Essential Suffolk March 2017

March 2017 | Priceless

Essential SUFFOLK

SPRING COLOUR Fill your garden with flowering bulbs Theatre | Food | Fashion | Homes & Interiors | Elite Properties

www.essentialsuffolk.com

CELEBRATING ALL THAT MAKES OUR COUNTY GREAT

MADE FOR LIFE DESIGN

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MANUFACTURE

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I N S TA L L

Please come and see our exciting new range of Vincent Sheppard chairs and Cole & Son wallpaper. In addition to our Davey and BTC lighting.

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VISIT US

Ipswich | Suffolk IP2 8LL | 01473 680091 Iwww.orwellsfurniture.co.uk

Showroom, Design and Manufacturing all at the same Suffolk address.

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Beautifully handcrafted, bespoke kitchens, studies, bedrooms, dressing rooms & bathrooms.

CLASSIC SUFFOLK TIMBERFRAME BUILDINGS within the curtilage of

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EACH BUILDING DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED FOR OUR CLIENTS UNIQUE REQUIREMENTS

Maypole Green, Dennington, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 8AH Telephone: 01728 638 372 Mobile: 07785 966 221 Email: sales@rogergladwell.co.uk

www.rogergladwell.co.uk

MARCH 2017

Lesley Rawlinson Director lesley@achievemoremedia.co.uk T: 01473 809932 M: 07519 477583

Adrian Rawlinson Director adrian@achievemoremedia.co.uk T: 01473 809932 M: 07718 149307

Alison Watson Account Manager alison@achievemoremedia.co.uk T: 01473 809932 M: 07546 485204

Anne Gould Editor editor@achievemoremedia.co.uk M: 07411 701010

Paul Newman Designer paul@newman-design.com Cover: Gardening inspiration from the Dutch bulb fields – Page 70

| Welcome

WELCOME So spring is finally just around the corner, our gardens are starting to burst with life and it’s not long until the clocks change. Plus in Suffolk we have our first festival of the year – Aldeburgh’s Literary Festival – which has a thrilling programme as ever, including Maggi Hambling, Nick Davies, Ian McEwan, Alan Johnson MP and the BBC’s Nick Robinson. This month Essential Suffolk talked to Nick about his love of Suffolk, his adopted home, as well as sailing, politics and broadcasting.

This month we’ve also looked at the innovative and award-winning Teapot Project in Ipswich, which diverts food from supermarkets that would go to landfill and distributes it to Suffolk charities. Mischa Pearson who heads it up is passionate about the environment and food waste – as a homeless teenager she knew what it was like to be so hungry that you are forced to rummage in bins for food.

March is also the month when, weather permitting of course, we all start to spend more time outside – and if you are planning a day trip to the seaside Felixstowe is a good place to start. The resort has had millions of pounds spent on its five-mile long south-facing seafront and it’s also attracting more visitors than ever before. Of course you might want to get away from it all for a walk elsewhere along the coast – but if you are going to take on Suffolk’s Coastal Path read our feature on page 10 first.

This month we’ve also visited The Ufford Crown and the rather splendid overnight accommodation at The Swan in Long Melford. Plus we’ve our regular favourites including fashion, homes and interiors and the very best properties for sale.

If you want to contact us through social media check out the Essential Suffolk Facebook page, we’re on Twitter @EssentialSFK or visit www.essentialsuffolk.com

Anne Gould See all our social event photographs at essentialsuffolk.com @EssentialSFK

Anne Gould Editor

editor@achievemoremedia.co.uk

Essential Suffolk

TERMS AND CONDITIONS Copyright on all content is with Achieve More Media Limited.

Reproduction in part or whole if forbidden without the express permission of the publishers. All prices, events and times were to the best of our knowledge correct at the time of going to press and you are encouraged to contact the venue prior to booking.

All expressions and opinions within the publication are those of the editor including contributors. Essential Suffolk is a trading name of Achieve More Media Limited.

Essential SUFFOLK is Suffolk’s most exclusive magazine delivered only to individually selected homes, businesses and venues. It is brought to you each month with the valued support of our commercial partners. Please let them know you saw them here.

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EssentialSUFFOLK

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K I TC H E N S

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B AT H R O O M S

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BEDROOMS

01473 610 192 www.angliafactors.co.uk 34 GLOSTER ROAD MARTLESHAM HEATH IPSWICH IP5 3RD

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HOME OFFICES

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HOME CINEMAS

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LIBRARIES

Contents

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26

10 37

52

32

FEATURES

REGULARS

10

15

Suffolk in Brief

16

What’s On

23

Mini Previews

26 30 32 37

Suffolk Coastal Path Making walkers aware of the hidden dangers

Nick Robinson On politics, Suffolk and his new found passion for sailing

The Teapot Project A mission to help those in need and the environment

The Resort of Felixstowe With a new look and new prospects

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Food & Drink

62

Homes & Interiors

70

Gardening

73

Property

85

Essential Faces

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My Suffolk

News from around the county

Where to go and what to see in Suffolk in March

Worst Wedding Ever at the New Wolsey, Getting Dressed at Dance East, The Machine Stops at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds and Urinetown at the Sir John Mills Theatre

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Fashion

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Dog Walk

Softer shades for spring

Mothering Sunday Special gifts and treats for your Mum

The ‘Inn to Inn’ route from The Westleton Crown, taking in The Ship at Dunwich

Dining at The Ufford Crown, a short break at The Long Melford Swan, pan fried sea bass recipe from The Maybush plus a gallery full of ideas for eating out

The very latest kitchen styles

Colouful bulbs for a vibrant spring show

A selection of our county’s finest homes for sale

Highlights from Suffolk’s social calendar

Mary and John James, organisers of the Aldeburgh Literary Festival

EssentialSUFFOLK

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We’re a forward-thinking building services company that understands your vision for your property, and has the practical skills and innovative approach to bring it to life.

Based in Woodbridge, we work for domestic and commercial clients across Suffolk and beyond. Whether you’re keen to enhance or entirely refurbish your home, our dedicated, 50-strong team will work with you throughout your project to ensure you’re delighted with the results. We are experienced, professional, friendly and care about your building project as much as you do.

We share your vision We start every project with your end goal – the vision you have for your property. You may be a homeowner keen to extend or refurbish your house to create a stunning showpiece, or a commercial client wanting to refurbish or enhance a retail, industrial or office space. Whatever your needs, you can trust Samuel David Construction to create a breath-taking, yet practical, space with genuine ‘wow factor’.

We provide a complete, bespoke service Every job we do is different, but each starts with a complimentary visit to your home or site. We’ll discuss your ideas, draw up plans and provide a ball-park cost. Once you give us the go-ahead, you can leave the rest to us, from commissioning the architect to putting your project through planning – even organising the interior decoration.

We believe in quality with affordability We’re always available: all our team are in-house, from builders to plumbers and plasterers. We’re a close-knit team that works seamlessly together. We love what we do and we care about doing a great job. Because most of our team work for us full-time , we stay in control of quality, timescales and costs, making the best use of time and pulling out all the stops to complete your job quickly yet without cutting corners.

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MARCH 2017

Come rain or shine walking on the Suffolk coast is a wonderful thing but as you stride out across the shingle do you ever wonder just how safe you are? Anne Gould reports

tread carefully

S

uffolk’s seaside is famous for its beauty and its 55-mile coastal path, from Languard Fort in Felixstowe to Lowestoft, is renowned for its changing scenery and diversity. While perhaps not so many of us have done the whole stretch most of us will be familiar with sections along the way – maybe around Snape, Shingle Street, Orford, Aldeburgh and Southwold. Beautiful it may be, but how many people think about their safety when they are strolling by the water’s edge or navigating along the edge of sandbanks and creeks?

Suffolk is very much lowland Britain and although we don’t have mountains or hills some stretches of the coast are very isolated and can be potentially dangerous at times of extreme weather. Suffolk’s

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shore line has also long been at the mercy of the waves and coastal erosion has been a feature of this stretch of the East Coast for centuries. Back in the 14th century the once thriving seaport of Dunwich started to fall into the sea, more recently many metres of land has disappeared at Bawdsey and back in January a man tragically lost his life when the cliff collapsed at Thorpeness.

With this in mind a spokesperson for Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty warned, “Please take great care when out walking along the coast and estuaries in the AONB and be aware of hidden dangers, for example when breaches start to infill, the mud/sand can be extremely soft.”

She said that walkers should be aware that all three long distance paths – The Suffolk Coast Path, the Stour and Orwell Walk and The Sandlings Walk may be subject to temporary restrictions or closures at times, particularly those areas closer to the coast and estuaries.

The Suffolk Coast Path

“If you’re planning to walk a section of one of the routes, we would advise checking beforehand to see if there are any restrictions or closures in place.”

All these closures were listed on www.suffolkcoastsandheaths.org and at the time of going to press there were seven warnings in place and suggestions for alternative routes.

The whole path is regularly walked by a team of volunteers to check on the state of the path. “Please bear in mind that while we try to keep this information as up to date as possible, we can't always do

so - this is particularly true in the winter when erosion and flooding incidents may happen with little or no warning.”

However responsibility for the route itself is shared – between the Environment Agency, local councils and landowners. She said that walkers intending to walk the Suffolk Coast Path this summer are also advised to research the route in advance, especially ferry crossings and accommodation.

Cicerone Press) this spring, which includes details about all the long distance paths in the county with information about history, geology, the environment, wildlife and more. The guide, which costs £12.95 is available from www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org ‰

In addition there’s a new edition of Laurence Mitchell’s Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Walks (being published by

EssentialSUFFOLK

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W E BELIEV E That change is as good as a rest Believe it or not, our Henley oak kitchen used to be seen as our most traditional, our most classic, and our most refined collection.

But we knew it had hidden depths. So we took it apart and looked at all of the pieces from the inside-out and from the outside-in. Then we added new ones. To those of you who knew it before, it might look familiar, but it’s an entirely new era of design.

It’s Henley, redefined. Now available in both oak and painted.

neptune.com Neptune Bury St Edmunds, St Andrews Street South, IP33 3PH, info@neptuneburystedmunds.com

The Suffolk Coast Path

THE SUFFOLK COAST PATH

what to expect

For the last six years Ron Baker from Ipswich has been a volunteer coastal warden for Suffolk Coasts and Heaths and has regularly walked the whole Suffolk Coast Path and Stour and Orwell rivers in the AONB from Manningtree to Lowestoft. His efforts have involved joining in regular work parties across the area to enhance, tidy and contribute to environmental projects and helping to ensure direction signs and waymarks are well maintained.

“The Suffolk Coast Path is very diverse and ranges from walks along the coast with sea, sky, beach, sand and shingle, through dunes, reeds, woods, hidden paths, boarded walks and along the wide and beautiful river estuaries of the

Orwell, Stour and Deben. Along the way you’ll hear the call of gulls and seabirds and see a range of creatures and mammals. Walking along a narrow path you might encounter a fox as you round a bend, or see a slow worm, an adder or even a stoat.

“If you are lucky you might also get occasional fleeting glimpses of dolphins and seals. A feature of this route is that you can often find yourself quite alone and there have been times when I’ve walked long stretches without seeing a soul. Features along the way include the awe and majesty of Sizewell Nuclear Power Station, which just fits, in my opinion, to the surroundings.

“Further along is the mysteriousness and history of Orfordness and as you pass by there’s a kind of eerie feeling especially in mist and quietness. My favourite places, if I have any – it’s all so interesting – are walking along the beach past Covehithe and Benacre Broads, north of Southwold. It’s isolated with a magical mixture of glorious sun, sea, sky and sand over a wide distance although it’s beautiful too on rough, windy, overcast and cold days as well.”

INFORMATION www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org

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BESPOKE DESIGN

KITCHENS

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MANUFACTURE

BEDROOMS

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INSTALLATION

BAT H R O O M S

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STUDIES

SHOWROOM OPENING TIMES Monday to Friday: 9am – 5pm, Saturday: 10am – 4pm

The Granary, Rendlesham Mews, Rendlesham, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 2SZ. T: 01394 421214

www.debenvale.com

News

SUFFOLK in brief Felixstowe based Sirens Health & Beauty Retreat has been announced as a finalist in the English Hair And Beauty Awards 2017. Owner Clare Ranner-Martin said “We’re absolutely thrilled and we’re looking forward to the awards ceremony on March 19 to find out how we have done.

A huge thank you to all our customers that voted for us.”

The much-loved Lawson’s Delicatessen in Aldeburgh is under new ownership. After 10 years founders Richard Lawson and Claire Bruce-Clayton are handing over the reins to new owners, Clare Jackson and John Omerod, a father and daughter team. Clare and John have been visiting Aldeburgh for over 30 years and Clare has recently moved to live near Woodbridge with her husband and young family. Clare says “Lawson’s has always prided itself on being a friendly, welcoming shop with knowledgeable staff, selling carefully sourced and delicious food.

We’re committed to offering the same level of service with the existing team and we are thrilled that Lawson’s co-founder Claire Bruce-Clayton will continue to work in the business for several months to support a smooth transition.”

BBC Radio Suffolk’s Drivetime presenter Stephen Foster is hoping you will volunteer to be arrested on the afternoon of March 24th, 2017! He’s a Patron of the charity Home-Start who’s dedicated staff and volunteers provide expert help and assistance to children and their parents so that families, young people, and communities can be stronger, safer and better. Stephen says “So, back to jail! This is the third year I am serving as a Judge for the annual ‘Jail and Bail’ event to raise funds for Home-Start.

