Axis Magazine May 2020 issue

The independent, intelligent guide to everything that matters locally MAY 2020: YOU CAN NOW ALSO READ US ONLINE EVERY MONTH AT AXISMAGAZINE.CO.UK

INSIDE YOUR MAY ISSUE BRIEFING: COVID-19

Lockdown Continued...

What it means for the local community and businesses

IN THIS TOGETHER

The groups and individuals doing their bit in the battle

NEWS ROUND-UP

Keeping you up to date with the rest of the big stories

BIRCHERLEY GREEN

Exclusive briefing for Axis readers from site owners

FOOD & DRINK

Imaginative offerings from our pubs and restaurants

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WELCOME

MAY 2020 | NO. 208

ABOUT AXIS

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

MAGAZINE COLLECTION POINTS & SUBSCRIBING

If you don’t receive Axis magazine through your letterbox there are two ways of getting hold of a copy each month...

Br inging you local news in di ff icult times As this issue of Axis went to print we were into week six of the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite the scale of the economic crisis hitting the local newspaper and publishing industry at the moment, we have managed to keep Axis in print this month, as we are determined to bring you high quality, independent local news and information that you can trust at this difficult time.

We are sure you will understand that the huge reduction in local advertising spend following the closure of shops, leisure venues and restaurants means this is a smaller issue than usual, but you will still find lots to inform you. Please remember to support those local businesses that are finding ways of operating – and do tell any friends and family who don’t have Axis delivered that they can now read us online every month at axismagazine.co.uk or on issuu.com (search for Axis magazine).

Until next month, stay safe and, for all our sakes, please keep following the Government’s social distancing advice.

Aar on Grans by and Jus tine Woods Publishers This month’s front cover images (clockwise from top): Lea Wharf, the proposed successor to Bircherley Green in Hertford (see pages 11, 12 and 13); NHS Heroes by Ceri Shipton (page 16); Virtual Valley by Sally Steele of Hertford Art Society (page 16) and Carrie the care worker by the Secret Society of Hertford Crafters (page 9).

1 SUBSCRIBE For just £20 per year (we don’t make money from this, it’s just to cover the cost of postage) we’ll send you your own copy on the day of publication each month.

Call us on 01992 500198 with debit or credit card details to start a subscription or send a cheque made payable to Axis Publications Ltd to the address in the Contact us section below.

2 PICK UP A COPY We make free copies available for pick-up at the beginning of each month at a number of venues including major retailers, arts & leisure facilities, restaurants & pubs. Call us for details of your nearest stockist.

CONTACT US

Axis Magazine, Tooke House, 20 Bull Plain, Hertford SG14 1DT 01992 500198 info@axispublications.co.uk axismagazine.co.uk PUBLISHERS: Aaron Gransby & Justine Woods Axis is published by Axis Publications Ltd

Find Axis magazine online this and every month at axismagazine.co.uk axis magazine 3

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You can now also read Axis online at axismagazine.co.uk or at issuu.com (search for Axis magazine)

BRIEFING

COVID-19 NEWS SPECIAL

Community adapts to life under lockdown as virus death toll mounts

Residents and businesses slowly adapted to life under lockdown during April; a situation now set to last into May, perhaps beyond, as the country continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic.

As Axis went to press on 28th April, figures for Covid-19 related deaths released by the Department of Health showed that sadly 108 people had died at Lister Hospital in Stevenage which is run

by East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust in Harlow had reported 186 deaths by the same date.

One of the Princess Alexandra Hospital’s own staff members, 54-year-old Lynsay Coventry, was among those to lose their life to Covid-19 on 2nd April, becoming the first serving NHS midwife in England to die having tested positive for the disease.

The hospital’s chief executive Lance McCarthy paid tribute to Lynsay, saying she would be remembered for her professionalism and commitment to the women she supported and that her loss would be felt by the maternity team and colleagues across the trust.

Forest and car parks closed The restrictions, which First Secretary of State Dominic Raab announced on Thursday 16th April would continue for at least another three weeks, mean that

Notices greet towpath users in Ware whilst Pishiobury Park’s car park has been closed

shops, except those offering essential goods, remain closed as do restaurants and cafés (other than those able to offer takeaway or delivery services) and venues such as gyms, theatres and visitor attractions.

While the rules allow daily outdoor exercise, restrictions have been placed on some of our most popular outdoor spaces locally to stop them being overwhelmed with visitors putting social distancing measures at risk.

The National Trust closed Hatfield Forest along with its main car park from Sunday 22nd March while in early April East Herts Council closed car parks including those at Bishop’s Stortford’s Southern Country Park and Pishiobury Park in Sawbridgeworth, though the parks themselves remain open.

It also announced that fishing at its lakes was not permitted until further notice.

Broxbourne Council also closed car parks at the borough’s parks

and open spaces in April.

Hertfordshire County Council closed its visitor car parks at Broxbourne Woods National Nature Reserve in April although the woods themselves are open.

And in Harlow, the Town Park car parks were closed.

The Canal and River Trust says its towpaths remain open but it has erected banners and signage at busy locations, including in Ware, asking people to restrict their use of them.

Staff at Simon Balle school epitomise the public’s generous response to pandemic All around the area, members of the community have been doing their bit to tackle the pandemic.

One great example has been the staff at Simon Balle All-through School in Hertford who have made a major contribution to efforts to protect our local health workers by producing protective visors in the school’s Design Technology Department.

On Thursday 9th April community nursing teams based at NHS Hoddesdon Health Centre

took delivery of 50 of the highly protective, reusable visors hot off the workbenches.

A further 50 visors are being provided for staff at a newly established NHS hot hub facility dealing with patients showing signs and symptoms of Covid-19.

Visors have also been delivered to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Barnet General Hospital and the Enfield Community Services team, with more batches planned to support other local key workers.

Community nurses in Hoddesdon say thank you for their visors

axis magazine 5

BRIEFING: COVID-19 NEWS SPECIAL

Council staff and firefighters are redeployed to deal with Covid-19 All tiers of local government have had their work cut out for them in the past month.

Every service area has faced enormous changes needing to be implemented in the wake of the threat posed by coronavirus.

District councils (that’s East Herts, Broxbourne and Harlow in the Axis area) were also asked by the Government to administer the grants promised to businesses early on in the shutdown by Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

Grants for businesses All retail, hospitality and leisure businesses are being given 100% business rates relief for 12 months.

Grants of £25,000 are being given to retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with a rateable value from £15,001 to £50,999.

Businesses eligible for Small Business Rate Relief are each receiving a one-off £10,000 cash payment while pubs are to get a £5,000 business rates discount.

There was barely time to warn the councils of the workloads to come yet they were tasked with quickly distributing money to businesses in their areas that will often need it urgently to give them any hope of survival.

To manage this task staff were being deployed from different areas of the councils’ operations to cope with the workload.

600 sign up for help to quit smoking One unexpected development in April was the amount of people (more than 600) requesting help to stop smoking in Hertfordshire, suggesting that Covid-19 is a key driver in encouraging smokers to quit.

The county council’s team has had to double the amount of specialist clinics available.

There’s never been a better time to Quit For free advice and support on stopping smoking, search ‘Smokefree’.

© Crown copyright 2017 © Crown copyright 2020 HH2020-01

services to help fight Covid-19.

Around 270 of its public health clinicians who had been working as school nurses, health visitors, in drug and alcohol services and sexual health clinics, have been seconded to help the NHS around the country.

