Axis magazine October 2022 issue

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday 8th September plunged the nation into a period of mourning. Here, the machinery of State swung into action, with books of condolence opened by our local councils, services organised by local churches, flags flown at half-mast and floral tributes left at public buildings.

Politicians of all hues paid their tributes to Queen Elizabeth, whose 70 years of constant service as our Head of State earned her a warmth and affection that cascaded down the generations.

Cllr Annie Brewster JP, Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council, was among those paying tribute. She said: “On behalf of Hertfordshire County Council and the people of Hertfordshire, I would like to express our deepest condolence and gratitude for the lifetime of service and devotion given by Her Majesty The Queen.”

The Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss, is Her Majesty’s representative in the county. He has opened an online book of remembrance for residents to leave their comments. This can be found at lord-lieutenant-herts.org.uk/remembrance.

Front cover images (clockwise from top)

The film Lyle, Lyle Crocodile which is out in time for half-term this month (p20); The Ally Pally Fireworks Festival for which tickets are now on sale (p19); The new film Emily about the life of Emily Bronte (p20); Artwork by Elena Fleury-Rojo showing at Glasshaus+ at The Gallery at Parndon Mill in Harlow (p20); Artist’s impression of the proposed new Brookfield Riverside development (p5).

ABOUT AXIS Axis magazine was founded in 2003 by two award-winning former local newspaper editors who still own and run the business today.

We are the independent, intelligent guide to everything that matters in and around eastern Hertfordshire and we aim to provide a concise, useful guide to local life.

Our editorial content is targeted towards readers’ interests, to maximise readership and gain the best exposure for our advertisers. The magazine is delivered to homes and businesses in selected areas and copies can also be picked up free from venues across the area.

CONTACT US Axis Magazine, Lyric House, 6b St Andrew St, Hertford SG14 1JA 01992 500198 info@axispublications.co.uk axismagazine.co.uk

PUBLISHERS: Aaron Gransby & Justine Woods

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BRIEFING

County council sounds the alarm as financial crisis begins to bite

Hertfordshire County Council is warning that it is facing severe financial challenges, both this year and in years to come, with savings needing to be made alongside a fundamental review of its planned capital projects.

Despite, as recently as February, having set a budget for 2022/3 that balanced the books, the ongoing impact of soaring inflation along side increased post-Covid demand for key services, such as supporting children with special educational needs, has left the council now predicting a £23.5million budget shortfall in this financial year.

The picture doesn’t get any brighter next year or for 2024/5 and 2025/6 where the predicted shortfalls currently stand at £26.2million, £61million and £72.2million.

Soaring costs

As the tier of local government responsible for a wide range of infrastructure and services including highways, education and children and adult’s services, Hertfordshire, along with other county councils across the country, is seeing its costs soar as inflation affects the whole economy.

It is having to cope with pay inflation (set to cost the authority £10m more during this financial

year than the £5m it had budg eted for), the price of highways contracts (for repairing roads for example) going up because of increased labour, fuel and material costs; and energy inflation increas ing its bills to light and heat build ings as well as keep streetlights on.

It predicts the costs for energy for street lighting will rise by 61%, adding an extra £2.3million to the bill each year just to keep the lights on after dark.

Some £20million of the predicted shortfalls in 2023/4 and £33million of the 2024/5 shortfall are attrib uted to the forecast increase in the cost of social care as the National Living Wage increases.

The council’s track record on balancing its books has been a strong one and it had already built in a higher than normal contingency budget for 2022/3 to fund increased costs should they materialise.

However, pressures on budgets are on such a scale that even the con tingency funds will not be enough to cover the shortfall.

Hertfordshire says it will use all of its contingency to balance the books this year along with making £13.4million of savings across its departments which it says it ought to be able to do without service levels being noticeably affected. It also plans to ring-fence the

£1.1million contingency built into its adult care services budget al though should demand for services increase in the winter it might not be able to do this.

This buys the council time to come up with long-term solutions for coming years.

However, it is not something the county is likely to be able to tackle alone.

Leader Cllr Richard Roberts said: “Financially, the council is a very well managed organisation, mak ing a great start to the financial year with a balanced budget. Last year we came out of the pandemic able to offer a significant Covid recovery package supporting many residents and businesses across the county and investing in services our residents value.

“However, the last six months have seen global events outside our control unfold, with everyone in the country now dealing with increases in the cost of living. This was why we set out our Cost of Living support in July. Our residents are struggling with rising bills and we, like every council in the country, are facing a similar picture.”

l Residents looking for advice and help with the cost of living crisis will find a wide range of advice at Hertfordshire.gov.uk/costofliving.

Planning application submitted for new Brookfield Riverside town centre

A planning application has been submitted to Broxbourne Council for the much-anticipated Brookfield Riverside town centre development alongside the A10 at Cheshunt.

The £500million development is set to include new shops, restau rants, leisure facilities including a cinema, a Civic Centre, hotel, housing and parking.