You agree to be ‘arrested’, either at your place of work or in the Ipswich town centre.

You can decide what your crime is – from hogging the bathroom to wearing Lycra or even cattle rustling…the more inventive, the better! You are taken in a police van to a central Ipswich location where you need to call friends, family and colleagues to raise money for your bail once I have reviewed your ‘case’. This is a great event and a wonderful way to support a very deserving charity, as 20% of the funds that allow Home-Start to exist are raised through fundraising”. To take part contact Ella Heeney from Home-Start on 01473 621104 or ella@homestartcoastal.co.uk.

The Bury St Edmunds Women’s Aid Centre, known as The Refuge, recently unveiled a new conservatory extension made possible by a £10,000 donation from award-winning East Anglian housebuilder Hopkins Homes. The conservatory has increased the dining area to give space for three families to sit down together. The donation comes after the charity was chosen to receive a grant from the Building Communities Fund – a £250,000 endowment fund designed to support good causes throughout Suffolk – established by Hopkins Homes in 2016. Speaking of the donation Annie Munson, CEO of The Refuge in Bury said: “We’re so grateful to Hopkins Homes for their substantial donation towards the cost of our new conservatory”. James Hopkins, Executive Chairman of Hopkins Homes said: “We are delighted to be able to make a substantial difference to the women and families resident at the Bury St Edmunds Women’s Aid Centre. When we set up the Building Communities Fund last year our aim was to support charities and good causes in our region to do just that – build communities. The Refuge provides a safe haven for women and children from domestic abuse and their work is invaluable in helping them start afresh.”

Read more at www.essentialsuffolk.com/refuge

The Museum of Hot Chocolate has opened in Sudbury charting the history of hot cocoa from the early civilisations of central America, through the Spanish conquistadors to over 400 years of chocolate beverages in Great Britain. The important moments and little known facts in the rise of the nation’s favourite hot drinks are presented in a graphic timeline, accompanied by exhibits including packaging advertising materials and utensils for making hot cocoa, some of them over 150 years old. Marimba director and museum curator David Wright said: “Family businesses were responsible for the development of hot chocolate over the years, and so the history was especially interesting for us to research.

As a family business ourselves, we established our chocolate cafe in 2008, began making our own luxury hot chocolate shortly after. The museum is located in the Marimba chocolate shop in the Borehamgate shopping arcade, and admission is free-of-charge. Opening hours are from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.

Woodbridge Friends of St Elizabeth Hospice would like to thank everyone who contributed in any way to the success of the recently held 20th annual quiz in Woodbridge Community Hall. It was very well supported with 18 tables and over 100 people present. As usual Alison and James Hillman produced an entertaining and challenging quiz with only three points separating the top three teams. Everyone who attended was extremely generous, and £1,702 was raised for the Hospice.

Selina Hopkins and Paul Southgate of Hopkins Homes join Annie Munson, CEO of the Women’s Aid Centre, Peter Summers from Abbey Rotary Club and other fundraisers and volunteers

More news can always be found at www.essentialsuffolk.com/content

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MARCH 2017

WHAT’S ON MARCH 1 – 11

Sunderella

Halesworth Cut Worst Wedding Ever

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich See preview page 23 Tickets: £16.50 – £26.50 Box Office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

In their new Bollywood production ‘Sunderella’, Natyapriya Dance Company tells the story of the much loved fairytale, Cinderella, with an exotic Eastern twist! newcut.org Annabelle’s Skirting Board Adventure

MARCH 2 – 5 Aldeburgh Literary Festival

Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh See interview pages 26 & 27 Tickets: £12 Information: 01728 452587 www.aldeburghliteraryfestival.co.uk

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, 11am & 1.30pm A brand new theatre show for young children which combines animation, film and music, all created live before the audience.

Tickets: £8 Box Office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk International Women’s Day Event

St Mary’s Church, Woodbridge, 7.30pm MARCH 3 BurySound Grand Final

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds BurySound 2016 competition winners, Suburban Minds. Also including the Vinyl Hunter pop-up shop, audience prizes and giveaways.

Tickets: £5 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

An evening of light music and opera favourites to celebrate International Women’s Day and 10 years of P.H.O.E.B.E Tickets: £10 (concessions £6) at the door Information: 01473 231566 www.phoebecentre.org.uk

Kammerphilharmonie Europa Chamber Orchestra

St Mary the Virgin Church, East Bergholt Returning by popular demand. after their thrilling concert two years ago. A lovely programme including Hummel’s Concerto for trumpet and orchestra in E flat major. This is a perfect way to end SVAM’s 66th season.

Tickets: £14 (students £7, children free with paying adult) Box Office: 01206 298426 or svamtickets@btinternet.com www.svam.org.uk

MARCH 6 Dave Mason’s Traffic Jam

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm Dave formed Traffic, with Stevie Winwood in the late 1960s, and his song ‘Hole in My Shoe’ went to Number 2. Mason became recognized for his obvious virtuosity on sitar, vocals, and guitar.

Tickets: £32.50 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

Farmers Markets

Beccles Heliport 9am – 1pm Metfield Village Hall 9am – 12 noon Snape Maltings 9.30am – 1pm

The John Ward Band

Halesworth Cut John brings his band of top notch musicians to play a refreshingly eclectic mix of lyrical music. Folk rock, acoustic pop, blues & jazz influenced songs. www.newcut.org

MARCH 4 Four Coronations and a Funeral

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm Bury Bach Choir & Prometheus Orchestra perform all four of Handel’s Coronation Anthems: Zadok the Priest; Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened; The King Shall Rejoice; My Heart is Inditing, and Purcell: Funeral Music for Queen Marchy.

Tickets: £23 – £14 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

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MARCH 5 G4 – Live in Concert

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm Multi-platinum selling vocal harmony group with their unique take on songs such as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Circle of Life’ & ‘Nessun Dorma’, and some of the latest chart-toppers including ‘Hold Back The River’ & ‘Uptown Funk’.

Tickets: £32.50 & £27.50 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk Ipswich Symphony Orchestra

Grand Hall, Corn Exchange, Ipswich, 2.30pm The Lion King, Pink Panther, The Whale’s Tale, Jurassic Park, Carnival of the Animals, The Red Pony and much more.

Tickets: £9 Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

Halfway to Paradise

Ipswich Regent, 7.30pm Billy and his original band Fury’s Tornados play together once again during this electric and emotional 20th anniversary tour (thanks to new technology).

Tickets: £23 Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

What’s On MARCH 7

MARCH 8

MARCH 9 – 15

You Win Again

Sean Lock The Regent, Ipswich, 8pm Every three years the comedian Sean Lock writes and tours a new stand-up show.

Well he’s only gone and done it again!

What’s he like? Come and see what he's blithering on about this time Tickets: £22.50 Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

Aldeburgh Studio Trail Artists Preview Exhibition

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm A brand-new musical telling the story of The Bee Gees: a tale of brothers who came to learn the hard way that the whole is greater than the sum of its component parts, but who wrote truly beautiful songs that inspired a generation.

Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

MARCH 7 – 9 Frankenstein

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, 2pm & 7.30pm Geneva. 1816. Victor Frankenstein obsesses in the pursuit of nature’s secret, the elixir of life itself. But nothing can prepare him for what he creates. So begins a gripping life or death adventure. A brand new adaptation of Marchy Shelley’s Gothic horror masterpiece fusing ensemble storytelling, live music, puppetry and stunning theatricality.

Tickets: £21.50 Box Office: 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org

Works will include painting, printing, jewellery, ceramics & sculpture Tel: 01728 452772 www.aldeburghstudiotrail.co.uk

MARCH 11 Paul Carrack in Concert

MARCH 9

Ipswich Regent, 7.30pm

Jo Harman & Company

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm Jo’s soul fuelled material covers hard rock to heart melting ballads. The Daily Mirror called her ‘the finest female soul blues vocalist in the UK’ and Huey Morgan (Fun Lovin Criminals) said on his Radio 2 programme “sometimes you hear a voice that leaves you speechless... I am”.

Tickets: £17.50 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

For everything stylish and practical

The Aldeburgh Gallery

Paul Carrack is one the UK’s great singer songwriters and multi-instrumentalists.

Balancing his career between his solo work and guesting on the current Eric Clapton album / tour, his widely-varied CV also includes Roxy Music, BB King, Nick Lowe, Roger Waters, Squeeze, Mike and the Mechanics, Elton John, The Smiths and Ringo Starr to name just a few.

Tickets: £41.50 Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

“Tavaziva’s facility for devising hot, liquid motion is indisputable” THE TIMES

TAVAZIVA AFRICARMEN FRIDAY 31 MARCH | 7.30pm TICKETS FROM £12 12yrs+ 7 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge, IP12 1AA www.woodbridgekitchencompany.co.uk 01394 382091

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MARCH 2017

Gigspanner

MARCH 14

MARCH 14 – 18

Menopause the Musical

Silver Lining

Ipswich Regent, 7.30pm

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich

Starring Cheryl Fergison (EastEnders), Maureen Nolan (The Nolans), Rebecca Wheatley (Casualty) and Ruth Berkeley (Penny Dreadful) Menopause the Musical is heading out on another UK wide tour. This hysterical show packed full of one-liners about night sweats, hot flushes and memory loss is backed by an instantly recognisable soundtrack of innuendo-laden versions of 60s, 70s and 80s pop classics.

Tickets: £27.50 Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

A new comedy by Sandi Toksvig. On one dark and stormy night in the upper day room of the Silver Retirement Home, five elderly ladies are trading stories of their remarkable lives. With the storm floods rising and no rescue team in sight, the ladies are faced with the sudden realisation that in order to survive they are going to have to do what they have done for their entire lives – do it themselves!

Tickets: £21.50 Box Office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

MARCH 14 AND 15

MARCH 15

The Machine Stops

Aurora Orchestra

Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm

See mini preview page 25 Tickets: £16.50 – £8.50 Box Office: 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org

Aurora play Beethoven’s Symphony No.2 and will be joined by Imogen Cooper for Mozart’s Jeunnehomme Concerto.

Tickets: £26 – £22 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

Halesworth Cut Since his departure from folk-rock pioneers Steeleye Span at the end of 2013, legendary fiddle player Peter Knight has turned his full attention to his trio Gigspanner, and in the process has firmly established their reputation as one of the most innovative acts on the folk/roots scene. newcut.org The Inkwell

Dance East, Ipswich, 4pm & 7pm DanceEast presents its much anticipated annual community project with a cast of up to 200 people from across the Babergh, Mid Suffolk and Forest Heath Districts.

Box Office: 01473 295230 www.danceeast.co.uk Farmers Markets

Halesworth Town Centre 9am – 1pm Woodbridge Community Centre 9am – 12.30pm

MARCH 12 Farmers Markets

Assington, The Barn 10am until 2pm

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What’s On

MARCH 18 Farmers Markets

Harkstead Village Hall 9am – 12 noon Aldeburgh Church Hall 9am – 12.30 Beccles Heliport 9am – 1pm Debenham Community Centre 9am – 1pm Carmina Burana

Snape Maltings Accompanied by two pianos and at least five percussionists, Aldeburgh Music Club Choir with the Jubilee Opera Chorus will perform Carl Orff ’s Carmina Burana and Constant Lambert’s The Rio Grande. www.snapemaltings.co.uk Alfie Strange: Trained Time Travellers Only

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, 11am & 1.30pm This is the story of how Alfie Strange (aged 81⁄4) gets stuck in a book and how he escapes it. Tickets: £8 Box Office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

Gilbert O’Sullivan

Fawlty Towers Night

Grand Hall, Corn Exchange, Ipswich

Ufford Park Woodbridge Hotel, 7pm

One of the industry’s true legends, 2017 will mark an astonishing 50 years since Gilbert O’Sullivan made his first foray into the music business with the release of his debut single ‘Disappear’. It launched O’Sullivan on a career that is still thriving five decades later – seeing him dominate the charts in the seventies and continue to enjoy success and acclaim to the present day.

Tickets: £32 Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

Join us for our dinner event of the year which combines a sumptuous three course meal and classic comedy action as Basil, Sybil and Manuel do their very best to look after you in their typical crazy style.

Tickets: £38.50 Box office: 01394 383555 www.uffordpark.co.uk

MARCH 18 – 20 Getting Dressed

The Bon Jovi Experience

Dance East, Ipswich

Spa Pavilion Theatre, Felixstowe

See mini preview page 24 Tickets: £10 Box Office: 01473 295230 www.danceeast.co.uk

This show needs very little introduction.

The world’s finest Bon Jovi Tribute band, with over 20 years touring the world. Certified as the most authentic Bon Jovi Tribute act on earth by Jon Bon Jovi himself. The only tribute band in the world to play with Bon Jovi Live. Don’t miss it!

Tickets: £24 – £22 Box Office: 01473 284962

To see more event listings and tell us about your event visit essentialsuffolk.com/whats-on-in-suffolk

THE

MILSOM WEDDING

SHOW

19th March 2017, 10am - 4pm The Hangar, Milsoms Kesgrave Hall

MARCH 19 Songbook Sundays @ The Athenaeum

The Athenaeum, Bury St Edmunds, 11.30pm The Chris Ingham Trio, with Jessica Radcliffe: The Harold Arlen Songbook.

