Jane Rakison shares juicy highlights from 2025. Expect wine tip-offs, award-winning supper clubbing in Somerset and road-tripping in Italy
I feel very lucky, 2025 has been a memorable year for the good things in life, including …
Being a near-local of Ilminster, it was thrilling to take a tour of Alice Temperley’s studio, then fangirl big-time while listening to her in conversation with best-selling author Adele Parks to mark International Women’s Day.
As a drinks buff, it’s been exciting getting to know some of the fantastic drinks – especially wines – of the area this year, including the discovery of (but yet to visit) Thornfalcon Winery, which is practically on my doorstep but promises great things. I also visited the lovely guys at Wraxall Vineyard near Shepton Mallet – that’s one to watch for rosé. Further afield, I paid a long-overdue visit to Sandridge Barton in Devon, tasted a few of its fantastic wines (Figgie Daniel = lush) and ate gorgeous Italian-inspired summer salads at its restaurant before it became what is now, Roam.
My research trip to Stroud for Food Lifestyle’s town guide was a real highlight, partly because it’s a part of the country I’m unfamiliar with, but also because it’s an Aladdin’s cave of finds. Newly opened restaurant Juliet was insanely delicious while lifestyle store Domestic Science in Nailsworth wreaked absolute havoc with the monthly budget I set myself for ‘nice things’.
Summer disappeared in a dreamy haze all too quickly, although the most vivid memories stem from our family holiday to Italy. A whirlwind two-week road trip through Lazio, Tuscany and Umbria, I consumed more gelato and pasta than even I thought possible.
Back home, I was spotted in Sparkford on more than one occasion, visiting friends (and Food Lifestyle Awards 2025 winners) Jules and Steve Horrell at their restaurant Horrell & Horrell, but also to visit new Sparkford residents, Yapp Bros. The indie wine merchants have moved down the A303 from Mere, taking over the old Haynes Manuals buildings to house their ever-growing cellar.
More recently, I watched the fireworks over the Cobb in Lyme Regis. Even though this event is inherently surrounded by noise and chaos, there is something so still and serene about watching the colours disappear over, and get reflected back onto, the water. It holds a special place in my heart, even more so if I have a bag of fish and chips on my lap (including mushy peas – a deal-breaker if ever there was one).
