Places&Faces 54 September 2014 by Countrywide Publications

september 2014 | £2.95 where sold

THE Magazine for Norfolk

& North Suffolk

Win

f rom plo u gh to plate

A NIGHT for 2

our f ood issu e

at a south Norfolk hotel

RAISE A GLASS to n o r f o l k ’ s grai n brewer y

tom a ik e n s

on his LATEST launches

GORLESTOn’s groo v y

70’s tea lounge

norway’s

fj or d s & f oo d

n orwi c h restA u ra n t wee k

Anglia Farmers

Hid d en

Fo o d H ero

AND ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GOODNIGHT FROM HIM

FREE DELIVERY over a wide area!

THE BEDROOM COLLECTION Select from our new and improved display of the Harrisons range of quality bedroom furniture, with over 40 options in robes and chests with over 30 finishes.

FREE PARKING AT OUR DOOR PRICE PROMISE

Other collections available include the Charlton Rainbow range, Corndell and the new Blenheim oak collection. 25% off Nolte, 20% off Corndell, 15% off Charlton and 10% off Harrison & Blenheim Oak

IGHT

RTH

NEW NOLTE DISPLAY IN STORE

STRA

ACLE

THE

CO N

LLE

HIL

Cast a spell on your wardrobe and add some magic this autumn

Our fairytale inspiration: Snow White.

Beautiful bespoke bathrooms

Unmatched and unrivalled. Please join us at our Hoveton showroom on

Thursday 2nd October from 6pm - 9pm

to celebrate our refurbishment after the fire...

The oynoulywill kitcheernwant... ev Open workshops allowing you to watch our skilled craftsmen in action Live cookery demonstrations from top Norfolk cookery school chef Jon Gay Free Prize Draw to win a dinner party at home for up to six people Live music and complimentary food and refreshments Contact us now for a brochure or visit our showroom at: Station Business Park, Horning Road West, Hoveton, Norwich, Norfolk NR12 8QJ, England. E: info@ebsfurniture.co.uk T: 01603 781771

Handmade in Norfolk. See more of our beautiful kitchens at: www.batesfurniture.co.uk

WELCOME AUTUMN IN STYLE The new collections have arrived and we are delighted to show you just some of the hundreds of fashion and accessories brands in store. Many of our brands are exclusive in Norwich to Jarrold including: Boss Orange, Basler, Gant, Oui, Weekend Max Mara, Esprit, Noa Noa, Jaeger, Masai, NW3, Gagliardi, Camel Active...

PICK UP YOUR GUIDE IN STORE LONDON STREET, NORWICH 01603 660661 JARROLD.CO.UK

WELCOME MEET THE TEAM Colin Huggins Managing Director

Editor’s Letter

t 01493 742091 m 07775 858862 E colin@h2creativemedia.co.uk

Sarah Hardy

EMMA OUTTEN

sarah@h2creativemedia.co.uk

Assistant Editor E emma@h2creativemedia.co.uk

Design Senior Designer: Elliott Mowle BA elliott@h2creativemedia.co.uk

Designer: Ashley Coomer ashley@h2creativemedia.co.uk

Senior Designer: Matt Custance BA matt@h2creativemedia.co.uk

Designer: John Kemp john@h2creativemedia.co.uk

Advertising Account Manager: Jo Taylor jo@h2creativemedia.co.uk T 01493 742251 | M 07584 493455

H2 Creative Digital: Paula Hodds paula@h2creativedigital.co.uk T 01493 742090 | M 07765 886189

Account Manager: Shaun Coomer shaun@h2creativemedia.co.uk T 01493 742066 | M 07584 162023

Sales Executive (motoring): Alan Styles alan@h2creativemedia.co.uk M 07928 713029

Account Manager: Phil Nicholls phil@h2creativemedia.co.uk T 01493 742136 | M 07780 430706

Contributors Franck Pontais, Kevin Bunting, Nick Mobbs, Andrew Florides, Roger Hickman, Andy Newman Associates, Richard Barr, Julian Gibbons, Carl Lamb, Victor Ling, Rory James, Sam Matthews, Oliver Hurren, Ellen Mary, Simon Wainwright, Iain Dooley, Hayley Philpot, Mark Nicholls, Jungle PR, Kate Morfoot, Matthew Stadler, Benet Catty, Nancy Groves, James Spicer, Jennifer Read, Carolyn Atkins, Judy Foster, Amanda Sandland–Taylor

See all of our Social Photos at our website placesandfaces.co.uk follow us on twitter @placesandfaces and facebook

WelcomE to our September issue which, as it is the 10th anniversary of the Norfolk Food and Drink Festival, celebrates a subject very close to my heart – grub! We are blessed to live in a region which produces such a range of food from both land and sea, and also boasts so many great restaurants. We catch up with Tom Aikens, one of our genuine cooking talents as he opens another London restaurant (wouldn’t it be great if he opened one right here in Norfolk!) and also hear about the new Norwich Restaurant Week from Carolyn Atkins. Henry Watt, a veteran of the Norfolk food scene, reveals a love for a good old fashioned carvery in our regular Five Minutes With slot and our Lust List suggests a few lovely local goodies for you to track down! I was lucky enough to visit Margo’s, a really fun tea lounge in Gorleston which has a 70s vibe, and James Spicer travelled to Neatishead in Broadland to visit a ‘proper’ pub, the White Horse. Simon Wainwright has a healthy tuna recipe for us while Franck Pontais offers a fruity little number for dessert. Emma Outten finds out a bit more about Anglia Farmers as she interviews Clarke Willis and Andy Newman raises his glass to the Grain Brewery in charming Alburgh, near Harleston. Once you’ve feasted on all that, there are still our celebrity interviews, with Dawn French opening up about her new solo show which has two dates in our region this month and Maureen Lipman chats about her new play, Daytona, which arrives in Norwich this month, too. Add in fashion, beauty, gardening, a fab West End review of Shakespeare in Love and all our regular columnists and there’s plenty to keep you busy! The winner of our July hair competition was Jenny Pask from Dickleburgh, near Diss, and don’t miss this month’s offering – the chance to win a night, with dinner and afternoon tea, at Park Farm in Hethersett, near Norwich. The very best of luck! So, keep reading and in touch, our Twitter names is @placesandfaces

12 ISSU E S F OR £ 24 General enquiries call Jane on 01493 742088 or visit our website at www.placesand faces.co.uk/magazine-subscribe

Published by

Printers

Online

H2Creative Media Limited, Beacon Innovation Centre, Beacon Park, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR31 7RA, 01493 446639

Micropress, Fountain Way, Reydon Business Park, Reydon, Suffolk IP18 6DH

www.placesandfaces.co.uk www.h2creativemedia.co.uk

Terms & Conditions Copyright on all content is with H2Creative Media Limited. Reproduction in part or whole is forbidden without the express permission of the publishers. All prices, events and times were correct at the time of print, and you are encouraged to contact the businesses and venue prior to making bookings. All expressions and opinions demonstrated within the publication, are those of the Editor including contributors. Places&Faces® is a registered Trade Mark of H2Creative Media Limited.

Contents

21 Celebrities

Welsh baritone Niall Allen comes to Ipswich with Only Men Aloud, a Welsh male voice choir with a very modern vibe

10 Maureen Lipman talks about her role in

a new play, Daytona, which arrives in Norwich this month

Fashion & Beauty

All aboard - The mighty Norwegian Fjords fill Kate Morfoot with awe as she samples life on The Balmoral

23 What are the key fashion pieces for the

new season? 25 Discover the latest make-up trends for autumn

What’s On 18 To Kill A Mockingbird, as you’ve never heard

it read before, comes to Norwich 26 Our regular monthly round-up previews the best events and activities in the region this month 29 Yarmouth boasts two exciting festivals this month – find out more

Sarah Hardy visits the quirky Margo’s in Gorleston, a tea lounge with a real 70s vibe, for a lovely lunch!

Homes & gardens 34 The property of the month is a 12-bedroom manor hall in west Norfolk. Enough said – it’s fab! 38 Your home takes on a rosy hue this month as interiors go all girlie 44 Our gardening writer Ellen Mary has an autumnal tidy-up

Travel

54 Simon Wainwright, executive chef at the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth, cooks us a healthy tuna dish that is packed with colour and flavour

72 Mark Nicholls has a capital time in London, sampling a mix of street art, high culture and nosh

As top Norwich chef Tom Aikens opens another London restaurant, we ask what is the secret of his success?

Food & Drink 48 Carolyn Atkins tells us all about the inaugural Norwich Restaurant Week which kicks off this month 51 This month’s Lust List looks at some of the scrumptious local produce now on sale 57 The world is orange for our French chef Franck Pontais 59 Wine writer Sam Matthews isn’t too impressed by a glass of Pinot Grigio – but is soon converted to this most popular of wines! 60 Andy Newman raises his glass to the Grain Brewery in Alburgh, near Harleston, while Roger Hickman adds it to a beef dish – delicious! 64 James Spicer samples the White Horse in Neatishead which he describes as a proper pub – and cheers to that!

th i s mo n th ’ s

Editor’s Choice Editor Sarah Hardy picks out the best events and activities this month… 1

32 Benet Catty is charmed by Shakespeare in Love, a new stage version of the hit movie which is now showing in the West End

Best Sporting Event

Business 88 Emma Outten meets Clarke Willis, Chief

Executive of Norfolk Food and Drink Festival sponsor, Anglia Farmers

The Ryder Cup, that battle between 12 golfers from Europe and 12 golfers from the USA, takes place at the truly awesome Gleneagles in Scotland on September 26–28. Will Europe retain that coveted cup? Visit www.rydercup2014.com.

Best Festival

Motoring

The Reload Festival arrives at the Norfolk Showground, on the

101 Iain Dooley is all charged up about the

weekend include Jason Donovan, Hot Chocolate, ABC and Kool and

Renault Zoe, the latest addition to the electric car market 104 Mazda’s CX-5, a five-seater family crossover with plenty of oomph, comes under the spotlight

the Gang. Who could want more? Visit www.reloadfestival.co.uk.

Regulars 86 Richard Barr writes about his ‘friend’s’

somewhat embarrassing problem of snoring 108 Our high society pages start with a visit to the annual Norfolk Institute of Directors’ annual dinner at Dunston Hall, near Norwich 112 Caught on Camera showcases James Robinson’s beautiful Cley scene 114 Spend five minutes with Norfolk foodie Henry Watt

outskirts of Norwich, from September 5–7. Acts on offer over the

Best Art Show The Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts at the UEA in Norwich is staging Reality – Modern and Contemporary British Painting from September 27–March 1 2015. It brings together more than 50 well known works by the most influential artists of the past 60 years including David Hockney, Lucian Freud and LS Lowry. Visit www.scva.ac.uk. Sounds a goodie!

Best Fashion Event London Fashion Week runs from September 18–21 when you have the chance to see what some of the world’s best designers are planning for us next spring! It may seem like a long way away but the High Street needs to get sewing. Look out for great coverage in the newspapers and glossy magazines. Visit www.londonfashionweek.co.uk.

COVER STORY 14 Dawn French gives us more than a

minute of her time

Best Family Event It’s an integral part of the Norfolk Food and Drink Festival and great fun, too – the annual Scone Making Competition at Wroxham Barns takes place on September 28. It is the eighth year of the contest which has five categories for budding chefs, including one for those aged 12 and under. More details on www.wroxhambarns.co.uk.

Best New Movie Grab your hankies and see the uplifting comedy What We Did On Our Holiday at the cinema! Starring Brit favourites David Tennant, Billy Connolly and Rosamund Pike, it is released on September 26. And, as it is from the makers of Outnumbered, the hit TV series, you can expect a quirky and frank look at family life, in all its glory!

Best New Book Man Booker nominated author David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas) brings his new book, The Bone Clocks, to Open in Norwich on September 4 at 6pm. The event, organised by Jarrold’s, costs £8, redeemable against books bought on the night. Visit www.jarrold.co.uk.

1. Jason Donovan 2. Wroxham Barns

| september 2014

Daytona, a new play fresh from the West End visits Norwich Theatre Royal this month as part of a short tour and stars Maureen Lipman. Ahead of her appearance, she catches up with Nancy Groves

MAUREENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DAYTONA DILEMMA

CELEBRITY INTERVIEW

MAUREEN LIPMAN

eclining on a battered brown leather sofa in the cafe window of the otherwise shiny new Park Theatre in north London, Maureen Lipman manages poise and ease in equal measure. Despite being mid-run in arguably her most demanding stage role yet, in a career that spans some five decades. ‘I’m possessed,’ she says, her brown eyes flashing. ‘It just takes me over. I wake up every two hours thinking, ‘Ooh, that’s good’ or ‘I should practise that’. But you can’t. Because then you get really overtired. And then you get...’ – the Lipman eyebrows raise – ‘symptoms. From the first read through I’ve been emotional to say the least.’ The source of this high emotion is Daytona, a play by Lipman’s friend and fellow actor Oliver Cotton, which opened at the Park Theatre last summer, and is now going on a short tour which visits Norwich Theatre Royal this month fresh from its West End run. A dramatic and witty tango à trois, it’s the story of Elli and Joe, an elderly Jewish couple whose ballroom dance practice is disturbed one evening by the arrival of an unexpected but all-too-familiar face at the door of their Brooklyn apartment. Each corner of this troubled triangle hides a secret, making Cotton’s plot hard to write about without betraying his carefully drawn characters. Suffice it to say: ‘It’s a play about the validity of revenge and of compromise. Two people who compromised love for some stability in their lives after everything that happened to them during the war. And into their lives comes a figure from the past who’s about to shatter that – who’s done something monumental.’ Lipman continues: ‘It’s love, sex, death – always. And when you’ve been in close proximity to death, as they have, then love and sex are very, very attractive. You want to prove you’re alive.’ It’s no plot spoiler to say, of course, that Lipman is talking about the Holocaust. ‘All these survivors (and I’ve met many) are made of steel, because they’re the ones who survived. But along with the survival comes’ – she pauses – ‘guilt: ‘why me?’ Sometimes, if I’m at one of these Holocaust events, I look at these fantastic women and men, so cultured and beautiful, and they’ve got their gorgeous grandchildren around and I think, ‘Damn you, Hitler, you failed’.’ She chuckles unapologetically. ‘They’re the proof that you can cull but you can’t destroy.’ As survivor Elli, Lipman has received rave reviews. ‘Everyone who comes says: ‘God, but you’re so different. We didn’t know it was you.’ But I knew her. Even before we started rehearsals, I knew her. She’s witty and dry and

restrained, very restrained. There’s a lot going on inside but she doesn’t want to look at it. The status quo makes her happy. As Joe says, ‘Elli and I have made a life for ourselves. We don’t want to look at the past.’ I think a lot of people feel that way.’ Being a Jew in England has its pluses and minuses, says Lipman. ‘I once counted up the number of chicken soup bowls I’ve brought in on various sets – I got into double figures!’ But then there’s the anti-Semitism, the extremist websites, those who deny the Holocaust. ‘You have to tell the story in every generation,’ she urges. ‘They’ve just dug up Richard the Third. Did he have a humpback? No, he had scoliosis. Did he kill those people? History and Shakespeare said he did, so he did.’ The only thing to do, she says, is to keep on talking. Just not on social media. ‘I don’t think so, love! I can get a bit obsessive, which is why my kids won’t let me go on Twitter. They said: ‘If you start with your opinions, you’re going to get killed. People are going to start pushing stuff through your letterbox like they did to Miriam Karlin.’ Besides – when do you do it, when do you Twitter? When you’re with your partner? Just before you go to bed? I’m bad enough with my phone! He’s always looking at me, saying, ‘On that phone again?’’ ‘He’ is Guido Castro, an Italian businessman and Lipman’s ‘gentleman friend’ (her words) for the past five years, following the death of her husband, playwright Jack Rosenthal, from multiple myeloma cancer in 2004. They share a roomy basement flat in Paddington, west London, where Lipman spends many hours pottering about in her courtyard garden. ‘I’ve got the worst social life of anyone you’ve met,’ she protests. ‘I’m so boring, it’s not true!’ Anything to escape the angst of modern life: ‘Guido has a theory about why everyone’s so angry: we’ve stopped smoking. When you smoked,’ – she holds an imaginary cigarette to her mouth – ‘you had a moment to think. When you’re in the car now, the anger! Fingers flying and you can’t help thinking: I don’t want a war, but Martians would be very good for us. Send in a green person with an antenna!’ Failing a green person, a grandchild: Lipman dotes on her own, young Ava Sabrine, even though, as she says, ‘everyone’s called Ava now’. The baby eats olives and kippers and squeezes lemons into her mouth, Lipman reports with delight. ‘Sometimes I even see Jack in her which is really, really something. I knew I’d enjoy it: I liked being a parent, I’m going to love being a grandparent.’ And she is a cultured beautiful one to boot.

“It’s a play about the validity of revenge and of compromise.”

Oliver Cotton

“It’s love, sex, death – always.”

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Daytona comes to Norwich Theatre Royal from September 15 to 20. Visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk or call 01603 630000.

| September 2014

Recipe for Success Norwich’s Tom Aikens is not your ordinary chef. Having racked up two Michelin stars by the time he was just 26 years old, he’s just opened another new restaurant in the capital. So what’s his secret, asks Places&Faces®

Celebrity Interview

Tom Aikens

T om A i k e n s

Timeline 1970 Tom is born in Norwich, and

‘B

Tom’s Kitchen, Chelsea

Pictures by David Griffen

eing a success in anything is all about having a goal and aspirations,’ says Tom. ‘Fundamentally, it comes down to hard work and believing in what you’re doing and where you’re going – nothing in this world is handed to you on a plate.’ Tom, originally from Cringleford, on the outskirts of Norwich, has always been ambitious, and with his father and grandfather in the wine business, he was immersed in the foodie scene from an early age. The family, which includes Tom’s twin, Rob, also had a holiday home in France which further exposed them to the good things in life. At just 12 years old, he decided to be a chef, and claims: ‘By the age of 16 I had set myself a 10-year plan to have a Michelin star or at least to be known at 26 – that was my goal.’ It was a goal he easily exceeded; he spent his 20s honing his skills and gaining a culinary reputation. He explains that two years working in a Parisian kitchen, ‘influenced my style of cooking and the way that I eat.’ Today, Tom, now in his mid 40s, still enjoys time spent on the continent, and he’s travelled far and wide sampling the ingredients. ‘As a chef, I find seasonal produce very important, and over the course of my career I’ve obviously been in contact with lots of different suppliers,’ he says, adding that he has seen relationships between suppliers and restaurants develop to better cater for seasonal produce. ‘I can say that 20 years ago when I was first starting out, suppliers in the UK weren’t really of the quality we had in other parts of Europe – that’s definitely changed in the last decade.’ Now that a passion for cooking has become a mainstream talking point – ‘the public loves to get involved with food, eating out or watching a cookery show’ – the restaurant scene has ‘come on leaps and bounds.’ The culinary scene has exploded and Tom is ‘a very firm believer that the products and produce supplied and grown in the UK is good, if not better, than anywhere else.’ With new restaurants flooding the foodie market, London may be the home of Aikens’ eponymous Tom’s Terrace, Tom’s Deli and Tom’s Kitchen, but the chef believes there’s room for everybody. ‘The imagination of food has really taken a hold of people’s lives,’ he grins. With an average day involving a 6:30am alarm – ‘my two little girls are always up by 7:30am anyway,’ Aikens’ lifestyle is at odds with the 9-5pm mentality. Despite working ‘sometimes till 2am,’ he still finds time to improve his craft at home. ‘I make all my daughters’ food – although as they’re young it’s mostly puréed,’ he laughs. When it comes to catering for the grown-ups at home, he’s very much a one-pot man. ‘Something with the least amount of mess! Anything from a slowly roasted joint to stew, to a casserole or a shepherd’s pie.’ With his top treat ‘a nice and simple Sunday roast with friends and family,’ it seems that, despite his reputation for being something of a perfectionist in the kitchen, Tom is really an easy man to please.

attends Cringleford Primary School. He grows up inspired by his father and grandfather who were both wine merchants.

1989 Tom completes the Advanced Catering Diploma at Norwich City College Hotel School along with his twin brother, Rob. 1993 Tom is appointed Sous Chef at the 2 star Pied à Terre in Charlotte Street, London, working with Richard Neat. 1994 Tom moves to France to gain more 3 star Michelin experience with a year at restaurant Joël Robuchon in Paris and a year at Gérard Boyer at Les Crayères in Reims.

1996 Tom returns to London, and re-joins Pied à Terre as Head Chef and co-proprietor, where the restaurant maintained its second Michelin star, becoming the youngest British chef to achieve this accolade. 2003 Tom Aikens Restaurant opens in Chelsea and has since garnered rave reviews and accolades (including a Michelin star since 2004).

2006 A second restaurant, the brasserie-style Tom’s Kitchen, opens in Chelsea. 2008 Tom loses financial control of his Chelsea restaurants in the 2008 crash. 2009 A second Tom’s Kitchen site launches at Somerset House. 2012 Tom Aikens Restaurant re-opens, moving towards a more informal style of fine dining and interior refurbishment.

2013 Tom celebrates the arrival of Tom’s Kitchen, Deli and Bar in Canary Wharf and the restaurant group’s first International flagship opening in Istanbul. 2014 Tom Aikens Restaurant on Elystan Street closes with a view to relocating to a more central London location later this year. A further Tom’s Kitchen restaurant, Bar and Deli opens in St Katherine Docks in the summer.

Tom Aikens is working with Walkers on the launch of new Market Deli which is available nationwide now. Visit www.walkersdeli.co.uk.

| SEPTEMBER 2014

IT ONLY TAKES A

MINUTE Queen of British comedy Dawn French brings her 30 Million Minutes tour to both Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Lynn and Ipswich this month. Matthew Stadlen got a good few minutes of her time

Celebrity Interview

Dawn French

hen Dawn French took to the stage for the first time on her one woman tour this summer she was stepping into the unknown. One of this country’s most famous comedians, she has toured with her friend and comedy partner Jennifer Saunders and starred in a one woman play, but this is different. And she’s apprehensive. We were sitting together in a Cornish hotel just up the lane from her home on the coast. Dawn is 56 and her dark hair frames a face that is quick to break into a smile, giggle or full-hearted laugh. Her knee-high boots are muddy, she explains, because she’s just back from walking her dog on the beach. Dawn spent much of her childhood in Cornwall and moved back with her first husband, the comedian Lenny Henry, in 2006. The tour, though, is nationwide and will take in over 60 gigs in two stages. Talk of it both excites and seems to terrify her. ‘I’ve just eaten a little bit of the cushion with my bum thinking about it,’ she says. ‘I’ve always wanted to [do it] and I think I’ve dodged it a bit. Because I’m aware that it’s a risk.’ Dawn will be directed by Michael Grandage. She was desperate to work with the man who ran the Donmar Warehouse for a decade until 2012. ‘I could have asked Fatty Saunders, but I thought, ‘I’m actually going to ask a proper grown up theatre person’,’ she says. Eighteen months have passed since she first approached him, but she kept taking other jobs - a sign of her being ‘scared’ - including a role as a judge on Australia’s Got Talent. The show is called 30 Million Minutes - because that’s roughly how long she’s been alive - but Dawn still isn’t quite sure what it is. Instead, she makes a worried noise. ‘It’s not a stand-up show. It’s not a play. I guess it is a monologue because it’s just me talking. It’s a slide show to an extent, but not JUST a slide show. It’s not like your awful most feared auntie who’s just come back from Egypt where you have to sit and watch everything. It’s quite autobiographical, so I show you the people that have made me - so to speak. There’s quite a lot about my mum and dad.’ Her grandmothers will also feature - ‘Good Granny’ and ‘Evil Granny’. Although Evil Granny did actually steal from her, she knew the nickname was a joke. ‘In fact she coined it - she thought the other one was so good.’ Dawn was born in Holyhead, Wales in 1957 when her father was stationed there with the RAF. But she spent much of her childhood in Cornwall and went to boarding school in Devon. At home, Dawn was a performer and her dad was too. ‘He would tease me to discipline me (very loving teasing). Lots of things were dealt with at that quite sophisticated level of lots of fun.’