A saxophone alumnus of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Jessica has established herself

Included in the day - Bacon baps and coffee - Wide range of exhibitors - Interactive sessions with suppliers - Flower market - Man crèche - Canapés and fizz - Cocktail DJ - Afternoon tea - Exciting prizes to be won throughout the day

Register today for this unmissable event www.milsomweddings.com/wedding-show or email events@milsomhotels.com

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MARCH 2017

in London as an in-demand jazz singer at venues such as Ronnie Scott’s and St James Studio. Today she interprets the sophisticated, bluesy songs of one of the great American composers.

Tickets: £10 in advance (£12 at the door) Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk The Syd Lawrence Orchestra

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm Golden Night of Swing – 50th Anniversary Tour. In 1967 Syd Lawrence formed what was to become the UK’s most successful and longest running Big Band. For the last 20 years the Orchestra has been led by virtuoso trombonist Chris Dean.

Tickets: £21 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

MARCH 24

Farmers Markets

Chas & Dave

Woodbridge Community Centre 9am – 12.30pm

Mercury Theatre, Colchester, 7.30pm Chas & Dave still selling out theatres all over the UK, they know how to give an audience a good time, performing all the hits that made this Cockney duo famous: Gertcha, Sideboard Song, Rabbit, Ain’t No Pleasing You, and Marchgate.

Tickets: £28 Box Office: 01206 573948 www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

MARCH 26 Farmers Market

Lavenham Village Hall 10am – 1.30pm The Voice Squad

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 3pm Mayor’s Charity Concert with The Voice Squad’s new interpretations of classics from Beethoven and Handel to Coldplay, Billy Joel and Elvis Presley Tickets: £12 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk Abbamania

I Dream the Sea MARCH 21

Southwold Gallery Renowned artist Karen SJ Keable’s new exhibition – ‘I Dream of the Sea,’ opens featuring a wide collection of new works inspired by the Suffolk and Norfolk coastline and full of colour and light. Karen’s paintings are in private collections in Britain, Europe, Malaysia, Australia and America, including two paintings held in the House of Lords Art Collection. www.southwoldgallery.co.uk

Oysters 3

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm John Jones, Alan Prosser and Ian Telfer, the three founder members and creative heart of folk-rock legends Oysterband, invite you to an evening of fresh acoustic performance and off-the-wall stories, with great songs from every era of a unique career.

Tickets: £17.50 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

MARCH 24 – MAY 29 Lettering Arts Centre

Snape, 11am – 5pm New collection of paintings and sculpture by some of the most influential graffiti artists of the past 40 years combined with unseen sketches and photographs, to build a powerful picture of 40,000 years of creative – and often audacious – handmade lettering. www.snapemaltings.co.uk

MARCH 22 Laura Marling

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 8pm Armed with her husky voice, an acoustic guitar, and a gift for building quirky, hooky folk songs.

Tickets: £16.50 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

To see more event listings and tell us about your event visit essentialsuffolk.com/ whats-on-in-suffolk

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Grand Hall, Corn Exchange, 7.30pm ABBA are one of the most popular groups in the world today, from ‘Waterloo’ to ‘Thank You For The Music’ from ‘Dancing Queen’ to ‘Mamma Mia’. Their record breaking songs are timeless and continue to thrill all generations. Abbamania, the UK’s original ABBA tribute are widely regarded as one of ‘Europe’s Premier ABBA tribute Bands’. Their sensational live concerts have taken them all over the World.

Tickets: £22 Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com Thunder

Ipswich Regent, 7pm With many of the hits from the band’s stellar history, but also tracks from their follow up to the 2015 Top Ten hit album ‘Wonder Days’, which was described by Classic Rock as, “Brilliant…a massive reminder that class is both timeless and incandescent”.

Tickets: £31 Box Office: 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.com

MARCH 25 The Magic Paintbrush

MARCH 29 – APRIL 1

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, 11am & 1.30pm

When we are Married by J.B Priestley

The Magic Paintbrush is presented by Springs Dance Company, choreographed by Darren Ellis and directed by Nathan Stickley. It is made for everyone aged 3+, and will be enjoyed by adults and children alike.

Tickets: £8 Box Office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

Set in the early 1900s, a group of three couples, old friends and all married on the same day in the same chapel, gathers at the Helliwells’ home to celebrate their silver anniversary. When they discover that they are not legally married, each couple initially reacts with proper Victorian horror – what will the neighbours think? – and all three

Kesgrave Community Centre

What’s On couples find themselves re-evaluating their marriages!

Tickets: £9 Information: 01473 725633 or masqueplayers@hotmail.co.uk www.masqueplayers.com

MARCH 31 The Fureys

The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, 7.30pm Legends of Irish music & song The Fureys are renowned for songs such as ‘I will love you’, ‘When you were sweet 16’, ‘The green fields of France’, ‘The old man’, ‘Red Rose café’, ‘From Clare to here’, ‘Her father didn’t like me anyway’, ‘Leaving Nancy’, ‘Steal away’…

Tickets: £21 Box Office: 01284 758000 www.theapex.co.uk

MARCH 29 – APRIL 8 Urinetown

Sir John Mills Theatre, Gatacre Rd Ipswich See mini preview page 25 Tickets £14 (concessions £12) Box Office: 01473 211498 www.galleryplayers.co.uk

Africarmen

Dance East, Ipswich, 7.30pm

MARCH 30 MARCH 30 – APRIL 15 Science Cafe –Thinking Fast & Slow

Halesworth Cut

The Who’s Tommy

How do we make decisions? Especially about really important things, like our health? What do we consider, take account of, or gamble on? Or do we not make them at all, but have our decisions made for us? Let’s get together to consider, slowly, the impact of fast thinking on all of our lives.

Newcut.org

New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich Based on the iconic 1969 concept album, The Who’s Tommy is the multi-award winning epic rock musical written by Pete Townshend.

Tickets: £29.50 Box Office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

Tavaziva’s Africarmen ignites this classic tale of desire, deceit and corruption in an African township where military corruption is rife.

Tickets: £12 Box Office: 01473 295230 www.danceeast.co.uk

To see more event listings and tell us about your event visit essentialsuffolk.com/ whats-on-in-suffolk We cannot guarantee inclusion in print but all suitable listings will be included online

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Mini Previews

WORST WEDDING EVER

Actor Lloyd Gorman plays Mike in the Salisbury Playhouse, New Wolsey Theatre Ipswich and Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch production of Worst Wedding Ever. It’s at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich from March 1 to 11 and Essential Suffolk caught up with him for some behind the scenes chat Can you tell us a little about Worst Wedding Ever and the character you play, Mike?

In a world where the average cost of a wedding is between £20 – £25k, Worst Wedding Ever follows Rachel and Scott’s attempt to get married on a budget. Whilst the couple wants a simple, registry office wedding, Rachel’s family wades in and hijacks the arrangements to create the ultimate DIY wedding with a marquee and portable loos. But sometimes having your family too involved in your wedding plans can lead to disastrous (and often hilarious) consequences. It’s a modern farce with a heart! My character, Mike, is a singer in a band that is drafted in at the last minute (much to the annoyance of a member of Rachel’s family) to play at Rachel and Scott’s wedding.

You were in the original cast of the 2014 production – why do you think it was so popular with audiences?

The characters, situation and relationships are incredibly relatable to and familiar. It’s really entertaining, and laugh-outloud funny. It’s emotionally generous. It’s about family feuds, love, pain, The Lord of the Rings and the neighbour’s boundary line. I think we can all relate to at least one of those!

Worst Wedding Ever was written by Broadchurchcreator and soon-to-be Head Writer of Doctor Who, Chris Chibnall – what is it like working with him?

It’s great. He’s supportive, flexible, non-precious but secure in what he wants – a real team player who appreciates every facet of putting something together. The writing is cheeky, warm, funny and very human. And most of all, he’s a really nice guy!

You play the guitar in Worst Wedding Ever and have performed in a number of productions as an actormusician – what do you enjoy most about these roles?

It challenges every part of your skill set. Whether you’re playing in a band set up or using the instrument as part of a character, it makes you think differently about your approach to the script. It’s raw and can often be a very exposing genre for an actor, but a full sensory experience for an audience.

Have you ever been a member of a band?

Did you play for weddings?

I was in bands when I was growing up, but haven’t actually been in one full time and as an adult. I’d like to be, but it’s one of those things that I never get round to organising! I’ve been to some weddings with cracking bands but I’ve only played at one wedding myself… but it was a little tamer and less dramatic than in Worst Wedding Ever.

Are there any surprises in store for the Worst Wedding Ever audiences?

Maybe I should keep the surprises a surprise! There’s loads of unexpected stuff going on in Worst Wedding Ever.You’ll hear a band in the foyer as you come in, you’ll see characters appearing from all sorts of unexpected places, and I really wouldn’t keep two Rhodesian Ridgebacks in a confined space for too long.

Cryptic enough? Come and see it, you won’t be disappointed.

INFORMATION Tickets: £26.50 – £10 | Box office: 01473 295900 www.wolseytheatre.co.uk

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MARCH 2017

GETTING DRESSED DanceEast, Jerwood Dance House, Ipswich.

March 18 and 19 Dive into a world of colour and clothes. Ever put your coat on the wrong way? Couldn’t find the arm holes in your trousers? Or just had a day where you didn't want to wear clothes? Join Second Hand Dance in a world of colour, texture and movement as they invite us all to be as creative as we can with the clothes we wear, tempting us to get dressed just a little bit differently.

Second Hand Dance makes highly visual dance performances, collaborating with dancers, visual artists and the public to produce joyful, inspirational shows for children and adults that hold the audience experience at its centre.

The work is often socially engaged, subtly participatory and presented in theatres, galleries, libraries and outdoor spaces.

Getting Dressed involves climbing mountains of clothes, plunging into piles of pants and swinging in swathes of skirts. Big or small, scratchy or soft, ordinary or extraordinary – clothes and getting dressed will never be the same again. Plus, ‘stay & play’ with the company after the performance.

Suitable for the whole family, you will be able to get on stage and play with the costumes and fabrics used in the show!

INFORMATION Tickets: £10 (concessions £7, family £30) Box office: 01473 295230 | www.danceeast.co.uk

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Mini Previews

URINETOWN

Sir John Mill Theatre, Ipswich. March 29 to April 8 “It is a real show for our time,” said director Helen Clarke. “I think audiences will recognize a lot of current concerns as the plot unravels – and enjoy the show’s irreverent take on them.

The show even takes a shot at musical theatre itself! Musicals fans will have huge fun spotting all the famous shows that are sent up in the musical numbers.”

In a Gotham-like city, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. A malevolent businessman exploits the situation by charging admission to his company-controlled ‘public amenities’ for one of humanity’s most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides that he's had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom!

Gallery Players are thrilled to announce the local premiere of Urinetown – a daring and original musical, which won three Tony Awards when it premiered in 2001. Writer Greg Kotis had the idea for Urinetown while traveling in Europe. A traveling student on a budget, he encountered a pay-per-use toilet, and shortly afterwards started writing. He and composer Mark Hollman created a hilarious and thought-provoking sendup of greed, love, revolution (and politics!), in a time when water is worth its weight in gold.

Gallery Players have assembled an outstanding company of actors for the production: Wade Ablitt (Assassins Mad Hatter Productions, Carousel CO2) plays toilet attendant turned revolutionary Bobby Strong, Martin Leigh (A Man of No Importance, Galileo Gallery Players) the sinister businessman Caldwell B. Cladwell, while Roger Jackaman (Jumpers for Goalposts, Gallery Players) and Phil Cory (The History Boys, Hairspray Gallery Players) are Officers Lockstock and Barrel, two policemen on the shadowy side of the law. Gallery newcomers Zoe Ransome (Oliver, Stage Door Theatre Company) and Brontë Fletcher take the roles of heroine Hope Cladwell and street urchin Little Sally respectively. Natasha Staffieri (Urinetown, Mad Hatter Productions) plays Penelope Pennyworth and musically directs, and Steph Brown (Sunset Boulevard, Oklahoma IODS, Into the Woods, Galileo Gallery Players) choreographs.

Reviewers on both side of the Atlantic have praised the show, Bruce Weber, New York Times calling the original production “a sensational piece of performance art”, while Charles Spencer writing in Daily Telegraph called the London revival “darkly entertaining and exceptionally sharp”.

INFORMATION Tickets: £14 (concessions £12) | Box office: 01473 211498 www.galleryplayers.co.uk

THE MACHINE STOPS Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds. March 14 and 15 EM Forster is best known for his exquisite novels, but this short story masterpiece published in 1909 is astoundingly prophetic and poignant today: a chilling prediction and exploration of our increasingly complex relationship with technology. Adapted for the stage by Neil Duffield and directed by Juliet Forster The Machine Stops is a play that really will make you stop and think.

It tells the story of Vashti (Caroline Gruber), who lives in a tiny underground cell where information is available at the push of a button, where people communicate through video screens, and where actual human contact and travel are frowned upon. A

century before such things became reality, Forster effectively predicted Skype, the internet and even Siri. “You talk as if a god had made the Machine,” cried the other. “I believe that you pray to it when you are unhappy. Men made it, do not forget that.” In a dystopian world where humans have retreated far underground, Kuno alone questions their now total dependency on technology to live and communicate with each other, but in his struggle to break out can he reach the Earth’s surface before the Machine stops?

Featuring a brand new soundtrack composed by John Foxx, pioneer of electronic music and founder of Ultravox, and analogue synth specialist, Benge.

