Brooke Theis

4 weeks ago | ca.style.yahoo.com | Brooke Theis

The true value of mum friendships WPA Pool - Getty ImagesWe’d all sat in a circle, a little apprehensive, as the midwife explained to us the different kinds of births we might have. There were nine couples at our antenatal classes, including my husband and me; nine very pregnant women, each similarly uncomfortable and hungry, all of us snacking on grab-and-go cravings (dried apricots, plantain chips, chocolate milk, an egg sandwich).

Oct 1, 2024 | essentialsurrey.co.uk | Brooke Theis

Pencils at the ready! Brooke Theis brings you a roundup of the best pub quizzes around. If, like me, you feel that there is no better way to pass an evening than in heated, trivia-based competition among friends, beer casks and pub grub, then head to any one of these fantastic Surrey pubs for a quiz night. Most offer a sizeable cash-prize, and entry fees range from free to only £2.

Oct 1, 2024 | essentialsurrey.co.uk | Brooke Theis

Looking for local, high-quality produce? Brooke Theis investigates the best farm shops in Surrey. A good farm shop is a haven of all things fresh, local and delicious; a place where ethical, artisanal food and drink draws people from all over the region who seek culinary pleasures that no supermarket can ever match. We’re absolutely spoiled for choice in Surrey when it comes to farm shops, and here is my whistle-stop tour around the finest.

Oct 1, 2024 | essentialsurrey.co.uk | Brooke Theis

Whether you're looking for manor house grandeur or a rustic beamed barn, the south is bursting with distinctive wedding venues, says Brooke Theis Beautiful chapels, historic country estates, hotels and restaurants: you'll find all this in abundance and much more across the county. From the stunning Surrey Hills, to towns such as Guildford, Woking, and Epsom, here are the most reputable wedding venues the south has to offer.

Sep 27, 2024 | harpersbazaar.com | Brooke Theis

The first thing you notice about Cordelia de Castellane’s Paris apartment is the light. Palatially tall windows stream in sunshine from both sides on blue-sky days. Off a gated limestone courtyard on the Left Bank, and up a winding staircase with regal burgundy carpeting, iron railings and hanging glass lanterns, it overlooks a quiet antiques district – but is minutes from the bustle of landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay and many of the newly constructed Olympic stadiums.