IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, has opened voco Zeal Exeter Science Park – IHG’s first branded net zero* carbon hotel, in partnership with Zeal Hotels and Valor Hospitality. It has been designed to operate entirely on renewable and solar energy.       As with all voco branded hotels, the 142-room voco Zeal Exeter Science Park has been designed to help guests truly unwind and feel at ease with the use of neutral tones and contemporary features throughout the guest rooms and public spaces. Guests staying at the hotel will have access to a mini gym, gardens, a versatile meeting space and 12 EV charging points. The hotel’s onsite restaurant and bar, ISCA, emphasises the use of locally-sourced ingredients, collaborating with regional farms and producers to offer fresh, responsible dining options. The voco Zeal Exeter Science Park stands out with its sustainable design, which earned a BREAAM Outstanding rating, a renowned sustainable buildings certification. It is the first building in the UK that has utilised the Solarlab vertical photovoltaic panels as a rainscreen cladding system. It also follows the Passivhaus standard for ultra-low energy buildings and uses adiabatic cooling and heat reversible heat pumps to reduce energy usage. In…

Exeter Chiefs second rower Richard Capstick has committed his future to the club, signing a contract extension. Returning from a neck injury that derailed his plans for the 2023/24 season, Capstick has forged himself into a key component of the Chiefs pack this year with formidable on-field displays. “My family have been driving down here for years to support my career, so I always wanted to stay,” Capstick said on his decision to re-sign. “This is my home. I want to achieve things at my home club. “I’ve always said some of my main aims were to play 100 games for this club, to win trophies and play with my mates. A lot of the boys I came through the academy with are still here, so I want to stay with them. “I think we’re just at the start of our journey now as a group. I know we’ve had a tough season, but there have been some building blocks put in place this year that will help us moving forward. I think the future will be brighter.” Raised playing rugby with his brothers, Capstick’s early days were spent as a Taunton RFC boy –…

Making a difference should be something to celebrate, especially in a field as vital as dementia. A few years ago, I felt a sense of celebration after delivering an engaging dementia information session. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and made a real impact. But a few days later I learned that false information about this session was being shared, something that had the potential to harm my reputation. I  encountered something I wasn’t prepared for – professional jealousy. I have spent the last decade improving the lives of people affected by dementia. My work is about education, advocacy, and ensuring individuals living with dementia, as well as their families and care partners receive the support they deserve. My goal has always been to collaborate with others; professionals, organisations, and communities to create meaningful change. Along the way, I found that not everyone saw things the same way. I have been questioned, and undermined. It often came from people within the very sector I believed was built on compassion and shared purpose. Why Does Professional Jealousy Exist? At first, I struggled to understand it. I asked myself: Why would people working in dementia care, people…

A remarkable discovery of Civil War-era coins found in the rafters of Crediton Parish Church is set to go under the hammer at Stanley Gibbons Baldwin’s Auction House in London on 12 March. The four Charles I halfcrowns, which were originally part of a much larger hoard uncovered in 1896, provide a r Exeter Today | News…

Darts Farm and its new flagship restaurant The Farm Table in Devon have been nominated as a finalist in three categories in this year’s prestigious Farm Retail Association (FRA) Awards including Large Farm Shop of the Year, Farm Café/Restaurant of the Year and Rising Star of the Year Over 50 years ago, Ronald Dart pioneered UK pick-your-own farming. After his passing, sons Paul, Michael, and James transformed Darts Farm into a celebrated Exeter hub for farm-to-table dining, local produce, artisan goods, and sustainable practices, championing regional flavours through vibrant restaurants, a café, cheesemonger, and butchery. New flagship restaurant, The Farm Table, delivers a true field-to-fork experience with warm hospitality and seasonal, artisan produce from the farm and food hall. Guests enjoy wood-fired pizzas, seasonal plates, and sharing feasts like whole turbot and tomahawk steaks, all crafted to showcase quality local ingredients in an immersive, open-fire setting. The Awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 12 March in Birmingham and is one of the highlights in the FRA calendar, showcasing the fantastic work which goes on around the country to promote and support real, local food. Zoe Gresham, Head of Marketing & Events for Darts Farm said,…

A night under the stars awaits participants of the Big Sleep Out at St James Park on Friday, 14 March. The event, organised by Exeter City Community Trust (ECCT), invites individuals to experience a night outdoors while raising funds to support the homeless. ECCT, the charitable partner of Exeter Ci Exeter Today | News…

People in Devon are being asked to help the county’s busy NHS by continuing to choose the right service for their needs and getting vaccinated against winter viruses. A rise in cold weather illnesses, including flu, vomiting and diarrhoea bugs mean all of the county’s NHS services, including the main hospitals – in Plymouth, Exeter, Torbay and Barnstaple – are likely to remain under severe pressure all week. The region’s ambulance service has also been experiencing significant and sustained demand across its 999 services. Local people can do their bit by: Only call 999 when someone is seriously injured or ill and their life may be at risk. For example, if someone is unconscious, not breathing or is bleeding heavily. If an ambulance has been arranged for you, please only call back if the patient’s condition worsens or you wish to cancel the ambulance Go to NHS 111 online if you need medical help or advice, or you are unsure about whether you should go to hospital; you can also phone 111 Please check local hospital trust websites for information on Minor Injury Units and Urgent Treatment Centres. Further information can be…