INFORMATION Tickets: £16.50 – £8.50 | Box Office: 01284 769505 www.theatreroyal.org

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Suffolk

IN HIS BLOOD

Photograph by Eamonn McCabe

Celebrity Interview | Nick Robinson

Nick Robinson’s interview with Alan Johnson MP was the fastest selling event for this year’s Aldeburgh Literary Festival. Anne Gould talks to the broadcasting legend about politics, journalism and why Suffolk is now his adopted home

H

e’s cross-examined presidents and prime ministers, witnessed first-hand many of the seismic political events that have shaped our time and as presenter of Radio 4’s Today Programme has probably the most prestigious job in journalism.

However, when Nick Robinson wants a breather and time out from reporting on the corridors of power, he heads north out of London to Suffolk, his ‘adopted’ home.

“For the last six years I have had a cottage in Orford and Suffolk has really got into my blood. The person who inspired me to go into journalism was Radio 4’s Brian Redhead who moved to Macclesfield and believed it was his home. I now understand it and talk about Suffolk with a sense of ownership.”

So he’s looking forward to the Aldeburgh Literary Festival this month with a sense of anticipation, not just because he will be home in Suffolk but the man he’ll be interviewing, Labour MP Alan Johnson, has an incredible story to tell. “It will be fun, I know Alan well as a politician, as a potential prime minister and, as an author he also has the same publicist as I do. What he has shown us is what a fantastic writer he is and his journey is also fascinating.”

Little wonder then that tickets for this event – at the Jubilee Hall – sold at record speed when festival booking started and were gone in just over an hour. However Nick’s own story is perhaps no less fascinating, he has been Political Editor for both ITV and BBC News and now, on the Today Programme, helps to set the nation’s news agenda every day.

It’s a job that requires two very early alarm calls – at 3.30am – and he gets into work at just after 4am. “I have to get in that early just to prepare the programme. People think that there is a team who are writing our scripts but that’s not how it works.” He explained

there are documents to read and story briefings but he has about an hour and three quarters to prepare all the interviews, ask questions and write the programme before going on air. “At the moment if there are interviews with people in the US we don’t even have that much time. They are asked to stay up late and we interview them when we get in.”

So very early one morning he found himself being the first person to interview the judge who had lifted President Trump’s immigration ban. Clearly he thrives on working under pressure and the ever-changing world of politics.

“Being a presenter on the Today Programme has been an ambition for many years, I like live news, I like the theatre of it, the challenge of interviewing people live. You don’t know what you are going to say, you are on your mettle and sometimes you do not always get it quite right. Sometimes you surprise yourself.”

There have been many career highlights too but among the most memorable is reporting the formation of the coalition in 2010, which was “exciting, exhilarating and exhausting”. It started on election night, with a 24-hour stint without sleep from the time the polls closed. “Then for five days we didn’t have a prime minister and on my walk to the tube and my journey to work I would get stopped on the streets by people just asking if I knew what was happening. At the end when David Cameron was going to be announced as Prime Minister in Downing Street I was so tired I could hardly speak. I asked Laura Kuenssberg to do the news report for me but she said no. The cameraman that day had been in war zones and he went off and got me a cup of tea with about ten sugars in it and I just stood and started talking.”

So, he explains, getting away to somewhere like Suffolk, with his wife Pippa and children, really does make a difference. It also allows him to indulge a

passion for sailing – although he added, he’s by no means “a man of the sea”.

“We first came to Suffolk on a misty day and I don’t think we even made it to the coast but had a cosy lunch at the Oysterage.”At about this time he had an opportunity to learn to sail on a course at Hope Cove in Devon – something he knew nothing about but had dreamed of doing for a long time. “We then had a holiday at a cottage in Iken and I thought I could rent a boat but then found out you can’t just rent a boat and go on the sea. So I ended up buying a Topper off EBay for £200 and spent about a week trying to find a trailer for it until someone told me the reason it was called a Topper was because you put it on the top of your car.” Said craft is now in his garden – “I bought a house to put the Topper in,” he joked.

“We spent two glorious weeks in Suffolk when the sun always shone and it was always hot. When we got back to London some friends called to say a place had come up for sale in Orford.”

Having secured their Suffolk hideaway and a 14-foot Wanderer dinghy Nick says he’s sailed “happily” ever since – although his first attempt at a regatta ended with him being upside down in front of the Orford Clubhouse just 45 seconds away from the quay!

“I love Orford because you can dump the car and there’s everything here you need. You really do not need to go anywhere. It’s a place where I can relax and switch off.” He and his wife try to visit Suffolk as much as they can at weekends and in the holidays. He also spent time here recovering from his lung cancer treatment. “We also really enjoy the culture here, we love Snape and there seems to be a festival at Aldeburgh almost every weekend of the year.”

INFORMATION The Aldeburgh Literary Festival is from March 2 – 5 www.aldeburghliteraryfestival.co.uk

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MARCH 2017

WASTE NOT WANT NOT An estimated 18 million tonnes of food goes to landfill in the UK every year. Anne Gould speaks to Ipswich environmental campaigner Mischa Pearson of the award-winning The Teapot Project about preventing waste in Suffolk

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The Teapot Project

M

ischa Pearson, pictured above left, knows what it’s like to be hungry – really hungry. So hungry she’s pulled food from bins. She also knows what it’s like to be homeless through no fault of her own and at times has been forced to sleep rough. With a background in catering she’s also witnessed the amount of good food that is thrown out by restaurants through over ordering and out of date stamps.

Little wonder then that she initiated The Teapot Project in Ipswich which diverts food, which supermarkets would otherwise send to landfill, and sends it local charities in need.

“We currently work with Marks & Spencer, Nando’s, Morrisons, the Coop and allotment owners and deliver to the Salvation Army, the YMCA, Turning Point and Christchurch House hostels”.

On New Year’s Day the project organised a pop-up stall in the centre of Ipswich with 180 crates of food which they had intercepted and sold on a ‘pay as you feel’ basis to support people in the community who struggle to make ends meet. “We were given 1,400kg of waste food from Morrison’s, and after local food banks and soup kitchens were unable to accept any more food, decided to hold a pay-as-you-feel stall,” she explained. There was a huge response thanks to social media and within three hours all the food was gone. “There were people saying they could not remember the last time they bought fruit because they could not afford it.”

Moving forward Mischa, who is also studying independently for a degree and advanced qualifications in food safety, says that thanks to Suffolk New College the project is moving in a different direction and is going to shortly be offering education programmes. “The college said they had some spare kitchens so we have decided to tackle environmental issues, waste and recycling by teaching people to cook using intercepted food.”

Being able to cook and make the most of raw ingredients is a key skill in preventing food waste and managing on tight budgets. “We want this to have a social and environmental impact so our aim is that half the students on the courses should be young people who are perhaps homeless or living in a hostel and we want to offer it to this group for free.”

Mischa says it’s also about showing people how they can use whatever combination of ingredients they might have in their kitchen to make a meal.

“At the end of the session, to emphasize the community aspect of this I feel that it is also important that we all sit down and have a meal together with whatever we have cooked.”

Meanwhile the Teapot Project has also teamed up with the Eden Rose Coppice Trust, which has been renovating Brickmakers Wood near the college.

“We want people to understand the environmental impact of what they do so when we cook any peelings that we might have will then be taken to trust for composting.” She also feels that education is the way forward so that people move on from our “throw away culture” and realise that there’s a difference between food that has a ‘Best Before’ date and food that’s

inedible. “I am not saying to people that they should go vegan or anything like that but to encourage them to make different choices. Do you really need to buy a melon cut into slices for instance?

I have also recently even seen ready peeled oranges wrapped in plastic.”

Mischa says that the inspiration for this work has come from The Real Junk Food Project, which launched in Leeds and now has a series of ‘pay as you think’ cafes across the world. Hopefully she says that as a business model this new way forward will also enable some of the dedicated volunteers involved, some of whom also deliver the food, to be paid.

INFORMATION www.theteapotproject.com

Until recently she and a team of 20 volunteers also ran a ‘pay as you like’ cafe, which has recently closed. “We have only been doing this for two years and in the first year alone we saved 10.2 tonnes of CO2 from entering the earth’s atmosphere – and the second year looks on target to be better.” In that time The Teapot Project, a community interest company, has also picked up a clutch of awards including one from Suffolk’s Greenest County and two, including the overall prize, from Stars of Suffolk.

Photograph by Andy Greenacre

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MARCH 2017

SEASIDE HOTSPOT Looking for a day out at the seaside? Well before you head off up the coast have you been to Felixstowe recently? You could be very pleasantly surprised.

Anne Gould reports

W

hisper it quietly but the smart money is on Felixstowe right now – according to national reports it’s among the UK’s top coastal housing hotspots.

Property website Zoopla ranked the town as fourth in the top ten towns with the biggest percentage change in house prices. But for those who might be surprised at this revelation maybe it’s time to take a trip along to the eastern end of the A12 to see for yourself.

According to Helen Greengrass, of Felixstowe Forward, visitor numbers have been growing for the last two

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years – 842,100 tourists came to the town last year. The town has undergone massive investment over the last few years, which has not only restored the seafront, but with new hotels, restaurants and the arrival of new shops its fortunes are really looking up.

“We have seen about a 12 per cent increase in terms of economic impact,” she says. Of course the town has always had its hidden jewels – the impressive Languard Fort with its centuries of history overlooking Harwich at the far side of the Stour and Orwell estuaries.

At the other end of the five-mile

seafront there’s the picturesque hamlet of Felixstowe Ferry on the Deben estuary with its traditional black huts, sailing and fish stalls. There are also its four Martello Towers one of which graces Felixstowe’s spectacular links golf club – one of the oldest courses in the country. But the town and the seafront in particular really have got a new look thanks to a combination of public and private investment.

The English Heritage listed Seafront Gardens, renovated in 2015 at the cost of £4.8 million, are spectacular and have won a number of awards and much ‰

Felixstowe

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Felixstowe from Felixstowe Chamber fun run, Ipswich to Felixstowe road run, our Book Festival and Art on the Prom.

“This year there are two special events coming up that look very exciting – on May 21 we have our first ever Kite Festival at Languard run by the Rotary Club. Then on June 24 & 25th, Armed Forces weekend, we are going to be celebrating the 350th anniversary of the Battle of Languard Fort – the last invasion of the UK when Dutch troops landed in 1667. The weekend will even include a re-creation of the battle.”

Suffolk Coastal District Council’s Deputy Leader, Cllr Geoff Holdcroft, who also has responsibility for Economic Development said, “Felixstowe is a town very much on the up. Suffolk Coastal District Council has invested millions of pounds in recent years in restoring the iconic Seafront Gardens, as well as developing the old disused boating lake into the new Felixstowe Events Area and working in partnership to provide play areas, leisure facilities and new homes at Martello Park.

acclaim. Helen said the scheme was carried out by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Suffolk Coastal District Council and covered eight gardens in all. “The work was logistically really hard because a lot of it was carried out on the cliffs and because of access required a lot of manual labour.”

However the end result has scooped regional awards by the Institute of Chartered Surveyors and been given Green Heritage Site Accreditation.

Meanwhile the old boating lake at the seafront has been removed and transformed into a green events area, which now that the grass has grown should come into its own this year.

She says that private investment has made a huge impact too – Pier Amusements Felixstowe is giving the Pierhead building a new look and further along the seafront Bloor Homes have regenerated the south seafront into a hugely popular playground for children. The Spa Pavilion has reopened with a new look and a new focus and of course the Bartlett has been redeveloped into luxury flats too.

Helen says Felixstowe’s also been boosted by new hotels – everything from the Premier Inn to the boutique Fludyers and big name independent shops like Adnams and new restaurants too. “In addition we’ve got a thriving events programme including everything

“We plan to continue with our commitment to the town and plan further improvements, but this is very much a team effort and commercial business has also played its part. We have new housing, hotels, shopping, bars and restaurants, which have either already been developed or are in the pipeline.

“There is a real buzz about Felixstowe at the moment. There’s a real willingness in the town to work together and maximise what we have. The key is that the whole town, the councils, commercial interests and the local community, have come together to reinvigorate Felixstowe and this is being reflected in the growth in the number of visitors to the town.” ‰

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PICTURE THE PROGRESS Felixstowe’s old pier head may have been demolished but the transition has led to some incredibly artistic photographic images of the work in progress. Local photographers, both amateur and professional have been sharing their pictures of the iconic structure in its various stages of disarray via social media.

Essential Suffolk has chosen some of the most eye catching from Simon Talbot-Hurn Photography (2) and Laurence Scarlett (1,3 & 4).

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ALL CHANGE AT THE CHAMBER The end of this month sees a newly appointed Chairman for Felixstowe Chamber. David Button, who is a funeral director with offices in Felixstowe, along with Roger Abbott a freelance journalist, also from the town, together are standing for election as Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively. The role of Chairman had been competently filled for the past three years

by Gotelee Solicitor – Rachel Cronin. Rachel said “David and Roger are hoping to share the busy role of Chairman between them with David at the helm and Roger being his right hand man for times when he’s called away. Together I think they will bring a new lease of life for Felixstowe businesses and I urge all of the business owners in the town to join the Chamber to strengthen the voice of the local business community.”

