Welcome to the Joules blog.

This is your chance to get closer to Joules and to become a part of our community.

Receive style tips from our Creative Director, and then share your own.
Try a recipe from an award winning chef, and let us know how it went.
And keep up-to-date with the adventures of world champion equestrian
sportswoman Mary King.


Lose yourself in Alliott Country with a full set of Catherine Alliott novels!

Warm, funny and wise, Catherine Alliott’s novels weave a fresh portrait of rural village life with unforgettable characters and enchanting storylines. Whether it’s discovering if Annie will ever make it to her second wedding or what exactly Evie Hamilton is keeping so secret – Catherine’s books will make you laugh out loud and offer the perfect escape from hectic life.

To celebrate Catherine’s new book A Rural Affair we’re giving two lucky winner’s a full set of all twelve of Catherine’s books. To enter simply reply to the post on our Facebook page telling us your favourite thing to do in the countryside.

Posted by Joules in LIFE |
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Blooming Bake Cake
My Blooming Bake Cake was created for a keen gardener’s birthday and inspired by all the current springtime bulbs. I created it by baking a dense chocolate cake and placing it in the base of a shallow circular plant pot. The bulbs are made from marzipan and covered in strips of filo pastry which I’ve glazed in a butter syrup and dusted in cocoa powder to create the effect of scales. The buds within the bulbs are created using fondant icing that I’ve coloured, shaped, scored and painted. A thick chocolate fudge sauce surrounds the bulbs with a layer of chocolate cake crumbs scattered over top to look like soil. I also toasted some sesame seeds to place in a personalized seed packet to sprinkle over the cake and baked some mini cake plant pots with individual fondant buds. Finally I served everything with a trowel to cut the slices of cake with and watering can filled with cream ready to pour over the blooming bake.
Blooming Bake Cake
Blooming Bake Cake

Posted by Frances in COOK IT |
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Next up Chatsworth and Luhmuhlen
Sadly Hambledon Horse Trials and Withington Horse Trials were cancelled due to waterlogged ground (despite the hose pipe ban!) Luckily Chubby (Cavalier Venture) had been to Sapey Horse Trials where he won his novice section.

Instead of Hambledon Emily and I went showjumping at Summerhouse Equestrian Centre near Gloucester with a lorry full. My horses were quite fresh and needed an outing, both Archie (Imperial Cavalier) and Tess (Kings Temptress) jumped well. Emily’s 2 horses also jumped well, she did her first ever 1.30m class with Mr Hiho and jumped a lovely clear to win the class!

What a huge shame that Badminton is cancelled, it really is gutting for everyone. I plan to reroute Apache Sauce to Chatsworth and then Luhmuhlen 4 star (Germany) in June. My 2 Olympic shortlisted horses Imperial cavalier and Kings Temptress weren’t running at Badminton so their plans of Chatsworth CIC*** in 2 weeks stay unchanged. Olympic selection will take place at the end of May so fingers crossed.

Mary x

Posted by Mary King in EQUESTRIAN, LIFE |
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We are all extremely saddened to hear the news of Badminton being cancelled, Mother Nature isn’t being very king right now but the safety of the riders must come first. We know that many of you may still be coming to Gloucestershire this weekend so don’t let the news completely rain on your parade, here is our list of fun things to do in the area this bank holiday weekend…

Cheltenham Jazz Festival
Set in the beautiful Montpellier Gardens the Jazz Festival programme is welcoming musical starts including Jamie Cullum, Paloma Faith and The Puppini Sisters.

2nd – 7th May
Montpellier Gardens, Cheltenham, GL50 1UW
www.cheltenhamfestivals.com
How far from Badminton? 31 miles

The Amazing Technicolor Garden at Lacock Abby
How many colours can you find in the garden? Green? Brown? You’d be amazed! Go and collect colours and explore the nooks and crannies of the grounds in this self-led family tour.

Lacock, near Chippenham, SN15 2LG
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock
How far from Badminton? 14 miles

Patchwork and Quilting Exhibition at Radstock Museum
The spectacular display includes 200 quilts, representing 170 years of the craft.

1st February – 31st May
Waterloo Road, Radstock, BA3 3EP
www.radstockmuseum.co.uk
How far from Badminton? 24 miles

Dyrham Park Dyrham Park

See the Deer at Dyrham Park
Take a tour of this ancient deer park and see the 200 fallow deer in their natural surroundings and admire the fantastic views across to Wales.

Dyrham, Nr Bath, SN14 8ER
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park
How far from Badminton? 8 miles

Sport and Fashion Exhibition at the Fashion Museum and Assembly Rooms
A showcase of historic sportswear from the museum collection alongside modern fashions and the very best of today’s sportswear.

