Eastlife Spring 2022

SPRING 2022 www.eastlife.co.uk 

The ultimate destination bar 

and restaurant in Chelmsford 

channelsestate.co.uk 

www.eastlife.co.uk 

pring

Brand new & exclusive Bungalow style development 

The Grange 

Moorbarns Lane, Lutterworth LE17 4QJ 

IMMEDIATE 

OCCUPATION 

AVAILABLE 

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from £189,995 * 

● Over 45’s retired and semi-retired community 

● 100% current market value part exchange 

● Bespoke design your home 

call: 0330 133 1950 

sales@montecarloparks.co.uk 

www.montecarloparks.co.uk 

Through our Part Exchange Scheme we are able 

to offer you 100% market value for your property 

so you don’t have to worry about completing a 

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Thanks to this seamless transition you can also 

save the estate agents fees and all the stress that 

goes with it, by selling your property through us. 

Let us make your move a wonderful experience 

so you can concentrate on all the important 

things in life. 

*Terms and conditions apply. The park homes advertised are on a first come first served basis and limited availability. 

Picture for illustration purposes only.

Tye Green Lodge 

Elegant surroundings, excellent care 

and a welcoming environment. 

Tye Green Lodge care home has been designed to 

offer a wonderfully warm and supportive 

environment for older people. The home provides 

residential, dementia and respite care within spaces 

created to be welcoming and enjoyable. 

Fully Furnished Rooms 

Hair and Beauty Salon 

Large landscaped gardens 

Parking 

Full activities programme 

WiFi throughout 

24-Hour Care 

If you would like more information or to have a personal 

tour of Tye Green Lodge, please call or visit our website. 

T: 01279 770550 E: tye@quantumcare.co.uk 

Tye Green Village, Harlow Essex CM18 6QY 

Tye Green Lodge 

If you would like to join our 

fantastic team, please visit our 

Quantum Care website to see 

all our current vacancies: 

www.quantumcare.co.uk

We have local teams 

to help you make the 

most of your property 

in Norfolk and Suffolk 

Alexandra 

Barn 

Ref: HALEX 

Find out more about how our unique 

combination of local, and national, expertise 

and support can help you make the most of 

your property 

originalcottages.co.uk

Contents 

Magazine Production 

PUBLISHER Christa Hallam 

christa@eastlife.co.uk | 07827 015170 

EDITOR Emma Kemsley 

emma@eastlife.co.uk 

FEATURES WRITER Jacqui Hagen 

jacqui@eastlife.co.uk 

GRAPHIC DESIGN Doug Dawson 

doug@dougdawson.co.uk 

SALES ENQUIRIES 

Jim Leishman 

jim@eastlife.co.uk | 07872 469669 

We’re working hard to provide accurate 

content, but these are unusual times so 

please check opening times and availability 

before heading out. Follow social distancing 

guidelines at all times. 

Dear Reader, 

It’s the time of year where there’s 

a spring in our step. For the first 

time since the pandemic, we’re 

feeling hopeful about everything 

the season has to offer. 

We’ve created a bountiful issue 

of inspiration to encourage you 

to get outside and soak up the 

delights of spring. 

From days out wandering 

stately homes, visiting blooming 

gardens, sailing the Essex coast 

and the return of festival season, 

there’s something for everyone 

to enjoy. 

Children are kept entertained with a season of wild woodland 

activities and school holiday camps, and we’ve listed the best 

petting farms to see spring lambs, chicks and bunnies this Easter. 

The hospitality industry is heating up too with new openings and 

refurbishments. Check out our reviews in the county pages. 

However, the biggest news of the spring is the launch of the 

Eastlife Awards! For the first time ever, we’re honouring the best 

businesses in the East with our exclusive and exciting awards. 

There are amazing prizes up for grabs. Tell us about your favourite 

regional business by nominating online at eastlife.co.uk/awards 

EASTLIFE is published by Local Media Publishing 

Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in part or 

in whole, without the written permission of the 

publisher is strictly prohibited. The views expressed 

by contributors are not necessarily those of the 

publisher. All times, prices and dates of events were 

correct at the time of going to press but readers are 

advised to ring and check before setting out. 

Printed by Buxton Press. 

We can’t wait to receive your votes. 

Happy Spring! 

Emma Kemsley 

DON’T FORGET 

TO DOWNLOAD THE 

EASTLIFE APP AND FOLLOW 

US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 

(SEARCH “EASTLIFE”) 

5

2 for 1 

TUESDAY 

ChanThai 

WEDNESDAY 

Our Two for One menu features a choice of family 

favourites, we also offer a children’s Two for One menu 

Tuesdays 12-3pm & 5.30-8.30pm 

Guest Chef Pim and her authentic Thai food, crafted with 

the finest ingredients. Enjoy the best Thai dining at Channels 

Wednesdays 5.30-8.30pm 

The ultimate destination bar and restaurant in Chelmsford. Tel: 01245 440 005 

BOOK ONLINE AT: channelsestate.co.uk 

Visit our website for full details and menus, including our NEW Spring À la Carte Menu. 

Channels, Pratts Farm Lane East, Little Waltham, Chelmsford CM3 3PT (Entrance by the Park & Ride)

Contents 

010 Lifestyle 

Details of the first-ever Eastlife awards, 

plus days out and events to see you 

through spring 

063 Motoring 

Sue Cooke gets behind the wheel of the 

Mazda MX-30 

13 

24 

45 

132 

024 Travel 

Avian adventures and group getaways 

031 Dog Friendly 

All aboard! How to sail the Essex coast 

with your dog 

037 Education 

The tutoring trend, open days and news 

043 Little East 

School holiday and Easter fun; keep 

children entertained with woodland 

adventures and petting farms 

054 Health 

Fact or myth? We bust health related old 

wives’ tales 

057 Fashion 

Ladies who brunch! Style for all ages 

061 Weddings 

Plan your big day with a visit to a wedding 

exhibition this spring 

065 Consumer 

Are you one of over a million people 

missing out on Universal Credit? Martin 

Lewis shares his advice 

072 Interiors 

Kitchen trends and gardening jargon 

made simple 

079 Arts 

A round-up of the region’s arts news and 

exhibitions 

083 Area Focus 

News, restaurant recommendations and 

travel inspiration for every county 

– 083 Norfolk 

– 095 Suffolk 

– 105 Cambridgeshire 

– 117 Essex 

– 127 Hertfordshire 

– 137 Bedfordshire 

7

For an Older Person Needing Winter Support, Live-in 

Carers Provide the Solution. 

• Live-in Carers from Able Community Care provide domestic support, 

assistance with personal care and provide companionship during the 

long winter days. 

• Able Community Care has been providing Live-in Care support for over 

forty years. 

• Care support is available throughout the UK and the Channel Islands. 

• For an information brochure call 01603 764567 or email to 

info@ablecommunitycare.com 

• Further details can be found at www.ablecommunitycare.com

eastlife 

Eastlife Awards 2022 

Here at Eastlife Magazine we love sharing the best of the region with our 

readers. But this spring, we’re turning things up a notch and introducing the 

first ever Eastlife Awards! 

Following a tough two years, we think it’s time for a celebration. 

Our awards will champion the businesses who made it through rocky times 

and continued to provide the services we love.

The Categories 

The Eastlife Awards will celebrate the small 

and independent businesses that make 

East Anglia a great place to live and visit. 

Split into six counties, Bedfordshire, 

Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, 

Suffolk and Essex, with 10 categories to 

choose from, we can’t wait to find out who 

our readers think is the cream of the crop. 

How it Works 

Readers will be able to nominate from 

Tuesday 1 March 2022 until midnight on 

Sunday 3 April 2022, when we will put 

together shortlists for each category from 

the most nominated. 

On Monday 4 April 2022, we will announce 

the businesses that have made it on to the 

shortlist and these will once again be put to 

the vote. 

Our lucky winners will be announced on 

Monday 25 April 2022 and featured in 

a spread in the summer issue of Eastlife 

magazine and on all our social media 

platforms – how amazing is that! 

How to Enter 

Simply visit eastlife.co.uk/awards. 

Select a category and nominate your 

favourite business. It’s that easy! 

The Prize 

We’ll be shouting about the winners to 

our 100,000+ readership. The winner of 

each category will receive a certificate of 

recognition to display proudly, feature in 

an editorial spread in the summer issue of 

Eastlife, receive social media support on 

Eastlife platforms and feature on the Eastlife 

Awards website for a year! 

Theatre & Venues 

Let’s hear a round of applause for the region’s theatres. 

This category is for all theatres, entertainment venues 

and production companies. 

Art Galleries & Museums 

Do you have a favourite exhibition? Share it with 

everyone and nominate your favourite art gallery and/ 

or museum. 

Attractions & Days Out 

We love a day out in the East. Vote for your favourite 

attraction, experience or day out. 

Accommodation 

East Anglia is one of the most sought-after holiday 

destinations in the UK. From boutique hotels, 

campsites, glamping and self-catering cottages, 

nominate your favourite place to stay. 

Country Parks 

Venture into the great outdoors and vote for your 

favourite country park or nature reserve. 

Adrenaline-rush Activities 

Nominate the kind of activity that gets your heart 

beating faster. This category is suitable for, but not 

limited to, escape rooms, theme parks, trampoline 

parks, paintballing and go-karting. 

Festivals and Events 

From music, arts, food, comedy, literature and more, 

this category is open to all annual events. 

Gastro Pubs 

It’s no secret the East is home to some great pubs 

with superb cuisine. Vote for your favourite place for 

Sunday lunch or dinner. 

Spas & Wellness 

Everyone loves a pamper. The category is open to all 

spas, wellness centres and retreats. 

Wedding Venues 

Whether it’s traditional or edgy, if you can legally get 

married at the venue, then we want to hear from you. 

Why get involved 

The Easlife awards are a fantastic 

opportunity to support and promote 

deserving businesses in your county so 

please do get involved and vote now! 

Win! 

To say thank you for 

nominating your favourite 

local business, we’re offering 

readers the chance to win 

some fantastic prizes. 

11

Fenchurch House Care Home 

Fenchurch House provides the kind of care we’d want all of our loved ones to receive. If you’re 

concerned about how your relative is coping and would like them to have more support, Fenchurch 

House provides family-led care in a luxurious and homely environment. 

• Bistro café 

• The Mallard Tavern Pub 

• Hair and pamper salon 

• Tailored meaningful activities 

• Daily fine dining 

• Luxury en-suite bedrooms 

To find out more about life at Fenchurch House contact Morgan Hicks on 07834 790 400 or 

morgan.hicks@ countrycourtcare.com 

01775 711 959 

Spalding Common, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 3AS 

www.countrycourtcare.com

Step into 

Spring 

Make the most of the longer days and springtime 

sunshine with our pick of days out 

With Mother’s Day, Easter, school holidays and sunnier weather on the horizon, 

we’ve selected the best days out and activities to embrace the great outdoors 

this spring. 

13

Anglesey Abbey 

Quy Road, Cambridge 

A trip to this National Trust property is a great spring day 

out. From Lord Fairhaven’s collection in the house, which 

took 40 years and a vast fortune to acquire, to the amazing 

collection of plants in the garden, there’s plenty to see 

and do. There are a number of walks to enjoy. Explore the 

Cambridgeshire countryside, passing waterways and the 

Quy Fen or opt for the Anglesey Abbey Dog Walking Trail, 

a short walk which takes in the countryside near the Abbey 

and the village of Lode. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/anglesey-abbey-gardens-andlode-mill 

Stately Homes 

During spring the region’s stately homes come to life. The 

doors are reopened to beautiful interiors and the grounds 

begin to bloom. Bank holidays usually welcome activities 

and reenactments for the whole family to enjoy too. Be sure 

to pay a visit to these stately homes this spring: 

Wrest Park 

Silsoe, Bedfordshire 

Wrest Park is a spectacular country house which was 

designed to look like a grand French chateau. Visitors can 

explore the evolution of the English garden with a stroll 

through three centuries of landscape design. From dazzling 

parterres and fragrant borders, to sweeping views and 

woodland walks, the 92-acre gardens are a treat for the 

senses. From 2-21 April, children can become explorers 

with an Easter Adventure Quest, while a St George’s Festival 

takes place from 23-24 April. 

english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wrest-park 

Hatfield House 

Hatfield Park, Hertfordshire 

Explore the Jacobean craftsmanship throughout the house 

with its grand interiors, collections and art loans. There are 

multiple gardens to explore, each with their own beautiful 

design. On 18 April and 12 May, head gardener, Andrew 

Turvey, will host an evening tour of the Historic Gardens, 

providing visitors with insightful knowledge about the 

landscape and plants. 

hatfield-house.co.uk 

Knebworth House 

Knebworth Park, Hertfordshire 

With its grand house, beautiful gardens, parkland, children’s 

playground and dinosaur trail, Knebworth House is a 

perfect spring day out for the whole family. There’s plenty to 

see and do. The grounds host regular events so check the 

events calendar before your visit. 

knebworthhouse.com 

Audley End House and Gardens 

Saffron Walden, Essex 

Created by the famous 18th century designer Lancelot 

‘Capability’ Brown, the gardens at this historic home are 

beautiful at any time of year, but during spring and summer 

they come alive with vibrant colours. Stroll through the 

immaculate grounds, before stopping for tea at the café. 

From 2-24 April, the grounds will host its popular, Easter 

Adventure Quest. 

english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/audley-endhouse-and-gardens 

Kentwell Hall 

Long Melford, Sudbury 

Explore this beautiful home which has been lived in for 

over 500 years. Most of the house can be viewed, while the 

extensive gardens offer many ancient features including a 

moat, 17th century walled garden and yews of a great age. 

kentwell.co.uk 

Framlingham Castle 

Framlingham, Suffolk 

Everyone knows about the castle on the hill, thanks to local 

lad and superstar Ed Sheeran, and quite right too, this is a 

Suffolk gem. Once upon a time it was a fearsome fortress, 

head behind the castle’s towering walls and discover its 

fascinating history with its exhibition, take in stunning views 

and finish with Tudor treats at the café. Keep an eye out for 

upcoming Easter and spring events. 

english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/framlinghamcastle 

Blickling Estate 

Blickling, Norwich 

The breath-taking red-brick mansion and ancient yew 

hedges sit at the heart of a magnificent garden and historic 

park in the beautiful Bure meadows. Explore the walled 

garden, admire historic buildings and stroll around the lake. 

During spring the space comes alive with daffodils and 

seasonal flora. Don’t miss bluebell season at the end of April 

and throughout May. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling-estate 

14

Sandringham Estate 

Sandringham PE35 6EN 

Feel like royalty and walk the grounds of the 

Sandringham Estate. It is the ideal place for a day 

out with lots to see and do. Follow the footpaths 

through the woodlands and parklands or opt for a 

tour of the house and gardens. 

sandringhamestate.co.uk 

Spring Strolls 

As the new season blooms head to the region’s 

forests and country parks for a carpet of spring 

flowers. We’ve listed the best times and places to 

get your floral fix. 

SNOWDROPS – 

JANUARY TO MARCH 

Sheringham Park, 

Sheringham, Norfolk 

A great location to visit at any time of year, but 

during the spring the parkland comes alive 

with colour. You’ll find the Galanthus plicatus or 

‘Upcher’ variety of the flower scattered in displays 

throughout the park. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/sheringham-park 

Wimpole Estate 

Royston, Cambridgeshire 

Throughout February the Pleasure Grounds are 

covered in angelic snowdrops. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate 

Thornham Estate 

Eye, Suffolk 

Snowdrops cover the 2,000 acres of parkland that 

make up this grand estate. There are over 12 miles 

of public footpaths as well as a walled garden and 

café. 

Thornhamestate.com 

Grove Lodge 


A dazzling display of snowdrops and crocus pop 

up at this large walled garden. It’s a short stroll from 

the town centre so be sure to warm up at one of 

the local cafes. 

essexngs.co.uk 

Benington Lordship Gardens 

Stevenage, Hertfordshire 

Opening every year in February, brighten up 

your day with a walk around the gardens that are 

carpeted in a beautiful display of snowdrops. 

beningtonlordship.co.uk/snowdrops 

The Swiss Garden 

Old Warden, Bedfordshire 

Stop by in February for a prime peak at the 

clustered displays of snowdrops set amongst 

immaculate lawns and winding paths. With its 

Swiss Cottage, pond and trails, this enchanting 

garden is perfect for an early spring day out. 

shuttleworth.org/explore/swiss-garden 

DAFFODILS – 

FEBRUARY TO APRIL 

Felbrigg Hall 

Norwich, Norfolk 

The stately home and gardens tick all the boxes 

for a spring day out. The estate and parkland are 

swathed in a golden display of daffodils, and new 

life can be spotted all around with chicks at the 

walled garden and lambs and calves on the estate. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/felbrigg-hall-gardensand-estate 

Ickworth House 

Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk 

Discover the classical Rotunda at the heart of the 

estate and wander through the heritage daffodils 

popping up throughout the pleasure grounds in 

front of the Italianate palace. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth 

Thriplow Village 

Thriplow, Cambridgeshire 

Every year the village hosts its popular Daffodil 

Weekend and Country Fair. The community 

comes together to showcase the village’s daffodil 

displays and residential gardens. There’s a country 

vibe with live music, a dog show, stalls, and plenty 

of street food. This year’s event takes place 19-20 

March. 

thriplowdaffodils.org.uk 

Warley Place Nature Reserve 

Check out our 

guide to spring days 

out in every county: 

eastlife.co.uk/?s=spring 

Warley, Essex 

This little natural haven outside the busy town of 

Brentwood is the site of a house and Edwardian 

gardens belonging to Ellen Willmott. Now 

maintained by Essex Wildlife Trust, the 25-acre 

reserve serves up a bright and colourful display of 

daffodils. 

essexwt.org.uk/nature-reserves/warley-place 

15

Turn to page 

50 for the best 

farms to visit 

this Easter! 

Cassiobury Park 

Watford, Hertfordshire 

A regular award winner, the park is a great day out for the 

whole family, and come spring, blooms with displays of a 

variety of daffodils. 

Wrest Park 

Silsoe, Bedfordshire 

The walled garden blossoms with spring favourites planted 

among wildflowers and native daffodils brighten up the 

Pear Orchard too. 

english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wrest-park 

BLUEBELLS, MID-APRIL TO MAY 

Foxley Woods 

Dereham, Norfolk 

Boost your mood with a wander through the carpet of 

bluebells which bloom from late April. 

norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk 

Haughley Park 

Stowmarket, Suffolk 

Between mid-April and early May, the woodland floor 

blooms with bluebells. On the last Sunday of April and first 

Sunday of May, this private estate opens its gates to the 

public to share the beauty. 

haughleypark.co.uk/public-events/bluebell-Sundays 

Thorpe Wood 

Peterborough, Cambridgeshire 

Under a canopy of the ancient woodland, a beautiful 

display of bluebells emerges. Stop by to admire natures 

beauty of flora and fauna. 

wildlifebcn.org/nature-reserves/thorpe-wood 

Blake’s Wood 

Danbury, Essex 

Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature. Paths wind 

through the ancient woodland, taking visitors past trickling 

streams and stunning bluebells. 

woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/blakeswood 

Ashridge Estate 

Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire 

One of the most popular bluebell walks in the East, the 

spring flower has been present at the estate for 400 years. 

There are two waymarked routes to see the bluebells, 

which begin at the Visitor Centre. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge-estate 

Landpark Wood, Bedfordshire 

A tranquil spot near Whipsnade with a carpet of vibrant 

bluebells in spring and birdsong in the canopy. Park at 

Whipsnade Heath and take the circular walk to the wood 

via Dunstable Downs. 

wildlifebcn.org/nature-reserves/landpark-wood 

16

Family friendly self catering at Fuller’s Hill Cottages 

on a family run farm in South Cambridgeshire. 

Featuring 7 unique cottages with hot tubs and pretty 

gardens which can sleep individual families or larger 

gatherings and social bubbles! 

For a love of the outdoors, local attractions, dog friendly, 

a new sundown spot to watch the beautiful sunsets, and a 

play area, choose us for your next staycation! 

GET IN TOUCH 

Please call Kirstie on 07544 208959 

Email bookings@fullershillcottages.co.uk 

www.fullershillcottages.co.uk 

@fullershill.cottages Fullers Hill Cottages Official @fullershill 

eastlife 

Summer issue 

To get your business or 

service included in the 

Summer issue of EastLife 

magazine, the essential 

guide to the East of England. 

get in touch by 

Monday 9th April 

Email ads@eastlife.co.uk 

17

eastlife.co.uk 

VISIT | DRINK | EAT | STAY 

Your ultimate guide to the East of England 

eastlife

Festival 

Fever 

Grab your wellies and get ready to dance the 

day away as festival season returns 

Written by Noah Keate | noahkeate.journoportfolio.com 

The weather is warming up, and the opportunity to enjoy more culture 

accompanies it. The East’s festival scene is back with a bang. Whether 

you’re after great music, local food and drink, chilled vibes, or a family day 

out, there’s something for everyone. With so much on offer, we’ve made 

things a little easier with our guide to this year’s festival scene. 

19

Bury Fringe Festival, 1-30 April 

Multiple venues in Bury St Edmunds 

A popular Suffolk event, the festival will provide a 

programme of arts, music and entertainment throughout 

April. Further details to be announced on socials. 

facebook.com/BuryFringeFestival 

Festival of Suffolk 2022, May – October 

Multiple venues across Suffolk 

The Festival of Suffolk will seek to unite the whole county in 

a celebration of community. The festival, organized by the 

Suffolk Lieutenancy, will also spotlight aspects of Suffolk life 

and feature a celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. 

festivalofsuffolk.org 

Norfolk and Norwich Festival, 

13 – 29 May 

Norwich & multiple venues across Norfolk 

Founded to fundraise for Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, the 

charity aims to share cultures and bring people together. 

Celebrating its 250th anniversary, the festival has adapted 

from a fundraiser to a music festival and now a celebrated 

diverse range of artistic creativity. This year, the festival will 

look towards how to work with young people and ensure 

social responsibility is upheld while delivering an eclectic 

mix of treats. nnfestival.org.uk 

Suffolk Walking Festival, 14-29 May 

Multiple Suffolk walking routes 

Put your best foot forward and uncover the delights of 

Suffolk with a mix of events and unforgettable walks. Taking 

place over the whole county, there are over 70 walks 

to enjoy including long walks, short strolls, nature trails, 

coastal paths and more. Be quick to book your space on 

the ‘Walk n’ Water’ short walks which include a boat trip 

along the River Stour in Sudbury, and a free hot drink – it’s 

always a sell-out! This festival is a celebration of the great 

outdoors and nature, and a chance to appreciate the 

beauty of the region. Additional activities include a twilight 

bat safari, campfire make and bake and family wild crafts. 

suffolkwalkingfestival.co.uk 

Youphoria is designed to shake off serious thoughts and 

celebrate what makes people feel good. The grounds 

of Knebworth House offer the perfect place for eclectic 

workshops and eccentric workouts to suit all. Highlights 

include a roller-skating disco, circus skills, yoga and therapy. 

youphoria-festival.co.uk 

Newmarket Nights, June – August 

Newmarket Racecourse 

Newmarket Nights does exactly what it says on the tin. 

Offering brilliant value, it combines great music from bignamed 

stars with world famous horseracing. This summer 

sees Paloma Faith, The Script, Anne Marie, The Wombats 

and Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classic take to the stage. More artists 

will be announced soon. 

thejockeyclub.co.uk/newmarket/events-tickets/ 

newmarket-nights 

Red Rooster, 2-4 June 

Euston Hall, Suffolk 

Following its huge success in 2021, Red Rooster is back 

with an impressive line-up of country, soul and blues 

artists. The festival will welcome the four-time Grammy 

award nominated North Mississippi Allstars to perform 

and Mississippi Hills blues guitarist, Cedric Burnside, who 

is a key representative of the genre. The Sheepdogs from 

Canada will take to the stage with their dynamic sounds, 

alongside San Francisco’s Chuck Prophet and The Mission 

Express, who offer a mixture of storytelling songs to compel 

audiences. As always, festivalgoers can expect a hearty mix 

of Southern inspired food. The festival has consistently sold 

out over the last four years so be quick to snap up tickets. 

redrooster.org.uk 

Cambridge Club Festival, 

10-12 June 

Childerley Orchard, Cambridge 

The Cambridge Club Festival is an event 

designed for all ages, offering family 

fun alongside a range of music, 

arts and culture. Expect a lively 

atmosphere with live entertainment 

Weird & Wonderful Festival, 14-15 May 

Haughley Park, Stowmarket, Suffolk 

The festival is dedicated to the beauty and craftsmanship 

of wood. Artists and crafts people come from all over 

the country to showcase their skills in carving and 

sculpture, fine furniture making, musical instrument 

making, displays by traditional fletchers and 

bowyers, chainsaw carving and more. 

Workshops for both adults and children are 

free, and include activities such as archery, 

den building and tree climbing in nets. 

weirdandwonderfulwood.co.uk 

Youphoria, 20-22 May 

Knebworth Park, Hertfordshire 

A celebration of mind, body and wellness, 

20

for both adults and children and great food and drink. 

This year’s line-up includes mega-star, Diana Ross. 

thecambridgeclub.co 

Forest Live at High Lodge, 16-19 June 

Thetford Forest 

Set in stunning natural surroundings, the Forest Live project 

raises money to care for the woodlands. Through money 

raised by ForestLive gigs and other ventures, they have 

built over 1,800 miles of walking, running, and cycling 

trails, supplied large amounts of sustainable timber, and 

conserved plant and animal species. This year’s acts 

include Rag’n’Bone Man, Keane and Madness. 

forestryengland.uk/thetford-forest-live-music 

Cambridge Rock Festival, 16-19 June 

East of England Showground, Peterborough 

Hugely popular with fans of rock and blues, the festival 

promises to offer a great line-up including Cats in Space, 

The Pure Floyd Show and Buster James. An event run by 

volunteer music fans for music fans, it has a real noncorporate 

atmosphere as part of its ethos. Bars will offer real 

ales and ciders, with on-site camping for tents, caravans 

and motorhomes. cambridgerockfestival.co.uk 

Folk By the 

Oak, 17 July 

Hatfield House, Hertfordshire 

With the Proclaimers headlining, it certainly 

looks like a trip worth walking 500 miles 

to. The festival offers both a level of 

intimacy with the Acorn Stage alongside 

an open-air festival buzz on the Main 

Stage. Seeking to allow award-winning 

musicians and talent to thrive, the level of 

energy and dynamism is striking. There’s 

hand-picked craftspeople and caterers, and 

creative workshops for children. 

folkbytheoak.com 

Bedford Fake Festival, 18 June 

Bedford Park, Bedford 

The Bedford Fake Festival has an impressive track record 

of selling out. Six superb tribute bands will entertain music 

fans. fakefestivals.co.uk/events/2022/Bedford.html 

Essex Festival of Food and Drink, 

18-19 June 

Cressing Temple Barns, Braintree, Essex 

If you like your food and drink, this weekend is guaranteed 

to keep you full on activities and tasty delights. Pick up 

tips from celebrity chefs, including Rosemary Shrager, be 

hands-on with masterclasses and workshops and taste 

some of the region’s best produce. There are events for little 

wannabe chefs too! 

lovefoodevents.co.uk/essexfoodfestival 

Folk in a Field, 1-3 July 

Bradmoor Woods, West Acre, Norfolk 

Bringing together a diverse range of folk and roots music, 

there will be a laid-back atmosphere with lots of food and 

workshops on offer. Taking place in a woodland clearing, 

the festival includes free camping and parking, alongside 

free admission for under 12s. folkinafield.co.uk 

Bedford River Festival, 23-24 July 

The Embankment, Bedford 

Free for all to attend, the festival brings the community 

together with its extensive programme of river activities 

and raft and dragon boat races. On dry land, there’s a 

lively atmosphere with a funfair, continental market, live 

entertainment and more. The event ends with a bang with a 

spectacular firework display. riverfestival.bedford.gov.uk 

Warm Up Festival, 18-21 August 

Bygrave Woods, Hertfordshire 

The Warm Up Festival is a vision of the London club scene. 

Offering the best in techno, house and progressive music 

with a focus on homegrown, upcoming talent, it’s a must for 

clubbing fans. Dwellers can revel in interactive installations, 

immersive experiences and wellness activities. 

warmupfestival.co.uk 

Folkeast, 19-21 August 

Glemham Hall, Suffolk 

FolkEast celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2022 by 

offering a line-up that reflects the last decade. With lots of 

information still under-wraps, it’s set to be an exciting event 

you won’t want to miss. folkeast.co.uk 

Todd in the Hole, 15-17 July 

Bury Wood, Stevenage, Hertfordshire 

A family-friendly festival primarily based around a sense of 

community and togetherness. Across three days, over 80 

artists will perform across five stages. 

toddinthehole.co.uk 

Hifields Festival, 27-28 August 

Chippenham Park, nr Ely, Cambridgeshire 

The Hifields Festival will take place in the idyllic 

Cambridgeshire countryside. Create lasting memories with 

friends as you dance under a canopy of the trees and within 

the meadows. Saturday is aimed at friends with a love of 

music, while Sunday is more of a family affair. hifields.com 

21

ADVERTORIAL 

and Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year, over two consecutive 

years. Rayford combines classic soul melodies with funky 

R&B grooves, raw blues power and mashed up with modern 

sensibilities. 

2022 is here and 

we’re ready to 

make it the most 

exciting festival 

to date. 

To celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on 

2 June, we are honoured to be part of this important part 

of history, with the local community lighting the beacon in 

Euston Park on our opening day. 

We have also become part of The Festival of Suffolk, which 

aims to build a £5m Festival Fund by 2024, administered in 

partnership with the Suffolk Community Foundation. This 

fund will support grant funding to charities, community 

groups and social enterprises in Suffolk who share the 

Festival values, and act in one or more of the six core areas: 

Culture & Tourism, Opportunity & Education, Enterprise, 

Community, Environments and Health & Wellbeing. We’re 

delighted to be part of the celebrations and we are also 

delighted to announce who will be joining us at Red Rooster 

this summer! 

We’re very excited to welcome Seasick Steve as the 

headliner of Red Rooster 2022 on Friday night. Steve has 

come a very long way in the 15 years since he burst into 

the public consciousness with his amazingly raw, powerful 

and emotional performances on Jools Holland becoming 

a household name overnight. It is those astonishing and 

engaging live performances that have turned Steve and 

drummer Dan Magnusson into such a powerful force both 

Iive and on record (selling over 1m albums), and selling out 

venues all over the world in the process. 

Born and raised in California, ex-UEA student Nick 

Waterhouse tops the main stage’s Saturday billing, 

bringing his intoxicating Rhythm and Blues to Euston Hall. 

His latest album ‘Promenade Blue’ represents rebirth and 

reinvigoration as well as a clarity of purpose, vivid and 

magnetic. 