They are now working in a variety of roles including in A&E and on cancer wards; treating Covid-19 patients; running Covid-19 testing centres and in highly skilled programme manager roles within

Health staff on the frontline Hertfordshire County Council has also said that 849 of its staff had been redeployed to work in critical

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the NHS. Much of the work that the council’s public health team usually delivers is continuing, though online.

Consultations are taking place virtually, sexual health testing kits and contraception are being ordered and sent out by post and the stop smoking service also continues (see panel above).

Firefighters drive ambulances 17 on-call firefighters are now supporting the East of England

Ambulance Service having completed an induction and training programme and will be driving ambulances so that paramedics are freed up to treat the most vulnerable patients.

Other county council staff, including those who usually work in services that have been suspended since the lockdown was introduced such as libraries, adult care day services and registration services, are being asked to offer extra hours if they work part-time and to move to different roles to support the frontline response to the pandemic. They have been redeployed to Covid-19 response roles including in adult social care, administration functions and community support roles.

The leader of Hertfordshire County Council, David Williams, said: “Our colleagues, who already do such a fantastic job fulfilling their usual duties, are now stretching themselves even further, utilising their skills and experience to help the county, the region and indeed the country, respond in the most effective way possible to the Covid-19 crisis.”

Drive-in virus test centre at Stansted As part of the Government’s pledge to increase testing for NHS staff Stansted Airport has been chosen as a location for a drive-in testing site, to be run in operation with Sodexho. It will have up to five testing lanes and operate on an appointment basis for self-isolating

NHS workers or any symptomatic members of their family. Staff to be tested will be contacted directly by their NHS trust. The centre will provide swab tests which identify if you currently have the virus – those who test negative will be able to return to work quickly.

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BRIEFING: COVID-19 NEWS SPECIAL

How local shops and businesses are adapting to the restrictions Every local business continues to be affected in one way or another by the Covid-19 crisis.

A small number of essential businesses remain open with social distancing measures in place but for the remainder it has been a matter of adapting as best they can to the current situation – with many rapidly turning to the internet while shops remain closed.

Online and delivery l In-Ex kitchen and bathroom showroom in Broxbourne is offering virtual appointments via Skype, Facetime and Whatsapp so customers can show designers the space and provide measurements rather than having a home visit. l The Green Room gift shop in Sawbridgeworth has updated its website (greenroomshop.co.uk) and is offering free delivery on online purchases. l Also in Sawbridgeworth, Tudor House Gallery is offering free delivery on all online purchases to anywhere in the UK. l Bakers Dorringtons is offering a click and collect service plus free delivery on orders over £20 within a ten mile radius of its Sawbridgeworth bakery. It’s also selling that impossible-to-get-at-thesupermarket item, bread flour!

Garden centres adapt Garden centres rely on this season for much of their annual income.

Great Amwell’s Leafy Oak Garden Centre got plants to people with a self-service trolley and honesty box in Herford’s Bull Plain.

Oakridge Nursery in Sawbridgeworth was offering next day online click and collect plus delivery to selected postcodes.

And so many people were ordering

Above: Leafy Oak Garden Centre’s honesty sale in Hertford Below: A deserted Queensgate Retail Park in Edinburgh Way, Harlow

by phone and online from Nazeing’s Plants Galore that the business had to temporarily suspend first its phoneline, then its website, towards the end of April to enable it to catch up with orders.

Fashion goes online You can also buy fashion items online from some of our local independents – you’ll find the latest Spring-summer collections from Hertford’s Gingerlillie Boutique (gingerlillieboutique.co.uk); The Women’s Society Boutique (womens-society.co.uk) and

Bishop’s Stortford’s Aristocrat which offers ranges for both men and women (aristocrat.uk.com).

Mother Fit does its bit With the venues where its classes would normally take place closed, Hertford-based Mother Fit, which offers fitness classes for mums and pregnant women, has taken to the internet. Personal trainer Michelle Baynham is conducting workout classes via Zoom four days a week during the lockdown for a £25 monthly subscription. Visit her website (motherfit.co.uk) to find out more.

Arty children bring cheer to our shops When Katherine Taylor of The Eye gift shop in Hoddesdon launched a competition on Facebook for children under 14 to submit their pictures of rainbows for a chance to win a Jellycat toy she urged her followers to share it, saying “I’ve got a window to fill!”. She needn’t have worried. Three weeks later the window could be filled many times over! The competition is still open – and the closed shop (pictured above) looks great!

A number of shopkeepers in Sawbridgeworth have been asking children to pop artwork through the front door too, providing an ever changing gallery for people to enjoy as they pass by, including the Isabel Hospice shop in Bell Street, from which one poster is shown below.

Grants update: East Herts lags well behind Broxbourne and Harlow in paying out As reported on page 6, local councils are having to get to grips with paying out thousands of grants to local businesses on behalf of the Government.

It has been a huge logistical task, with new systems having to be set up and staff being redeployed from other departments before councils could start paying the £10,000 and £25,000 grants.

For many small businesses the grants are essential to keep them going whilst most, if not all, of their revenues have dried up.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has repeatedly urged councils to do everything possible to get the grants paid to businesses quickly.

We asked our three local councils how much they had paid out as of Friday 24th April.

East Herts Council received £31m from the Government. It estimates that around 2,000 businesses are eligible for the £10,000 grant and another 500 for the up to £25,000 award. By Friday 24th April, East Herts said it had granted £10.71m, around one third of the amount it is expected to pay, to 720 businesses, around 28% of the expected number of eligible firms.

Broxbourne Council received £15.69m from the Government and believes 1,254 businesses are eligible. By Friday 24th April Broxbourne had paid £12.335m to 75% of eligible businesses.

Harlow Council received £11m to distribute to 840 eligible businesses. By Friday 24th April it had paid out £7.21m to 566 recipients – 67.7% of businesses. axis magazine 7

BRIEFING: COVID-19 NEWS SPECIAL

Isabel Hospice launches urgent fighting fund appeal Isabel Hospice has launched a fighting fund appeal asking for the public’s urgent help in getting it through the coming months while it offers more services than ever but at a time of hugely reduced income.

The charity, which provides end-of-life care across eastern Hertfordshire, has been forced to cancel fundraising activities and temporarily shut its 18 shops and ebay store, which are critical in helping fund the specialist care it offers.

Elizabeth Paske, the hospice’s director of clinical care, said: “Today in these challenging, worrying times I am asking for your urgent help in supporting incredibly vulnerable local people, as well as those who love them and those who care for them.

“The coronavirus crisis has hit every part of our national care system very hard – and it’s no different for the nursing and

support teams at Isabel Hospice.”

Funds are needed to help the hospice care for people with life-limiting conditions in its in-patient unit.

It has also opened up six additional beds for people who may have contracted coronavirus.

Its Hospice at Home care team is offering care as well as training carers and loved ones to look after people, having seen increased demand for its services.

Its Living Well team has produced a bank of resources for patients at home too.

And the hospice has launched a new helpline to support care home staff finding themselves offering end-of-life care with little experience or training while the bereavement team is extending its help to families who have lost someone to Covid-19.

To donate call 01707 382500 or visit isabelhospice.org.uk/ fightingfund.

Staff at Isabel Hospice are seeking your help during the Covid-19 crisis

St Clare Hospice needs your support too In the year that St Clare Hospice marks its 30th birthday it has launched an urgent fundraising appeal to plug an estimated £100,000 gap in income over the coming weeks.