It forms part of the wider Brook field masterplan, with a 1,250 home Brookfield Garden Village planned next to it. Improvements to the local road infrastructure,

together with new cycling and pedestrian links, are planned as part of the scheme, which is a joint project between Broxbourne Council, Hertfordshire County Council and developer Sovereign Centros.

It is also intended that Brookfield Riverside will integrate with the existing retail park, M&S and Tesco stores.

Broxbourne Council leader Cllr Lewis Cocking hailed the plans, saying the development would be ‘transformational for the borough’.

An artist’s impression of the new centre

County Hall in Hertford, which is home to Hertfordshire County Council

Shake-up looms for waste bin collections across East Herts

and environmental benefits with the move to a three-weekly collection for example helping to mitigate the cost and the increased negative carbon impact of having to provide the new food waste collection.

A major shake-up of refuse collec tion services looks set to be coming in East Herts with the planned introduction of a new weekly food waste collection alongside a cut in black bin collections from once every fortnight to once every three weeks.

Plastic film will be added to the list of materials accepted with recycling.

These changes are set to be brought in from 2025 although others, including the closing of the district’s paper and textile recycling (or ‘bring’) banks and the ending of grants to parish councils for litter picking and emptying street litter bins, will come into effect during next year.

There is also a plan to reduce the size of bins from their current 240-litre capacity to 180 litres “as soon as is reasonably practicable”.

Waste services in East Herts operate as part of a shared service with neighbouring North Herts Council. They jointly award a contract for services which includes the collection of waste and recycling from some 124,000 households and

1,920 commercial customers, plus street cleansing services.

With a new contract set to start in May 2025, plus the Government expected to mandate councils to make weekly food waste collec tions, the councils are looking to better align their services, creating a more attractive contract to put out to tender.

Changes will also result in financial

It is also hoped that the change, along with that to bin sizes, will encourage residents to recycle more (recent analysis of black bin waste in the district showed that 43% of it could be recycled).

The closing of paper and recycling banks will bring East Herts into line with North Herts, with paper col lected on the doorstep and residents encouraged to donate textiles to local charities that collect them.

East Herts will also end a historical parish grants scheme whereby some parishes are paid for additional lit ter picking and bin emptying, with all litter bins situated on the street being emptied by the contractor.

East Herts Council’s executive will discuss the proposals on Tuesday 25th October.

TK Maxx store and five new units approved for Jackson Square St Elizabeth’s adult care home will close at the end of November

Planned redevelopment works that would enable Bishop’s Stortford’s Jackson Square Shopping Centre to welcome TK Maxx as a new anchor tenant have been given the go-ahead by East Herts Council.

Centre owners Legal and General had applied for permission to re develop and reconfigure the Bridge Street elevation of the centre to tie in with a planned reconfiguration of the space inside.

The changes would allow it to create the new store for the fashion and homewares discount retailer in the space previously occupied by Argos, as well as to add five new retail units fronting Bridge Street. When originally submitted at the beginning of last year the plans

drew a mixed response with widespread enthusiasm for the new tenant but objections to the planned removal of the centre’s Bridge Street entrance. Since then the applicants have worked with the council to revise the proposals, creating a new access point for pedestrians, with a ramp for wheelchair users and pushchairs, and lift offering access to the mall level of the centre 42 metres to the east of the existing entrance, close to the library.

The plans were approved by East Herts Council at the end of August and works are expected to start early in 2023 with completion due in 2024. The centre will remain open during the works.

The trustees of St Elizabeth’s, the Much Hadham-based charity providing services for people with epilepsy and other complex needs, have confirmed they intend to go ahead with the planned closure of its adult care home at the end of November.

The charity originally announced its plans in July citing its inability to recruit and retain sufficient staff to offer the required levels of care. There was also an expectation that the latest inspection report from the Government regulator, the Care Quality Commission, due the following month, would rate the service inadequate.

This did happen with the CQC also later serving notice that it intended to cancel St Elizabeth’s registrations as a provider in respect of both the care home and its Supported Living service. The charity delayed closure by appealing which gave it time to hold a consultation.

But following this, the trustees say the situation remains the same. Facilities such as that provided by St Elizabeth’s, which offer such specialist care, are few and

far between, so the confirmation of the closure will have been devastating news for the home’s 83 residents and their families. More than 6,000 people have signed a petition on change.org asking for the closure to be halted.

The trustees said: “It is heart-breaking to have to take this step, but any compromise to the safety of residents or reduction in the quality of our care is simply not in keeping with our ethos and is a long way from the type of service we have made our name in providing.

“We will, however, continue to operate as a residential school and college, supporting children and young people with epilepsy and other complex conditions, where there is an increasing need for our specialist care.”

Weekly food waste collection planned but black bins will move to three-weekly cycle

The cycle of waste collections is likely to change in East Herts

An impression of the new view of Jackson Square approaching from Old River Lane

Bengeo campaigners remobilise in effort to save field

Campaigners who opposed plans for gravel extraction at Bengeo Field on the edge of Hertford have remobilised to fight new plans by developer Durkan to build around 100 homes on the site.