Memphis man Sugarray Rayford joins us, with new album 

‘In Too Deep,’ the follow up to his 2020 Grammy nominated 

‘Somebody Save Me’, an album which also earned Rayford 

two major Blues Music Awards for B.B. King Entertainer 

We’ve been working on booking Joshua Hedley since his 

amazing Third Man album ‘Mr Jukebox’ was released by Jack 

White’s label in 2018. Joshua has been making a name for 

himself as Nashville’s right-hand man. Known as the “mayor of 

lower Broadway” by collaborators and comrades, Hedley is a 

fixture at Robert’s Western World, where he plays for tips with 

his band the Hedliners. The multi-talented singer-songwriter 

has played fiddle with Justin Townes Earle, Robert Ellis and 

Jonny Fritz. Now Music City’s favourite son is breaking out on 

his own and he’s heading to Red Rooster. 

Another Third Man act is Smoke Fairies who were the first UK 

band to release a record on the Nashville based label. Their 

latest album ‘Darkness Brings The Wonders Home’ reached 

#1 in the UK Rock chart and went top 10 in the Indie Album 

charts. 

A twice winner of the British Blues Award for Best Acoustic 

Performer and Best Songwriter, Marcus Bonfanti signs up 

to Red Rooster, Bristol’s Beth Rowley brings her Americana 

inspired lullabies, and we see the very welcome return of slide 

guitar maestro, Martin Harley, who will blow our minds once 

again. 

Danish/Brazilian duo The Courettes make their Red Rooster 

debut, whilst William The Conqueror return with their fuzzy 

roots rock n’ chops. 

‘He Was In Heaven Before He Died: A Tribute to John Prine’, 

will feature Robert Chaney, The Magic Numbers, Beth Rowley, 

Felix Holt, Louis Brennan, Josh Flowers, Laura Tenchert, 

Pat Ralla and Joe Harvey Whyte. After a stellar show at Red 

Rooster 2021 with their homage to legendary music doc 

‘Heartworn Highways’, this unique collective of musicians and 

songwriters are back once again to pay tribute to one of the 

most influential songwriters of a generation. 

Also newly announced are Awkward Family Portraits, The 

Schizophonics, Lady Nade, Alan Tyler & The Tapadoband, 

PM Warson, Red Hot Riot, Old Baby Mackerel, Chastity Brown, 

Mudlow, East Lonesome Drifters, The Dashwood String Band, 

Professor Baba & His Invisible Band, Ags Connolly, Jake 

Morrell, Sister Suzie, Lucy Grub, The McGuilty Brothers, East 

Angles Brass Band and Loose Leaf Drifters. With DJ sets from 

Eddie Pillar, Iraina Mancini, Ross Allen + Rocky, Wendy May, 

DJ Diddy Wah, Dean Thatcher, Dean Chalkley + Neil Barker, 

Oh Gunquit, Crispy Cowboy, Hank JD Sleek, Shola Aleje, and 

Andrew Hackett. 

This fantastic line-up will join the previously announced 

North Mississippi Allstars, Cedric Burnside, Robert Finley, The 

Sheepdogs, Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express, Elles 

Bailey, Danny George Wilson, and Dom Pipkin & The Ikos. 

Red Rooster has consistently sold out the last four years 

and expect to sell out quicker in 2022. We’re one of the best 

value festivals out there at just £109.50 + booking fee for the 

whole weekend, which includes three nights of camping and 

parking FREE. Kids under 12 are free as always and we’ve also 

introduced a teen weekend ticket for just £50 + booking fee. 

Get your ticket before it’s too late – you won’t want to miss this 

one! 

23

A 

Wild 

Adventure 

Discover the best avian activity on 

your doorstep 

Norfolk might be becoming the UK’s “capital of 

birdwatching”, with Suffolk and Cambridgeshire close 

by, but what is it that makes here so special for birds? 

The RSPB’s Becca Smith reveals the top five nature 

reserves in the area, and what wildlife you’re likely to 

spot should you visit… 

Blessed with wide sandy shores, RSPB Titchwell 

Marsh on Norfolk’s north coast, hosts a great range of 

habitats as well as stunning views across The Wash, 

an internationally important area for wildlife and the 

picturesque scene from many a photograph. 

This intertidal saltmarsh, accompanied by freshwater 

lagoons and swaying reedbeds, promise a wonderful 

walk for all nature lovers, as a variety of birds call it 

home. From avocets (the RSPB’s emblem bird) wading 

across silent pools, marsh harriers swooping overhead, 

and bearded tits clinging to slim reed stalks, whether 

you’re an experienced birdwatcher or not, there is 

plenty to enjoy. 

With a fantastic shop and café on site, Titchwell 

Marsh really is the base from which to start your wild 

adventure. Why not pick up a new pair of binoculars 

with the help of the RSPB’s friendly staff, or indulge in a 

scrumptious slice of cake to fuel your walk? 

Only 25 minutes away, RSPB Snettisham is a must 

see, especially if you time your visit right. Celebrating 

its 50th anniversary this year, RSPB Snettisham gives 

a close-up view of just how important The Wash is for 

wildlife, with its whirling wader spectacle bringing the 

sky to life. 

Caused by high spring tides that push large numbers 

of knot, dunlin and oystercatchers up off the mudflats, 

the sight and sound of hundreds of wingbeats in the 

air around you are not to be missed. The spectacle is 

not an everyday occurrence, with visitors only able to 

witness the display less than 50 times a year. Be sure to 

plan your visit carefully using the RSPB’s handy guide 

on their website so you don’t miss out. 

It’s not just the skies that fill with birds at RSPB 

Snettisham, as its beach is also a vital habitat for 

breeding birds. Did you know that over half of 

England’s most threatened breeding birds nest on or 

near the ground? 

At RSPB Snettisham, a project is underway to help 

threatened ringed plover. These small birds nest 

in shallow indentations in the sand and are easily 

disturbed by humans and dogs. To help protect these 

well-camouflaged birds, and other ground nesting 

species, visitors are asked to watch their step and keep 

their dogs on leads when exploring all nature has to 

offer. 

© rspb-images.com 

Further inland, and 25 minutes from Norwich, RSPB 

Strumpshaw Fen in Norfolk promises to delight with 

orchid and butterfly rich meadows, leafy woodlands 

and stunning riverside walks. 

24

© rspb-images.com 

Capture the 

moment! Turn 

to page 68 for 

our pick of the 

best cameras. 

Keen eyed visitors may spot the elusive bittern skulking 

at the water’s edge, marsh harriers performing their 

breath-taking “sky dance” display, or the flash of blue as 

kingfishers catch a fish beneath the surface of the reedbed 

pools. Whenever you choose to visit, this nature reserve 

is fantastic for all the family, with activities taking place 

throughout the year including pond dipping and binocular 

hire. Why not grab a refreshing drink or snack to round off 

the visit too? 

Over in Suffolk, nature enthusiasts will find RSPB 

Lakenheath Fen, a magnificent wetland and woodland 

with big skies and awe-inspiring nature experiences. These 

former carrot fields are now filled to the brim with wildlife 

amongst the reeds and trees, from otters and water voles to 

kingfishers and bitterns. 

A vital nature reserve in the Fens, Lakenheath Fen has 

become a strong hold for the crane, a huge bird that 

had once disappeared from the UK before a successful 

reintroduction project secured its future. Visitors may be 

lucky enough to spot the cranes on the reserve, as well as 

observe hobbies skilfully darting above the water’s surface 

catching dragonflies and other insects. 

a dedicated wild zone for children to explore, the whole 

family can also enjoy den building and minibeast hunting 

before finishing up at the on-site shop and café for a treat 

or two. 

With hand-picked events running at these RSPB reserves 

regularly, you can learn more about what makes these 

nature reserves so special for wildlife while taking a walk 

with a warden or a bird identification masterclass. To find 

out more, visit events.rspb.org.uk. 

© Kevin Sawford 

If that doesn’t whet your appetite enough, the visitor centre 

has everything you need to find out more about the reserve 

and its wildlife, as well as a selection of tasty refreshments 

available to enjoy. 

Meanwhile, at RSPB Minsmere on the Suffolk coast, some 

of the UK’s rarest wildlife can be discovered while on an 

idyllic coastal walk, guaranteed to have something for all 

the family. Seventy-five years in the making, Minsmere is a 

patchwork of habitats, from purple heathland and stunning 

sunsets, to calming reflections cast across coastal lagoons. 

Steeped in history and archaeology as well as wildlife, spot 

avocets, bearded tits and red deer amongst historical ruins, 

listening out for the sweet song of warblers or the boom 

of the bittern as you meander through the reserve. With 

Thinking of booking a staycation? 

Make the most of your visit by staying in one of 

thousands of handpicked cottages across the UK 

thanks to holidaycottages.co.uk. Throughout 2022, 

holidaycottages.co.uk are supporting the RSPB’s 

conservation work – saving species and restoring 

habitats right across the UK – with every booking made 

resulting in a donation to the RSPB. 

These photos was taken with a telephoto lens to avoid disturbance to birds 

25

Essex Wildlife Trust 

Fingringhoe Wick Nature Discovery Park 

A great place to visit—at any time of year! 

South Green Road, Fingringhoe, Colchester, Essex CO5 7DN 

Peaceful walks, wonderful wildlife and stunning views. Explore and discover over 

200 acres of reserve. 

• Gift shop with nature themed gifts, cards, books, bird seed and binoculars. 

• Cafe serving snacks, cakes, hot and cold drinks. 

• Check Facebook or the website for events, inc guided walks, children's holiday 

activities and birthday parties 

• Suggest donation for entry 

• Reserve open 7 days a week 9am-5pm. Visitor Centre opens at 10am 

Registered Charity No. 210065 

Info: fingringhoe@essexwt.org.uk 01206 729678 

essexwt.org.uk/reserves/fingringhoe-wick 

Facebook: EWTfingringhoe 

Protecting Wildlife for the Future and for the People of Essex

Church Cottage and Water Tower 

Group 

Getaways 

Big houses for large celebrations 

Oversea travel may still be uncertain, but at 

least this year we can staycation with friends 

and family. If you’re planning a group getaway, 

we’ve got you covered with the best luxury 

holiday rentals in the region. 

Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire 

Sleeps: 10 

Price: Seven nights from £2,934 

Located on the Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire border 

in the quaint town of Kimbolton, the cottage combines 

old and new. Originally built in the early 17th century, 

Church Cottage and Water Tower has been refurbished 

into a stylish holiday home for those looking to explore 

Bedfordshire. The property started as a vicarage house 

next to the village church and the water tower was built 

by US forces stationed in Melchbourne in 1941. 

Interiors in the old part of the house are cosy and 

traditional, think wood panelling, rustic beams and a 

fireplace, while the newer extension includes a glass 

exterior housing the sleek indoor swimming pool. If that 

wasn’t enough of a wow factor, the secluded garden 

features a large terrace and hot tub, perfect for catching 

up with friends over a glass of wine. 

During a spring visit, families can enjoy the walking trails 

through the nearby nature reserves, including Little 

Paxton Pits Nature Reserve and the Nene Wetlands 

Nature Reserve. A range of charming pubs are also 

located close by, with local ales and traditional pub grub 

on offer, and water sports are available at Grafham Water 

for adventurers, from sailing to canoeing. 

sykescottages.co.uk 

Goldstones Farm – The Hayloft 


Sleeps: 10 

Price: From £1,875 

For a taste of rural life, check-in to The Hayloft. The luxury 

barn conversion offers five bedrooms and beautiful open 

plan living areas ideal for group celebrations. Beyond the 

interiors, the decking complete with a bubbling hot tub, 

has far reaching views of the Essex countryside. A village 

pub is a short driveaway, while the medieval market town 

of Saffron Walden provides plenty of things to do on a 

spring or summer’s day, including landscaped gardens, 

walking trails, shopping and English Heritage’s Audley 

End House. 

cottage-choice.co.uk 

A Modern Farm House 

Great Amwell, Hertfordshire 

Sleeps: 12 

Price: Enquire directly 

If you like chic, modern interiors this is the house for 

you. Featuring six bedrooms and a large garden with 

swimming pool and hot tub, this holiday rental is ideal for 

large families wanting to take advantage of Hertfordshire’s 

attractions and quick links to London. If you’re celebrating 

a special occasion, a private chef is available to hire too! 

airbnb.co.uk 

28

Clarance House 

Yoxford, Suffolk 

Sleeps: 24 

Price: Three-night weekend from £12,390, seven nights 

from £25,190 

Live like royalty at Clarence House! Not to be confused 

with the London residence of HRH Prince of Wales, 

guests opting to spend a week in this Suffolk abode of 

the same name will still feel like royalty. The grand manor 

house, set beside a large lake, features open fires, fine 

antique furniture, various reception rooms, an impressive 

dining hall, a wine cellar, and 12 bedrooms – most of 

which are en-suite with roll-top baths. 

There is plenty to entertain too, with a cinema room, a 

games room with pool, table tennis and table football, and 

a gym, while a tennis court can be found in the extensive 

5,000 acres of shared grounds. 

Set in Sibton, in the Suffolk countryside, Clarence House 

is just a short drive from the heritage coastal towns of 

Aldeburgh and Southwold – perfect for a bracing walk. 

thewowhousecompany.com 

Belvedere House 

Snettisham, Norfolk 

Sleeps: 18-20 

Price: Seven-nights from £6,040, or short breaks from 

£3,995 

Live your very own music video fantasy at this 

spectacular Norfolk house, where the interiors are as cool 

as its features. Ideal for those who love music or want to 

live like a celebrity, if only for a few nights, this is a country 

house with a touch of rock ‘n’ roll. 

Not only does the property boast nine individually-styled 

bedrooms, a large kitchen and separate catering kitchen, 

fine dining room and a cosy den but also a fully soundproofed 

leisure room with a cinema screen, DJ decks, 

karaoke machine and dressing up room with outfits. 

Outside is a beautiful secret garden and eight-seat hot tub 

with colour changers. It’s a short drive from the beach too! 

thewowhousecompany.com 

29

WILDLIFE 

• Quality Wild Bird Foods 

• Bird Feeders and bespoke Bird Tables 

• Large range of Nest Boxes 

• Hedgehog Homes • Bat Boxes 

DOG CARE 

• Harnesses, Collars & Leads 

by EzyDog 

• Quality Dog Beds 

by Earthbound 

• Kong Toys 

• Healthy Foods, Treats 

& Supplements 

• Lily’s Kitchen & Betty Miller 

Bird Ventures, The Wildlife & Pet Shop 

9B Chapel Yard, Albert Street, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6HG 

01263 710203 • www.birdventures.co.uk 

30

Being clumsy is something I thought Fletcher would grow 

out of but after seven and half years, I think it’s safe to say, 

it’s a trait he was born with. 

During the puppy days he would trip over his little legs as 

he chased the ball. Rolling down the stairs was his preferred 

choice as he was too impatient to learn how to descend 

correctly. He’d run and launch himself off furniture. March 

up to the biggest dogs without fear. As he grew, so did his 

bravery. 

It soon become clear Fletcher was not like most dogs, and 

we got him insured immediately for his own safety and the 

safety of our bank balance when an inevitable injury would 

happen. 

According to Statista, in 2020 the value of claims paid out 

by pet insurance totalled £800million in the UK. Fletcher 

contributed to the figure by racking up £10,000 worth of 

surgery in 2020 due to eating things he shouldn’t; stones 

and a kebab stick in case you were wondering. 

Tails About 

Town: 

Clumsy Cocker 

It’s no secret Fletcher is a lively little soul, which is why he 

frequently lands himself in a predicament. Over the past 

month or so he has encountered getting stuck in a fence, 

tangled in wire, and falling off the bed while he snoozed. 

Add this to the countless times he trips, walks into things, 

and knocks items over, you can start to understand why 

I’ve begun to worry about his senses. 

On a recent walk, he become so distracted by another dog 

being told off, he walked straight into a brick wall, knocking 

himself back and becoming slightly dazed. The other dog 

owner apologised for the incident while I laughed at the 

silliness of it all. 

And there you have it, the reason for his clumsiness. 

Fletcher is so easily distracted that he acts before he 

thinks. He bounces from one thing to the next, loving 

life and oblivious to anything or anyone around him. 

His enthusiasm for life puts a smile on my face every day. 

Given the heaviness of the last couple of years, I think 

we could all do with being a little more like Fletcher. 

#bemorefletcher 

31

New Luxury Care Home 

Castor Lodge Care Home 

Castor Lodge Care Home provides the highest standards of family-led residential and dementia 

care. Our home is luxurious and beautifully furnished, whilst retaining a warm family atmosphere 

that makes Castor Lodge feel extra special. 

• 68 Spacious en-suite bedrooms 

• 6 Premium self-contained suites 

• Bistro Café and themed Pub 

• Sociable lounge and dining areas 

• Daily fine dining 

• Tailored meaningful activities 

• Roof terrace and landscaped gardens 

• Hair and pamper salon 

To find out more about life at Castor Lodge Care Home contact Laura Mills on 07725 799 217 or 

laura.mills@countrycourtcare.com 

01733 731 455 

Splash Lane, Castor, Peterborough, PE5 7BD 

www.countrycourtcare.com

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Type 1 Diabetes 

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A charity supporting and listening to people who live with diabetes 

HELPLINE: 01604 622837 

www.iddtinternational.org 



Diabetes 

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HELPLINE: 01604 622837 

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martin@iddtinternational.org 

Type 2 Diabetes 

Management and Medication 

Understanding 

Your Diabetes 

HELPLINE: 01604 622837 


A charity supporting and listening to people who live with diabetes 

HELPLINE: 01604 622837 


TELEPHONE: 01604 622837 or 

EMAIL: martin@iddtinternational.org 

InDependent Diabetes Trust 

P O Box 294, Northampton NN1 4XS. 


Charity Number: 1058284 

Registered Number: 3148360

There’s nothing like the 

freedom of seeing some of 

the finest coastal and river 

villages on the East coast 

and there’s lots for dogs, 

too. Here’s what we found 

when we set off with our 

pup Bob in tow… 

When the weather looked set fair for a 

week last summer, my husband Chris 

and I packed up picnic supplies as well 

as Bob’s favourite treats and set off 

on our boat Poseidon from our home 

birth in Fambridge Yacht Haven, Essex. 

It’s a great place to visit for a leisurely 

walk at any time of year across the salt 

marshes and along the river path. 

The River Breeze Café Bar in the 

marina has a dog-friendly deck and just 

beyond the marina, the 600-year-old, 

Ferry Boat Inn, has been refurbished 

with a barn-style conservatory, serving 

great food and cocktails with dogfriendly 

seating available inside and 

out. 

Along the River Crouch there’s plenty 

of wildlife to see including the Shell 

Duck, Grey Heron and if you’re lucky 

enough as we were, at the Yolkesfleet 

Creek – the point where naturalist 

Darwin set off on one of his epic tours 

in HMS Beagle – some friendly seals. 

Bob, our Borderpoo, is just two and, 

although a little timid at first, now firmly 

has his sea paws and we keep him 

extra safe in his own life jacket. 

Sailing the 

Essex Coast 

with your Dog 

Written by Abby Knight 

First stop on our August tour was the 

sleepy marina at Bridgemarsh; very 

reasonable to moor for the night. The 

facilities are fairly basic but the staff are 

friendly. The main attraction is Crouch 

Ridge Vineyard that’s just a short uphill 

walk from the marina. 

Serving fabulous tapas style platters 

as well as afternoon tea, the vineyard 

is a jewel on the East coast which has 

become very popular over the last 

year. Owners Ross and Samantha, 

are fifth generation farmers, and host 

events and tastings of their most 

popular wines, pairing with locally 

caught oysters. From the terrace you 

can see the vines stretch down to the 

river, it felt just like being in Tuscany! 

Bob on deck at home port of Fambridge 

34

Highlight for us is the Butt & Oyster 

Pub. At exceptional high tide it can 

get cut off for a while and the stone 

flag bar has been the same for 

hundreds of years. We had a great 

seafood inspired dinner while Bob 

enjoyed his own bowl of freshly 

cooked sausages. 

Abby and Bob at Walton-on-the-Naze 

The next morning we made the 

short hop downriver to Burnham 

Yacht Harbour for brunch. Already 

a firm favourite for a staycation, 

Burnham-on-Crouch has a bustling 

river front with lots of great places 

for dogs to enjoy. The Crouchvale 

Park makes for a great early morning 

walk, then you can stop for coffee 

at Bistro on The Quay or wander up 

to the town itself to one of the many 

dog-friendly locations for lunch or 

dinner. We chose the Oyster Smack, 

One of the nicest things to do in 

a boat is to anchor up in a bay or 

sheltered area and have a picnic. We 

did this on our way back along the 

River Orwell, anchoring up in a sunny 

spot with busy Felixstowe Docks on 

the horizon. Bob enjoyed watching 

people jump off their boats into the 

cool water while we fixed a picnic 

with some of the wine we’d bought at 

Crouch Ridge. 

To get back to Brightlingsea, our last 

birth before returning home, you 

have to cross the North Sea – a bit 

lively even on a summer’s day. We 

put the covers up for a while to avoid 

the splash but once back in sheltered 

waters, Bob and I were back on deck. 

which serves some of the best fish 

and chips I’ve tasted as well as local 

beers. 

Our birth for the night was around a 

two-hour trip to Titchmarsh Marina, 

set in Hanford Waters. It’s popular 

with sailors as well as powerboaters. 

We decided to walk into 

Walton-on-the-Naze for dinner; 

a real family seaside town with a 

wide sandy beach. We were lucky to 

find a seafront café that served tasty 

seafood supper complete with Sexon-Walton-Beach 

cocktails. Bob even 

got his own mini burger in a basket! 

Chris and I had a spent a weekend 

away with friends on a Dutch barge 

in Pin Mill, Suffolk, a few years back 

Titchmarsh Marina 

and really wanted to visit again. 

The nearest marina is Wolverstone 

Marina and Lodge Park on the River 

Orwell. Five hundred years ago King 

Henry VIII gifted the riverbed to the 

people of Ipswich to help with trade. 

It’s close to the Royal Harwich Yacht 

Club, while the popular Loch & Quay 

restaurant welcomes dogs on the 

large deck. 

We walked through the woods with 

Bob to Pin Mill itself; a favourite place 

of author Sir Arthur Ransome of 

Swallows and Amazons’ fame who 

set his book ‘We Didn’t Mean to Go 

to Sea’ in the pretty hamlet. It really is 

a place where time has stood still. A 

little brook runs through the village 

and there is a pretty café and art 

gallery to visit. 

Brightlingsea is another coastal gem 

to visit. Still a busy fishing village, 

there’s always a fresh catch on the 

harbour wall and there are plenty of 

pubs to enjoy lunch and dinner. We 

discovered The Rosebud, a pretty 

pink coloured pub with a lovely 

garden that slopes down to the open 

sea. We sat outside with Bob and 

enjoyed some tasty sea bass. 

If you’re looking for a longer stay on 

land, The Belvedere luxury boutique 

apartment on East Street, originally 

The Royal Hotel, was built in 1875, 

and is famous for its glamorous 

clientele including Joan Collins. The 

retro lift that takes you up to your 

room is an original feature and the 

viewing tower at the top gives you 

amazing views of the sea. 

As the sun set on our sailing 

adventure, it was time to wander back 

down to the marina for one last drink. 

Number 1 Harbour Square has a real 

Mediterranean feel and is always 

busy. It serves breakfast, lunch and 

dinner and dogs are welcome on the 

sheltered terrace. 

Waking up next morning and 

preparing to return to Fambridge, we 

reflected on the great time we had. 

Our East coast has so much to offer 

and there’s always a warm welcome 

for our furry friends too. 

35

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issue on 

our app 

Download from

The Tutoring Trend 

Choosing a tutor for 

your child 

Coronavirus is a reality that we have 

been forced to live with for almost 

two years now, and it has touched 

almost every part of our lives. 

According to new research by online 

tutoring provider GoStudent, 79 

per cent of UK students believe that 

remote learning during this period 

has disrupted their education, and 60 

per cent of parents feel learning gaps 

caused by disrupted learning might 

continue into the new academic year. 

Given these findings, it is perhaps 

not surprising that the same study 

found that children who received 

private tutoring during the last 

academic year were two times more 

optimistic that they will catch up this 

year compared to those who weren’t 

tutored. With the possibility of further 

disruption in sight, many parents 

may also be considering additional 

support for their children. 

From how many hours to opt for 

to selecting the right tutor based 

on your child’s learning style, there 

are a lot of questions to ask before 

getting started. To help, Eastlife asked 

GoStudent to share the key questions 

to consider when selecting a tutor: 

What kind of tutor do I 

need? 

Approximately 75 per cent of parents 

are looking to help their child achieve 

an academic goal, so they will be 

looking for a tutor who is familiar with 

the curriculum for their child’s year 

group. Other parents are looking 

to nurture a particular passion or 

interest. In these instances, they will 

be seeking an equally passionate 

individual who has wide-ranging 

knowledge of that subject, who can 

help their child to grow their curiosity 

and understanding in that area. 

How does my child like to 

learn? 

Is your child a visual learner? Do they 

learn best through play? Do they 

struggle with their attention span? 

Do other children distract or motivate 

them? Which teachers do they like 

best at school and why? By building 

a learning profile for your child, you 

can work out if they would be bestsuited 

to 1:1 or group tuition, and if 

online or in-person tuition would be a 

better fit. Once you have your profile, 

you can contact tutoring services to 

see if they offer the type of tutoring 

that you are after. 

What results am I hoping 

to achieve? 

If you are aiming for sizeable 

academic change, then it could be 

wise to opt for three to four tutoring 

sessions a week; however, if you are 

looking for a little extra support, or 

to nurture a passion, perhaps one to 

two hours will suffice. It is also key to 

keep in mind that, when it comes to 

learning, there is no ‘quick fix.’ If you 

are looking to ensure long-lasting 

academic success, then plan to work 

with your chosen tutor for at least 

six months, so that you can track 

progress and see tangible results. 

How many subjects? 

If the child is engaged with, enjoying, 

and taking in the lessons, then there 

is no reason to set limitations on the 

number of subjects a child should 

be studying outside of school hours. 

That said, GoStudent recommends 

starting small to see results in one 

area first. This will boost the child’s 

confidence and, in turn, enthusiasm 

and excitement. Once a learning 

routine has been established, then 

new sessions can be introduced – 

either with the same tutor, or with a 

different expert. 

GoStudent offers affordable 1:1 

video-based tuition to primary, 

secondary, and college-aged 

students across the UK. For more 

information visit gostudent.org 

What is Kumon tutoring? 

Kumon is the UK’s largest 

supplementary education provider, 

offering individualised maths and 

English programmes which aims 

to help any child of any ability to 

progress and reach their potential. 

Kumon study programmes are 

designed to help learners think for 

themselves and develop strong 

problem-solving skills, using 

worksheet examples to try to 

work out answers independently. 

Instructors observe students learning, 

using their patience and judgement 

to offer guidance only when 

necessary to develop each child’s 

ability to self-learn. 

The Kumon Method of Learning was 

created by Toru Kumon, a father and 

gifted high school maths teacher, 

who saw that his son Takeshi was 

not excelling in maths at school. 

To help him improve, he wrote out 

maths worksheets for his son to 

complete daily. His son’s success 

and Toru Kumon’s desire to develop 

the potential of as many children as 

possible, prompted him to open the 

first Kumon maths centre in Osaka, 

Japan in 1955. The first UK Kumon 

study centre opened in 1983. 

Find a local instructor at 

kumon.co.uk 

37

Felsted 

for me 

Leading all-round education with pupil wellbeing at its 

heart. Give your child the space to thrive with our variety 

of modern boarding & day options. Based on a safe rural 

campus in stunning North Essex, with daily bus routes 

from across the region. 

Developing character, making a difference. 

Co-educational, ages 4-18, boarding & day. 

Open Morning: Saturday 8 May 

Visit felsted.org to register and explore our Virtual Tours & Events 

#felstedforme 

Felsted-East-Life-March-21-v2.indd 1 26/02/2021 12:26:37 

38

99% 

Pass Rate 

92% 

A - C 

Pass Rate 

* 

75% 

A Level 

A - B grades 

* 

Why choose East Norfolk? 

Consistently good for 4 decades 

100% pass rate in 46 subjects 

Offer over 80 subjects to choose from 

Mix & Match A Levels, T Levels, BTEC's & Route 3 

Over £3m investment in new facilities in 2021 

Inspirational Teachers - 16-19 Specialists 

Largest A Level STEM provider locally 

Top College for progression 

EXTEND programme for high achievers 

An average of 10 Oxbridge offers each year 

A timetable built around each student 

Support for all students with ALS needs 

Over 150 academic trips and visits each year 

Apply Now! - www.eastnorfolk.ac.uk 

Stay social - @EastNorfolk

Upcoming 

open days 

in the 

region 

Attending an open day is an 

important part of choosing 

the right school. It is a great 

opportunity to get a feel for the 

school, inspect the facilities and 

chat with pupils and staff. 

Bedford Girls’ School 

Thursday 5 May 

A vibrant independent day school 

for girls aged 7-18. 

Cardington Road, MK42 0BX 

bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk 

Bedford College 

Tuesday 22 March 

Offering full-time, part-time courses 

and apprenticeships. 

Cauldwell Street, MK42 9AH 

bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk 

Shuttleworth College 

Saturday 19 March 

Outstanding college set within the 

stunning location of Old Warden 

Park. 

Biggleswade, SG18 9DX 

bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk 

The Bedford Sixth Form 

Monday 28 April 

Institution providing A-Level and 

Diplomas to full-time students. 

Bromham Road, MK40 2BS 

bedfordsixthform.ac.uk 

St Mary’s School 

Cambridge 


An independent day and boarding 

school for girls from age 4 to 18. 

Bateman Street, CB2 1LY 

stmaryscambridge.co.uk 

The Leys School 

Saturday 23 April 


school for children aged 11 to 18. 

Cambridge, CB2 7AD 

theleys.net 

NEWS FROM AROUND THE REGION 

Ready, Set, Game! 

Back for its 

sixth year, FXP 

Festival, the 

Cambridgeshirebased 

education 

initiative focused 

on computer 

game design and 

development 

will, for the first 

time ever, invite 

students to participate in either a nine-week virtual festival, 

or attend the popular three-day games jam in person – or 

both! 

The festival, which is a registered charity, is being supported 

by Ukie, the trade body for the UK’s creative games and 

interactive entertainment sector. Over 300 students 

participated in FXP Festival 2021, and the initiative provides 

a gateway for students to develop their skills and gain an 

insight into the opportunities available to them in the games 

development industry. 

The virtual festival will run from 19 April and the in-person 

event will take place from 9-11 July at Cambridge Regional 

College. Thanks to FXP Festival’s supporters and sponsors, 

including Anglia Ruskin University, it remains completely 

free for all students who wish to participate. 

FXP Festival is open to entries from schools and colleges 

in Cambridgeshire. Each team can be made of up to five 

people aged between 12 and 19, however, projects will 

be judged in two age categories: Year 8-11 and Further 

Education. 

To find out how to sponsor the event or register your 

school’s interest, visit fxpfestival.com 

Student to Represent UK in German 

Olympiade 

Sprechen Sie Deutsch? 

