The Pulpit Cheese Club. Doing what it says on the tin, I’ve today spent a convivial couple of hours in the The Pulpit on Devizes Road, eating cheese and drinking wine. The premise of the cheese club is a simple one – as the wee sign below explains. If you enjoy a chunk of Cheddar or a slice of Stilton or a wedge of Wensleydale get yourself along to The Pulpit on the first Sunday of the month and get stuck in.
The Pulpit Cheese Club – small blackboard signAn array of cheeses at the cheese club at The Pulpit
From their website: ‘Located in the Original 1830 Brewery coach house owned by the Hart “Brewing” Family of Broad Town and Royal Wootton Bassett, once again the town and surrounding villages have their own local brewery… Only, this time it has alpacas!’
They describe their beer as being ‘niche batch brewed’. That, it seems, means that they pay the utmost attention to detail and quality. ‘Every brew we undertake starts with high quality ingredients from the best maltings, hops and yeast that we can source, with a nod to consistency and a sense of adventure.’
Since their 2019 launch, their beers have proven popular. So popular that they’ve upscaled from using a 500L german-made Braumeister to a 6BBL (918L) brewhouse, now based in Calne. They’ve converted their original brewing location into additional seating in their quaint taproom, the Hop Chapel.
And I’m wondering if the name The Pulpit is to form a relationship to the Hop Chapel?
WEST END FAVE IN PANTO CAST. West End Star and TikTok Sensation Abbie Budden will join Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre Pantomime cast to tell the much-loved tale of Sleeping Beauty this festive season.
The show runs from 06 December to 04 January.
Abbie, who has amassed a huge following online with her original comedy shorts, theatre and impression videos, most recently appeared on stage in Cruel Intentions (The Other Palace & UK Tour). She’s also appeared in panto at Ipswich Regent Theatre.
WEST END FAVE IN PANTO CAST – Abbie Budden
Joining her are:
The previously announced professional quizzer, TV presenter and general knowledge ace Jenny Ryan
Swindon’s ‘resident’ Dame David Ashley …
… and The Choir of Man’s Ben Goffe, returning for his second year following his recent nomination as Best Comic in the UK Pantomime Awards.
A panto fan
Abbie says ‘I’m a panto fan. As a family we visited panto every year. It was a real tradition for us, so I’m delighted to be a part of other Christmas’ for other families! It’s going to be a lot of fun. Sleeping Beauty is a classic fairy tale that you know and love. It has all your favourite little panto gags and this cast is going to bring something special to the stage. I can’t wait!’
Bringing this much-loved fairytale to life are the producers and the award-winning Imagine Theatre. It’s packed full of all your favourite panto ingredients.
Once again, the Wyvern panto promises to be the perfect, magical, fun-filled family treat full of sparkle and spectacle.
When the wicked fairy Carabosse’s evil curse causes the Princess to prick her finger on a spinning wheel and fall into an enchanted sleep, can anyone rescue her from the magical slumber before it is too late?
Sleeping Beauty will run from 06 December 2025 to 04 January 2026. Make memories this festive season with this spellbinding, magical family pantomime. Tickets are on sale now.
Jazzbones Creative Makes its Mark. A leading UK furniture buying group is making its mark on the sector. And it’s all thanks to the team at Swindon’s Jazzbones Creative.
Jazzbones Creative Nathan Sandhu
Minerva Furniture Group, based in Corsham are celebrating thirty-five years in business. So, they called in Jazzbones to overhaul its main website, along with two separate websites for its spring and autumn trade shows.
Minerva is a membership organisation for independent furniture retailers. They connect them with manufacturers and suppliers across the UK and internationally. Its biannual trade shows are a highlight in the sector’s calendar, held at the prestigious Telford International Centre.
Jazzbones
Jazzbone specialises in branding, digital marketing and website design. Thus, they’ve been able to showcase Minerva Furniture Group through a new website. All building a complex members-only area. Further, they’ve created the two trade show websites to promote the biannual events in May and October. And to include a booking and information area for exhibitors and registration facility for visitors.
What they did for Minerva
As well as the websites, Jazzbones has refreshed Minerva’s branding. They’ve taken on all the marketing and social media for the two shows. The Jazzbones team are now working hard on promoting the upcoming autumn show, which is being held on October 8 and 9.
‘Our old websites were out of date, so we wanted to give them a modern, fresh look,’ said Stacy Nicholas, Minerva’s office manager. ‘All three sites are quite complex. That’s because our main website has a login in area with lots of information for our members. Our show websites have a backend area for our exhibitors.
‘We wanted to use a local company to redesign the sites and were very happy with what Jazzbones have done. They have been excellent – responsive and always available to help.’
Stacy’s colleague Amanda Marshall said Jazzbones’ marketing campaign for the spring show had shown a significant boost to engagement.
She said: ‘Jazzbones ran a major campaign for the spring show, including all the advertising in trade publications. They are now building momentum around the October show. The benefit of having Jazzbones look after everything is all our marketing is consistent, looks professional and matches the website.’
Nathan Sandhu, Jazzbones’ founder and creative director, said: ‘It’s been a real pleasure working with Minerva. In particular as they celebrate their 35th year. We stepped in before the spring show, so we had to work fast to rebuild both the main website and the show’s website.