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

I could have asked Fatty Saunders, but I thought, ‘I’m actually going to ask a proper grown up theatre person Dawn’s father gave her confidence and she remembers a ‘key moment’ when she was leaving for a party. ‘I’ve always been a big girl and shouldn’t really have been wearing hot pants,’ she says. Her father, though, was supportive. ‘He told me I was completely beautiful and how amazing I looked in them and that I would get loads of attention. So my dad gave me a sort of telling off that was about totally infusing me with confidence and I went on cloud nine to this party and I’ve actually never left that party. It was armour.’ Three years ago, Dawn revealed that she had lost seven and a half stone. She has since said that she put some of it back on. Eating, she tells me now, is very comforting. ‘It’s a lovely thing to do. We love tasting things. You don’t get to be spherical without liking eating things.’ I point out that she isn’t spherical and she replies, ‘I’m less than I was.’ She takes no credit when I tell her she’s beautiful. ‘But I suppose if you get very fat like I did you might be choosing to destroy some good stuff you’ve been given in terms of your health. That’s something you can address.’ When she was just 18, Dawn’s father Denys killed himself. Growing up, she and her brother had been shielded from his depression. It was, she says, ‘just like a bomb went off in our family. My mum of course would have known there was danger. He’d lived his whole life with it but this was in a time when you didn’t say you had mental illness if you were the head of a family. I still have sadness about it - massive sadness. And I think it’s been a centre point of my life what happened with my dad.’ Soon after her father’s suicide, Dawn started at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London to do a teaching course. There she met Jennifer Saunders, with whom she would form a hugely successful comedy double act. The pair began to make names for themselves on the alternative comedy scene in the 1980s and their long-running TV show, French and

SEPTEMBER BOX OFFICE: (01603) 63 00 00

Tues 2 – Sat 13 September

WEST SIDE STORY

No. 1 Greatest Musical of all Time £6.50 - £41.50 Sun 14 September

ABBA MANIA All the hits £5.50 - £19.50

Mon 15 – Sat 20 September

DAYTONA

Maureen Lipman, Harry Shearer, Oliver Cotton star in gripping and poignant drama £6.50 - £27 Mon 22 – Sat 27 September

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Mon 29 Sept – Sat 4 Oct

PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ

Lorna Luft stars in recreation of top movie musical moments £6.50 - £33.50 Book online: www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk T H E AT R E ST R E E T, N O RW I C H N R 2 1 R L

Maureen Lipman, Daytona

Award-winning stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic novel £5.50 - £24

Celebrity Interview

Dawn French

and Saunders, launched in 1987. Roles on television including the lead part in the Vicar of Dibley - and in the theatre have followed. Now, with an autobiography and two novels also to her name, she is about to test herself again. Dawn will, she assures me, be more revealing in her show than she has been before. But she’s not entirely easy with it being all about her. ‘It’s a little bit, ‘Aren’t I interesting?’ I keep saying to Michael Grandage, ‘I need to take this out,’ and he says, ‘Absolutely not - that’s the whole point. Do not push it away from you. Absolutely own it and be completely strong and confident about that.’ And so that’s what I’ve done.’ She certainly doesn’t seem to be on an ego-driven mission. She’s doing the tour, she says, because she’s got things to say, thinks it could be fun and because she hasn’t done it before. ‘I don’t need loads of positive strokes for just being alive. What I want is for people to turn up and see whether what I’ve written works.’ That’s not to say, though, that there isn’t an element of attentionseeking in performance. ‘I think it’s the child in us that is saying, ‘Mum, Dad look at me.’ It’s the need for approval which I think all humans have. But I think performers have it in a needy, slightly sick way. I have had it and I have understood it as that. I don’t think you can get up like I do without a bit of that going on, but I find it very unattractive - in myself and in other people. ‘I always see people in their nappies. Comedians, actors, whatever,’ she says and laughs slightly. ‘I see them as a baby going,’ (her voice turns high-pitched and hysterical) ‘‘Mummy look!’ And if I watch Simon Russell Beale, Mark Rylance, Judi Dench, people who inhabit their characters properly, I don’t see them in a nappy. I watch their character and that’s that.’ Dawn and Lenny were divorced after 25 years in 2010. They have an adopted daughter and still have a ‘great’ relationship. He is, she says, a good man and they had a very good marriage for a very long time until it went a ‘bit dodgy’ at the end. After their split, Dawn found herself, in her 50s, going on dates. ‘I’m not good at flirting; I’m not good at being coy. I can’t do any of that. Find it absurd and ridiculous. What I’d rather do is give a questionnaire out and get people to tick boxes,’ she says, laughing. ‘Speed dating - that’s what I should have done.’ Now, she has found happiness with Mark Bignell who runs a charity. When she talks about him, she shuts her eyes in delight. They’ve just had their first wedding anniversary. ‘It’s so new. It’s completely thrilling. It’s almost too delightful. I could almost burst with it.’

MORE INFORMATION Dawn French’s 30 Million Minutes UK tour comes to King’s Lynn Corn Exchange on September 16 (please note this performance is sold out) and Ipswich Regent on September 22 and 23. For ticket and venue information, please visit dawnfrenchontour.com.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| SEPTEMBER 2014

‘FLASH MOB READING’ OF A CLASSIC Artistic director of London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Timothy Sheader, brings To Kill A Mockingbird to the Norwich Theatre Royal stage this month. Judy Foster catches up with him.

o Kill A Mockingbird features high in the list of many a book lover’s top 10, as evidenced by the recent furore triggered by the erroneous rumour it might be removed from the school syllabus. London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre Artistic Director Timothy Sheader, who brings this best loved classic to the Norwich Theatre Royal stage this month, has returned to author Harper Lee’s book to cast fresh light on the endearing humanity held in its pages. Essentially, he says, his production is different because ‘we are not putting the play on stage, we are putting the book on stage. We revisited the book in a new and original way. It is all about Harper Lee’s words.’ His interpretation enjoyed a highly successful and critically-acclaimed run during 2013 in Regent’s Park, and returned to the park last month before embarking on a UK tour with Norwich its second port of call. Further dates for 2015 are on the cards. Adapted from the novel for the stage by Christopher Sergel, this memorable production scooped the WhatsOnStage Award for Best Play Revival for 2013, with Telegraph reviewer Charles Spencer declaring it to be ‘a production of tremendous heart and emotional depth’. ‘If you have tears, prepare to shed them at this superb adaptation of Harper Lee’s great book,’ he said. Winning plaudits from critics and audiences alike, it is the Open Air Theatre’s most successful play and was Critic’s Choice in the Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard, Times, Guardian, Metro and Time Out with reviewers calling it ‘heart-shakingly sincere’ and an ‘enchanting heartfelt adaptation’. As Timothy says, it was ‘a no-brainer’ to bring the production out on tour to reach a wider audience: ‘It’s not because of ego, but the desire for more people to experience Harper Lee’s novel. The novel is the central experience and the actors carry that experience to the audience. ‘They read from the book on stage in their own accents, in modern dress, as if it is a family member sharing the book with you – in a way, it is a ‘flash mob reading’. We’re experiencing the novel together, just like sitting down and reading a book with your own family. There’s an intimacy to it and there is a surprise right from the very beginning.

‘We do go into the scenes and the actors become the characters - but they retain their own accents because when we read ourselves we don’t read in an American accent. We all read in our own accents.’ While the staging for the production will vary slightly from the way it is presented in Regent’s Park, which has its own live and unique flavour because of the open air element, the design for the touring production will draw in and envelop the audience as the actors tell the powerful story of young children growing up in the racially divided America of the Great Depression. The theme of the novel deals with the trial of a black man accused of raping a white woman in a small-town community. The man is defended by compassionate and thoroughly decent lawyer Atticus Finch whose feisty daughter Scout is on the cusp of adulthood. ‘I like to challenge the audience’s imagination. It’s not lights go down, you lean back and watch,’ Timothy says. ‘I invite the audience to use their imaginations. I invite them to play.’ He believes it is the universality of author Harper Lee’s characters which has given the novel, which he so clearly loves, such enduring appeal. It has certainly proved its popularity across every art form, from the 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to the film adaptation in 1962 which won three Oscars out of the eight it was nominated. When Timothy first read it as a child it ‘had a profound effect on me’. ‘The beginning of this production is my own experience. I followed Scout and saw it through her eyes. When I came to read it again, I read it through a parent’s eyes, observing my children and how they observed the world so profoundly differently. When you re-experience it as an adult, you hear the book very differently.’ As the trial unfolds on stage, so do the characters’ preconceptions and Scout’s prejudicial fears, especially about the reclusive Boo Radley, are challenged and finally pushed aside. Timothy says: ‘Harper Lee’s novels are universal, like the ideas of Shakespeare. This is why To Kill A Mockingbird is studied the world over. Without it, my life would not be as rich.’

Celebrity Interview

TIMOTHY SHEADER

To Kill A Mockingbird, comes to Norwich Theatre Royal from September 22 to 27. Call 01603 630000 or visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Celebrate at Great Yarmouth Town Hall • Parties • Dinners • Receptions • Functions • Presentations • • Conferences • Prom Nights • Gala Dinners & Balls •

Great Yarmouth’s beautifully refurbished Victorian Town Hall overlooking historic South Quay has a range of elegantly decorated, spacious rooms with stunning original features and seating up to 200 guests, perfect for any celebratory occasion. Ideal for parties, anniversaries, wedding receptions, functions, dinners, prom nights, gala dinners and balls. Celebrate with us at the heart of Great Yarmouth

�

To view or book T: 01493 846125 E: events@great-yarmouth.gov.uk W: www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/celebrate

Christmas at Great Yarmouth Town Hall Make this your most stylish Christmas party ever

• • • • • • • •

December 12, 13 and 19 Fully licensed bar 3-course dinner plus coffee Dancing to The Trumpet DJ Tables for ten people Parties for up to 150 Exclusive use available Drinks packages on request

From

£35 per person

(min 10 people)

Book now! T: 01493 846125 E: events@great-yarmouth.gov.uk W: www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/celebrate-christmas

Working for our community all year round

Brandon Lewis M E M B E R of PA R L I A M E N T for G R E AT YA R M O U T H

Get in touch – I’d love to hear from you

www.brandonlewis.co office@brandonlewis.co 01493 652928 Brandon Lewis MP @BrandonLewis

Celebrity interview

Only Men Aloud

In Fine Voice The Welsh eight-piece group Only Men Aloud has Suffolk in its sights for a festive date. Sarah Hardy chats to baritone Niall Allen about Barry Manilow, his band of brothers and babies! nly Men Aloud has such a strong following in our part of the world that they are regular visitors to the region, with Ipswich part of their Christmas tour. ‘Yes,’ says Niall Allen, one of the eight-strong team. ‘We have played the Regent at Ipswich several times – and been to Norwich, too. In fact, I was in Norwich on my birthday a couple of years ago and we had a very nice lunch at Delia’s restaurant!’ Niall is immediately chatty and very happy with his lot in life. ‘Who wouldn’t be? If you manage to combine your passion with your work, then you are very lucky,’ he says. Now aged 26, he joined the group in 2009, after completing a degree in politics at Cardiff University. ‘I haven’t had any formal musical training, I just enjoy it all. I played the piano as a child, and the clarinet, but I didn’t really get into music until I was a teenager. ‘My big sister, who was desperate for a younger sister, eventually nagged me into taking part in a school musical, South Pacific and it went from there. ‘I think I enjoyed it as there were just a few boys in the show and lots and lots of girls, so, for a teenage boy, that was very good news!’

He continued appearing in school shows and performed in concerts whilst at university and was then asked to join the group which was slimmed down from around 20 members last year to the current line-up. ‘It was for logistics, really,’ says Niall. ‘It is easier when we are on tour, especially if we go abroad.’ You may remember Only Men Aloud from the hit BBC series, Last Choir Standing, in 2008. As a wonderful Welsh voice choir, they were the winners as everyone fell in love with their emotional, powerful vocals – and their good looks, too! All eight singers are based in Wales and Niall says: ‘It might be a bit corny to say but we are great friends, a real band of brothers. We enjoy each other’s company and meet up when we’re not working. Several have babies, now, and we love to see them, too.’ Niall, who is still based in Cardiff, is a devoted sports fan who has played many to a very high standard, including cricket, rugby, football and athletics. And his golf handicap is just four which is very impressive. ‘I try to train three or four times a week. If you had asked me, when I was a teenager, what area I might work in, it would have been a career in sport but I broke my nose and my leg and it didn’t seem possible to combine both – I couldn’t go on tour with a broken leg!’ The Ipswich concert, Niall says, will feature several festive favourites, songs from West End musicals and numbers from a new album they are recording. ‘I am a real fan of musicals, and Barry Manilow – I think you can blame my mum for that as she was always listening to him – and we went to see him when he came to Cardiff recently! ‘And I like Take That! And Tom Jones, of course; we usually do a Tom Jones number at our concerts.’ And with that, Niall, ever the sports lover, was off to watch Wales on telly in the Commonwealth Games, saying: ‘We have exceeded expectations – I’m really enjoying them.’

The members of Only Men Aloud with Niall Allen on the front right and musical director Tim Rhys-Evans is front centre.

MORE INFORMATION Only Men Aloud appears at the Regent Theatre, Ipswich, on December 10. Call 01473 433100 Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Advertiser’s announcement

Pure Brides

EVERY Which WAY Finding a dress which suits all your bridesmaids can be a problem but now there’s a stunning solution available at a Norwich bridal store

Y Pure Brides, 8-10 Lower Goat Lane, Norwich, tel 01603 625000 www.purebrides.co.uk

ou are getting married and you have chosen your bridesmaids. They are all different sizes and shapes, and as all girls do, they hate different bits of their bodies and love other bits. To top it all, their different colouring means that any colour dress you choose will make one of them look like they need a good night’s sleep. Well, worry no more as here comes the Eliza and Ethan multi way dress. One size fits all, it doesn’t crease and can be worn lots of different ways to accentuate and cover up different areas. Wow, how clever! They are also perfect for evening events too, so if you have a ball or a prom, these dresses will do you proud. You can look different every time as there are more than 22 ways to wear them and more than 22 colours to choose from. They are made from a beautifully luxurious fabric which many celebrities love. Many have been seen on the red carpet and in glossy magazines. They are also great to wear if you are pregnant, with Stacy Solomon, Rosanna Davison, Lauren Goodyer, Louise Thompson, Sam Faiers and Claire Sweeney all adoring them. The dresses are the brain child of LA based brother and sister team Eliza and Ethan, who always dreamt of having their own fashion house. Each dress comes with a complimentary matching bandeau and carry pouch. They are available at Pure on Lower Goat Lane in Norwich, where owner Anna Hare is passionate about providing an honest and caring service for every prospective bride, helping to guide them through the maze of dresses on offer. There’s a beautifully decorated bridal suite where brides and their guests can enjoy privacy and plenty of space to try on gowns from Anna’s extensive and carefully selected collection. Anna says: ‘We are excited to be the only stockists in our region of the famous Eliza and Ethan multi wrap dress. So each and every one of your bridesmaids can wear a dress in a style they prefer and yet all still match one another! ‘No special sizing, no alterations, no fittings, no hassle! In all the hottest colours and matching many of our men’s cravats, we really can make dressing your bridal party easy and stress free.’

Fashion

New Season No. 01

No. 03

Future Proof Your Wardrobe

No. 02

Ohh, nothing beats getting a few FRESH pieces for the new season, says

No. 04

Sarah Hardy. Base your wardrobe around a brightly coloured dress and you won’t go far wrong!

No. 05

No. 06

No. 07

No. 08

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Somerset by Alice Temperley silk blouse, £99, John Lewis Red fitted dress, £115, Betty Barclay, visit www.bettybarclay.com Ankle boot, £75, Schuh, Intu Chapelfield Phase Eight Madison trousers, £69, visit www.phase-eight.co.uk NW3 leather Lucian skirt, £179, Jarrold’s Dickens and Jones lime peacoat, £180, House of Fraser, Intu Chapelfield Canteen bag, £129, Radley, visit www.radley.co.uk Green knit tunic, £89, East, visit www.east.co.uk

EAST ANGLIA’S LEADER IN LADIES’ WIGS For over 25 years, Chris Chapman has specialised in the treatment of hair loss. Whether you are prematurely balding or undergoing medical treatment, Chris can help you.

01508 558700 WWW.CHRISCHAPMANHAIR.CO.UK 11 THE STREET, BROOKE, NORWICH, NR15 1JW

Beauty

New Season Make-Up

No. 01

No. 03

What’s New For Our Make-Up Bag? Sarah Hardy selects the best new make up goodies available this month. Go on – treat yourself!

NEW

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

Stormflower by Cheryl, £23.50, The Perfume Shop

No. 02

TREAT OF THE MONTH

Semi-Permanent Make Up, The Lawnes Beauty Clinic, Loddon, tel 01508 528610, visit www.thelawnesbeautyclinic.com If, like me, you don’t have lots of time to glam up, or you like to swim, go camping, or just want to get up and go, semi-permanent make-up could be for you. You can have eyebrows, eye lids (top and/or bottom lid) and lips all enhanced. After a thorough consultation, I sampled an eyebrow enhancement which saw colour and depth added to my existing brows. It took about an hour and wasn’t painful thanks to a numbing cream applied beforehand. Soothing after-care gels are also used. I definitely felt that I looked younger, my brows are fuller and have a far better shape. Results are long lasting and another treatment is included in the original price – and I have much more time in the morning. – Jo Taylor

No. 04

As the X Factor comes back on our screens with Cheryl Fernandez-Versini on the judging panel, the newly married singer launches her first fragrance. It is quite fruity, with mandarin, nectarine and peach tones, plus a little freesia so expect quite a strong scent. Presented in a rose gold bottle, it is all about the marketing! Go girl, as Cheryl would say.

No. 05

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Bobbi Brown Smokey Nude Eye Palette, £48, House of Fraser, Intu Chapelfield Lancome City Miracle CC Cream, £27, Jarrold’s Benefit The Real Steal, Mascara and Liner Set, £19.50, www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk Clinique Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm, £19 Jarrold’s Always Sharp 3D Liner In Billionaire, £16, visit www.smashbox.co.uk Mac Viva Glam Rihanna II Lipglass, £14.50, Jarrold’s

No. 06

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| September 2014

What’s On Summer may be coming to an end but there’s no let up on the entertainment front

Tasmin Little

STEAM RALLY The 40th Grand Henham Steam Rally takes place on September 20 and 21 at Henham Park. A first for Henham will be the Puffing Devil, a replica of the first successful self-propelled vehicle, invented by Richard Trevithic in 1801 – and this is its first visit to East Anglia. Visit www.henhamsteamrally.com. POTTERS Love James Bond? Head to Potters Resort for A Tribute to the Music of James Bond One Night Special on September 007. Then there’s The Concert That Never Was on Sunday September 21 featuring Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Connie Francis and Buddy Holly to entertain you in spirit; and Brian Conley on September 28. Visit www.pottersholidays.com. GIG Following the release of their fourth album Cope and a sold out UK tour in April, Manchester Orchestra will be stopping off at the Waterfront in Norwich on September 28. Visit www.ueaticketbookings.co.uk.

FESTIVAL The Fressingfield Music Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary, from September 23 to 27. Held in the parish church of St Peter and St Paul, highlights include internationally acclaimed classical violinist Tasmin Little; Brian Dee (one of the world’s leading jazz pianists, who has recorded with Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, Chet Baker, etc); and rising star Meng Yang Pan, a concert pianist. Visit www.fressingfieldmusic.com. LOCAL FOOD The Assembly House celebrates local food with a new Norfolk Showcase event on September 4. The event, which forms part of this year’s Norfolk Food and Drink Festival and is sponsored by StonesThrow Food Co, features an arrival drink, a two-course dinner with coffee, a cookery demonstration by well-known Norfolk chef Richard Hughes, a Q&A session and recipes to take home. Call 01603 626402 or visit www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk.

HERITAGE Heritage Open Days is back, offering the chance to delve into Norfolk’s fascinating and sometimes hidden heritage once again. This year’s festival runs from September 11 to 14 with events celebrating the county’s fantastic heritage for everyone to enjoy and marks the 10th run in Norwich by Norwich’s Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust (HEART). Visit www.heritagecity.org. FAIRHAVEN Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden is having a Hedgerow Harvest on September 7, where you can find out about wild edible plants with identification tips, guidance and the opportunity to sample seasonal wild food treats at the end with Jon Tyler of Wildforwoods. Call 01603 270449 or visit www.fairhavengarden.co.uk. FESTIVAL Alabama 3 headlines electro-swing Maui Waui Festival in Theberton, from September 5 to 7. Set in a fantastic wild location, in deepest north Suffolk, the second Festival has expanded to three nights and two days of music, cabaret and entertainment from around the world. Visit: www.mauiwauievents.co.uk.

Maui Waui Festival

Assembly House

WHAT’S ON

MONTHLY ROUND UP

Toyah Wilcox

GIG Get up close and personal with Toyah Willcox when she comes to the Maddermarket Theatre on September 2. This will be a chance to see the household name, pop icon, TV presenter and stage and screen actress fresh from her positively received diving on ITV1’s Splash. Visit www.maddermarket.co.uk.

GARDENS The gardens opening in September for the National Gardens Scheme in Norfolk include Bradenham Hall on September 7; High House gardens at Shipdham on September 14 and 17; and The Old Rectory at Tasburgh on September 21. Visit www.ngs.org.uk. BLUES On September 20, the highly praised blues star Jo Harman and her world class band The Company, will be performing at Norwich Arts Centre. Her debut album received consistent international acclaim as well as dozens of ‘best of‘ awards, internationally, and she has just released her new album Jo Harman and Company - Live At The Royal Albert Hall, recorded by the BBC. Call 01603 660352 or visit www.norwichartscentre.co.uk. THEATRE American novelist Harper Lee’s classic book To Kill A Mockingbird comes to Norwich Theatre Royal from September 22 to 27 with an experienced cast who will bring its pages to life on stage. Taking centre stage will be accomplished theatre actor Daniel Betts who will be playing courageous and compassionate lawyer Atticus Finch, who defends a black man wrongly accused of raping a white woman. Visit www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

ORCHESTRA St Mary’s Church, Tunstead, hosts the Orchestra of St Paul’s, Covent Garden, on September 13. Ben Palmer will conduct with Victoria Bonham on piano, tenor Matthew Dunnett and Freddie Gavita on flugelhorn. The programme features two world premieres – by Norfolk composer James Kenelm Clarke: Piano Concerto and Five Songs. Tickets are available on the door and the concert is in aid of the church. FLEAMARKET The award-winning Norwich Fleamarket - the city’s oldest and largest antiques fair – takes place on September 13 at St Andrew’s and Blackfriars’ Halls. Dealers from all over East Anglia and beyond will offer 100 stalls of badges, books, breweriana, buttons, and so much more – all in support of The British Heart Foundation. Call 01603 630763 or visit www.norwichfleamarket.com

SPORT & WILDLIFE Former England cricket captain David Gower reflects on a lifetime’s passion for sport and wildlife on September 3 at Blackfriars Hall in Norwich. He will be joined on stage by sports writer and nature journalist Simon Barnes and the inimitable Bill Oddie. David Gower & Friends is being organised by Suffolk-based international conservation charity, World Land Trust. Visit www.worldlandtrust.org.

David Gower

THEATRE The Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds, along with The Original Theatre Company, bring you Three Men In A Boat from September 4 to 12. Following a sell-out hit tour in 2012, Craig Gilbert’s ingenious, acclaimed adaption of Jerome K Jerome’s classic tale of boating misadventure returns armed with more singing, wilder adventures and sporting even brighter blazers. Visit www.theatreroyal.org.

Halloween Friday 31st October 6 to 8pm Frighteningly fabulous firework finale 7.45pm Pre-booked tickets only Tickets go on sale 4th September Telephone 01603 270449

SATURDAY 6 and SUNDAY 7 SEPTEMBER

ON SOUTH QUAY FROM 10AM

IN ASSOCIATION WITH SEAJACKS UK LTD

ENTRANCE FREE DONATIONS APPRECIATED

TALL SHIPS, CRAFT STALLS SHANTY AND MARITIME MUSIC S DEMONSTRATIONS & EXHIBITION IES IVIT FUN CHILDREN’S ACT STREET THEATRE

BOOK YOUR SAILING TRIP O N THE TALL SHIP MINERVA NOW! Sailings from Th urs

day 4 to Sunday 7 September from South Quay. For more details see www.maritime-fe stival.co.uk and book online or call 01493 332200

Adults £8.00 Children £4.00 (3-16 yrs)

AT ELLOUGH PARK RACE CIRCUIT GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

Benacre Road, Ellough, Near Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 7XD

IV AL

TRY GO KARTING

www.maritime-festival.co.uk

www.fairhavengarden.co.uk

YARMO AT

H• UT

Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden South Walsham, Norwich, NR13 6DZ

• GR E

This event is not suitable for dogs.

IM E FEST

Step out of the norm, leave the mundane behind. Experience outdoor karting on our 1100m British Championship Circuit in 390cc karts.

ARRIVE AND DRIVE SESSIONS Adults from £25 (from 16 years old in 390cc karts) Children from £20 (from 8 years old in 160cc cadet karts)

Tel: 01502 717718

www.elloughparkraceway.co.uk

What’s On

A Tale of Two Festivals

Great Yarmouth bursts into life with two key events this month – the Maritime Festival and Out There. Sarah Hardy previews both

Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival: This vibrant festival, which attracts more than 30,000 visitors, takes place on September 6 and 7 along the length of South Quay, which will be packed with exhibitions, demonstrations, stalls and tall ships for visitors to explore. This year’s star attractions are the Minerva, a Dutch three-masted schooner, and the Tres Hombres, the world’s only sailing cargo vessel operating without a back-up engine. Trips are being offered on the Minerva. The festival, which started in 2000, brings together past, present and future maritime activities, with many people really enjoying the shanty singing by acts such as the Sheringham Shanty Men on three purpose-built stages. Marquees will contain maritime related craft and charity stalls, demonstrations of maritime skills and there is a particular emphasis on off shore activities. Street entertainment, face painting, children’s activities and the chance to sample Hemsby herrings all add to the fun and games. The festival is organised by the Greater Yarmouth Tourist Authority. Festival chairman and GYTA Honorary President Aileen is very much looking forward to this year’s event. ‘It just gets better and better and really celebrates both our past and our future. And the chance to go on a tall ship, in full sail, should not be missed.’ For more information visit www.maritime-festival.co.uk.