Well, year 10 Brentwood 

School student Martha 

Machray certainly does as 

she will represent the United 

Kingdom at the world finals 

of the International German 

Olympics in Hamburg. 

Fifteen-year-old Martha won 

her category of the Goethe- 

Institut’s International 

German Olympiad (IDO 

– Internationale Deutsch 

Olympiade) and is one of only two students chosen to 

represent the UK in this summer’s event. 

40

Felsted School 

5 March & 23 April – Year 7 entry 

A leading co-educational, 

independent, boarding and 

day school. 

Essex, CM6 3LL 

felsted.org 

Oxford House School 

Wednesday 11 March 

Nursery & preparatory school for 

children aged 30 months to 11 years. 

Colchester, CO3 3NE 

oxfordhouseschool.net 

Brentwood School 

Saturday 11 June 


school for children aged 3 to 18. 

Middleton Hall Lane, CM15 8EE 

brentwoodschool.co.uk 

Kingshott School 

Tuesday 22 March 

A co-education day prep school for 

children aged 3-13. 

Hitchin, SG4 7JX 

kingshottschool.com 

Tring Park School 

Friday 25 February 

An outstanding performing 

arts school. 

Mansion Drive, HP23 5LX 

tringpark.com 

Haileybury School 

11+ & 13+ Saturday 12 March, 

16+ Saturday 21 May 

A dynamic school with a successful 

IB diploma programme. 

Hertford, SG13 7NU 

haileybury.com 

East Norfolk Sixth Form 

College 

Offering A Level and BTEC subjects 

at Level 3 and 2. 

Great Yarmouth, NR31 7BQ 

eastnorfolk.ac.uk 

Old Buckenham Hall 


A leading preparatory school for 

children aged 3-13 years. 

Ipswich, IP7 7PH 

obh.co.uk 

Stoke College 

9 March, 30 April & 11 May 

A day and boarding school for 3 to 

18-year-olds set in an historic house. 

Stoke by Clare, CO10 8JE 

stokecollege.co.uk 

The Goethe-Institut promotes German language, 

intercultural exchange, art and culture, and the 

Internationale Deutsch Olympiade is a biannual worldwide 

contest in which contestants can put their German 

language skills to the test. 

Martha won a national contest to qualify for the international 

final and the chance to compete against the world’s best 

German learners. 

Martha explained: “I am so thrilled to have been selected to 

represent the UK. When I started learning German in Year 7 

it quickly became one of my favourite subjects.” 

Head of German at Brentwood School, Mrs Miriam Morris, 

said: “This is an incredible achievement. Martha is an 

inspiration to all language learners and shows what can be 

achieved with hard work, passion and dedication. We wish 

her every success in the finals in the summer.” 

Residents Asked to Share their Hobbies 

City College 

Peterborough wants to 

hear from people who 

are passionate about 

a particular interest or 

hobby and would like to 

earn money sharing it with other city residents. 

The college is looking for anyone with good knowledge 

and the practical skills for their particular interest, which 

they can share with people who want to learn something 

new. 

Successful applicants will run short taster sessions with 

the college to see if their course will generate enrolments. 

The opportunity is open to anyone over the age of 19. 

Hobbies for the taster sessions can be about a wide range 

of subjects from cookery, languages, history, science, 

basic IT, writing, gardening, tai chi, or anything that has a 

broad appeal to individuals or families. 

Applicants do not need to be a qualified tutor; the only 

requirement is being able to inspire people with the 

passion they have for their topic. 

Janet Bristow, deputy principal and head of service at 

City College Peterborough, said: “The taster sessions are 

designed to encourage people to improve their health, 

confidence and wellbeing by embracing something new 

and, for some, tempting them into their first step towards 

further learning.” 

For more information about running an online taster 

session, email Harriet Bowen 

hbowen@citycollegepeterborough.ac.uk or 

call 01733 761361. 

41

Little East

LITTLE EAST 

Mum’s the 

Word 

“Little Darling, it’s been a long, cold, 

lonely winter. 

Little Darling, it feels like years 

since it’s been here.” 

Written by Dolly Osborne | raggydollywrites.wordpress.com 

I think we can all relate to that line. George Harrison 

wrote ‘Here Comes The Sun’ when he took a day off from 

wrangling with his problems with the Beatles and I think 

that even as the cloud of Covid hangs above us we can use 

spring to find a similar release. 

Being outside, in open space, is one of the healthiest places 

to be right now and we are very lucky to have access to so 

many beautiful open spaces in our region. 

Spring can still be a bit chilly to brave the North Sea but 

a trip to the seaside is always a good shout for family fun, 

whether it’s the hustle and bustle of Great Yarmouth with 

the grand promenade and its Pleasure Beach or a quieter 

day spent off the North Norfolk or Essex coast, there’s 

something for all tastes. Maybe just pack an extra blanket or 

two along with the picnic. 

George Harrison was an avid gardener. I’m not very green 

fingered but I do find peace in a pretty garden when other 

people have done that work. East Anglia is packed full of 

wonderful gardens you can visit, like the Plantation Garden 

in Norwich or Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds. 

Personally, I like to head out to woods at springtime, 

especially if there are bluebells. A carpet of new blooms 

poking out of the woodland floor lifts my soul and my often 

too grown-up teenager magically reverts to childhood as he 

climbs trees and builds hideaways. 

I think that’s the real joy of getting the family outside at this 

time of year. It feels freeing and almost nostalgic. We shed 

the inhibitions that the daily grind imbues us with, and we 

splash in the sea; we remember how to have fun. 

Life has been tough on us these last two years and we don’t 

know how long it will last but the arrival of spring really 

opens up our countryside again and gives us a source of 

hope. 

“Here comes the sun, do do do do, here comes the sun, and 

I say, it’s alright.” 

Find Dolly on Twitter @Osborneosaurus 

45

Playdates 

Visit 

eastlife.co.uk for this 

year’s best Easter egg 

hunts & events! 

Shake off the winter blues and get 

some fresh air with our pick of the best 

outdoor days out and events across the 

region for toddlers, tweens and teens. 

Geocaching in Norfolk 

Multiple locations, Norfolk 

A modern day treasure hunt for the whole family to enjoy. 

Add some additional excitement to a country walk this 

spring with Norfolk Trails geocaching series. All you need 

is a smart phone or GPS device to track down the hidden 

caches. There are multiple routes to choose including the 

Nar Valley Way, a two-mile beginner series; Weavers’ Way 

Thurne circular walk along the Broads; Bittern Line circular 

walk from Gunton Station; and a 10-cache series on the 

Wensum Way between Swanton Morley and Elsing. 

norfolk.gov.uk/out-and-about-in-norfolk 

Woodland Play at Danbury Country Park, 

21 & 28 February, 21 & 28 March, 25 

April, 9, 16 & 23 May 

Woodhill Road, Chelmsford, Essex 

Let little ones embrace the great outdoors with this series 

of six woodland play sessions. Perfect for children under 

five who aren’t afraid to get dirty, the interactive tasks 

and activities include forest crafts, den building, mud fun, 

cooking on a fire and more. Booking is essential. Discount 

for sibling participation. 

explore-essex.com/whats-on/woodland-play-atdanbury-country-park 

Code Ninjas at Welwyn Garden City, 

courses and drop-in sessions available 

Applecroft School, Welwyn Garden City 

A social activity for keen gamers, there are two classes 

available for ages five to six and seven to 14. Children will 

learn how to problem solve and code at their own pace. 

Sessions last one to two hours and free taster sessions are 

available. 

codeninjas.co.uk/welwyn-garden-city-hrt-uk 

Little Bugs Club at Nene Wetlands, 

3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 March, 10.30am-12pm 

Nene Wetlands Visitor Centre, The Boardwalk, 

Rushden Lakes 

Designed for two to five-year-olds, the weekly sessions 

help develop imagination, confidence and new skills. Little 

ones can explore nature with activities such as bug hunting, 

natural art and storytelling. Booking is essential. 

£6 per child. 

wildlifebcn.org/nene-wetlands 

46

LITTLE EAST 

Easter Egg Hunt at Wimpole Estate, 

29 March – 11 April 

Arrington, Royston SG8 0BW 

Discover the beautiful parkland with a family-friendly Easter 

trail complete with a chocolate reward. Pick up the Easter 

trail for just £3 at Hardwicke Gate. Tickets will be released 

from Friday 26 March. Booking is essential. 

nationaltrust.org.uk/wimpole-estate/features/ 

wimpole-at-easter 

Polar Pop Up; Life on Ice, 2 April 

The Polar Museum, Cambridge 

An event for curious minds, the museum will host hands 

on activities, trails, demonstrations and short films to show 

what it’s like to live and work in Antarctica. 

Events available to book. 

spri.cam.ac.uk/museum 

Easter Holiday Prize Trail at Brandon 

Country Park, 9-24 April 

Copper Beech Café, Brandon Country Park, Suffolk 

Pick up a puzzle sheet from the café and follow the trail, 

finding words along the way. Each completed puzzle will 

receive a prize when returned to the visitor centre. At just 

£1, this is a cheap and fun Easter activity for all ages. 

facebook.com/BrandonCountryPark 

Adventure Camp at Down Hall, 

Easter Half Term 

Down Hall, Hatfield Heath 

Sharky & George, one the UK’s leading children’s event 

planners, returns to Down Hall Hotel for school holiday 

fun and games. In the professional hands of the Sharky & 

George team, young adventurers will shape the order of 

the day, with child-led activities ranging from den-building, 

French cricket and t-shirt tie-dying to lip sync battles, 

chocolate truffle making and DIY volcano crafting. Places 

are priced at £35 per child and must be pre-booked as a 

part of any overnight stay. 

downhall.co.uk 

Easter Egg Hunt at Burwell Museum, 

17-18 April 

Burwell Museum & Windmill, Mill Close, Burwell 

A fun and affordable Easter activity. Hop along for an Easter 

egg hunt for just £1. 

burwellmuseum.org.uk/event/easter-egg-hunt- 

Sunday 

Easter Bunny Fly-In and Egg Hunt, 

17-18 April 

Shuttleworth, Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire 

Look to the sky at around 11am to watch the Easter Bunny 

make fly in and make an entrance. Don’t forget to get up 

close to the runway! Follow the Easter Bunny into The 

Swiss Garden and see how many eggs you can collect. 

Once you have collected all the Easter eggs you can carry, 

take them to The Discovery Hub to collect your prize from 

the Easter Bunny. 

shuttleworth.org/product/easterbunnyflyin 

Great Dunmow Soapbox Race, 1 May 

Great Dunmow, Essex 

A fun, action-packed day out for the whole family. Cheer 

on the teams as they take on obstacles and race against 

the clock to be crowned the champion. Expect adrenaline 

filled action and crashes to raise money for Great Dunmow 

Round Table and selected charities. 

greatdunmowsoapboxrace.co.uk 

Hertford Castles Children’s Art Trail, 

9 April – 7 May 

Hertford Castle, Hertfordshire 

Part of the Hertford Arts Festival, this year’s event includes 

a chance for young creatives to get involved too. Children 

will be encouraged to forage the castle grounds and 

create masterpieces with nature. Paintings, drawings and 

photographs can also be entered into a competition with a 

chance to be exhibited at the next Castle Open Day. 

hertford.gov.uk/events-listings/hertford-castlechildren-s-art-trail 

Family Wellness Walk, 22 May 

Colchester, Essex 

A buggy friendly walk designed for young families, new 

and expectant parents. It provides a chance to get outside 

and meet like-minded families. Meet at the Visitor Centre at 

11am. Booking is essential. 

visitcolchester.com/whats-on/family-wellnesswalk-p1418501

Make memories 

to last a lifetime at 

Banish the winter blues with a visit 

to Colchester Zoo this spring! 

Watch in awe as some of the most critically 

endangered animals start to enjoy the arrival 

of a new season and, no matter the weather, 

we have a range of undercover areas 

to keep you dry! 

Tickets 

must be 

pre-booked 

online in 

advance! 

Check out our website or social media 

for the latest news, events, 

and information or download 

the Colchester Zoo App. 

www.colchesterzoo.org 

stop by our 

Daily encounters 

Enjoy a variety of animal 

encounters taking place at 

selected times throughout 

the day! 

© Josh Dennington © Tom Smith

Animal Magic 

The best petting zoos in East Anglia 

Children love getting close to 

animals. Whether it’s cuddling 

a cute rabbit, grooming a pony, 

bottle feeding a kid goat or seeing a 

newborn lamb take its first steps – a 

trip to a petting zoo is a wonderful 

experience. From getting up close to 

farmyard favourites to learning more 

about exotic species, we’ve picked 

some of the best petting zoos in the 

region for a perfect spring day out. 

Animal Edge 

Fordfield Road, Millbrook, 

Bedfordshire, MK45 2HZ 

Animal Edge is an award-winning 

small farm surrounded by beautiful 

Bedfordshire countryside. Visits, 

which must be booked in advance, 

give exclusive access to the farm 

where children can tickle a pig or 

take a goat for a walk and teach 

them tricks. Drinks are served from 

a converted horse-box, or you can 

bring a picnic to enjoy while taking in 

the views. 

animaledge.co.uk 

Mead Open Farm 

Stanbridge Road, Billington, 

Bedfordshire, LU7 9JH 

From alpacas and calves to pygmy 

goats and piglets, baby animals are 

born at Mead Farm throughout the 

year. But spring is perhaps the most 

special time when the pregnant 

ewes give birth to fluffy, bouncy 

lambs. With go-karts, crazy golf, sand 

play and award-winning food in the 

Grainstore Kitchen, it’s a great family 

day out. 

meadopenfarm.co.uk 

© National Trust Images/Megan Taylor 

Wimpole Home Farm 

Arrington, Royston, Cambridgeshire, 

SG8 0BW 

Discover rare breeds and make 

friends with familiar farmyard 

favourites on this working estate with 

impressive mansion, parkland, and 

café. Visit the White Park cattle and 

Longhorns in the yard along with 

Shire and Shetland ponies. Meet the 

Oxford Sandy and Black pigs, rare 

breeds of sheep and mischievous 

goats skipping around the paddock. 

nationaltrust.org.uk 

South Angle Farm Park 

Angle Common, Soham, 

Cambridgeshire, CB7 5HX 

Cuddle the rabbits and bottle feed 

the lambs. Or, if you’re feeling brave, 

you can meet the reptiles and minibeasts 

and say hello to the tarantula. 

There’s plenty to occupy the kids 

with sand play, a craft barn, reading 

corner, pedal-powered racetrack, 

woodland walk and watering cans 

aplenty in Mr McGregor’s garden. 

southanglefarmpark.co.uk 

50

LITTLE EAST 

© South Angle Farm 

Aldenham Country 

Park Farm 

Aldenham Road, Elstree, 

Hertfordshire, WD6 3BA 

A not-for-profit farming, food, and 

education enterprise where you can 

meet and feed the animals. Enjoy 

acres of countryside, explore the farm 

and the 100 Aker Wood, home of 

Pooh Bear and friends. There is also a 

pavilion and playground for children 

with special educational needs and 

you can enjoy a cuppa in the Rustic 

Rhubarb café. 

aldenhamcountrypark.co.uk 

Willows Activity Farm 

Coursers Road, London Colney, 

Hertfordshire, AL4 0PF 

A day out for the whole family with 

farmyard animals, shows, rides, 

inflatables, acres of outdoor space, 

and the popular Peter Rabbit 

Adventure Playground. Look out for 

their spring events which include 

Easter egg hunts, cow milking 

demonstrations, bottle feeding 

newborn lambs and sheep racing. 

willowsactivityfarm.com 

© Jimmy’s Farm 

Barleylands Farm Park 

Barleylands Road, Billericay, Essex, 

CM11 2UD 

Home to traditional farm animals 

as well as nocturnal and exotic 

creatures such as fruit bats, sugar 

gliders, skunks, snakes, tree frogs, 

chameleons, turtles, meerkats and 

wild cats. You can make a day of it 

with playgrounds, racetracks, play 

barn and discovery centre, all set 

within The Village and its craft studios, 

boutiques and restaurant. 

barleylands.co.uk 

Old MacDonald’s Farm 

Weald Road, Brentwood, Essex, 

CM14 5AY 

There are so many animals to meet 

at this award-winning farm including 

meerkats, pigs, wallabies, rabbits, 

ponies, cows, chinchillas, rheas, 

tortoises, and wallabies. Don’t miss the 

Spring Babies event, which runs from 

February to April, when you can see 

the newborn farm animals. With rides, 

indoor play areas and a café, there’s 

plenty to keep the whole family happy. 

omdfarm.co.uk 

Snettisham Park 

Bircham Road, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, 

PE31 7NG 

A hands-on experience where you 

can bottle feed lambs, collect fresh 

farm eggs and ride ponies. 

A highlight is the deer safari when 

you can meet the spectacular 

herd who will come to say hello 

and happily feed from your hands. 

There’s plenty to keep your little 

ones amused with a play area, pedal 

tractors, tearoom and gift shop. 

snettishampark.co.uk 

Stow Bardolph Rare 

Breeds Centre 

Church Farm, Downham Market, 

West Norfolk, PE34 3HT 

You can make friends with the 

animals and meet all their young 

throughout the season. Hold a 

fluffy chick, give a dusty donkey a 

pamper, groom a goat, and stroke 

the rabbits, guinea pigs and rats. With 

an adventure playground, indoor 

play area, tractor rides and even pig 

racing, there’s plenty to see and do. 

churchfarmstowbardolph.co.uk 

Jimmy’s Farm 

Pannington Hall Lane, Ipswich, 

Suffolk, IP9 2AR 

The Wildlife Park at Jimmy’s hosts 

traditional and exotic animals from 

crocodiles, camels and capybara to 

pigs, skunks, and guinea pigs. For 

an even closer encounter, pick an 

Animal Experience and join a keeper 

in the animal’s enclosure – feed an 

anteater with an impressive 60cm 

tongue, handle a snake, give a tapir 

a belly rub or pet the cute rabbits and 

mischievous ferrets. 

jimmysfarm.com 

Baylham House Rare 

Breeds Farm 

Mill Lane, Baylham, Suffolk, IP6 8LG 

A small farm specialising in native 

breeds that are now rare. Balance 

food on the outstretched tongue 

of a cow or tickle the belly of a piglet. 

And, if you’d really like to experience 

life on the farm, you can step into the 

farmer’s boots for a day – an exciting 

gift for any animal lover! 

baylham-house-farm.co.uk 

51

Little East 

is now online 

Redwings 

Horse Sanctuary 

A fun, 

family day 

out 

Dog 

friendly! 

We have two 

centres 

in Norfolk! 

For inspiration and ideas for things 

to do and places to go with your little ones 

in the East of England follow us at 

LittleEast.uk on Facebook and Instagram 

Meet friendly rescued horses and donkeys at 

Redwings Aylsham, nr Norwich, NR11 6UE or 

Redwings Caldecott, nr Gt.Yarmouth, NR31 9EY 

Open 10am to 3pm every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday 

Please visit our website to book 

www.redwings.org.uk/visiting | 01508 481000 

52

YARWELL 

MILL 

Country Park 

Cambridgeshire 

RETIREMENT 

DREAMS NOW 

A REALITY 

Park homes from £179,995 * 

● OVER 55’S RETIRED AND SEMI-RETIRED PARK COMMUNITY 

● OVERLOOKING THE RIVER NENE ● PET FRIENDLY 

● LANDSCAPED GARDENS ● 2 PARKING SPACES 

● 5 ACRE FISHING LAKE ON SITE 

● MOORINGS (Subject to availability) 

● SECURE MOTORHOME AND CARAVAN STORAGE (Subject to availability) 

● 24HR SECURITY 

01733 736737 

FOR ALL SALES ENQUIRIES * 

Mill Road, Yarwell, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE8 6PS 

*Calls made to this number are charged at your call providers standard rate. Terms and conditions apply. 

Limited availability on a first come first served basis. Pictures for illustration purposes only. 

Luxuriously furnished 

Residential Park Homes 

Yarwell Mill Country Park is a stunning 

NEW over 55’s residential development, 

located in the picturesque village of 

Yarwell, besides the River Nene. 

Why not enjoy your golden years by 

downsizing to a Park Home, releasing 

equity, reducing costs and outgoings, so 

you can live the retirement dream here at 

Yarwell Mill. 

No stamp duty! 

No Estate Agent fees! 

Your home £260,000 

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sales@yarwellmill.co.uk 

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yarwellmillcountrypark

HEALTH 

Does an apple 

a day really 

keep the 

doctor away? 

Fact or myth: 

10 age-old 

health adages 

explained 

Written by Jacqui Hagen 

You’ve probably heard the popular 

expression, ‘an apple a day keeps the 

doctor away’. Perhaps, like me, you 

grew up being told that carrots will help 

you see in the dark and that eating your 

crusts will make your hair curly. We look 

at 10 well-known phrases relating to 

our bodies and health to see if there is 

any truth in them. 

1. An apple a day keeps 

the doctor away 

While there is no evidence to 

show that eating more apples 

results in fewer visits to the doctor, 

adding them to your diet can bring 

several health benefits. Apples are 

packed with important nutrients 

including fibre, vitamins, minerals 

and antioxidants which can help 

to prevent diseases and keep you 

healthy. Snacking on an apple can 

also support weight loss as the fibre 

and high-water content can help fill 

you up without a lot of calories. 

Verdict: As part of a balanced diet, 

apples can improve your health, 

but they won’t necessarily keep the 

doctor away. 

54

2. Going out with wet hair 

will give you a cold 

“You’ll catch your death of cold,” 

my grandmother used to warn me 

when I headed out to play with wet 

hair on a winter’s day. She needn’t 

have worried. To catch a common 

cold, you must be exposed to a virus; 

this could be via contaminated 

surfaces, human to human 

contact, or droplets in the air 

from coughing and sneezing. 

Being cold and wet does not increase 

the chance of catching a cold. 

Verdict: There is no truth in this old 

adage. Colds are infectious viruses 

and are completely unrelated to 

damp hair. 

3. Carrots can help you 

see in the dark 

Carrots are rich in a 

substance called betacarotene 

which activates 

to form vitamin A (aka retinol). 

Retinol is used to form retinal which 

binds with other components to 

create rhodopsin, a photo-sensitive 

molecule in the eye that operates in 

low-light conditions. If you have a 

severe vitamin A deficiency (generally 

due to gastro-intestinal disorders), 

you may develop nyctalopia or 

night blindness. Eating carrots could 

correct this deficiency and improve 

night vision. 

Verdict: Unless you are severely 

deficient in vitamin A, eating carrots 

will not help you to see better in the 

dark. 

4. Swallowed chewing 

gum takes seven years to 

digest 

Although it’s not recommended, if 

you accidentally swallow a piece of 

chewing gum there’s no need to be 

alarmed. While it’s true that your body 

can’t digest gum, it will usually pass 

through your digestive system and 

come out in your stool, just like almost 

everything else you eat. However, it 

isn’t a good idea to regularly swallow 

chewing gum as there have been 

cases where children have had to 

have large masses of gum removed 

from their bowels. 

Verdict: Chewing gum does not 

take seven years to digest and small 

amounts will pass through your 

system intact. 

5. Eating the crust of your 

bread will make your hair 

curly 

I can’t be the only gullible child who 

dutifully ate my crusts because 

my parents insisted it would make 

my hair more curly. Such naivety! 

Obviously, eating bread crusts can’t 

alter the gene composition of hair 

shafts. In truth, crusts can sometimes 

be dry and a bit boring, so this is just a 

trick adults employ to get children to 

eat a whole sandwich. 

Verdict: A complete myth. However, 

on the plus side crusts are good for 

you and eating the entire slice of 

bread avoids waste. 

6. Never wake a 

sleepwalker 

Some say waking a sleepwalker can 

cause them to have a heart attack or 

to go into shock, but this is thought 

to be highly unlikely. There is no 

evidence it causes the person any 

harm at all. However, sleepwalking 

occurs in the deepest stage of sleep 

and can cause safety concerns 

such as walking out of the house, 

using lighters and kitchen knives, 

bumping into objects and so on. For 

this reason, it is always best to gently 

guide a sleepwalker back to bed. 

Verdict: It is not dangerous to wake 

a sleepwalker, but it can be difficult to 

achieve or lead to disorientation. 

7. Cracking your knuckles 

causes arthritis 

When you crack your knuckles, the 

joint space is widened, lowering 

the pressure. This allows gases 

in the fluid surrounding the joint 

to leave forming a bubble, which 

then collapses on itself making the 

characteristic ‘cracking’ sound. One 

researcher, Donald Unger, cracked 

the knuckles of his left hand at least 

twice a day for over 50 years but 

never his right in order to prove his 

mother wrong and won an Ig Nobel 

prize in 2009 for his efforts. 

Verdict: Further scientific studies 

haven’t shown any link between 

knuckle cracking and arthritis. 

8. Plucking a grey hair 

will cause 10 more to 

grow 

The sight of your first grey hairs in 

the mirror can be a shock. If you’ve 

panicked and plucked them from 

your head, don’t worry: they will 

not come back with a vengeance. 

Plucking a grey hair only results 

in a new grey hair in its place 

because only one hair grows per 

follicle. Our hair turns grey or white 

when the pigment cells in the 

follicle surrounding the hair die; the 

surrounding hairs will not turn white 

until their own follicles’ pigment cells 

die. 

Verdict: The idea that pulling out a 

grey hair will cause 10 more to grow 

in its place is simply not true. 

9. Wine, coffee and 

chocolate are good for 

your heart 

It’s often claimed that our favourite 

treats can keep our hearts healthy 

but is it too good to be true? 

According to a recent article by one 

of the world’s leading cardiologists, 

dark bitter chocolate is a “joy” for 

our cardiovascular system, coffee 

is likely protective, but wine is at 

best “neutral”. Professor Thomas 

Lüscher concluded that there are 

pros and cons to each of them which 

differ depending on how much is 

consumed, as well as by whom. 

Verdict: The answer is more complex 

than a simple yes or no and a healthy 

lifestyle is what really matters. 

10. Urine cures a jellyfish 

sting 

It’s thought that this alleged remedy 

became even more popular after the 

1997 Friends TV episode in which 

Monica gets stung by a jellyfish 

and Joey remembers seeing a 

documentary that advised urinating 

on the sting to ease the pain. Monica 

agrees to try the treatment and it 

works. However, in 2007 Scientific 

American magazine busted this 

myth. In fact, they found that urine 

can actually aggravate the jellyfish’s 

stingers into releasing more venom 

and make the pain worse. 

Verdict: Joey Tribbiani is not a 

reliable source of medical information 

and urine will not cure a jellyfish sting. 

55

Orthopaedic 

services 

Nuffield Health Brentwood Hospital 

We provide a range of services locally for patients who 

require orthopaedic surgery. We are passionate about 

health and the care we provide and are here to reassure 

and help you, throughout your journey. 

Treatments include: 

Hip and knee surgery 

Hand, wrist, elbow or shoulder injury 

Back and spinal or sport injury 

Foot and ankle surgery and joint injections. 

For more information call 01277 886706 

or visit nuffieldhealth.com/hospitals/brentwood

Ladies Who Brunch 

Written by Ruth Essex; stylist, writer and 

teacher of style | ruthessex.com 

When the text comes from the girls to say: “Why don’t we 

all meet for brunch? See you in an hour x,” our brain will 

be whirring over what to wear to make the most of those 

precious rays of early spring sunshine over fresh coffee, a 

croissant and maybe a sneaky Bucks Fizz or two? My kind 

of breakfast! 

For brunching, the common staple is jeans. Skinny, 

boyfriend, crop flare or white. It doesn’t matter, but it is the 

jeans which will act as the anchor to your outfit. 

There is usually a rebel in the group; the rock chick at heart, 

in all black with her leather jacket, skinny jeans and shades; 

the one who stayed out partying later than everyone else. 

In juxtaposition, there is the one that looks like she enjoyed 

eight hours of refreshing sleep, a face pack and natural, yet 

perfectly applied make up. Dressed in soft feminine colours 

and immaculate white jeans, this girl neither spills nor 

swears, but we still love her anyway. 

The accessories girl of the group is casually undone with 

her outfit, but there will always be fabulous shoes. Or a 

fabulous handbag. Probably both. Heads always go down 

when she arrives to check out her happy feet. 

The organiser is the classic girl. She arrived first, booked the 

table, and sent all the messages. Polished and just a little 

bit Parisian in her look; maybe a blazer, maybe pearls. She 

makes effortless look easy every time. 

Our modern boho girl prefers not to be too dressed up. But 

make no mistake, her outfit is still just as carefully chosen. 

Earthy colours and natural fabrics with jewellery from her 

travels as her signature look. The easy going one, who 

laughs a lot. 

These may be my girlfriends or 

yours I am describing; but age 

does not matter here. Versions 

of these looks work with any age 

group. They just need tweaking 

to suit individuals. There is 

always style inspiration to be 

found if you look around, so why 

not don your shades, and catch 

up with the girls in your favourite 

café this spring? Life always 

feels good in the sunshine. 

Enjoy! 

57FASHION

HYPERBARIC CHAMBER 

NOW IN PETERBOROUGH! 

Book your FREE consultation now 

What is HBOT? 

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 

(HBOT) is a versatile and 

powerful complementary 

treatment used for multiple 

medical indications, including 

sports recovery or wellness 

purposes – anti-aging, beauty, 

brain performance. 

Who is it for? 

HBOT has countless health 

benefits, which will boost 

your physical and mental 

health. 

This is just a fraction of the 

benefits provided by 

hyperbaric chamber treatment. 

Visit our website for more 

details. 

Sports recovery 

Supplementing oxygen intake at higher atmospheric pressure 

inside a hyperbaric chamber is known to naturally accelerate 

healing times to treat sports injuries and allow injured athletes 

to recover faster and reduce the risk of re-injury. 

Long Covid 

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is currently being used and studied as 

an effective form of treatment for lingering COVID-19 symptoms 

due to its ability to reverse hypoxia, reduce neuro-inflammation, 

and improve tissue oxygenation amongst other benefits. 

Wounds and burns 

Wounds need oxtgen to heal naturally and hyperbaric oxygen 

therapy has been successsfully used as complementary therapy 

for wound healing. 

Beauty, wellness, anti-aging 

A healthy blood circulation enables the body to rejuvenate, 

repairs damaged skin cells, enables the skin to heal after trauma 

and diminishes the contour of wrinkles. Increased oxygen 

circulation within the body can reach areas affected by skin 

disorders to restart the natural processes such as collagen 

synthesis and tissue regeneration. 

info@oxygen-therapy.uk 07954 685 031 

104 Culley Court, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6WA

PETER’S BRIDAL WAREHOUSE 

Peter Bullman 

WEDDING DRESS FACTORY OUTLET 

Stunning Dresses, 

Size 8 to 36 in stock 

or you to try on today 

Priced from 

£299 to £999 

Unit 21 Northfield Business Park, Soham, CB7 5UE 

Just off A142 Soham By Pass, (Behind Scampers Pet Store) 

Call: 07917757862 

www.petersbridalwarehouse.com 

Peter Bridal Warehouse 

Bridal Reloved.pdf 1 23/02/2022 14:26 

C 

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CM 

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CY 

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Beautiful dresses 

New, EX-SAMPLE AND 

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so so always a fabulous 

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Call today to book an appointment 

Call today Tel to 01621 to book927007 

an an appointment 

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59

We mainly specialise in silver, gemstone 

and leather jewellery for both men and 

women. We also have a lovely range of new 

baby gifts, handbags, purses, scarves, 

and gifts for all occasions. 

