oven on the market, large enough to hold a 30kg roast. Its temperature goes lower than an Aga and with dual fans and ten cooking modes up to 15% can be cut off all cooking times. Extra features include a natty meat thermometer, a pizza function with dedicated cooking stone and for healthy cooks, a dehydrating mode to produce dried fruit.
With top brand kitchen equipment such as this, buyers may well feel as if they have stepped into Delia Smith’s or Gordon Ramsey’s home. The Miele steam oven is the best in its class and this versatile piece of kit is a super healthy way to cook your food and retain nutritional value.  And a kitchen fitted with two dishwashers is a dream come true as one can be cleaning whilst the other is being loaded.
The composite stone work surface is elegant but tough; its highly polished finish is ideal for use as a heavy use counter top and boasts many practical properties such as being heat resistant up to 146°C, stain, scratch and water-resistant.
And what is more, in addition to functionality Millgate kitchens are created with real living in mind.  Soft close drawers and doors create peaceful living, a cosy seating area at the end of the work surface is perfect for friends popping over for coffee or for kids struggling with their homework whilst you are trying to cook dinner, not to mention the other half propping up the bar area with a glass of wine.
Sinks are often set in the central island directly behind the oven to minimise mess and remove the need to walk around the kitchen with dangerous pans of boiling water. Tasteful lights hang down this central area providing necessary illumination but can be dimmed to alter the mood of the kitchen to perhaps match the mood of the chef if required.
Stacey Mitchell, Sales Manager for Millgate and a keen cook herself comments on the stunning kitchen at St Audries in Kingswood, Surrey,
“We have been building homes for over 25 years and one of the most important things to get absolutely right in our houses is a kitchen that works for families who love to cook. I believe that some designer kitchens have gone a step too far and have taken their eye of the ball on what really works for the cook. We have listened to our owners, adapting and working with suggestions to create sublime kitchens that are a joy to be in AND to cook in.  Compliments like that really say it all.”
So to please the MasterChef in you, choose a Millgate kitchen such as that at St Audries in Surrey, on the market for £2,750,000. Set within private landscaped grounds this is a palatial six bedroom detached house offering privacy, exclusivity and allure in equal measure bearing all the hallmarks of a truly exceptional home.
For more information contact Millgate on 0118 934 3344 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk.

Ascot has been named by the Sunday Times as one of the top 12 places to live in the UK and with good reason.

Achieving that perfect work-life balance is the ultimate goal for many and where you live plays a big part in this quest. One area which stands out as offering the best quality of life of any rural area in Great Britain is the borough of Waverley in Surrey which topped the 2013 Halifax Rural Areas Quality of Life survey.

Taking its name from Waverley Abbey which was reputedly the first Cistercian abbey in England, this heavily wooded borough in south east England contains an area of outstanding natural beauty, Blackheath Common and is bordered by the North Downs.

Waverley residents are fit and healthy in the main, with an average male life expectancy of 80.6 years and 96.7% of the population reporting general good health. Many are comparatively wealthy, enjoying high weekly average earnings of £888 and an employment rate of 79.9% – both substantially above the UK average of £609 per week and 70.2% respectively.

Looking to house prices, often an indication of the affluence of an area, homes in Waverley are worth 5.6 times local annual gross earnings, some way below the average house price to earnings ratio for all rural areas of 6.0.

Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax, said:

“While Waverley is not the top area in any one indicator, its strength is that it performs strongly across the board. The average resident has a high weekly income, enjoys above average health and life expectancy and low crime rates. But while they also benefit from a big home with central heating, living there does not come with a hefty price tag, with house prices relative to earnings below the average for rural areas.”

Within this ‘super borough’ the market town of Farnham stands out not only as the largest settlement but also due to its rich history, strong transport links, first class amenities and desirable homes. Birthplace of British cricket legend Graham Thorpe and home club of a junior Jonny Wilkinson, Farnham enjoys a sporting heritage with facilities for rugby, football, cricket, hockey, swimming and golf all on hand.   

Located just 42 miles south west of London with direct rail links to the capital and Farnborough airport merely 15 minutes’ drive, Farnham is home to some 38,000 residents and is a popular commuter town. It is also the location of award-winning developer, Millgate’s new collection of stunning detached country homes which will be marketed by local agent, Strutt & Parker.

Roger Wade, Partner of the Farnham branch comments on the much anticipated homes,

“This new development occupies a private sylvan setting within the village of Lower Bourne just south of Farnham, only a few minutes’ walk from local shops, a highly sought after school, doctors surgery, green and tennis courts. There is a very strong demand for quality new build houses in this area but tight planning guidelines have kept new development to a minimum.

“In 2010 we sold a similar scheme of 3 houses for Millgate also in The Bourne and they all sold exceptionally well. Buyers really appreciated the design, quality and workmanship that went into each individual house. Their attention to detail is second to none.”

All three stunning homes are set over three floors with five bedrooms and four bathrooms. The living space has been created to give a wonderfully versatile layout to suit family needs with the kitchen and bathrooms fitted with top-end luxury appliances that will be admired by all. State-of-the-art 21st century technology blended with traditional handcrafted refinement sets these homes apart from other homes in the area.

With a guide price from £1,800,000 for more information please contact Roger Mead at Strutt & Parker on 01252 821102.

In keeping with its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, multi award-winning developer Millgate has generously donated £1,000 via their appointed selling agents Hamptons International to Cancer Research UK.