Stop Bengeo Quarry spent several years fighting plans for the extrac tion of sand and gravel from the site off Wadesmill Road, which is close to a primary school and in a natural landscape much valued by the local community.

A decision by Hertfordshire Coun ty Council to refuse the application was later supported in 2019 by the Planning Inspectorate.

Mineral extraction is now not

expected to take place on the site, and developer Durkan has an nounced it has acquired an interest in the land.

It proposes building 100 homes on land which stretches between Sa combe Road and Wadesmill Road, adjacent to its Stiles development.

Both areas make up what is known as HERT4, an area designated in East Herts Council’s district plan to provide upwards of 150 homes.

The Stiles, on the former Bengeo Nursery site, supplies 52 of these.

While the district plan refers to additional housing here, revitalised objectors under the banner of Save Bengeo Field say its wording

makes it clear that this would be after mineral extraction, in effect assuming the landscape had already been spoiled.

They say the area is a locally im portant and unique landscape that should be protected from further development.

They also point out the pressures further development would place on infrastructure and services in the area.

Durkan, which recently held a public exhibition outlining its proposals, says it intends to submit a planning application for its pro posed development to East Herts Council this winter.

Community centre sell-off helps park project

An unusual solution to bridging a shortfall in the budget to improve Bishop’s Stortford’s Castle Park will see East Herts Council selling Bishop’s Park Community Centre in Lancaster Way to its partner on the park project, the town council.

The Castle Park Improvement Project is already underway and will combine Castle Gardens and Sworder’s Field into one cohesive facility, create new footpaths and bridges and repair and enhance historic features including the castle mound.

But inflationary pressures have increased the costs and while these have been reduced by a value engi neering exercise, and the National Lottery Heritage Fund increasing its support, the two councils still need to find £350,000 in contributions.

While the town council is able to provide £175,000, budgetary pressures mean East Herts looked unable to contribute the equivalent amount.

But following discussions with the town council, its leading executive group agreed in September that it will raise its portion via the sale of the community centre to the town

council for £160,000. The town council will also pay East Herts £15,000 as an option sum giving it the chance to buy a further two community centres – St Michael’s Mead and Havers – within 12 months of the completion of the Castle Park project. The town council already manages all three centres.

Civic Federation moves to safeguard future of church hall

Bishop’s Stortford Civic Federation says it has successfully nominated the Water Lane United Reformed Church Hall for inclusion on East Herts Council’s register of Assets of Community Value.

Community organisations can ask for buildings or land deemed to be an asset to the community to be included on the register.

If accepted, it means the asset can not be sold within a five-year peri od without the community being informed and given the opportunity to determine within six months if they can raise the finance to poten tially purchase it themselves.

The hall was sold to East Herts Council by the church in 2019 –the church looking to use the pro ceeds to upgrade the main church building and the council looking to include the site in its redevelopment of Old River Lane. But there have been concerns that the council plans to allow the demolition of the hall to make way for car parking.

It is not clear if the listing would prevent this from happening but it does lay down a marker that this is a much valued local facility.

The main contractor building the new skate park in Castle Park, The Freestyle Collective Ltd, is in liquidation, leaving East Herts and Bishop’s Stortford Town councils having to re-tender the works.

The project was already running behind schedule when it came to light that no works were being carried out on site and the councils found themselves unable to contact the company.

They say a new procurement exercise will take around eight weeks to complete and then there will be a further period until the chosen contractor is on site. The councils say they hope works will be underway again by the end of the year.

East Herts Council’s executive member for wellbeing, Cllr Eric Buckmaster, said they would be doing all they could to ensure the works were back on track as quickly as possible and would give updates as soon as they were able to. Other elements of the Castle Park works are unaffected.

Work on the latest section of the A602 between Ware and Stevenage to be improved has been delayed. Checks are being carried out on a new bridge across the Dane End tributary near Sacombe Pound between Watton-at-Stone and Tonwell after possible defects were identified. Hertfordshire County Council, which is working with contractor Tilbury Douglas on the project, says it has commissioned assessments to ensure the struc tural integrity of the bridge before the road can open to traffic. The bridge, and new road, are now expected to fully open by summer 2023.

The Markwell Pavilion café and community room, with new terrace overlooking the castle in Castle Park

Castle Park skate park work delayed as contractor goes into liquidation

The URC Church Hall

Checks carried out on new A602 bridge

Her Majesty The Queen was a link between our generations

The nation has just come out of a state of mourning following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

This has been an incredibly sad time for our nation and the Commonwealth as we marked the end of her magnificent 70 years as our sovereign.

In that spirit, I made a tribute speech in the House of Commons in her honour and on behalf of the people of Hertford and Stortford.

I said The Queen was, both as a person and as a monarch, a link between our generations.

That she was a tangible human link to our nation’s past – to its struggles, but most of all to its finest hour during World War Two.