The Chamber is seen as the voice of Felixstowe’s business people. The organisation is there to connect, represent and support its members. Rachel continued “You’ll find as a Chamber we reflect the diverse demographic and unique personality of Felixstowe. To truly get involved in the business life of the town you could do no better than to join this notfor-profit organisation which is run by our members for our members.” Felixstowe Chamber has excellent working relationships with Suffolk Coastal District Council and Felixstowe Town Council and is a member of Suffolk 36

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Chamber of Commerce. This ensures that members are consulted on, and receive timely information about future plans and any issues affecting the Felixstowe businesses and the wider peninsular community.

In addition a new business officer, Krystyna Smithers, has also been appointed to share the role with existing Business Officer Stephanie Mackentyre. She is responsible for the day to day running of the Chamber.

If you’re interested in joining the Felixstowe Chamber you are very welcome to attend their AGM on Monday 20th March at 6pm at the Brook Hotel in Felixstowe or one of their breakfast networking meetings. This month’s breakfast will be held at The Orwell Hotel on Wednesday 15th March from 7am when the speaker will be Gill Bishop from Dementia Friends. Places for this breakfast can be booked via the Chamber website.

Information on how to become a member and details of the benefits of membership are available on the Chamber's website and you can also book on line for this month’s networking breakfast too.

INFORMATION www.felixstowechamber.co.uk

FIVE OF THE BEST SPA TREATS THIS MOTHER’S DAY

THE PERFECT MOTHER’S DAY GIFT Treat your Mum to a relaxing Spa experience in the tranquil surrounding of Sirens Health & Beauty Retreat.

Our experienced therapists offer an extensive range of Health and Beauty treatments – including both traditional and alternative – from a classic manicure to a relaxing hot stone massage, whilst our heated treatment couches ensure your ultimate relaxation. Choose a gift voucher for a specific therapy – or why not let Mum chose with a monetary gift voucher?

Call today and let us help you make your Mother’s Day gift one she’ll remember.

Sirens Health & Beauty Retreat 154a Hamilton Road Felixstowe 01394 282626 www.sirensfelixstowe.co.uk

RELAX, REVITALISE, RESTORE AT UFFORD PARK SPA, WOODBRIDGE Enjoy a variety of spa and beauty treatments, day and half day spa experiences, Ufford Park Spa is the perfect retreat to escape the pressures of modern day living.

Offering a wide range of treatments for you to choose; from massages, facials and body treatments to manicures, pedicures, and much more.

Spa Breaks start from just £95.00 per person.

Mothers Day gift vouchers available

To find out more about us or to book your perfect spa experience or hen party, please visit www.uffordparkspa.co.uk or call us on 01394 386871

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Anti wrinkle injections to relax muscles and dermal fillers to soften deep lines.

Mild and moderate chemical peels.

Treatment for facial veins, sun damage and age spots.

Micro dermabrasion.

Permanent hair reduction.

Treatments offered at Radiant Beautiful Medical in Woodbridge, 9 Clements Road, Melton Woodbridge IP12 1SZ

All treatments administered by highly qualified and experienced nurse practitioner Dr. Kathleen Walker.

01394 386887 drkathleenwalker@gmail.com www.drkathleenwalker.com

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GIVE YOUR MUM THE RED CARPET TREATMENT Designed and developed for those serious about looking fabulous the Red Carpet Miracle Facial from Templespa gives instant and visible results – a radiant glow and the sculpted firmness of youth. With super advanced skin-lifting and muscleenergising massage techniques combined with dynamic glycolic resurfacing this facial really delivers results. £75

To book or for help to plan something special for your Mum this Mother’s Day call Seckford Spa, 01394 385606 or email spa@seckford.co.uk

Or why not treat her to an Express Spa Day and Lunch.

With a 30 minute treatment, full use of the Spa and lunch included it’s the perfect way to help Mum to relax. £50

Seckford Spa, Seckford Hall Woodbridge, Suffolk IP136NU www.seckfordhallspa.co.uk

WELCOME TO THE AMAYA SPA TREATMENT ROOM The fabulous Amaya Spa Treatment Room is a tranquil, private boutique space within Heavenly Hair in Saxmundham.

In our calm and sumptuous surroundings, you can choose from a selection of high end luxury treatments including facials from Dr Renaud, the clinically proven ‘Shrinking Violet’ body wrap and whitetobrown™ tanning treatments.

We offer a vast selection of manicure and pedicure services from OPI, also waxing, acrylics, eyelash treatments plus so much more and then of course there is the hair!

11 High Street Saxmundham IP17 1DF 01728 602941 heavenlyhairstyling.co.uk

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With a host of special packages for

Mother’s Day and Easter discover the beauty and Tudor splendour of

Seckford Hall Hotel & Spa this Spring

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March Package Pick & Mix

HOPI Ear Candles LVL Lashes Refresh Facial 1hr Half Leg & Bikini Wax Bio Sculpture Gel Manicure Bio Sculpture Gel Pedicure

Perfect pamper for Mother’s Day!

Seckford Hall Hotel, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 6NU 01394 385678 | reception@seckford.co.uk | www.seckford.co.uk

2 treatments - £65 3 treatments - £105 4 treatments - £145 5 treatments - £185 Saving you up to £25!

Mother ’s Day Lunch 53 Barrack Square Martlesham Heath Ipswich, Suffolk, IP5 3RF

T 01473 623181 E info@hunterhouseclinic.com W www.hunterhouseclinic.com

T&C’s apply. Gift vouchers cannot be purchased for this offer. Valid during March 2017 only

Ufford Park Woodbridge

accompanied by Mr Tim & his Saxophone between 12pm and 4pm

Sunday 26th March

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a delicious lunch in The Park Restaurant and make her feel extra special.

£17.95 for 2 courses

| £21.95 for 3 courses

Children 5-12 years old half price Children under 5 years free

Two sittings available; 12 noon & 2:30pm.

Booking essential.

All Mums will be entered into a FREE prize draw.

Make your Mum feel really loved... ...with a night away, a relaxing treatment and time out in our Thermal Suite Spa.

t 0844 847 9467 (local rate) w www.uffordpark.co.uk 38

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Yarmouth Road | Woodbridge | Suffolk | IP12 1QW

Mothering Sunday

LOVE MUM

Moroccan coin necklace £54 Love One

She’s one-in-a-million and you want to buy your Mum something that really shows how much you care.

Whether it’s the perfect spa treat (see page 37) or one of these beautiful gifts, make sure you shop at your local independent retailer for a present that’s been chosen especially for her

Dante necklace £30 with bracelet £17.50 Caramel

Decadorn semi-precious crystal and 9ct gold plated earrings £38 Love One

One Hundred Stars Moroccan inspired cotton scarf £20 Love One

Pretty You slippers (various colours) £18 Cake & Catwalk

Marzipan double sided scarfs, each is unique, lots of styles and colours from £25 Cake & Catwalk Grey leather and rose gold effect bracelet £18, small heart earrings £6, large heart drop earrings £8, half circle earrings £5 Cake & Catwalk

Pranella scarf £15.95 Moose Lifestyle & Interiors

STOCKISTS Cake & Catwalk 15 St Peter’s Street, Ipswich. T: 01473 235573 www.cakeandcatwalk.co.uk Caramel Snape Maltings. T: 01728 687467 www.caramel-aldeburgh.co.uk Love One 21 St Peter’s Street, Ipswich. E: cathy@loveone.co.uk T: 07711 517787 Moose Interiors 20a Market Hill, Woodbridge. T: 01394 382691

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Business Profile | Rectory Garden Montessori School

MARCH 2017

DEVELOPING INDEPENDENCE AND A LOVE FOR LEARNING

Rectory Garden Montessori School in Melton near Woodbridge is one of only a few schools in Suffolk to be recognised by the Montessori Schools Association as a fully accredited Montessori School

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ectory Garden Montessori School enjoys an enviable position within the picturesque village of Melton, just minutes from Woodbridge and with easy access onto the A12 and Suffolk’s heritage coast. Built in 2009 the property was originally a potting shed and gardens belonging to The Old Rectory but now fully restored with the help of local architects and craftsmen the building situated in an acre of garden with surrounding open countryside where an abundance of wildlife can be seen in its natural habitat.

The school supports the educational principles developed by Dr Maria Montessori; providing an education that is holistic, focusing upon six core areas to support children in understanding what they are learning through associating an abstract concept with a concrete experience. In this way, Montessori children are actually learning, not just memorising, while taking pleasure in their own personal accomplishments.

Rectory Garden is designed to take advantage of children’s early years which Maria Montessori referred as the period of ‘the absorbent mind’ and specified that during this time children have the greatest capacity to learn through absorbing information from their environment. With this in mind the prepared environment at Rectory Garden, offers a place where children are the focus, with all items in the school being scaled to the child’s size, encouraging independence. The design and flow of a Montessori classroom creates a learning environment that accommodates choice; uncluttered spaces, natural 40

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lightening and fascinating objects offer the children complex sensory and intellectual experiences.

Rectory Garden Montessori enjoys two purpose built classrooms that are warm, well-organized, and inviting to help children feel calm and at home.

The Acorn Room for children aged 12 – 30 months: l l

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Provides a safe, engaging and nurturing environment for the child Promotes trust in themselves and their world Develops confidence in their emerging abilities Develops gross motor skills and language skills Offers opportunities to gain independence in daily tasks

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Fosters the growth of functional independence, task persistence and self-regulation Promotes social development through respectful, clear communication and safe, natural consequences Contains a large variety of materials for the refinement of sensory perception and the development of literacy and mathematical understanding Offers opportunities for imaginative exploration leading to confident, creative self-expression

The staff members at Rectory Garden are fully qualified and experienced Montessori teachers and are passionate about Montessori education, seeing the early years as a preparation for life and a foundation for everything which follows. They provide an environment in which children develop on an individual basis guided from within by their natural curiosities and interests. The teaching philosophy is to respect each child as an individual and scaffold their development and progress at a pace appropriate to them. Children move freely throughout the classroom choosing activities that interest them, working either individually, in a small group or with a teacher.

“There is a great sense of community within the Montessori classroom, where children of differing ages work together in an atmosphere of cooperation rather than competitiveness. There is respect for the environment and for the individuals within it, which comes through experience of freedom within the community” Maria Montessori.

The outdoor environment is important in a Montessori school, offering opportunities to engage in the natural world.

Rectory Garden has a large and natural space to use as a second classroom and a place to play. Outdoor equipment in the garden includes a large blackboard, a water tray, a sandpit, a play house, trim trail and a large climbing frame with the children continuing to offer further resource ideas! There is a vegetable patch with raised beds where the children are supported in growing various fruits and vegetables and have even helped to plant a number of fruit trees. The settings wild and uncultivated area continues to flourish each year as wild flowers and grasses are added in order to encourage butterflies and other wildlife to visit the garden.

Exciting News for 2017 Rectory Garden Montessori School are delighted to announce the opening of their new purpose built Acorn Room. This new toddler room will offer a nurturing environment for children aged 12 – 30 months and will follow the Montessori philosophy with supporting resources and materials.

The foundation at Rectory Garden Montessori is that children are encouraged to develop their independence and love for learning which remains with them for life. If you would like to arrange a visit to find out more about how Montessori learning can benefit your child please call 01394 388777.

SESSION TIMES AND FEES from April 2017 Morning session (8am – 12noon)

£28.00

Morning session & lunch (8am – 1pm)

£32.50

Full day (8am – 4pm)

£48.00

If you would like a prospectus or to arrange a visit, please telephone us on 01394 388777 or email learning@rectorygardenmontessori.co.uk we look forward to welcoming you.

After School Hobbies (4pm – 5/5:30pm) £7.00 per hour Fees are calculated on the number of sessions attended each week multiplied by the number of weeks in that term.

Government Funding is available for eligible two, three and four year olds.

We accept Childcare Vouchers.

INFORMATION Rectory Garden Montessori School Old Church Road, Melton, Woodbridge, IP13 6DH 01394 388777 Email: learning@rectorygardenmontessori.co.uk www.rectorygardenmontessori.com

Rectory Garden Montessori School Old Church Road Melton, Woodbridge IP13 6DH

www.rectorygardenmontessori.co.uk

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Garcia print top £48 Ninni Noo Boutique

Lebek peach jumper £59, Lebek scarf £25 Caramel

Pont Neuf natural tunic £85, Dante bracelet £17.50 & necklace £30 Caramel

SOFTLY, SOFTLY Pretty peaches and smooth greys, cool blues and earthy tones bring softness to your spring wardrobe. Ease into the season with these effortless styles from leading independent Suffolk retailers

Fransa pink print top £35 Holly Blue Boutique Grey silk top with embellished sleeves £65 Moose Lifestyle & Interiors

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Lebek peach jumper £59 Lebek scarf £25 Caramel

Fashion

Essential SUFFOLK

always proud ~ to feature ~

LOCAL RETAILERS Yaya knitted wrap top £89.95 Laura Jane Boutique

Part Two Adesina stone top also available in grey, navy and cornflower blue £74.95 Laura Jane Boutique

Silk jersey wrap dress

by DVF £335 Chattertons

Part Two Emilla print top £74.95 Laura Jane Boutique

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MARCH 2017

Yaya soft blue boxy v-neck sweater also available in soft grey and navy £79.95 Laura Jane Boutique

Miss Baron print dress £59.99 Holly Blue Boutique

Part Two Alice II jeans available in a variety of colours £74.95 Laura Jane Boutique Barbara Lebek trousers £72 Barbara Lebek print top £67 Adams Apple

Aztek print top £38 Ninni Noo Boutique

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In Town jeans £54 In Town print top £56 Adams Apple

Ana Alkaza dress £165 Holly Blue Boutique

Fashion

Dante necklace £23 Caramel

Yaya multicolored stripes scarf £29.95 Laura Jane Boutique

Candice Cooper leather camo jungle print trainers £179 Chattertons

STOCKISTS Adams Apple 70 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 384685 Caramel Snape Maltings. T: 01728 687467 www.caramel-aldeburgh.co.uk Chattertons 80 High Street, Southwold & 18 Market Hill, Woodbridge.