Great Yarmouth Festivals

Out There: Out There is an international festival of circus and street arts which takes place from September 17 to 21 in St George’s Park and various venues in the town, including the Hippodrome. Now in its seventh year, organisers Seachange Arts has put together the biggest ever programme of events, with more than 50 acts and 150 performers. Highlights this year include The Color of Time by Marseille based Artonik. A reinvention of the traditional Indian Holi celebrations, the show will see artists and public mingle in a massive rainbow procession. The Hippodrome hosts Silver Lining, a showcase of some of the brightest young UK artists, including one of Great Yarmouth’s own sons, Tom Gaskin. Tom began his circus life as lighting technician and ring boy at the Yarmouth venue before moving on to the National Centre for Circus Arts in London. Compagnie Les Philébulistes, one of France’s most exciting young circus companies bring a massive ship-like circus rig to the seafront to provide a dizzying acrobatic spectacular, Hallali. Southpaw dance present the acclaimed hip-hop reimagining of Goethe’s classic tale of soul-selling in Faust. In its centenary year, the former Regent Theatre, now Stars Showbar hosts a Saturday night programme of cabaret, performance and music which includes Gandini Juggling’s award-winning Smashed. ‘The programme this year is breathtaking,’ says the festival’s Artistic Director, Joe Mackintosh. ‘Bigger and broader than anything we’ve done to date, more than 200 artists will descend from across Europe to bring Great Yarmouth streets, venues and public spaces to life. ‘We’ve stunning spectacles like The Color of Time, but we also have lovely intimate creations like Acrojou’s The Wheel House and highly acclaimed indoor pieces like Keziah Serreau’s Strike.’ Seachange are also looking to make this their most participatory festival, with 1000 local people being recruited to participate in shows, create special festival décor or support and staff the festival. ‘The community have always been an integral part of Out There,’ says Mr Mackintosh. ‘This year, we’re just doing it on a grander scale. People can sing, dance, create and join in as part of some of the key shows, really making this year’s festival their own.’ A midweek programme under the banner of Unwrapped Theatre focuses on family entertainment and the festival also hosts an in-development programme with six companies presenting work still in creation. ‘Creating and showcasing new work is a major part of what Seachange do. We’ve brand new shows and 14 UK premieres, creating a market place for the performers to showcase their work. We’ll also be staging a circus and street arts conference which will bring around 50 leading promoters and producers to the festival.’ For more information visit www.outtherefestival.com.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Come and join us for our special 40th anniversary rally. There’ll be over 1000 exhibits of vintage and classic vehicles and machinery plus a full and exciting programme of family entertainment. Admission £11. Children under 14 FREE & FREE parking.

DON ’ 20th T MISS I T in th & 21 e lo s near vely He t Sep nh S t

Great Yarmouth Haven Rotary Club is holding its 15th annual

outh

e by Sav king boo vance d in a line. on

wold am Park, , Suff olk

Why not make a weekend of it!

For details of on-site caravan & camping and all other details

Tel:01502 578053 ● www.henhamsteamrally.com

Christmas Party Nights At Yarmouth Stadium Looking for a fantastic Christmas Party venue? After the fun of the racing, the track lights dim, guests can enjoy an evening in our Raceview Restaurant or Executive Lounges and be invited to stay and party with our DJ until 1am.

Racing Dining Disco

The fun starts at 1.30pm with a model boat display & a fun kites display. The first duck race starts at 2pm.

Come along and join the fun at Great Yarmouth Waterways on 21st September, and help us raise money for charity!

December at the Raceview Restaurant Date

Price

Offer

Mon 1st

£17.99

Starter & main course (No disco)

Wed 3rd

£17.99

Starter & main course (No disco)

Fri 5th

£26.99

Starter, main course & disco until 1am

Sat 6th

£27.99

Starter, main course & disco until 1am

Mon 8th

£17.99

Starter & main course (No disco)

Wed 10th

Afternoon Meeting, please call for further information

Fri 12th

£29.99

Starter, main course, dessert & disco until 1am

Sat 13th

£32.99

Starter, main course, dessert & disco until 1am

Mon 15th

£17.99

Starter & main course (No disco)

Wed 17th

£17.99

Starter & main course (No disco)

Fri 19th

£29.99

Starter, main course, dessert & disco until 1am

Sat 20th

£32.99

Starter, main course, dessert & disco until 1am

Mon 22nd

£17.99

Starter & main course (No disco)

Fri 26th

£24.99

Boxing Day Brunch

Sat 27th

£24.99

Festive Special - 4 for the price of 3 Starter & main course (£18.75)

Mon 29th

£12.99

Main course only

Enjoy the festivities in our Party Lounges!

Book Now! 01493 720343

Mon & Wed £18.99

Gold Buffet

Fri & Sat

Gold Buffet

£31.99

Frankincense Upgrade only £5 per head!

Includes upgraded buffet with hot choice and a bottle of wine per 5 guests.

Yarmouth Road, Caister-on-Sea Norfolk NR30 5TE 01493 720343 www.yarmouthstadium.co.uk

mOstly

free!

2014 beri

here? T t u O t e g o t t Wan ghlights i h w e f a t u o check ival... t s e f ’s r a e y is of th covering mily fun, dis

eptem s 1 2 n u –s

wed 17 outhi Great yarm

bigger, better, more bonkers than ever... Out There 2014 promises 50 acts, 200 international artists and over 150 performances; beginning Wed 17 Sep and leading up to the biG weekend on 20 & 21 Sep in and around St. George’s Park.

fantastic fa ancing the Whether its venues, or d ld o s u o ri lo g s to get Out Yarmouth’s ty of reason n le p ’s re e th night away, eptember... S is th re The sep ?

u 18 d 17 & th e w : e Q!? r d theat even a bb e d p n p a a s r u c unw ick, cir n, slapst u f y l i m fa p? e: fri 19 se m O r d O p hip inG - the st of the ? silVer lin s from a ca u c ir c c ti e energ ... ? ung things o y t h ig r b uK’s

sep? salOn clair de lune: sat 20 at stars showbar? late night mirth and mayhem

Join

la fete franGlais:

sat 20 & sun 21 sep? un petit silliness with a fantastic celebrator y? programme of angl o-french street arts ?

Joining in is a biG pa rt of O ut There 2014. I f you wa nt to si ng, dance, create and partici pa festiva te in the l, get in touch. be a pa r somet hing s t of pecial !

u circ all

he w

t Off

s,i

et art

& stre

e,i

fantastic theatr cOmedy & acrO

baticsi

Pick up a brochure or check out the full programme at outtherefestival.com Media Partners:

| SEPTEMBER 2014

Is This A Success Which I See Before Me? Benet Catty thoroughly enjoys the latest West End opening, Shakespeare in Love – the tale about an ordinary guy who just happens to be not bad at writing!

creen-to-stage transpositions remain hot West End properties, with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Billy Elliot, The Lion King, Once, The Bodyguard, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Commitments, The 39 Steps and Let the Right One In all settled in for long runs. There have been many others in recent years. To this list comes Shakespeare in Love, based on the 1998 film that beat Saving Private Ryan to the Best Picture Oscar and won six more including the screenplay award for Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman. It was, and remains, a thinking person’s film - a fiction about Shakespeare’s struggle to write Romeo and Juliet while suffering writers’ block and wooing a pretty aristocrat, laced with in-jokes about his work and his contemporaries (‘I had that Christopher Marlowe in the back of my boat once’). The charm, wit and tone of the original - and much of the screenplay is retained here in Lee Hall’s warm-hearted, smart-headed stage adaptation. It is, though, the re-conception of the story into a theatrical form that makes Shakespeare in Love so appealing as a stage entertainment. The bold choice of director is Declan Donnellan, a theatrical auteur whose work with theatre company Cheeky By Jowl has made him a critics’ favourite. Despite this, he has not staged a commercial show since the infamous and under-rated Boublil and Schonberg musical Martin Guerre for Cameron Mackintosh in 1996. Donnellan is (alongside Simon McBurney) the best director of ensembles in Britain and it is that skill that he brings ravishingly to the service of this most theatrical of stories. Donnellan, with his design partner Nick Ormerod, unleash their box of ensemble tricks with typical skill and often identifiable flourishes (anyone who has seen any of their work will instantly recognise the opening 20 seconds; likewise the moments of slow-motion). The full ensemble crowds around the struggling Shakespeare (Tom Bateman) in the opening scene as he struggles with writers’ block (‘Shall I compare thee to a... erm’); later they can be seen watching on from the upper balconies of Ormerod’s Rose Theatre set or jigging hilariously and singing with Elizabeth I (the ice queen Anna Carteret) ‘Vivat Regina’ with the kind of relish one associates with musical theatre encores. One of the show’s defining features is Paddy Cunneen’s music, played live by a roving band (lead by Tim Van Eyken), featuring period choral singing, the eerie contribution of a counter tenor and underscoring which accompanies perhaps as much as half of the entire evening. No West End play has such a high proportion of music and, along with Neil Austin’s typically beautiful lighting, it brilliantly helps to create the world of London 1593. Performances are first class across the board. Tom Bateman’s Shakespeare is funny and farcical but never anything other than an ordinary guy who happens to have a passion for writing that we know (but nobody on stage does) will make him legendary. Lucy Briggs-Owen as Viola, the love interest (in which she is a girl playing a boy playing a girl) reminds those who saw her in the

West End

Shakespeare in Love

West End revival of Noises Off or the RSC’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream of her great comic instincts and idiosyncratic physicality. Brilliant support too from Alistair Petrie as the love rival Wessex, channelling Richard Roxburgh’s villainous equivalent from Moulin Rouge! in a comic and creepy part. And Ian Bartholomew, Paul Chahidi and particularly David Oakes (as Marlowe, here helping Shakespeare to write his best work) are given the lion’s share of the one-liners as the play Romeo and Ethel The Pirate’s Daughter stutters its way to the stage. For all the pleasures on show, the play is much too long. Each half would benefit from the cutting of 15 minutes. Some scenes, not least the famous boat scene, don’t translate to the stage as well as they might do and lack the dramatic value to justify their comic ingredients. Others, like the extended performance of the final scene from the now-completed and retitled Romeo and Juliet, skew the show away from the romantic comedy of Will and Viola and towards being a biopic of Romeo and Juliet - an ingredient which is better placed as a subplot rather than a primary focus. If ever a play should be 2 hours 20 minutes then it’s this one. Even so, Shakespeare in Love is a funny, warm and sophisticated night at (and about) the theatre and, like The 39 Steps, is one of those rare plays that it is hard to imagine anyone not liking. An ideal treat night out for people with or without an interest in theatre or Shakespeare, and a crowd pleaser that deserves its almost inevitable success. MORE INFORMATION Shakespeare in Love, Noel Coward Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, London. Visit www.shakespeareinlove.com.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| september 2014

Packing a

(Norfolk) Punch

A 14th-century manor hall in west Norfolk, where Benedictine monks developed the recipe for Norfolk Punch, is now home to an interior designer. And it shows. Sarah Hardy loves Welle Manor Hall, near Wisbech

Asking Price £1,395,000

ith 12 bedrooms, gorgeous parkland, medieval, Tudor and Victorian origins and an interior with a serious ‘wow’ factor, Welle Manor Hall is the place, quite simply, of your dreams. It has fairytale appeal, is set over three storeys and packed with original features, including, as you enter the splendid main wooden door, a carving of a young Henry VII and his wife, and further ones of the four Apostles. Indeed, the hall has a fascinating past and most notably was once the home of Benedictine Monks who developed the recipe for ‘Norfolk Punch’, a medieval tonic that was believed to have amazing curative powers. They established a magnificent herb garden in the grounds, which was the basis for their various healing potions, along with waters from an underground source

that gives the village of Upwell its name. Since then there have been various additions to the property, most significantly in Tudor and Victorian times, and today the hall has been restored and refurbished to a very high standard. The current owners, Malcolm and Claudia Starr, have lived at Welle Manor for 20 years. ‘We bought it lock, stock and barrel from United Distillers who are the founder of today’s Norfolk Punch. Whilst restoring the hall they discovered the monk’s old recipes that had lain hidden for centuries, and then carefully recreated the restorative tonic by growing all the required herbs in the grounds here.’ In memory of this healing elixir all of the main rooms in the house have been named after the main ingredients used to make the punch. In the Fennel drawing room and Tarragon sitting room

Property of the month

Welle Manor Hall, Upwell

Fact File you find high ceilings, pretty coving, is a very sociable room, and one of With the fire Victorian fireplaces inset with Minton our favourites. Although we enjoy the tiles, and there is a lovely sense of splendour of some of the larger rooms, alight and table style to these rooms. we do love to spend time in here cooking As Mr Starr explains: ‘My wife and just relaxing, especially with the Aga laid with all the is an interior designer, and so we on as it is so warm and welcoming.’ crystal glasses have only used quality fabric and A large central island, topped with furnishings, including Mulberry, GP granite, offers plenty of work surface and, and silver & J Baker and Colefax & Fowler, in as Mr Starr enthuses: ‘With a pantry and cutlery you can order to try and re-create the grace cellar just off the hallway there is never and sophistication of these rooms.’ an issue with storage, even when we have imagine you are A main feature of the Sorrel dining a house full of hungry guests.’ in an episode of room is the elegant wood panelling It really is a house that invites visitors and, as Mr Starr says: ‘This is a great and garden parties, and to the rear Downton Abbey. room at Christmas. With the fire a large terrace is an ideal spot for alight and table laid with all the entertaining. ‘The conservatory opens crystal glasses and silver cutlery you can imagine out to the terrace, and we often eat out here in the you are in an episode of Downton Abbey.’ Upstairs, summer. It has great views out across the gardens you can discover the delights of some of the 12 and with steps down to the lawn you can wander bedrooms, such as Sunflower, Cinnamon, Poppy, around the borders with a glass of wine, enjoying Camomile and Angelica, which include Victorian the scents and colours of the flowers.’ cast iron fireplaces, exposed beams, handmade The gardens, which stretch to three and a half tiles and gorgeous views across the grounds and acres, are a true delight, and Mr Starr explains: towards the church. ‘Luckily we are both keen gardeners and have But, it is the master suite, with its half panelled enormously enjoyed the task of bringing the walls, alcove seating area, lovely dressing room garden back to life. We are blessed with a large and rolltop bath that really has the wow factor. range of mature trees throughout the gardens, And, as Mr Starr explains: ‘The four poster bed is including oaks, ash, sycamore, walnut, maple and supposedly made from the doors of a castle that linden which give a wonderful display throughout came from the Diddlington Hall collection, and the year.’ you certainly have sweet dreams, especially after a There is also a partially converted coach house glass of punch.’ which could comprise three bedrooms and The magnificent kitchen, with its lustrous two reception rooms, and a triple garage with oak wood panelling, handmade units, beech accommodation over, too. Plus further kennels, a floorboards, comfy armchairs and large family tractor shed, and another double garage. dining table, is the real heart of this home. ‘It

“

”

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Welle Manor is a Grade II* Listed Medieval and Tudor Hall with Victorian additions. Interior and garden design by Claudia Starr Interiors of Holme next Sea

• Five receptions and 12 bedrooms • Partially converted cart lodge which could comprise three bedrooms and two receptions • Two Grade II Listed fortified towers • Stunning grounds of 3.5 acres

* Dealer Details Fine and Country North and West Norfolk 27-28 Tuesday Market Place King’s Lynn Norfolk, PE30 1JJ Tel: 01553 769100

Kitchen Sense of Harleston For Quality Fitted Kitchens and Appliances

KITCHEN SENSE COMMON SENSE

62 London Road, Harleston, Norfolk IP20 9BZ Tel: 01379 852592 Fax: 01379 854411 staff@kitchen-sense.co.uk | www.kitchen-sense.co.uk

Biomass

RHI Renewable Heat Incentive

By having renewable heat technologies installed in your property, not only could you reduce your fuel bills considerably, you may also be eligible for annual payments with the Renewable Heat Incentive which in most cases exceeds the cost of the installation! This includes Biomass Boilers, Heat Pumps & Solar Thermal Systems. The RHI is a UK Government scheme to encourage commercial and domestic properties to uptake renewable heat technologies. This will be a significant contribution to help lower the CO2 emissions and meet the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s target in the year 2020.

Call us for more information or to arrange a free survey to see how much you could be saving & earning.

Log Gasification Boilers

Solar PV

Thermal stores

Ground source heat

Air source heat pumps

APS Energy Solutions can answer all your questions

01473 719950 info@apsenergysolutions.co.uk www.apsenergysolutions.co.uk

Multi-award winning luxury estate agents in over 275 locations worldwide

Time for a change? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got people searching for homes in the Waveney valley and surrounding areas. We are selling in your area! Due to a high demand from buyers looking to purchase in the Waveney region, we urgently require more properties to sell. If you are considering selling, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss our unique marketing strategy and how it could be of benefit to you. For a confidential conversation, without obligation, please call a member of the team in our regional head office on 01603 221888 We look forward to hearing from you. If you have already instructed an agent on a sole agency basis, please check the terms and conditions in order to avoid the potential liability of having to pay two fees.

Norwich 01603 221888 London 02070 791515

FineandCountry

| September 2014

PiP Studio cup and saucer £12.75, teapot from £26.25, mugs from £8, plates from £7.25, and bowls from £9.50 Dine in style with a smile! Vintage is right on trend and PiP Studio offers it in abundance. Mix and match patterns, shapes and colours just seem to work and can sit happily alongside many different home styles.

Perfect Pastels Our homes writers Hayley Philpot and Jennifer Read are in the pink over the soft and gentle shades influencing interior design as autumn approaches

Hayley & Jennifer are homeware buyers Jarrold’s, 1-11 London Street, Norwich, NR2 1AL www.jarrold.co.uk The Granary, 5 Bedford Street, Norwich, NR2 1AL www.thegranary.co.uk

IGH SUMMER may have passed but September can often produce the most deliciously warm days and we appreciate them so much more when they occur late in the year. There’s just something really exciting about an Indian summer and the sheer delight at an unexpected period of sunshine. Let’s hang on to these balmy days and keep a summery feel to the home. The days may be shorter but there are still weekend parties to be had – possibly al fresco if we’re really lucky. So forget autumnal hues for now and continue to enjoy these softer pastel tones, with a hint of silver, while the weather allows. Pastel shades are proven to have a calming effect so why not fill your home with pale colours to feel permanently chilled! From sofas to bedding, these soft shades offer a cool, contemporary feel to any living area, providing a calm and tranquil ambience. Enliven the dining experience, too, with delightful vintage inspired fine porcelain, and mirror polished designer cutlery to enhance the table. Never underestimate those essential highlight accessories that can make all the difference, and really add a personal touch and individuality to the home environment.

Sia magnolia pot £13.50, set of three bowls £57.50 Add a floral note with these beautiful potted blooms. If the living area needs a touch of softness or the bedroom is looking plain, these highlights will make all the difference. The intricate finish on the three bowls gives them a hand finished delicacy many will envy. Simply stand them empty on a statement table or use them as a dining centrepiece with some delicious, colourful contents.

Alessi four heart shaped coffee spoons £19.95, dressed cake server £20 Why use boring cutlery when you can make these statement pieces a talking point at the table? Guests will love their stylish, quirky design. Made from 18/20 stainless steel and mirror polished – stir your coffee with love and serve the gateau with a flourish!

Parlane Monroe perfume bottle £7, Doily design photo frame from £15 This pretty vintage bottle would grace any bedroom or bathroom. With an antique silvered finish, it evokes a bygone era and adds a hint of romance. The lacy carving around this frame will add the finishing touch to any treasured photograph.

Blakeney two-seater sofa £1,099, chair £619 Extremely versatile, this collection features compact designs with fresh contemporary fabrics and comes with two free scatter cushions with every sofa. Also available are sofa beds, chairs and a snuggler that can transform into a bed for that unexpected guest. They are hand built in East Anglia, and come with a 10-year structural and seat cushion guarantee.

Interiors

Pastels

Bedeck White Collection in Melodie from £12, Honesty crochet throw £75, Repose jacquard throw £60, cushion £35, Script cushion £30 Timeless elegance and with a luxurious pure white background design, Melodie is a cosy tactile bed linen range made from 100 per cent cotton percale fabric – perfect to mix and match with Bedeck’s stylish bedding accessories to create contrasting textures and pastel colours. For a change of mood, simply add different cushions and throws for a complete transformation.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Two outstanding coastal properties by the agent who gets results www.your-move.co.uk

Find your local Your Move branch… 154 London Road, North Lowestoft 01503 534998 168/169 High Street, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth 01493 600005 · 26-28 New Market, Beccles 01502 273333

Yarmouth Road, Lowestoft

North Drive, Great Yarmouth

A lovely 5 bedroom detached residence benefiting from having a conservatory and double garage, entrance hall with built in cloaks cupboard, 20’7” x 16’ 14ft 10x12ft sitting room 15ft3 max x 12ft 2 kitchen, dining and utility rooms, 5 spacious bedrooms including a 16’x13’ master bedroom. Many more stunning features.

A superb 4 bedroom detached house located on Great Yarmouth’s seafront with views over the sea and beach. Features include: conservatory and 3 reception rooms, 24x14ft lounge, UPVC double glazing, 13x12ft dining room, 14x12ft kitchen plus utility room, in and out driveway leading to the garage measuring 20ft, 2x12ft rear garden.

Offers over £500,000

Offers over £350,000

Property

Energy Performance Certificates

Oliver Hurren YOUR MOVE OLIVER JAMES 01493 600005 | www.your-move.co.uk

Got Yo u r C erti fic ate? Our property expert Oliver Hurren explains Energy Performance Certificates

Whether you are looking to sell or rent out a house,

The total floor area is the area contained within the

whether big or small, you are likely to have to acquire an

external walls of the property. The figure includes internal

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). These were first

walls, stairwells and the like, but excludes garages,

introduced as part of the Home Information Pack (HIP)

porches, areas less than 1.5 m high, balconies and any

for domestic properties in August 2007. When HIPs were

similar area that is not an internal part of the dwelling.

removed in May 2010 the EPC part continued on its own. The Energy survey is produced by an assessor who visits

The certificate also includes recommendations on ways to improve a house’s energy efficiency to save money. Be

the property and examines, for example, key items such

warned, the accuracy of the recommendations will depend

as loft insulation, hot water tanks, radiators, windows for

on the inspector’s standards which should be audited by

double glazing and domestic boiler.

their accreditation bodies.

He inputs the observations into a software programme

There are certain exemptions where you do not have to

which performs the calculations of the property’s energy

acquire an EPC, which clients might not be aware of, but

efficiency. The programme gives a single number for the

EPC assessors will still carry out the procedure.

energy efficiency rating and value of the potential for improvement. These EPCs have been criticised by many professional bodies for their inaccuracy because the assessors make assumptions on the insulation based on age and

This could be if your residence is attached to a business such as a petrol station or farm, and many sellers are unaware that if their property is listed they do not have to have an EPC. You can always look at your EPC on the EPC register

construction type. The assessor has the ability to over-ride

website. This will let you compare your home’s energy

these assumptions if visual or written evidence is provided

performance with that of other similar homes, free of

of anything installed since.

charge. However, if you don’t want other people to see

The EPC figure is then presented on a scale between A to G. The most efficient home will be a band A which

your own EPC on the register, you can opt out. EPCs are valid for 10 years so if there has been one

should have the lowest bills. Before you start to feel under

prepared on the register by a previous owner you can still

pressure, the majority of EPCs are D and E.

use this.

The EPC certificate contains the following details • Property address

For any professional advice, please feel free to contact Oliver on 01493 600005 or 01502 534998.

• Property type (for example detached house) • Date of inspection • Certificate date and serial number • Total floor area

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

rtly g sho rrivin s ulbs a er pansie b g Sprin mn/wint u le t b » Au vaila now a

We are a friendly family run business specialising in plants, shrubs, trees, roses, conifers, perennial and seasonal plants with a huge selection of well established mature trees and shrubs for that professional finished look. We grow everything on the premises.

Our Cafe specialises in freshly prepared home cooked food. Yes we mean really homemade! Like Mother used to make… Ormesby St Michael, Gt Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR29 3LT 01493 732694 | www.broadlandnurseries.co.uk

Helping your garden flourish

Come and see us

Henham Steam Rally 20th & 21st September ‘14

GDC Ltd, Beccles Road, St Olaves, Norfolk, NR31 9AD

Tel - 01493 488228 Website – www.gdclimited.co.uk Email – office@gdclimited.co.uk

New showroom opening soon See the feature in next month’s

In the mean time, find us at: Unit 8 Owen Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 0NA

“Visit our showroom and speak to our friendly team for expert advice!”

A ON ST ler TI LI stal 4” NA FINA ass In r 201 a iom Ye “B f the o

FED UP WITH RISING FUEL COSTS? ly Fami nd a Run ed Own

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED WOOD FUELLED HEATING? WITH THE NEW GOVERNMENT INCENTIVE (RHI) YOU CAN EARN WHILE YOU BURN!

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU COULD EARN WITH A BIOMASS BOILER:

5 BEDROOM HOUSE ON DOMESTIC TARIFF:

LL THE US AT LBRIGG HA VISIT E BER OW, F LD SH TH SEPTEM I U B N GREE 6TH AND 7 ON

100kW BOILER ON COMMERCIAL TARIFF:

EARN £4,551

EARN £11,300

(Total income of £33,838* over 7 years)

(Total income of £274,570* over 20 years)

As well as additional savings made in comparison with traditional fuels.