At a wonderful event attended by local Hampton’s staff as well as London Head Office which took place last week at Millgate’s new boutique development in Kingswood, Surrey, Jonathan Cranley, Sales & Marketing Director at Millgate, presented the Senior Director of London Head of New Homes, Nick Vaughan with the funds who commented,

“It is very satisfying partnering with such enterprising businesses as Millgate. Their professionalism and desire to deliver the very finest product mirrors our work ethic and their generous donation to our chosen charity for 2013, Cancer Research UK demonstrates that their commitment to local communities goes beyond simply bricks and mortar.”

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading independent organisation dedicated to cancer studies and as part of this exciting partnership, Hamptons International is committed to raising awareness and funds to help the prestigious charity continues its life-saving work.

Jonathan Cranley who welcomed the Hamptons teams to St Audries in Kingswood, comments:

“It is terrific to hold an event which not only supports charitable causes but where selling agents can come and see for themselves what we do here at Millgate. Indeed a large proportion of the interest for our new Kingswood development has come from London with buyers looking to take advantage of the huge price hikes their city properties have seen in recent years and get far better value for money in the Home Counties so it’s wonderful to welcome the Hamptons London Head Office team also.”

St Audries, the opulent setting for this event is set within private landscaped grounds, this palatial six bedroom detached house offers privacy and luxury befitting a truly exceptional home. Excellence is in the detail – it is the final touches, sometimes tiny and even imperceptible that separate the truly exceptional from the merely functional. Devotion to detail is what turns houses into homes, an essential part of the Millgate Homes philosophy exemplified at St Audries.

The kitchen is awash with a range of hand painted bespoke cabinets and natural steel appliances; including a sub-zero American fridge freezer, a wolf range cooker and sub-zero wine chiller.   The house has a further four generous reception rooms.

Six bedrooms and five bathrooms – all incorporating every contemporary luxury sought after in a modern home today – completes the property.   The spacious plot covers half an acre and the house totals 6062 sq ft of luxury.

Investing your money wisely is one of the toughest decisions in this current economic climate. That said, bricks and mortar remains a top choice for many and buying property in the South East of England in particular, is viewed as a relatively stable and secure place to stash the cash.

Indeed the very latest report from Knight Frank revealed that prices of prime properties, which so many in the South East are, have evened out after some small declines in the last 2 years. A bright Q1 in 2013 showed prices of prime property across the UK increasing by +0.4% with 82% of all super prime sales occurring in the South East – up from 76% in 2011.

The term “copper-bottomed” may have derived from the safest way to build a ship but it is also used to describe an investment that can be trusted completely because it is safe and certain to succeed. And so with the experts at Knight Frank tipping one special property in Oxfordshire as “copper-bottomed” this is a rare accolade.

The super prime property in question, which Knight Frank has been appointed to sell, is Highview Manor built by award-winning local developers Millgate. Perched on an elevated plot less than 3 miles outside of Oxford, this wonderful house has all the elegance of a traditional country mansion plus a whole lot more.

Damian Gray who heads up the Knight Frank office in Oxford explains why Highview is in his eyes, a copper-bottomed investment:

“Buyers looking to spend in the region of £5,950,000 want something unique and Millgate have created just that. A house like this has never been seen in the Oxford locality before – it is beautifully built, full of wonderfully thoughtful design extras that make it a cut above the rest – and the new owner will have the security of the NHBC guarantee to ensure this purchase is as secure as you can wish for in this market – a copper-bottomed investment.

“Let me give you some examples of what makes this house so special – it has a huge wine cellar which will hold 1,200 bottles, an incredible 3D surround sound cinema room complete with reclining sofas, a hard surface tennis court with its own pavilion (the pavilion has a kitchen and shower), the house has an indoor 13 metre pool, a sauna and a large pool area bar with all the facilities you would need to entertain family and friends.”

For more information on Highview Manor please contact Millgate on 01189 343344 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk to take the video tour.

Damian Gray, Office Head of Knight Frank in Oxford can be contacted on 01865 790077.

Millgate, the award-winning country home developer, believes that location is paramount, making a concerted effort to select sites which are as aesthetically pleasing as possible and Hinksey Hill just outside Oxford is certainly no exception.

Known for being the best in British house building for 25 years, award-winning developers Millgate have taken their quintessential English home design one step further at their latest luxury collection in Surrey.

Friendly, warm and timeless, the six stunning 5 bedroom detached homes at Regency Place located in the picturesque village of Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey exemplify the way we really want to live with fresh New England style interiors courtesy of Alexander James Interior Design.

Millgate has once again brought its inimitable style to Oxfordshire in the form of the luxurious Rothermere Place, nestled in Hinksey Hill, a beautifully rural residential area 2 miles south of the centre of Oxford.

• Rothermere Place in Hinksey Hill, 2 miles south of Oxford’s ‘dreaming spires’
• Five bedroom detached country homes in a mature and secluded setting
• Good commuter links, under an hour to London and excellent local schools

Wargrave, situated on a truly beautiful stretch of the River Thames, just a stone’s throw from well-to-do Henley, is a relatively unknown destination a hotspot none the less. At the end of last year Wargrave hit the Top 20 in the Daily Telegraph as a retirement hotspot for celebrities – citing Paul Daniels as a well-known resident of the village.

Downsizing your home is not something to be taken lightly. It is very often a balance of finding a perfect, smaller version of your current home, which will still be able to house some of your much-loved furniture whilst being large enough to ensure you don’t get cabin fever.