T: 01394 385757 www.chattertonshop.co.uk Holly Blue Boutique 72 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 382300 Laura Jane Boutique 89/91 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 386686 Moose Interiors 20a Market Hill, Woodbridge. T: 01394382691 Ninni Noo Boutique 57 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 388655

Lebek light weight waterproof & windproof breathable jacket £129 Caramel

Our entire collection is now under one roof at Snape Maltings

A beautiful collection of unique products... clothing, candles, bags, gifts, A vintage & antique furniture, organic baby clothes and toys...

NEW SPRING AND SUMMER COLLECTION NOW IN

Snape Maltings Snape Suffolk IP17 1SP

01728 687467 www.caramel-aldeburgh.co.uk

20a Market Hill, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 4LU • 01394 382691

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MARCH 2017

TRANSFORM YOUR CONSERVATORY Conservatories have increased the living space for many homes but often are underused as they can become too cold in winter and too hot in summer. Also as you upgrade your home sometimes they no longer seem to fit with the character of your property. If you recognise any of these issues a trusted company, Colourchange UPVC from Rendlesham, can help you

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olourchange UPVC is owned and run by Suffolk man Daryl Collins. Daryl trained as a carpenter and ran a building business for over 30 years and then six years ago started Colourchange which works from their production site at Base Business Park in Rendlesham. Speaking proudly about his work Daryl said “We started the business six years ago specialising in supplying the trade with a colouring service, particularly trims, soffits and fascias. As suppliers of quality windows, doors and conservatories to the public we found a growing demand from homeowners wanting coloured products and extended the services we offer.

Colouring is so popular now, we have so many wonderful properties in this region and are regularly asked to colour, particularly in heritage colours” Daryl continued “This change to colouring has been enabled by new paint bonding technology which now allows homeowners the opportunity to select the colour of their UPVC and aluminium products. Whether windows, doors or conservatories you are no

Business Profile | Colourchange UPVC longer limited to white or the foil wrapped wooden effect finishes that many home owners are now seeing deteriorate over time.”

“One of the great things about our service is that the spraying service is not just limited to new products, the team at Colourchange UPVC also undertake onsite spraying where they colour existing windows, doors and conservatories, transforming local homes. The end result is maintenance free, the painted surfaces are incredibly tough and UV resistant providing a lifelong finish that will only change when you want it to.”

Colouring is only one part of the company’s services though. An increasing amount of their work is now fitting ‘warm roofs’. Daryl explained “ You may have noticed new tiled conservatory roofs are beginning to appear across the county, rather than being a fashion or design statement this is a move towards making a more practical room from existing conservatories. Warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer the conservatory can now be used all year.

BEFORE

Fitted professionally they will not only make your home more practical but can also add value.”

Professional fitting is key though as Daryl expanded. “There are several methods of reroofing an existing structure on the market – the easiest and often cheapest way is simply to wrap a new roof over and under the existing roofing system. This however comes with problems, it can cause condensation due to the lack of suitable insulation methods and is also the most likely to overstress the existing roof and wall structure. Conservatories and porches are traditionally lightweight in nature and not generally designed to carry the weight of a solid roof. Any change requires skilled assessment for suitability and a Building Regulation Application. This is something we handle from beginning to end for our customers. Sometimes we will have to advise that an existing structure isn’t suitable and walk away. Sadly not all suppliers are so thorough so if you are offered this solution, you should ensure the company quoting to do the work can evidence the stability of the structure with the increased loading and satisfy both you and your local authority building control team of its adequacy.”

The Colourchange solution isn’t about encasing your current roof as Daryl told us. “The method we use requires removal of the existing roof and replacing it with a new roof that is supported by a reinforced eaves beam.

This transfers the additional weight either through vertical supports within the existing windows or by new columns

introduced either inside or outside of the structure. All work needs to take into account the foundations and strength of existing structures otherwise you may be left with something that could become a real danger when snow and wind loads are applied to a structure incapable of carrying the additional weight.”

“We are unique in Suffolk in that we supply and install the Supalite tiled roof system. This system has undergone exhaustive testing, design and re-design to arrive at a product for every conservatory roof design and configuration. Our installations involve the complete removal of the existing roof rebuilding to form a guaranteed, solid roof that will protect you. At Colourchange UPVC our aim is to make the process hassle free. We arrange all the building certification and even fit lighting into the new plastered interior leaving you with a fully functioning new room. All our clients need to do is paint the new ceiling!”

For more details you can visit Colourchange UPVC’s website www.colourchangeupvc.co.uk or contact Daryl on 01394 420774

Base Business Park, Unit D4 Rendlesham, Suffolk IP12 2TZ 01394 420 774 sales@colourchangeupvc.co.uk www.colourchangeupvc.co.uk

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Colourchange UPVC are a member of an organisation called Network VEKA, one of the world’s biggest and most forward-thinking window system suppliers who also provide the industry’s leading 10 year insurance backed guarantee. Network VEKA members are committed to exacting standards and achieve around a 97% customer satisfaction rating, compared to the industry’s average of just 83%.

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Health

WINTER SNIFFS AND SNUFFLES Most of us feel lucky if we get through the winter without succumbing to flu, coughs, sore throats, or a cold. The cold weather can create sinus, ear and respiratory problems too. Taking care and staying warm whether at home or travelling, and looking after yourself especially well at this time of year is so important and if you should need specialist help, knowing where to find it SINUS INFECTION The common cold in winter often affects the sinuses and ears and generally leaves you feeling unwell. In many people, these problems usually resolve with simple treatments of analgesia and nasal decongestant. However, recurring sinus and ear infections do require further investigation. Sinus pain can be debilitating including facial pain and headaches.

SO WHY DO PEOPLE SUFFER WITH SINUS PROBLEMS? “People tend to develop more nose and sinus symptoms during the winter because of the greater prevalence of viral infections. They cause inflammation and swelling of the lining of the nose, throat and sinuses,” explains Mr Salam, Consultant Ear, Nose & Throat Surgeon at Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital. “This swelling blocks the drainage to the main sinuses, and patients start developing sinusitis rather than usual colds.” He adds: “When this happens repeatedly, some patients develop chronic sinusitis, which is an inflammation of the sinus lining lasting for several months, and is one of the most commonly diagnosed chronic illnesses. It is caused by infections as well as structural problems leading to blockages of the opening of a sinus, thus preventing draining. Common symptoms include facial pain, nasal congestion, and pressure/ fullness over the forehead and face, difficulty breathing through the nose, and thick infected secretions in the nose and throat. Some patients may also experience tooth pain, loss of smell or taste, tiredness, a sore throat and bad breath.

Medical therapies include steroidal sprays, antibiotics, oral steroids, and nasal douches.”

Such medical therapies are the most frequently used treatments for chronic sinusitis. If these treatments fail, a surgical procedure called endoscopic sinus surgery may be needed. Mr Salam specialises in this type of surgery and explains, “Endoscopic sinus surgery involves removing tissues within the sinuses in order to open the blocked sinus passages and clear polyps disease”. For patients with limited sinus disease, especially frontal sinus, the Balloon Sinoplasty technique can be used which is less invasive than standard sinus surgery with quicker recovery.

EAR INFECTION This can be caused by many factors and can affect either the outer ear or the middle ear. “The outer ear infections can be either bacterial or fungal. Patients complain of pain, itchy or discharging ears. Treatment usually involves cleaning the debris from the ear by suction under the microscope and the use of

antibiotic/steroid or antifungal drops,” explains Mr Salam.

“Middle ear infections can happen after a cold or recurrent throat infection through the Eustachian tube which connects the back of the noses/throat with the middle ear. It is a common condition in young children and often causes earache, high fever, deafness and can end up with glue ears.” Mr Salam adds, “In severe cases, it can result in perforation of the ear drum with ear discharge. It can damage the structures in the middle ear. An Ear, Nose & Throat surgeon should investigate recurring ear infection if not resolved by medical treatment.”

Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital’s experienced ENT Consultants will investigate and diagnose recurring earache, providing treatments using a method that’s right for you. They also specialise in paediatric ENT surgery.

RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS AND ASTHMA Respiratory infections and asthma attacks can typically rise during winter, with the common cold being the cause of asthma flare-ups or attacks. Older people and those with severe asthma who get the flu may be at risk of more serious complications like pneumonia. Exposure to cold dry air is a common asthma trigger as it causes airways to tighten and can quickly lead to severe symptoms. Keep warm if cold air triggers your asthma. Avoid contact with anyone who is unwell and control germs by washing your hands regularly. You can also ask your doctor about a flu vaccination. People with exerciseinduced asthma and who participate in winter sports are especially susceptible. During physical activity, people breathe through their mouths, which allow cold, dry air to reach the lower airways and lungs without passing through the nose, triggering asthma symptoms. Winter also brings cold weather, which keeps you inside, where indoor irritants such as dust mites, pet allergens and smoke can trigger asthma symptoms.

It is important to always consult your GP for advice on any symptoms initially and to discuss referral options.

Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital works with all major insurance companies, although you do not need private medical insurance to access private medical care. At Nuffield Health hospitals you can pay for yourself, and get rapid access to consultation, diagnosis and treatment.

If you would like further information on how to book a private consultation with one of our Consultants, or an appointment with one of our private GPs, contact us on 01473 852 574 or email ipswich.enquiries@nuffieldhealth.com.

Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital provides healthcare services a wide range of specialties including Ear, Nose & Throat and can offer rapid access to experts for advice and treatment. Find out more at www.nuffieldhealth.com/ipswichhospital to get the treatment you need.

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Finance

BEER, BELL RINGING AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Tom Scase of Scrutton Bland looks at how businesses can recruit and retain staff, In a society where instant gratification is becoming the norm and the way we spend our time outside of work is evolving, the challenges facing those aiming to recruit and retain good long-term staff have, perhaps, never been greater.

Take, for example, the local pub. With more and more pubs closing every week, a landlord’s attention has to focus on ways of attempting to reverse this trend. Pubs now have to diversify to survive – hence the increasing popularity of gastropub food, live music nights and pub quizzes: just some of the more recognisable solutions.

A second example is campanology, or bell ringing, which faces fundamental recruitment and retention issues. Learning to ring a set of church bells takes years; unfortunately, fewer and fewer people are demonstrating the requisite time or commitment required. For this art to survive it needs to think outside the box; indeed some bell ringers are now campaigning for their activity to be classified as a sport because it can be competitive and is physically difficult.

These two examples demonstrate a recurring response to issues of recruitment and retention: diversification. In the workplace, the experience is similar: employers who expand

Tom Scase

their employee benefit offerings are likely to see an improvement in recruitment and retention. Furthermore, an employer who is providing a range of employee benefits sends out a clear message, demonstrating their willingness to diversify. While elements such as salary and location are clearly important, the role of employee benefits, as part of a package is becoming increasing valued.

Conventional employee benefits tend to include: • pensions (with auto enrolment this is now a requirement); • life insurance; • income protection; • private medical insurance.

An employer looking to diversify further may offer a flexible benefits platform which enables an employee to shape their package to suit their needs. Additional offerings could include: cash plans, critical illness insurance, sick pay insurance, dental insurance, childcare vouchers, travel insurance, gym membership, cycle to work schemes, dining cards and shopping discounts.

Scrutton Bland’s Employee Benefits team can advise on a wide range of services ranging from Flexible Benefits, Protection, Health and Wellbeing, Financial Education, Pension Consultancy and advice.

Contact eb@scruttonbland.co.uk or call 01223 928065 or see our website www.eb.scruttonbland.co.uk

Specialist Insurance for your home and property from Ryan’s

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contact us today 01473 343 508 ryans.co.uk Ryan’s is a trading name of Ryan Insurance Group Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

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PUB WALKS

Sponsored by

with Darcy

This month we return to one of our favourite parts of the county and two of our favourite pubs as we explore the ‘Inn to Inn’ walk from The Westleton Crown to The Ship at Dunwich and back again

www.christchurchvets.co.uk

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Sandy Lane Farm

PH Remains

DUNWICH Westleton Heath Nature Reserve

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Greyfriars Wood

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WESTLETON 10

Walkbarn Farm 2

Westleton Walks Coastguard Cottages Scotts Hall 3

Regular readers of Essential Suffolk and followers of our ‘Pub Walks with Darcy’ series will no doubt be familiar with both of the pubs we visit this month and will have hopefully explored some of the beautiful countryside surrounding them. If you are yet to try either I can promise you that you are in for a treat. This is the longest route we have offered to date but with a welcome ‘lunch’ option at The Dunwich Ship, and generally easy terrain, the distance really shouldn’t be a deterrent but rather viewed as an enticement to spend a few hours – or so – in some of the best surroundings Suffolk has to offer. Alternatively take up the Crown’s ‘Inn to Inn’ offer detailed opposite and make a real event of it. Although I once lived in Westleton, and thought myself very familiar with the paths and walks around the village, this route took me to areas I had not visited before and now consider some of the finest I have seen. For those of you with a love of wildlife this walk has the added bonus of passing through a landscape where magnificent red deer are a regular sighting so remember to take your camera.