ANNUALLY FOR 7 YEARS

ANNUALLY FOR 20 YEARS

* Inﬂation has been included at the UK historical average of 2%

solar

Biomass Boilers • Wood Burning Stoves • Air Source Heat Pumps • Solar Thermal • Solar PV • LPG & Natural Gas

T: 01493 659538

SHOWROOM: Enterprise Court, Gapton Hall Ind. Est. Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk NR31 0ND info@jrtplumbingandheating.co.uk • www.jrtplumbingandheating.co.uk

| SEPTEMBER 2014

An Indian Summer Our gardening writer Ellen Mary tells us what we should be doing in the garden this month

eptember is a beautiful month. Watching the leaves start to turn and the change in atmosphere in the garden brings a certain kind of soothing beauty. With warmth still in the air, we can enjoy the amazing colours of nature which glow in early autumn. Look up above as you are sure to see our chattering swallows and martins preparing for their journey south. So enjoy the remaining warm evenings in the garden and get ready to harvest your autumn vegetables very soon.

Garden and Flowers Take a look around your garden at your favourite plants and start collecting seeds to sow for colour next year. It’s very simple and a great way of adding more of the same plants to your space, which will be really effective. Keep seeds cool and dry until it is time to sow them. As leaves drop, clear away debris and diseased material from the garden. Pests and diseases can overwinter and may reappear next spring. The best way to get rid of diseased material is to burn it but put the rest of your garden waste in the compost bin. Let’s hope September is that Indian summer we all wish for and if it is, remember to keep watering thoroughly once or twice a week to keep your plants going for as long as possible. Your flowering pots and hanging baskets will need watering every day or they will dry out rapidly. Remember in gardening, we always think ahead to the following seasons so it’s time to start planning bulbs for spring colour. You will be able to plant many out this month but wait to plant tulips a bit later in the year. Pick some spring flowering bulbs such as daffodils, crocus and hyacinth, also hardy summer flowering bulbs such as lilies, alliums and crocosmia; plant bulbs in groups for the best display.

Gardening

Jobs For SEPTEMBER Fruit and Vegetables Early September is your last opportunity to sow crops like rocket and lettuce such as valdor, spring onion to over-winter in a cold frame for an early fresh salad the following spring. You can also plant out some over-wintering garlics and onions. When you have finished picking beans and peas, cut each plant to ground level and leave the roots in place. This will allow nitrogen to be slowly released as the roots break down, which is great for the soil. If you have a greenhouse or similar, as soon as you have finished cropping, give the area a really good clean to prevent pests from taking over and then you will be ready to get going again next spring. Do the same with used pots and seed trays. If you have a lot of leftover vegetables or a ‘glut’, look up some chutney recipes. There is nothing like the smell of a kitchen in autumn, with chutney gently simmering on the hob. Put it in sterilised jars with a pretty lid and you have a fabulous gift for a friend.

Wildlife Gardening Allow some flowers and a few vegetables to run to seed rather than remove them as they will provide food for birds and garden wildlife. If you have fruit trees, allow some apples and pears to fall to the ground for the birds to feed on. Thistles and sunflower heads are also great to leave out. By leaving a few piles of leaves in designated areas, wood and compost heaps will all be a valuable habitat for many species and feeding grounds for many more. Bird baths need a good clean and remember to replace any broken or damaged feeders so you are ready for the cooler months ahead. Replenish your seed stock and put it somewhere you can get to easily to ensure that, whatever the weather, our feathered friends are helped along. Make or buy a hedgehog hibernation box and leave it under a pile of dead leaves at the back of the garden where it will not be disturbed. If you make one yourself, be sure to add a tunnel along to the entrance hole, to ensure predators can’t get in the nest.

Ellen Mary Gardening provides no jargon, easy to follow gardening advice, along with a range of colourful gardening products at: www.ellenmarygardening.co.uk

Gardening Product of the Month When you are collecting seeds to store and sow later, use these UK made recycled cardboard seed savers. With space for you to keep a note of the date and name of the seeds, you won’t forget what you’ve collected. These are the perfect way to keep them cool, dry and ready to sow. Five tubes cost £6.95.

Give it a go

a al charity ‘Bit of ng to the annu th wi Why not pop alo p ou gr s es sin by the 25am bu ust. Do’ organised rfolk Wildlife Tr No e th to ing d Br all proceeds go at Hickling oa September 27 ing It takes place on nc and da with music, food Nature Reserve, .uk .co am 25 w. ww Visit from 3 to 11pm.

Available from Ellen Mary’s website.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| September 2014

Tuck in! The 2014 Norfolk Food and Drink Festival is underway this month, celebrating the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s produce and producers. We report on some of the events, from scone making to sausage tasting!

Advertiser’s Announcement

Norfolk Food and Drink Festival

E v e n ts G u ide August 30-31

North Norfolk Food and Drink Festival at Holkham

September 1-7

Norwich Restaurant Week • Café Culture at The Forum Norwich • Feast On The Street at The Forum Norwich

September 6

Norwich Food Festival Including The Battle of the Bangers, City Farm and Norfolk Producers at The Forum, Norwich

This year sees the 10th anniversary of the much anticipated Norfolk Food and Drink Festival and 2014 promises a bumper celebration of the burgeoning food and drink industry in Norfolk. With hundreds of fantastic foodie events taking place all over the county from August 30 to October 12, the festival is now the largest event of its kind in the UK. Supported by producers and retailers from all over the county, the festival is a unique opportunity for collaboration between producers, consumers, restaurateurs and businesses in the food and drink industry and attracts a high footfall to its many and varied events and to the flagship weekends and restaurant weeks taking place county-wide during the course of the six week festival. 2014 will see the return of many of the festival’s best loved events including the Battle of the Bangers, Moveable Feast and Dining in the Dark, as well as the addition of some exciting new events such as the Pop Up Producers Weekend and Picnic and Norwich Restaurant Week. The festival also receives unprecedented support from local businesses across the county and organisers are delighted to welcome back Adnams Plc as headline sponsors for the event. The Southwold-based brewery, which has four shops across Norfolk, sources the majority of the grain it uses from Norfolk farms and has long been a stalwart supporter of the festival.

September 12-14

The Brecks Food Festival at Swaffham

This year they are joined by a second headline sponsor in the form of Norfolkbased law firm Spire Solicitors LLP. The firm has eight regional offices across the county, including a head office overlooking Norwich cathedral, and has many clients within the region’s food and drink industry. Other businesses supporting the festival this year include Norse, Cozens Hardy Solicitors, The Maids Head Hotel, The Institute of Food Research, Norfolk County Council, The Norwich BID, Lovewell Blake, Ben Burgess, Anglia Farmers, Ashton KCJ, Waitrose, Brewin Dolphin, Contract Personnel and NFU. The Norfolk Food and Drink Festival is a vital part of the region’s food and drink industry. With four of Norfolk’s best loved names patrons to the event – Richard Hughes, Galton Blackiston, Chris Coubrough and Vanessa Scott – and the EDP now a media partner, 2014 is sure to be the biggest and most event-packed festival to date. Join us at the various festival events in your region and visit us at www.nfdf.co.uk to find out more.

September 20-21

The Pop-Up Producers Weekend at Hoveton Hall

September 23

Local Flavours Event at The Norfolk Showground • The Moveable Feast

September 26-28

The Great Yarmouth and The Broads Food Festival on the Market Place, Great Yarmouth

September 26

The Tallest Jelly Competition

September 27

Dining in the Dark at The Maids Head Hotel

September 28

Wroxham Barns Scone Competition

September 22-October 5 North Norfolk Restaurant Week

September 30 & October 1

The Great British Food Quiz at The Assembly House

October 2-5

The Aylsham Food and Drink Festival

October 4-12

The Waveney Food and Drink Festival

October 5 Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Walk with a Fork Norfolk in aid of Ormiston Families – Sennowe Park

Delice ICE CREAM AND COFFEE PARLOUR

| September 2014

C e l e br at i o n

OF CITY R E S TA U R A N T S

celebrating the city’s vibrant restaurant scene. Part of the Adnams Spire Solicitors Norfolk Food & Drink Festival, this special promotional week runs from September 1 to 7 and features more than 50 city restaurants, pubs and other eateries. All of these are focusing on Norfolk food and drink in some way, with an array of special dishes, offers, activities and events. Jayne Raffles, who with her husband Nigel, has three longestablished restaurants in the city – Pinnochio’s, St. Benedict’s and The Library – is firmly behind this new event, commenting: ‘At Raffles Restaurants we are delighted to be championing our fantastic produce, suppliers and culinary talent, showcasing what we think everyone should know, that Norfolk is one of the best-kept secrets for local produce, from the seafood to the vegetables, meat and even wine. Let’s celebrate great local produce and hospitality by dishing up Norwich Restaurant Week 2014.’ Roger Hickman, whose eponymous restaurant occupies the former Adlard’s building on Upper St. Giles, agrees: ‘Norwich Restaurant Week is a great idea. I hope that people will take advantage of the week to get out and discover the great food which is on offer around

Jayne Raffle s

This month Norwich Restaurant Week is on the menu, featuring all kinds of special dishes, offers and events. Carolyn Atkins tucks in

his September sees the first-ever Norwich Restaurant Week take place,

What’s On

Norwich Restaurant Week

WIG & PEN

Roger Hickman’s

ROOTS

the city, and the way that more and more chefs – and in particular in independent restaurants – are including Norfolk food and drink on their menus. There are lots of great chefs in the city, especially once you look outside the chains, so use Norwich Restaurant Week to get out there and try their food.’ David Adlard is credited for first putting Norwich on the culinary map, having run Adlard’s for almost 25 years and becoming the first chef in East Anglia to gain a coveted Michelin star (he and his wife, Da, now run Adlard’s in the Country in West Somerton). Meanwhile, Roger is blazing a trail of his own, with a string of awards under his belt (from the Good Food Guide, EDP and Harden’s) and no doubt many more on the way. Roger Hickman’s has just started stocking Winbirri wines from Surlingham and so during Norwich Restaurant Week will be offering a free glass to everyone who comes for lunch. Meanwhile, at Raffles Restaurants, Pinnochio’s will be hosting an Italian evening on September 2, while at St. Benedict’s there’ll be a daily ‘Prixe Fixe’ menu featuring local produce such as oil from Crush Foods, fish from Sam Cole’s, cheese from Fielding Cottage and many more, as well as giving customers the chance to taste and buy the delicious white ‘Bacchus’ from Humbleyard Vineyard in Mulbarton. Then on September 6, The Library Restaurant will be holding a slow-food producers’ indoor market from 11am to 3pm, which sounds well worth a visit. All kinds of other places are involved in Norwich Restaurant Week, too, from the beautiful Bishop’s Dining Room, which received a rave review from well-known restaurant critic, Jay Rayner, to more casual eateries such as the newly-refurbished Café Benjamin at Jarrold’s.

Bishop’s will be giving customers a complimentary glass of Prosecco with lunch or dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday, while Café Benjamin will be running a two-course Norfolk menu for £12.50 with either a glass of wine or a soft drink. A number of pubs are involved in the event, too, with a couple particularly deserving a mention, as Nick De’Ath is celebrating his 25th year of running The Unthank Arms on Newmarket Street this year, while Craig and Lynne McLaren are celebrating 21 years at The Wig & Pen near Norwich Cathedral. The Unthank Arms will be offering a set-price, three-course daily Norfolk menu for £15 from Monday to Saturday, while The Wig & Pen is inviting diners to ‘share Norfolk’ with two sandwiches (Broadland Ham, Binham Blue Cheese and Home-Made Tomato Jam or East Coast Brown Shrimp with Rocket and Lemoned Mayonnaise) and two halves of local beer – Woodforde’s, Humpty Dumpty, Wolf, Lacons, Grain, Norfolk Brewhouse, Panther and so on – for just £10. The Norwich restaurant scene is booming, with everything from old favourites such as The Waffle House on St Giles to brand new kids on the block such as Bill’s at the Back of the Inns. Nigel Emblin, a partner at The Waffle House, reflects: ‘Anyone with an interest in food is now spoilt for choice in Norwich, with literally hundreds of establishments to choose from.’ Indeed, restaurants seem to be mushrooming across the city, with the restaurant quarter at Chapelfield filled with national chains and many more to come in the new restaurant quarter at Castle Mall. There is a great deal of competition out there and so restaurateurs are doing their bit to stand out from the crowd. Namaste India on Opie Street, for example, offers solely vegetarian Indian food (and a 20 per cent discount during Restaurant Week), while Delice Ice Cream and Coffee Parlour on Castle Meadow is offering indulgent ice cream sundaes made with Ronaldo’s (and a 25 per cent discount on all sundaes during Norwich Restaurant Week). Norwich Restaurant Week is sponsored by Norse and backed by the Norwich Business Improvement District, whose aim is to encourage more visitors to the city. Stefan Gurney, Executive Director for the Norwich BID, says: ‘Our aim is to encourage as many customers into the city as possible and by establishing a Norwich Restaurant Week we plan to increase traffic to the city and boost business for Norwich BID members and beyond.’

For more information on Norwich Restaurant Week, visit: www.nfdf.co.uk

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

01692 581099

www.theinghamswan.co.uk

info@theinghamswan.co.uk

Menus Lunch du Jour Menu – Seasonal Daily Changing Dishes 2 courses £15 or 3 courses £18.95 Lunch du Jour Monday to Saturday 12pm to 2pm service – *excluding special calendar dates and bank holidays

Thursday Steak Night from £40 for Two 28 day dry aged Sirloin Steak or Fillet Steak (£3.75 supplement per person) with Ingham Chips, Baked Field Mushroom and Wild Roquette Salad

Sunday Lunch – 2 Courses £20.95 Featuring “Roast Fillet of Beef” as a main course Service from 12 to 3pm

7 Course Tasting Menu Every evening, pre-booking on Friday and Saturday nights required alongside full A la Carte menu HOW TO FIND US:

The Ingham Swan, Sea Palling Road, Ingham, NR12 9AB www.theinghamswan.co.uk | Tel: 01692 581099

Restaurant With Rooms

@inghamswan

The Ingham Swan

No. 02

LUST LIST

LOCAL PRODUCE No. 03

No. 01

Lust List L O C A L P R O D UC E In keeping with our food and drink theme this month, Emma Outten looks at lovely local produce No. 04

No. 05

No. 07

No. 06

No. 08

2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Scarlett & Mustard The Colonel’s Poppy Seed Dressing, £3.99 (includes a £1 donation to the Royal British Legion), stockists include Waitrose and East of England Co-op, www.scarlettandmustard.co.uk Norfolk Sweet Pickle £2.75 www.essencefoods.co.uk English Whisky Co. Chapter 7 - Rum Cask - 46% single malt whisky £44.95 www.englishwhisky.co.uk GNAW Butter Fudge gift box from the Great British Nibbles range £4.99 www.gnawfolkchocolate.co.uk Suffolk Salami and Chorizo from award-winning Lane Farm Country Foods of Brundish, packs of two small chorizo approx £4.50 and sliced salami at approx £2.90 per pack, available in selected East of England Co-op stores Norfolk Cordial Elderflower and Cucumber Cordial, £3.95 - £5.50 for 250ml, www.norfolkcordial.com Award-winning Seville Orange Marmalade and Seville Orange Marmalade with Whisky, £2.60 each (225g), www.ollands-farm-foods.co.uk Flavoured sausages (pork and wholegrain mustard), £6.75/kg, from H.V. Graves of Briston, www.hvgraves.co.uk

FESTIVE MAGIC IN NORTH NORFOLK • One or two night festive breaks at The Hoste in November and December, including tickets to the Thursford Christmas Spectacular. • Jazz at the Movies returns on Friday 12th December. Enjoy a Swinging Christmas evening and turn it into a night to remember with an overnight stay! • Christmas Party nights - bring your party to The Hoste’s big Christmas Party nights. • Festive Menus throughout December. • Special three night Christmas package, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. • New Year’s Eve two night package including gourmet dinner, dancing and fizz! Take a look at www.thehoste.com for details. For more information and bookings call the Reservations team 01328 738777 or email: reservations@thehoste.com

hoste the



in the centre of Burnham Market, at the heart of the royal coast

HOTEL • RESTAURANTS • BAR • GARDEN • BEAUTY SPA The Hoste, The Green, Burnham Market, Norfolk, PE31 8HD • www.thehoste.com

CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR AT DUNSTON HALL

we have something to suit everyone! FESTIVE PA R T Y NIGHTS from £28

FESTIVE BAND NIGHTS from £49.50

C H R I S T M A S FAY R E IN THE BRASSERIE R E S TA U R A N T from £11.95

JOIN US FOR CHRISTMAS D AY LU N C H from £69.95

Call 01508 470444 or email dunston.hall@devere-hotels.com · www.devere.co.uk/dunstonhall

@Dunston_Hall

NEW YEAR’S EVE GALA DINNER £95 per person Residential package from £195

De Vere Dunston Hall

Offering a Unique Setting on the Edge of the Stunning Ormesby Broad

ormesby broad

Idyllic and romantic wedding venue.

Picturesque woodland holiday lodges.

Country and gastro pub and dining experience open 7 days a week.

Conferencing and private function hire.

Luxury Bed and Breakfast accommodation.

www.theboathouseormesbybroad.co.uk

Tel: 01493 730342

The Boathouse, Ormesby Broad, Eels Foot Road, Ormesby St. Michael, Norfolk NR29 3LP. Tel: 01493 730342 Email: info@theboathouseormesbybroad.co.uk www.theboathouseormesbybroad.co.uk

| September 2014

A Fishermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Friend Chargrilled Peppered Tuna, Spring Onion and Tomato Couscous, Baby Vegetables and Honey Lemon Dressing

Method 1. First make the couscous. Mix together the stock, saffron, olive oil, cumin, coriander, cinnamon and nutmeg. Bring to the boil. Once boiling, stir into the couscous using a fork and then cover with cling film, mixing every five minutes until cool.

4. Cut in half all of the baby vegetables, and then pan fry, using a griddle, in a little olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

2. Next concasse the tomatoes, by putting a cross into the stork of the tomatoes and placing in a pan of boiling water for 5-10 seconds until the skin starts to peel off. Place straight into ice cold water and remove the skin. Cut the tomatoes into quarters, remove the seeds and dice into 2cm cubes.

6. Heat the griddle until very hot, brush each tuna steak with a little olive oil and cracked pepper then cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, so the tuna is left pink but with a nice char.

3. Once the couscous is at room temperature, add the tomatoes, chopped spring onions, pine nuts, lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

5. To make the dressing, mix together the lemon juice, honey and olive oil. Set aside in a squeezy bottle.

7. Place the couscous into a serving ring, baby vegetables to the side and the tuna on top. Drizzle a little dressing over the tuna and serve.

Recipe

Imperial Hotel Simon Wainwright, executive chef at the Imperial Hotel in Great Yarmouth, offers us an ultra healthy fish dish which is packed with colour and flavour SERVES 4

Ingredients

4 x 6oz tuna steaks Picture by Barkers Photographic, Gorleston, www.barkersphotos.co.uk

150g baby courgettes 150g baby corn 150g baby asparagus 1 tbsp cracked black pepper 2 tbsp honey 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice 3 tbsp olive oil

* For the couscous 1 cup chicken stock 1 cup couscous ¼ tsp saffron 1 tbsp olive oil ¼ tsp cumin ¼ tsp coriander ½ tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp nutmeg 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice ½ cup chopped spring onion ½ cup pine nuts 3 tomatoes Salt and pepper

Wine Choice

2011 Beaujolais Villages, Louis Tête Nick Mobbs, director and wine expert at the Imperial Hotel, says: Tuna is, for me, a fish that most closely resembles meat. It is even served best, in my opinion, when cooked pink. I know that we have the adage white wine with fish and red wine with meat, but I think this dish can stand up to a light red. So I am going down Memory Lane and recommending a Beaujolais Villages. It is a wine which is rarely requested these days but was all the rage when I started in the wine business 30 years ago. Like many wines, it was over sold and the public moved on to other tastes. Could this also be the fate of Pinot Grigio I ask myself? However, Beaujolais made from the Gamay grape is a light red wine that will work really well with this tuna dish. Beaujolais Villages is a wine that will not have many tannins due the way it is made by a process called carbonic maceration which extracts the fruit flavour of the grape without the harshness of tannins. This particular wine is light purple in colour, with an elegant, fresh intense nose of soft red fruits. The palate is equally open and fleshy with lots of fruit and very little tannin. The French often drink their Beaujolais slightly chilled so just pop your bottle in the fridge for an hour before serving and you won’t be disappointed!

• A team of brilliant chefs • Superb wine list • Laid-back atmosphere The perfect restaurant for dinner or Sunday lunch. At the Imperial Hotel, North Drive, Gt Yarmouth, NR30 1EQ. To book call 01493 842000

www.cafecru.co.uk

Sunday 12.30 - 2pm Monday - Saturday 6.30 - 10pm The Terrace is open daily. For opening times & menu go to imperialhotel.co.uk

With new menus created by our Head Chef Derrick Ormsby, our new outdoor terrace is perfect for al fresco eating and drinking. Serving food from 6pm, 7 nights a week.

28-30 Camperdown, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 3JB www.andoverhouse.co.uk · 01493 843490 · bookings@andoverhouse.co.uk

13th SEPT

SUMMER BURLESQUE

with Binksy’s Showgirls We’re now taking

CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS For more information please get in touch

Three course meal, show & after party. Arrival at 7pm. Tickets £29.95.

28th SEPT

with Pulp Comedy – alive and fun stand-up

Starts from 8pm. Tickets £6 in advance or £8 on the door.

Thecliffhotel

CliffHotelGlstn

Book your tickets on 01493 662179 · Cliff Hill, Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, NR31 6DH

Recipe

Franck Pontais Oranges with Black and Green Cardamom Syrup A very refreshing, simple and delicious dessert Serves Six

Ingredients

This month our French chef Franck Pontais serves up a tangy dessert that just says sunshine!

Photography by ANDREW FLORIDES, www.andrewflorides.co.uk

6 oranges 250g of caster sugar 10 green cardamom pods 1tsp of ground black cardamom 200ml of water 1 /4 of a bunch of limon cress or mint

Oranges Are The Only Fruit

Let our French chef cook for your private dinner parties, and for those who really enjoy cooking, he also offers master classes, for all abilities, in your own home. More information is available at www.franckpontais.com Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Method 1. Cut a slice off the top and the bottom of the oranges and slice off the skin vertically, turning the orange as you go and being careful to keep as much flesh as possible but removing all pith. 2. Slice each orange into 5mm rounds and arrange the slices in a dish. 3. Put the sugar, water, ground black cardamom and green cardamom pods in a saucepan and cook on a medium heat until you reach a caramel colour and a syrup consistency.

4. Pour the flavoured caramel onto the

orange slices, cover with cling film and leave in the fridge to marinate overnight. 5. The following day, remove the cling film and garnish with some freshly picked mint or limon cress. 6. Serve individual portions in small bowls with a spoon of Greek yoghurt.

RIVER GREEN CAFÉ Visit Norwich’s premier vegetarian restaurant for fine dining and easy eating meals or just coffee and cake! OPEN TUESDAY TO SUNDAY IN THE LOVELY VILLAGE OF TROWSE SPECIAL OFFER!

Bring this advert along to get a free bottle of house * wine with any 2 Fine Dining Main Meals purchased

D E L I | R E S TA U R A N T | E V E N T S The Street, Trowse, Norwich, NR14 8AH 01603 622448 | www.rivergreencafe.co.uk *See website for full terms and conditions. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Only available Tuesday to Thursday. Valid until November 30th 2014.

Table D’Hote Menu

3 courses £15.50 | 2 courses £13.00

· Accommodation · Weddings · Parties · · Evening Meals · Sunday Luncheons · Bar Snacks ·

LARGE FREE CAR PARK

North Drive, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 1EG

01493 844568

www.burlington-hotel.co.uk For Accommodation,

Wine review

Pinot Grigio

Unexpected Pleasure Our wine writer Sam Matthews rather turns his nose up at a famous white – but actually finds it rather delicious!

n the recent hot weather, I was sitting in a beer garden of a Norwich restaurant with an ice-cold glass of probably the best Pinot Grigio I have tasted in a long time, possibly ever. It’s never my first choice, but I wasn’t buying which means it just needed to be cold and palatable! When I asked what we were drinking as it was poured out, the words Pinot Grigio came back across the table, only for a forced smile to engulf my face and a subtle ‘lovely’ to be muttered. As it slipped down in the 27 degree heat, the wine became more and more enjoyable. So much so, I started doubting that the grape variety was correct. It couldn’t be the Northern Italian Pinot Grigio most of us are used to. Dry and crisp, yes, with subtle flavours of apple and pears, but never really doing anything to give you the wow factor and have you reaching for glass after glass. What I was drinking had more acidity, which in turn carried more tropical fruit flavours: melon and kiwi for example. It also had a more amber style in the glass, which I usually associate with something like a Viognier or a new world Chardonnay.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

I was enjoying it too much to bother diving into the cooler to find out more from the bottle’s label, but then curiosity got the better of me. First question answered - it was made entirely from the Pinot Grigio grape. Second question answered - it was not in fact the usual run of the mill Italian Pinot, but from South Western Australia. The all year round warmer climate in this part of the world probably adding the tropical fruit flavours and that golden, more attractive colour in the glass. My excitement in wine comes from situations like this. I love how the same grape variety in central Europe can taste so different, and in my opinion better, when it’s grown in Southern Australia. The big name grape varieties are grown all over the world. You will find Chardonnay on the supermarket shelves from a dozen different countries and Sauvignon Blanc from a similar number. However, the lesser known grape varieties, grown in an area of the world you would not expect, are always more exciting. One of my favourite white wine grapes of the last couple of years is Picpoul. I just want to point out at this stage that this is a grape I have been serving on wine lists for about

seven years - before anyone had seen it on the supermarket shelves (M&S do a great one by the way) and before it was plastered all over food and drink programmes! Anyway, on a trip to Barcelona last year, spending most of my time at the stunning food and drink markets, I came across the Spanish version of my favourite grape at the time. ‘Picapoll,’ as the Spaniards call it was very different again from its French namesake. I sipped it in my hotel room un-chilled after remembering that I was not going to pay Ryanair for anything more than hand luggage! Even though the bottle was nowhere near optimum temperature, I found it to be much richer in the glass in both flavour and colour and again a great surprise from what I was expecting. Next time you are in the supermarket or staring at a wine list, try something a little different. If you automatically default to a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, see if there is a Sauvignon from South Africa. If an Australian Shiraz is the usual tipple, then try a French Syrah or an Argentinean Shiraz. Like me, you will then have a new favourite every few weeks, and you never know, it could save you a few pennies as well.