At the end I said: “With the passing of our Queen, the end of a great historical epoch has indeed passed, but we are all privileged to have lived at least some of our lives

in the great second Elizabethan age. We mourn her but we cherish her memory and her lifetime of service. God bless Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. God save the King.”

I know many people across Hertford and Stortford are very upset at this loss of someone who has been a constant in all our lives.

So many know of no other monarch and this is unsettling.

I share that loss as we collectively grieve her passing.

Of course, we now have a new monarch – King Charles III – and

I had the honour of attending Westminster Hall for the King’s Address to MPs and peers. These ancient rituals are certainly a comfort at this time and the dignity the new King showed and his vow to serve – just like his mother – was very moving, especially as he mourns. Locally, there was a proclamation ceremony for the new King at County Hall in Hertford and I attended with other MPs from Hertfordshire. I then signed the book of condolence. I also attended the lying in state of

Her Majesty ahead of her funeral. It was a very sad event and the last chance for the nation and Her Majesty’s family to say goodbye and thank you to a woman who always put her country first.

I have also been very moved by the outpouring of tributes and condolences from across the globe for Her Majesty and the Royal Family.

She was someone who transcended borders, class and creed. She was quite simply an inspiration, not just throughout the Commonwealth, but in many other countries too.

The little things – a new image on stamps, coins and banknotes – will cement the huge change for us all in the weeks and months to come. However, we have a new King to support and I look forward to pledging my allegiance to him when Parliament returns. The Carolean age has now begun.

MP FOR HERTFORD & STORTFORD

New picture framer selling Marvel prints and authentic vintage posters opens in Hertford

A new picture framing business has opened in Hertford, offering the chance to avoid long waits and have your pictures framed within days – a next day service may even be possible, depending on workload.

Love Vintage is run by Kate Heath – who will be known to many from her time on Hertford Market as Crafty Kate – and her picture framer brother Mike, who has over 30 years’ experience in the

picture framing industry.

The shop also specialises in selling Marvel comic prints and boasts an enviable collection of quality artworks featuring popular superheroes such as Spiderman and Batman, including authentic vintage posters, some dating back to the 1970s which are hard to find anywhere.

It also has some great Christmas present ideas and can frame sports shirts and memorabilia for you.

Love Vintage’s products will be on sale at Brothership at 14 Bull Plain, Hertford from the middle of October as well.

Love Vintage is just a couple of minutes’ walk away from the town centre at 7 Priory Wharf, Priory Street, Hertford SG14 1RJ.

Visit buylovevintage.com to view hundreds of prints which are available to buy or call Kate or Mike on 01992 210449 for more information.

Gingerlillie marks five years with shopping event

The owners of Sawbridgeworth’s Gravelle’s Budgens store have sold their business to the Central England Co-Op after running it for 16 years.

Michelle and Paul Gravelle’s last day will be Sunday 23rd October, after which the store in London Road will close for around two and a half weeks while it under goes a major refit.

The Budgens team will be staying on to work in the new Co-Op store.

Gingerlillie Boutique in Hertford is celebrating its fifth anniversary since opening in Market Place this month and is holding a special shopping event to mark the occasion.

Owner Alison Bates says the shop has had an internal refit and she has added new brands, so that her range now includes names such as Mos Mosh, Selected Femme, Rains, Shoe The Bear and Religion among

many others.

Gingerlillie, which you will find at 7 Market Place, Hertford SG14 1DF, will be open late on Friday 7th October until 8pm and the shopping event will continue on Saturday 8th between 10am and 5pm with fizz and nibbles as well as instore promotions. There will also be a raffle of exclusive products with all proceeds going to local charity Mudlarks.

Digital marketing agency Marketing Mouse celebrated its first anniversary in Hertford with a special feature in July’s Axis.

To mark the occasion, founder Jesse Hopkins (pictured above) offered free marketing services for up to three local businesses.

This month we can announce the winners of the promotion are:

The Book Nook, the independent bookshop in Ware; The Willow Foundation charity and Sophie Hopkins, a Hertford-based make-up artist.

The promotion inspired Jesse to launch a quarterly pro bono marketing service.

Companies can find out more and apply online at themarketingmouse.co.uk.

Owner Alison Bates (centre) with her team at Gingerlillie

Framer Mike Heath at work; a Marvel poster and the outside and inside of newly opened Love Vintage

Marketing Mouse’s new pro bono service

Gravelles Budgens is sold to Co-Op

BID re-election process is now in full swing

The formal re-election process of Love Hoddesdon BID Ltd, the not-for-profit company responsible for managing the business improvement district (BID) covering Hoddesdon town centre, began last month and concludes on Thursday 6th October.

If successfully re-elected, Love

Hoddesdon will set about implementing its business plan for the next five years aimed at continuing to improve the vitality and vibrancy of Hoddesdon town centre. The plan can be viewed at lovehoddesdon.com.

As ballot papers start to return early indications are looking positive with many of its staunch

Attracting people into Hoddesdon

est supporters already voting. However, the way that these elections work it is also essential to get some of the larger High Street businesses to support its continuation.