The charity, which serves West Essex and East Herts and has an in-patient unit at Hastingwood, is urging people to support it by signing up to its weekly lottery or taking part in its Virtual 5k.

And if you’re shopping online you can generate donations to the hospice too. 4,000 retailers are signed up to the Easy Fundraising network. Visit easy-fundraising. org.uk, select St Clare as your cause, continue to the retailers of your choice who will make a donation when you shop. On Amazon head to smile.amazon.co.uk first for a similar initiative.

More info at stclarehospice.org.uk.

How you can help your local hospital While our hospitals are funded by the NHS, it is extra money raised through donations and fundraising which enables them to go the extra mile for patients and staff.

Both our local hospital trusts – East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust which operates Lister, New QE2, Hertford County and the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre; and the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust which runs the hospital of the same name in Harlow, St Margarets Epping and the Herts and Essex in Bishop’s Stortford, have dedicated charities that fundraise for additional equipment and facilities.

Now each charity has launched Covid-19 appeals too.

Here for each other East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity has a #HereForEachOther appeal.

As part of this there’s a Covid-19 wish list that you can view online at enhhcharity.org.uk which details items ranging from theatre scrubs

8 axis magazine

for staff to wear instead of uniform to toiletries and towels for staff unable to go home along with hand gels, antibacterial wipes, hand creams and face moisturisers for staff. You can donate items or money to help buy them.

You can also donate £5 by texting HERE4EACHOTHER to 70085.

PAHT appeal The Princess Alexandra Hospitals Charity has set up a Just Giving Covid-19 charity appeal page that you’ll find at justgiving.com/ campaign/PAHTCOVID-19.

Amazon wish lists Both trusts also have Amazon wish lists which enable you to donate items for doctors, nurses and other staff as well as patients in hospital.

The lists are updated as items are needed and are delivered direct by Amazon to the Princess Alexandra and Lister from where they are distributed. You can find links to these on enhhcharity.org.uk and pah.nhs.uk.

BRIEFING: COVID-19 NEWS SPECIAL

Generous Hertford businesses donate prizes for competition to raise funds for hospital charity Shops and businesses in Hertford have donated thousands of pounds worth of prizes for a competition organised by Hertford Town Council to raise money for the NHS locally.

Although many of the businesses have had to temporarily close or move to online-only services, more than 30 of them have dug deep and donated some fantastic prizes to the initiative which aims to raise at least £5,000 for East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals’ Charity’s Covid-19 Appeal.

The full list of prizes is shown below. To enter you need to make a donation of at least £5 on the fundraising page using your full name. Higher donations will offer more chances of winning – for example £10 equates to two tickets, £50 to 10 tickets etc.

The competition will close at midnight on Sunday 17th May. How to enter To have a chance of winning a prize visit gohertford.co.uk where, under the News tab, you’ll find a link to the fundraising page.

The prizes are: l GHD Classic hair straighteners from Saks; l Tefal blender from Albany Radio; l Course of teeth whitening from The Perfect Smile Studios; l A year’s worth of free haircuts at Mick’s Barbers’ Hertford shop; l £50 voucher for dining at Ilvino restaurant;

Prizes include a trip on the Hertford & Ware Waterbus and a cream tea for two people at The Salisbury Arms

l £50 gift voucher to spend instore at Frankie & Olive; l An A3 Love Bomb artwork print from Brothership Studio; l A night’s stay with breakfast for two at Number One Port Hill; l 6-week Kickstart Programme at Total Body Fit Camp; l £50 voucher to spend in Lance James The Jewellers; l Bottomless Steak for two at Hertford House; l Cream tea for two at The Salisbury Arms; l £40 gift voucher to spend at Kids Connection; l A visit from Mudlarks Special Branch gardening team to make over your garden; l £30 gift voucher for The White Hart (McMullens); l £30 gift voucher for The Practitioner (McMullens); l £30 gift voucher for The Woolpack (McMullens); l £40 gift voucher to spend at Mint of Hertford;

l Family return ticket on the Ware and Hertford Waterbus; l A hair treatment, cut and blowdry and products from Toni & Guy; l A ready meal for two with wine for collection from Lussmanns; l Portrait session and framed 8x6 image from Photography by Louise; l A £25 voucher for Leaf Café; l Haircut and beard trim at The Skull Club; l A pair of Sofie Schnoor gold glitter sliders from Gingerlillie Boutique; l A Bontrager Mips cycle helmet from Highway Cycles; l A3 portrait of a sunrise landscape in South Africa by Chio Fernandez; l £50 voucher for Rossi’s Attic; l £20 voucher for Hertford Cake Co; l £100 voucher to spend in salon at Headlines Hertford; l Cloud Nine curling wand worth £119 from Fred and Ginger; l £25 voucher to spend in store at Messages.

Hertford-based director of luxury stationery firm encourages children to discover lost art of letter writing during lockdown Downey, a family business that produces luxury business and personal stationery plus custom packaging for companies including Cartier, Burberry, Patek Philippe and Sothebys, has been helping children rediscover the art of letter writing during lockdown.

Director Leo Turner lives in Hertford and says what began as a fun idea to supply his own daughters with writing paper to enable them to connect with friends soon developed into supplying first their whole class, and eventually 150 children at Mill Mead School, with writing packs using spare paper and envelopes from Downey’s London offices and Norfolk production house.

Letter writing offers a creative and novel way in the digital age for children to stay in touch with friends and family. Leo said: “Letter writing is becoming a lost art and an endangered skill; with suddenly so much time on their hands, today’s young generation could revive this meaningful tradition. There is nothing more personal and exciting than composing and receiving a well thought-out handwritten letter.

And we at Downey are more than happy to give them the tools to do this.”

Hertford’s yarn bombers honour Covid-19 heroes to raise money for charities Members of the Secret Society of Hertford Crafters have turned their yarn bombing attentions to honouring key workers and Covid-19 heroes.

The project was the idea of Anne Howarth, one of the founding members of the society.

As Axis went to press, 35 knitted key workers and heroes had been created. Since Monday 13th April, the society has been putting up an image of one each day, together with a little backstory about them, on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram social media channels.

Many of the 130 society members have been taking part, knitting, crocheting, making fabric outfits and adding embroidery.

As well as offering some joy at a difficult time, the society is raising money for two local charities, Citizens Advice East Herts and Carers in Hertfordshire.

You can donate at uk.virginmoney giving.com/YarnBomber.

To see the key workers, visit: Facebook.com/ secretsocietyofhertfordcrafters Twitter: @yarnbomber100 Instagram.com/bomberyarn

Carrie the care worker and Professor Hope, scientist

axis magazine 9

BRIEFING

Domestic abuse support service extends its reach

Dumped donations outside Oxfam in Bishop’s Stortford and Age UK in Hoddesdon, pictured by Axis in April

Charity shops ask people to hold onto donations during lockdown as goods are dumped in doorways Despite notices asking people not to leave donations outside, the area’s charity shops are becoming dumping grounds for unwanted items as residents use the time in lockdown to tidy out homes and wardrobes.

In some cases it might be well meaning, in others perhaps the consequence of local household waste recycling centres being closed.

But like other non-essential retail, these shops are closed with staff and volunteers not working so the mounting piles of goods left outside them are ultimately likely to be destroyed.

In mid-April the Love Hoddesdon

BID team politely asked local people to keep items at home until the restrictions are lifted, saying donations outside the town’s shops not only made it look untidy but posed a potential risk.

Isabel Hospice is one charity that has already taken steps to try and ensure potential donations of goods are secured for when their shops reopen.