Geoff Wright

| September 2014

BREWING A

SUCCESS STORY

location, and yet I still wasn’t happy,’ he says. ‘I realised that it was the system of working in an office that wasn’t for me. If it didn’t work for me somewhere like Adnams, it wasn’t going to work anywhere.’ Facing redundancy, Geoff recalls thinking: ‘I know about marketing beer, but not a lot else. Maybe I should make some beer so I can market it.’ And with that simple thought, Grain Brewery was born. Still in a job – albeit one in which he was not happy – Phil remortgaged his house, and that investment, together with Geoff’s redundancy money, got the ball rolling. Renting a former dairy on a farm in south Norfolk, the pair bought some equipment and started brewing. But this was not to be an enterprise driven by money; the pair agreed a simple set of principles on which the new business would operate. ‘We didn’t want to work for someone else, we wanted to make something we were proud of, and we needed to pay our mortgages,’ says Geoff. ‘Those three principles remain at the heart of everything we do.’

This month, food writer Andy Newman says ‘Cheers’ to a Norfolk brewing success story, whilst top chef Roger Hickman creates an ‘ale and hearty’ dish designed to showcase Norfolk’s beer Pictures by ANDY NEWMAN ASSOCIATES, NORWICH

Phil Halls

his month, food writer Andy Newman says ‘Cheers’ to a Norfolk brewing success story, whilst top chef Roger Hickman creates an ‘ale and hearty’ dish designed to showcase Norfolk’s beer. Many of us have sat at our desks daydreaming about a different existence away from the office politics, the endless meetings and the stress; somehow the food and drink industry seems full of people who have taken that dream and turned it into reality. Perhaps it is because what we eat and drink tends to engender a certain passion – and passion is something which will often drive people to follow their dreams. To turn that passion into a successful business, whilst remaining true to your guiding principles: that is an altogether trickier proposition. So it is a joy to meet two people who have done just that, creating one of the county’s biggest food and drink success stories. In 2006, friends Geoff Wright and Phil Halls were both dissatisfied with life. Phil was a project manager at TSO in Norwich; Geoff was a marketing manager working in the brewing industry. As so often happens, redundancy was the catalyst for change. It was Geoff who found himself without a job, after several years working at Adnams. ‘It was a great company, in a great

Norfolk Produce

Beer

Of course, marketing beer and brewing it are two very different things, and the pair faced a steep learning curve. With a crucial piece of advice from former Adnams head brewer Mike Powell-Evans ringing in his ears (‘always use Maris Otter malt’), Geoff took a course at Brewlab in Sunderland, which has nurtured many of the UK’s start-up breweries. Many small breweries make the mistake of trying to create too big a range of beers, and Geoff’s background in beer marketing meant he understood the folly of this. ‘You need to do a small number of beers, well. That way, drinkers become a fan of your beer. People are creatures of habit; they will try something new, but will keep coming back to what they know and like.’ After some experimentation, the Grain range now sticks to that tenet. Four ‘Traditional Beers’ form the backbone of the range: Oak, a light hoppy session beer, and still the best seller; Best Bitter, a more malty brew; Blackwood, a traditional stout; and Porter, a rich, dark blend of roasted malts. Alongside this range are four ‘Inspired Beers’ – inspired by flavours different to the traditional. They include the USinspired IPA; Redwood, a rich, red ale; 3/1/6, an extremely pale ale brewed with lager malt; and Blonde Ash, a Belgian style cloudy wheat beer. The brewer’s creativity is indulged every month with a different ‘Hop of the Month’ brew to complete the range. The brewery grew steadily, with more and more pubs taking the various beers. But Geoff and Phil realised that they needed an outlet for their beer which they could control, and which could act as a showcase for their products. In short, they needed a pub. So, four years ago, they took over a moribund boozer on Norwich’s St Benedict’s Street. Transforming it, and renovating and opening its fabulous garden, Grain has turned The Plough into one of the city’s most successful pubs, selling nearly 2000 pints of their own beer each week, alongside ales from other breweries, including – with a sense of the circle closing – Adnams. Eight years on, Grain Brewery is a huge success story, employing around 15 people, and sending quality ales all over East Anglia and into London. And yet somehow, the founding pair has managed to achieve this without re-creating the very big business feel they both escaped from, and have stayed true to those original principles.

Grain Brewery beers are available on draught in various pubs around the county, amongst them Grain’s own The Plough in Norwich, The Village Inn at West Runton and The Barking Smack at Great Yarmouth. The beer is available to enjoy at home in bottles, available from various independent shops and delis, including Jarrold’s in Norwich, Goodies Farm Shop near Diss, and Russell & Nune in Bungay. More details at www.grainbrewery.co.uk.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

RECIPE Roger Hickman’s braised beef cheeks in Norfolk beer serves FOUR

IN G R E DI E N T S 2 beef cheeks, rapeseed oil, 500ml Grain Best Bitter, 1 carrot, 1 leek, 1 onion, 2 sticks celery, 500ml beef stock, 2 red onions, 8 Norfolk Peer potatoes, a little duck fat, 12 rainbow baby carrots (rubbed but not peeled), butter, a handful of broad beans, 250g spinach, a handful of girolle mushrooms, 2 shallots

Cut the beef cheeks in half, and then seal in a hot pan with a little rapeseed oil. Remove the meat, and then sweat the carrot, leek, onion and celery, which should be chopped roughly. Return the beef cheeks to the pan, and cover with the beer and the stock. Bring to the boil, and then cover with foil and put in the oven at 160°C for 3 1/2 hours. Slice the onions into eight 5mm thick slices. Put a little oil into a roasting pan, and then place the slices in the pan. Sprinkle with a little salt, and then cover with greaseproof paper. Now lay another roasting pan over the top – this will stop the centres of the slices springing out as they cook. Roast in the oven at 180°C for ten minutes. Put the potatoes in a heavy pan. Add enough duck fat to cover them, and cook very slowly on the hob for an hour – the fat should be no more than simmering. Let the potatoes cool, then remove the potatoes and slice them. When ready to serve, crisp them up in a frying pan – they will still have enough duck fat on them to allow this. Roast the carrots in a pan with some butter for about ten minutes – they should be just cooked through, and slightly coloured. Blanch the broad beans, then shell them, and reheat when ready to serve. Clean the mushrooms and pan fry them in a little butter. Blanch the spinach until just wilted – between 30 seconds and a minute. Peel the shallots, and chop them really finely. Heat some rapeseed oil in a pan to a temperature of 180°C, and shallow fry the shallots for 3-4 minutes. Drain them on a clean J cloth to ensure they are crisp. Finally, take the meat out of the pan and strain the cooking liquor. Return to a clean pan, and reduce by half, to give you an unctuous, beer-flavoured jus.

Roger Hickman is chef-proprietor at Roger Hickman's Restaurant in Upper St Giles, Norwich. More details at www.rogerhickmansrestaurant.com 61

Award Winning Fine Dining

Our Award Winning A La Carte Menu offers locally sourced ingredients and produce, resulting in traditional British dishes with a modern European twist. As a Fine Dining Restaurant, service and food are paramount, resulting in the ultimate dining experience.

For more information please call 01508 491112 or visit www.brasteds.co.uk Parties & Events

Restaurant

Corporate Events

Weddings

Boutique B&B

Langley Abbey

T I M E

T H E

E N J O Y

For Business

Gaming Floor

Restaurant and Bars

Highly-equipped conference rooms suitable for up to 60 people, at very competitive rates. The ideal location for your team meeting or event.

There’s something for everybody on our gaming floor… grab a drink from the bar or try your hand at Roulette, Blackjack or our Jackpot slot machines.

Our fine dining experience is one to savour, with beautiful views of our gardens. Whether it’s a meal for two or a large celebration, we can cater for all.

P O K E R

E V E N T S

S U N D A Y

L U N C H

L I V E

Grosvenor Casino, Marine Parade, Great Yarmouth, NR30 3JG · Tel: 01493 850444 · www.grosvenorcasinos.com www.facebook .com/grosvenorcasinogreatyarmouth

@ G C G r e a t Ya r m o u t h

T H E

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

keepitfun.rank.com Over 18s only. Photo ID is required. www.gambleaware.co.uk

Competition

Park Farm Hotel, Hethersett

Take A Break As summer draws to a close we all need cheering up! So how about a lovely night away in a leading hotel on the outskirts of Norwich with great leisure facilities?

his month, Places and Faces® has teamed up with Park Farm Hotel at Hethersett, just to the south of Norwich, to offer one lucky reader the chance to win a night away for two, complete with dinner and breakfast. And full use of the lovely leisure facilities and afternoon tea! The hotel, which also has conference and business facilities, is based around a Georgian farmhouse, so has plenty of original features. It was purchased by the Gowing family in 1958. Over the years they have tastefully transformed it from a dairy farm, offering farm holidays, into one of Norfolk’s leading hotels. Until 1981, meals were prepared in the old farmhouse kitchen. This was then refurbished and expanded for the opening of the public restaurant in the original farmhouse. Park Farm Hotel has a lovely friendly feel to it, with a very popular bar and conservatory where decadent afternoon teas are served, with a splendid choice of teas and homemade cakes. There’s also a more formal dining room where you’ll enjoy a lavish dinner, created using the area’s local produce under the watchful eye of executive chef David Bell. All 53 bedrooms are individually designed, with flat screen televisions, and many have pleasing views over the landscaped gardens. Several have patios and terraces, too. The leisure facilities include a state-of-the-art gym where you can limber up and a lovely swimming pool where you can relax. Add in a hydrotherapy pool with lots of bubbles to ease out tensions and also sauna and steam rooms, and you have a very nice spa experience. We are offering one lucky reader the chance to win a night away for two in an executive bedroom, complete with a three-course dinner and full English breakfast. Chocolate and Champagne will be in the bedroom and afternoon tea is also included on arrival day! So be sure to arrive hungry!

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

To enter, simply answer the following question: » Where is Park Farm Hotel situated?

Send you answer to competitions@h2creativemedia.co.uk Please remember to include your name, address and a daytime telephone number. You can also enter via Facebook. Go to our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ placesandfacesmagazine and like our page and share the competition. Simple! Entrants must be over 18. The prize must be taken before December 15 2014. It is subject to availability. Normal Places&Faces® rules apply and the editor’s decision is final. The closing date is September 30 2014 when a winner will be selected at random.

| September 2014

James Spicer ventures into deepest Broadland to discover a village pub that is enjoying a new lease of life Head Chef Jamie Moore and Landlord Ricky Malt

lthough I have lived and worked in Norfolk for many years, one of the joys of the county is continually discovering new hidden gems. I have visited many of the Broadland villages, but, until recently, had never chanced upon Neatishead. True, I was aware of the RAF radar station, and the radar museum; but the village itself came as a most pleasant surprise. Driving in on a pleasant summer evening to visit the village’s pub, The White Horse, the word ‘idyllic’ quickly came to mind. People were sitting outside, enjoying a pint in the evening sunshine, and the place appeared to be buzzing. And this on a Tuesday evening. The White Horse has recently been relaunched in a campaign to save it, thanks to the backing of a local businessman. The cost is not far short of a million, but it’s

obviously money well spent. We walked in to be greeted by well-lit, light rooms, with pale wood and a minimalist approach. Gastro-pub, perhaps. Definitely not. So says landlord Ricky Malt, who comes down firmly with his assertion that the White Horse is a ‘proper old-fashioned drinker’s pub’ that serves good food, and not a restaurant with a public bar. Talk to Ricky for a couple of minutes and you discover his real passion… beer. On this blessed subject his enthusiasm borders on the evangelical. He likes ‘proper’ beer and local brews are the speciality; you won’t find any of the mass-produced fizzy stuff here. It’s quality above quantity, says Ricky. Familiar local names like Adnams and Woodfordes feature strongly, and there are generally around seven cask ales ‘on’ at any one time, plus the same number of craft keg beers. Mixers are supplied by Fever Tree, juices by Frobishers and premium spirits come from Adnams, Sipsmiths and Chase. Best of all, the pub will have its own micro-brewery on line by the end of the year. It’s a shrewd move that is bound to bring in customers, particularly so as the pub becomes known to Broadland visitors. The White Horse is within walking distance of several moorings, and an easy drive from Norwich. But it was noticeable on our visit that there was a good sprinkling of locals there who have obviously taken the revamped pub to their hearts. Tempted as I was to tuck into the craft beers, I was driving that night so settled for a small glass of a nicely chilled Sauvignon Blanc instead. The menu is compact and will have a lot of family appeal. Although all nicely presented, it is unpretentious and makes good use of local ingredients. The producers include Swannington Farm, Lowestoft Shellfish, Pye Bakery, McCarthys, Jubberwacky Chutney, Norfolk Cordial, Crush Oils and Grey Seal Coffee (yes, even the coffee is roasted in Norfolk)

FOOD review

Photos by Max LeverIDge

White Horse, Neatishead

The White Horse Inn, The Street, Neatishead NR12 8AD; call 01692 630828, or email thewhitehorseinn@hotmail.com

We were shown to a table on the mezzanine level (not too many pubs have one!) having first placed our order at the bar. For starters, my wife chose the tempura battered prawns with rocket salad and dip (£4.95) and made

“

There was also a choice of duck and chicken dishes, plus two veggie options and a range of burgers and grills (featuring the belly-busting White Horse grill at £21.95 with steak, sausages, prawns, vegetables, salad and home-made chips!). The puddings (we had no room left for these, unfortunately) are the popular choices of Eton mess, cheesecake, pannacotta and the like, from £4.95; the pub also offers sandwiches and light bites, plus a special menu for the children. Finishing our coffee in comfortable chairs in one of the lounges we reflected upon our visit, and there was much to enjoy, the food and drink apart. We loved the lighting (the main bar area has pint pot shades) and the décor in general. All this, coupled with Ricky’s enthusiastic leadership and an attentive and courteous staff, made us want to go again, and we shall. And next time I shall ask my wife to drive so I can sample some of those beers!

The menu is compact and will have a lot of family appeal. Although all nicely presented, it is unpretentious and makes good use of local ingredients.

”

short work of them, while I chose the smoked haddock fishcake with creamed leeks (also £4.95). My fishcake was full of flavour and I enjoyed the fact that the leeks hadn’t been cooked to distraction and provided a nice texture. Other choices included garlic bruschetta with tomato, chilli and rocket (£4.75) and seared breast of pigeon with bacon lardons and beetroot cream (£5.25). On to mains, then, and I had little problem selecting the pork belly, knowing full well the excellent quality of the meat produced in this area. A generous portion was served with cabbage and mash (£11.95) and proved just as good as I had hoped. Meanwhile, my wife chose the mackerel (what else?) with a warm potato, tomato and olive salad (£10.95). She was struck both by the flavour of the fish and the simplicity of the dish.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| SEPTEMBER 2014

THE GOOD LIFE

argo’s is buzzing as we arrive – full of smiling faces and excited chatter. Customers are attracted to its fun décor and good food, at very reasonable prices. Situated on the town’s old high street, Bells Road, it is a welcome addition to Gorleston’s eating out scene which includes the legendary Cliff Hotel with its gorgeous terrace, and the Pier Hotel with its friendly atmosphere. It is kitted out in kitsch 70s style, with an accent on brown and orange, and you constantly hear people exclaiming: ‘My granny has that glass’ and: ‘my parents had that sugar bowl!’ I certainly recognised much from my childhood – the G-Plan furniture, Ercol chairs, standard lamps, lurid shades, geometric prints and the crockery and cutlery. We even had hessian wallpaper at home, too, which my mother was immensely proud of – until us kids picked at it. Oops! So, there is much for the eye to soak up, including a record player and several LPs – remember them? When we visited Blondie’s Parallel Lines was blaring out and we also spotted the Beach Boys’ greatest hits on vinyl. Everything has been gathered together by owner Kay Halladay who has scoured everywhere from auction houses to jumble sales to find the wonderful selection. She opened the tea lounge with her husband Gary and daughters, Jess and Nancy, in June and it has a short but tasty menu. Breakfast is served from 8.30am to 11am and includes the perennial favourite, the bacon butty, plus croissants and teacakes. Light lunches are served from 11am to 2.30pm and you can choose from sandwiches and paninis, open sandwiches, soup and a couple of salads. And there’s a tasty quiche cooked up every day. When we called by, it was roasted vegetable and feta, which is served with salad and coleslaw at £4.50.

I’ve been a couple of times as it is within walking distance of our office – and you can hardly get our designers out of there! I really enjoyed the chicken salsa salad (£4.50) which was packed with tomatoes, cucumber, leaves and coleslaw and a good smattering of mango salsa. Delicious. Their open sarnies (£4.95) are good, too. I’ve had a pesto, tomato and mozzarella one, and the cheese on toast with pickle is your ultimate guilty pleasure! There are plenty of drinks from the very healthy smoothies, to lattes, milkshakes, hot chocolates and flavoured teas. But, of course, what we really love are the cakes. There is a fabulous daily selection which might include very berry Bakewell, orange and almond, coconut, lemon drizzle – the list goes on and on! I was predictably beaten by a very naughty jam and peanut butter slice, served with ice cream, and one of the Places and Faces team, Elliott, waxed lyrical about his chilli and cinnamon brownie for several days. So, whether you want a light lunch or just coffee, cake and chat – this could be the place for you. It certainly is for us! Margo’s is named after that fantastic character, Margot Leadbetter, in the hit 70s TV series, The Good Life. It is one of Kay’s favourite programmes. Also starring Richard Briers and Felicity Kendal as Tom and Barbara Good, the series saw the ever fashionable Margot, married to the long suffering Jerry, be very perplexed by her neighbours, the Goods, who want to be self-sufficient and never manage to live by ‘normal’ suburban rules! There are plans to open in the evening, with maybe themed events - I can just see a fondue night as a real success – and are considering applying for a drinks licence. So, Margo’s is cooking on gas! And while they may pay homage to the 70s, the tea lounge is right up-to-date as they’ve just started to accept payment by cards and have free wifi!

Photos by MaTT Custance & ELLIOTT MOWLE

Quirky tearooms and cafes are all the rage and now Gorleston boasts a very fine example. Sarah Hardy calls by Margo’s for lunch – and cake!

food review

Margo’s, Gorleston

MORE INFORMATION Margo’s, Bells Road, Gorleston, opens from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday. Visit www.margoscafe.co.uk

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| SEPTEMBER 2014

Fjord thought

Glaciers, islands, steep mountains and waterfalls – a cruise through the Norwegian fjords has it all – and plenty of nosh, says Kate Morfoot 68

Travel

Norway

ithout having to leave your bedroom or move from the top-deck Jacuzzi, the most stunning scenery gently glides by, allowing you to feast your eyes on spectacular rock formations, gleaming waterfalls and miles of crystal azure water. I am on a Fred Olsen cruise ship from Southampton heading to Norway. The Balmoral is an impressive vessel and it is my home for a week, sold under the befitting banner of Phenomenal Fjords and Thundering Waterfalls. The ship is nearly 220m long and 30m wide and it’s crewed by 510 enthusiastic and attentive staff looking after 1350 passengers. Cabin accommodation is varied. You can choose a premier or superior cabin or a balcony suite, inside or outside. I opted for a superior outside cabin with a balcony as it gave us lots of comfortable space and the balcony was perfect for sight-seeing! However, if you don’t wish to spend the entire cruise in your room placing orders for the excellent room service and watching the view, then there is a mountain of things to keep you entertained on board.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Interesting port talks, bridge and craft classes, cooking demonstrations, guest speakers, dancing, yoga or Pilates classes, and this is all before breakfast! Aside from all the entertainment you also have to make time to enjoy all the food the chefs have prepared. At the start of the week you are watching what you eat but by the end of the holiday a full English breakfast, three-course lunch and a fivecourse supper is the norm, and you begin to wonder how you ever managed to survive with just a one course meal at home. A highlight worth experiencing is the ‘White Glove Service’ tea time with speciality loose teas immaculately served to you in a traditional way in the Observatory Lounge on the top deck. After a busy day meeting new people, being entertained and what seemed like eating your body weight in delicious food, the only thing left to do is to get ready for the night’s entertainment. There are two formal dress nights and the remainder are smart casual. Most women visit the beauty salon and hairdressers on the Highland Deck where there are amazing treatments to choose from. Over the week, I had my hair done, enjoyed a relaxing back massage and also received a Collagen Facial treatment. >>> 69

Waitrose

QuickCheck

Fast-track your shopping

SAVE money

See how much you spend as you shop, make the most of special deals, and avoid any last minute surprises.

SAVE hassle

Pack your shopping straight into bags in your trolley. You then just pay and go, with no need for repacking.

SAVE time

Bypass the usual checkouts and pay at the Welcome Desk, which can be quicker

Sign-up at the Welcome Desk with any credit or debit card. It takes just a few minutes and you only need to do it once.

Scan each item using the handheld scanner. You’ll see a running total of your spending on the screen. If you change your mind, simply remove and delete items as you go.

2 3 4

Pack your items straight into bags that you’ve brought with you, or picked up in store. Pay at a till by your usual method or, if you have a Partnership Card™, you can save even more time when you use Quick Pay, our automated payment service.

We trust all our customers, which is why we created Quick Check. As part of the process, we’ll occasionally scan your shop, just to make sure that everything scanned correctly.

Your Local Branch WaitroseNorwich Church Lane, Eaton, Norwich, NR4 6NU

Tel: 01603 458114 waitrose.com/norwich

Branch Location Sun: Mon: Tue: Wed: Thu: Fri: Sat:

10:00 - 16:00 08:00 - 20:00 08:00 - 20:00 08:00 - 20:00 08:00 - 20:00 08:00 - 21:00 08:00 - 20:00

Waitrose Community Matters

Every month this branch will donate £1000 between three local good causes that you choose.

Services & Facilities Shopping Services

Customer Facilities

Food Counters & Ranges

WaitroseEntertaining Quick Check / Quick Pay

Pay Phone Lottery Cash Point Cafe Waitrose Car Park Customer Toilets Pharmacy

Fish Cheese Delicatessen Rotisserie Meat Bakery Salad Bar

Other Services Glass Loan Fish Kettle Loan

Travel

Norway

Being a seafood lover, I tried the fish soup which was delicious and full of meaty salmon and white fish

The evening shows are spectacularly good. We were treated to a comedian, a fantastic musical production that included all the big hits as well as a spectacular performance of the World’s Got Talent on Water from many of the crew who proved to be talented singers, dancers and musicians. If that’s not your thing, then you can head to the casino tables for some Roulette and Black Jack or the library and Internet room to catch up on reading and current affairs. This holiday is one of Fred Olsen’s more popular routes, there’s so much to see while cruising and not too much time at sea. The on-shore trips and activities are well organised. My first stop was Flam which lies on the shores of Sognefjord, at a little over 193kms/120 miles, it’s the world’s longest fjord. For the on-shore excursion I chose kayaking and I was relieved to find that our group were not doing the whole stretch! 11 of us set off in yellow kayaks on our watery adventure, past stunning waterfalls and green tree covered mountains. After 5km we pulled our kayaks up on a grassy bank where Jack our Canadian guide magically produced food, tea and lit a barbecue. There is a lot more to do in this pretty place and just outside Flam is the famous Kjosfossen Waterfall and viewpoint. There is an interesting trip by express boat to Bergen, from where passengers return to Flam by the picturesque railway. Also you can take a three-hour sightseeing cruise taking you to ancient churches or on a tour of the Aurland Shoe Factory. The next morning I woke up in Olden, home to Norway’s largest glacier. The glacier I was excited about visiting was the Briksdal in the Oldedalen Valley. After a short coach journey, mainly through mountain tunnels we arrived. You can walk up to see the glacier or take an electric car, and along the way you see foaming rivers and waterfalls all at the same time.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

I also visited Bergen, Norway’s second largest city, and Stavanger, an architectural town. In Bergen, I soaked up the maritime atmosphere and stumbled upon a fish market selling lobster, salmon, giant crabs, whale meat and caviar. Behind each stall were tables and chairs where there was fish soup and curry on offer as well as delicious salmon and prawn salads. Being a seafood lover, I tried the fish soup which was delicious and full of meaty salmon and white fish. After lots of retail therapy, a climb up the spiral staircase to the top of Rosencrantz Tower at the harbour and a necessary ‘expensive’ pint in the Norwegian restaurant, Egon, (£12 for ¾ litre of lager), I headed back to the ship for an obligatory three- course lunch! Stavanger is most impressive with windy streets and independent shops selling high class Norwegian goods such as knit-wear, throws and homeware. The ‘old town’ is full of stunning timber houses, a cathedral and fabulous restaurants. From here I took a boat trip to Lysefjord, a fjord which is 42km long and which was formed by glaciers during the Ice Age. This cruise also took in the sight of the Hengjane Waterfall, where pure fresh water plummets 400m down into the fjord and this combined with classical music, was one of my best Nordic experiences! En route back, the boat stopped at the Helleren Fjord restaurant for cups of tea, waffles, cream and strawberry jam. Having had the ‘obligatory’ English breakfast before embarking on this boat trip, of course, I just felt compelled to eat this as well!

