All the latest from around Surrey NEWS Nearlywed SWEET DELIGHTS Cocoa Island, a chocolate shop based in Dorking, has relaunched its wedding services during the pandemic. “We originally started by making bespoke wedding favours for our couples which have been popular since day one of our chocolatier’s inception,” says the owner Natasha Cocoa. “Then speaking to couples who were needing to postpone their weddings or move them, with budgets becoming tighter as lifestyles were changing, we looked to create something unique, and so our chocolate truffle tower was born. Our seven tiers of handmade chocolate truffles can be topped with a wedding cake, combining the traditional bake with favours for the guests. We’re also able to provide personalised truffle boxes, which allows guests to take some away with them as a memory of the day and saves a lot of wasted wedding cake!” Check out www.cocoaisland.co.uk for more information. SNOW IS FALLING After a difficult 2020, Hartfield Manor is celebrating the return of the festive season with a variety of fun activities. Ideal for hen or stag dos, the Christmas party nights consist of a three-course dinner, novelties and a DJ until late. Alternatively, immerse yourself in a murder mystery where it’s your job to crack the case. Filter through the evidence, study the police files and interrogate the witness, all whilst enjoying a three-course dinner. There are also festive lunches, afternoon teas and a New Year’s Party available to book. Head over to www.hartsfieldmanor.co.uk for more information. X FESTIVE WONDERLAND This November, Christmas at Kew, a much-loved highlight of London’s festive calendar, returns for its ninth year. Perfect for a romantic pre-wedding celebration, this year’s trail features a host of firm seasonal favourites alongside pioneering new light installations, illuminating Kew Gardens’ UNESCO World Heritage landscape with vibrant bursts of colour and over a million twinkling lights. Using a selection of spectacular trees from Kew’s arboretum as their canvas, the show will include a stunning combination of video design, projection mapping and light to bring Kew’s archived botanical illustrations to life, alongside a host of heart-warming festive imagery. Sandra Botterell, the director of marketing and commercial enterprise at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said: “It’s wonderful to be able to welcome visitors back to Christmas at Kew for 2021. As well as some much-loved festive favourites, this year’s trail also encompasses some enchanting new installations, taking inspiration from Kew’s wonderful living and archive collections. With over a million lights illuminating Kew’s spectacular botanic gardens, Christmas at Kew is a seasonal spectacular unlike any other.” Visit www.kew.org.uk for more information. www.murrayclarke.co.uk YOUR ESSENTIALS 9
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