The hospice, like other charities, relies heavily on the income generated from its 18 shops around the Axis area and with these closed and fundraising events cancelled for the foreseeable future, they will have to work harder than ever when things return to normal

to raise the money needed to fund their work.

The charity is planning for that time by asking anyone decluttering homes and wardrobes to hang onto saleable items for them and to pledge to donate them once they reopen.

You can do this by filling in a simple form on their website which asks for your name, address, contact details and what you will be donating. When the shops are reopened you will be contacted by email to let you know that you can safely drop items to a shop. It may also be possible for them to collect larger items. Find out more at isabelhospice.org.uk.

Former Mayor of Hertford Dr Linda Radford dies Hertford Town Council said it was saddened in April to announce the death of long-serving councillor and former Mayor of Hertford Dr Linda Radford who has died following an illness lasting several months.

Linda served two terms as Mayor from 2015 to 2017, and prior to that had also been leader of the council.

She was first elected to represent Bengeo ward on the town council in 2007 and had also served as Mayoress when her late husband, Russell, was Mayor of Hertford.

She was an active volunteer with a 10 axis magazine

number of local organisations and before retirement had worked as a pharmacist with her own business in Broxbourne.

The county town’s current Mayor, Councillor Rosemary Bolton, said: “Linda was a kind, compassionate and intelligent person, and a committed and dedicated councillor. She made a huge contribution to Hertford over the years, including two terms as Mayor. She will be sadly missed by her colleagues and community.

“We would like to express our sincere condolences to her family and many friends.”

A support service for victims of domestic abuse, survivors and their families, can now be accessed by East Herts residents.

East Herts is providing funding for the award-winning Stevenage Against Domestic Abuse initiative, headed by Stevenage Council, so it can be extended to the district where it will be known as Survivors Against Domestic Abuse.

SADA is open to both men and women and offers one to one support. It works alongside partners including East Herts Council, police, housing associations and children’s services.

It provides both emotional and practical support which includes help accessing legal advice, providing debts and benefits advice and helping with housing or tenancy issues.

For more information visit stevenage.gov.uk or call 01438 242666.

Artwork to brighten up two subways Reproductions of artwork by internationally renowned artist Alan Davie, alongside pieces by Hertford students, are set to brighten up two Hertford subways.

New lighting and signs will also be installed at the two routes under St Andrew Street and London Road after East Herts and Hertfordshire County councils collectively received £54,000 in funding from the Government’s Air Quality Grant pot.

The works by Davie, who lived for more than 50 years at Rush Green, will be permanent fixtures in the subways while other artworks will change each year with pieces from local schools and community to provide an ever changing display.

The project follows on from the refurbishment of three other subways under the A414 Gascoyne Way in 2016 and aims to encourage people out of their cars by providing inviting and interesting pedestrian routes.

BRIEFING

Lea Wharf revealed as the proposed new name for Bircherley Green but decision not likely this month Chase New Homes, the local company looking to redevelop Hertford’s closed Bircherley Green shopping centre, has revealed the working name of its proposed replacement – Lea Wharf.

Writing in a two-page special promotion in this month’s Axis magazine (see pages 12 and 13) Chase’s planning and design director Alan Ward also explains why his company sees it as crucial that East Herts Council makes every effort to determine the planning application quickly so that work can begin on site.

Chase’s plan includes 98 apartments, commercial space for shops, restaurants and other businesses and an 86-bed hotel.

It had been hoped that the application would be considered by the council’s development management committee at its next meeting on 20th May, but Axis understands that is now unlikely.

The next meeting after that is scheduled for 17th June.

Following a public consultation, Chase has been making some

How Lea Wharf could look – turn over to pages 12 and 13 for more

amendments to its application after meetings with council officers who have been assessing the public’s responses.

Axis understands the council is to carry out more consultations with the public over the next month as a result of the changes.

However, if the application is not heard at the May meeting the council will have missed the Government’s target for determining major applications, which will pass in mid-May. Mr Ward said: “At Chase we

remain committed to this site provided we can commence as soon as possible and meet our site-start programme. More than ever we need pragmatism from all sides to get this scheme out of the ground to prevent it languishing, to the detriment of the town and ultimately the viability of the site.”

A spokesperson for East Herts Council said: “We’re working with the developer with a view to considering the application at a planning committee as soon as possible.”

Mudlarks Café gets approval for new site There was good news in April for the Hertford-based charity Mudlarks which learnt it had gained planning approval for its planned new charity café in Hertford’s Fore Street.

The popular vegetarian and vegan café, which is currently in the town’s Railway Street, provides training, work experience and employment for adults with learning disabilities, using produce sourced from one of the charity’s other projects, Mudlarks allotments in Cromwell Road.

But with the landlord of the current café building looking to redevelop it, the charity needed to find a new location and set its sights on the former Marshalls Furniture store in Fore Street.

The upper floors of the building are being converted into flats and Mudlarks, having gained change of use consent, will now be taking on the ground floor at numbers 32-34 Fore Street.

Final phase of A602 works set to begin The final phase of improvement works to the A602 will start this summer between Tonwell and Watton-at-Stone.

Environmental works have been carried out in recent weeks along parts of the route including the removal of vegetation to prepare for the construction works.

They will lead to the enlargement and improvement of the Wattonat-Stone roundabout where the A602 meets the A119; the realignment of the A602 between Heath Mount School and the Stony Hills junction to smooth out tight bends; the redesign of junctions to reduce delays from traffic turning right; and the planting of new trees and hedges to improve wildlife habitats.

Hertfordshire County Council also plans a cycle path (for which it will seek planning permission) to run alongside a section of the road to connect cycle routes in the area.

The A602 is a major route connecting Hertford, Ware and Stevenage. Work already completed on other sections includes improvements to the Hertford Road junction in Stevenage and the Anchor Lane roundabout and A10 junction, both in Ware.

£300,000 funding for Cole Green Way

Flats plan for iconic Mill Studio in Ware Ware’s distinctive Mill Studio business centre in Crane Mead could be redeveloped into flats.

Owner Robert Dixon Ltd wants to convert the serviced offices building, which was once a grain mill close to the River Lea, into 45 apartments – 33 one bed and 12 two bed.

Under permitted development rights, office buildings can be converted to dwellings without planning permission, with a few exceptions.

However, developers do have

to submit what is called a prior approval application to the planning authority to check if its prior approval would be needed in relation to matters such as highways impact, contamination or flood risk and the impact of noise from commercial premises on the intended occupiers of the development.

A prior approval application has now been submitted to East Herts Council (planning reference 3/20/0461) and is currently under consideration.

Further improvements to the Cole Green Way can go ahead after the announcement of £300,000 in funding from walking and cycling charity Sustrans.

The Cole Green Way was once a railway line between Hertford and Welwyn Garden City. It is owned and maintained by Hertfordshire County Council which drew up a Green Space Action Plan for it in 2017. Almost four miles long, it is part of the National Cycle Network and an important route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. It is also a valuable wildlife corridor. A first phase of resurfacing work was completed last year with other works scheduled to take place up to 2023. Plans include restoring the former Cole Green Station site, new signage and replacement of steps, gates, fencing and benches.

axis magazine 11

AN EXCLUSIVE MESSAGE ON BIRCHERLEY GREEN FROM CHASE NEW HOMES TO THE PEOPLE OF HERTFORD:

Chase New Homes Logo (no strap) BLACK clear

Chase New Homes Logo (no strap) BLACK

Why we need planning permission by the summer to give the town a development it can be proud of in these uncertain times

BY ALAN WARD, PLANNING & DESIGN DIRECTOR AT CHASE NEW HOMES

Our warehouse-style design

Chase New Homes is a local developer based in Hertfordshire.