MORE INFORMATION Fred Olsen Cruise Lines will be offering a similar cruise in 2015. Visit www.fredolsencruises.com for more.

| September 2014

A C a p i ta l T r i p Mark Nicholls steps out for a short break in London and enjoys a mix of street art, royal history and Indian cuisine!

ondon always seems to offer a fresh perspective on how you experience certain parts of the capital.

Walking tours continue their popularity and the range on offer continues to grow – anything from a tour of various gin joints to re-tracing scenes associated with Jack the Ripper, following in the footsteps of The Beatles or ‘admiring’ the graffiti of the Shoreditch and Whitechapel side streets. I have to admit to being less than enamoured with the prospect, when invited to amble along with a small group to view the graffiti sprayed on hoardings, derelict walls and the ends of buildings. But it wasn’t too long before I had readjusted my view on these works by so-called street artists, though much of that was down to the informed guide who appeared to have intimate knowledge of the artists and their work, speaking of them in the revered tones that that curator of the Royal Art collection may discuss a Vermeer. Having the nuances of the work teased out, exploring the competitive edge, rivalry and camaraderie of these street artists did offer a fascinating and unexpected insight into this part of London. It later transpired that Karin Samuels was a street artist himself, a fact revealed when he was barely able to disguise his frustration at the discovery of a rival having spraypainted over his treasured creation on a derelict wall. Yet this was street art of the highest quality; imaginative, innovative and provocative as well as clever and with great attention to detail. There were long shadows drawn across pavements from the smallest of characters, huge stilted street scenes on wall-ends, trademark logos and signatures embossed into intricate designs, and a whole host of garish creations.

Travel

London

This, however, was not the work of rebels, emerging hooded at night to create their spray-can images but work painted by those who had drawn over shutters and hoardings with the permission of owners. They may not yet be as internationally-acclaimed as Banksy but with names such as Stik, Invader, Jimmy C, RUN and Pablo Delgardo, their work was bringing colour and life to the streets around Brick Lane. While London has some of the best visitor attractions on the planet, much of the experience is about absorbing the ambience of the city such as exploring the markets, whether that is in Camden, Portobello Road, or some of the rejuvenated markets of the capital. While the traditional stalls may have disappeared to be replaced by artisan foods, breads, cheese, specialist meats and food stalls that sell the steaming flavours of the world, markets such as Greenwich – close to the naval history of the National Maritime Museum – or Borough Market in the shadow of Southwark Cathedral make a fascinating diversion, and a great place to grab some lunch. And there’s always Covent Garden – a tourist honey pot with the street performers, statuesque figures standing motionless for minutes on end, and the souvenir stalls. Just around the corner from Leicester Square and the West End theatres, any short break to London should take in a show. This time, we saw the excellent Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre. But with London there’s always the lure of palaces, cathedrals, museums and monuments. One of my favourite views is across the river just in front of The Globe theatre, with the Millennium Footbridge spanning across the Thames as the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral rises above the City. Well worth a visit, Sir Christopher Wren’s creation contains

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

the tomb of Lord Nelson, Poet’s Corner and the magnificent whispering dome. For us, on our latest adventure to the capital, one of the highlights was Buckingham Palace and an insight into the home of The Queen. The State Rooms, open for the summer until September 28, are excellent value at £21 for adults and £11.25 for children. With an audio tour, the palace is brought to life with stories of its construction, the art work and treasures contained within and an insight into day-to-day life within its confines. There’s also an exhibition of Royal Childhood which features gifts and outfits belonging to nine generations of royal children from the future George IV to Prince George of Cambridge. Don’t forget to take in the changing of the guard, one of Britain’s great ceremonial traditions. After spending up to two hours touring the various chambers where investitures and dignitaries are received and then dine in the State Dining Room, the tour spills out on the gardens and the location of the famous Royal Garden Parties. During our visit to London, we’re always on the lookout for somewhere interesting to eat and one of the finest – for connoisseurs of Indian cuisine – is Tayyabs. Another little spot I’d be delighted to recommend is Tas Pide, an authentic and lively Turkish restaurant just around the corner from the Globe Theatre and set back from the Thames. London is a daytrip or short break destination any time of the year from Norfolk and a city where you can enjoy the extremes. Where else can you admire one of the finest art collections on the planet in the morning and savour the artistic delights of street graffiti in the afternoon?

Accommodation Mark Nicholls stayed with ibis Hotels in London. Visit: www.ibis.com

Dining For more information visit www.tayyabs.co.uk or www.tasrestaurants.co.uk

Transport Norwich to London with Abellio Greater Anglia, visit www.abelliogreater anglia.co.uk

Buckingham Palace: Summer Opening of the State Rooms Until September 28, visit www.royalcollection.org.uk

Street Art London For more information on London street arts tours see www.streetartlondon.co.uk

| September 2014

How do you fancy the idea of having a holiday home in a coastal woodland retreat in Norfolk? Emma Outten returned to Wild Duck Holiday Park after 30 years to find that much has changed!

It’s been a long time since I last stayed at Wild Duck Holiday Park – 30 years to be precise - and a lot has changed since those teenage years. But more of that later! Wild Duck is nestled between the Norfolk Broads and the country village of Belton and yet it’s still less than five miles from the sea. Set within 98 acres of magical woodland, the holiday park offers a supremely relaxed holiday home ownership lifestyle. On arrival my daughter and I were given a guided tour. Having visited the park previously, albeit a while ago I was amazed by how much it has transformed into what is best described as a rural woodland retreat, a real hidden gem, with facilities and amenities perfect for a home from home. The piazza area, a relatively new development with a footbridge over the stream leading into an open space surrounded by the indoor pool, shop, restaurants and Showbar gave the park a distinct village feel. At the far end of the piazza, there is a pedestrian (and duck) crossing (the park is called Wild Duck after all!) which takes you over the road to the multi-sports court, play ground and sports range, which serves as both the park’s archery range and fencing hall.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

WILD DUCK HOLIDAY PARK

Wild Duck Holiday Park, Howard’s Common, Belton, Norfolk. NR31 9NE. Call 01493 781587 or visit www.wildduckholidaypark.com

Obviously a lot has changed in the three decades since I was last there. The big new development for this year is the Nature Rockz initiative, which aims to get families to connect with nature and take part in lots of activities, all expertly led by Wild Duck’s very own friendly park ranger. And it’s free for owners! The park ranger is particularly popular with owners, and leads a number of back to nature activities, including the intriguingly sounding mini beast safari. One of the newest additions to the park is the Merry Mallard, an exclusive owners’ lounge, hosting a number of events. We arrived on the day of the Summer of Love party, where the Swinging Blue Jeans were performing and everyone was on the dance floor. We had great fun at the party and enjoyed getting to know some of the owners who told us about the real sense of community at Wild Duck and how much they look forward to returning to their holiday home and catching up with friends they have made on the park. We were excited about spending the night in a holiday home in such a serene and tranquil location. Ours was surprisingly spacious with two-bedrooms, one en-suite, the kitchen/dining/living area was suitably open plan, as you would expect. As you can imagine, there are ducks galore on site, but we also saw plenty of rabbits and lots of other wildlife where we were. Once settled, it was time to take a trip down memory lane and pay a visit to the heated outdoor pool, where I seemed to spend so much of my stay 30 years ago. As you would expect it has since been refurbished and I particularly liked the freshly painted Southwold beach hut style changing rooms. My daughter clearly likes getting soaking wet so next up she enjoyed the AquaJets activity in the indoor pool – a perfect activity for a nine-year-old, and she absolutely loved it! Then it was time for tea. We opted for a traditional fish and chips supper – courtesy of an on-site Cook’s of Lowestoft takeaway restaurant, but we were tempted by the Sitting Duck cafe bar and grill. Or if you fancy doing it yourself, there’s a well-stocked convenience store opposite which caters for all your needs. The night we were there, X-Factor finalist Danyl Johnson (remember him? He was my favourite back in 2009!) was the live act providing the entertainment in the familyfriendly Showbar – and my daughter was straight down to

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

the front and dancing by the stage (once I’d steered her through the all-too-tempting Funworks Amusements, that is). Following a good night’s sleep and breakfast in our holiday home, there was one more activity left for us to partake in – the ever-popular karting (Haven is well-known for offering this as an activity). In half an hour we managed to do a couple of circuits of the park, navigating our way through Pine Grove, a secluded woodland development scattered with lodges, stopping off at the beautifully crafted tree house nestled amongst the trees. It was very easy to forget we were in Norfolk and just a couple of miles from the coast! But all good things have to come to an end, and it was time to go home. I left feeling relaxed and refreshed and I’m happy to report that my pre-teenager had enjoyed it just as much as I had done all those years ago.

*Limited availability - call our holiday booking line on 01263 576022 or visit our website at www.woodlandholidaypark.co.uk for more information and to book.

Woodland Holiday Park Trimingham, Norfolk NR11 8QJ Tel: 01263 576022 Email: info@woodland-park.co.uk

WWW.WOODLANDHOLIDAYPARK.CO.UK

| September 2014

Scholarships and bursaries can certainly help off-set fees at private schools. We look at what’s on offer at Norfolk independents

Making

Education

More Accessible

private education is something many parents would like for their children. But they find the fees simply too much. Help can be at hand through various bursary and scholarship schemes but it can tricky to work out exactly what’s on offer! In general, fee reductions, in the form of both scholarships and bursaries, are offered to children with particular abilities in say sport or music, or for academic prowess. Children will have to undergo some form of selection process, most likely a test and interview so they need to be ready and able for this. Each independent school has their own rules about bursaries, scholarships and awards, so do check out their websites to find out information such as who qualifies, how much you can get and how to apply. Here’s an at-a-glance guide to what is on offer in our region… 78

Taverham Hall Preparatory School, Taverham, near Norwich At the start of each academic year, the Headmaster of Taverham Hall Preparatory School, on the outskirts of Norwich, awards scholarships to children of outstanding ability. These are awarded for music, sport, arts, cricket; academic excellence and, in exceptional circumstances, an all-rounder, which encompasses all of the above. Scholarships are designed to reward excellence and to celebrate exceptional talent. There are two entry points for scholarships: 7+ is for applicants that are under 11 years old on September 1 and should be in Year 3 or above at the time of the test. 11+ scholarships are available for talented and dedicated pupils, who are committed to reaching their full potential in the upper years at Taverham Hall Preparatory School. Pupils must be new to the school at this entry point. Scholarships involve the reduction of fees, by a percentage, which is retained throughout a pupil’s time at the school, subject to satisfactory progress and behaviour. Scholarship tests will take place on January 28 and 29 2015 and are awarded as a result of assessments and interviews.

Glebe House, Hunstanton Scholarships for academic, sporting and musical excellence are available to gifted, and talented, Prep children, and can offer a substantial reduction on school fees. Glebe House also offers a number of means tested bursaries, dependent upon household income. Gresham’s School, Holt Scholarships are offered to talented and dedicated students who show outstanding potential, academically, or in the fields of art, drama, music or sport. Bursary funding is also available, both to scholarship holders and to children who do not win a scholarship but are likely to benefit substantially from a Gresham’s education. Hethersett Old Hall, Hethersett, near Norwich Scholarships are offered to talented and dedicated students who show outstanding potential, academically, or in the fields of art, drama, music or sport. Bursary funding is also available, both to scholarship holders and to children who do not win a scholarship but are likely to benefit substantially from a Gresham’s education.

Education Feature

Scholarships & Bursaries

Langley School, near Loddon Langley School recognises that all students are talented, and that some excel in the area of academic work and for others, their ability lies in art, drama, music, sport or technology – the scholarships on offer reflect that. Norwich School Scholarships are assessed by examination, interview and audition, and reward pupils with outstanding ability and flair that will make a significant contribution to the school in their area. Scholarships are available for music, sport and academic ability which increases to include art, design and drama in the sixth form. All bursaries are means-tested and can result in a reduction in fees of up to 100 per cent; there is a sliding scale based on family income and finances and resources of the school. Norwich High School for Girls Scholarships and bursaries are available on entry to the senior school at 11+ and 13+; and to the sixth form at 16+. Bursaries also take into account academic merit and are means-tested according to parental income. Thetford Grammar School Bursaries are based on an assessment of financial circumstances and can be up to 100 per cent of the fees. Up to six scholarships are awarded to the top performers in the entrance examinations. Town Close School, Norwich The Bursary programme is designed to enable those who meet the school’s entry criteria, but cannot afford the fees and other costs, to take up a place. Scholarships are designed to reward excellence and to celebrate exceptional talent. Scholarships are awarded for academic, sporting and musical excellence. These are tenable from Year 6, for a pupil’s final three years in the School. Wymondham College As one of 36 state boarding schools in England and the largest of its type with up to 700 boarding places, Wymondham College operates the Government’s 16-19 Bursary Fund policy. The College also offers a number of priority specialist places in music and sport to applicants for day or boarding places in Year 7 (11+). Saint Felix, Southwold This day and boarding school offers a wide range of both bursaries and scholarships. Scholarships are available for academic ability and also in subjects as diverse as swimming, equestrian, drama, design and technology, art, photography, sport, music and Performing Arts.

WHAT IS CLICKABLE PAPER™? Clickable Paper™ is a newly developed cross-media printing service that links traditionally printed materials with rich online advert via your customers’ Smartphone or tablet devices. Clickable Paper technology was developed by Ricoh Innovations Corporation and pioneered here at Barnwell Print with one of our longstanding publishing customers.

HOW DOES CLICKABLE PAPER™ WORK? Readers simply download the free Clickable Paper™ App and point their Smartphone or tablet at your Clickable Paper content. The App identifies your Clickable Paper material and automatically launches interactive services directly to your website on your customer’s portable device.

HOW TO USE DOWNLOAD the CP Clicker app through your iphone App Store or for Android through TM Google Play Search for CP Clicker for Barnwell

SNAP a picture using the CP Clicker app

POINT your device at the Clickable Paper-enabled material ENJOY your rich media content CP Clicker

SNAP a picture using the CP Clicker app

CONTACT

ENJOY your rich media content CP Clicker

Julian Barnwell Telephone 01263 732 767 Email mail@barnwellprint.co.uk www.barnwellprint.co.uk

places and faces_Layout 1 21/07/2014 13:40 Page 1

Pre-Prep Nursery

Freedom to explore TAVERHAM HALL Preparatory School

Independent Education for Boys and Girls aged 21/ 2 - 13

OPEN MORNING Friday 3 October 9 am - 12 noon

Scholarship Assessments

Prep

ice at able abled

NEW interactive print try it on this page or the advert on Taverham Hall below

28 & 29 January 2015 For Academic, Music, Cricket, Art, Sport and All-Rounder at 7+ and 11+ 01603 868206

www.taverhamhall.co.uk

Space to thrive. Set in 200 acres of beautiful countryside and just 4 miles from the breathtaking North Norfolk coast, Greshamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gives your child all the time and space they need to develop into confident, well-rounded young individuals.

Open Day For dates and further details of our Open Days, please visit www.greshams.com Greshamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is an independent co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged between 3 and 18.

The many characters of Saint Felix Please contact us for a copy of our prospectus. 01502 727048 • melissa@stfelix.co.uk • stfelix.co.uk

In September Lowestoft College will proudly welcome students to its brand new Lound Campus. Set in 17 acres of sports field this state-of-the-art unique facility will provide exciting educational, training and employment opportunities. Lowestoft College will continue to operate from the current St Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Street location, with the following courses being delivered at the innovative Lound Campus:

Air Cabin Crew Travel and Tourism

Sports and Leisure Uniformed Services

The campus has undergone a comprehensive refurbishment and will provide students with the atmosphere and facilities needed to remain focused, reach their full potential and achieve success in their chosen career. The sports hall and 17 acres of field will present both the Sports and Leisure and Uniformed Services students with the space they need to train efficiently.

Lowestoft College is the place to start your career.

Alongside a comprehensive range of full and part time courses and apprenticeships they also offer degree level courses through UCS Lowestoft and access courses that are designed to you prepare for studying for a degree.

Free bus service available linking the Lound Campus with Lowestoft College and Gorleston. Visit our website for more information.

Over 24 and thinking of joining a Level 3 or 4 course? Ask about the 24+ loan scheme to help meet your training costs. For more information call Student Services on 0800 854 695, email info@lowestoft.ac.uk

or visit www.lowestoft.ac.uk

OPEN EVENING Thursday 18th September 6.30pm to 9pm F O R E N T RY TO Y E A R 7 - 2 0 1 5

LYNN GROVE HIGH SCHOOL has a long tradition of academic excellence and superb care. We are very proud of our school; the achievements of our pupils, the skills and enthusiasms of our staff and our excellent facilities. We firmly believe in upholding the time honoured ideals of courtesy, self discipline and respect for one another. Combining the best of the modern with traditional values provides a firm foundation for the future success of our young people. We offer an exceptionally broad and rigorous curriculum that enables our young people to follow their passions up to GCSE and beyond. Through the curriculum, we are working to support our pupils to become more independent in their learning, knowledgeable in their outlook and skilled in their relationships with others.

We strive to ensure that there is something special for everyone at Lynn Grove. We offer an outstanding range of extra-curricular enrichment and take great pride in the sporting prowess of our young people. Music enriches the lives of many of our pupils and we are determined to foster and develop the creative talents of all members of our community. The school is a dynamic institution ready to take up exciting opportunities and striving to remain at the forefront of best practice. By working closely and collaboratively with our families and the community, we know that what our young people can achieve is impressive and will equip them well for their future as successful young adults, independent learners and engaged citizens.

The Governors, Headteacher, Staff and Pupils of Lynn Grove High School warmly welcome parents and prospective pupils to our Open Evening. You will have the opportunity to meet our teachers and view our splendid facilities. Our pupils will be on hand to show you around and share some of their work with you. Headteacher, Alison Mobbs, will make a presentation to parents and pupils at 6.30pm, 7.30pm and 8.30pm in the Main Hall. We will be holding an open morning on Wednesday, 24th September between 9.15 am and 12.00pm when you will be able to see the school at work. Please contact the school office for further information. We offer up to 10% of our places to children with aptitude in Design Technology. Application forms are available from the school from 18th September. Closing date for receipt of applications is 6th October. (Entrance tests for these places will take place in the week commencing 13th October).

www.lynngrove.org.uk 01493 661406 Lynn Grove, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 8AP 路 enquiries@lynngrove.org.uk

valuations in norfolk

As one of the world’s leading auction houses we provide free and confidential valuations of items you may be considering selling at auction, together with formal valuations for probate and insurance, direct from our Norfolk office.

east anglian art Tuesday 18 November 2014 Knightsbridge

appointments and enquiries 01603 871443 norfolk@bonhams.com

entries now invited Closing date: Friday 26 September 2014 edward seago, rws (British, 1910-1974) ‘Norfolk landscape - Summer’ (detail) £18,000 - 25,000

bonhams.com/norfolk

WWW.AGMEALE.CO.UK

e Lok

b’s

Wayford Bridge

oa dR for ay W

›

Nob

WHERE TO FIND US:

al St

h rox ‹W

Come & look

at our vast range of

gift vouchers available EASY PARKING & EASY LOADING

TEL: 01692 580226 FARM SHOP & PLANT CENTRE Wayford Nurseries, Stalham, NR12 9LJ

Open Daily 8am-6pm; Sat 8am-5pm

Now open Sundays 10am-4pm

sheds,summerhouses & kids playhouses/ log cabins

Polyanthus packs of 6 Mini Cyclamen in packs & pots Spring flowering bulbs

Winter Pansies packs of 6

| September 2014

Sleeping Like A Baby?

Richard Barr

A Look At Life

This month our Richard tells us about his ‘friend’ who has a rather awkward habit…

“

t was like a scene from a John Le Carré novel. We had been waiting for

sometime in the steamy café of a northern railway station. Strict security still prevents me from revealing the location. We were working on a big case at the time, and he had telephoned me to say that his name was Cyril and he had some vital inside information that would be helpful to us. In the privacy of the crowded café he revealed a story of intrigue that had been related to him by a ‘friend’ who was high up on a government committee. He then went on to describe in great detail who his friend was, and we came away reeling from his revelations.

My theme this month is not quite as indelicate a

on a towel, with a blanket jammed into the door to reduce the decibels. Alternatively his wife will ram in a quantity of earplugs to try to dull the din. On one occasion there were no earplugs available, so she softened some candle wax and used that instead. It was quite effective but the following morning some of the wax had lodged deep inside, and she had to go to accident and emergency to have it removed. ‘That was all your fault,’ she yelled at her beleaguered husband. It was not as though they had not tried to solve the problem. They had bought all the anti snoring sprays and devices they could find. He stuck tape across the bridge of his nose. He forced uncomfortable pieces of plastic into his mouth. He tried sleeping on his stomach, both sides, back – even sitting up but still the rasping noise persisted. ‘But I cannot be snoring as I would wake myself up if I did,’ he protested. But that did not go down well. They tried a wrist device which gives you what is described as a gentle electric shock if you snore. The device was obviously designed by a sadist. The ‘gentle shock’ would almost throw the husband out of bed. He would lie awake for hours in fear of the next jolt – only to hear his dear wife building up to a crescendo of snoring (she firmly denied that she ever snored). But it reached the noise threshold to set off the device, and the next thing he knew was that he was being punished for her snoring. A work colleague has the same problem with her husband. They are keen campers, but hubby has to have his own tent and pitch at the opposite end of the camp site. No doubt other tent dwellers nearby wonder whether they are experiencing the end of the world when he builds up to a sleepy crescendo. So let me return to the tale of our Cyril. Later he asked for another meeting so that we could meet his ‘friend’ and we trundled back to the seedy café. Of the friend there was no sign, and eventually Cyril admitted that he was the whistle blower and his reference to a ‘friend’ was just a ruse. Now you will have to decide whether the ‘friends’ I have described are real, or a way of concealing the identity of someone who can snore for England. I am not telling, and you will have to meet our ‘friends’ in a northern railway station if you want to find out.

subject for discussion at genteel tea parties as flatulence or malodorous armpits, but it comes close.

”

I thought of that meeting with Cyril when I was planning this piece for Places and Faces. My theme this month is not quite as indelicate a subject for discussion at genteel tea parties as flatulence or malodorous armpits, but it comes close. I shall, therefore, try to tread gently and not cause you to turn the page until you have finished. I am going to tell the tale of some close friends of ours who are beset by the noise emitted by the husband after they go to bed. It rattles the walls and shakes the foundations. It dwarfs the sound of a steam train at close quarters. It registers several points on the Richter scale on seismometers 50 miles away, and it drives his poor wife to distraction. It is estimated that up to 30 per cent of all couples are afflicted by one or other of them snoring. Our friends are driven to extreme measures to cope with the problem. The husband is made to sleep downstairs, and if the thunderous cacophony still penetrates the walls, he is sent outside to sleep in a tent where he keeps all the night birds awake and starts the dawn chorus several hours before first light. When they go away, the problem becomes much more serious. If they stay in a hotel, there is no other room to move to, and he usually ends up in the bathroom sleeping

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| September 2014

THE POWERHOUSE

PURCHASER Anglia Farmers Ltd is at the heart of the Norfolk Food and Drink Festival. Emma Outten meets Chief Executive Clarke Willis to talk food, farming and ties!

