shop:hillst.
StartedbybrothersGregand
ChrisSmith– witha desireto
combinea sharedloveforall
thingschocolateanddesign–
SaffronWalden’ssophisticated
chocolaterieHillSt.sellssomeof
thechicestsweettreatsaround.
Ourfavouritefeatureis a glass
screenatthefrontoftheshop
thatletsvisitorspeerinatwhere
themagichappens– catcha
glimpseoftheteamtempering
moltenchocolateanddecorating
finishedpieces.A rangeofnew
productsgoesbeyondchocolate,
addinga fruitytwisttothe
attractivelypackagedlinewith
a selectionofpillowyfruit
marshmallowsandnaturally
flavoured pastels, hill.st.&ou t a bou tVisit:DeansCourt
There’salwaysa flurryofactivityat
thiscountryestatenearWimborne
MinsterinDorset.Buckingthe
trendfora boringcountryhouse,
DeansCourtoperatesa homeware
storepackedwithvintage-inspired
accessories,a health-foodcafé
(wecouldn’tgetenoughofthe
home-madehoumous)andidyllic
cottageaccommodation.A roster
ofeventsaimstoinspireand
gatherthelocalcommunity,and
includessocialsupperclubs,
calligraphycoursesandfly-fishing
days.Allofthisrunsalongside
themoretraditionalopengardens
andtoursoftheprivatehome,
whichis a treasuretroveofmore
than 500 yearsofBritish history,
deanscourt.org.Don’tMiss:YourchancetoseeJeffKoonsattheashmoleaninoxford– ajourneythroughthecareerofoneofamerica’smostfamous living artists. running until the 9 June, ashmolean.org.patrickhamilton Courtney visits a stately homewith a
difference, rediscovers sculpture and gets his chocolate fixphotographs
(New
Art
CeNtre)
©GAry
Hume.
(deANs
Court)
JAke
eAstHAm. (Hill st. CHoColAte) AlistAir GrANt/bokeH pHotoGrApHiCDisCoVer:new
artCentre
Tuckedawayinthecountryside
surroundingSalisbury,thisleading
culturehubcombinesa design
pavilion,exhibitionspaceand,
naturallygiventhebucolicsetting,
a fabulousoutdoorsculpturepark.
IntheDesignHouse,installations
byceramicistEdmunddeWaalrub
shoulderswithsuspendedmobiles
byDanielReynolds.Outside,work
bydistinguishedartistsbothpast
andpresentlittersthegardens:
piecesbyBarbaraHepworthand
AllenJonescaughtoureye.A
frequentlychangingcalendarof
showsseestopartistsengaging
withthegalleryspace,themost
recentofwhichwasNinetiesBritArt
star Gary Hume, sculpture.uk.com.lifestYle