Our redevelopent scheme for Bircherley Green in Hertford has been designed in offices only 20 minutes from the site, by people who work and live in Hertfordshire and indeed in Hertford itself.

Our experience and local knowledge makes us well-placed to design a landmark destination development within the county town of Hertford. We want the town to be proud of what we build and we too want to be proud of this essential scheme.

The planning application has been with East Herts Council for a number of months and discussions have progressed positively. Our goal of getting spades in the ground as soon as possible remains, with our various departments programming in enabling works, marketing and sales information.

Our working name for the site –

Our rooftop garden

Lea Wharf – follows the design inspiration of a modern-day wharf-style building that sits comfortably by the river and mellows into the historic fabric of the town. While our enthusiasm for regenerating the site remains, the need for permission by summer at the latest is important in order to maintain momentum.

We had expected a permission no later than this in order to allow for an autumn site-start. We wish to continue this timetable despite current circumstances, which in our view only makes the need for a summer permission ever more important.

The Covid-19 lockdown has had a severe economic impact which worsens every week. Not only this, there has been much commentary regarding the likely profound changes it will have on our way of life going forward.

The structural changes already happening in retail as people

switch to online shopping will only accelerate; food and beverage operators, who often work on thin margins, are reducing in number as lockdown continues. Those that remain will be much more cautious in their expansion plans as social distancing rules continue, even after lockdown.

The commercial proposition on this site is arguably facing the most severe environment for securing tenants in at least a generation.

The quantum of residential development always underpinned the delivery of the scheme. This scheme will now only come forward with at least this amount of residential development.

It would not be unusual for larger national property developers to mothball this site and play safe until the future of the market becomes clearer. The reality is this could be years.

At Chase we remain committed to this site, provided we can commence as soon as possible and meet our site-start programme.

We are committed to the town and, as an independent local developer, we cannot afford to “land-bank” and must build, then sell, apartments as soon as possible.

We are fully aware of the harm to the town caused by this site being vacant and, therefore, we have pulled out all the stops to get a planning application into the council as soon as possible.

We have a robust, attractive design concept that people can relate to, that people are drawn to and where people will want to live.

More than ever we need pragmatism from all sides to get this scheme out of the ground to prevent it languishing, to the detriment of the town and ultimately the viability of the site.

How we engaged, talked, listened and made changes to improve the scheme At Chase we pride ourselves on being a company that does as much in-house work as possible.

We do not hide behind PR firms or slick consultants; we like to meet the community ourselves and hear directly how people feel about our schemes.

In this regard we have attended steering groups with the council and local stakeholders, met with the local traders’ association and also presented directly to the Civic Society.

We held a public exhibition showing our concepts, and the designs have evolved accordingly 12 axis magazine

from all these meetings.

Since submitting the application to the council we have reduced the number of apartments from 100 to 98; we have increased the amount of open space by the river; we have moved one of the blocks further away from the commercial properties in Bull Plain and have also amended the design of the hotel subsequent to comments from the council’s conservation officer, much to the betterment of the scheme.

Additional design embellishments now grace the elevations of the buildings, with decorative

columns and feature detailing around the full height windows.

We have also added a crane feature with shutter door embellishments to one elevation, which although nothing more than architectural folly, serves to decorate the building and create a talking point on the site.

We have had a fantastic endorsement of the scheme from local traders, and even received emails pleading with us to get this site regenerated as soon as possible.

The fact is there is no other mixed-use development quite like

this. The feel of a conversion but with the convenience of a new build, right next to the riverside, is going to create a destination in itself.

Once we add the vibrancy that comes with retail and leisure it will drive footfall to the site and through the town, and the residents of 98 properties above will also add to the stewardship of this Lea Wharf development. l If you wish to register your interest in the scheme, be it commercial or residential, email enquiries@chasenewhomes.co.uk.

THE LATEST ON OUR PLANS FOR A LANDMARK DESTINATION DEVELOPMENT WITHIN OUR COUNTY TOWN SPONSORED CONTENT

The thinking behind Lea Wharf – a modern day warehouse-style centre for Hertford that reflects our past whilst looking to the future Small bolt-on shopping parades to existing high streets, such as Bircherley Green, can be found in towns across the country, often built within the last 30 years with little to inspire or excite, and in most cases looking more dated than the historic high streets they serve.

Not only do they not lend themselves to modern day shopping, they have little to offer with regard to accommodating alternative uses.

Bircherley Green has limited retail space, much of which is fragmented in smaller units with limited space in the upper parts.

Unfortunately they cannot be adapted, apart from the spaces underneath the multi-storey car park. This is why we have come up with a scheme that replaces the existing buildings.

We are working to a firm design concept of a modern-day warehouse development.

Its form clearly follows a wharf/warehouse-style building, but with modern embellishments, clean lines and modern servicing arrangements.

While residential conversions of historic buildings have always been popular, in recent years it’s become very much on-trend for buildings to be re-purposed to accommodate retail and leisure experiences, for example Coal Drops Yard and Granary Square in Kings Cross, the Truman Brewery, even a multi-storey car-park in Peckham that’s now a rooftop bar.

As shopping habits change, the retail experts often tell us of the need for an ‘experience’, and this is why we took a very different approach to what had previously been approved for the site.

So the combination of consumer appetite for the historic, the historic nature of the town and its riverside location gave us a very clear direction for this site – it had to be a wharf style. It just fits!

Attractive apartments In the same way that form follows function for warehouses – which need large openings to bring goods into the building

– we wanted to breathe light and air into every room of the apartments. Nearly all bedrooms have wide and tall windows; the majority of lounges are blessed with floor to ceiling windows that will flood rooms with light.

In fact the magical thing about creating a warehouse-style building is that it brings with it all the qualities that have made such conversions some of the most sought-after property around, but without any of the inevitable compromises that come with them.

Our purpose-built apartments will have modern, thoughtful open-plan layouts for occupiers, and be fully accessible and adaptable for wheelchair users.

We are now proposing 98 one and two-bed apartments. We have also included an exclusive residents’ rooftop garden with views over the town.

Fantastic spaces Not only do the warehouse-style windows provide fantastic bright spaces for the residents, they add interest to the façades of the buildings. The windows will have arched heads and thick glazing bars and be recessed into the façade to provide shadow and depth, creating interest across the elevations and making a convincing architectural reference to the warehouse inspiration.

Painted ‘ghost’ signage on the walls creates a playful vibe that has a historical reference not only to industrial buildings and advertising of old, but also to signage on buildings in Hertford.

We have also included a metalwork ‘sky bridge’ with industrial detailing which links the two buildings by the river.

This creates a gateway feature for the riverside entrance and will be visible from Railway Street.

At ground floor we have continued the industrial feel, with ironwork columns supporting the canopies over the shops to protect shoppers from inclement weather, allowing a dry route from the car park to the units, and girder-effect fascias for shop signage.

While we accept that the scheme

We have created more public space by the riverside

will be almost entirely new-build, it will have a solid, convincing traditional feel that has made re-purposed buildings elsewhere so successful.

And again there are benefits with it being new-build – all surfacing will be attractive and level to allow ease of use for wheelchairs and buggies; commercial units will have appropriate servicing and generous floor to ceiling heights.

