On a wet and windy afternoon not so long ago, my husband and I found ourselves a cosy and soothing place to stop and spend some time. The steamed windows of VRAC were inviting and the delicate scent of tea and freshly baked cannelés, a French speciality from the Bordeaux region, were enough to make us want to take up a seat and never leave.

Formerly a tea shop in the 1950s and a funeral parlour in-between, the owner Pauline has turned this inspiring little corner on a Lewes street back into the kind of place you’ll want to visit over and over again. If I was a Lewes resident I would definitely be a regular customer!

The focus at VRAC is on sourcing top quality, ethically-grown, rare and natural flavours. In the shop you’ll find more than 30 loose teas from small estates around the world, as well as a small selection of tea related apparatus including chic silver tea caddies, Japanese tea pots and the occasional vintage tea cup.

Pauline’s passion for tea came from her mum and the weekend visits they took together to a little tea shop in the town where she grew up. At VRAC, she now passes on that passion by serving up the most wonderful tea experience, as well as hosting magical evening tea tastings and regular introductions to the Chinese tea ceremony.

Her philosophy – “Make time for tea, it is healthy…and preparing it will be your little breather in the day” – is one I can definitely  get on board with, and I hope you too will go and take time for tea at this fantastic little place.

Images by Jeska Hearne

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Ever since moving to a home with a garden last year, we have become bewitched by all things horticultural. Our newest discovery is the magical King John’s Nursery, nestled in the East Sussex countryside. No ordinary garden centre, it’s more like the imaginings in a Frances Hodgson Burnett novel.

Set within the eight-acre garden of King John’s Lodge, the stunning grade II listed house is the backdrop to formal lawns with a fountain, lily pond, wild garden with ancient apple trees, a meadow and the most tranquil, secret pond where you can sit a while in the sunshine, listen to the birds singing, watch dragonflies and bees at work.

This beautiful nursery is brimming with plants that are mostly propagated and grown on site. Flowers, herbs and shrubs of all sizes and age jostle for space on the ground, shelves and ledges. The scents and colours spill over into the pathways and lead you down to a lovely tea-room, where you can rest a while and take in the views across the garden and countryside.

Inside the lovely white weatherboarded shop you will find rustic and modern garden accessories, a fabulous selection of eco-friendly products, unique home-wares, and a few carefully curated antique pieces. They also hold regular vintage fairs with stalls piled high with old and beautiful treasures, and the nursery brimming with garden inspiration.

Images by Jeska Hearne

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The time has arrived again, for outdoor pursuits and beachside fun. The sun is out, the birds have returned and I no longer need to wear all the jumpers. So I am sharing a little secret spot we love with you.

Last year we moved out to a village on the East Sussex coastline and started to use the coast road that leads us from Hastings via Pett Level to Rye and beyond to Kent, where we regularly visit my husband’s family. One morning, as we took in the marsh land and wading birds, we came upon something of a surprise –  a bright red pig on top of a car – and behind it, a beautiful corrugated metal cabin painted in racing green. So we pulled into the lay-by to see what was going on and to our joy found friendly faces, Monmouth St. coffee, home-baked cakes and something savoury and serious for breakfast if you are out for an early drive.

Inside the cabin there are sip-and-go espresso perches and bigger seats to huddle up in if it’s a chilly day. My favourite thing is the beautiful window that frames the grazing sheep and the living wildlife scenes outside, better than TV any day. We love to grab a coffee from The Red Pig on our way out to visit friends and then hope to be travelling back in time for cake on our return journey home!

The Red Pig is open weekends from 9.30 am on Pett Level road opposite the beach from March 22nd until the cold, unbearable weather returns later on in the year.

Images by Jeska Hearne

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Just as I had hoped, Alastair Hendy who runs Home Store – a beautifully curated shop selling functional and useful kitchen, household goods and interior decor – has opened up his own home to guests again this December. I took the husband down to see it with his own eyes as he missed out when I visited last year, and as I expected, he was absolutely amazed by the interior and garden at this magical home. It really is something special.

Alastair has carried out extensive restorations over several years in this 16th century merchant’s dwelling, taking it back to how it may have looked when first built. Every surface has been sympathetically restored to make it one of the most atmospheric and complete Tudor houses in Hastings. Decorated at Christmas time with greenery and home baked biscuits, is definitely the best time to see it.