By voting ‘yes’ businesses agree to pay an annual levy based on 1.5% of their business rateable value.

Last month the town hosted the Love Hoddesdon Food and Drink Fest with stall holders offering a wide range of international cuisines and drinks.

This was complemented by DJs, street entertainers and children’s rides. It is estimated it attracted around 3,000 visitors to the town.

This month Love Hoddesdon will unveil a commemorative plaque marking the granting of a Royal Charter in 1253 for the holding of a weekly market and annual street fair in the town.

Into November and Love Hoddesdon is working with the

Royal British Legion and others to provide the annual Remem brance Day Parade and Service on Sunday 13th November. In addition, they will once again arrange for the Garden of Remembrance at St Catherine’s Church to be decorated with a blanket of poppies made by the local community and organise for

Hoddesdon Clock Tower to be lit red during the period of remembrance.

Hoddesdon Loves Christmas Saturday 26th November will see the return of the extremely popular Hoddesdon Loves Christmas event, which is provided in conjunction with Broxbourne Council. This major event features themed entertainment, attractions and stalls, including a snow globe, a Father Christmas parade, the lighting of the Christmas tree and a free firework display to close the day.

Influencing the future of Hoddesdon town centre

With Broxbourne Council recently approving for public consultation its new town centre strategy for Hoddesdon, Love Hoddesdon will be looking to work closely with it to determine where future investment is made in the town and the priorities to be addressed in both the short and medium term.

Backing businesses

Local businesses are regularly kept updated about things associated with the town through weekly email updates and monthly networking breakfasts. These are free to both BID levy payers and voluntary members, with a charge of £8 (including breakfast for non-members). The next networking breakfast is on Thursday 20th October (8am to 9.30am). If your business is inter ested in attending or becoming a voluntary member please email lovehoddesdon@outlook.com.

Then make sure you…

LOCAL

Do you…

Above: The Food and Drink Fest. Fireworks will close the Christmas event. Below: The Garden of Remembrance

One gift card – hundreds of choices!

Take the guesswork out of buying a gift with the Discover Stortford Gift Card

The Discover Stortford Gift Card is the perfect present for every occasion – birthdays, Christmas, weddings, anniversaries, retirement – or just to say thank you.

Give friends, family and colleagues of all ages the freedom to buy whatever they want. Whether it’s something for the home or garden, a hair or beauty treatment, coffee and cake, or a new toy or game, the lucky recipient will be spoilt for choice in Bishop’s Stortford town centre.

How does it work?

The Discover Stortford Gift Card is like a store gift card except it’s redeemable at a wider range of places.

It runs on the Mastercard system and works like a debit card with the amount spent automatically deducted from the gift card value. You can load any amount from £5 to £500 and it can be used all in one go or over multiple transactions. Each card is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. The scheme has been set up by Bishop’s Stortford BID and is a great way to support local businesses.

How to buy a gift card

There are two ways to buy:

1. Collect a gift card from the Tourist Information Centre in Market Square, then go online

and add the amount you want to gift.

2. Visit bishopsstortfordgiftcard. com to buy a gift card and it will be sent by post.

Where to spend it

The Discover Stortford Gift Card is accepted at 30 differ ent businesses across the town centre. Outlets participating in

the scheme include independent shops and national chains; bars, cafés and restaurants; hairdress ers and beauty salons; enter tainment venues and high street services so there is something for everyone.

More places are being added every month.

To see the full list of participating businesses, visit bishopsstortfordgiftcard.com.

Corporate gifts and employee incentives

If your business is looking for a corporate Christmas gift or has an employee reward scheme, the gift card is a great way to connect with clients and motivate staff. A discount is available for bulk purchases – contact Gina for more information. Email her at gina@bishopsstortfordbid.co.uk.

Keep up to date with all the latest news:

@DiscoverStortford

@StortfordBID @DiscoverStortford

The Discover Stortford Gift Card can be used at dozens of different businesses across town, with both national chains and independent retailers, hairdressers and beauty salons, bars, cafés and restaurants accepting it

WHAT’S ON

Advance tickets now available for the big fireworks displays

Advance tickets are available now for some of this year’s big local fireworks displays. Bonfire Night itself falls on a Saturday, so 5th November is sure to go with a bang!

Bishop’s Stortford Rugby Club’s event at Silver Leys in Hadham Road is on Saturday 5th No vember with the display at 7pm. Advance ticket prices are £15 for a family ticket (2+2), £3 for an additional child or £5 for an additional adult or unaccom panied child. Tickets are only bookable in advance – there will be none sold on the night. bsrfctickets.co.uk.