Wedding Fair at 

The Forest Centre 

© loveandlifestudio.co.uk 

Wednesday 30th March, 7pm - 9pm 

The Forest Centre, Station Road 

Marston Moretaine, MK43 0PR 

Free event but spaces are limited - book 

now and receive a goodie bag and 

glass of bucks fizz on arrival. 

To book visit marstonvale.org/events 

13 Market Hill, St Ives, PE27 5AL 

01480 495198 

www.cloudninegems.com 

/CloudNineGems 

YOUR PERFECT HONEYMOON 

Your dream overseas wedding, all curated by us, your way 

01638 641903 knight@ite.travel www.knight-ite.co.uk 

Part of the group of Independent Travel Experts. ATOL and TTA financial protection on all holidays 

60

Spring Wedding Fayres 

Get ready to plan your big day 

Weddings 

Wedding season is upon us. If you’re a bride-to-be, you’ll know planning is all part of the excitement. As spring 

approaches, the region’s vendors come together to showcase their services at wedding fairs and exhibitions. 

We’ve pulled together a handy guide of the East’s biggest shows to help you find some inspiration… 

Bressingham Hall & High 

Barn Wedding Show 

Low Road, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 2AA 

Sunday 6 March, 11am – 3pm 

East Mersea Hall 

Wedding Show 

Church Lane, East Mersea, Colchester, CO5 8TJ 

Sunday 3 April, 11am – 3pm 

The Ware Priory Wedding Fair 

High Street, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 9AL 

Sunday 13 March, 11am 

Wedding Fair at The Lawn 

Hall Road, Rochford, Essex, SS4 1PL 

Sunday 20 March, 10.30am – 3.30pm 

Park Farm Hotel 

Wedding Show 

Hethersett, Norwich, Norfolk, NR9 3DL 

Sunday 20 March, 11am – 3pm 

Copdock Hall Wedding Fayre 

Copdock, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP8 3JZ 

Sunday 20 March, 11am – 3.30pm 

The Madingley Hall, 

Cambridge Wedding Fair 

University of Cambridge, Madingley, 

Cambridgeshire, CB23 8AQ 

Saturday 2 April, 11am – 3pm 

The Bedford Swan Hotel 

Wedding Fair 

The Embankment, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK40 1RW 

Sunday 3 April, 11am 

The ECO Wedding Show 

Norfolk 

Wellington Wood, Brandon Road, Northwold, 

Norfolk, IP26 5NP 

Sunday 10 April ,11am – 3pm 

Wedding Fair at 

Down Hall Hotel 

Matching Road, Hatfield Heath, Bishop’s Stortford, 

Essex, CM22 7AS 


The Luxury Harpenden 

Wedding Fair 

The Eric Morecombe Centre, Rothamsted Park, 

Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2FR 


Wedding Show at Chelmsford 

Racecourse 

Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 1QP 

Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 May, 11am – 3.30pm 

The Swiss Garden, 

Shuttleworth Wedding Show 

Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden Aerodrome, 

Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9EP 

Sunday 22 May, 11am – 3pm 

61

ROYTHORNE & SON LTD 

Quality Service For A Sensible Price 

Roythorne and Son is a friendly, family run 

garage situated in the village of North 

Wootton, 10 minutes from King's Lynn 

town centre. 

Our aim is to always look after you as well 

as your car, in the most courteous and efficient 

way, with all your motoring requirements. 

Our workshop is well equipped to deal with 

your vehicle repairs and servicing, we are also 

BMW specialists. 

We have a variety of used cars on display for 

you to view and test drive. 

Forecourt petrol and diesel sales – 

where we still serve you. 

TEL:01553 673000 

Nursery Lane, North Wootton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE30 3QB 

EMAIL: sales@roythorneandson.co.uk • WEB: www.roythorneandson.co.uk 

Old Land Rovers Never Die 

Refurbish - Restore - Reimagine 

Hayward Revive 

Unit 1, Creake Business Park 

South Creake, Norfolk 

NR21 9JB 

01328 823882 

enquiries@haywardrevive.com 

Independent Specialists in Classic Land Rover vehicles, Norfolk 

restorations, rebuilds, special projects, conversions, sales 

WWW.HAYWARDREVIVE.COM 

62 

I-295534.indd 1 14/05/2019 14:50

Motoring 

Mazda MX-30 

Written by Sue Cooke | Twitter @cookecars 

It’s spring, warmer months ahead, with new changes and new challenges to 

embrace. The perfect time to road test Mazda’s first all-electric car, the MX-30. 

This SUV has already been named best electric compact SUV by Diesel and Eco 

Car Magazine in their annual awards and certainly provided me with some new 

challenges and wonderful new gadgets to enjoy. 

Give me an app on my mobile that allows me to remotely charge the Mazda 

MX-30; or heat the cabin on cold mornings and send the destination ahead of my 

departure to the navigation system and I can’t resist playing. 

Before I even drove the MX-30; Mazda had sent me a link to the Connected 

Services app. I can check whether I really did lock the door. I can even search for 

my car when I’ve parked it among many others at some show and can’t find it. 

I like the exterior styling although it took me a while to work out how to open 

the rear doors which are based on the freestyle doors on the sporty RX-8. The 

front doors open normally at an angle of 82 degrees, while the rear doors open 

backwards at an angle of 80 degrees. 

The interior is quality but sorry Mazda I do not like the cork material which lines the 

centre console. I thought they had been stuck on as an afterthought. Harvested 

from the bark of trees without felling, the cork and door trim materials incorporate 

fibres from recycled plastic bottles. I do like the volume of storage space. The 

floating centre console sits independently from the dashboard and offers lots of 

room for smaller items. 

In the spacious cabin, the dials in front of the steering wheel are clear and simple to 

understand at a glance. I like the head up display with a reminder of the speed of 

the road and the speed the vehicle is travelling at. I also like the reversing camera 

which is full colour and has a clear display. The three model grades are SE-L Lux, 

Sport Lux and GT Sport Tech. 

An electric motor and a lithium-ion battery delivered a range of 126 miles when I 

charged using my house electrics overnight. It is one of the lowest ranges on the 

market but as I charged overnight it wasn’t a problem for me. I did however put off 

a longish trip I had planned in case the infrastructure wasn’t available and because 

I didn’t have time to wait for charging. 

Facts at a Glance: 

Model: Mazda MX-30 SE-L Lux 

Price: £26,595 otr inclusive of OLEV grant 

Powered by 35.5kWh, Lithium ion battery 

and electric motor – 145PS 

Performance: 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds 

and on to a top speed of 87 mph 

CO 2 emissions: 0g/km 

The MX-30 drives with precision and is a joy to motor along urban routes and to 

manoeuvre in multi-storey car parks. 

Mazda says by 2030, a quarter of its products will be fully electric and all other 

models will be electrified in some form. Five hybrid models, five plug in hybrids and 

three EV models are promised. 

As we spring into this new year, experience a new challenge and drive an allelectric 

powered car. The Mazda MX-30 models start at a very low £26,045 and are 

currently offered with a free home wall box charger. 

63

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CONSUMER 

Martin 

Lewis 

Are you one of over a million people 

missing out on Universal Credit? 

The UK has a welfare 

safety net, yet sadly many 

are dropped or miss out. 

Changes at the end of 

last year to the flagship, 

catch-all Universal Credit 

programme mean over 

half a million people who 

weren’t eligible now are. 

I want to show you how to 

check whether you’re one 

of them. 

And don’t automatically assume it’s 

not you. The benefits net stretches up 

higher than many think – even some 

earning as high as £50,000 may just be 

eligible if you’ve heavy rental costs. 

What you should do depends on 

whether you already receive any welfare 

benefits or not… 

- Use a 10-minute Universal Credit & 

benefits checker tool to see if you’re 

due. 

I’ve got one on my site at 

www.mse.me/BenefitsCalc and 

there’s also one at 

www.turn2us.org.uk. 

Make sure you have your details to 

hand, and it shouldn’t take more than 

10 minutes to find out what you’re likely 

to be entitled to, and how much it could 

be. 

• If you tried before November, 

it’s worth trying again. More are 

eligible due to changes which hit in 

December… 

• Work allowances increased by £42 

per month. This is the amount those 

in households with children, or those 

with ‘a limited capacity for work’, can 

earn before Universal Credit starts to 

drop. 

• If you earn over your work allowance, 

you keep more of the benefit. It’s now 

45p per £1 of earnings, rather than 

37p. 

• On ‘legacy benefits’ – does 

Universal Credit pay more? 

There are three million people still on 

old style benefits: tax credits, income 

support, housing benefit, 

income-based jobseeker’s 

allowance and income-related 

employment & support allowance. 

If you’re on any of those, you’ll 

eventually be moved to Universal 

Credit which replaces them all. Yet this 

may take years. So it’s worth checking if 

you’d be better off switching now. 

This isn’t easy though, and you need to 

get it right, as once you request to go 

on Universal Credit, there’s no going 

back – even if you find out that you’re 

getting less as a result. So I’ve three 

simple steps for you. 

Step 1: Check if you’re in a category 

likely to be better off switching. If you 

work and pay rent, especially in a city, 

then you’re in the sweet spot where 

this may work. Same too if you’re at the 

higher end of earnings that still allow 

you to get benefits. 

On the other hand, if you’re a single 

parent and/or have a disability and 

you work but don’t pay rent, or you’re 

self-employed earning under £1,200/ 

mth, then you’re likely to be worse off 

on Universal Credit. Same too if you’ve 

a decent whack of savings, especially if 

they’re over the £16,000 cut-off. 

Step 2: If you’re in the right category, 

use a benefits calculator. It will tell you if 

you’re likely to be better off and by how 

much. But bear in mind these tools 

are ready reckoners that don’t include 

everything – so only treat this step as a 

jumping off point to see if you should 

do more. 

Step 3: If the calculator shows you’ll 

make a decent gain, don’t do anything 

without one-on-one help. There are a 

lot of changes in the move to Universal 

Credit… 

• You’re usually paid monthly and 

must budget (tricky for some 

with impulse control or addiction 

problems). 

• It’s one payment to the household (a 

possible issue for those in financially 

abusive relationships). 

• The first payment takes five weeks 

(though you can get an advance to 

cover it). 

• The work rules may be different; 

some have to do 35 hours of ‘workrelated’ 

activities a week. 

And most importantly if you have 

certain debts, including council tax, 

rent and energy bills, up to 25% can 

be taken off the standard Universal 

Credit payment which can scupper 

things (and that’s not included by the 

calculators). 

So you can see why I say go through 

it with a professional before taking the 

plunge. 

The government runs a free guidance 

and information service called 

www.moneyhelper.org.uk, which 

offers the option to chat (online or 

phone) with an adviser – make use of it. 

Or you can get free one-on-one 

benefits check-ups from 

www.citizensadvice.org.uk or 

www.advicelocal.uk. 

Martin Lewis is the 

Founder and Chair of 

MoneySavingExpert.com. 

To join the 7.5 million 

people who get his free 

Money Tips weekly email, 

go to 

www.moneysavingexpert.com/latesttip 

65

Iain Batchelor & Associates 

01480 290120 

Iain Batchelor 

Single Will £85/Pair of Wills £150 

Pair Property Trust Wills £250 

Lasting Powers of Attorney 

Home Visits / Telephone / Video 

Appointments 

Please Request Our Brochure 

ib.associates55@gmail.com 

www.iba-legal.co.uk 

Based in Woodbridge, we assist vulnerable people to manage 

their finances and to live as independently as possible. 

As we are growing quickly we are continuously recruiting. 

Please contact our friendly team to see how we can help you. 

Telephone: 01473 736296 

Email: hello@thepds.net 

Website: www.thepds.net 

Mike Barnes 

Trading as 

BJM Accountancy Ltd 

Approachable, affordable accountants based near 

King’s Lynn providing a range of quality 

accountancy services to businesses across 

Norfolk. 

Whatever your accounting or accountancy needs 

BJM Accountancy Ltd will be pleased to supply 

your business with affordable expert advice and 

support. 

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Call us for a free consultation 

01234 868268 

hello@cloud38.co.uk 

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07969163021 M 

Microsoft Teams Integration • Flexible Working • VoIP Phones • Internet Connectivity 

Reliable • Desktop & Mobile • Call Analytics • Multisite Deployments • Call Recordings 

66

101 

Business 

What is branding? 

Branding is a way for customers or potential customers to identify your 

business. It is how people recognise and experience your business. 

A strong brand is more than just a logo — it’s reflected in everything from 

your tone of voice, social media customer service style, staff uniforms, and 

is the premises to your marketing strategy and advertising. 

Your brand should reflect what your business stands for. Your business 

core beliefs, and the feeling you want people to have when they 

come across your brand. It should express the qualities, strengths, and 

personality of your business. 

How to create 

a brand for 

your business 

Written by Taralouise McCaughey 

Creating a solid brand involves research. A strong brand will help 

customers remember your business and feel greater confidence that your 

products or services will suit their needs. 

Do your research, then do some more. 

Customers tend to be loyal to a brand they trust. It requires time, research, 

and deep thinking, but believe me, the results are worth it. 

You can’t create a brand identity that echoes with your customers if 

you don’t understand your customers to begin with. Take the time to 

understand who is your target audience. Make up a few personas and 

bring them to life. What do they like and dislike? Why do they choose you 

over a competitor? What are their values and budgets? 

What makes you different? 

What makes you different from other brands out there? Why should your 

customers come to you over a competitor? Having this clear from the 

outset will keep your business branding on track and help pave the way 

forward for your marketing. 

Your visuals checklist 

• Logo 

• Colour palettes 

• Typography 

• Photography and graphics for 

social media/websites 

• A style guide that explains 

appropriate logo usage and 

tone of voice 

Consistency and flexibility 

Consistency is key if you want your brand to be remembered. Your 

customers need to have a consistent experience of your brand, whether 

that be online or in person. 

If something isn’t working for your brand, you need to be willing to change 

it. But remember, as your business grows and evolves, your branding 

needs to grow and evolve with it too. 

Working together 

Your brand voice, colour palette, typography and logo should all come 

together to create the perfect brand experience for your audience. 

Ensure each complements one other. 

So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and get your branding 

on! 

For more tips on branding follow @zincmediaagency. 

If you would like help and support branding or 

rebranding, get in touch at zincmediaagency.com 

67

Improve 

your Image 

Cameras and 

tips for beginner 

photographers 

The famous photographer and director Chase Jarvis once said, 

“The best camera is the one you have with you.” Nowadays this will 

more than likely be our phone. With high quality images and both 

hardware and software continually improving, for most of us this 

will be enough. But, if you’re serious about your photography and 

looking to take it to the next level, it’s worth investing in a ‘proper’ 

camera. When starting out, your most important considerations are 

likely to be value for money, versatility and user-friendly features 

making it easier to get started. With so many on the market, we’ve 

highlighted some of the best to match your budget. 

Under £500 

Nikon D3500 

With simplified controls and a 

built-in guide mode, the D3500 is 

an affordable option for beginners 

to learn the basics of creative 

photography. This DSLR offers big 

advantages including superb battery 

life, a 24MP sensor and impressive 

image quality. Weighing just 415g, 

it’s very light, and usually comes with 

an 18-55mm AF-P kit lens which has 

a retracting mechanism, making it 

more portable when it’s not switched 

on. It’s also compatible with a wide 

range of F-mount Nikon lenses. 

FOR 

Value for money 

Excellent image quality 

Easy to use 

Responsive autofocus 

5fps continuous shooting 

Impressive 1,550-shot battery life 

AGAINST 

Fixed rear screen 

No 4K video 

Relatively slow live view AF 

No touchscreen control 

Bluetooth, but no Wi-Fi 

Greg Coyne is a semi-professional 

wildlife photographer whose images 

have gained recognition in national 

wildlife photography competitions 

and magazines. Greg runs workshops 

and trips in the UK for budding wildlife 

photographers. Eastlife caught up with 

him to see if he had any advice for keen 

nature photographers who are just 

starting out. 

You can find Greg on Facebook, 

Instagram, Twitter and Flickr: 

Greg Coyne Photography 

68

Under £1000 

Sony A6100 

A great entry-level APS-C mirrorless 

camera for both stills and video. 

Its main strengths are its image 

quality, battery life and class-leading 

autofocus. It can also grow with you 

as it inherits many features from 

Sony’s significantly more expensive 

APS-C cameras. The general 

handling and performance of this 

user-friendly camera is enhanced 

through its excellent continuous 

autofocus system. 

FOR 

Good battery life 

Easy to use controls 

Lightweight and compact 

Real-time tracking autofocus 

4K video recording 

3.5mm microphone jack 

1:1 aspect ratio option 

AGAINST 

No IBIS for video 

Limited touchscreen functions 

Relatively low-spec LCD and EVF 

Plasticky feel 

Under £1500 

Fujifilm X-T4 

With cutting edge 4K video 

performance and 60p 10-bit internal 

recording, the X-T4 is a superb 

APS-C mirrorless camera for both 

photographers and filmmakers. 

It really is two cameras in one. 

Don’t let the chic, retro exterior fool 

you as it’s packed with advanced 

features such as in-body image 

stabilisation (IBIS), a vari-angle 

touchscreen display, great battery life 

and a quiet shutter. 

FOR 

Excellent APS-C sensor 

IBIS for video and stills 

Good battery life 

Easy menu system 

Classic controls and layout 

60p 10-bit 4K internal video 

AGAINST 

AF performance potentially limited by 

choice of lens 

EVF behaviour in low contrast light 

No headphone jack 

Complex burst and video fps options 

Under £2000 

Panasonic Lumix S5 

The S5 has a full-frame sensor and is 

capable of producing some fantastic 

imagery. It’s compact and has an 

impressive 24MP CMOS sensor 

within a tough weather-resistant 

body. Delivering up to 6.5-stops 

of image stabilisation, 4K video 

recording and 96MP high resolution 

RAW+JPEG capture, it’s a fantastic 

hybrid which will appeal to a wide 

variety of creators. 

FOR 

Best in-class video performance 

Compact full-frame quality 

Magnesium frame and vari-angle 

screen 

Dual SD card slots 

Small size and weight 

Good range of controls 

Excellent video specifications 

AGAINST 

Only contrast AF 

No full-sized HDMI port 

Large lenses affect compact size 

Lacks best-in-class autofocus 

Greg’s top tips for beginners: 

1. Don’t skip learning the basics 

Photography is all about ‘the light’ and you need to understand 

the relationship between aperture, speed and ISO. The best way to 

acquire this knowledge is to enrol at a college for a short course. It’s 

an inexpensive route to take and you can cover the basics in a few 

weeks. 

2. Get out with the camera and put what you have learned into 

practice 

If it’s nature you have an interest in, why not go and sit in a hide for a 

few hours? Never be afraid to ask questions of other photographers. 

We are usually a pretty friendly bunch and love talking photography. 

3. Study your subject beforehand 

Knowing its habitat and how best to approach it will save you a lot of 

time and ultimately get you better images. 

69

Learn a new Craft this year 

LAMPSHADE 

MAKING 

Spring often brings with it a fresh look at your living space 

and how you might improve it for the year ahead. Maybe a 

new cushion or two, or a throw here and there, but have you 

thought about your lampshades? Lighting is one of the most 

important aspects of home decorating, in setting the right 

ambience and your choice of lampshades have a huge part 

to play in reflecting your personal style. 

Dannells are experts in the lampshade making industry with 

over 40 years’ experience of supplying lampshade materials to 

high street retailers. More recently the company has turned its 

attention to their creative Needcraft Lampshade Making Kits, 

allowing anyone to make a professional, stylish and bespoke 

lampshade for their home. 

Ideal for complete beginners with no previous craft experience 

or for crafters with a passion for trying something new. 

Dannells’ Lampshade Making Kits are easy to make and come in 

a wide range of shapes and sizes, ranging from traditional 

drum lampshades to modern square and hexagon shades. 

Suitable as either a pendant light or a table lamp, each kit 

includes all the high-quality materials needed to make your 

own shade, including easy-to-follow photo instructions with 

plenty of tips and tricks for easy assembly. By simply adding 

your own choice of fabric you can emphasise your interior 

colour scheme or room style. 

Anita has set up her own Lampshade Making 

Business from home - HEARTS & GLITTER 

And the opportunities of Dannells’ Lampshade Making Kits 

don’t stop there! If you have a creative streak and would like to 

generate some extra income, why not consider becoming a 

Professional Lampshade Maker. Many of our customers, who 

start by making just one lampshade, have gone on to create 

sustainable and profitable businesses selling lampshades by 

adding their own unique creative twist. 

FOLLOW US 

@needcraft_ 

www.dannellsblog.com 

We have dozens of video tutorials available 

and a Lampshade Makers Facebook Group 

with over 2000 friendly members to 

support you whether you want to make 

just one lampshade or are a competent 

crafter looking for a new business venture. 

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY 

Lampshade Making is already a very popular 

craft with thousands of lampshade makers across 

the UK and Europe. By adding your own creative 

skills to lampshades, such as fabric printing and 

design, machine embroidery, and painting, 

amongst many other crafts, opens opportunities 

to sell online or direct to the public at craft fairs. 

So if you have an appetite for creative business 

and enjoy crafting, making lampshades to sell 

could be for you. 

WWW.DANNELLS.COM info@dannells.com 01992 700311

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Kitchen 

Trends 

The latest designs and ideas for your home 

© Eadonstone Kitchen designs 

72

HOME&GARDEN 


© Magnet Soho 

The heart of most homes is the kitchen which is why it’s 

essential to have a space you love. With our busy lives, and 

working from home likely for the foreseeable future, it’s 

important to create a space which is functionable for the 

whole family. 

Classic country 

A kitchen is often a major investment, so timeless style 

and quality are key. Erika Zytynska and Victoria Ball of 

Eadonstone Kitchens in Cambridge state they have seen 

a noticeable change in the want for natural tones and 

textures. 

“We have seen an exodus from London, as families relocate 

to more rural areas of the country, like our own beautiful 

East Anglia,” they said. 

“We see this trend echoed in kitchen design as nature 

inspires colours and textures. Opt for natural stone for 

worktops or choose a composite marble if you want the 

durability of an engineered product whilst maintaining the 

look and feel of nature. Wood is being used for much more 

than cabinetry, bringing year-round warmth and organic 

texture. We are designing countless hues of greens into our 

kitchens, and seeing families opt for clay reds and earthy 

yellows.” 

Gone are the days of fixed, glossy wall cabinets, 

homeowners are now embracing open shelves and 

dressers. Eadonstone Kitchens added: “We are celebrating 

the rise of glazed dressers, open shelves and tongue and 

groove cladding. This is a sophisticated trend, which can 

bring a kitchen together, without looking like it is 

over-designed or that everything matches. It can also make 

good use of some of those natural colour tones and the 

texture of wood – consider paint options that allow the grain 

of the wood to shine through. 

Sustainability 

Sustainability has crept its way into our homes for some 

time. However, it’s no longer refined to recycling and the 

products we use, but to our interior choices too. 

Head of design at Magnet, Lizzie Beesley said: “The need 

for sustainable product is becoming the biggest drive 

in the market. Consumers don’t want to compromise on 

aesthetic or price but are far more aware and will make 

choices accordingly. The full life cycle of a product from a 

sustainable source and low carbon footprint manufacturing 

to end of life recycling will be challenged by the consumer.” 

Colours are no longer top of a homeowner’s kitchen wish 

list, but instead the demand for function and longevity. 

However, if you do want a colour to last the test of time, 

Lizzie recommends bold dark tones such as blues and 

greens. Or if you’re feeling brave opt for the latest emerging 

trend of dark plums and regal purples. 

The design options are endless but making your kitchen a 

space for living rather than just cooking is a sensible choice 

we can all get on board with. 


“Lastly, we are seeing a huge increase in demand for boot 

rooms – think about the fabrics you can incorporate into 

an attractive yet practical bench seat. Don’t forget to add 

plenty of hooks so you can throw off your muddy coats as 

you run through to the kitchen to see what’s cooking!” 

73

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74

Knowing What’s 

What in your 

Garden 

Gardener, Ade Sellars, breaks 

down gardening jargon 

Spring’s knocking on our doorstep, breathing life slowly 

back into our gardens. Pockets of floral colour begin to 

emerge, giving you the inspiration to get those fingers 

green this season. 

Eagerly embarking on your horticultural adventure, you 

soon discover some of the terminology leaves you cold. 

Shuffling around garden nurseries picking up potted plants, 

labels are spelling out the language of the ancients, Latin. 

What you’ve always known as a sweet pea, its label reads 

Lathyrus odoratus. This is thanks to 18th century Swedish 

botanist, Carl von Linné. He created naming plants in Latin 

as it was the international language of science at the time. 

Struggling to pronounce the abstract diction, self-doubt 

begins to creep in. And before you know it, you feel you’ve 

been dead-headed, potted up and pricked out! What was 

supposed to be a relaxing hobby has you giving up before 

you even started. But don’t get your gardening twine in a 

knot, remember, even the most experienced gardeners 

can struggle with the lingo. So, let’s ease into the growing 

season with some simple phrases that will have you 

blossoming in no time. 

Annual – A plant that comes and goes within one season. 

Biennial – A plant that completes its cycle in two years. 

Growing the first year, then flowering and reproducing the 

second year. 

Chitting – Encouraging seed potatoes to sprout tendrils 

prior to spring planting. 

Cloche – Protect crops from pests and frost, usually 

constructed from either horticultural fleece, plastic or glass. 

Cold Frame – Used for growing on, protecting or 

acclimatising plants to the outdoors. 

Dead-head – Removing fading and dead flowers, enabling 

the plant to produce further blooms. This also prevents it 

from going to seed. 

Deciduous – A tree or plant that sheds its leaves in winter. 

Hardening Off – Taking plants that have been grown 

indoors, under protection, and bringing them outside a 

few hours a day to acclimatise to outdoor conditions. That 

way, when they’re eventually planted outside they’re hardy 

enough to handle various weather conditions. 

Mulch – Either bark, organic matter or leaves are mostly 

used to lay over the soil, or around the base of plants and 

trees to suppress weeds, retain moisture and can offer 

nutrients for the growing plant. 

Pinching out – To remove growing points of plants to 

encourage side-shoots and a bushier plant. 

Pot on – Plant seedlings into large containers to grow on. 

Prick out – Remove or transfer seedlings into larger pots to 

grow on. 

Propagate – To grow plants from seed, grafting or cuttings. 

Self-fertile – Plants or trees that pollenate themselves. 

Thinning – When seedlings are removed from a 

growing area allowing the remaining plants to grow on 

without competition. 

Tilth – The condition of tilled soil. 

Woody – When the stems of plants start to harden and 

produce bark. 

HOME&GARDEN 

Whilst it’s always good to have a bit of gardening theory in 

your back pocket, nothing will beat the pleasure of practical 

experience. So, however big or small your gardening goals 

are this season, the important thing is to enjoy your time 

outside. 

Happy gardening! 

For further reading about gardening terms, go to: 

rhs.org.uk/advice/beginners-guide/glossary 

Ade is a freelance presenter, blogger, vlogger, writer 

and multimedia producer. Whilst a garden presenter 

on the QVC Channel, he’s also a live speaker, who can 

host stage garden events. adesellars.com 

Both Ade and his wife Sophie run the blog, ‘Agents of 

Field’, which won the GMG Awards ‘Blog of the Year 

2016’. agentsoffield.com 

75

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78

The Arts Column 

Written by Collette Hoefkens | www.nortonwaygallery.com 

The art world can seem constantly changing and vulnerable 

to fashion, like many aspects of modern-day life. However, 

at its very core, art is born from a personal truth and honesty. 

Similar to a journalist, the artist seeks to discover the truth and 

convey it to others. If an artist is to further their career but stay 

true to their beliefs and concerns, they are likely to require 

support, in the form of solidarity. A fine art gallery regularly 

fulfils this role. 

Both artist and gallery seek to prioritise the truth, with 

the financial necessity underpinning its efforts rather 

than dominating them. That is, neither party make their 

ultimate goal financial glory, but both strive for quality and 

meaningfulness. Therefore, artist and gallery need to be right 

for each other and to share common attributes. 

The search to find the right collaboration is important for 

both artist and gallery and the relationships formed are built 

on trust and commitment. When you enter a truly impressive 

gallery, you will notice a synergy between the works that 

they exhibit. You may notice that there is a particular subject 

matter, or that there is a common palette or media. It may be 

that there is a subtle underlying concept. Understanding this 

continuity is essential for the artist and can also be important 

and useful for the customer. The gallery’s selection is not 

random, it will be considered for its theme, endurance and 

excellence. 

Autumn Ferns 

A perfect such joining of forces occurred in Suffolk, at the 

end of 2021. Hertfordshire’s, rapidly, rising talent Anna Perlin, 

approached the highly acclaimed Lime Tree Gallery, in Long 

Melford. After meeting in person, owner Sue Dean, was 

confident, not only of the integrity of Anna’s work, but also 

the quality of her materials and framing. “Anna was just lovely, 

and her work was superb! It was beautifully executed and 

framed,” said Sue. Sue also felt that there was a shared point 

of view, which would enable them to develop a relationship, 

in tune with the gallery’s long-established identity. “It is all 

about the drawing, painting and light for us,” she added. 

Having reached the semi finals of Sky’s Landscape Artist 

of the Year and having won the Artists and Illustrators Artist 

of the Year, Anna was already well sought after for her rich 

and textural Klimt-esque landscapes and still-lifes. However, 

before contacting the Lime Tree, she had been following 

the gallery for a long time, both on social media and through 

attending art fairs. She had always admired their excellent 

curating and the creativity and brilliance of their artists. 

Already known in her own right, Anna understood the 

importance of joining a collection that was harmonious with 

her own thought process and work. 

“My paintings complement their current group of artists. 

My style isn’t too similar to any of their current artists but sits 

alongside them well in style, genre and price,” said Anna. 

You can currently see Anna’s stunning mixed-media 

paintings on the Lime Tree website, or at their Bristol venue. 

From 2 April, they will be exhibited in the Lime Tree’s 

Spring Exhibition. 

Alliums by Anna Perlin 

Anna Perlin at Lime Tree Gallery, Long Melford, Suffolk 

limetreegallery.com 

79

Design & Make 

your own Lampshade 

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Dannells’ Lampshade Making Kits are ideal 

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80

On the Canvas 

Discover the latest art 

exhibitions in the region 

‘By Night: Perspectives of Poaching’ at Moyse’s Hall 

Museum 

An exhibition exploring the illicit world of the poacher will be held at Moyse’s 

Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds from 19 February until 1 May. ‘By Night: 

Perspectives of Poaching’, will present rural objects, art and literature from the 

darker side of West Suffolk Heritage Service’s collection to illustrate the perils and 

conflicts of the practice. 