Adaptable commercial space We have also sought to keep the use classes of the units as flexible as possible, to be attractive to a wide range of occupiers. We are seeing a variety of new leisure activities popping up in town centres, from indoor crazy golf to trampoline parks. We can’t predict the next leisure trend but we can build spaces that can be adapted as needed.

The sustainability credentials are also undeniably robust, with high-level insulation in the building fabric to reduce energy usage and bills; extensive use of solar panels across all roofs and an electric vehicle car club and charging points for visitors.

We are also proposing extensive public realm improvements, including two creative spaces.

The first will be a square in the retail area providing a heart to the scheme, with commercial premises fronting it to allow for both outdoor dining and performances. The second will see the riverside altered immeasurably with a level shared surface with attractive paving and seating allowing the space to flow much more freely, giving pedestrians priority and again to allow for events and alfresco dining.

The facelift to the car park will bring it into the 21st century and is arguably the most modern component of the scheme, with nickel coloured metalwork that dresses the dated façade while the hotel will be a sleek and striking corner addition on Bircherley Street.

We understand the importance of Hertford as the county town and the importance of this site in regenerating and preserving its distinctive and attractive qualities. We want to reinforce the ‘local’, mixing the traditional design approach with clean modern lines to create a shopping destination fit for the 21st century consumer, who likes to mix their shopping and leisure experience with a dash of traditional. axis magazine 13

TAXING MATTERS

SPONSORED CONTENT

The devil is in the detail

Stuart Everett of Hertford accountants Meyer Williams on the return of the PM and the reality of the Job Retention Scheme So, what is happening?

If you are reading this you must be keeping well in body, if not in mind.

It is good to know our leader is on the mend although while he has been keeping a very low profile he has let others make all the announcements and consequently take the flak for Dominic’s decisions.

I thought for a while he might come back as a part-time Prime Minister and that he might have been furloughed under the Job Retention Scheme but of course, we now know from the detail of the scheme that it’s all or nothing.

The scheme doesn’t in fact allow for working alternate days or when it is convenient – you can’t work at all if you’re furloughed.

We have long been told that our

Donald Trump: The Leader of the Free World

leader is not great at detail. Of course our leader’s biggest fan is a chap called Donald, who only deals in headlines rather than the detail, as can clearly be seen by his pronouncement on bleach!

Donald, the detail king As he only looks at the big words and the pictures, I suspect the only description of bleach he has ever seen is that it “Kills 99% of all known germs”.

The Leader of the Free World has rather missed the point here, even allowing for that. Not only can this new virus not really be included under the heading of “all known germs” but as it was not even known about at all until very recently, it couldn’t

even have been in the 1% of germs it doesn’t kill!

Had he read the small print (assuming he is able to read and understand English) he would of course have seen the words “DANGER – immediately call a POISON CENTRE!” Which I think is a big clue as to why it is not to be taken internally.

Beyond the headlines Anyway, back to the UK. There is so much detail in the Job Retention Scheme that some of you, like our leader, may have only caught the headlines: l You can claim from the 1st March 2020 l You get back 80% of pay,

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Stag House, Old London Road, Hertford, Herts SG13 7LA 01992 550721 | www.meyerwilliams.com | stephanie@meyerwilliams.com 14 axis magazine

employer’s National Insurance and auto enrolment pension contributions.

It is true that the scheme does run from 1st March but there are only very limited circumstances in which you claim from that date, as the vast majority of claims only run from 20th March.

Secondly you only get employer’s National Insurance back if you do not qualify for the £4,000 Employment Allowance which most small businesses do!

Though, it is worth mentioning that this allowance has been increased from £3,000 for this tax year.

I do fear that the Government is working in headlines only and that it is struggling to keep all its detailed public promises – 100,000 virus tests a day and PPE for all, for example.

The speculation and information is generally contradictory.

Perhaps by next week or next month we will know for sure if the now familiar surgical face masks are preventing us from catching the virus in the supermarket, or the park whilst we are exercising alone, or if it is just another fashion accessory.

I guess this will this depend more on how many the wholesaler has in stock than anything scientific? l If you find yourself with some spare time on your hands during these strange days, why not do your 2020 tax return early?

If you need any help, we are open for business as usual.

Please phone for a consultation … at a distance of course.

Keep safe and well everybody.

THE TRAVEL PAGE

SPONSORED CONTENT

The difficulties facing the travel industry at this challenging time

I’m looking forward to arranging holidays for people again!

Kevin Brooks of Cannon Travel explains the reality of dealing with the current crisis After last month’s article I was determined to write about anything other than coronavirus but, in reality, what else is there at present? It is still consuming our daily work life.

Like many companies we have furloughed most of our staff but those of us who remain are flat out sorting people’s holidays that have been booked for this year and spending a lot of time advising and re-arranging and, of course, we have the question of refunds.

Not surprisingly there has been a lot of media coverage about holiday refunds but as with most things in life, the reality is never as straightforward as the theory.

I have seen so called expert muppets on television spouting forth about what the law states but those laws were put in place to deal with normal circumstances, not the mass cancellations that

we are now experiencing.

The European Package Holiday Directive states that if a holiday is cancelled by the operator then client monies should be refunded within 14 days.

That is exactly what happens under normal circumstances but, trust me, if that was implemented now the whole worldwide travel industry would collapse… airlines, hotels, attractions, travel companies… the whole lot would go.

How the system works To help you understand why I say this, let me explain what happens when you book a holiday.

Most of the time we act as an agent and often we will work with an operator – usually a company that are experts in a particular destination. They in turn work with airlines, hotels and Destination Management Companies (DMCs) plus various ancillary suppliers, such as car hire and attractions. There are variations of this when we work with more than one of the above but to keep this simple, let’s assume you came to us last

September to book a holiday for this coming June and we are just dealing with one operator.

The actual booking process can be short and straightforward or lengthy and complicated so the time involved will vary but once booked we take a deposit and pass all that on to the operator.

At this stage we have incurred a lot of costs but have not earned any profit.

In fact, we don’t earn anything until the Balance Due Date – that’s the date we pay the final balance to the operator which, for a June holiday is likely to be in March. Once that balance is paid the money is sent down the pipeline – airlines are paid, hotels are paid, DMCs and attractions are all paid – then everything is confirmed in time for when you set off.

If the holiday is cancelled by the operator the flow is turned around and all of the monies are recovered (including our commission and VAT) but, of course, that takes time so the 14 day refund is often paid to the client before all the money is recovered. The problem now is

that virtually ALL holidays are being cancelled and if the operators and agents refunded clients before all the money is back they would soon run out of cash, so everyone has to wait.

However, many European countries have told their tourist industry that they can ignore the European Directive to repay in cash and can issue credit notes instead. On top of that the airlines – who have always been a law unto themselves – have adopted the same policy: credit notes instead of refunds.

If the credit note is not used then you will, or can, get the money back but at present the process is painful.

An operator colleague spent nearly three hours on hold to one low-cost airline in order to claim 12 refunds but after they eventually got through they were cut off after dealing with just four… that was the maximum allowed!

I can assure you that all the operators I know would love to refund clients immediately but in the same way as a holiday only works because everyone co-operates to ensure all the pieces are in place, then repaying clients depends on the same co-operation. All parties throughout the world need to stick to the same rules but that just isn’t happening.

Nevertheless, we are working as hard as possible to look after the interests of our clients and I am confident that one way or another all refunds will be paid.

But it will take time, so patience is the key.