Ware’s annual fireworks display is organised by the Rotary Clubs of Amwell, Hertford Shires, Ware and Hertford and takes place on land in High Oak Road (SG12 0QJ) on Saturday 5th November. Gates open at 5.30pm, the bon

fire is lit at 6.30pm and the fire works display will begin at 7pm. Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for under 12s on the night, with a family ticket for four at £25. But a 20 per cent discount is available for online bookings. warefireworks.org.uk

If you fancy going farther afield, the Ally Pally Fireworks Festival at Alexandra Palace in north London is always a spectacu lar night, with the display seen against the London skyline. The event also features music, street food, ice skating, cinema, a giant family area and German Bier Festival. Gok Wan MBE will headline the DJ bill. The festival will run from 4pm to 10.45pm. Tickets are on sale now and cost from £11 for an adult, from £6 for 11 to 15-year-olds and £2 for under-10s. Family tickets are also available from £44. fireworks.london

Our pick of the half term activities Ware’s the Film Festival pops up

Fletcher’s Lea at Ware Priory is hosting some free half term ac tivities this month. On Monday 24th October, there is a Lego Building session with Lego Mas ters Builders and on Wednesday 26th October Doody’s educa tional workshops present indoor kurling. All ages are welcome and the activities are free to take part in and run from 12noon to 4pm. Just turn up – no booking necessary. Ware Priory is in High Street, Ware.

Big Fish, Little Fish are holding a Halloween Spooktacular Family Rave on Saturday 22nd October from 2-4pm at The Spotlight in High Street, Hoddesdon. This ever-popular all ages event brings together a mix of music across all dance genres and even has a toddler play space with tents and tunnels, a baby chill-out area and Nifty Natty and her kids’ craft

activities. Tickets are £11 for adults and £8 for children from thespotlightvenue.com.

Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar has a brilliant educational show that brings explosive science to the stage in a fun way on Friday 28th October. There are two per formances of Ministry of Science Live, at 12noon and 2.45pm and tickets are £16.50 for adults, £15 children, £60 family of four from wyllyottstheatre.co.uk.

Ware’s The Film Festival is a free film festival organised by Ware Town Council in conjunction with Hertford Regional College and features a week’s worth of movies being shown at different pop-up cinema locations across the town.

It runs from Sunday 16th to Sun day 23rd October and features the following showings:

l The Duke at Place House, Bluecoat Yard on Sunday 16th;

l Swimming With Men at Fletcher’s Lea, Ware Priory on Monday 17th;

l Marvellous at The Tap Bar, High Street on Tuesday 18th;

l Phantom of the Open at Hert ford Regional College, London Road on Thursday 20th;

l Operation Mincemeat at Fletcher’s Lea, Ware Priory on Friday 21st;

l Clifford the Big Red Dog at Allenburys Sports and Social

Club, Harris’ Lane on Saturday 22nd;

l Belfast at Southern Maltings, Kibes Lane on Sunday 23rd. You can find out more about the festival, and book online at waretowncouncil.gov.uk/film.

Or book through scanning the QR code in the advert in this magazine on page 22.

The Ally Pally Fireworks Festival promises a great night out this year

See Colin Firth in Operation Mincemeat

Ministry of Science Live at Wyllyotts

Cinema: Harry Styles stars in tale of a Utopian experiment

Don’t Worry Darling (15)

Now showing Florence Pugh and Harry Styles star as a couple living in the 1950s American Utopian com munity of Victory, an experi mental company town housing the men who work for the top secret Victory Project and their families. Life seems perfect, with every resident’s needs met by the company. But when cracks begin to appear, Pugh’s character Alice begins to wonder what really lies behind this apparent paradise.

Mrs Harris Goes to Paris (PG)

Now showing The enchanting tale of a seeming ly ordinary British housekeeper whose dream to own a couture Christian Dior gown takes her on an extraordinary adventure to Paris. Leslie Manville stars as the eponymous Mrs H, alongside Jason Isaacs.

The Lost King (12A)

Out on Friday 7th October The life-affirming true story of amateur historian Philippa Langley whose refusal to give up the search for the bones of King

Richard III led to them being fa mously discovered beneath a car park in Leicester in 2012. The film tells how she defied both the incomprehension of her friends and family and the scepticism of experts and academics, forcing them to think again about the life of one of the most controversial

kings in England’s history.

Emily (TBC)

Out on Friday 14th October Emma Mackey stars as Emily Bronte in this film about the imagined life of the rebel and misfit who finds her voice and writes the literary classic

Wuthering Heights. It explores the relationships that inspired her – her raw, passionate sisterhood with Charlotte and Anne; her first aching, forbidden love and her care for the maverick brother she idolised.

Lyle Lyle Crocodile (PG)

Out on Friday 14th October Based on a best-selling book series, this live action/CGI musical comedy brings this beloved character to a new audience. When the Primm family move to New York City, their young son Josh struggles to adapt until he meets Lyle, a singing crocodile who loves baths, caviar and music, living in the attic of their home.

Black Adam (TBC)

Out on Friday 21st October Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the Egyptian gods –and imprisoned just as quickly –Black Adam (played by Dwayne Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice in the modern world.