It will also include items on loan from the Museum of East Anglian Life, Bungay 

Museum and the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, which will provide 

invaluable additions to the narrative. While the exhibition concentrates on 

the local history of hunting and poaching from the 18th to the 20th century, it 

also traces the roots of poaching back to the era of the Norman Conquest and 

examines how it can still prove a divisive subject, even today. 

©West Suffolk Heritage Service 

Entry price: adults £5, concessions £4.50, child £3 (5-16 years), Heritage Ticket 

holders can attend the exhibition free of charge. 

Tickets can be booked online at moyseshall.org 

New Exhibitions at The Sainsburys Centre, Norwich 

Two exhibitions will launch at The Sainsburys Centre this spring. Opening on 

13 March is ‘Pablo Picasso: The Legacy of Youth’. Available to view until 17 

July, the exhibition focuses on the early artistic formation of Pablo Picasso, from 

his teenage years to his thirties. The exhibition traces the artist’s progress and 

compares his achievement with the artists he admired and made use of. Rarely 

seen paintings and drawings will be shown alongside more familiar works. 

The second exhibition is a free display by ceramic artist Richard Slee, titled 

‘Swans’. In this work, showing until 14 August, 14 majestic swans with red latex 

beaks glide across the tranquil surface of the museum plinth. With twisting, 

sinuous necks, the swans exude a restless, inquisitive energy that animates the 

surrounding space. sainsburycentre.ac.uk 

Textile Exhibition at St Albans Museum + Gallery 

An exhibition of sculptural textile work by acclaimed artist Anna Ray will be 

on show at the Weston Gallery until 17 April. Titled ‘Fibre and Form’, it focuses 

on large-scale sculptural wall pieces created over the past 20 years by the 

Hertfordshire artist. On display for the first time is a 2019 padded sculpture titled 

‘Ribbon Chain’. With its interlocking and coiled links, it complements the scale 

and palette of another, much larger piece in the exhibition, titled ‘Margate Knot’. 

stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/anna-ray-fibre-and-form 

© Succession Picasso and DACS, London © rickpushinsky 

Charles Debenham Exhibition at Chappel Galleries, 

Colchester 

The exhibition, ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ordinary’, will be a collection of 37 

works by Charles Debenham, available to view from 12 March to 10 April. 

chappelgalleries.co.uk 

81

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Norfolk

Norfolk 

NORFOLK NEWS & EVENTS 

News 

Escape Your Reality in Norwich 

With real-life 

trips to far 

off places 

remaining 

almost 

impossible 

to plan, a 

new virtual 

reality centre 

in Norwich, 

Vector VR, can 

help families 

and friends escape to other worlds and fantasies. 

Located in the city centre’s Castle Quarter, Vector VR 

has a range of over 30 games and experiences which 

are suitable for children aged eight all the way up to 

groups of adults. 

Players can book between one and four VR pods to play 

alone or with friends in individual or multiplayer games 

and experiences. Popular games include ‘The Blu’, 

which allows people to experience the beauty of the 

underwater world, exploring ocean habitats and coming 

face to face with a range of awesome sea creatures and 

‘Ragnarok’, where players become a Viking captain. 

Vector VR is open from 11am, until late, seven days a 

week. Snacks and soft drinks are available to purchase 

in-between games. vectorvr.co.uk 

Veincentre Opens in Norwich 

From your initial point of contact you will be 

communicating with patient advisers, who only deal 

with patients who suffer from varicose veins and are all 

highly experienced and can confidently answer all of 

your queries or provide any advice. To find out more, 

visit veincentre.com. 

Congham Hall Launches Cabins 

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Congham Hall have 

launched five cabins set in the Georgian manor’s 

historic apple orchard. 

The cabins are perfect for a romantic break with their 

cosy design and terrace with a freestanding bathtub. 

This indulgent outdoor bath offers the ultimate spot 

from which to enjoy views of the orchard by day or gaze 

at the stars by night. 

These peaceful cabins are the latest addition to the 

hotel, following the recent restyling of its 2 AA Rosette 

restaurant as The Samphire Kitchen, and enhancement 

of its Secret Garden Spa. 

The £1 million development is part of the celebrations 

for the hotel’s 10th anniversary under Nicholas 

Dickinson and his team, which took over Congham 

Hall in 2012 and relaunched it as a relaxed countryhouse 

hotel. 

Prices for the Orchard Cabins start at £399 per room 

per night, including dinner and breakfast. 

conghamhallhotel.co.uk 

Veincentre, the UK’s leading varicose veins treatment 

provider with clinics nationwide, has opened its doors in 

Norwich on Surrey Street. 

Veincentre has been treating veins using modern 

techniques for over 18 years and provides the most 

effective and proven treatment that is accessible to 

everyone. All treatments are minimally invasive – walk-in, 

walk-out, require no general anaesthetic, no surgery and 

no time off work. 

Veincentre treats the underlying cause and not just the 

symptoms and appearance of varicose veins, to ensure 

that they don’t come back. Transparent pricing is also 

key to Veincentre meaning all prices are upfront and 

fixed. 

ROARR! to Open New Activity this 

Spring 

ROARR! Dinosaur Adventure will be launching the 

‘Valley of the Dinosaurs’, featuring 11 new animatronic 

dinosaurs that will bring the creatures to life, this spring.

Norfolk 

Nine new static dinosaurs will also be added to the existing 

54 in ROARR!’s current trail – taking the total number of 

dinosaurs at the park to over 150. 

The new attraction is part of a £300,000 investment by 

ROARR! to provide its guests with an immersive and 

engaging experience. 

‘Valley of the Dinosaurs’ visitors will be greeted by a statue 

of the park’s legendary Norfolk-born explorer Cornelius 

Weston Smythe, the sanctuary owner for rescued dinosaurs 

in a new themed area. The character will encourage young 

guests to find the missing pages in his notebook as they 

travel through the valley. 

Featuring voiceovers from Cornelius, in addition to a host 

of new dinosaur sounds, the interactive experience will 

also provide dino fans with exciting new photo-taking 

opportunities and more. 

Alongside this investment, ROARR! is planning to submit 

further expansion proposals to its local planning authority, 

which will see additional rides and dinosaur-themed 

experiences to enhance the dinosaur-themed visitor 

attraction. roarrdinosauradventure.co.uk 

Coastal Marathon Returns After 32 Years 

North Norfolk District 

Council, supported by North 

Norfolk Beach Runners, is 

set to host the first official 

‘Mammoth Marathon,’ 

sponsored by Sportlink, on 

Sunday, 15 May. 

The event, featuring 1,000 

runners, will be the first 

large-scale coastal road race 

in North Norfolk for 32 years. 

The competitors will take in the stunning scenery of the 

North Norfolk Deep History Coast during the 26.2-mile race 

and will have to endure the gruelling ‘Mammoth Mile’ at 

mile 25, prior to eventually finishing at Sheringham High 

School. 

The full marathon will start at 9.30am in Sea Palling and the 

half-Marathon will start in Mundesley – the finish line for 

both races will be at Sheringham High School. 

More details about the event, including categories, fees, 

prizes, start times and the full route is available at 

north-norfolk.gov.uk/projects/mammoth-marathon 

Get Moving 

A brand-new activity finder website, ‘Every Move,’ has been 

launched by Active Norfolk. 

The web-based platform will provide an easy-to-use way to 

access a broad directory of exercise opportunities across 

Norfolk for the general public and for health professionals 

looking to prescribe social and fitness activities. 

Every Move has been created to help people at any stage 

of their physical journey to find activity that is right and 

accessible for them. 

It already has more than 100 activity providers, who have 

promoted over 300 regular physical activity sessions 

across the county, from King’s Lynn to Great Yarmouth. 

everymove.uk 

Food & Drink 

Food Festivals are Back 

Calling all foodies! A showcase of the region’s best produce 

returns this spring with three festivals. 

The Proudly Norfolk Spring Food and Drink Festivals returns 

to The Forum in Norwich on 22 April with a collection of 

artisan producers and live music. 

For celebrity chefs, tasty samples, demonstrations and 

more, visit the Sandringham Food, Craft and Wood Festival 

at Sandringham Estate from 30 April to 2 May. Keeping food 

fans entertained over the first May Bank Holiday will be TV’s 

Jo Pratt, MasterChef Professionals winner Laurence Henry, 

Norfolk favourite Galton Blackiston and Michelin awardwinning 

chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli, to name a few. 

Bringing together two of Norfolk’s seaside towns is the 

Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival. 

Attracting over 20,000 visitors every year, the festival 

features delicious seafood delicacies. This year’s event 

takes place from 15-16 May and includes heritage 

demonstrations, a cookery theatre, Boat Art Trail and the 

Scrumptious Seafood Trail which includes more than 35 

local restaurants, cafés and pubs. 

Coming Up... 

Holt Festival Returns 

The popular arts and culture festival returns to the North 

Norfolk market town from 23-30 July. Expect a programme 

of poets, musicians and performers. holtfestival.org 

Kiefer Sutherland ‘Chasing The Rain’ 

Tour, 7 November 

The ’Chasing The Rain’ tour, which was postponed due to 

the pandemic, has been rescheduled for 7 November at 

The Waterfront, Norwich. 

From ‘Lost Boys’ and ‘Stand By Me’ to ‘24’, everyone knows 

about Kiefer Sutherland’s phenomenally successful acting 

career. Yet in recent years, he has focused on applying his 

masterful storytelling ability to music, with two acclaimed 

albums spanning a spectrum of country and Americana. 

ueaticketbookings.co.uk/ents/event/16360 

85

REEDHAM FERRY COMPLEX 

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Free use of Woodlands Leisure providing Main & Children’s 

pools, Steam room, Jacuzzi & Gym. 

Superb quiet location within 300m/5 min flat walk of: Blue Flag 

Lifeguarded Beach, Steam Railway, Theatre, Championship 

Golf Course, Shops, Pubs & Restaurants 

We pride ourselves on cooking the best food from 

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Enjoy our large family rooms with T V 

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87

Norfolk 

Secret Norfolk 

A Slice of Rural Magic 

Discover the medieval village of Godwick 

Written by Polly Robinson 

Peaceful, rural and relaxing, luxurious and languid the 

Godwick Estate is a wonderful spring retreat. Yes, it’s off the 

beaten track, but also not far from the Norfolk coastal gems 

of Holkham and Wells. Godwick makes a welcome break 

from the hustle and bustle of Norfolk’s popular locations. 

It is home to Godwick Hall, a large, luxurious country house, 

wedding venue Godwick Great Barn, and three quirky 

shepherd’s huts. It’s ideal for a midweek or weekend stay 

and is the perfect location for discovering these ancient 

lands and Godwick’s special history. 

Take a country walk around the ‘Lost Village of Godwick’. 

Once part of the Holkham Estate, Godwick is set over 100 

acres of quintessential English countryside and one of 

the finest examples of a deserted medieval village in the 

UK. The ‘Lost Village of Godwick’, where you can see the 

remains of medieval streets, houses, a church tower and the 

foundations of a wonderful Elizabethan manor house, are 

all etched in this ancient landscape. Open to the public, it’s 

worth a wander for those who enjoy their history, or just like 

looking at sheep grazing the wide-open pasture. 

The story of the lost village and its landscape are narrated 

as you walk the site by six descriptive panels explaining 

the history and the people who shaped it and gives visitors a 

helping hand in interpreting the ancient parkland, made up of 

humps and hollows that denote a time before. 

The village was almost completely abandoned by 1586, when 

the original Godwick Hall manor house was constructed, and 

formal gardens and a park laid out around it. 

Sir Edward Coke, attorney general to Queen Elizabeth I and 

forefather of the Coke dynasty that built Holkham Hall in the 

18th century, purchased Godwick in the early 1590s and set 

about building a Great Barn, which is now one of Norfolk’s 

finest wedding venues. It was completed in 1597 and signaled 

the end of village life for the few peasants who were left, as the 

magnificent barn’s north end strode across the village’s main 

street. 

Coke’s desire to build a very early landscape park saw him turn 

his attention to the village’s church tower, which had fallen 

into disrepair. By 1602 he had converted it into a folly, which 

according to Historic England is one of the first recorded follies 

built anywhere in the UK. 

The east side of the church tower collapsed in 1981, and it 

was until recently on Historic England’s at risk register, until 

88

Norfolk 

it was consolidated in 2020 in a project involving Historic 

England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Godwick 

Hall. 

The Garner family are fortunate to have been the custodians 

of this land for over 90 years with William Garner taking over 

the tenancy of the farm in 1928 and eventually buying it 

from the Holkham Estate in 1959. 

The Garner family have thoughtfully protected the 

landscape and buildings to create a luxury rural retreat. 

A range of holiday accommodation provides guests with 

an opportunity to immerse themselves in this historic 

landscape and relax. 

Where to stay 

Accommodation is centered around Godwick Hall, which 

was built in 1840, and is a sumptuous Georgian country 

house which sleeps up to 14 people in seven beautiful 

bedrooms melding traditional features with modern 

touches. There’s a grand drawing room, a games room, 

a splendid dining room, and a vast kitchen with an Aga. 

There’s even a heated outdoor swimming pool and 

children’s play area, making it perfect for a family gathering 

or special occassion. 

The Old Stables, Godwick’s latest conversion was opened 

in 2021, offering a contemporary light Scandi style space 

with views across the tranquil parkland, and sleeping up to 

six in the three en-suite bedrooms. All the rooms have luxury 

beds, the huge living room has a large sofa and a wood 

burner, while the well-equipped kitchen has doors opening 

onto the patio and large garden. 

For a romantic retreat for couples Godwick’s three 

shepherds huts are close to nature – quirky, rustic and 

extremely comfortable. They have wood burners and 

radiators so are cosy retreats even in the colder months. 

The three huts come with some fabulous mod cons – a 

double bed and en-suite shower room, a small kitchenette, 

microwave, DAB radios and even a two person hammock. 

As well as a comfortable night’s sleep, guests can order 

a welcome breakfast hamper of Norfolk bread and cereal 

along with a host of other extras such as a bottle of fizz 

chilling in your fridge, a barbeque, and fire pit, basket 

of wood, blankets, marshmallows and skewers so you 

can marvel at the stars. Godwick Hall has trademarked it 

Schlamping for luxury glamping! 

Where is Godwick? 

Godwick is a great base to explore North Norfolk with its 

wide-open beaches and renowned pubs and restaurants. 

Eleven miles from Wells-next-the-Sea and Holkham, it’s also 

within reach of the fine city of Norwich. 

Shepherd’s Huts prices from £90/night, minimum 

two-night stay. 

Godwick Hall sleeps 14 adults is £1000/night, 

minimum stay three nights. 

The Old Stables sleeps six adults is £450/night, 

minimum stay two nights. 

Find out more at godwickhall.co.uk | 

lostvillageofgodwick.co.uk 

There are ample walks in the area as well as fantastic places 

to eat and drink nearby including the award-winning, 

The Brisley Bell. 

89

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Norfolk 

Indulge in a sweet 

treat this Easter 

Written by Zena Leech-Calton | lovenorwichfood.co.uk 

Chocolate is probably my favourite 

subject. When I was studying to be 

a cookery tutor, I gave my first micro 

lesson for my exam in chocolate. The 

whole class had been subjected to 

talks on equations, the rules of chess 

and the plays of Shakespeare – then 

I came on with proper hot chocolate, 

you know the sort made with just 

melted chocolate and cream, and 

maybe with a touch of vanilla pod. 

I talked about the history and the 

process and treated them to some 

melt in the mouth single source South 

American, 70% cocoa chocolate, 

and a generous slice of chocolate 

and Guinness cake. It wasn’t hard 

to win all the brownie points – wake 

the room up and make everyone my 

bestie. 

After that I taught a few classes in the 

art of chocolate for adult education, 

but never felt it was my best teaching 

subject – all that tempering and mess 

to wash up. So now it’s a little sneaky 

chocolate that goes into a few things 

on my teaching days like in the Mole 

sauce in my Mexican class, triple 

choc something for my kid’s parties 

and the option to make chocolate 

spaghetti in my Italian class. I have to 

say it’s one of the nicest flavours ever 

– but psychologically the thought of 

chocolate and spaghetti can be off 

putting but trust me, I’m a chef – it’s 

divine. 

Visit 


for chocolate 

recipes from 

Zena! 

Recommended Chocolate 

Companies in Norfolk 

Simply Cake Co. 

Susanna Lemon (yes, a suitable last 

name) creates gluten free brownie 

boxes from King’s Lynn that can be 

delivered all over the UK. There are 

vegan options too. 

www.simplycakeco.com 

Saffire Chocolates 

A family run chocolate shop in the 

Royal Arcade in Norwich. They make 

the best flavoured chocolate boxes 

around with over 30 different flavours. 

Just under £10 for a box of eight and 

part of my Norwich Food & Drink 

walking tour. 

www.saffire.co.uk 

Lifetime of Chocolate 

The company is run by Chloe, a 

professionally trained chocolatier, 

and certainly the best tasting pure 

chocolate around. Find her at local 

fayres and online. If you get a chance, 

try her Biscoff fudge bites – it’s pure joy. 

www.lifetimeofchocolate.com 

Nox Chocolatier 

Set up by Chef Walker in lockdown, 

he creates amazingly bang on trend 

flavours like Smoked Oak Moss 

Caramel. Local Norwich pick-ups are 

available. Find out more on Instagram 

and Facebook @noxchocolatier 

91

OWN YOUR OWN HOLIDAY HOME 

ON THE WEST NORFOLK COAST 

Static holiday homes for sale on a choice of 7 parks on the West Norfolk Coast 

Shepherds Port 

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Heacham, PE31 7LA 

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The Haven Caravan Park hosts 100 plots in 

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28 spacious plots for new static caravans 

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www.mcdonnellcaravans.co.uk

Norfolk 

Historic Pubs of Norwich Tour 

Friday 25 March 

10.30am–12.30pm 

Get a taste for the 

history of Norwich 

pubs on this guided 

walking tour with 

Norwich tour guide, 

Paul Dickson. The 

tour starts outside the 

Maids Head Hotel 

in Tombland. See 

where Ralph McTell 

had his first professional gig and Paul Simon sang solo; 

explore where Monsieur du Pain entertained drinkers 

by dipping his feet in boiling lead; visit Alan Partridge’s 

favourite Norfolk bar and discover where 18th century 

diarist Parson Woodforde used to drink. Hear stories of 

gruesome murders, sixties music heroes, student sit ins 

and much more. 

pauldicksontours.co.uk/norwichs-historic-pubs 

Sheringham Viking Festival 

Saturday 9 April, 11am–7pm 

Wuffa will be returning once more to Scira’s village of 

Sheringham! There will be a full Viking and Saxon camp 

with all sorts of different displays on including Viking 

cooking, crafts and weaponry, as well as have-a-go 

axe-throwing demonstrations and a working iron forge. 

There will also be a full combat display and as always 

the event will end with a torch lit procession and the 

burning of a Viking boat! 

themedievallife.com/event/scira-sheringhamviking-festival-2022 

Family Canoe Trails at Fairhaven 

Woodland and Water Garden 

Norfolk Antique and Collectors Fair at 

the Norfolk Showground 

Sunday 17 and Monday 18 April 

From beautiful antique furniture, to exquisite ornaments, 

one off knickknacks and collectable treasures, the 

Antique and Collectors Fair is a haven for artefact 

admirers. Everything has a story and everything needs a 

home; you can shop, identify, negotiate, or bargain your 

way through the show and leave with a little piece of 

history in your hands. 

norfolkantiquefair.co.uk 

Stately Home Car Boot Sale at 

Sennowe Park 

Sunday 1 May, 9am 

Bargain hunters can get their hands on a treasure chest 

of rare antiques and historical artefacts. Fine antiques 

and forgotten bygones will be on offer from around 150 

stately sellers which have previously included Holkham 

and Houghton Halls. As well as buying items, visitors 

can have their own pieces, plus those they have just 

bought, valued by auctioneers, Cheffins. The event will 

also host a number of high-quality caterers on site. 

lovenorfolk.co.uk/events/stately-home-car-bootsennowe 

WHAT’S ON 

Tuesday 5 & 12 April, 2pm 

Take the exploration of the Broads to a new level with 

the new family canoe trails. Explore the Broads and 

some water ways of Fairhaven, glide through the waters 

as a family and see the best of South Walsham inner and 

outer broads. Keep your eyes peeled for the magnificent 

heron or the sensational kingfishers before trying to 

spot the gorilla from the outer broads. With garden entry 

cost included, you can have a two-hour magical family 

ride and explore the gardens, making it a real day to 

remember. 

fairhavengarden.co.uk/what-s-on 

Crab & Lobster Festival 

Sunday 15 and 

Monday 16 May 

Starting with the 

Grand Opening 

Variety Concert 

at the Pier 

Pavilion Theatre 

in Cromer, there 

will be a whole 

host of events, 

including heritage 

demonstrations, 

a cookery theatre, the “Bootiful” Boat Art Trail and the 

Scrumptious Seafood Trail which includes more than 

35 local restaurants, cafés, pubs and snack bars. There’s 

also a street market packed with local produce, live 

music during the day and at night, street performers, 

heritage and seafaring crafts and children’s activities. 

lovenorfolk.co.uk/events/crab-lobster-festivalnorfolk 

93

And much, much more. AT ELVEDEN 

4x4 off road driving - SKID PAN 

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stedscathedral.org 

94

Suffolk 

Gallops 

Newmarket

Suffolk 

SUFFOLK NEWS & EVENTS 

News 

Spring Season at Theatre Royal Bury 

St Edmunds 

Theatre Royal 

Bury St Edmunds 

have launched its 

spring 2022 season, 

sponsored by Ellisons. 

Theatregoers can 

enjoy a varied 

programme of events 

including stand-up 

comedians, drama, 

music, dance and 

family shows. 

Comedians Jenny 

Éclair, Dylan Moran, Reginald D Hunter and Patrick 

Kielty will be bringing the laughs, while drama includes 

the ‘Birds and the Bees’ from 3 May to 7 May and 

‘Boeing Boeing’ from 14 to 18 June. 

Every season Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds arranges 

special events to help raise much-needed funds for 

the theatre and this season is no exception with the 

agenda including an annual Golf Day which will be held 

at Thetford Golf Club on 7 April, the return of the ever 

popular Bury St Edmunds Concert Band on 1 May and 

‘A Night Out the Musicals with Irving Stage Company’ 

on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 July. 

theatreroyal.org 

A Year of Celebrations 

Edmund. The first sculpture to be installed will be a 

giant Monk (7ft 6ins tall) made from 2mm thick steel 

and weighing some 250kg designed by Nigel Kaines 

and made by blacksmith Kevin Baldwin from Designs 

on Metal. 

Visit burystedmundsandbeyond.co.uk/abbey-1000 

for a full programme of events. 

Priory Suite Opens at Swan at 

Lavenham Hotel & Spa 

The Swan at Lavenham has a stunning new suite set 

within the town’s Grade I listed,13th century Priory, a 

short stroll from the main hotel and its boutique spa. 

Romantic and cosy for two, but with two bedrooms 

sleeping four, the Lavenham Priory Suite has its own 

hidden courtyard garden at the back. The half-timbered 

house with its centuries old oak beams is the perfect 

retreat, yet guests have full use of The Swan Hotel’s 

facilities. Prices start from £300 per night for two. 

theswanatlavenham.co.uk. 

Aspal Antiques Expands 

© Phil Morley 

Bury St Edmunds will celebrate the founding of the 

Abbey of St Edmund by King Canute 1,000 years ago 

with a year of special events culminating on the Saint’s 

Feast Day on 20 November 2022. 

This spring sees the launch of a series of trails to mark 

the celebration. Launching in April is the Abbey of St 

Edmund Anniversary Tours, which offers daily town 

walks. The Abbey 1000 Heritage Trail takes place from 

21 May to 20 November, while a monthly changing 

display of sculptures will be on display between May 

and November in the crypt within the Abbey ruins, 

where the shrine of St Edmund would have stood. 

Schools and artists are being invited to create the 

artworks on a theme of the story of the Abbey and St 

Aspal Antiques has opened at Stonham Barns Park, an 

entertainment and leisure venue destination, selling 

antiques, vintage and retro pieces. 

The business has grown as a result of a collecting 

revival that began in lockdown and is continuing to see 

an increase in demand from people for architectural 

feature pieces. 

Aspal Antiques will host ‘Mid Suffolk Mondays’ 

antiques, vintage and salvage trade fairs which will run 

throughout 2022, taking place on the second Monday 

of the month at Stonham Barns Park Showground. 

stonhambarns.co.uk 

96

Suffolk 

Food & Drink 

An Asian Influence 

Lilian Hiw of Lilian’s Kitchen, 

based in Bury St Edmunds, has 

won The London Prestige Awards 

for the title of ‘Private Chef of the 

Year’ for London and South East. 

The award celebrates small 

and medium-sized enterprises 

consisting of local businesses 

and sole traders that have 

thrived in their highly competitive 

community and have proven 

their success. Over the past year 

4,374 nominations were received by the awards team at 

Prestige Awards by industry experts, readers and satisfied 

customers. 

Providing cookery classes and private chef services, 

Lilian is classically trained and uses her Singapore roots, 

knowledge and travels all over Asia to influence her style of 

cooking. 

Check out our summer issue, where Eastlife will be joining 

Lilian in her kitchen! 

lilianskitchen.co.uk 

Meat on the Road 

A former truck driver from Ipswich, Marcus Livermore, has 

launched Marcos Smokeshed, a catering trailer offering 

home-smoked meats and burgers. 

Marcus, who has spent years on the road eating 

sub-standard lay-by food, decided to use the inheritance 

left by his 102-year-old grandad, to set up the business 

which allows him to combine his two great loves: food and 

feeding people. 

With his new trailer situated on the A12 between Ipswich 

and Woodbridge, Marcus is serving up a range of 

handmade ‘dirty’ burgers, roasted meats and pulled pork 

and brisket that is all freshly prepared, with some hot 

smoked in advance and some cold-smoked in the van. 

instagram.com/marcos_smokeshed 

Top Dog 

The Three Blackbirds in Newmarket, has won the title of 

‘Best Dog-Friendly Pubs with Rooms’ in the PetsPyjamas 

Dog-Friendly Travel Awards. 

The village pub impressed PetsPyjamas judges and 

received the award thanks to its recent refurbishment 

offering guests stylish decor and modern touches that 

create a lovely warm dog-welcoming stay. The judges 

also loved the British food made from local produce from 

award-winning local suppliers, local ales and stylish dogfriendly 

bedrooms, as well as the warm welcome offered 

to pooches along with a cosy blanket, flavoursome treats 

from Pooch’s of Norfolk, a sausage breakfast and walk 

recommendations. 

The pub beat thousands of nominees both in the UK 

and abroad. The establishment was judged in-line with 

PetsPyjamas’ consistent gold-standard of dog-friendliness; 

a dog-loving atmosphere and staff, dog-friendly rooms and 

provisions available, access to the property’s communal 

areas and the ability to dine with their owners with pet 

menus being a bonus. 

petspyjamas.com 

Two Magpies Bakery Opens in 

Woodbridge 

Continuing its expansion 

across the region, cafe and 

bakery group, The Two 

Magpies, has opened its 

seventh store in Woodbridge. 

Serving up fresh cakes 

and bakes, it will include a 

50-cover cafe and will be 

run by a team of highlyskilled 

pastry chefs, bakers 

and baristas. Two Magpies 

Woodbridge will be open 

Monday-Sunday, 8am-5pm. 

twomagpiesbakery.co.uk 

Coming Up... 

Joe McElderry 

Tribute to George 

Michael 

X Factor winner, musical 

theatre star and number 

one selling artist, Joe 

McElderry, is set to perform 

at theatres across the UK 

with a brand-new tour 

celebrating the music of 

the late George Michael. 

‘FREEDOM’ will pay 

homage to one of world’s 

most iconic music 

legends visiting venues 

across the UK including 

a date at Ipswich Regent 

Theatre on Monday 24 October. Tickets are now on sale. 

ipswichtheatres.co.uk 

97

We are 

open for 

admissions 

EXCEPTIONAL CARE 

IN WOODBRIDGE 

Grove Court is one of a select 

group of care homes operated by 

Elizabeth Finn Homes and offers 

a home from home for discerning 

guests who appreciate comfort, 

quality and exceptional care. 

We offer personal or nursing care 

on a permanent or short stay basis, 

as well as end of life care, all to the 

same exceptional standard. 

From award-winning restaurant 

style dining to beautiful landscaped 

gardens and industry leading social 

engagement, Grove Court provides 

the highest level of service and 

facilities. 

TOP 

20 

AWARD 2019 

Why not come and see for yourself? 

Call Helen Jones, our General 

Manager on Tel: 01394 446500 

or email: 

enquiries.grovecourt@efhl.co.uk 

GROVE COURT 

Beech Way, 

Woodbridge, 

Suffolk IP12 4BW 

No hidden charges | Charity Owned | Well-established | Reputation for high quality care 

www.efhl.co.uk 

Internet Prices 

IN STORE 

A huge range of Divans, Mattresses, 

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98

Beccles Sewing 

& Handicrafts 

DRESSMAKING & CRAFT FABRICS 

HABERDASERY & CRAFT REQUIREMENTS 

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Over 100 major exhibits - all made or used in Ipswich! 

SUNDAYS/BANK HOLIDAY 

MONDAYS (11AM TO 4PM) 

from Sunday 20th March until Sunday 27th November 

Good Friday 15th April 11am to 4pm | Saturdays (Bank Holiday weekends) 

16th April and Saturday 27th August (both 11am to 4pm). 

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 1pm to 4pm 12th to 14th and 19th to 21st 

April; 31st May to 2nd June; 26th to 28th July; 2nd to 4th, 9 to 11th, 16th to 18th, 

23rd to 25th August; 30th August to 1st September; 25th to 27th October (to 

coincide with school holidays) 

*subject to COVID restrictions – please check website before travel 

See website for details and special events 

We’re on Facebook & 

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15A Blyburgate, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9TB 

Telephone 01502 714234 

Old Trolleybus Depot, Cobham Road, Ipswich IP3 9JD 

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99

Suffolk 

Spotlight on 

Shopping in 

Suffolk 

Written by Victoria Hebbert 

With a rise in staycations and the ever-changing COVID 

regulations, spending weekends closer to home seems 

the order of the day. So, what better way to enjoy 

weekends in the East of England than by exploring 

the very best of Suffolk’s independent stores. Here’s a 

round-up of some of the county’s finest offerings. 