Almary Green Investments Ltd

Advising clients throughout East Anglia Tel: 01603 706740

www.almarygreen.com

BUSINESS PROFILE

CLARKE WILLIS

f Anglia Farmers Group Chief Executive, Clarke Willis, is hard-pressed to think of his favourite food from the region, his answer comes as a surprise. ‘The food I really enjoy doesn’t necessarily come from the land,’ he says. ‘A really good meal would be going up to Cromer, to Davies [Fish Shop], and buying one of the biggest lobsters they’ve got.’ Anglia Farmers, the UK’s largest agricultural purchasing group, is, as ever, one of the sponsors of this year’s Norfolk Food and Drink Festival. Clarke says: ‘We were involved right from the beginning of the Festival, which is 10 years old this year, as sponsors; and supporting it through our membership base of food producers.’ Nowadays, the Festival operates as a limited company sharing the same office space as Anglia Farmers at Honingham Thorpe, near Norwich. ‘This office now is the registered office for Norfolk Food and Drink Festival Limited, so there is a structure there,’ says Clarke, who is a director of the company. The board employs the new Festival Co-ordinator, Anna Stevenson, and Anglia Farmers built the Festival website. Clarke has this view of food festivals: ‘When people talk about food festivals they quite rightly talk about local fruit juice or beers or jam or chutneys. We’re obviously involved in that but there is a wider aspect, in terms of the wheat that goes into the bread, the potatoes that goes into the crisps and the milk that goes into the chocolate. One of the things I’m keen to get across about the food festival is that it is important in terms of where food comes from.’ A graduate in Agricultural Marketing, Clarke has spent his working life in the agricultural industry, most recently as Director of Spillers Specialty Feeds. He joined Anglia Farmers 11 years ago to oversee the merging of two Norfolk based purchasing groups – one in Dereham and the other in Loddon. ‘At that stage we were about £38 million turnover with about 600 members and 20 staff,’ says Clarke. Anglia Farmers was initially located at Keswick Hall but has been based at Honingham Thorpe since 2008 (the MD of Honingham Thorpe Farms, Ian Alston, is one of the 3500 shareholder members). These days the not for profit industrial and provident society has a turnover of £250million. Clarke adds: ‘There’s a high degree of commitment to working with AF but that in turn brings strength to what we do.’ He adds: ‘When you’ve got that scale, talking to Government and talking to Europe becomes a lot easier.’ ‘We’re obviously strong in Norfolk but also across the whole of East Anglia and nationally.’ To reflect this national reach, there has been a subtle rebranding from Anglia Farmers to the abbreviated AF. It is involved with the food supply chain on a national level: Waitrose, for example, has a branded membership of AF, called the Waitrose Farming Partnership. AF gets right to the root of that chain, as Clarke points out: ‘The food supply chain doesn’t start with producers; it actually starts with raw materials.’ Clarke’s team sources more than 200,000 tonnes of fertiliser annually and accounts for more than eight per cent of the UK’s

agrochemical spend. The buying office alone is staffed by a qualified team of 50 dedicated category specialists, and the livestock department sources more than £10million of feed annually. ‘There isn’t anything we don’t source,’ claims Clarke. Would he describe it as a monopoly? ‘We don’t like to call ourselves a monopoly – a powerhouse is probably a better term,’ Clarke says. And he adds: ‘Our biggest competitor is the farmer who thinks he can do better himself.’ More than 100 members of staff work in the offices, which were extended a couple of years ago, reflecting the fact it is one of the biggest businesses in the region. Visit East Anglia is also based there; as is Farm Conservation Limited (of which Clarke is also a director). He says of the site: ‘This is Norfolk’s best kept secret.’ Clarke, who is married to Karen, knows this part of Norfolk well. ‘I live four miles down the road; we’ve got 40 acres at home and we keep sheep so you’ll see us at Aylsham Show,’ he says before adding: ‘Weekends are spent sitting on my old Massey Ferguson tractor.’ Clarke wears his eye-catching Anglia Farmers tie, with pride. ‘I don’t want to go anywhere from here,’ says Clarke, sitting in his office at AF. ‘The vision is to help develop that food chain from end to end.’ AF has also diversified in recent years. In 2009 a wholly owned subsidiary company, AF Affinity Limited was formed, providing group purchasing schemes to individuals, businesses, staff benefit schemes and village fuel syndicates. Its relatively new initiative is the EDGE Apprenticeships scheme, which has just celebrated its 18-month anniversary, with around 250 apprentices on the books. Clarke says: ‘We had government funding from UKCES [UK Commission for Employment and Skills] to drive apprenticeships in food and farming.’ (Watch out for a new TV commercial roundabout now). And Clarke adds: ‘I’m actually a trained STEM [Science, Technology Engineering and Maths] ambassador, encouraging young people to enjoy STEM subjects.’ Bridging the rural digital divide is another ongoing concern. AF is currently supporting members through the application process for a national programme which aims to give rural communities across the UK the opportunity to have mobile access – Clarke and Mid-Norfolk MP George Freeman are due to meet Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries Ed Vasey this month on that subject. Clarke sums up the ethos at AF: ‘We are fairly dynamic – we just get on with it.’ But back to food: Clarke is particularly interested in the business to business side of the Festival. For example, the invitation-only Local Flavours Event at the Norfolk Showground on September 23 will see more than 60 local producers exhibiting their food and drink to hundreds of potential trade customers, such as local hotel and restaurants and major retailers. It is only the second year this business to business event has taken place, and, as the Festival marks its 10th year, Clarke concludes that ‘this is the next stage of the food festival.’

The food supply chain doesn’t start with producers; it actually starts with raw materials

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| September 2014

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY

FOR 50 YEARS Third generation family estate agents Darby & Liffen celebrates 50 years in the business this month. Emma Outten went to the Gorleston office to meet Managing Director Owen Darby

ADVERTISING FEATURE

DARBY & LIFFEN

Mother and Son, Owen and Amy Darby

wen Darby knows exactly how to celebrate the 50th anniversary of family

firm Darby & Liffen this month. A keen golfer, he and his team have organised a charity golf day, on September 5, and in doing so hope to raise funds for both Cardiac Risk in the Young and the James Paget Intensive Care unit. The 50th anniversary actually falls on September 2, and it’s a landmark event worth celebrating – Darby & Liffen may not be the only family run estate agents around, but it’s certainly the longest running. Established in 1964, by Stephen Darby and Bert Liffen, nowadays the company prides itself on providing a comprehensive service for buying, selling, and letting property in the east Norfolk coastal area. In the early 70s the business became an ongoing family concern - on the Darby side at least. Darby & Liffen Managing Director Owen Darby, who is the third generation, explains: ‘When my grandfather died in 1971 my father’s plans changed quite dramatically – he had planned to travel to New Zealand.’ Darby & Liffen was initially more of an Insurance/Mortgage brokers at that time, but David Darby then developed the company into a fully-fledged property sales business. ‘It all started with a property in Gordon Road, Southtown,’ says Owen. ‘When they made a commission of about £350, they thought ‘this is good’ and it went from there.’ These days Darby & Liffen can be found on Bells Road in Gorleston: ‘It wasn’t until around 1973 that 42 Bells Road became our official office premises,’ says Owen. His mother Amy had joined David in the family firm. Owen says: ‘they worked very successfully together for a number of years, then unfortunately my father succumbed to ill health and my mother then had to take the reins of the business in around 1991. ‘That was very difficult,’ he recalls, before adding, ‘I came on board to work beside my mother in 1996.’ Owen says: ‘My mother and I were a good team. She’s one of the finest, if not the finest negotiator I’ve ever known. I’ve learnt a lot from her.’ Amy is still a director, but has taken a back seat since around 2010. ‘She’s having a well-earned rest after giving nearly 40 years of incredible service and hard work.’ Owen had wanted to join the family business from the age of 16 but his mother, very wisely, recommended he went off and studied business first, which he duly did, at Great Yarmouth College. Having joined 18 years ago, he is young enough to be upto-date with the necessary modern technology (there’s a very user-friendly web site, for example) but he is also old enough to remember all the traditional methods! Darby & Liffen specialise in all aspects of the property

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

business, be it selling, buying, letting or renting, and Owen is particularly well versed with market trends. Coupled with his local knowledge, he is able to provide without obligation free sale and rental valuations reflecting any given market conditions. He has seen the market change significantly over the 18 years. For example, he says: ‘A terraced house on Upper Cliff Road was worth about £30,000, and now they are worth around £110,000.’ Growing up, he recalls conversations between his parents: ‘The housing boom in the late 80s and then the crash were often talked about. Then quite recently we suffered the credit crunch of 2008. But in the last two or three years we’ve started to see some real recovery. The thing about the housing market is its boom or bust nature. There never seems to be a sustained period of stability.’ He continues: ‘People either get their fingers burnt or are heavily rewarded. I’ve seen vendors in despair or vendors overjoyed; and I’ve seen purchasers getting a bargain or paying a very high price as a result of the boom in the property market. I can only advise clients at that given time – it always fluctuates.’ The Darby & Liffen team is made up of Owen, who recently turned 38, office manager Samantha Hood, property management administrator Sue Groom, PA Hannah Clark, and Brad Pepping, Residential Property Assistant. David had already introduced the rental side of the business in 1987. In recent times there has been a real shift in attitudes with people purchasing property with a view to letting, and the property management department can provide useful advice to potential landlords. Owen says: ‘We’ve become a really well-known name, locally, in that part of the industry.’ As the 50th anniversary approaches, Owen says of Darby & Liffen as an estate agency: ‘We are not the biggest but we are one of the most well known. We like to keep it close-knit.’ He explains why: ‘We are able to give that personal service.’ And he adds: ‘We’ve a good history within the community, dealing with generation after generation. I myself have sold one or two properties to three generations of the same family.’ Darby & Liffen covers Gorleston and Great Yarmouth and all the surrounding towns and villages, and in 2002 it underwent something of a rebranding. Two years later the 40th anniversary was marked at the Pier Hotel in Gorleston. And Owen says: ‘We feel the 50th anniversary is something to be marked.’ What can we expect between now and the 60th anniversary? ‘We will continue the good work,’ says Owen, ‘and to serve the community the way we have and to let natural growth take place. If this means we look to opening other branches in other locations then it’s a strong possibility. The idea is to continue to train the staff here, and if there’s a strong desire and commitment, plus the time and the place are right, it may well be that one of them can go on and do that.’ Ultimately, he says of Darby & Liffen: ‘We help people to achieve what they want to achieve. Seeing things through to a successful conclusion, that’s our number one aim.’ Will the family firm run to the fourth generation? Owen, who has three boys (including six-year-old twins) says: ‘They are already expressing an interest in what I do – they have already been on a few appointments with me!’

Darby & Liffen Ltd, 42 Bells Road, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR31 6AN. Call 01493 600411 or visit www.darbyandliffenea.co.uk

| September 2014

Coffee and Culture A new art gallery and coffee lounge is now open in a vibrant part of Lowestoft. Sarah Hardy pays a visit

Photography by Andrew McMeekin

Advertiser’s announcement

The Coconut Loft

The Coconut Loft, Waterloo Road, Lowestoft, tel 01502 521845, visit www.coconutloft.co.uk

he Coconut Loft offers something a little different in the up and coming Kirkley quarter of Lowestoft. Fast becoming a real ‘destination’, it offers a coffee lounge, ice cream parlour, art gallery and more and is simply the place to enjoy a home made cake as you browse the extensive collection of contemporary art. The Coconut Loft opened in June and is the brainchild of Gina Heath and Richard Toombs. And it reflects their many and varied interests in life, and their desire to support up and coming artists and designers. They spent four months transforming the former pet shop, which included unearthing what appeared to be a natural seawater well and its associated connection with Lowestoft’s famous seawater swimming pool. When workmen uncovered a stairway leading to the well at the centre of the single-storey building, Richard started to research the site’s history with the help of the Lowestoft Record Office and found it opened as a slipper baths in the late 1880s in what was then known as Wellington Road. Step inside and you are greeted by a lovely coffee lounge, with plenty of bistro tables and chairs, where numerous homemade cakes, such as apple fruit cake, and coffee and walnut, are on sale, alongside hot chocolates, ‘proper’ Italian coffee, herbal and fruit teas, sausage rolls and, at lunchtime, quiche, salad, and coleslaw. Delicious! And that’s before we mention Parravani’s ice creams which are a real treat for all ages. Then there are the two galleries, packed with bold and bright art from around the world. It has taken, Richard

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

explains, two years to amass such a great selection. ‘I like colourful, vivid pictures and also to discover new artists that we can support.’ The Coconut Loft also has two full sized beach huts which are available for artists to hire out, by the week, to show off and sell their crafts. ‘We hire them by the week so they are great for start-up businesses,’ says Richard, adding that there’s also a jolly Punch and Judy hut where all manner of old-fashioned sweets such as pear drops, stem ginger and aniseed twists are for sale, together with many other delights. And, if you want to enjoy the fresh sea air, there are several tables and chairs on the terrace, with hopes that people will enjoy sipping an al fresco coffee all year round. ‘This is a lovely area, with so much going on and we are delighted to be a part of it,’ says Richard, adding: ‘We are so close to the sea, the beach has a Blue Flag and it is a very welcoming, stimulating area. ‘We would love to hear from artists and crafts men and women who are keen to exhibit at the Coconut Loft and also from young musicians who might like to perform here.’ And in case you’re wondering, the Coconut Loft is named after Cambridge United’s favourite victory song, I’ve Got A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts! Richard and Gina are both massive fans of the football team and were determined to include some reference to them in their new business. It is available for private event hire. It can comfortably seat up to 50 people, has a PA system available and a small convertible stage/platform for performance, lectures, recitals, etc. There is free Wifi and air conditioning. Watch out for exhibitions of urban themed art and photography. The gallery opens 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and 8am to 4pm, Sunday. 93

S329 Almary Green Faces and Places Monthly Ad ARTWORK.pdf

06/11/2013

12:38

Caring For

Your Finances • Choose the right investments • Plan ahead for retirement • Provide disaster protection for your family • Secure your inheritance for your loved ones • Save tax on savings and gifts • Fund care fees, if and when needed

Almary Green Investments Ltd, Greenfields House,10 Meridian Way, Meridian Business Park, Norwich NR7 0TA Tel: 01603 706740 Email: enquiries@almarygreen.com

www.carefeeplanningnorfolk.co.uk www.carefeeplanningsuffolk.co.uk

www.almarygreen.com

We are delighted to offer our personal, professional and prompt service… … for all your property transactions, wills, family and other legal matters.

www.hkbwiltshires.co.uk

21 Hall Quay, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk NR30 1HN 01493 855 676 13 Surrey Street, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 1LJ 01502 582 338

For more information please call us or email us on info@hkbw.co.uk

Wealth management

Cash Investments

Carl Lamb Almary Green Independent Financial Advisers 01603 706740 | www.almarygreen.com

D ep ositi n g yo u r C as h There are a number of investment vehicles that are known as ‘cash investments’ using money on deposit with financial institutions for a pre-determined rate of return. Carl Lamb looks at the benefits and drawbacks of this type of investment

year on year will always be tax free, so if interest rates do improve in the future, your savings could build substantially. Cash investments generally offer much better security for the investor than equity investments and for that reason they remain popular, although equity investments do have the potential for higher returns. Cash investments can also be useful in planning if funds are needed at a specific point in time as their value on extraction can be more precisely predicted and not subject to the vagaries of the market. Deposit accounts in UK financial institutions are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme so as long as you don’t hold more than £85,000 with any single deposit taker, your investment is protected even if your bank

As a general rule, investments fall into one of two categories: equity-based investments that involve stocks and shares and rely on rising values in the stock market for their investment gains and cash investments where the sum invested is placed on deposit and returns are provided by way of interest. As independent financial advisers, we will frequently recommend a mix of both equity and cash investments in a diverse portfolio, to help to balance risk against reward. Returns on cash investments have suffered recently because of the poor interest rates on offer. Even if you are prepared to lock your cash away for a couple of years, the highest rate you might currently find is about 2 per cent per annum. This means that with inflation currently running at around 1.8 per cent per year, once you have paid tax on the interest, it is quite likely that your cash’s purchasing power may be falling over time. However, there are indications that

or building society collapses. The compensation will cover you for one person’s deposits per UK banking licence so it’s important to remember that if you have accounts with banks or building societies that fall under the same licence, you will only be covered for £85,000 for all of your accounts under that licence. There are a number of big names that are covered under the same licence so it is a good idea to check that your money is covered, if the total on deposit exceeds the £85,000 limit. Any investment held in joint accounts is shared between the account holders, so only half of the money in joint accounts will count towards the individual’s £85,000 cover. Premium bonds are another type of cash investment: you can now buy up to £40,000 worth and they are held by NS&I so your original investment is guaranteed against loss. Prizes are tax free and currently distributed at a rate of 1.3 per cent of the prize fund, ranging in value from £25 to £1 million.

interest rates will start to rise earlier than originally expected. Cash investments include deposit and savings accounts with banks and building societies as well as products provided by Government-backed NS&I (formerly known as National Savings and Investments). Cash ISAs are usually the first step for savers looking for a cash investment: the interest earned is generally tax-free and you can now invest up to all of your ISA allowance (£15,000) in a Cash ISA in the current tax year, if you so wish. In the longer term, once your money is in a Cash ISA, the interest

For independent advice, contact Almary Green on 01603 706740 or email carl.lamb@almarygreen.com. Please remember that the advice here is generic and we recommend that you get individual personalised advice.

The value of an investment and the income from it could go down as well as up. The return at the end of the investment period is not guaranteed and you may get back less than you originally invested. The tax treatment of investments depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change.

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Your local legal experts For you • • • • •

Buying and selling your home Re-mortgages and transfers of equity Wills and powers of attorney Court of protection Family and children matters

• • • • •

Criminal matters Personal injury claims Civil matters Notarial services Care home fees

• Equity release and lifetime mortgages • NHS continuing healthcare • Trusts and deceased estates

For your business • Commercial property • Employment matters

• Partnerships and licensing • Company formations

• Agricultural law • Planning and regulatory issues

For more information contact your local office: Lowestoft 148 London Rd North

T: 01502 533000

Beccles Exchange Square

T: 01502 718700

Gorleston 66a Bells Rd

T: 01493 652204

E: enquire@nortonpeskett.co.uk

Great Yarmouth 141 King Street

T: 01493 849200

Halesworth 52 Thoroughfare

T: 01986 872513

W: qualitysolicitors.com/nortonpeskett

No hidden costs • Direct lawyer contact • Free first advice • Same day response

KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE NUMBERS

An innovative and forward thinking firm of chartered accountants, which has been helping families preserve and grow their wealth for over 150 years. For a free consultation contact: Kevin Bunting | 01493 335100 | k.bunting@lovewell-blake.co.uk

www.lovewell-blake.co.uk

Legal

Costs

JULIAN GIBBONS NORTON PESKETT SOLICITORS 01493 849200 | www.NORTONPESKETT.CO.UK

Counting the Cost This month Julian Gibbons looks at the thorny issue of court costs – and warns that even the winners often end up out of pocket

Every so often, courts and judges throw up their hands in horror at the enormous costs generated by civil litigation. Most recently, it was the turn of the President of the Supreme Court, Lord Neuberger, to express deep concern at the costs relating to a nuisance case. The Claimants, who were residential occupiers, had brought a claim against the owners of a nearby stadium used for motor sports. In first instance they won; the case was then overturned in the Court of Appeal. They succeeded before the Supreme Court, which reinstated the trial judge’s decision. As is so often the case with litigation, even the winners lost. The Claimants partially recovered costs – 60 per cent of their trial costs – from the Defendants. Their own bill for establishing that they were the victims of a nuisance was about £400,000. This is by most people’s standards a heavy price. From the perspective of the private litigant, getting to grips with how court costs work is not easy. There is the understandable perception that if you win your case then you should recover all your costs. The reality falls far short of this ideal. True, in civil cases a winner should be able to recover costs, leaving to one side for a moment the traps which can upset that basic principle. The courts will assess costs where a losing party has to pay and the parties cannot agree the amount. Unfortunately, the yardstick of ‘reasonable’ costs means that in practice someone paying for their lawyer to run their case may only recover 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the costs they have paid out. Thus, a winner in a case is likely to end up with a substantial shortfall. In recent years judges and governments have done whatever they can to discourage parties from going to court and from running up huge costs if they do. A prospective claimant is now expected to write a Letter of Claim to his opponent, setting out fully the legal and factual background, disclosing documents and showing how the amount of their claim is calculated. The defendant is expected to

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

give a detailed reply (rather than a simple denial) within a reasonable period of time, setting out what he disputes and why and what if anything he agrees with. Parties that ignore these rules of pre-action conduct can expect to be penalised in costs, whoever ultimately wins. Likewise, costs now have to be proportionate to the amount in dispute. Cases having a trial lasting one day or less (fast track cases) are normally subject to summary assessment of the winner’s costs. This is somewhat rough and ready and subject to a maximum figure for certain elements of the case, again meaning that the successful party is likely to be out of pocket. These sorts of issues focus the minds of the parties when they almost inevitably come to try and settle their case by mediation. The use of mediation or some other form of alternative dispute resolution is another step courts expect the parties to take and there have been recent cases where a party who has won at trial has still had to pay his opponent’s costs when he unreasonably refused to engage in mediation. The problem that the lawyers battle with is that, in our adversarial system, the parties have to prove their case, with little guidance from the court to truly narrow the issues or the extent of disclosure and use of documents. Hence, the claimant’s lawyer in particular tends to throw everything into the pot by raising and running with every issue or point in his client’s favour and by incorporating into the trial bundle everything which could conceivably be relevant. It is not therefore surprising to see parties turn up at court with large bundles of documents, only for a small proportion to be actually referred to at trial. The lawyer is between a rock and a hard place: leave something out and risk being criticised by the judge and possibly losing his client’s case; include everything and costs spiral with quite possibly no benefit to the case and even the risk of being criticised for not being selective enough! For anyone thinking about going to court there are a few basic assumptions to work with. First, your case is very unlikely to be as strong as you or your lawyer thinks it is. Second, never go into a case assuming that your opponent will end up paying your costs. Instead, assume that for whatever reason you will have to pay you own lawyers and factor in the possibility that if things do not go as planned you may end up paying your opponent’s costs as well. Third, remember that a settlement negotiated via mediation that does not give you all you hoped for is likely to be far better than a judgment that might disappoint not only your opponent but you as well.

Infiniti Q50 Available from

£289*

+ VAT per month

FOLLOW THAT INSTINCT

You feel the pull the moment you see its curves. But when you get behind the wheel, instinct really takes over. Driving you to experience the 170 PS direct injection turbo-charged Diesel or the 211 PS 2.0l turbo-charged Petrol engine. Forcing you to feel the visceral pleasure of world-first Direct Adaptive Steering. It’s time to follow your heart and give in to your instinct. Book your test drive now at infiniti-instinct.co.uk

INFINITI CENTRE NORWICH, Vulcan Road North, Norwich, NR6 6AQ. 01603 481800 Official fuel economy figures for the Infiniti Q50 range in mpg (l/100 km): urban 29.4 to 50.4 (9.6 to 5.6), extra urban 53.3 to 76.3 (5.3 to 3.7), combined 41.5 to 64.2 (6.8 to 4.4). CO2 emission: 159 to 114 g/km. Official EU Test Figures. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. Model shown: Infiniti Q50 Sport 2.2d 6MT with optional metallic paint and electric glass sunroof at OTR price £34,260. BUSINESS USERS ONLY. Example based on 3 rentals in advance followed by 35 monthly repayments, 10,000 miles per annum on a non-maintained (you are responsible for all maintenance and servicing costs) contract with non-metallic paint. Finance provided by Infiniti Financial Services Limited, PO Box 149, Watford WD17 1FJ. Subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. You must be 18 or over and a UK resident (excluding Isle of Man and Channel Islands) to apply. At the end of the contract you will not own the vehicle. Further charges may apply subject to mileage and condition at end of contract. Visit your local dealer for full details. Offers valid on eligible vehicles ordered before 30 September 2014. Subject to availability. Private customer offers are also available. Infiniti Europe, Zone d’Activités La Pièce 12, 1180 Rolle, Switzerland.

Tax

Renewals Allowance

Kevin Bunting LOVEWELL BLAKE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 01493 335100 | www.lovewell-blake.co.uk

What’ s Allowed? Kevin Bunting looks at what landlords can claim under new tax laws

As some of you may well be aware, from April 6 2013 HM

Wear and tear allowance is only available where a property

Revenue and Customs removed the ‘renewals allowance’ for

is furnished to a sufficient extent to be capable of being lived

landlords of unfurnished rental properties.

in without the provision by the tenant of additional furniture.

Under the pre April 6 2013 rules, landlords of unfurnished

Many professionals feel that the Revenue position

properties could claim tax relief for the cost of replacing

regarding the renewals basis is not necessarily correct. There

furniture and fittings in a rental property. This is provided

is an argument that items affected by this should have the

that the replacement was of the same standard as the

same statutory treatment as the small items detailed above,

original item.

therefore we are suggesting that should the Revenue change

However, from April 6 2013, landlords cannot claim a

their view then you can make a subsequent claim using the

deduction for the cost of replacing standalone appliances

overpayment relief provisions i.e. four years after the end of

and other items such as curtains, carpets etc.

the tax year. It is therefore important for you to keep a list of

Please note, this change excludes equipment such as boilers, water heaters, air conditioning systems, fitted kitchen units and integrated appliances, as these become part of

the disallowed expenses, in case the guidance changes. If you are caught by this change in legislation, you may wish to consider the following:

a building once they are installed and any replacement is counted as a repair to the property for tax purposes. There has been some guidance from the Revenue over the renewals basis, together with a fair amount of comment in the professional press. The position following the extra guidance for properties on which the ‘wear and tear’ deduction is not available is as follows;

• Upgrade the property to ensure this is fully furnished and claim the wear and tear allowance; • Arrange for tenants to replace items you would normally be responsible for, with a corresponding reduction in the monthly rent; • Where the cost of repairing an item or replacing it is marginal, bear in mind that tax relief would be available

Description

Treatment

Small items such as

Tax relief should be

cutlery, crockery, cushions,

available for these items

bed linen Carpets, sofas, beds, free

No tax relief for

standing white goods such

expenditure post April

as cookers and fridges that

5 2013

on the repair bill. Disclaimer: Please note that this article is provided for your information only. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, information contained herein may not be comprehensive and you should not act upon it without seeking professional advice.

are not built in Replacement of fitted

Tax relief available on the

kitchens and anything

basis that this is a repair

fitted sufficiently firmly

to the entirety of the

to become part of the

property

structure of the property

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

| September 2014

All

charged

up!