‘Following the success of the marketing campaign we ran for the spring event, we’re now applying the same strategy for the autumn show. That includes print and online advertising, email marketing, and social media.’
Minerva’s new-look websites are also setting the scene for planned future growth for the business.
The Highworth Town Trail. Described on the brochure/booklet as: A leisurely walk through the fascinating history of Highworth.
The Highworth Town Trail – front cover of the leaflet
I do in fact give some small mention of of historic Highworth on this page about things to do in Swindon. But this post is to talk a little about this Highworth activity in particular – that I did with a friend recently.
So we had this booklet and my mate had the app on her phone. Having both turned out to be useful because the app covered the high street only – and had some extra information not in the booklet. Whereas the booklet went beyond the high street and included Westrop, St Michael and All Angels Church and Sheep Street.
We did this trail on a sunny Sunday. That’s a good day to do it in many ways because the town is quiet. There’s neither a lot of traffic nor a ton of people about – a big bonus when you’re trying to look at buildings and things on buildings. But it’s less good if you a want to explore some of the little shops and so on. There was a cafe open on the high street – huge relief. 🙂
The booklet then
Well it’s an attractive, glossy, colour thing stuffed with lots of photos. Though we did think that perhaps they could have done with captions. While I can’t now remember particular instances, we did have some confusions at times when images on a page didn’t necessarily relate to the text. It also did a bit of taking us to a particular building then having us doubling back on ourselves to the next one. But never mind – between that and the app we worked it out.
The Riot act
One of my fave stories dates back to 1830. In that year the market place was the scene of a notorious incident known as the Swing riots. Though why that is I don’t know. Anyway, at this time rural labourers were engaged in protest actions across England hoping to improve their wages and preserve their winter work.
Highworth saw riots break out on the 24th November 1830 – though they were soon suppressed. The next day, headed by Mr Thomas Cally, a magistrate, and Lieutenant Cally of Blundsdon House, a large troop of over 200 horsemen arrived in Highworth. And there was then a reading of the Riot Act to disperse the demonstrators.
Now a small number of photos from the trail.
plaque to Mabel Stranks on the Old Post officeSt Michael’s Church on the HIghworth Town TrailThe Saracen’s Head at the lower end of the high streetA building on the Highworth town trail
Where to get the booklet
I picked up my copy on a previous visit to Highworth, in the visitor information centre – find info on that here.
Dave Southby Rising Entrepreneur. The local financial planner is named as one of the southwest’s rising young entrepreneurs.
Swindon businessman Dave Southby, founder and CEO of Southby & Co. Financial Planning, gets a mention in the 42 Under 42 Class of 2025 by South West Insider Media. The annual list celebrates the region’s most dynamic entrepreneurs aged 42 and under.
Now in its 18th year, the 42 Under 42 programme recognises talented young business leaders across the UK who are making a real difference in their industries and communities. Since its launch, the programme has inducted more than 600 entrepreneurs. Combined they form an influential network across the southwest.
Dave Southby Rising Entrepreneur – taken by Barbara Leatham Photography on February 8th 2024
About Dave Southby
Dave, 32, started his financial planning business in 2021 after a complete career change. He studied for his professional exams during the Covid-19 lockdowns. From the very beginning, his aim was simple. To build a business that offered expert financial advice while making a positive impact on the local community.
The company has grown fast. In early 2025, it rebranded from Dave Southby Financial Planning to Southby & Co. Financial Planning to reflect its expanding team and collaborative approach. The move into a new high Street office in Wroughton earlier this year has placed the business firmly in the heart of the community it serves.
Today, Southby & Co. works with individuals, families and business owners across Swindon and North Wiltshire. They help clients feel confident about their finances and future plans.
Dave’s dedication to excellence and responsible business has brought many accolades. He has won St. James’s Place Responsible Business of the Year. He’s been shortlisted for SME of the Year and Male Entrepreneur of the Year at the South West Business and Community Awards. Most recently, the firm made the finals in the Professional Adviser – Adviser Firm of the Year (South West & Wales) category. And is also a finalist in the Money Marketing Charity Champion of the Year Awards 2025 (with winners announced in September).
Community
Dave’s community involvement is as notable as his business achievements. He’s also:
Chaired networking organisations
Runs a business club for start-ups
Sponsors two local Wroughton football teams …
.. and links business turnover to tree planting as part of a carbon-neutral commitment.
Dave has also raised thousands of pounds for charities such as MIND, CALM and The Kelly Foundation – where he serves as a trustee. He takes on creative challenges ranging from charity golf days to walking 24 miles in a full tortoise costume.
‘It’s a real honour to be included alongside so many inspiring business leaders from across the South West. When I started my business in 2021, I wanted to create something that would not only succeed commercially but also give back to the community’ Dave said.
‘This recognition is a reflection of the hard work of the whole team and the support of our amazing clients. I’m looking forward to meeting the other inductees and hearing their stories in October.’
Dave’s official welcome into the Class of 2025 at the 42 Under 42 event is on Wednesday 15th October at Sixes Social Cricket in Bristol. The evening will bring together current and past inductees for relaxed networking, inspiring talks and the chance to celebrate shared success.