Stonham Barns 

Stonham Aspal, IP14 6AT 

You may know Stonham Barns for its Owl Sanctuary, its 

pottery painting or perhaps one of its events, from last 

year’s ABBA tribute concert to the steam and vintage 

engines show. Yet you might not yet have explored 

its warren of little shops – offering the best of the 

county’s fabrics, antiques and artwork. It’s well worth 

taking a Saturday afternoon to peruse the myriad of 

independent stores within the barns, there is something 

for everyone, and with onsite tea rooms and other 

activities, nobody has to hear the much dreaded cries 

of “Can we go yet, mum?!” 

Finbows Yard 

Bacton, Stowmarket, IP14 4NH 

Finbows Yard appears in the list because it’s a 

great selection of really useful stores, as well as fun 

places to browse. Are you looking for a well-stocked, 

independent ironmonger for that latest DIY project? 

It’s got J Lawes Ltd. Or do you need a repair for 

a household appliance, or perhaps buy a new or 

reconditioned model? Head to DK Appliances Ltd. Or 

perhaps you’re looking to kit out your newly decorated 

house? That’s where Finbows Furnishers will come 

in handy. Whatever takes you to Finbows Yard, the 

delicious smell of freshly baked cheese scones wafting 

in the air will ensure that you end up at EmZo Cafe. 

© Alexander Ward 

100

Suffolk 

Snape Maltings 

Snape, IP17 1SP 

Snape Maltings is perhaps the place that makes me most 

proud to hail from Suffolk. If you haven’t been entranced 

by the spectacular music on offer throughout the season 

of events, you really must book tickets. But until then, it can 

satiate your wildest shopping dreams too. It’s the perfect 

choice for natural beauty products, locally crafted pottery, 

art, and jewellery, or to explore its antiques emporium. The 

Maltings are also home to Greenroom, which will make you 

crave houseplants you never knew you wanted, and the 

Lettering Arts Centre, which sells stunning, yet affordable 

works of art from the little-explored crafts of 

letter-carving, calligraphy, wood-carving, 

letterpress, and linocut. If you fancy your hand 

at any of these artforms, you can book into 

one of the centre’s workshops and give it a go 

yourself. Snape Maltings has an online shop 

so you can explore from the comfort of your 

own home. 

Beach Street 

Felixstowe, IP11 2GN 

If you’ve spent the last 40 years delving 

into the county’s independent shopping offering, you 

might be pleased to hear about the newly opened Beach 

Street in Felixstowe. A wonderful little selection of stores, 

surrounded by plenty of eateries to satisfy every appetite. 

Cosy Aromas celebrates and champions a Suffolk couple’s 

passion for scents, and now offers a huge array of handblended 

room sprays, soy wax melts and fragrance oils. You 

can also take a sartorial trip around Europe without leaving 

the Suffolk coast, by shopping for timeless Scandinavianinspired 

fashion at Puzzle and colourful Italian clothing at 

SusieSparkle, for all sizes from 12 to 32. Your inner free spirit 

will enjoy the jewellery and incense at Crystal Eclipse, the 

classes at Hazel & Co Yoga Studio, and the boho fashion on 

offer at Tinx Boutique. 

© Rod Edwards 



Retail Therapy 

Lavenham, CO10 9PX 

Choosing just one store from Lavenham’s incredible 

selection of independent boutiques is nigh on impossible, 

and any trip to this beautiful Suffolk town should include 

a walk the length and breadth of the High Street. The top 

choice could also have been Pickles & Lillies, the charming 

childrenswear and traditional toy shop, the family business 

that specialises in organic and sustainable products. 

But for sheer, one-of-a-kind magic, the top Lavenham 

recommendation would be for Retail Therapy, which stocks 

a rainbow of womenswear for every occasion, in beautiful 

colours and fabrics – it’s just impossible to leave empty 

handed! 

Wilde and Greene 

Tuddenham St Mary, IP28 6TB 

For those of you to the west of the county, or over the 

border in Cambridgeshire, a trip to Wilde and Greene in 

Tuddenham St Mary will not disappoint. Upon arrival, a 

seemingly inconspicuous farm shop, but upon entering, 

a treasure trove of hand-crafted jewellery, homemade 

produce, locally sourced meat, and an endless stock of 

refillables – from nuts and flour to natural washing up liquid 

and freshly ground coffee. What’s even nicer is that the 

couple who run the store, Jen and Sue, make everyone feel 

like an old friend, and no request is too difficult for them. 

After a trying season for 

the retail sector, in light 

of the pandemic, do 

explore these Suffolk 

independent shops and 

enjoy supporting your 

local businesses. 


101

Book your Perfect Suffolk Escape 

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www.molletts.com bookings@molletts.com 

2022 02 East Life General HP.qxp_107mm h x 148 mm w 07/02/2022 16:51 Page 1 

Hidden treasure 

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A warm welcome and fantastic views 

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Our family-friendly hotel boasts a fantastic 

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Golf Course and delicious locally-sourced 

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Why not pop in for a Paddy and Scott’s 

coffee and a piece of homemade cake? 

Everyone is welcome, 

even your four-legged best friend. 

t 01394 383555 

w www.uffordpark.co.uk 

Yarmouth Road|Woodbridge | Suffolk | IP12 1QW 

102

Suffolk 

Lambs & Spring Bulbs at Kentwell Hall 

Saturday 26 March – Sunday 10 April, 11am-3pm 

You will see new-born lambs and young lambs at the 

lambing yard in the Tudor Stables, as well as older 

lambs out in the paddocks. You might even see a lamb 

being born! With drifts of massed daffodils, lambing and 

lambs, this is the time for mums and their children. 

An active, outdoor day out for explorers of all ages – a 

breath of fresh air for everyone! 

kentwell.co.uk 

WHAT’S ON 

Mid-Suffolk Light Railway Easter 

Steam Up 

Arena events, dog events, equestrian events, forestry 

area, displays & attractions, game fair country kitchen, 

fishing village, live music and lots more. 

ukgamefair.co.uk 

Stonham Barns Steam & Vintage Show 

Sunday 17 & Monday 18 April 

The first major weekend opening of 2022 will be the 

Easter Steam Up. All the Middy attractions, Museum, 

Restoration Shed, Tea Room and The Kitchener Arms 

real ale bar will be open and ready for a great weekend’s 

entertainment. Two locos will be on duty, the Cockerill 

Steam Tram and the Shredded Wheat Heritage Railway 

Association’s award-winning Fowler diesel, topping and 

tailing the trains of Victorian 4-wheel coaches. 

mslr.org.uk 

Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 May, 10am-4pm 

A gathering of historic traction engines, steam rollers 

and other historic exhibits such as tractors, stationary 

engines, agricultural and construction vehicles, vintage 

motorcycles and bicycles, working horses, wood and 

metal craft and the like. There will be demonstrations in 

the show ring, a vintage market selling gifts and unique 

items, along with Morris Dancers, archery, the Vander 

wheel of death, kiddies’ corner, dog displays, live music, 

trade stalls, food outlets and a licensed bar. Dogs are 

welcome but must be kept on leads. 

stonhambarns.co.uk/whats-on/stonham-barnssteam-vintage-show 

Beccles Food and Drink Festival 

Easter Country Show at Henham Park 

Sunday 17 & Monday 18 April 

An event with something for everybody from fabulous 

crafts people along with a wide selection of artisan 

food and drink providers where you can stock up on 

delicious cheeses and mouth-watering homemade 

sweet and savoury bakes. As well as great shopping, the 

Show hosts an amazing main ring with six smaller rings 

and a mix of enjoyable activities, entertainment and 

music for all the family.Don’t forget about the fabulous 

street food and drinks whilst soaking up your amazing 

day, surroundings and atmosphere – the perfect day 

out! Four-legged family members are welcome too and 

can enjoy the Easter We Love Dogs show. 

eastercountryshow.co.uk 

East Anglian Game & Country Fair 

Saturday 23 April & Sunday 24 April 

A two-day event taking place at the Euston Estate, 

Thetford for all the family to enjoy including your dog! 

Free parking and under 5’s go for free. 

Saturday 28 May 10am-4pm 

A free Festival featuring over 50 food and drink stalls, 

many of them local artisan producers, as well as those 

from further afield in East Anglia. Based in the centre 

of the vibrant market town, the Festival will include 

cookery demonstrations and talks, world street food 

and children’s entertainment. A free Park & Ride shuttle 

service will run throughout the day from Beccles Quay. 

becclesfoodfestival.co.uk 

103

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Cambridge 

© Karen Cann

Cambridge 

CAMBRIDGESHIRE NEWS & EVENTS 

News 

Gin O’Clock 

This spring Rutherford’s 

Punting will be teaming 

up once again with 

Cambridge Gin Lab to 

bring their gin experiences 

to the river. Glide along 

the river, past Cambridge’s 

famous colleges and 

stunning architecture with 

Cambridge Gin in hand. 

Over 45-minutes, 

expert guides will share 

fascinating historic stories 

with guests, while they 

leisurely sip on gin and 

tonics poured over ice and take in the beautiful sights. 

A must do for all gin lovers! 

rutherfordspunting.com/gin-punting 

Hot Tub Health Kick 

Think of a health regime 

and usually the gym 

and diets spring to 

mind. However, did you 

know there’s a home 

improvement that could 

help you maintain a 

healthier lifestyle? No, not a home gym, but a hot tub. 

Designed to not just improve physical health but also 

mental and emotional wellbeing, the hot tub was one of 

the most bought home products in 2021. 

Hot therapeutic baths were used by the early Egyptians 

some 4,000 years ago and become a firm favorite with 

kings over the centuries. Fast-forward to today and 

you’ll find that a 90-minute soak in a hot tub is no longer 

a pleasure for the elite but is enjoyed by families all over 

the UK. 

Spending time in a hot tub raises the core body 

temperature, which can reduce blood pressure and 

inflammation, improve cardiovascular health, and 

relieve stress and pain. It may also help you get a good 

night’s sleep. 

If you want to align circadian rhythm, pop along to the 

Award Leisure showroom in in Swavesey, Cambridge 

where you’ll find a range of hot tubs to choose from. 

awardleisurecambridge.co.uk 

Cambridgeshire Garden Party 

Celebrations 

As part of the first ever Cambridgeshire County Day, a 

Garden Party will be held on 23 June at the July Course, 

Newmarket, Cambridgeshire. 

Sponsored by Birketts and Anglian Water, the Garden 

Party, which is being hosted by Her Majesty’s Lord- 

Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Mrs Julie Spence OBE 

QPM, will be by invitation only and will serve to thank 

individuals who have been the backbone of the county 

over many years. 

The Lord-Lieutenant has asked key organisations 

from across Cambridgeshire to nominate attendees, 

including volunteers, front line workers, and those who 

have gone the extra mile to contribute to the life of the 

county, particularly throughout the COVID pandemic. 

The celebration will be of Royal standard akin to that 

observed at Buckingham Palace, with tea, coffee, 

sandwiches and delicious cakes served. 

Cambridgeshire County Day will highlight the best 

of the county’s organisations, while inspiring future 

generations with an unrivalled display of innovation, 

ambition, commitment and passion. 

Businesses, not-for-profit organisations and schools 

interested in supporting, taking part or getting involved 

with Cambridgeshire County Day can find out more by 

visiting cambridgeshirecountyday.org. 

Hit Paus 

Set on a hilltop in Bourn, PAUS, (pronounced ‘pause’) 

will be re-opening on 10 March after their winter break. 

This bathing and breathing space, is a great opportunity 

to spend time outdoors in the fresh air and day light and 

awaken your senses this spring. It will open Thursday to 

Sunday for waterside saunas, outdoor bathing, barefoot 

walking and dining at the hilltop bistro. A schedule of 

events will be available during the season including 

yoga and sketching retreats. 

paus.life 

Holiday Inn Opens in Cambourne 

The Holiday Inn 

Express Cambridge 

West – Cambourne has 

opened its doors to 

business travellers and 

tourists. 

Located near the 

Cambourne Business Park, the hotel includes 144 

bedrooms with key features such as blackout curtains, 

a power shower, and free high-speed Wi-Fi. They are 

also fitted with smart design features such as a flexible 

workspace, flat screen TV where guests can mirror 

content from their phones, ergonomically designed 

chairs and ample USB ports and plug sockets next to 

the bed. 

In the hotel’s lobby, guests will find tables with 

integrated power – all part of the brand’s Next 

Generation design solutions. A mix of seating styles 

provide a welcoming space for guests to work or relax. 

Rooms at Holiday Inn Express Cambridge West 

Cambourne will start at £50 per night. ihg.com 

106

Cambridge 

Medical Moves 

The University of Cambridge has launched a new premedical 

studies course to help mature students on their 

pathway to becoming a doctor. 

Students without standard qualifications but with the 

aptitude to study medicine are encouraged to apply. 

The course is aimed at those in their twenties, thirties 

and beyond, a group who are underrepresented at 

medical schools. 

To address this obstacle, the University of Cambridge’s 

specialist adult education provider the Institute of 

Continuing Education (ICE) has worked with the medical 

schools at the University of Cambridge, University of East 

Anglia (UEA; Norwich) and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU; 

Chelmsford) to develop a new pre-medical studies course 

to support mature students aspiring to become a doctor. 

Dr James Gazzard, Director of Continuing Education at 

ICE said: “The East of England has a shortage of doctors, 

particularly in areas of urban and coastal disadvantage. We 

also know there are many talented adults across this region, 

drawn from diverse communities, who could become 

excellent doctors.” 

The CertHE in Pre-Medical Studies, resulting in a University 

of Cambridge qualification, will accept its first cohort of 

students in autumn 2022, and is now open for applications. 

Applicants must hold six GCSEs grade B or higher 

(including mathematics, English language and science) 

and will be able to demonstrate a patient-focused outlook 

during the interview process. 

While successfully completing the Certificate of Higher 

Education in Pre-Medical Studies does not guarantee 

entry to medicine at Anglia Ruskin University, University of 

Cambridge or University of East Anglia, the qualification is 

a recognised prerequisite qualification at the region’s three 

medical schools. 

The deadline for applications is 31 May 2022. 

For more information, visit here: ice.cam.ac.uk/course/ 

certificate-higher-education-pre-medical-studies 

Food & Drink 

Gastrono-me Opens in Cambridge 

Gastrono-me, the all-day 

buzzy restaurant and bar 

in Bury St Edmunds, will 

be opening its second 

restaurant on Bridge Street 

in Cambridge this March. 

Inspired by café cultures 

from around the world, Gastrono-me will take over the 

former Bella Italia site, and serve up breakfasts, bottomless 

brunch, lunch and dinner, alongside creative cocktails. 

Best known for creating beautiful and craveworthy food, 

the team have been busy at work, creating exciting dishes 

like the lox deluxe bagel tower layered with cured salmon, 

herbed cream cheese, potato rösti, Gastrono-me’s soufflé 

egg wedge; and the decadent organic dark chocolate 

porridge – rolled oats, blended with fair trade 75% cocoa 

chocolate, and topped with chia seeds, berries and nuts. 

gastrono-me.co.uk 

Coming Up... 

IWM Duxford First-Ever Live Event 

Tickets are now available for 

IWM Live, a new all-day event 

on Saturday 11 June. It brings 

together IWM’s collection; 

the expertise of the museum’s 

curators; book signings from 

leading historical authors; 

and the opportunity for visitors 

to engage with veterans of 

conflict. 

Events will take place at IWM Duxford with a range of talks 

about iconic aircraft, such as the Lancaster, Vulcan, Spitfire 

and Mosquito, and demonstrations and presentations 

of some of the most compelling objects from the IWM 

collection, with the chance to handle objects, some of 

which will be presented to the public for the very first time. 

Tickets priced: £45. 

iwm.org.uk/events/iwm-duxford/iwm-live 

Manic Street Preachers at Peterborough 

Embankment 

Manic Street Preachers, synonymous with 90’s alternative 

rock, have announced a massive summer outdoor show at 

Peterborough Embankment on Sunday 12 June. 

The iconic rock band have headlined countless festivals 

including Glastonbury, T In The Park and Reading Festival. 

Their loyal fanbase will get the opportunity to see them 

in Peterborough as they perform iconic hits such as 

‘Motorcycle Emptiness’, ‘Design For Life’ and ‘Everything 

Must Go’, as well as UK no.1 hit singles ‘If You Tolerate This 

Then Your Children Will Be Next’ and ‘The Masses Against 

The Classes’. 

manicstreetpreachers.com 

What’s Love Got To Do With It? 

Cambridge Corn Exchange has announced a new date 

for the hit touring show ‘What’s Love Got To Do With It?’. 

Taking place on Friday, 30 September 2022, the concert 

production celebrates the music of the much-loved 

rock’n’roll icon Tina Turner and stars Elesha Paul Moses 

(Whitney – Queen Of The Night, The Voice, The X Factor) 

as Tina Turner, supported by a stunning live band. 

Tickets now on sale at cambridgelive.org.uk 

107

Cambridge 

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108

Cambridge 

Cambridge Scene 

A celebration of Cambridge’s finest shopping 

The picturesque city of Cambridge, known for its rich history, 

punts and university, is a popular destination for day trippers 

and visitors seeking a long weekend break. However, away 

from the museums and beautiful green spaces, the city has 

a booming shopping scene with plenty of independent 

stores offering speciality products, alongside familiar brands, 

making the city worth a visit for shopping alone. 

Here are a few must-visit streets for keen shoppers to explore: 

Rose Crescent 

This quaint walkway, lined with bicycles, leads off Market 

Square to some of Cambridge’s most popular shops. 

Fans of fine jewellery will be spoiled within Cellini, an 

independent company of designers and makers, whose 

store is complete with its own workshop. The company, 

founded in 1981, holds one of the largest selection of pearls 

in the UK and additionally carries an assortment of fine 

coloured stones and high-quality loose diamonds. Visitors 

can choose stunning jewellery pieces from a collection of 

over 8,000 designs, or alternatively there is the option for 

bespoke creations. 

Along the narrow lane, the family run business of Cheaney 

is dedicated to handcrafting premium leather shoes. 

Established in 1886, the family has been making fine shoes 

for five generations and are fully committed to producing 

the finest footwear entirely made in England. Footwear 

connoisseurs have further choice at North Shoes, founded 

in 1876, which offers a handful of stores in Lincolnshire and 

Northamptonshire, in addition to its Cambridge store. 

Alongside wonderful independent shops, visitors keen to 

pick up beauty products can pop into well-known brands 

such as Neal’s Yard Remedies, Molton Brown, Jo Malone and 

L’Occitane En Provence. 

Trinity Street 

Flanked by the historic buildings of Trinity College and 

Gonville & Caius College, this charming street offers a range 

of fashion shops and eateries. At All Saints Garden, Saturday 

shoppers can visit the weekly arts and crafts market where 

traders sell pottery, paintings, clothing and more. 

Trinity Street also offers prime reading material with a number 

of popular bookstores. Heffers Bookshop is the largest in 

Cambridge, having traded in the city since 1876. The store 

offers students and visitors a vast range of books across all 

genres, plus board games, music and gifts. 

109

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110

Cambridge 

No visit to Cambridge is complete without 

a stop at The Cambridge University Press 

Bookshop, which is located on the oldest 

bookshop site in the country. Proudly 

showcasing a huge range of the Press’s 

publishing, visitors can also pick up a 

selection of Cambridge gifts and souvenirs 

too. 

Bookworms can even follow a literary trail 

which takes in three further independent 

bookstores, alongside those located on 

Trinity Street. Down the narrow path of 

St. Edward’s Passage are The Haunted 

Bookshop and G. David Bookseller, which 

sit in the shadow of the ancient church of St. 

Edward King and Martyr, whilst Bookish can 

be found on Market Square 

Green Street 

This narrow-cobbled street boasts an array 

of fantastic shops and establishments, 

including the popular Cambridge Gin 

Laboratory, with its interactive space 

offering an array of classes dedicated to the 

appreciation of gin. Visitors can learn how 

to taste like a professional, blend their own 

bottle guided by gin lab experts, or just pick 

up a bottle of ‘mother’s ruin’ to enjoy when 

home. 

Further along Green Street shoppers will 

find Laird Hatters, host to handmade hats 

and caps inspired by Scottish and English 

heritage meeting modern design, with 

choices for both men and women. With 

a small number of stores in London also, 

Laird Hatters sources the best materials and 

supports British manufacturing. 

Elsewhere in Cambridge 

Away from these three streets, visitors will 

find plenty more stretches of shopping to 

enjoy, including the centrally located Market 

Square where traders have been running 

stalls since the Middle Ages. Open every day, 

the outdoor market bustles with stalls selling 

fresh food, art, plants, clothes, jewellery, 

books, music and much more. 

Those planning a visit to Cambridge, or who 

are looking for a gift for a loved one, can 

support local businesses by buying a Love 

Cambridge gift card which can be used in 

shops, businesses and eateries across the 

city. 

For further information on Cambridge visit 

love-cambridge.com

The Cambridge Foodie; 

The Best Asian Restaurants 

in Cambridge 

Written by Gerla de Boer | www.cbtravelguide.co.uk 

From 

traditional to trendy, 

discover Cambridge’s 

restaurants: 


From dumplings to curry, where to find 

the best Asian restaurants in Cambridge. 

When I first moved to the Cambridge area, Asian restaurants 

were hard to find. Twenty years ago, around 2002, 

Cambridge was labelled as a clone city with mainly chain 

restaurants populating the city centre. Since then, many 

things have changed. 

Cambridge has become an exciting foodie destination 

and has recently attracted many well-known chefs to settle 

down and aspire to open restaurants. Traditional curry 

houses have made place for fancy Indian restaurants with 

a modern take on traditional cuisine. Chinese restaurants 

have popped up like mushrooms as Chinese visitors 

and students favour their comfort food, dumplings and 

steaming bowls of noodles. 

Previously these Chinese restaurants used to be dotted 

around the city. However, over the last few years, the 

bottom end of Regent Street has turned into ‘our’ China 

town, lined with Chinese restaurants, packed with students 

and visitors, but there is a lot more on offer. 

Here is a guide to my favourite independent Asian 

restaurants: 

Indian 

Navadhanya 

A fine dining restaurant in Cambridge where you can enjoy 

a delicious seven-course menu. They’ve recently moved 

to the other side of Newmarket Road, where they will have 

more seating to accommodate their guests. 

Tiffin Truck 

This Indian Street Food style restaurant on Regent Street 

is the sister restaurant of Navadhanya. Popular for a quick 

snack, lunch or dinner. The Thali, Pani puri, chicken 65 and 

crispy kale chaat are highly recommended. 

Tawa Kitchen 

Tucked away behind the big office buildings at Station 

Road, Tawa Kitchen moves away from the format of 

stereotypical Indian restaurants serving heavy dishes 

concentrating on curry and rice. Look forward to delicious 

plant-based nutritious food and carefully spiced meat 

dishes. Instead of poppadoms, opt for the crispy okra 

spiced with garlic and ginger; the perfect side snack. 

Raja 

The Indian and Bangladeshi restaurant on King Street, Raja, 

became a local favourite overnight, attracting many awards 

and accolades over the years. In 2021, they decided it 

was time for a makeover, still offering their favourites, but 

a new menu that will take you on a journey like no other. 

It’s the first Indian in Cambridge to introduce breakfast and 

afternoon tea. 

112

Prana Restaurant 

In 2016, Prana decided to join forces with the multi-awardwinning 

restaurant of owner Kobir’s uncle, Maliks, in 

Cookham. Their menu is known for evolving dishes using 

old and modern techniques and sharing family recipes to 

create award-winning cuisine. 

Pipasha 

One of the oldest and most popular curry houses in 

Cambridge. Originally from Bangladesh, they serve 

excellent Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine with a twist. 

Highly recommended, besides their curries, is the Paneer 

Tandoori (Ponir Shashlik). 

Vietnamese 

Thanh Binh 

If you have been to Vietnam, you know that Vietnamese 

food is a hard find outside of the country and London. 

Fancy crispy beetle leaves, deep-fried soft shell crab or 

Banh Xeo? The family-run Thanh Binh on Magdalene Street 

is the place to go. 

Chinese 

Noodles + 

One of my ultimate favourite Asian restaurants. This tiny 

Shanghai-style restaurant is one of the most popular 

restaurants on Mill Road. Make sure you get there early to 

avoid queuing (it’s worth it). Must-have is Xia Long Bao. 

Zonghua Traditional Snacks 

Tucked away on Norfolk Street, this tiny restaurant has 

been a local favourite for many years. Serving homemade 

Chinese dumplings, soups and other specialities. 

Cafe Oriental & Dumpling Bar 

This Asian cafe on Burleigh Street deserves a special 

mention as it is rather unique. It serves excellent handmade 

dumplings, Chinese cuisine and fry-ups. 

Yippee Noodles Bar 

Voted as one of the ‘best 130 places to eat in Britain under 

£20 a head’ by The Sunday Times. The minimalist and 

informal family-owned restaurant, Yippee, serves classic 

noodle and rice dishes from China, Japan and Thailand. 

Yim Wah Express 

A traditional, family-run restaurant situated in the heart of 

Cambridge city centre serving Cantonese cuisine. 

A must-have is the peking duck and clay pot dishes. 

1 and 1 Rougamo 

Where to go for Chinese food on Regent Street with so 

many options? I can highly recommend, 1 and 1 Rougama. 

This understated restaurant is a hidden gem. One of the 

only places in Cambridge serving hand-pulled noodles and 

the only place including Xi’an Sandwich on the menu. This 

traditional snack of the Han Chinese in Northwest China is 

much like Turkish pita – bread filled with minced meat. 

Highly recommended. 

Japanese 

Ittou Noodle Bar 

Look up to the sky opposite King’s College, and you’ll spot 

the sign to the passage leading you to Ittou. It will take you 

to this small and charming restaurant under King’s Parade 

serving delicious dumplings, Tonkostu Ramen and 

sparkling sake. 

Thai 

Take me back to Thailand for good Thai food! There is 

nothing better than tucking into a spicy Larb or a red curry 

under the Thai sun. So, if you can’t go to Thailand, where do 

you go in Cambridge? 

Sala Thong 

Tucked away behind the colleges and Mill Pond, this has 

been a local Thai favourite for over 20 years, serving delicious 

food created by Aranya and her team using her family’s 

recipes. 

Pubs 

The Wrestlers 

A simple pub, serving real ales and a menu of excellent 

classic Thai dishes for casual dining and takeaways. 

Mains and salads only. 

The Free Press Pub 

One of the last places you would expect excellent Asian food 

is at a traditional British pub. Trust me, Tom, the co-owner and 

head chef, knows how to cook up some good spicy fair. 

113

Visit Ely Celebrates Her Majesty's 

Platinum Jubilee 

Programme of Events 

Thursday 2nd June (evening) 

Civic Celebrations - Lighting of the Beacon, St Mary's Green 

Town Crier's Commemorative Cry and Piper 

Contact 01353 662062 for further information 

Friday 3rd June 

Ely's Grand Jubilee Food, Drink and Produce Show 

For an event pack contact events@visitely.org.uk 

10am - 6pm 

Saturday 4th June 

Jubilee Family Fete Day at Oliver Cromwell's House 

11am - 4pm 

Our products and services we offer are wide and varied and we 

are a small independent company which means we can stock 

what we want and are not controlled by the manufacturers of 

the products we stock. 

We hold stock on the most popular ranges of cookware and 

bakeware and can order in if required, anything that we do 

not hold as a stock item at the time of your visit. 

If you ever need our advice we have well trained staff that are 

always on hand to help with advice on our product ranges. 

If you only require a part for an accessory then please ask as 

we also carry many of these on the premises too. 

Sunday 5th June 

Ely's Jubil-Eel Day and Street Party 

Jubilee Gardens Ely (Eel Parade is back!) 

For an event pack please contact events@visitely.org.uk 

11am - 6pm 

36 Market Place, Oundle 

Peterborough, PE8 4BE 

Tel/Fax: 01832 275414 

excellent pay 

& benefits 

ongoing 

development 

& training 

24/7 support 

from aa 

Supervising 

Social Worker 

Foster with us: 

0800 052 0078 

Do something incredible... 

peterborough.gov.uk/fostering 

cambridgeshire.gov.uk/fostering 

@PCCFostering 

@CCCFosteringService 

FOSTERING to 60777 

fosteringandadoption@peterborough.gov.uk 

fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk


Thriplow Daffodil Weekend and 

Country Fair 

Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 March 

Walk through Thriplow village to view stunning displays 

of over 100 different varieties of daffodil on show. Enjoy 

the warm and friendly atmosphere of the Country 

Fair and amble through over 100 stalls to find that 

something special. Check out the blacksmiths at work 

in the Smithy and be entertained by the merry Morris 

dancers. Then recharge at Taste of Thriplow for street 

food and beer or enjoy hot drinks and homemade cake 

at the Village Tearooms. With live music being played 

all around the village it’s the perfect place to get some 

springtime cheer. 

thriplowdaffodils.org.uk 

Cambridge Literary Festival 

St George’s Fayre – March 

Sunday 24 April 

St George’s Fayre is a local festival celebrating our patron 

saint with great good, fantastic local entertainment, large 

craft market and an art exhibition. Welcoming thousands 

of people into March each year, there will be children’s 

entertainment, a street market and much more. This 

year commemorates both the 75-year anniversary of VE 

day which would have taken place in 2020 and also the 

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The event will be welcoming 

some very special performers including the D Day 

Darlings and the Bombardiers! 

fenland.gov.uk/stgeorgesfayre 

WHAT’S ON 

Wednesday 20 – Sunday 24 April 

Literary greats Julian Barnes, Rose Tremain, Poet 

Laureate Simon Armitage, Ali Smith, Nobel Prize for 

Literature winner 2021 Abdulrazak Gurnah and Booker 

Prize winner 2020 Douglas Stuart. From the world 

of music, environment, politics, science, fashion, art, 

cooking and gardening, the festival welcomes Will 

Young, Ed Balls, John Barnes, Claudia Roden, Osman 

Yousefzada and Joe Swift. For younger members of 

the family Michael Morpurgo and Christopher Lloyd 

will sprinkle some magic. Unmissable conversations 

held in stunning venues: the luxurious University Arms 

Hotel, the stately Cambridge Union Debating Chamber, 

the Old Divinity School, and the renowned Fitzwilliam 

Museum. 

cambridgeliteraryfestival.com 

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by Candlelight 

at Ely Cathedral 

Friday 22 April, 7.30pm – 9.30pm 

The Piccadilly Sinfonietta is one of the UK’s most 

exciting young ensembles and performs a selection of 

well-loved classics including Vivaldi’s exquisite Four 

Seasons. The concert features breath-taking feats of 

virtuosity from the Violinist sensation, Sara Trickey, and 

features the virtuoso concert pianist Warren Mailley- 

Smith in performance of Mozart’s sublime Piano 

Concerto No. 21 in C major. 

elycathedral.org/events/vivaldis-four-seasons-bycandlelight 

Flying Days: VE Day at Duxford 

Saturday 7 May 

From a flying-line up commemorating the role of 

aviation and RAF Duxford in the fight for peace across 

Europe to entertainment on the ground including a 

street party. Step back into 1945 and celebrate VE Day 

at IWM Duxford with an extra special Flying Day. 

iwm.org.uk/airshows/events/may-flying-day-one 

Mamma Mia! ABBA Outdoor Cinema 

Experience at the East of England 

Arena 

Saturday 7 May, 7.30pm 

This summer celebrate 50 years of ABBA with a special 

outdoor cinema screening of ‘Mamma Mia!’ at the East 

of England Arena in Peterborough. Plus, music from the 

70s & 80s to enjoy before the film, with a soundtrack 

of disco and party classics. Gates open at 7.30pm, film 

starts shortly after sunset. Bring a blanket or camping 

chair and watch ‘Mamma Mia!’ on a giant cinema screen 

under the stars! 

adventurecinema.co.uk/venues/east-of-englandarena 

Yaxley Festival 

Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 May 

Truly an event that defies categorisation, the madcap 

mashup of culture, community, heritage and sports 

lures tens of thousands of visitors for an unforgettable 

weekend in the green heart of one the UK’s biggest 

villages. Powered 100% by volunteers and created by 

the community, YaxFest punches way above its weight. 

yaxleyfestival.info 

115

Making an entrance with 

Hall Brothers’ staircases 

Whatever type of home you live in – a period property, a barn 

conversion or a modern house – Hall Brothers’ bespoke staircase 

designs will complement your style and fit the exact space. 