Iain Dooley tries out the latest electric car, the Renault Zoe, and reckons it’s a worthy addition to this burgeoning market Dealer Details Mitchells Lowestoft, Long Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 9DQ | Tel: 08448 759626 www.mitchellsrenault.co.uk

ith every new electric car

being launched you could be forgiven for thinking that we’re getting closer to an environmentalist’s dream of carbon-free motoring. Of course, there’s still the dirty little secret that the electricity used to charge the cars has yet to be generated entirely from rainbows, but with each new arrival come fewer and fewer everyday compromises. A prime example of this is Renault’s Zoe, an electric alternative to the likes of its maker’s own Clio supermini. Cars like the Zoe herald the introduction of products designed from the outset as full electric vehicles, and not modified existing cars complete with all the inherent compromises. Of course we’ve seen most of this before in the shape of Nissan’s similarly sized Leaf, although the Japanese firm’s offering is pitched at more affluent buyers. The Zoe’s interior might not be as plush but the upside is a price tag closer to that of the aforementioned Clio. And if you want to generate mass-market appeal you need to focus your attention on the buyers of Clios, Fiestas and the like. Visually the Zoe is as sensible as they come and, in truth, puts some of its engine-powered rivals to shame in the looks department. Inside, its light and airy cabin is a welcome attribute. Clearly influenced by the latest

Motoring

Renault Zoe

Facts at a glance

generation Clio, the Zoe’s main controls and displays offer a no-fuss approach to motoring. And then there’s the driving and ownership experience, which has been the downfall of so many electric cars in recent years. Regarding the former, the Zoe drives very much like a conventional supermini with an auto gearbox. Acceleration from rest is brisk, the overall experience a smooth one, with modest acceleration available instantly for the occasional burst of speed needed to maintain pace with rush hour traffic. Predictably the car feels perfectly at home around town – all in all, a good effort. The potentially thorny subject of living with and charging electric cars is dealt with neatly by the Zoe as the charging hardware is stored in the car’s easily accessible nose, while the charge time can be reduced to just a few hours if you opt for a domestic wall box to supplement the ability to take power from a conventional outlet. Officially the Zoe’s range is around 130 miles, but even Renault admits the real world figure will likely be lower depending on driver behaviour and outside temperature – the latter can influence range when it’s very cold. That said, around 80 miles should be achievable even without resorting to turning off the air-con or radio. And realistically the daily commutes of buyers in the market for a Zoe are likely to be modest compared to those of a motorway-munching Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

Model Renault Zoe Dynamique Zen, from £15,195 on the road plus monthly battery leasing charge

Engine Electric motor (88bhp equivalent) plus lithium-ion battery

Transmission Single speed, driving the front wheels

Performance Maximum speed 84mph, 0-62mph 13.5 seconds

Economy 68.9mpg combined

CO2 Rating Zero from the vehicle All prices correct at time of going to press.

company car driver, removing any serious range anxiety concerns. As far as the current crop of electric cars go, the Zoe appears to be one of the most conventional in the way it looks, drives and integrates into your life. The car’s Fiesta-esque price tag is certainly attractive, although to get down to such a figure Renault has separated the battery from the car in the overall financial equation. Average mileage drivers will pay an all inclusive monthly charge of £70 to lease the battery, with that figure rising or failing slightly if you decide to rack up greater or fewer miles respectively. Along with this worry-free charge there’s also the prospect of modest regular running and servicing costs. It’s expected that major component wear – brakes, suspension for example – will easily be less than for a conventional car, while the zero rated road tax should please you as much as the presence of a generous government grant to take the sting out of the purchase price. While there’s little any car maker can do to hurry along the expansion of the public charging network, making its products more appealing should go a long way to increasing the take up of such vehicles. In turn, this is believed to be the best way to encourage that expansion. That the Zoe delivers a cost effective, easy to live with and aesthetically pleasing proposition could be the shot in the arm advocates of electric motoring are looking for. 101

renault.co.uk

RENAULT SUMMER SEASON

LET SUMMER SET YOU FREE

RENAULT ZOE RENAULT ZOE DYNAMIQUE INTENS FROM £174 PER MONTH INCLUDING MANDATORY BATTERY HIRE OF £45 PER MONTH† •

100% Electric

•

£2750 deposit contribution*

•

Remote air con activation

•

Free 7kW domestic wall box fitted

£500 contribution for your next new Renault**

•

4 years servicing

•

4 years warranty

•

4 years roadside cover

REPRESENTATIVE EXAMPLE 48 monthly payments of

£129

Dealer deposit contribution £2750

Optional final payment

£6005

Duration

49 m

Customer deposit

£2500

Total amount of credit

£10,195

Option to purchase fee

£149

Fixed interest rate p.a.

6.25%

Cash price

£15,195

Finance facility fee

£99

Total amount payable

£17,445

6.9% APR representative

MITCHELLS LOWESTOFT 50–58 LONG ROAD, LOWESTOFT, SUFFOLK NR33 9DQ TEL 0844 875 9626 WWW.MITCHELLSRENAULT.CO.UK

BOOK A TEST DRIVE

Renault ZOE CO while driving: 0, mpg: n/a.

2 Terms and exclusions apply. 4+ package available to non-business customers on new Renault vehicles. Warranty 4 years/100,000 miles and routine servicing 4 years/48,000 miles (whichever comes first). Servicing package available to Renault Selections customers only; alternatively can be purchased for just £299. Visit renault.co.uk/4plus for full details. Finance provided by RCI Financial Services Limited, PO Box 149, Watford WD17 1FJ. Subject to status. Guarantees and indemnities may be required. You must be at least 18 and a UK resident (excluding the Isle of Man and Channel Islands). Offer based on 6000 miles pa, excess mileage 8p per mile inc VAT. Terms and conditions apply. Our dealership introduces customers to a limited number of financial providers including RCI Financial Services Ltd. *£2750 deposit contribution is available to new Renault Finance customers when taking Renault Finance on a new Renault ZOE (excluding ZOE Expression). **If you purchase your new Renault on Renault Selections, you will be eligible to receive a £500 contribution from Renault towards the purchase of your next new Renault vehicle. The contribution voucher will be available to download six months after the commencement date of your Renault Selections contract. Terms & conditions apply. †Renault ZOE offer includes the UK government’s plug-in car grant (PiCG). ZOE monthly payment of £174 set out above includes a credit repayment of £129 per month and a separate mandatory battery hire repayment of £45 per month, based on 750 miles per calendar quarter, excess miles 30p per mile including VAT. Minimum duration 12 months. You will not own the battery. Visit renault.co.uk/zoe for full terms and conditions. Offers cannot be used with other schemes or finance offers and are available on specified new vehicles when ordered and registered between 15 July 2014 and 30 September 2014.

THE ALL-NEW SX4

S-CROSS FROM ONLY

£14,995*

You name it, the SX4 S-Cross has it. A spacious cabin and bag-gobbling boot. The reassuring safety of ALLGRIP 4-wheel Drive¹. Even class-leading fuel economy. Once you see it, you’ll have to have it all.

Request a Test Drive today: suzuki.co.uk/mrking

M R King & Sons

Horn Hill Lowestoft Suﬀolk NR33 0PX 01502 525425

Official Fuel Consumption Figures for the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross range mpg (litres/100km) and CO 2 emissions (g/km): Urban 39.7-55.3 (7.1-5.1), Extra Urban 55.3-76.3 (5.1-3.7), Combined 47.8-67.2 (5.9-4.2), CO 2 emissions 135-110 g/km. The above fuel consumption figures are based on an EU test for comparative purposes only and may not reflect real driving results. *Model shown: SX4 S-Cross 1.6 SZ5 available from £19,749. SX4 S-Cross range - SX4 S-Cross 1.6 SZ3 Manual available at £14,999 to SX4 S-Cross 1.6 DDiS SZ5 ALLGRIP Manual available at £23,549. The features referred to in this advertisement and all specifications and equipment may vary depending on engine, transmission and model grade. All prices and specifications correct at time of going to print. On the road price valid from 1st September 2013 to 31st December 2013. Model shown - SX4 S-Cross 1.6 SZ5 Manual (metallic paint £430). ¹ALL GRIP 4-wheel Drive only available on 1.6 petrol SZ5 and DDiS SZ-T & SZ5 models.

www.citroen.co.uk

NEW CITROËN C1 NATURALLY URBAN

£89 - £159

PER MONTH ON PERSONAL LEASE°

ANOTHER GREAT IDEA FROM DUFF MORGAN 01603 775477

WHIFFLER ROAD, NORWICH, NORFOLK, NR3 2AZ www.duffmorgan.citroen.co.uk

DUFF MORGAN KING’S LYNN 01553 770144

49 BERGEN WAY, KING’S LYNN, NORFOLK, PE30 2JG www.duffmorgankingslynn.citroen.co.uk

°Prices & offers apply to retail sales of qualifying Citroën models ordered & delivered 01/07-30/09/14 & include VAT, delivery to dealer & number plates, Government Registration Fee & 12 months’ graduated vehicle excise duty. Black/metallic/pearlescent paint optional at extra cost. Elect 4 Personal Lease rentals shown apply to New C1 VTi 68 manual 3-door Touch - New C1 Airscape VTi 68 ETG 5-door Flair respectively. Model(s) shown New Citroën C1 VTi 68 manual Airscape Feel Edition 5-door from £135 per month. One significant advance rental will be required, which varies by model, followed by 46 monthly rentals at the rates shown & a significant optional final rental. Excess mileage charges may apply if the agreed annual mileage is exceeded. Payment of the optional final rental extends the rental term (this does not transfer title of the vehicle) & requires an annual rental equivalent to one months’ rental. Finance subject to status. Written quotations available on request from Citroën Financial Services, Quadrant House, Princess Way, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1QA, UK. Over 18s only. A guarantee may be required. Offers & specification correct at time of going to press from participating Dealers. Terms & conditions apply. Please ask us for details. Subject to stock availability.

Official Government fuel consumption figures (Range): Urban cycle, Extra urban, Combined (litres per 100km/mpg) & CO2 emissions (g/km); Highest:New Citroën C1 PureTech 82 manual 3-door Flair 5.4/52.3, 3.7/76.3, 4.3/65.7, 99. Lowest:New Citroën C1 VTi 68 S&S manual 3-door Flair 4.5/62.8, 3.4/83.1, 3.8/74.3, 88. MPG figures are achieved under official EU test conditions, intended as a guide for comparative purposes only, and may not reflect actual on-the-road driving conditions.

| September 2014

Family Friendly Iain Dooley road tests the Mazda CX-5, a crossover family favourite with good fuel economy

F A C T S AT A G L A N C E Mazda CX-5 2.2 Sport NAV 175, from £27,595 on the road. Engine: 2.2-litre diesel unit developing 172bhp.

PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS

Transmission: 6-speed manual transmission as standard, driving all four wheels through part time 4x4 system. Performance: Maximum speed 129mph, 0-62mph 8.8 seconds. Economy: 54.3mpg. CO2 Rating: 136g/km.

t might be a cliché but it’s true that you can’t afford to stand still in the car business. As fuel prices continue to rise and buyers seek more efficient modes of transport, the key to any future success will be to produce vehicles that offer meaningful savings. However, achieving this without impacting negatively on the ownership experience isn’t easy. Mazda’s mid-size SUV is a five-seater with the option of front and four-wheel drive plus the choice of diesel and petrol engine and manual and auto transmissions. Weight is a killer in the car business; not only can it impact negatively on crash performance and fuel economy but it also doesn’t help when it comes to vehicle agility. High-rise SUVs often feel it the most, which is why Mazda has chosen a combination of stronger and lighter weight materials for the CX-5’s construction. This hasn’t come at the expense of safety, as the company is keen to stress that it’s spent considerable time fine-tuning crash structures as part of its Skyactiv philosophy. SUV agility is another area which Mazda was keen to improve on. The company wanted to ensure that the CX-5 complimented and not blighted the reputation of the likes of the MX-5 roadster. The good news is that the engineers have largely succeeded, with the CX-5 feeling uncharacteristically agile for a SUV.

104

Think of it more as a high-rise family hatch and you’ll get the picture. Weighty controls – steering, gearshift – should appeal to the keen drivers, while ride comfort easily rivals that of a conventional car. Granted, despite the option of all-wheel drive, the CX-5 is no extreme mud-plugger, but its behaviour should please those who tow. A lot of the CX-5’s on-road talent can be traced to its engines. This is another Skyactiv-themed element of the car, as the units offer low levels of consumption and emissions alongside above average levels of performance. The line-up starts with a 163bhp petrol motor for those focused on two-wheel drive motoring. Diesel power is a strong favourite among 4x4 drivers for obvious reasons –plenty of torque and sensible economy. Mazda’s take on diesel power for CX-5 is to offer two 2.2-litre units (148 and 172bhp). Amongst the various engineering tweaks, it’s chosen to fiddle with the engines’ compression ratios to maximize both economy and power, the end result being a very creditable 61.4mpg and 119g/ km CO2 for the low power motor in two-wheel drive guise and 54.3mpg and 136g/km CO2 for the high power unit when chosen with all-wheel drive. Performance is also brisk, with a sub-nine second 0-62mph time for the 172bhp diesel and a 9.4 second time for the all-wheel drive 148bhp car. In practical terms the CX-5 performs very well. Mazda’s

Motoring

Mazda CX-5

Dealer Deta i ls Wrights Mazda - Beccles

Wrights Mazda – Norwich

Common Lane North,

101 Cromer Road, Norwich,

Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 9BL

Norfolk, NR6 6XW

Tel – 01502 713885

Tel – 01603 427011

www.wrights-motors.co.uk Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

engineers have done a good job of balancing the need to reduce consumption and emissions with the desire to make the car engaging and interesting. That it rides well is a major plus and demonstrates that the firm’s Skyactiv-themed technology bundle is more than just a promotional hook. Staying with the practicalities of ownership, the CX-5’s cabin is up to Mazda’s usual high standards regarding fit and finish while occupants won’t be short of space, especially in the back. Overall, the car’s cabin is as well screwed together and as comfortable as many of its premium-priced rivals. And not just comfortable, the CX-5 is also well equipped. Two core trim levels deliver a considerable amount of kit out of the box, with the base SE-L including a decent audio unit, MP3 player connections, Bluetooth, climate control, fully adjustable front seats, plenty of airbags and electronic stability controls. Sport adds bigger wheels, leather, reversing camera, upgraded audio unit and keyless entry. Each trim level can be boosted by an integrated TomTombranded sat-nav, while selected models can also be specified with an optional safety pack comprising lane departure warning, auto-sensing headlight high beam control and a rear vehicle monitor. Generous in many ways – equipment, performance, walletfriendly economy – Mazda’s CX-5 promises to put the company on the shopping lists of cost-conscious motorists seeking a good balance of low running costs and premium-level refinement. With the promise of similar performance gains from other future Mazda models, Mazda’s newfound engineering talent shouldn’t be underestimated. 105

KIRKLEY RUN TYRES & WHEELS Huge Discounts on all major brands * *

All tyre prices include:

Tyres Batteries

• Fitting • Balancing • New Valve • VAT & Casing Disposal

Brakes Exhausts Alloy Wheels

No hidden extras

H A D

L A R G E

B U M P O R

S M A L L ?

We get you back on the road, fast!

The price we say is the price you pay!

Minor to major work. Insurance work undertaken. Courtesy car for non-fault accident. Let us take the stress from you.

*With FREE accidental damage cover

www.kirkleytyresandwheels.co.uk KIRKLEY RUN SERVICE STATION LOWESTOFT 01502 565529

SOUTHTOWN RD SERVICE STATION GT YARMOUTH 01493 600432

SOUTH QUAY SERVICE STATION GT YARMOUTH 01493 857099

CAR OF THE MONTH GREAT YARMOUTH COACHWORKS CAR SALES

Established since 1950

£7,995

BMW X3 2.0 DIESEL SE 5DR

(07) 100,000 miles · Alloys · Leather · Roof Rails · A/C · E/M · E/W · CD · FSH

Here at Great Yarmouth Coachworks we offer everything for the motorist in the Norfolk and North Suffolk area of East Anglia. Sales of quality vehicles Servicing and repairs

MOT testing Towbar fitting

www.gyccarsales.co.uk | 01493 843835

15 Queens Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 3HT

Rainbow Resprays

EST. 1990

Estcourt Road, Gt Yarmouth, NR30 4JH 07899 778683 · 01493 852176

THE MAGAZINE FOR NORFOLK & NORTH SUFFOLK Don’t miss a copy by subscribing – 12 issues for £24

SUBSCRIBE 1 2 I SS UES F O R £ 24 GENERAL ENQUIRIES call Jane on 01493 742088 or visit our website at www.placesandfaces.co.uk/magazine-subscribe

» FREE motorclaims advice before contacting your insurance company » Dedicated personal claims advisors » FREE courtesy cars & like for like replacement vehicles » Reduced excess payment on insurance work » FREE estimates onsite & offsite » FREE collection & delivery service

Call our freephone number today 0808

198 2575

Belvedere Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0PP Part of Gooch Accident Repair Centre

SUBSCRIBE 1 2 I S S U E S FO R £ 2 4

Never miss a copy of Places&Faces®, subscribe now, 12 issues for only £24 posted to your home, visit www.placesandfaces.co.uk/magazine-subscribe

Summer Party East Ruston Old Vicarage Guests arriving at Alan Gray and Graham Robeson’s fabulous East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens were treated to Champagne and canapés. The 32 acres of stunning gardens were at their most lovely on a wonderfully warm, sunny evening, with a beautiful sunset providing a magical backdrop. A magnificent performance of classic songs by the Norwich Community Choir complemented the splendour of the occasion. Photos and words by Amanda Sandland-Taylor NEWSPAPERS PR

Alan Gray and Graham Robeson

Peter Day and Jill and John Simmons

Thordis Fridriksson and James Dyer

Alan and Noreen Dyer

Lesley Oliver and Meg Turpin

Janey Cope with Bill and Margaret Cope

Peter and Margot Chappell

Grace Baldwin and Danielle Bussell

Meg and David Owen

Jennie and David Clayton

page sponsored by

high society

Eastern Business Systems 20th Anniversary Celebration Sprowston-based Eastern Business Systems unveiled its new state-of-the-art headquarters at a 20-year anniversary celebration. Loyal clients of the successful digital copier company were welcomed with Champagne and canapĂŠs by directors Kevin Francis, Mark Stewart and John Rowe. A delicious fork buffet was provided by caterers Brasteds. The former Royal Oak pub on North Walsham Road has been spectacularly transformed into a hi-tech sales and service hub. Photos and words by Amanda Sandland-Taylor NEWSMAKERS PR

Andrew Orves and David Curtis

Mark Stewart, Kevin Francis, John Rowe

Rachel Pezzella and Simon Anderson

Tony Millar and James McCraith

Patrick Hadingham, Tessa Jarrett and Martin Harper

James Smith, Nadia Calardo and David Meldown

John Benson and Nick Saville

Terry Haley and Caroline Mannering

Ashley Pead and James Harris

Dale Cooper and Karl Sandall

SUBSCRIBE 1 2 I S S U E S FO R £ 2 4

Never miss a copy of Places&Faces®, subscribe now, 12 issues for only £24 posted to your home, visit www.placesandfaces.co.uk/magazine-subscribe

Institute of Directors Annual Dinner – Dunston Hall The Norfolk Institute of Directors’ annual dinner began with its traditional Pimm’s reception in a marquee. Guests at Norfolk’s premier business dinner, co-ordinated by Stuart Turner and sponsored by the Computer Service Centre, enjoyed a three-course meal. Speaker Duncan Goose, founder of ethical water company One, gave a spellbinding account of his adventure-packed life. Photos and words by Amanda Sandland-Taylor NEWSMAKERS PR

Christopher Cooper and Duncan Goose

Arjan Meijer, Kathryn Hirst, Roger Holden and Chris Starkie

Danielle Bussell and Stuart Turner

Greg Smith, Sally Stubbs, David Guyatt and Nick Farrow

Mark Fletcher, Richard Mould and Steve Jaggard

Frank Brumby, Sian Leonard and Chris Williams

Jeremy Clarke, North Norwich MP Chloe Smith and Jon Woolston

Fiona Temple and Murray Graham

Kirsty and Peter Daines

Surrey Beddows and David Ramsay

page sponsored by

high society

The Wayland Show 2014 A sun-drenched Wayland Show attracted more than 15,000 people who came to see an action-packed main ring programme including the Mid Norfolk Gun dogs, the Nick Houghton Aerobatic Display, Jive Pony and the Grand Parade of Livestock and presentation prizes. In its 141st year, The Wayland Show continues to thrive and raise money for local charities. Photos by Jungle

PR Ltd

Peter Reeder

Katie Wade and James Finch

Edward and Oscar Willis

Sally Valentine, Arnold Warsop, Ben Plumb, Sophie Evans and Tony Valentine

Kevin and Beverley Bowes

Ian and Erica Whettingsteel

Maisy Sculfer and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Champion of Championsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Winner Guy Kiddy

Adrian Soskin and Philip, Diana and Rosanna Frost

Alison and Mal Andrews

Charlotte Bliss

| September 2014

112

Photography

Norfolk

Caught on Camera Norwich-based photographer James Robinson captures Cley in north Norfolk, with a 14th century church, 18th century windmill and 20th century vehicle all in view. Visit www.jamesrobinson.co.uk

Subscribe online at www.placesandfaces.co.uk

113

| SEPTEMBER 2014

m in u t e s

with

Henry Watt Henry Watt has been in the foodie business for as long as anyone can remember! Now fronting a new eating house in south Norfolk, we hear about his love of ballet, where he likes a pint and how a carvery always does it for him!

Describe your job to us I am Managing Director of a consultancy called Leisure Asset Management Ltd as well as MD of the newly opened Sugar Beat Eating House in Swainsthorpe, near Long Stratton. On a day to day basis I advise clients of the best ways of maximising the returns on leisure and hospitality retail assets they own or run. I provide strategic advice, covering all aspects of their business from fine tuning existing operations to developing new brands. As well as the consultancy business, on a day to day at Sugar Beat, I’m responsible for making sure we have the right team of staff, the right menu to meet with our customers’ expectations, that we’re utilising the right suppliers and that we’re steering a profitable business path. It’s an exhausting job because your brain never stops thinking of ways to improve our offering - but I do it because I love it. Where were you born and what brought you to Norfolk? Yes, I was born in Norfolk at my grandmother’s house in Hethersett, near Norwich, in 1962. I was meant to be born at home but my sister had chicken pox so my mother decided my grandmother’s was the place to go. What’s your ideal day out in the area? I love spending time with my wonderfully supportive family, my wife, Tania, and our four children, Daniel, Tara, Natasha and Natalia, visiting our favourite Norfolk places and enjoying great local food. I suspect I’d start with a Sugar Beat breakfast, shop in the city centre - I am a great fan of Jarrold’s - then head to the north Norfolk coast for a walk on the beach. Which iconic Norfolk characters do you most admire and why? It has to be Nelson. I love my history and he is, without doubt, one of the great characters from history. I admire his extraordinary courage in the face of adversity.

114

What’s your favourite pub in Norfolk and what do you like to drink there? In terms of a pint it would be the Green Man in Wymondham, near the Abbey. It has so much character and history in the tiny bar. And in Norwich, I like the Unthank Arms, and further afield, the Morston Anchor in north Norfolk. Where do you like to eat out in Norfolk and why? And what do you order? Apart from my own restaurant, I always visit the Carvery at The Pantry restaurant in Jarrold’s and for a special occasion it would be a visit to the Ingham Swan run by my old friend and colleague Dan Smith. What do you miss most when you leave the region? I always miss the Norfolk sunsets and the coast in general. While I’m quite happy going away to visit people or take short breaks, I always love getting back to Norwich, taking a stroll through the market and reminding myself how full of character it is! Would you prefer a day on the Broads or a day at Yarmouth’s Pleasure Beach? Why? Whilst I love the Broads it would have to be Yarmouth’s Pleasure Beach. I have had so many fun days there with Tania and the children. Opera, musical, drama or movie - which would you prefer to watch? It would have to be ballet. My youngest daughter, Natalia, is training to become a ballerina so she has converted me into an ardent fan. We went to see The Mariinsky’s Ballet from St Petersburg perform Swan Lake at the Royal Opera last week and it was mesmerising. Sum up Norfolk in three words Beautiful, unique, diverse. Sum up yourself in three words Passionate, loyal, optimistic.

The new Audi S1. The power of small The smallest car in our range is now bigger on performance. It’s thanks to a 2.0 TFSI engine that goes from 0-62mph in a blistering 5.8 seconds. And because we’ve included eyecatching details like Xenon plus headlights, ‘S’ design alloy wheels and S line embossed upholstery, the new S1 is just as big on style. Featuring quattro® all-wheel-drive, available across the Audi range. To find out more, contact your local Audi Centre or go to audi.co.uk/S1

Norwich Audi 17 Meridian Way Norwich Norfolk NR7 0TA 01603 709200 www.norwich.audi.co.uk

Official fuel consumption figures for the S1 range in mpg (l/100km) from: Urban 30.7 (9.2) – 31.0 (9.1), Extra Urban 47.9 (5.9) – 48.7 (5.8), Combined 39.8 (7.1) – 40.4 (7.0). CO2 emissions: 166 – 162g/km. Standard EU Test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Model shown shows Black styling package at £355 inc. VAT and quattro® exterior styling package at £1,245 inc. VAT.

20906261-59_Norwich_Audi_S1_Ad_220x307_V1.indd 1

17/07/2014 09:41