Pick of the arts Community events

CHORAL CONCERT

Hertford Choral Society’s next concert is on Saturday 29th October at 7.30pm at All Saints’ Church, Hertford and celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birthday of Ralph Vaughan Williams with some of his works and Max Bruch’s famous 1st Violin Concerto. The concert is titled Toward the Unknown Region and tickets are £16 reserved, £12 unreserved, £4 students. For tickets email tickets@hertfordchoral.org.uk or visit hertfordchoral.org.uk for more details.

GLASSHAUS+

Glasshaus+, featuring the work of many artists in glass, is showing at The Gallery at Parndon Mill in Harlow until Sunday 30th October.

This year’s theme demonstrates how other materials can be incorporated with glass to form an artwork.

The gallery is in Parndon Mill Lane, off Elizabeth Way, Harlow CM20 2HP.

Call 01279 426042 or visit parndonmill.co.uk for opening times and more information about the gallery.

WALK WITH THE RSPB

SE Herts RSPB group has two lo cal walks coming up – at Water ford Heath on Wednesday 19th October and Watton-at-Stone on Wednesday 2nd November. The group is also hosting a meeting on Tuesday 25th October at the United Reformed Church Hall in Mill Lane, Broxbourne at 7.30 for 8pm, with Rob Sheldon speaking on the Conservation of globally threatened birds. New members are always welcome –for full details of these and more events visit group.rspb.org.uk/ southeasthertfordshire/

APPLE DAY AT ORCHARD

Sawbridgeworth’s ever-popular community Apple Day takes place on Saturday 8th October at the Rivers Orchard from 10am to 2pm. Visitors can help pick the apple crop, taste the apple varieties and take some home for themselves. The remaining crop will be juiced. There will also be refreshments, demonstrations and displays about the communi ty orchard site.

The orchard can be found at CM21 9EY – visit rhso.co.uk for details of how to access it and for further information.

Don’t Worry Darling, The Lost King and Emily are all showing this month

THE MANFREDS – HITS, JAZZ & BLUES TOUR

Friday 14th October, 7.30pm

Paul Jones & band take to the stage

– Do Wah Diddy Diddy & more!

Tickets: £28.50

HALF TERM WRESTLING SPECTACULAR

Tuesday 25th October, 7.30pm

Live wrestling action that the children will love!

Tickets: £16.50, £12 child, family of 4 £49

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE LIVE

Friday 28th October, 12pm & 2.45pm

Brilliant educational show that brings explosive fun & science to the stage!

Tickets: £16.50, £15 child, family of 4 £60

A series of free film showings in venues all around Ware

BOOK HERE FOR FREE

See listings for times or visit: waretowncouncil.gov.uk/film

FOOD & DRINK

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS

AS THE NIGHTS DRAW IN, HERE ARE FOUR GREAT PLACES TO TRY DURING OCTOBER

Go Spanish at George IV’s Tapas Night

Enjoy an evening of Spanishinfused dishes paired with stunning wines when The George IV in Great Amwell welcomes back its popular Tapas Night this month on Friday 21st October. You can makes a meal of the dishes by ordering several of them and sharing them between

friends. As dishes are freshly prepared they will be served as soon as they are ready.

Book your table now on 01920 870039. You can also book by email to info@georgeivpub.co.uk. Find out more about chef Oliver D’Arcy and his food at georgeivpub.co.uk.

Enjoy sharing platters at newly-opened Paisa Wine Bar in Bishop’s Stortford

Check out the newly opened Paisa Wine Bar in North Street, Bishop’s Stortford. Serving food and wine from southern Italy, including homemade focaccia, it is open from 11am to 11pm from Tuesday to Sunday. The menu includes sharing platters of meat, vegetarian dishes, cheese and

seafood as well as a selection of appetisers and desserts, alongside a drinks menu featuring wines, gins, Italian liqueurs, cocktails and beers. Paisa, which is Italian slang for a compatriot or coun tryman, is at 42H North Street. Call 01279 832781 or visit paisawinebar.com to book.

Brohmon: See what all the fuss is about

Fancy a curry? Book for Banquet Nights at Saffron in Hoddesdon

Take advantage of the excellent Indian food on offer during Banquet Nights at the award-winning Saffron in Hoddesdon. Every Wednes day and Sunday evening from

5.30pm you can enjoy a full set meal for just £13.95 per person at the High Street restaurant. Call 01992 461171 to book your table and see the restaurant’s full menus at saffrononline.co.uk.

Looking to try something a little different?

The Indian/Bengali restaurant Brohmon in Stansted Mount fitchet won the Best Restaurant in Essex award last month at the 4th annual British Restaurant Awards. Owner Karim Ullah and his wife Sultana are well-known in East Herts for their past

pop-ups at pubs in Hertford and Bishop’s Stortford and are soon due to open another Brohmon outlet, for takeaway and some outdoor dining, in Parliament Square, Hertford. For now, visit their restaurant at Chapel Hill, Stansted – call 01279 812774 to book or visit brohmon.com.

Ritchie’s wine notes

By Ritchie Tough of Cavavin

USA wines: Are you getting more bang for your buck?