4th February – 31st December
Bennett St, Bath, BA1 2QH
www.museumofcostume.co.uk
How far from Badminton? 15 miles

The Silk Wood Spring Fair The Silk Wood Spring Fair

The Silk Wood Spring Fair
The Silk Wood Spring Fair brings together a top quality selection of local woodland workers to showcase the best of local, small woodland production. Through demonstrations such as clog and whistle making, and the opportunity to buy traditionally crafted goods, the group will show how woodlands are managed.

5th – 7th May, 10am – 4pm
The Downs picnic area in Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Nr Tetbury, Glos, GL8 8QS
How far from Badminton? 7 miles

Bristol Folk Festival
The Bristol Folk Festival returns to Colston Hall bringing with it some of the biggest names in folk music. As well as up to 40 top musical performers, the festival will feature Morris dancers, workshops and singalong sessions.

5th – 7th May
Colston Hall, Colston Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR
www.bristolfolkfestival.com
How far from Badminton? 19 miles

Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park

Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park
Spring has arrived at the Cotswold Farm Park, the team are just finishing spring lambing, in time to look after the new piglets, Highland calves, Exmoor foals and not fogetting the chicks which are hatching daily.

www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk
Guiting Power, Nr. Cheltenham, Gloscestershire, GL54 5UG
How far from Badminton? 43 miles

Posted by Joules in LIFE |
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We have just received a lovely letter at Joules HQ from Christina in Cheltenham; a tale of a Teacup Chihuahua named Midge and a Joules fluffy sock…

I recently went on holiday in the UK with my little Teacup Chihuahua (Midge) and whilst I was there she decided to jump off the end of a pier into the sea, well as you can imagine I was distraught and thought she wasn’t to be seen again then from nowhere she surfaced and as we walked back along the pier calling her she swam back up to the shore. Well to cut a long story short, she was freezing and we didn’t quite know what to do, so with little thought I took off my shoes and socks (Joules of course) cut the toe off the sock and made 2 small holes and made it into a jumper for her, which to my surprise worked. We visited the vet and they said the sock probably saved her life! Since then I have had no end of people ask where did I get her jumper…

On this very rainy Friday afternoon Christina’s letter made us smile and we have sent her some fluffy socks so she can make some more Chihuahua jumpers!

Posted by Joules in LIFE, WEAR IT |
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A secret Joules locationA secret Joules location

A few weeks ago we celebrated reaching a whopping 100,000 Facebook fans with a competition to win the ultimate Joules prize! Our competition winners travelled to a secret Joules location in London earlier this week to meet Tom, the Joules team and to preview the new Autumn Winter 2012 Collection months before it is in our shops!

After all of the excitement of adding bright colourful wellies and floral tweed coats to a wish list for the autumn, we went for a delicious meal at Jamie’s Italian. We then popped around the corner to the Joules shop in Covent Garden to finish the day in style! We were greeted with fizz and our competition winners spent the afternoon choosing new summer outfits and received style tips from the Joules stylists Sarah and Gemma!

We had a wonderful day with our fans, it was lovely to meet you all.
Joules x

Fizz and fun at the Joules of Covent Garden shopFizz and fun at the Joules of Covent Garden shop

A lovely lunch at Jamie’s ItalianA lovely lunch at Jamie’s Italian

Posted by Joules in WEAR IT |
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Mary King at Badminton

BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS: Thursday 3rd May – Monday 7th May
The Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials is hailed as the greatest 3-day-event in the world and the competition most event riders would like to win.

Attracting one of the largest crowds of any outdoor sporting event worldwide, it is also an extremely popular family day out, even for the non-equestrian. With numerous side attractions held over 5 days, and a variety of shopping to rival any out-of-town mall, Badminton is the perfect destination for all the family.

The Joules team will be there, you can find us at stand 215 where you will be able to shop our great Summer Collection. Mary King will also be on the Joules stand for signings so keep an eye out on our blog and Facebook page for times.

You will also be able to shop the 2012 Official Badminton Merchandise designed by Joules at stand 108.

For a site map of how to find our stands then click here.

For all information about Badminton Horse Trials from tickets to directions click here.

Posted by Joules in EQUESTRIAN |
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Preparations for HambledonCourtesy of James Pyne Photography

I am currently in the busiest time of the season, juggling my GCSE’s with my eventing. But I only have a month left of school, then I leave forever to event fulltime… it is very exciting!

All the horses have been going well, with Charlemagne and Miss Indigo competing well at their BE100′s including a 4th from Charlemagne at Somerly. Mr Hiho competed very well at our first junior trail at Belton and gave me a great ride across the influential cross country course. I’ve had some dressage lessons with Ferdi Eilberg which have been very beneficial, so I am feeling very prepared from my next junior trial at Hambledon this coming weekend.

Emily x

Posted by Emily King in EQUESTRIAN |
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