We can also offer matching wooden flooring to complete the look. 

For more information call 01206 735287 / 01473 365167 

or visit www.hall-brothers.co.uk 

CONSERVATORIES | ORANGERIES | KITCHENS | DOORS | WINDOWS | STAIRCASES | BARNS | CONSTRUCTION | FURNITURE

Essex 

All Saints Church, Maldon in spring. 

© Visit Essex 

visitessex.com

Essex 

ESSEX NEWS & EVENTS 

News 

Two New Stores at Braintree Village 

Braintree Village has added two more stores to its 

growing retail scene. Savvy shoppers can bag up to 60 

per cent off RRP at menswear British heritage brand, 

Hackett. Meanwhile, the retail outlet centre continues 

to expand its food and drink offerings with the arrival 

of Cookies & Cones. The American-style dessert brand 

was established in 2018, and this is its seventh store 

opening in Essex. 

braintree-village.com 

Jump on board 

Experience Days at Hedingham Castle 

The historic castle has launched its first Hedingham 

Experiences. Diversifying following the pandemic, 

visitors can enjoy the castle and its grounds with four 

interactive experiences. 

Wine lovers can indulge in a wine and cheese tasting 

set within the castle’s atmospheric walls, hosted by 

winemaker, Jane Mohan, owner of West Street Vineyard 

in Coggeshall, Essex. 

Step back in time with either the Hedingham Half Day 

and Full Day experiences which combine immersive 

historic pursuits of falconry and archery, within the 

120-acre estate. Reconnect with your British heritage as 

you try your hand at an archery masterclass, woodland 

hunt with rubber targets on trees and walk through the 

ancient woodland. Both experiences include a hearty 

lunch in the castle. 

If you want to feel like royalty, choose to stay in the 

exclusive Royal Chamber, a luxurious bedroom suite 

located on the top floor of the castle. All experiences are 

now available and are also available to purchase as a 

gift voucher. 

hedinghamcastle.co.uk 

Spring at Colchester Zoo 

© Josh Dennington 

Southend has the longest pleasure pier in the world 

and from 2022 new eco-friendly trains, powered by 

lithium batteries, will take passengers the 1.25 miles 

from the shore to the pier head in the North Sea. The 

carriages will be fitted with state-of-the-art audio-visual 

equipment, a hearing loop system, a braille driver alert 

and even USB charging points. The old trains will be 

repurposed to form a passenger waiting area on the 

pier. Discover more at visitessex.com/things-to-do 

Explore the wonders of wildlife at Colchester Zoo and 

visit their many different habitats, including the chance 

to see some of the most critically endangered animals 

in the world. Experience a jam-packed day out, no 

matter the weather, with a range of indoor activities that 

include hand feeding the colourful lorikeets a nectar

Essex 

treat, watching your little one release their wild side at the 

Jungle Tumble soft play, or even transforming into your 

favourite animal at the Face Painting Station. 

Exciting development work is also taking place throughout 

2022, including the opening of a new catering outlet, Wrap 

and Roll. 

Food & Drink 

Dinner with a View 

Whist venturing around the zoo be sure to stop and enjoy 

the variety of animal encounters that take place at selected 

times throughout the day – the perfect chance to see your 

favourite animal. 

Don’t forget to upgrade your day ticket to an annual pass on 

your way out for a year’s admission to the zoo, along with a 

whole host of other benefits. Your wild adventure awaits… 

colchester-zoo.com 

The Art of Skincare 

With a view like no other, the newly refurbished Royal 

Pavilion Restaurant and Bar at the end of Southend Pier, 

offers diners 360-degree vistas of the Thames Estuary. The 

restaurant features local, seasonal produce, including beers 

from the Leigh-on-Sea Brewery and gin from Southend’s 

own Pigs Bay Distillery. Watch the boats sail by whilst 

enjoying some fabulous food and craft drinks. Book a 

reservation at southendpier.co.uk/pavilion 

Did you know one in five people in the UK have a tattoo? 

No, us neither. However, until recently skincare for tattoos 

has been relatively limited. Unimpressed with the lack 

of feminine tattoo care products available, Colchester 

based tattoo artist, Alice Nicholls, used her years of tattoo 

experience to devise natural balms to work with all skin 

requirements. 

Coming Up… 

The Dogfather Comes to Colchester 

Four Tattoo Care balms are formulated for all skin types in 

need of nourishment post tattoo to create healthier designs 

but can also be used by those who are tattoo free too. As 

the name suggests, four options are available: sensitive, dry, 

oily and mature. 

The range is free of harmful chemicals and includes only 

natural and vegan friendly ingredients. The environmental 

ethos of the brand is continued with its sleek circular pots 

made of 100 per cent recyclable, reusable and refillable 

glass and sustainable bamboo lids ensuring the products 

look great on your shelf too. 

Combing her passion for delicate artwork and tattooing, 

Alice has incorporated a gallery into her studio in 

Colchester for local artists to showcase their work. 

She recently welcomed Suzie M, a Maldon based artist, 

who had a pop-up with Fenwicks. 

Each balm is priced £15 for 30ml. 

four-tattoo.care 

Calling all dog lovers! Graeme Hall, known as The 

Dogfather, will be live on stage at Charter Hall, Colchester 

on 13 May. Famed for his Channel 5 TV show, ‘Dogs 

Behaving (Very) Badly’, the dog trainer will be bringing his 

wisdom to the stage. The 90-minute show is full of tricks, 

memories, surprises, and an exclusive Q&A. If you have an 

unruly pup, this may be your chance to learn a trick of the 

trade! 

Don’t forget you can join our community of East Anglian 

dog owners with our dog-friendly Facebook group at 

facebook.com/groups/dogfriendlydoglife 

119

Country Park 

Ashford 

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sales@montecarloparks.co.uk 

www.spilllandfarm.co.uk 

spillland

Essex 

Floating Fun – 

Hot Tub Boats at Lakeside 

Water activities don’t usually conjure up the idea of warmth 

but that’s about to change with a hot tub boat experience at 

Lakeside in Essex. 

Visitors to Lakeside can take a leisurely ride around 

Alexandra Lake in a floating hot tub this spring. Yes, really! 

Skuna Boats launched the hot tub boat experience at the 

Essex shopping and leisure centre at the end of last year. 

Heated to a balmy 38°C, the wood-fired hot tubs contain 

fresh filtered water which is changed after each trip to 

ensure the highest hygiene standards. 

Located a short distance from the Ferris wheel and 

Broadwalk, the candy-striped changing rooms sit on 

the deck while the steaming boat beckons. The changing 

rooms feature heaters to keep you warm while you change 

into your swimwear and lockers for valuables. From the 

changing rooms, it’s a few short steps to the hot tub. Leave 

your towel and flipflops in the storage container then slip 

into the bath-like water. 

The electric boat is easy to drive, but you’ll be given 

instructions before you set off. Alcohol is allowed onboard 

and there’s even an ice cooler for drinks, however the 

captain must stay sober to ensure no drink driving laws 

are broken. 

Eastlife visited on a sunny, but chilly day. The self-conscious 

thoughts of being in swimwear at a public place soon 

slipped away as we dipped our toes into the steaming 

water. We floated around 

the lake’s island, watching 

the swans, while sipping 

Prosecco and it was 

absolute bliss! 

Though we took this as an 

opportunity to relax, each 

boat seats up to seven 

people so it’s perfect for 

celebrations, occasions 

and even half term 

adventure for ages 12+. The experience lasts 75-minutes 

and is priced from £32 per person. A bar is set to open at the 

site soon and summer will see the arrival of BBQ boats too! 

A few questions we’ve been asked since our visit. Did you 

get cold? No, the wood burner ensures the water stays 

toasty for the duration of the experience. Could people see 

you from the Broadwalk? No, as you sit low in the hot tub, 

it simply looks like you are in a boat. Would you do it again? 

Absolutely,100%! 

Skuna Boats reopens for spring in April. A Nordic tradition, 

the hot tub boat is probably best enjoyed on cooler days 

for a real treat. Already a popular experience at London’s 

Canary Wharf, the hot tub boats at Lakeside are guaranteed 

to become a must-try activity for every season. 

Pricing: £225 Sunday-Friday/£250 on Saturdays 

Book at skunaboats.com/book-lakeside-essex 

121

The Creek.pdf 1 23/02/2022 15:52 

Creek 

Restaurant 

Bar 

Lounge 

8 b/c Stortford Road 

Dunmow Essex CM6 1DA 

01371 875840 

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

A multi-award winning family run restaurant & bar set in 

a beautiful Grade ll listed building in Great Bentley. 

British dishes with European influence using only the best 

locally sourced ingredients, accompanied by hand picked 

wines to help complement your dining experience. 

2 Cocktails For £10 

Every Wednesday to Friday 6.30pm - 7.30pm 

CMY 

K 

Pet & Wild Bird Supplies 

/ Key Cutting 

Colchester CO7 8RE 

01255 317950 

www.thecreekgreatbentley.co.uk 

RESTAURANT OF 

THE YEAR 

Director - Jo Rosewell 

"Where Quality & Freshness Counts" 

We're a small family run business, passionate about fresh, local produce and 

quality products and we want you to share our passion too! 

NS Risdon, a top quality traditional butcher is located in store. 

With full traceability his meat is superb. We also now have a cheese counter 

serving a wide range of British and continental cheeses. 

Something for every taste and occasion! 

Monday : Closed Tuesday : 8.30am – 5.30pm 

Wednesday : 8.30am – 5.30pm Thursday : 8.30am – 5.30pm 

Friday : 8.30am – 5.30pm Saturday : 8.30am – 5.30pm 

Sunday : 10am – 2pm 

Café Opening hours Tuesday to Saturday 8.30 – 4.30 

and Sunday & Monday CLOSED 

www.calcotthall.com 

Calcott Hall Farm Shop, Ongar Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9HS Tel: 01277 264164 

122

Essex Eats 

Essex 

A Taste of History 

Abby Knight reviews the newly refurbished Church Street Tavern, Colchester 

Coaching inns and taverns are a 

rich part of our heritage, and Church 

Street Tavern, tucked away in one 

of Colchester’s picturesque narrow 

lanes, is no exception. 

Originally a Savings Bank in 1852, 

owner Piers Baker, who also has the 

award-winning Sun Inn at Dedham, 

felt it right to use this handsome 

building as a place to meet, have fun 

and be well looked after. And, we 

certainly felt so when we arrived on a 

very chilly January evening, pleased 

to see a welcoming bar with a cosy 

feel. Comfy sofas strewn with plump 

cushions, and interesting artefacts 

to look at including vintage books, 

crockery and paintings while we 

perused the detailed drinks menu. 

As well as a traditional wine list, there is 

a good selection of delicious cocktails 

on offer including barrel-aged Negroni 

and Ameretto Sours. There are some 

interesting local and craft beers and 

ciders to try too. My husband Chris 

was intrigued by the Siren Craft Brew 

White Tips which, served in a slim 

stemmed glass, looked very elegant 

and tasted super crisp and citrusy. 

Once our guests had arrived, we 

made our way upstairs to the dining 

room: spacious but intimate thanks 

to its table placement. Our host was 

super helpful in explaining the menu 

with details of the dishes of the day. 

Most of the restaurant suppliers are 

within a 30-mile radius and fish comes 

fresh from inshore day boats on the 

Essex and Suffolk coast. 

My husband and our friends decided 

on the cod ceviche with Hendrick’s 

Gin, cucumber, mint, chilli and 

coriander which presented on 

vintage style plates looked generous, 

especially with the addition of the 

freshly baked focaccia bread served 

with dipping oils and tapenade. 

I opted for the yummy sounding roast 

spiced parsnip soup with cumin, 

labneh and granola which was thick 

and creamy with just enough spice. 

The steak options had been 

recommended to us especially as they 

are served with chips that look more 

like roast potato slabs piled Jenga 

style, with mushroom and creamed 

spinach. My husband enjoyed the 

super tender venison fillet dish with 

fresh greens. 

As a seafood lover, I chose the hake 

that was served super plump and juicy 

with delicious, mashed style potatoes 

and greens, a garlic velouté foaming 

sauce and clams. 

Our guests were too full for dessert, 

but I wanted to try the decadent 

sounding steamed chocolate 

orange sponge with crème fraiche 

and orange sorbet and my husband 

was happy to share. This super light 

dessert had lots of added orange zest 

to make it zing on the tongue and we 

didn’t want it to end. 

Our meal was rounded off with 

espressos and complimentary homemade 

sweets of coconut ice and 

Turkish delight. 

The menus change by the season and, 

as well as meat and fish dishes, there 

are plenty of interesting vegetarian and 

vegan options. 

Church Street Tavern also has a casual 

bar menu available every day. We 

noticed a group of ladies enjoying 

some very impressive cheese platters 

with Prosecco and there is also a 

happy hour and Wednesday Wine 

Club with events running throughout 

the year. 

Service was friendly, welcoming, and 

super-efficient with excellent food, 

beautifully presented; we are already 

planning a return visit! 

For further information, menu and wine 

lists visit churchstreettavern.co.uk 

123

INGATESTONE 

HALL 

16th Century manor house & grounds 

with a wealth of history. 

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 

Sunday, Wednesday and 

Bank Holiday afternoons (12–5 pm) 

from 17th April 

Adults - £8.50 * Pensioners - £7.50 • Children (over 5) - £4 

FORTHCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS 

GREAT CHESTERFORD 

WEEKEND JEWELLERY FAIR 

9th & 10th APRIL 2022 

The Chesterfords Community Centre 

Recreation Ground, Newmarket Road 

GREAT CHESTERFORD 

Saffron Walden Essex CB10 1NS 

GREAT DUNMOW JEWELLERY FAIR 

7th MAY 2022 

E.T. Foakes Memorial Hall 

Stortford Road 

GREAT DUNMOW 

Essex CM6 1DG 

May 6 

TALK 

by jeweller ANDREW PRINCE 7pm. 

May 14/15 TUDOR FESTIVAL 

An evocation of 16th century life 

11am. 5pm. 

Hall Lane, Ingatestone Essex, CM4 9NR 

(Take Station Lane off the London end of Ingatestone High St.) 

Tel. 01277 353010 • Email: house@ingatestonehall.co.uk 

WWW.INGATESTONEHALL.COM 

10 am – 4 pm | £2 Admission Fee | TEA ROOM 

www.ruralmagpie.co.uk 

karen@ruralmagpie.co.uk 

07803 052918 

Discover a world of hidden treasures 

at this family-friendly museum 

Rolling programme of special exhibitions, activities and events 

Ancient Egypt • Archaeology 

• Ceramics and Glass • Costume and Textiles 

• Furniture and Woodwork 

• Geology • Local and Social History 

• Natural History • World Cultures 

SAFFRON WALDEN MUSEUM 

Museum Street, Saffron Walden, CB10 1BN 

(01799) 510333 museum@uttlesford.gov.uk 

www.saffronwaldenmuseum.org 

It’s time to enjoy your Saffron Walden Museum. 

Check restrictions at www.saffronwaldenmuseum.org

Essex 

Harwich Illuminate Festival 

Friday 25 March 6pm and Saturday 26 March 2022 10pm 

A spectacular twilight aerial display will get the 2022 

Illuminate Festival off to a flying start in Historic Harwich. 

The festival is a celebration of the town’s heritage – and 

in particular its links to The Mayflower ship which carried 

the first Pilgrims to America. 

Riverside Ice Show – 

Beauty and the Beast 

Wednesday 6 April – Sunday 10 April 

Pull up a chair for Riverside and Chelmsford Ice Skating 

Club’s beautiful amateur production of Beauty and the 

Beast on ice, the perfect show for kids of all ages! 

Be transported into a magical world and follow the 

tale of love and bravery, inspired by the Disney classic. 

Featuring colourful costumes and catchy songs, the ice 

show is a fantastic musical treat for all the family. 

chelmsford.gov.uk/leisure-centres/what/iceskating/ice-show/ 

Spring Joust at Castle Hedingham 

Sunday 17 April and Monday 18 April 10am – 4pm 

The Castle grounds will be filled with medieval magic as 

the Knights of Middle England join us to battle in front 

of the ancient Keep. With two Jousts to enjoy each day, 

alongside plenty of fun activities and displays, there 

is something for everyone. Enjoy a variety of pursuits 

including Falconry, musicians, archery and much 

more, as well as food stalls serving a variety of delicious 

lunches and snacks. This really is a fantastic day out for 

all the family. Please note: dogs are NOT permitted at this 

event due to the presence of horses and birds of prey. 

hedinghamcastle.co.uk/events/ 

Crouch Ridge Vineyard Open day 

Saturday 28 May 2022 10am – 10pm 

Crouch Ridge Estate would like to invite you to the 

Vineyard to celebrate English Wine Week. 

Gin and Bubbles Bar – also local beer, cider, tea/coffee 

& soft drinks 

Wine Tasting workshops on the Terrace £25pp. Booking 

essential @ 12noon & 2pm 

Live Music; 4.30pm – 9.30pm 

Pop-Ups and Stalls, Refreshments – CHEESE and MEAT 

plates, SEAFOOD, BBQ and PIZZA OVEN, ICECREAM, 

Wine and Gift Shop 

Plenty of free parking 

crouchridge.com 

Spring Craft and Design Show at RHS 

Garden Hyde Hall 

Friday 29 April – Monday 2 May 2022 10am – 5pm 

A fabulous four-day Spring Craft and Design Show 

and to experience the garden in full bloom. Organisers, 

Woodland Crafts Event Management, specialise 

in ‘Maker-only’ events offering visitors a fabulous 

opportunity to discover, buy or commission unique 

handcrafted pieces direct from some of the UK’s most 

talented craftspeople and designer-makers. On display 

will be a showcase of fine art, photography, jewellery, 

ceramics, woodwork, metalwork, furniture, textiles and 

so many more contemporary crafts, for the home and 

garden. 

rhs.org.uk/gardens/hyde-hall/ 

National Flower Show at 

Hylands House 

WHAT’S ON 

Museum of Power Transport Festival 

Sunday 17 April 2022 10am – 3.30 

Easter Show with Classic Cars, Buses, Military Vehicles 

& all types of transport. Stalls, music and entertainment. 

Internal model displays in the Museum & Kids rides & 

activities. Miniature steam train OPEN for rides (extra 

charge applies) – to be confirmed by railway team. 

Please contact the Museum to confirm. ‘Astaria’ model 

village OPEN. ‘Marshall’ the Lilleshall pumping engine 

will be run by steam and other oil / diesel engines will be 

running 

museumofpower.org.uk 

Friday 20 May – Sunday 22 May 10am – 5pm 

A three-day gardening extravaganza set in the stunning 

grounds of Hylands House. The outdoor event sees 

Hylands Estate filled with inspiration, flowers, plants, 

and everything you need for your home and garden 

including the Outdoor Plant Village, a magnificent 

Floral Pavilion, the Food & Drinks Pavilion, and well as a 

Home and Country Pavilion with a selection of original 

handmade giftware, jewellery and more – visitors can 

shop in abundance with hundreds of exhibitors at the 

show! 

hylandsestate.co.uk/events/

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Hertfordshire 

HERTFORDSHIRE NEWS & EVENTS 

News 

Paradise Jaguar Jungle Coming Soon 

Paradise Wildlife Park have shared computer-generated 

imagery of their new Jaguar Jungle, set to open this 

year. The new habitat will house their resident jaguars, 

Kumal and Kedera, who are currently staying at their 

sister charity, The Big Cat Sanctuary. 

Jaguar Jungle, which will feature upstairs viewing areas 

and even a new pool with underwater viewing, is a UK 

first for visitors who will be able to get an up-close view 

of the jaguars. It is hoped that the new habitat will raise 

awareness of the challenges wild jaguars face every day 

and highlight the pressing need to conserve the most 

iconic big cat of the Americas. 

To keep up to date on the progress of Jaguar Jungle 

visit pwpark.com 

New Look for Anniversary Gardens 

The Anniversary Gardens in Welwyn Garden City are 

getting a makeover, with work completed this spring. 

The project, carried out by Hatfield Welwyn Borough 

Council, will include a new path and benches 

along with landscaping that will provide enjoyment 

throughout the seasons. Sustainable and pollinatorfriendly 

plants will develop as the garden matures and 

the design also includes the fragrant, apricot rose ‘Rosa 

Welwyn Garden Glory’ which flowers throughout the 

summer. 

A new tree will be planted as part of the council’s 

participation in the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, as 

well as a special plaque to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum 

Jubilee. 

Councillor Stephen Boulton said: “Anniversary Gardens 

is a popular spot with visitors to the town centre. We 

hope this carefully thought-out redesign will provide a 

tranquil green space in the heart of Welwyn Garden City 

which will be enjoyed for many years to come.” 

Rock in the Priory is Back! 

After two difficult years, live 

music fans and local talent 

can look forward to summer as 

Ware’s Rock in the Priory returns 

on Sunday 17 July. 

Prior to the event, a Rock in 

the Priory Showcase will be 

staged for artists who are keen 

to perform at the much-loved event. This will take place 

at Southern Maltings on Sunday 10 April and acts and 

artists of all genres are invited. The general public are 

also welcome to come along and enjoy an eclectic mix 

of music. 

Both band and acoustic sets will be up for grabs, but 

competition is always fierce. For your chance to bag 

a set at the Showcase send links of your music to: 

rosalyn@waretowncouncil.gov.uk by Friday 18 March. 

Rock in the Priory is part of the Ware Festival, a wide 

range of events held in the town throughout July. 

The Rock in the Priory line-up will be announced soon 

after the Showcase and tickets for the hottest show in 

town will then go on sale. 

Food & Drink 

An Ink-redible Launch 

Food lovers of Hertfordshire can get excited as Giggling 

Squid has opened its doors in Welwyn Garden City. 

Taking inspiration from Thai traditions and legends, 

Giggling Squid’s menu features vibrant, fresh and 

flavoursome dishes that tantalise your tastebuds. It 

celebrates Thailand’s abundance of exciting and exotic 

ingredients such as fresh seafood and a bounty of herbs 

and vegetables. 

128

Hertfordshire 

Cooked by expert Thai chefs and featuring luscious curries, 

sizzling stir fries and Thai tapas, every dish encourages 

the ethos of Thai mealtimes – plentiful dishes to share and 

enjoy with friends and family. An extensive vegan menu is 

also available as well as a kids’ menu for the little Squids. 

Giggling Squid co-founder, Andy Laurillard, said: “Thai 

mealtimes are energetic, informal, adventurous and where 

food is celebrated. Every Giggling Squid has its own 

personal touch to it, and this restaurant is no different; it’s a 

beautifully designed space that we hope will bring a lot of 

pleasure to our guests. We can’t wait to welcome everyone 

in the Welwyn Garden City community.” 

gigglingsquid.com 

Bringing Drinks Excitement Indoors 

The award-winning 

Hertfordshire-based 

company promises to bring 

you six incredible wines 

delivered through your 

letterbox every month, with 

an accompanying informal, 

jargon-free tasting show to 

ensure you get the most out 

of your kit. 

You’ll be tasting some of the freshest wine by way of the 

brand’s ‘cleanroom’ warehouse facility and its state-of-theart 

eco letterbox-friendly packaging. Lightweight and ultralow-carbon 

versus glass bottles, these innovative packs 

mean you’ll be doing your bit for the environment too. 

If you like what you taste, you can hop onto the website and 

purchase a full bottle afterwards, with free shipping on 

six bottles or more. onlinewinetasting.club 

Coming Up... 

Henry Moore: The Sixties 

Premium bespoke mixer brand Sekforde is pouring 

something new and different at Oakman Inns’ garden 

Oakpods and indoor bars. 

Oakpods are bookable private spaces – ideal for a tasty 

discovery of the new limited-edition Sekforde spritzes 

and highballs mixed with premium spirits. Each enclosed 

outdoor space seats six to eight and is themed around 

either a tropical winter escape, a whisky winter lodge or a 

frosted botanical garden. 

Livening up Oakman’s Oakpods and bars are mojito 

spritzes paired with Sekforde Lime, Mint & Cacao, gin and 

vodka spritzes with Raspberry, Rose & Sage, tequila spritz 

with Prickly Pear, Fig & Cardamom and whisky or bourbon 

highballs with Sicilian Orange, Rosemary & Gentian Soda. 

Sekforde mixers are 100% natural, low in sugar and are 

suitable for vegans and vegetarians. 

Drinkers looking to discover premium spirits in a new way 

will find the special Sekforde menus at Oakpods at The Red 

Lion in Hemel Hempstead and Royston’s Banyers House. 

oakmaninns.co.uk 

The tailored mixers are also stocked in over 100 retail 

outlets across the UK including Waitrose, Ocado, Harvey 

Nichols and Fortnum & Mason. sekfordedrinks.com 

Wine through your Letterbox 

Feel like branching out and trying a different wine, but 

always end up playing it safe? Step forward The Online 

Wine Tasting Club, founded by Jamie Smith (certified 

sommelier) and Alex Taylor (winemaker). 

Running from 1 

April to 30 October, 

this exhibition offers 

a fascinating insight 

into Moore’s life 

and work during 

this pivotal decade 

in his career. 

Featuring rarely 

seen sculptures, 

drawings, graphics 

and a wealth of archive material to illuminate the innovation 

of an artist himself in his sixties but at the height of his 

powers. Entry to the exhibition is included in a ticket to 

Henry Moore Studios & Gardens. Experience Moore’s iconic 

work against the backdrop of the beautiful Hertfordshire 

countryside with a visit to his 70-acre former home in Perry 

Green, near Much Hadham. henry-moore.org 

The Battle Proms 

Celebrate summer in style at 

Hatfield House on Saturday 

16 July, with the perfect 

party-in-the-park experience. 

Enjoy soul-stirring classical 

music, vintage vocals 

and breathtaking Spitfire, 

parachute, cavalry, cannon 

and firework displays. An 

open-air spectacular not to 

be missed, the Battle Proms 

picnic concert takes place in the Queen Elizabeth Oak Field 

in the leafy parkland at Hatfield House. Pre-order a delicious 

picnic or sparkling high tea to collect on arrival along 

with chairs, tables and pre-erected gazebos which are all 

available to hire. Tickets are on sale now at 

battleproms.com 

129

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Hertfordshire 

Discover Hertford 

Reasons to visit Hertfordshire’s county town this spring 


Hertford is an attractive market town with a wealth of 

restaurants, independent stores and pretty riverside walks. 

Located where four river valleys meet, the town centre 

boasts Georgian townhouses, timber-framed buildings 

and a picturesque castle set within beautiful gardens. The 

labyrinth of tunnels, said to lie beneath the streets, adds 

mystery to its historic charm. 

Explore 

The Hertford Heritage Trail is a fantastic way to explore 

the town and appreciate its historic buildings and fine 

architecture. The trail’s blue plaques highlight no less than 

41 fascinating locations including its once royal castle, 

the Georgian Shire Hall overlooking Fore Street’s rare 

ornamental plastering, the oldest purpose-built Quaker 

meeting house and the site of the former Christ’s Hospital 

School, where an ancient water pump still graces the 

courtyard. You can pick up a copy of the trail map from the 

Hertford Town Tourist and Information Centre or download 

a copy at gohertford.co.uk 

Shop 

While exploring, you’re bound to notice Hertford’s many 

quaint and quirky shops. The town boasts an array of 

independent traders and specialist retailers. Head to Five 

and Dime for contemporary interiors, Azir for designer 

menswear and Eye Mind Heart for gifts. If you’re looking for 

ethical fashion, Frankie and Olive, offer sustainable clothing 

while Rossi’s Attic is a mini emporium full of antiques and 

collectables. Visit Hertford on a Saturday and you’ll also find 

the Charter Market at Salisbury Square, Maidenhead Street 

and Bircheley Green with stalls selling olives, bread, cheese, 

furniture, flowers and more. 

Cruise 

Every weekend from April to September, you can hop 

aboard the water bus which cruises alongside the 

picturesque flood plains of the River Lee between Hertford 

and Ware. The journey, which begins next to The Old Barge 

pub and passes through two original working locks, takes 

around 75-90 minutes each way. Return tickets are £12 

and can be purchased in advance or on board, subject 

to availability. Treat yourself to a drink from the bar and 

enjoy the scenic views across The Meads which has an 

abundance of wildlife. 

Eat 

Hertford caters for every taste with cafés, restaurants, pubs 

and bars waiting to tempt you around every corner. Graze 

on tapas at the super chic Anexo or enjoy a burger with 

dirty fries on the riverside terrace at The Woolpack. The 

stylish and award-winning Lussmanns is well worth a visit, 

as is Giambrone’s family-run Italian deli and coffee bar. 

Like Japanese food? No problem, head to Mr Tanaka’s 

for katsu curry or pick up some sushi at Oishii by Elle. For 

more Eastern delights, book a table at Baan Thitiya, a 

contemporary Thai. 

Upcoming events 

Haunted Hertford 

Friday 25 February, Friday 25 and Saturday 26 March 

An atmospheric guided walk through the ghostly haunted 

sites of Hertford. Walks are £7 and begin at the White Hart 

Pub in Salisbury Square. Booking is essential. 

hertfordtownshop.co.uk 

Hertford Arts Festival 

Saturday 9 April to Saturday 7 May 

The Hertford Arts Festival is back to showcase the local arts 

and culture in the town. Immerse yourself by visiting pop 

up exhibitions, shows and performances. This year sees the 

launch of the Hertford Castle Children’s Art Trail – forage the 

castle grounds and make a masterpiece or paint, draw or 

photograph the castle with selected works exhibited at the 

next open day. Pick up your festival programme from the 

Town & Tourist Information Centre. 

Cars at the Castle 

Sunday 15 May 

Motor on down to Hertford’s largest free car show set within 

the picturesque castle grounds. Exhibiting up to 80 modern 

and vintage cars, there will be plenty to marvel over. The 

event will feature food and refreshment stalls, live music, and 

more, fuelling an afternoon of family fun. Hertford Castle will 

also be open for visitors to explore. 