The house is lit by candlelight and scented with burning log fires. Set over four floors, there are trap doors, cellars and so many other amazing things to discover here. If you find yourself in Hastings old town or nearby it is not to be missed. All the better, make a special seaside winter weekend of it.

The Christmas House is open at 135 All Saints Street, Hastings Old Town for more information including opening times have a peek here. 

Images by Jeska Hearne except mulled fruit and nut Christmas chocolate bar and heart biscuit decorations by Alastair Hendy

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The weather has turned and looking forward to the festive season ahead is keeping my spirits up. I love the hustle and bustle of November and December, and one of my favourite places to soak  up some holiday cheer (and mulled cider) with the husband is the Wealden Times Midwinter Fair.

Set inside the Walled Garden at Bedgebury Pinetum, the location alone is magical and the range and quality of wares always impresses me; over 150 stalls selling vintage home-wares, antique treasures, handmade gifts, jewellery and tasty things from independent producers, wine makers and local farmers. You can meet the designers and makers at their stalls alongside local artisans and farmers selling their home-reared and home-grown products.

If you need a rest from shopping, you can learn a new craft with one of the free workshops in the vintage Tea Tent, pick up some tips from Rosemary Shrager’s Cookery School or simply refuel with homemade cakes and a fresh brewed pot of tea while listening to a local school choir carol singing. I challenge you not to leave on a festive high!

The Wealden Times Midwinter Fair is on the 21st – 23rd November

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Always on the lookout for new places to find something yummy to eat, I was already smitten just seeing the outside of Petit Fi in Hastings Old Town. Nestled between a pretty jewellery boutique and a toy shop, Petit Fi is beautifully painted a chalky powder green, and decorated with an assortment of greenery in pots and planters. Glittering chandeliers, rustic tables and mismatched chairs welcome you in and friendly staff will guide you through the day’s menu.

Colourful fresh salads, piled high on pretty plates, beautiful floppy blooms on all the tables, freshly baked cakes with layers of berries and frosting. Wanting to stay a while inside this pretty cafe, my friend and I ordered salads of fig, beetroot, walnut and goats cheese, with seasoned butternut squash and leeks on the side, and then a hefty slice of courgette and lime cake to share (be sure to try this) and two hot chocolates for dessert. The combination of such lovely decor and delicious food has left me impatient to get back there and take my husband next time!

Images by Jeska Hearne

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As you may have noticed, spring is only just arriving; the blossom is finally in full bloom and there’s only a month until summer. It seems as though we’ve had the longest, darkest winter ever. So to cheer my soul and yours I thought I would share one of my favourite places for all year round.

At Bobo Flower and Garden Shop, come rain or shine, I know I will be greeted by the lovely Marcie, surrounded by her selection of seasonal blooms and greenery; cut flowers, potted plants, boughs and twigs of pussy willow, blossom and lilacs. I love the organic feel of the tiny shop, as if you could just nestle down in amongst the flowers and plants and stay a while.

Arranged in pots, jars, bottles and vases, with antique pictures and garden tools leaning here and there, I love Marcie’s eye for display. With everything from seeds to branches, it really is the best place locally to buy something living to take home and enjoy, and it’s only a few minutes walk to the seaside or lovely vintage shops in the nearby Normans and Kings Roads.

I am also proud to add that we have three cacti from Bobo that have survived a whole year. I am generally a plant killer, so this gives me high hopes now we are garden owners!

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On the eclectic high street of Hastings Old Town there’s a wonderful shop called Shirley Leaf and Petal Co.. It’s been in business for over a hundred years and sells the most amazing collection of velvet and silk flowers, petals, leaves, foliage and artificial plants, most of which are still made in their working flower museum.

Step inside and you’ll find an indoor Eden where old fashioned cabinets house sheets of velvet waiting to be cut, drawers are filled with tiny stamens, bright feathered birds perch on the counter tops and floral garlands hang from every available space. Days here are spent busily supplying flowers for national theatres, petals for fashion designers, chiffon leaf trails for the National Ballet and dahlias for Glyndebourne.

My favourite collection is the antique bridal crowns and tiaras made from tiny white, ivory and pearl waxed flowers dating from the 1920s and worn by the brides of RAF airmen during the war. There is so much to take inspiration from you are guaranteed to leave with a head full of ideas and at the very least a small bag of petals and flowers to turn into something pretty. If left unsupervised by a good friend, the boot of your car may end up looking like the secret garden.

Image courtesy of Victor Galnville on Flickr

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