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Saunders’ Hill

Minsmere Nature Reserve

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THE WALK Distance: Approx. 8.5 miles Time: Approx. 31⁄2 to 4 hours (plus midway stop) Terrain: Varied. Paths, quiet country lanes, heathland, grass tracks & woodland.

Stops: The Ship at Dunwich, The Westleton Crown Ordinance Survey Map: Explorer 212/231 Start Point OS reference: 440 689 As always please keep your dog under close control and follow any advisory signs. For a printable version of this and previous walks go to: www.essentialsuffolk.com/dog-walks where you will also find more pictures of each walk route.

ONe Of The mOST ChArmINg INNS ON The SuffOLk COAST • Imaginative menus and wine list • Selection of real ales • 34 stylish bedrooms • Dogs are very welcome

The Westleton Crown to The Ship at Dunwich (Approx. 5 miles) 1. With your back to The Westleton Crown, turn left and follow the pavement before turning left into Mill Street. After a few hundred yards you will see a pair of change of speed signs. After passing these continue on the quiet road for a further approx. 500 yds until you reach a ‘Welcome to Minsmere Nature Reserve’ sign on your right.

2. Take the path to the right of the sign as it rises up through the gorse.

Stay on this path as it skirts a field, keeping the fence & gorse on your right. Go through a ‘kissing’ gate and follow the path as it descends into a wood.

3. After a second ‘kissing’ gate, you will come to a rutted bridleway.

Turn right and follow until you arrive at a house with lions on the gate posts.

4. At the house turn left and follow the road. After a few minutes, and as the road bears right, you will see a footpath going straight ahead; take this path up Saunders Hill. When you reach a road cross over and follow the path straight ahead. Follow the path through two gates (the gates are approx. 10 –15 minutes apart) after the 2nd gate continue until you come to a road.

5. Cross the road and follow the path into the wood. Pass through a gate then pass houses on your right until you reach a road.

6. At the road turn right and follow the path on the edge of the road until the road bears left – follow the private road straight ahead.

Continue until you reach a sign that reads ‘Welcome to Greyfriars Wood’. Turn left behind the wooden gate and follow the path through the woods and past the ruins of Greyfriars monastery until you reach the road. At the road you will see The Ship just ahead of you.

The Street, Westleton, Nr Southwold, Suffolk IP17 3AD 01728 648777 | info@westletoncrown.co.uk

www.westletoncrown.co.uk

a traditional coastal inn Home-cooked food | Well-kept ales Cosy bedrooms, some with views across the sea or marshes Beer garden | Coastal walks | Dogs are very welcome

The Ship at Dunwich to The Westleton Crown (Approx 3.5 miles) 7. With your back to The Ship, turn left and walk down the road towards St James’ Church. Passing the Church, head straight across the junction and onto the bridle path opposite. Follow this path, passing Sandy Lane Farm on your right. Approx. 175 yds after Sandy Farm you will come to a junction, continue straight ahead. Walk for approx. a further 10 minutes until you reach a ‘Welcome to Westleton Heath’ sign.

8. Take the path on your left just before the sign and follow it (passing the parking area on your right) until you reach a hedge that borders the road.Turn left and after approx. 100 yards you will see a gate on the right in the hedge.Take the gate and cross the road going through the ‘kissing’ gate on the other side.

9. Follow the path along the edge of the field, keeping the fence on your right. In the corner of the field you will come to another ‘kissing’ gate.

Go through the gate and follow the path as it crosses Westleton Heath.The path leads you past an old chalk quarry on your right and here take the left fork just past a group of trees. Follow this path until you come to a road after a ‘kissing’ gate.

10. Turn left along the road and after 75 yds turn right onto a footpath.

Pass the barn on your right and follow the avenue of trees onto another part of Westleton Common. Aim to keep the cottage ahead on your left as you pass it leading to a road.Turn right down the road and this will bring you into the village, turn left at the end of the road and you will see The Westleton Crown ahead.

St James Street, Dunwich, Nr Southwold, Suffolk, IP17 3DT 01728 648219 | info@shipatdunwich.co.uk

www.shipatdunwich.co.uk

Inn to Inn break At The Westleton Crown we have put together a perfect break for those who enjoy a little walking while on holiday. Our Inn to Inn break offers two relaxing nights away with a great opportunity to explore this beautiful part of Suffolk on foot.

What’s included?

• 2 night stay with breakfast • Dinner on one of the evenings • Inn to Inn circular walk map • Lunch at our sister inn The Ship at Dunwich • Dogs stay free!

Prices are from £295 per couple for a two night stay with breakfast, dinner on one of the evenings and a £30 lunch voucher to use at The Ship at Dunwich.

This offer is available for stays Sunday to Thursday.

The Inn to Inn break is also available at The Ship at Dunwich with lunch at The Westleton Crown.

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SUITE SUCCESS When life is getting busy we need to remember to hit the pause button from time to time. Lesley Rawlinson visits the five AA gold starred Long Melford Swan to take in the latest developments and enjoy a short break

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’m a great believer in the work-life balance being right. A fulfilling career and a busy schedule bring their own rewards but it’s important to take a little time off now and then to recharge the batteries. Some weeks that might just mean a lazy Sunday afternoon with a book and a large glass of ‘red’ but, when the opportunity arises, there’s nothing like letting someone else do the cooking, washing up and even making the bed for a night or two. Here in Suffolk we’re spoiled with some simply impeccable places to choose from and none more deserving of this accolade than The Swan at Long Melford.

residential property, Duck Cottage, nestling between the two buildings. We had to wait for it to become available but once we knew we could purchase the building the plans just started to flow”.

By extending the rear of the ground floor the building has become an integral part of the whole. While the front of the cottage is home to the new – and surprising – Duck Deli, the extended rear links to the existing Swan restaurant with a brand new Garden Room. Some other modifications of the existing building have also meant that there’s still the opportunity for visitors to view the kitchen but also a private dining room adds a further dimension to the choices for diners.

Its two years since I reported on the glamorous rooms that were added in the next-door-but-one Melford House, taking The Swan from a notable wine bar and restaurant to ‘Boutique Hotel’ status. That first wave of developments meant there were four stunning rooms on offer as well as some subtle improvements to the restaurant and bar.

However, since then momentum from the very talented Stuart Inns team hasn’t been allowed to slow for a second and the latest additions have served to complete The Swan as the must-visit flagship for the group.

The first floor of the former cottage has become one complete suite – just as lavishly styled as the Melford House rooms – and the final stage is the completion of four further luxury rooms above the bar and restaurant. With the increased capacity for overnight guests some clever rearrangement of the seating area in the bar and the addition or armchairs and sofas has meant that guests can now lounge in comfort, at any time and especially pre or post dining, without being seated at their table.

Sales and Marketing Director Lorna Pissarro, part of the dynamic family at the heart of the operation, explained how the latest plans had come about; “Although we had already acquired Melford House there was a lovely

We made our way over to The Swan for our stay on a very cold and dank February afternoon. With the prospect of the countless inviting shops along Hall Street to browse I’d usually be planning an excursion soon after arrival

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but – perhaps due to the weather and the fading light – we were more in ‘hunker down’ mode. Rooms Manager Carrie Chipperfield showed us to The Suite above the deli; immediately a space you wish you could hibernate to.

Comprising main bedroom with swanky free-standing copper bath, separate sitting room with a large flat screen TV and comfy sofa (that converts to a bed for accommodating families) and separate dual-sink bathroom with spacious walk-in drencher shower there’s not a single detail that’s been overlooked. Each room is individually styled and the soft turquoises and greys, mixed and matched with copper and other metallics gives the suite a warm but relaxing aura.

Having unpacked and taken a relaxing bath with a refreshing cup of Novus tea from the well-stocked beverage tray (fresh milk in the room a welcome touch too) it was time to make our way to the bar for some pre-dinner drinks. I was in the mood for a G&T and so rather excitedly surprised to find an artisan gin and tonics menu on offer with interesting gins paired with Fever-Tree tonics My choice – ‘Poetic License’– Northern Dry Gin matched with Indian Tonic and pink grapefruit absolutely hit the spot. Perusing the dinner menu there was the unusual option of ordering canapés so we warmed up our taste buds with a selection of six cleverly created bit-sized treasures including poached Elmsett quail’s egg, Boudin Blanc with

Short Break Review | Long Melford Swan

mushroom ketchup and my favourite a whitebait, lettuce and paprika wrap.

We’d booked a table in the new Garden Room, where the décor has a wonderfully botanic theme. There are Moroccan influences too and with bifold doors to the terrace across the full width I can only imagine that the enticing ambiance will grow even further once the lighter and warmer evenings are with us. The menu choices at The Swan are never dull and I’d decided to start with Scottish King Scallop with air dried pork shoulder, chervil root, mushroom and tarragon and what a treat. Meaty and perfectly cooked the tastes were intense and well balanced. My husband’s Norfolk breast of quail with Moroccan spices, leg confit pastille, apricot and almond became a real talking point as again we compared and discussed the dazzling and powerful flavours.

Essences of my childhood sprang from my main course plate of Felixstowe boneless skate wing complete with suckling pork belly, cockles, sweetcorn, hispi cabbage, caper and smoked butter sauce. Apart from the delightfully artistic presentation this, along with Mr R’s perfectly cooked selection – rump of Lavenham lamb, served to remind us why Suffolk is such a wonderfully foodrich county to live in. But, unusually for us our greatest praises were saved for our desserts. Now stay with me here: Adrian ordered Valrhona chocolate

mousse with honeycomb, pine nut ice cream and Pedro Ximenez jelly which was all declared absolutely divine, with special commendation for the boozy jelly but it was my option of Wigmore cheesecake with pear chutney and cauliflower ice cream – no that’s not a mistake, CAULIFLOWER ice cream – that turned out to be the absolute showstopper. I said the menus were never dull and this was yet another sensational example of how Executive Chef Ollie Macmillan, head chef Tom Bushell and his talented team push the boundaries of our imaginations and take our tastebuds to new destinations. Let’s face it, cauliflower cheese is tried and tested, but they’ve been bold enough to turn it on its head and as far as I’m concerned I can’t get enough!

We took the remains of our bottle of Andeluna 1300 Malbec (simply delicious) to the bar for a relaxing final drink before retiring to the luxury of our room. Maybe it was the afore mentioned indulgences, or maybe the exquisite 6ft super king size Hypnos bed dressed with ultra-soft Egyptian cotton sheets, but I drifted into the arms of Morpheus for a flawless night’s sleep.

Breakfast is usually a simple decision for us, I tend to stick to porridge or eggs and Adrian favours a Full English and so, true to his usual preferences he wasn’t disappointed with his platter of perfectly prepared Suffolk produce served with unusual, but enjoyable, dark

rye toast. However I veered away from the norm, ‘wooed’ by the lesser offered Croque Madame complete with dressed wild rocket. Frankly I didn’t need to eat for the rest of the day. A buttery, sumptuous treat of a luxuriously plump ham and cheese ‘toastie’ topped with an egg – just wow!

Before heading off we couldn’t resist a look around the new Duck Deli. It’s packed full of interesting, unusual and – most importantly – top quality produce from Suffolk, the UK and beyond, carefully curated by Ollie. From the very best French cheeses like the subtle and creamy Delice de Bourgogne or exquisite Brie de Meaux, through to local delicacies including quails eggs, free range hens eggs and Musk sausages, selected teas and coffees, luxury treats and condiments everything has earned its place on the well-stocked shelves and chillers. There are take-away snacks prepared on site, including sandwiches, wraps and Scotch eggs but all can be enjoyed if preferred with a freshly brewed coffee in the ‘hub’ – a purpose created social space complete with free WiFi. And so, emboldened by our ‘cauliflower encounter’ we left with a memorable purchase – a bottle of banana ketchup, we’re assured it’s the future!

INFORMATION Long Melford Swan Long Melford, Suffolk CO10 9JQ 01787 464545 www.longmelfordswan.co.uk

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GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME Adrian Rawlinson visits the Ufford Crown to see the results of the recent bar and function room refurbishment

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any people say that we now live in a world that craves instant gratification. Saving for things we want is, for many, a thing of the past and patience is a commodity in short measure. While at times speed and convenience may help us I still find that the best things in life are those where time, care and thought have been applied. If you can add clear vision, passion and talent so much the better.

The Ufford Crown is a venue where all of the positives of evolution rather than revolution can be witnessed. A truly family affair Max and Polly Durrant, and Polly’s brother Will Hardiman, took over The Ufford Crown in April 2011 and as they approach their sixth anniversary their story is one of organic step-by-step growth and success, through patient planned progress.

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Prior to taking on the pub both Max and Will had successful backgrounds in the world of hospitality. Max had run a number of pubs in London including The Old Bear in Cobham, The House in Islington and The Running Footman in Mayfair. Will also had a London influence on his skills training at Middle Temple Hall before going on to cook at the RAC Club, The Bleeding Heart in Farringdon and Coq d’Argent in Bank. However ten years ago he was keen to return to Suffolk and worked at The Station Hotel in Framlingham for the four years prior to opening The Ufford Crown.