131

Hertfordshire 

In the Kitchen 

With Ben Ebbrell, YouTube food star, chef and co-founder of SORTEDfood 


Started by four Hertfordshire 

school friends in 2010, 

SORTEDfood has now become 

the world’s largest online 

food community with over 2.5 

million YouTube subscribers. 

Weekly videos cover everything 

from learning basic cooking 

techniques to investigating 

new food trends and taking on 

ultimate cooking challenges. As 

the chef of the group, Ben takes 

charge of the food team and is 

also a highly regarded public keynote speaker on subjects 

such as the future of food and food trends. 

What or who inspired your love 

of cooking? 

I grew up in a very foodie family where scratch cooking was 

always the norm. So, when I decided to turn my passion 

and love of good food into a career, it just made perfect 

sense. 

Where was the first professional kitchen 

that you cooked in? 

It was a weekend job in a pub kitchen a few miles from my 

home in Hertfordshire. I’d cycle there and back on a Saturday 

and Sunday, aged 16. Shift number one, I was just on pot 

wash, but I was keenly observing the rest of the kitchen, so 

the chef asked me if I wanted to try that instead. Shift two, I 

did. Within a few months, I was left to open-up and run the 

kitchen with a team. Nothing fancy, but it taught me the 

workings of a kitchen and the importance of a brigade. 

Did you ever imagine it would be so 

popular? 

We never set out with a big plan. We just wanted to help 

people with food. It began small and we published our 

videos on YouTube which, as a platform, had only just 

begun a few years before. We broke the mould and created 

content that was very unlike traditional TV and made sure 

that we kept producing stuff that was fun and useful. It’s 

always been peer-to-peer, rather than patronising and 

condescending. So no, we never thought it would grow so 

big and impactful, we simply kept it authentic and genuine. 

How much of your YouTube content is 

driven by your subscribers? 

Practically everything we do is steered or shaped by our 

audience. Some broad topics and themes emerge from 

large numbers of comments requesting them and a general 

feel of what’s trending and popular…whilst at a microlevel we 

celebrate individual comments and tips and tricks to help 

create dishes. Especially given it’s a global audience and 

they know so much more than we ever can when it comes 

to other cuisines or dishes that we aren’t familiar with. 

What is the weirdest thing ever 

suggested? 

Tomato soup cake. Hands down, odd! But several 

comments suggested we try it over the course of a few 

weeks, so reluctantly I did. A cake batter made with an entire 

tin of tomato soup…even as it goes into the oven, it’s vile. But 

what emerges after baking is delightful. 

How did SORTEDfood begin? 

Sharing stories of university adventures around a pub 

table with old school mates during a semester break. It 

became evident that food and cooking was a challenge 

across the board so, as a chef, I’d share simple recipes. 

Sorted began with a student cookbook and not much has 

changed since…the essence remains the same, just not 

solely for students anymore. It’s for anyone keen to cook 

great food without the hassle and whilst keeping time in the 

kitchen short, budgets low and inspiration varied. Sharing 

recipes, tricks and hacks so we can all continue to learn and 

improve. 

132

Hertfordshire 

What is your most memorable 

moment filming? 

We’ve always liked to think that we can bring people 

together around food in a really fun way. It can be so 

personal. A few years back we were invited to one of 

the most personal moments of two viewers’ lives – their 

wedding! They had been watching and engaging for years 

so it felt like Sorted were their close friends. We gratefully 

accepted the invite and arranged to make the wedding 

favours for them. The video in the run up to and at their 

Indian wedding is spectacular and is a testament to just how 

close the connection with our audience is. 

Working with lifelong friends looks fun 

but does it bring any challenges? 

Of course…we’re all very ambitious and what we’ve built 

together means so much to us all. We don’t always agree on 

everything…which is healthy. So, there are some moments 

where we clash but never to a point that it can’t be settled 

over a pint at the end of the day. 

arrives. A brilliant ham hock scotch egg is still my fave there. 

The counter to this is the likes of The Tilbury in Datchworth, 

a proper gastro pub with an exquisite menu and a great 

wine list too. My friends and I have been known to walk 

miles across beautiful footpaths and bridleways for several 

courses at lunch, before walking it all off again on the way 

home. If it’s high-end seasonal stuff you’re after, including 

lots of game at this time of year, then Thompson’s Dining in 

St Albans is ideal for a special occasion. Go all out with the 

tasting menu and Phil Thompson and his team will craft an 

absolute delight. Phil was responsible for Hertfordshire’s 

first Michelin Star several years back at his previous place. 

What seasonal ingredients should our 

readers being looking to buy this spring? 

Spring is tricky in the UK but early on will be the last of 

the root veg, leeks and brassicas from the winter months 

plus forced rhubarb of course. Then, by late spring, it gets 

exciting. New potatoes, asparagus, the first few radishes 

and watercress. Watercress is a brilliant ingredient and is 

often overlooked. 

Tell us about the SORTED Meal Packs App 

This is the smart tool that we’ve created, as part of a 

subscription service, to help plan meals for home cooks 

to enjoy. Recipes are bundled together to benefit from 

the sharing of ingredients, keep shopping lists down and 

reduce food waste by using up all the fresh stuff you buy. 

Not to mention keeping quick and simple midweek meals 

interesting and teaching a bunch of stuff that’s been distilled 

down from the chefs at Sorted. Thousands of people are 

already using it to reshape their cooking and we’re super 

proud of the money, food waste and boredom that it’s 

saving people every day. 

Where are your favourite places to eat in 

Hertfordshire? 

Hertfordshire has got some real gems. I love an understated 

or underrated pub that does great classics. The Goat in 

Hertford Heath is brilliant for this. Unassuming...until the food 

What three dishes do you think every 

home cook should master? 

A risotto because it’s hugely versatile and can be changed 

up each month, based on seasonal ingredients, so you 

never get bored. 

An omelette as it can be thrown together in no time at all, is 

nutritious and becomes the perfect vehicle to use up any 

odds and ends in the fridge at the end of the week. 

A showstopper of a dessert – even if it’s an easy one. 

Our 15-minute chocolate fondant always gets a wow. 

The gooey oozy centre is a real crowd pleaser, yet it’s 

surprisingly simple. 

SORTEDfood YouTube Channel: 

SORTEDfood – YouTube 

133

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134

Hertfordshire 

Hertfordshire Garden Show at 

Knebworth House 

pop-up art exhibition venues will be located around the 

town centre, where venues consist of a multitude of 

retailers including bars and cafes, beauty salons, clothes 

retailers and gift shops. 

gohertford.co.uk/news/a/hertford-arts-trail-2022/ 

Cars at the Castle, Hertford Castle 

WHAT’S ON 

Sunday 30 April – Monday 2 May 2022 

There will be plenty of inspiration for the Spring and 

Summer months ahead supplied by the exhibitors 

attending the show with a wide variety of goods on 

display and for sale including garden furniture, water 

features, tools, sculptures and more. This ticket will 

include access to Knebworth Park, Gardens, Adventure 

Playground with Fort Knebworth and Dinosaur Trail. 

knebworthhouse.com/events/hertfordshiregarden-show/ 

Tudor Legacies at Hatfield House 

Sunday 15 May 2022 12 noon – 4pm 

Motor on down to Hertford’s largest free car show of 

the year set within the picturesque castle grounds. 

Exhibiting up to 80 modern and vintage cars, there will 

be plenty to marvel over. The event will feature food 

and refreshment stalls, live music, and more, fuelling an 

afternoon of family fun. Hertford Castle will also be open 

throughout the event for visitors to explore. 

hertford.gov.uk/events-listings/ 

Saturday 9 April and Saturday 7 May 2022 11am & 2pm 

Visitors will have the exciting opportunity to interact and 

engage with Henry VIII, his six wives and his children 

& many other historical characters. Find out what it 

was really like to be married to one of history’s most 

infamous kings…Come and meet the personalities 

behind the portraits as all six wives regale you with 

their own individual experiences within a royal court 

full of scandal, intrigue and beheadings. Also featuring 

little Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen of England, 

Elizabeth I and the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne 

Boleyn. 

hatfield-house.co.uk/event/tudor-legacies/ 

Hertford Arts Trail 

Saturday 9 April until Saturday 7 May 2022 

The popular Hertford Arts Trail returns this spring, 

bringing together local artists and the array of 

independent, high street businesses within the County 

Town of Hertford as part of the Hertford Arts Festival. 

The Trail attracts up to 40 talented artists who will 

showcase their work within a prime town centre location 

to exhibit and sell artwork for a month-long period. The 

The Watford Jazz Junction Music 

Festival 

Thursday 19 – Sunday 22 

May 2022 

Venues across the town 

will be putting on some 

amazing shows including 

Shri Sriram featuring Dennis 

Rollins, the Emma Smith 

Quartet, the National Youth 

Jazz Orchestra featuring 

Tim Garland, Jelly Cleaver, 

Archipelago, the John 

Etheridge Trio, and Tomorrow’s Warriors. 

www.watfordjazzjunction.com 

Hertfordshire County Show at The 

Showground, Hertfordshire 

Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 May 2022 

Witness spectacular entertainment in the Main Ring 

from the gravity defying Bold Dog Lings as the main 

attraction for 2022. Enjoy and discover the very best 

of local shopping with deliciously curated produce 

in our Food Court and iconic Made in Herts zones 

with local foods and local crafts that showcase the 

best of Hertfordshire to the World. Immerse yourself 

in agriculture with a packed timetable of livestock 

and equine classes and head to our Farm-Yard and 

Countryside zones and discover awe-inspiring plant 

and machinery from past and present. 

hertsshow.com

‘ MIGHTY MIZ IS STILL 

REVOLUTIONARY ’ 

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TUE 26 APR - SAT 21 MAY 

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Tempsford, Bedfordshire. 

garyjamesimages.com

Bedfordshire 

BEDFORDSHIRE NEWS & EVENTS 

News 

Arora Group Buys Luton Hoo Hotel 

The Arora Group has purchased the 5-star, 228 room, 

Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa from Elite Hotels. The 

estate is set in over 1,000 acres of parkland, woods and 

lakes. 

Originally known as a specialist airport hotel owner 

operator, the Arora Group established their first 

city centre hotel in 2017 with the opening of the 

InterContinental London – The O2 and most recently 

has diversified further into the country house hotel 

market with the opening of Fairmont Windsor Park. 

Surinder Arora, CEO and chairman of the Arora Group 

commented: “Our acquisition of Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf 

and Spa continues to support our strategy to diversify 

our hotel portfolio and we are excited to build on the 

already significant investment and development by Elite 

Hotels since their purchase of the estate in 1999. We 

are excited to welcome the Luton Hoo Hotel, Golf & Spa 

team to the Arora Group and are looking forward to the 

opportunities ahead for our expanded family.” 

lutonhoo.co.uk 

A Big Splash for Houghton Regis 

A stunning new centre, with superb leisure and 

community facilities, is on the cards for Houghton 

Regis. The plans for a £25million centre, financed with 

£20million of government funding plus major Central 

Bedfordshire Council investment, have been unveiled. 

Residents can look forward to a 25-metre swimming 

pool, a state-of-the-art fitness suite, exercise studios 

and two squash courts. Plans also include a café, 

community space, crèche, children’s outdoor play zone, 

outdoor fitness trail and public areas. 

Enhanced landscaping and planting will surround 

the centre, with improved walking and cycling routes 

across the Kingsland Campus linking up with the new 

Houstone School. Car parking, cycle parking and bus 

drop-off areas are all included in the plans designed 

to support the needs of a growing Houghton Regis 

community. 

Sport England said: “The new development will offer 

upgraded, superior leisure provision as recommended 

in our adopted Leisure Facilities Strategy. It’s one of 

several major investments planned to enhance leisure 

facilities across Central Bedfordshire. There are plans for 

a new leisure centre in Leighton Linslade and significant 

improvements lined up at the Jenkins Pavilion in 

Sandy.” 

Car Club Comes to Bedford 

A new car club has been launched in Bedford in a bid to 

reduce congestion and air pollution across the borough. 

Bedford Borough Council has teamed up with 

Enterprise Rent-A-Car to launch Bedford Car Club, 

enabling residents to rent a Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle 

(EV) from Riverside Car Park. 

Residents can rent the car for a few hours, a day or 

longer, giving the option to reduce car ownership while 

still having access to a vehicle when needed. The car 

can be accessed via the Car Club app or website. It 

takes about 10 minutes to put in your details and once 

you’re approved you can use the car straight away. 

Mayor Dave Hodgson said: “If you are thinking of 

making the switch, or perhaps getting rid of your car 

entirely, this is a great scheme to get involved with.” 

Dan Gursel, managing director of Enterprise Car Club, 

said: “We are delighted to work with Bedford Borough 

Council to launch this service which will help people to 

make more sustainable travel choices.” 

To sign up to the Car Club visit 

enterprisecarclub.co.uk 

Makeover for Wyboston Lakes Resort 

A £1.5m makeover 

of The Waterfront 

Hotel, Spa & Golf 

at Wyboston Lakes 

Resort is underway. 

The project includes 

a renovation of the 

Brasserie and a major 

138

Bedfordshire 

refurbishment of the hotel’s reception area, event spaces, 

Y Spa Bistro and outdoor terrace. Three new event spaces 

will also be created within the four-star hotel, which can be 

used either separately or together, for parties, events and 

social gatherings. 

A vibrant and flexible co-working area under the resort’s 

serviced offices brand, Landing Pad, will be added on the 

first floor. 

This renovation follows the completion of a £5m 

transformation of The Willows Training Centre and The 

Woodlands Event Centre in the last few years. 

Good sustainability rating after the pandemic and achieving 

Three Stars, Peach truly is demonstrating to its customers, 

staff and industry colleagues that it is 100% committed to 

serving up a better food future.” 

Coming Up... 

Two Music Icons to Play Bedford 

The 380-acre resort also comprises an 18-hole golf course, 

picturesque water sports lakes, a nature reserve, serviced 

offices, business units, and land for future enterprise. 

Managing director, Steve Jones, said: “We feel very 

fortunate to be able to carry out this work after such a 

challenging 18 months. However, the transformation of 

our hotel will strengthen our quality of product and keep 

our customers wanting to spend time with us in the future.” 

wybostonlakes.co.uk 

Food & Drink 

Beds Pubs Receive Sustainability Award 

Simply Red have announced live dates for the summer 

with Mick Hucknall bringing his unique brand of UK soul 

and pop to Bedford Park on 28 July. Also lining up is very 

special guest, soulful dance diva, Lisa Stansfield. 

Simply Red fans will flock to the stage to hear one of the 

UK’s biggest bands perform a catalogue of unforgettable 

hits, including ‘Something Got Me Started’, ‘Stars’, 

‘Fairground’ and the US number one hits, ‘Holding Back 

The Years’, and ‘If You Don’t Know Me By Now’. 

Mick Hucknall said: “It’s wonderfully inspiring that people 

can go and see bands again now, and I can’t wait to get 

back on stage.” 

The Swan in Salford and The Black Horse in Woburn have 

been awarded a Three Star Food Made Good rating by the 

Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA). 

The pubs and their owners, Peach Pubs, were given the 

accolade for the steps they have taken to reduce their 

impact on climate change and help people to make more 

sustainable choices when eating out. These ranged from 

celebrating local and seasonal produce and sourcing fish 

responsibly, to treating its people fairly and eliminating 

food waste. 

“It’s fantastic news and doubly significant after what has 

been a year like no other for the hospitality industry. It 

is tremendous encouragement from the Sustainable 

Restaurant Association and we shall be working with them 

over the year ahead to be even better and improve our 

scores,” said Frazer Sutherland, Peach Partner, who looks 

after the pubs. 

Juliane Caillouette-Noble, managing director of the SRA, 

said: “By being the first pub to complete the Food Made 

More excitement arrives at Bedford Park on 30 July, when 

legendary music and style icon Paul Weller takes to the 

stage. 

Fans can enjoy live performances of new material and 

classics from his back catalogue such as ‘Wild Wood’, 

‘Wake Up the Nation’ and ‘You Do Something To Me’. 

Paul’s 17th solo album ‘An Orchestrated Songbook’ was 

released in December. Recorded with award-winning 

arranger Jules Buckley and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, 

the album reimagines a selection of his vast catalogue. This 

follows 2021’s highly acclaimed number one album ‘Fat 

Pop’ with fans likely to hear tracks from this album live for 

the first-time. 

Commenting on his live dates, Paul said: “It’s brilliant to 

announce these UK summer shows and to be able to play 

outdoors again after such a long time.” 

Tickets for both events are on sale now at 

lphconcertsandevents 

139

Bedfordshire 

Bedfordshire’s Blooms 

Beautiful gardens to visit this spring 


© Wrest Park 

As the days become longer and warmer, gardens burst into life. Celebrate the new season with our guide to the best 

Bedfordshire gardens to visit this spring. 

Kathy Brown’s Garden 

The Manor House, Stevington, MK43 7QB 

This four-and-a-half-acre private garden in Stevington 

village has been lovingly designed and cared for by 

Kathy and her husband over the past 30 years. Spring is a 

wonderful time to visit with each month offering stunning 

displays. April is beautiful with spring bulbs and blossoms, 

May is exuberant with peonies, wisterias and alliums 

while June is a joy with foxgloves and roses. Open every 

Tuesday from 5 April until the end of September, plus some 

Saturdays and bank holidays, visits must be pre-booked 

online. Entrance is £8 and children aged 3-17 years are 

half price, with teas and Kathy’s special homemade cakes 

available at £6 per person. Why not learn a new skill at a 

Kokedama workshop and take home your own homemade 

moss ball? Priced at £30 and taking place on Friday 

29 April and 6 May, it includes a demonstration, 

practical session, tour and tea. 

kathybrownsgarden.com 

Mill Gardens 

Jordans Mill, Broom, SG18 9JX 

Designed by Chelsea Flower Show winners, Ian Kitson 

and Julie Toll, the gardens at Jordans Mill are a wildlifefriendly 

setting where crops, vegetables and fruits grow 

alongside wildflowers and cultivated garden plants. Enjoy 

a stroll around the ornamental flower displays, cereal crops, 

orchard and allotment and then continue your journey 

through the meadow and woodland which are havens for 

wildlife and great for budding explorers. As the gardens, 

meadow and woodland shift and change with the seasons, 

there is always something new to enjoy. Open every 

Thursday to Sunday, 9-4pm, and admission to the gardens 

is free. The historic Mill reopens this spring with guided 

tours priced at £5, or you can explore at your own leisure 

with a self-guided leaflet, for just £2.50. Complete your visit 

with a freshly prepared meal in the Riverside Café and pick 

up some locally produced treats in the shop. 

jordansmill.com 

140

Bedfordshire 

Swiss Garden 

Shuttleworth, Old Warden, SG18 9DX 

Take a walk through ornate ironwork gates into this 

delightful nine acre regency and Victorian layered garden, 

complete with resident peacocks. There are 13 listed 

structures to explore including the Swiss Cottage, Indian 

Kiosk, and Grotto & Fernery with its cave-like Pulhamite 

tunnels. Thousands of daffodils flower here from late 

February through to April which will be showcased at their 

Daffodil Tour on Saturday 26 March. Priced at £20, the tour 

begins with tea and cake in the beautiful sunroom. 

The popular ‘Spring Walk and Lunch with the Head 

Gardner’, which costs £40 per person, takes place on Friday 

22 April, when you can enjoy many seasonal highlights 

including large banks of rhododendrons in full bloom. 

Online daily admission tickets are £16, children are free, 

and can be used multiple times for up to 30 days. Tickets 

on the gate are £17.50 and single use only. Admission gives 

you access to explore almost 60 acres of Shuttleworth, 

including the famous Shuttleworth Collection, historic 

lakeside parkland and children’s playground. 

shuttleworth.org 

Wrest Park 

Silsoe, MK45 4HR 

Discover over 90 acres of beautiful gardens showcasing a 

range of styles including Dutch and Italian. Wander along 

the formal Long Water walk and spot classical statues 

as you explore the grounds. In spring, Wrest Park comes 

to life with daffodils and primroses flowering within the 

woodland areas. In the Walled Garden, spring blossom on 

the fruit trees and fresh young foliage, along with daffodils 

and allium, provide fragrance and colour while the formal 

gardens around the house are a stunning display of colour 

with seasonal bedding schemes including tulips, hyacinths, 

violas, forget-me-not, polyanthus and crown imperial 

fritillaries. Advance online tickets are £12.60, children aged 

5-17 years priced £7.60, family £32.80 and include the Dairy 

Sculpture Gallery and children’s playground. Admission 

prices are higher on the day. Head to the café for seasonal 

hot and cold meals, drinks and snacks and pick up jams, 

chutneys, wines, beers, books and garden gifts at the shop. 

english-heritage.org.uk 

© Kathy Brown’s Garden 

© Jordans Mill 

The Walled Garden 

Luton Hoo Estate, Farm Rd, LU1 3TQ 

Designed by Capability Brown in the late 1760s, 

The Walled Garden at Luton Hoo Estate is now maintained 

by enthusiastic volunteers and a conservation team 

who continue to reveal its rich history. The stunning 

five-acre garden, which has a range of glass houses 

and is surrounded by the original octagonal wall, offers 

a fascinating glimpse into the historic gardens at one of 

England’s great stately homes. Visitors are welcome on 

Open Wednesdays from 4 May to 28 September and the 

£5 entry fee includes a guided tour of the garden and 

Victorian farm buildings. The Woodyard Coffee Shop is a 

small café nestled within the grounds of the estate, serving 

teas, coffee, homemade cakes and lunches. Visit the 

website for information about special events including 

their spring open day and bluebell walks. 

lutonhooestate.co.uk 

© Shuttleworth Swiss Garden 

© Luton Hoo Estate

Weddings 

ODELLS SHOES 

Sales & Traditional Repair Services 

Established 1917 

Ceremonies & Evening Receptions 

Stockists of Cosy Feet 

In the heart of rural Bedfordshire 

Spacious Wedding Suite 

Wedding Garden for Outdoor Photographs 

Wedding Ceremony Licence 

Dedicated Wedding Team 

Free Parking for Guests 

Treat our space like a blank canvas and make it your own 

We don’t have set packages or insist you use particular suppliers 

The Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick, MK45 1AH 

Tel: 01525 631905 Email: events@therufuscentre.co.uk 

www.therufuscentre.co.uk 

8 St Cuthberts Street, Bedford MK40 3JB 

Telephone: 01234 358979 

www.thesunfelmersham.com 

01234 781355

Bedfordshire 

Review: 

The Black Horse, Woburn 

Modern dining in an historic setting 

Reviewed by Jacqui Hagen 

Lined with elegant Georgian-fronted buildings, Bedford Street runs through the 

centre of Woburn. Here you’ll find the Black Horse, a former coaching inn that has 

long been at the heart of village life. 

Step inside the double-leafed door and you’ll find yet more character, where low 

ceilings and exposed beams meet contemporary décor and a recent mini-refurb 

has added colour and warmth. 

We stopped by for lunch on a chilly Tuesday in January and escaped the cold into 

the welcoming restaurant with a menu boasting hearty, winter dishes. Seasonal 

ingredients are fundamental to what they do here, so the spring menu will inevitably 

showcase the best of the new season’s larder. 

The Black Horse has a busy, yet relaxed atmosphere and we quickly got the 

impression that manager Charlotte and her team have everything under control. 

The staff here are attentive and happy to answer questions about the menu and 

frequently changing specials board. 

We started with plump scallops, corals intact, on a bed of white beans braised with 

leeks and chorizo which offered up a satisfying warmth. From the ‘Small Plates’, we 

chose chunky halloumi fries: the crunchy coating giving way to salty cheese with a 

bloody Mary dip on the side providing spice. 

BEDFORDSHIRE ON THE PLATE 

Our mains included the 14-hour braised beef and ale pie, one of the pub’s most 

popular dishes which deservedly stays on the menu throughout the year. Tender 

meat and rich gravy encased in crisp pastry came with well-seasoned, buttery mash 

and greens. 

Beautifully cooked sea bass fillets, enlivened by capers and lemon, were the fish 

of the day. Served with new potatoes and buttery soft spinach, this is a classic 

combination which brings joy to the tastebuds when done well like this. 

For dessert, we were happy to go with Charlotte’s recommendations. We loved the 

smooth lemon panna cotta, topped with tangy rhubarb and an almond crumble for 

sweetness and texture. The surprisingly light treacle sponge had a subtle, fragrant 

spice and jug of creamy custard for pouring. 

If you’re too full for dessert but don’t want to miss out, you can opt for a bitesize 

chocolate brownie with your choice of tea or coffee. Or, if you prefer a savoury end 

to your meal, there’s a superb selection of British cheeses served with chutney and 

Peter’s Yard crackers. 

The Black Horse is the kind of place where you can enjoy a real ale or cocktail at the 

bar, sit by the fire and graze on small dishes with a glass or two from their impressive 

wine list, or go all out as we did with the full three courses. 

On warmer days, head through the carriage arch to the side of the pub and 

you’ll find a secluded courtyard garden, a lovely place to sit and enjoy the spring 

sunshine. 

The Black Horse, 1 Bedford Street, Woburn, MK17 9QB 

blackhorsewoburn.co.uk

ADVERTORIAL 

Les Misérables 

star Nic 

Greenshields 

chats to 

Eastlife 

One of the world’s most popular 

musicals, Les Misérables, returns 

to Milton Keynes Theatre this April. 

Reprising the role of the relentless 

antagonist Javert is Nic Greenshields. 

We caught up with Nic about taking on 

the role and what makes the musical so 

loved… 

What’s it like taking on one of the most 

iconic roles in musical theatre? 

It’s a great privilege to play Javert. I first saw the show when 

I was in my teens, and to be doing it 25-years later is a huge 

honour. I try to bring out a different side to Javert, giving him 

multiple dimensions and making him more than just the 

baddie, showing a more emotional side to him. 

Does the role require a lot of stamina 

as a performer, and what helps you to 

perform each night? 

I took up running during lockdown! I felt I needed to do 

something, and just before we started rehearsals, I ran a half 

marathon which was a big achievement. All the roles are 

demanding, if you keep delivering at the level we want to, it is 

tough work. You do have to look after yourself. 

Do you remember your first experience 

of Les Misérables? 

I remember buying a cassette when I was about 11 years old 

of people singing songs from Les Mis. I remember listening 

to it and trying to imagine what the show would be like. 

Eventually I begged my Mum to take me, and we queued for 

returns. I was just blown away. 

Why do you think audiences still love to 

come and see Les Mis? 

The music is definitely a huge part of it. The score is stunning 

and has really broken through into popular culture, bringing it 

to a new audience. Ultimately, I think the show has remained 

so popular because of the themes. It’s a show about 

redemption and the human condition and everything that still 

resonates with us all today. We connect with the characters 

and become engrossed in the story and the beautiful music 

pulls everything together. It’s clearly a magical formula. 

Les Misérables is at Milton Keynes Theatre from Tuesday 26 

April to Saturday 21 May. For tickets, visit 

ATGTICKETS.COM/MiltonKeynes.

Bedfordshire 

Spring Food, Craft and Gift Market at 

Shuttleworth House 

performances and 

activities culminating in 

England’s most legendary 

battle. Cheer on gallant St 

George as he mounts his 

mighty steed and takes 

on his fiery green nemesis 

in the ultimate, dramatic 

show down. So join Wrest 

Park as they demonstrate 

everything quintessentially 

English and celebrate England’s legendary patron saint. 

englishheritage.seetickets.com/tour/wrest-park 

WHAT’S ON 

Saturday 26 and Sunday 27th March 2022 10am – 3pm 

Stalls will be positioned around the grand rooms of 

Shuttleworth House for visitors to enjoy the stunning 

interiors as they shop from a variety of food, craft and gift 

stalls. Entry is free of charge however donations to the 

Shuttleworth Trust are welcome. Visitors are welcome 

to stroll down and wander around the world-famous 

Collection of aircraft or enjoy a walk around the beautiful 

nine-acre Swiss Garden plus the Parkland, Shurubbery 

and Woodland Walks. A small refreshments station 

will be open at Shuttleworth House or guests can dine 

at the Runway Café down by Shuttleworth Collection 

Hangars. 

shuttleworth.org/product/springmarket/ 

Ghost Hunt at Moot Hall 

Dinosaur Adventure Live at The 

Bedford Corn Exchange 

Monday 18 April 2022 

11.30am, 2pm & 4pm 

Join the intrepid 

Dinosaur Adventurers 

as they journey to 

a world of living, 

breathing, life-like 

Dinosaurs. Walk 

with them through 

the Jurassic era on 

an unforgettable 

interactive experience 

as they introduce you to some of the most incredible 

species ever to have lived on Earth. Feel the excitement 

of meeting real life-like Dinosaurs face-to-face and 

hearing the tremendous roar of a T-Rex. Learn their 

history and even feed them but watch out – you could 

be on the menu. 

This awe-inspiring show captivates both young and 

young at heart, immersing audiences in an enthralling & 

realistic world of Dinosaurs. 

bedfordcornexchange.co.uk/events/dinosauradventure-live/ 

St George’s Day Festival at Wrest Park 

Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 April 2022 

Celebrate our green and pleasant land and immerse 

yourself in the story of England at the biggest, most 

action-packed St George’s Day celebration in the 

country. Enjoy a weekend of shows, battles, games, 

Saturday 23 – Sunday 24 April 2022 7.30pm – 00.30am 

Come a long to this event and enjoy using a whole 

range of ghost hunting equipment! 

There will a number of seances and then you’ll get the 

chance to use the equipment in your own time. Snacks 

and drinks will be available all night. 

Ghostlygatherings.co.uk 

Season Premiere Air Show 

Sunday 1 May 2022 Gates open 9.30am 

Blow away the winter cobwebs and get set for what 

promises to be an exciting show. Expect a thrilling 

air display from historic aircraft, fantastic children’s 

activities, and a chance to explore the beautiful 

Shuttleworth Swiss Garden. There is something to keep 

the whole family entertained! 

shuttleworth.org/product/seasonpremiere/ 

145

ACCOMMODATION 

Accommodation 

Varsity Hotel 

The Varsity Hotel is situated amidst the 

Cambridge Colleges with views from many 

of the rooms across Kings, St Johns and 

Trinity. It is also a stone’s throw from the 

main punting area and has many great 

shops nearby. 

Cambridge 

T: 01223 306030 

E: res@thevarsityhotel.co.uk 

www.thevarsityhotel.co.uk 

Cambridge 

Lower Farm 

Lower Farm Bed and Breakfast is situated 

in the attractive East Northamptonshire 

village of Barnwell, three miles from the 

historic town of Oundle. We can provide 

you with a comfortable and relaxed country 

retreat tucked away from busy roads in a 

picturesque and traditional farm setting. 

Northamptonshire 

T: 01832 273220 

E: lowerfarmbandb@btconnect.com 

www.lower-farm.co.uk 

Northamptonshire 

146

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Eastlife Spring 2022

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