The United States has confidently come of age as one of the Its reputation may be founded on the global fame of Napa and Sonoma, but the US is home to countless lesser-known wine regions producing world-class wines (obvious examples include Oregon’s Willamette Valley and the New York Finger Lakes). Wine has been made in the States for around 400 years, but it is only in the last 40 that American wine really began to earn

A wine competition, known as the Judgement of Paris, was organised in the French capital on 24th May 1976 by Steven Spurrier, a British wine merchant, and his colleague, Patricia Gallagher. In this, French judges carried out two blind tasting comparisons: one of top-quality Chardonnays and another of red wines (Bordeaux wines from France and Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Napa, California). When the US came out on top in both red and white wines one of the French judges demanded the vote be cancelled, stating: “You have just spat in the face of France!”, but the event well and truly cemented American wines among the world’s best. Today, lots of excitement can be found up north in the cooler Washington state. Here at Cavavin we can recommend a Bor deaux blend from the Airfield Estate vineyard in Washington

This wine is full, rich and savoury – a perfect winter warmer.

now

Enjoy real Thai food with warm hospitality and great service

High quality Thai dishes prepared in-house with the finest and freshest ingredients Sumptuous first floor area available for private dining and event hire

Our first floor private area has its own bar and can accommodate up to 100 people so is ideal for your Christmas parties, as well as birthdays and corporate events.

THE GEORGE IV

Pub & Dining

Nestled in the picturesque village of Great Amwell, The George IV is the perfect spot for you to enjoy imaginative, freshly prepared dishes, including traditional pub classics, served in a friendly pub atmosphere or on the fully heated terrace area. The George IV can also be the perfect venue for your next event. From intimate weddings, birthday parties and anniversaries to baby showers and corporate events, they’ve got it covered with their beautiful function room and variety of dining options.

Cautherly Lane, Great Amwell

SG12 9SW / 01920 870039

info@georgeivpub.co.uk

www.georgeivpub.co.uk

THE BEEHIVE Country Pub

This family-run country freehouse reopened following a lockdown renovation with a major extension, creating new modern facilities which blend well with its historic character. The new look is proving popular with customers enjoying a menu that has plenty of fresh fish and sea food dishes as well as steaks, burgers, pies and many others. Vegan and vegetarian dishes are always available. It also offers a great Sunday lunch. Afternoon teas, which must be booked, are available from Monday to Saturday. Check social media for forthcoming events. Book now to experience its fresh new look!

Epping Green, near Hertford

SG13 8NB / 01707 875959

www.beehiveeppingreen.co.uk

Khao Yai is the new name for the Hoddesdonbased Thai restaurant formerly known as Omsin’s. Now under new ownership, Khao Yai offers a broad menu of your favourite Thai dishes alongside superb service. Now open seven days a week, Khao Yai also offers both takeaway (with a 10% discount for collection) and delivery through its own website as well as delivery apps. In addition to the welcoming ground floor there is a large first floor dining space with its own bar which can also be booked for events, parties and private dining.

18 Brocket Road, Hoddesdon EN11 8NZ 01992 445988

www.khao-yai.co.uk

SAFFRON Indian

The quality of the well-established and award-winning Indian restaurant Saffron in Hoddesdon has been widely recognised. This stylish restaurant is a contemporary venue in which both traditional and unique Indian dishes can be enjoyed alongside superb service. It can cater for both large gatherings and more intimate dinners and also offers an outside catering service.

If you fancy trying Saffron’s great food at home, both delivery and collection are currently available with a 10% discount for collections.

25 High Street, Hoddesdon

EN11 8SX 01992 461171 / 01992 461160

www.saffrononline.co.uk

THE GOLDEN FLEECE Pub & Dining

The Golden Fleece is an old English pub with a contemporary twist, and one where the food is so good that it has earned an entry in the Michelin Guide for Hotels and Restaurants. Set at the heart of the village of Braughing, Jess and Peter Tatlow’s pub offers a menu of fresh, seasonal and delicious locally sourced food and also caters for diners who require gluten-free meals. As a free house at the heart of its community, the Fleece is also able to offer a wide range of real ales, beers, wines and spirits. A takeaway menu is also available.

20 Green End, Braughing SG11 2PG 01920 823555

www.goldenfleecebraughing.co.uk

BAAN THITIYA Thai

Baan Thitiya, Bishop’s Stortford’s premier Thai restaurant, is the perfect place for relaxed summer dining. Close to Bishop’s Stortford town centre, it has a beautiful garden and its own parking while, inside, the restaurant is decorated in a contemporary Thai style. The extensive menu features high quality food prepared by Thai chefs with an emphasis on fresh, healthy ingredients and authentic, natural flavours. It also has an excellent wine list. Baan Thitiya is open seven days for lunch and dinner.

A warm welcome and great service await you.

102 London Road, Bishop’s Stortford

CM23 3DS 01279 658575

www.baan-thitiya.com

KHAO YAI Thai