From all at Cannon Travel

Look after yourselves, stay safe and we’ll be seeing you once it’s all over... we will all need a holiday by then!

96 High Street, Hoddesdon, Herts EN11 8HD & 49 High Street, Ware, Herts SG12 9BA info@cannontravel.co.uk 01992 441 521 / 01920 466 531 www.cannontravel.co.uk axis magazine 15

You can now also read Axis online at axismagazine.co.uk or at issuu.com (search for Axis magazine)

THE ARTS Hertford and Ware rainbow prints raising a smile and money for NHS charity as Heroes poster stars on TV

Studio and gallery Brothership in Hertford has raised more than £20,000 in three weeks for a local NHS charity through producing and selling some fabulous local prints.

Owner Nick Shipton began by partnering with artist and photographer Paul Crowley to produce prints of Paul’s superb Hertford rainbow (shown above).

Brothership sold the prints for £26 each, with all profits going to the East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals Charity (see more about this on page 8).

The demand was such that the first run quickly sold out. More are now in stock, with a Ware

poster also now available and selling well. Just as Axis went to print, a Knebworth version was produced and immediately started selling well, with other Herts towns to follow, beginning with Welwyn.

The fund also gained a huge boost when Nick’s ongoing artistic collaboration with Ceri House, which is marketed under the name Ceri Shipton, was featured by stylist Mark Heyes during his spot on ITV’s Lorraine show hosted by Lorraine Kelly.

Mark featured the NHS Heart painting that you can see above and on our cover this month.

The original painting was

auctioned following the show, with new originals based on the first painting also set to be auctioned.

Prints of it are now selling at Brothership, also for £26. Again all profits from the painting and prints are going to the NHS charity.

HD print in Ware (formerly Hertfordshire Display) have been printing the posters free of charge and the NHS Heart pictures are also available online at downyourhighstreet.co.uk.

The rainbow posters and NHS prints are all available at brothership.com or through the studio’s Facebook page.

Hertfordshire Festival of Music postponed until 2021 The much anticipated fifth annual Hertfordshire Festival of Music has become the latest high profile event this summer to be cancelled in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The major classical music festival, which was to have been based at several venues in and around Hertford, was due to take place between Friday 12th and Saturday 20th June.

But last month organisers bowed to the inevitable and decided they would have to cancel.

16 axis magazine

Tom Hammond and James Francis Brown, who lead the festival, are planning to move this year’s itinerary to next year, with dates already set for Friday 4th to Saturday 12th June 2021.

This will mean the principal artist will remain violinist Chloe Hanslip and the featured living composer will be Judith Weir CBE, Master of the Queen’s Music.

You can keep up to date with all the latest from the organisers at hertsmusicfest.org.uk.

Principal artist Chloe Hanslip

Society members turn to digital art For 67 years May has been the month in which the Hertford Art Society mount their Open Exhibition, attracting art enthusiasts and buyers from across the county and beyond.

Denied a 68th year by Covid-19 the society has taken to the internet to display its work.

You can view their art by visiting hertfordartsociety.co.uk.

Most of the art is for sale so even though you cannot visit the exhibition this year you will still have the opportunity to buy some great original artwork.

Meanwhile, the society’s artists have continued to create work, using the internet to share with colleagues their work in progress.

The increased reliance on the internet has focused interest in digital art which needs no canvas or board to display the artist’s images.

Pictured above are details from two examples: Virtual Valley by Sally Steele, created on an iPad using the Tayasui Sketches app and Embankment Light by Bob Boenke using Photoshop Elements.

You can now also read Axis online at axismagazine.co.uk or at issuu.com (search for Axis magazine)

FOOD & DRINK Pubs and restaurants find new ways to serve customers in lockdown When the Government told the country’s bars, pubs and restaurants to close their doors to the public in March, and just days later imposed a lockdown on the general population, it seemed likely that it would be months, perhaps longer, before any of us got to enjoy anything other than home-cooked food.

We were also left wondering how, and if, our favourite pubs and restaurants might survive this period.

It is still a desperate situation financially for much of the

industry. But a month in lockdown has given business owners time to consider ways in which they can retain some level of cashflow with the added benefit of rescuing us from our own kitchens!

Takeaway and delivery services, perfectly prepped ready meals for you to heat at home, even pop-up supply shops have all been launched over the last month. On this and the following page, you will find some great examples – please give them your support where you can!

Get Tapas to go at Casa Lua in Ware High Street

These restaurants are now offering takeaway or home delivery as restrictions continue...

Villa Italia Sawbridgeworth’s family-run Villa Italia in Bell Street celebrated its first anniversary recently. It has begun a collection and local delivery service from 5pm to 10pm Tuesday to Sunday.

Simply call or email with your order. If you collect there’s 10% off. The two front doors have been repurposed to provide one entrance, one exit to enable social distancing. villa-italia-restaurant.co.uk 01279 358358 info@villa-italia-restaurant.co.uk Casa Lua Ware’s Casa Lua Spanish restaurant is offering tapas for takeaway between 12noon and 6pm Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The menu changes weekly and is posted online and chalked up on boards outside the High Street restaurant. You can order a day in advance to reserve a collection slot or on the day. It also has a Spanish deli shop selling salad dressings, olive oils, sherries, wines, beers and soft drinks. casalua.co.uk 01920 463554 Highland Restaurant Broxbourne’s Highland Restaurant has launched Greek Kitchen @ Highland Restaurant, a takeaway and delivery service offering a menu of Greek Cypriot foods – as well as Sunday roasts.

The menu is on its website and takeaway hours are from 6pm to 10pm Monday to Thursday; 6pm to 11pm Friday and Saturday.

Sunday is carvery day with a choice of three roasts available between 12noon and 4pm. Call to order for collection or delivery. highlandrestaurant.co.uk 01992 466933 / 466497 Dil’s Indian Dil’s Indian restaurant in Hertford has a new website which offers easy online ordering for collection or delivery.

There is currently a 10% discount available for delivery and a 20% discount for collection from the restaurant in Maidenhead Street for online orders over £20. dilsindian.co.uk 01992 554400 Saffron Indian restaurant Saffron in

The village pubs reinventing themselves as community grocery stores The Fox Inn at Matching Tye turns its main bar into a small village shop twice weekly selling a range of essentials sourced from its suppliers.

If you don’t fancy the queues at the supermarket you can pop into The Fox between 11am and 4pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays for meat, dairy products, fruit and veg, bread, eggs, sugar, flour, household

goods including shampoo, soap and toothpaste plus wines and beers and snacks.

On Wednesdays The Cheese and Pie Man’s van, a regular at Matching Farmer’s Market, can be found in the pub car park. thefoxinn.com / 01279 731335 The Golden Fleece at Braughing is offering a grocery service for the local area. On its website

you’ll find a long list of products available to order including meat and fish, fruit and vegetables, dairy products, bread, dry goods such as tinned foods, pasta, flour and cereals, plus household products such as disinfectant, toilet roll and kitchen roll.

Email your order along with your phone number and address details. Payment is made by card only and collections are available

Hoddesdon, closed since the beginning of the lockdown, is due to reopen for takeaways and a contactless delivery service from Friday 1st May. Takeaway and delivery will be available on Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays. saffrononline.co.uk 01992 461171 Erman’s/Garden Grill Spare a thought for Old Harlow’s Erman’s Kitchen, forced to close its doors just over a month after opening. However, owner Erman Artug also co-owns Garden Grill nearby at 34 High Street, which offers Turkish food for collection or delivery daily from 4pm to 10pm.

Call to order or order online. gardengrillharlow.com 01279 898509 Fresh food at The Fox Inn

on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. goldenfleecebraughing.co.uk 01920 823555 axis magazine 17

DINING OUT GUIDE

ADVERTISEMENT LISTINGS

THE HIGHLAND RESTAURANT Steakhouse & Carvery Open for local delivery and collection during the lockdown – you can even pre-order Sunday lunch from The Highland Restaurant in Broxbourne! The Highland is Hertfordshire’s premier traditional steak house. Now under new ownership, though within the same family, the Highland has been established for over 40 years, becoming a local institution. It continues to serve the finest steaks whilst also introducing new dishes such as burgers and ribs. Sunday lunch at £16.95 for three courses is great value.

8-11 The Precinct, High Road, Broxbourne EN10 7HY 01992 466933 highlandrestaurant.co.uk

ERMAN’S KITCHEN Turkish

DIL’S INDIAN Indian Now under new management, Dil’s Indian is one of Hertford’s most popular Indian restaurants and is open for delivery and takeaway during lockdown. Alongside its existing menu, new authentic dishes are being introduced, offering customers the chance to try unique food. Under normal circumstances Dil’s hosts a banquet night every Tuesday and Wednesday and a buffet all day Sunday. Order through the new website for 10% off delivery and 20% off on collection for orders over £20.

This newly opened family restaurant offers a menu of Turkish cuisine, high quality drinks and cocktails. It is housed in a Grade II listed former pub that has been refurbished into three contemporary and comfortable dining areas, with an outside garden for warmer months.

The menu offers hot and cold starters, grills and Erman’s signature dishes that include Turkish fish and seafood specialities. The professional staff and welcoming atmosphere make it ideal for every occasion.

19-21 Maidenhead Street, Hertford SG14 1DW 01992 554400 dilsindian.co.uk

2 Fore Street, Old Harlow CM17 0AA 01279 454000 ermanskitchen.co.uk

Ready meals available from two of our top local restaurants The Fox and Hounds With a pop-up terrace shop at The Fox and Hounds in Hunsdon offering a selection of dishes prepared by chef James Rix to cook at home it’s just a shame we can’t host a dinner party and pass them off as our own!

In our socially-distanced times though, you and your family can enjoy a great selection of food from one of the region’s best kitchens, including pasta sauces, a pie of the week, a meal of the week, burger box and even Sunday lunch of braised shoulder of lamb, gratin dauphinoise and greens.The pub is also offering frozen meats, fruit and vegetables, breakfast boxes and beer and wine.

All of these can be collected on Wednesdays and Saturdays. See the website for details and order by 6pm Tuesday for Wednesday collection, by 6pm Friday for Saturday collection. foxandhounds-hunsdon.com 01279 843999 18 axis magazine

Ready meals and frozen food are available at the Fox and Hounds

Lussmanns Lussmanns in Hertford has launched a weekend To Go service that includes ready to cook meals, as well as fresh fish, veg boxes, bread, cheese, coffee, wine, beer and soft drinks.

A new menu of freshly prepared, heat at home dishes is posted online each week offering dishes such as free range Tuscan chicken; organic Highland beef lasagne and farmed seabass en papillote, each priced around the £7-8 mark. Sides include mashed potato and Lincolnshire leeks, apple and sage priced at £2.95 with mini desserts such as lemon posset and single origin chocolate mousse at £3.50.

You can store the items in your fridge until you are ready to pop them, in their containers, in the oven or microwave.

The restaurant advises that you enjoy them by the use by date given with each meal.

In addition to the ready meals there are fruit and veg boxes, beers, wines and soft drinks.

Ordering is a simple online click and collect process with orders taken from 3pm on Monday and closing at noon Thursday for collection on Friday. lussmanns.com

Get your beer from Macs McMullens’ Hertford brewery is offering a drive or walk through contactless beer shop on weekdays. The shop is open between 10.30am and 3.30pm and you can buy bottles or cases of Macs’ own brews as well as Budweiser, Heineken and wine.

The brewery’s fresh food collection shop offers a range of produce to NHS staff and carers at cost and has been extended to additional sites. A list of available items and an order form is online. After ordering you’ll be provided with a time slot in which to pick up your groceries.

Initially trialled at the Hertford brewery it is now also operating at The Bull in Broxbourne, The Hare in Harlow, The Jolly Farmers in Enfield and The Nag’s Head in Bishop’s Stortford.

DINING OUT GUIDE

ADVERTISEMENT LISTINGS

THE STRAW HAT Cantonese

THE GOLDEN FLEECE Pub & Dining

James and Bianca Rix have successfully run the Fox and Hounds for 15 years, establishing it as one of Hertfordshire’s leading eating out destinations. The Josper oven, seasonal menus, excellent value midweek set menu and superb Sunday lunch are all great reasons to visit. You can eat in the bar, dining room or on the pretty terrace. The venue is also available for events and private dining, including celebrations, weddings, business meetings and wakes.

The Straw Hat always offers a top quality and high class dining experience. Established for 16 years the restaurant is based in a beautiful listed building with a thatched roof which explains its name. The menu offers modern Cantonese cuisine that takes traditional dishes and reinvigorates them using high quality ingredients to produce healthy dishes that reflect today’s trends, including dishes for those on coeliac and gluten-free diets. The high quality wine list is also worthy of a mention.

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 need gluten-free meals. As a free house the Fleece is also able to offer a wide range of real ales, beers, wines and spirits.

2 High Street, Hunsdon SG12 8NH 01279 843999 foxandhounds-hunsdon.co.uk

Harlow Road, Sawbridgeworth CM21 0AJ 01279 722434 Facebook: @strawhatoriental

20 Green End, Braughing SG11 2PG 01920 823555 goldenfleecebraughing.co.uk

SAFFRON Indian

THE FOX INN Traditional English Pub

LOMO Bar & Grill

The quality of the well-established Saffron in Hoddesdon was recognised when it was chosen as Best Indian Restaurant in Hertfordshire in the 2017 Curry Life Awards.

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. Saffron also hosts corporate events and offers outside catering, whilst takeaway and delivery is available too with a 10% discount for collections.

The Fox Inn is a beautiful, traditional English village pub with a beamed restaurant and a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

It is open seven days a week and serves good wholesome food from an extensive menu, including roast dinners at Sunday lunchtimes and regularly changing specials.

A free house with a large beer garden for those sunny days, The Fox also has 12 beautifully appointed en-suite guest rooms and a 40-seater function room for private gatherings.

Opened just before Christmas, Lomo is a stylish new steak and grill restaurant with an upstairs cocktail bar in the centre of Hertford.

The 70-cover restaurant offers a menu of steak, burgers, chicken and fish dishes as well as some vegetarian and vegan options. Lighter meals are also available at lunchtimes whilst on Sundays a traditional roast is served. The restaurant is open Wednesday to Saturday from 12noon to 11.30pm and on Sunday from 12noon to 5pm and the cocktail bar is open Thursday to Saturday from 6pm to 1am.

25 High Street, Hoddesdon EN11 8SX 01992 461171 / 01992 461160 saffrononline.co.uk

The Green, Matching Tye, Essex CM17 0QS 01279 731335 thefoxinn.com

25a St Andrew Street, Hertford SG14 1HZ 01992 587772 lomobarandgrill.com

FOX AND HOUNDS Pub, Dining Room & Venue hire

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9-13 Parliament Square n Hertford n SG14 1EX

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