Max and Polly recalled that they opened on the day of Prince William’s wedding after what had been a very quick refurbishment. Max told us”We initially had to put in central heating as it was such a cold pub and a kitchen for Will to

work in – there really was nothing…”

With these first changes it was clear to see that the family’s priorities for the pub had been set. Comfort for the customer and a place where Will could develop the food offering, for which The Ufford Crown has now become famous.

The reputation for great food was quickly established. Will has a strong British French influence in his cooking and although the essence of the food at the Crown is quality rustic pub food the a la carte options show his depth of skill and knowledge and the menu will always have choices to intrigue and delight.

Will constantly looks to develop the food offering and has recently added sushi to the menu. This has proved very popular both for its quality and for its rarity in Suffolk. I certainly cannot think of anywhere else locally that is serving it.

Business Profile | The Ufford Crown It would of course be remiss to talk of Will’s food and not mention his steaks which reportedly have numerous fans and are themselves the reason many people constantly return to the Crown.

Speaking of her brother’s culinary skills Polly told us “Will works hard to develop the flavours of all the dishes he cooks, every ingredient plays its part. Even the caramelised onion gravy to go with the sausage and mash is cooked for six hours – that’s typical of his approach”.

I can vouch that Will’s efforts are not in vain. On our visit my wife and I were treated to a selection of divine dishes.

To start I had one of the most mouthwatering, meaty and moist, warm Scotch eggs I have ever had the pleasure to eat followed by a delicately flavoured and generous prawn curry. meanwhile Lesley had the refreshing crayfish cocktail, and for her main, chose the popular Crown cheese and bacon burger. The simple name however does not come close to describing the indulgent delicious offering that arrived.

A combination of burger and pulled pork, each mouthful was marked by “this is amazing” and ultimately “I think it has beaten me.” I certainly will be returning to take on the ‘challenge’!

The patience that Will demonstrates in the kitchen has been echoed by Max and Polly with the physical development of the pub. As a family business there are no deep corporate pockets to fund changes made on a whim. Improvements have to be paid for and be ones that will make a real difference. Max explained

“While we have been very happy with our progress since opening it was clear that in recent year years the bar had been raised in terms of what diners expected from their surroundings. Our rustic look worked well for us for many years but we wanted to make sure that our décor matched our food offering.

Last January we refurbished our restaurant area which was received with great enthusiasm and now we have just completed the refurbishment of the bar and function room. Local interior designer Jojo Humes-Brown has worked closely with us on both phases and has been a great help and inspiration.”

Having been familiar with the pub before the changes, I can confirm the transformation is impressive. All three sections of the pub – the restaurant, the bar and the function room – now tie beautifully together. Without losing any space for diners extra room has been created in the bar for people who just want to visit for a drink. Polly said “It is important those who just want a drink feel as welcome as those who want to eat.

We are a pub that believes in community spirit and this bar development was important to us” The final area, the function room, as well as being totally redecorated has also been carpeted changing what was before a potentially noisy room into one of soft warm elegance, perfect for a family meal or larger celebration.

The refurbishment has also been the opportunity to add a few nice flourishes of decoration. Pictures by the bar accentuate the name of the pub, gleaming traditional horse brasses displayed in a bespoke modern display case adorn the dining room wall and a selection of impressive wall mounted meat cleavers, inspired by a trip to a New York steak house, greet diners at the restaurant’s reception.

So what is next? Polly told us that with spring approaching the pub’s garden has just been upgraded with new play equipment. “It’s lovely” she added “that it has been completed in time for one of my favourite days of the year when we have an Easter egg hunt for around 60 local children.”

It is great to see this village pub go from strength to strength. If you haven’t visited before make sure you do, it’s really worth it. If you have been before but haven’t seen the changes make the time to do so because as in the words of one of my favourite Beatles songs, it really is “Getting better all the time.”

INFORMATION The Ufford Crown High Street, Ufford IP13 6EL 01394 461030 www.theuffordcrown.com

Interior photographs by Rufus Owen

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The Middleton Bell

Butt & Oyster

The Fox

Set in the beautiful village of Middleton the award winning Value Pub of the Year 2012 Bell Inn offers top quality food using the best local produce at prices that ensure you will want to return again and again. Dine in the garden, traditional bar area or the beamed restaurant and enjoy home cooked food and ales directly from the cask. The Bell is the perfect venue to meet friends and family.

The Butt & Oyster is one of the best known public houses in Suffolk renowned for its good beer, good food and great views.

As you eat watch the changing tides on traditional timeless shores. Understand an artist’s inspiration with Thames barges, swans and the river, enjoying the finest Suffolk ales whilst being tempted by the wonderful aromas which welcome you. See our website for details of our menus.

Imagine a chocolate box style village pub, beaming with pinkness, beautiful tranquil gardens and flowers around the door.

Add a loyal and friendly clientele and great food and you’ll wish you had discovered us sooner. Fine locally sourced food is offered seven days a week, all day at weekends and this is complimented by an ever changing range of guest ales and wines. See our website for details of our menus.

Open: Bar: Monday 6pm to 11pm, Tuesday to Friday – Lunch, 12 noon to 3pm, Evening, 6pm to 11pm, Saturday: 12 noon – midnight. Sunday: 12 noon to 10.30pm Food served Tuesday – Sunday Booking advisable please call for details

Open: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 11pm.

Sunday, 12pm to 10.30pm Food served 7 days a week

Open: Monday to Saturday 11am to 11pm Sunday 12 noon to 10.30pm Food served 7 days a week

Pin Mill, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 1JW

The Street, Newbourne, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4NY

01728 648286

01473 780764 buttandoyster@debeninns.co.uk www.debeninns.co.uk

01473 736307 fox@debeninns.co.uk www.debeninns.co.uk

The Coach & Horses

The Fountain

Sibton White Horse

The Coach & Horses located just outside of Woodbridge, has extremely good access to the A12 with ample parking. Originally a staging inn or coach house, it’s historical role is equally well served today providing great family food. We offer a great combination of quality, value and atmosphere that the Deben Inns are renowned for. See our website for details of our menus.

Located in the lovely old village of Tuddenham St Martin, three miles north of Ipswich, informal bistro style restaurant set in an oldie worldy 16th century country pub with great food, great service and great value.

Full A La Carte menu plus set price menus; two courses £14.95, three courses £17.95.

Current specials always included on the website. Sunday lunch served 12 noon to 7pm. Covered heated patio and spacious beer garden.

A 16th century unspoilt destination inn set in the heart of the Suffolk countryside. Into our tenth year and our passion for providing a wonderful dining experience goes on.

Relax with a local pint of ale or glass of wine whist absorbing the character of such a charming building or spill out into the sheltered courtyard and indulge in some of the finest alfresco. With an AA Rosette our menu is thoughtfully crafted and built upon local and seasonal ingredients. We offer an easy and relaxed service, grounded in the tradition of the English inn.

Open: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 11pm Sunday, 12 noon to 10.30pm Food served 7 days a week

Open: Monday to Friday, 12 noon to 2pm and 6pm to 9pm. Saturday, 12 noon to 2pm and 6pm to 9.30pm. Sunday, 12pm to 7pm

Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1PD

The Street, Tuddenham St. Martin, IP6 9BT

Open: 12pm to 2.30pm Tuesday to Saturday, 6.30pm to 11pm Monday to Saturday 12pm to 3pm, 6.45pm to 10.30pm Sunday Halesworth Road, Sibton, Nr. Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 2JJ

01394 384851 coachandhorses@debeninns.co.uk www.debeninns.co.uk

01473 785377 fountainpub@btconnect.com www.tuddenhamfountain.co.uk

01728 660337 info@sibtonwhitehorseinn.co.uk www.sibtonwhitehorseinn.co.uk

The Street, Middleton, Suffolk, IP17 3NN

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Food Gallery

Ufford Park Open every day,The Park Restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere, local produce and have a seasonally-changing menu. Mother’s Day will soon be upon us and why not celebrate with a delicious 2 or 3 course lunch in The Park Restaurant. We have two sittings available; 12pm and 2:30pm and local saxophonist, Mr Tim, will be playing between 12pm and 4pm. For something a little different, why not celebrate Mum’s special day with Afternoon Tea priced at just £15.95 per person. All party sizes can be accommodated. Open to all; non-members welcome.

Open: Monday to Sunday 6.30pm to 9.30pm Sunday Lunch in The Park Restaurant served 12 noon – 2pm Yarmouth Road, Melton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 1QW

The Artisan Smokehouse Café & Deli Set in the lovely village of Falkenham, near Felixstowe, with wonderful countryside views. Join us in our licensed café, where all the smoked foods are hand-made on site.

Enjoy breakfast, coffee & cake, and light meals including smoked meat and fish platters, cheese boards, sandwiches and salads.

While you’re here why not grab something to take home from our deli, which stocks a wide range of products, including our own award-winning smoked foods.

The Turks Head At The Turk’s Head we serve local ales, fantastic wines & beautifully executed food using the abundance of local produce Suffolk has to offer. We have launched a set lunch menu from Monday to Friday, £15 for two courses, £18 for three. We are hosting our next ‘Supper and Quiz Night’ on 15th March. We will be hosting our second ‘Beer, Cider and Gin Festival’ from 28th to 30th April. Dogs, muddy boots and muddy children Welcome.

Open: Thursday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm.

Please see website for variations in opening.

Food served all day – breakfast until 11.30am.

Open: Monday to Thursday 11am to 11pm, Friday to Saturday 11am to 12am, Sunday 11am to 8pm

Goose Barn, Back Road, Falkenham, IP10 0QR

Low Road, Hasketon, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 6JG

0844 847 9467 reception@uffordpark.co.uk www.uffordpark.co.uk

01394 448414 info@artisansmokehouse.co.uk www.artisansmokehouse.co.uk

01394 610343 info@theturksheadhasketon.co.uk www.theturksheadhasketon.co.uk

The Maybush

Seckford Hall

Fynn Valley

1530 Restaurant

The Maybush Inn sits on the banks of the Deben in Waldringfield. The busy riverside pub and restaurant affords panoramic views across the river and beyond. The Maybush has become famous for its excellent food offering with a wide range and varied menu including local game, meats and fresh seafood.

Vegetarian options and children’s menu available. Food offers are available throughout the week. See our website for details.

Perfect for business or pleasure, the talented team of chefs at Seckford Hall turn local produce into mouth-watering dishes, with seasonally changing menus. The philosophy of 1530 is to offer the freshest food, cooked simply and beautifully presented, in a classic style at reasonable prices. Visit this spring to enjoy a memorable meal and experience the tradition, history and good taste at 1530.

Open: Monday to Saturday 11am to 11pm Sunday 12 noon to 10.30pm Food served 7 days a week

Open: Lunch: A la carte 12pm – 2pm daily.

Afternoon Tea: served 3pm – 5pm daily.

Bar: Tudor Bar menu served 12pm – 6pm daily. Dinner: A la carte Sun to Thurs 6.30pm – 9.30pm, Fri and Sat 6.30pm –10pm

Cliff Road, Waldringfield, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP12 4QL

Seckford Hall Hotel, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 6NU

Fynn Valley Golf Club, Witnesham, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP6 9JA

01473 736215 maybush@debeninns.co.uk www.debeninns.co.uk

01394 385678 reception@seckford.co.uk www.seckford.co.uk

01473 785202 restaurant@fynn-valley.co.uk www.fynn-valley.co.uk

Open to everyone, not just golfers, this is the place you bring your family and friends for a wide range of tempting meals prepared by our talented chefs. Enjoy a home made bar meal or daily special in the cosy Courtyard Bar, utilising great local produce. Al fresco dining in the sheltered Courtyard is a popular option. Sunday Lunches are served in The Terrace overlooking the golf course, all freshly roasted on the day and children eat free!

The spacious Valley Room is perfect for large family celebrations. Full details of our menus and offers can be found on our website.

Open: Open every lunchtime and Tuesday – Saturday evenings.

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GET FLASH IN YOUR PAN Jamie Emsden, head chef at The Maybush in Waldringfield, shares a recipe that is as delicious as it is quick to cook

Photograph by Adrian Rawlinson

Chef’s Recipe | The Maybush

Jamie Emsden has been head chef at The Maybush in Waldringfield for the last three years but has actually worked there for the last 15 years. He originally started as a porter and worked his way through the kitchen becoming sous chef and

ultimately to his current role. Little did he know on that first day of the bond he would build with one of Suffolk’s most beautifully positioned and busiest pubs. If you are unfamiliar with The Maybush it is situated on the banks of the River Deben in the picturesque village of Waldringfield and is a year round destination for lovers of great food and beautiful views.

At the height of summer Jamie told us that his team can serve up to 700 a la carte meals a day, all cooked from fresh and all delivered promptly to diners. This he acknowledges is a feat few other venues come close to matching and puts their continued success and popularity down to a great settled team and a varied menu of fresh seasonal ingredients designed to deliver what customers love. Unsurprisingly, being by the river, fish forms a large part of the menu and the recipe he has shared is a great example of the food he loves to serve using quality ingredients to create a dish that is a delight to eat but quick to prepare. Jamie believes this is a perfect dish for you to impress your family and friends without having to spend hours slaving over a stove. Enjoy!

Pan fried sea bream – sautéed new potatoes, chorizo, roasted tomatoes, tender stem broccoli & pesto dressing INGREDIENTS Serves 2

METHOD

2 Large seabream fillets boned and scaled 450g new potatoes (halved/quartered) 100g chorizo stick (diced) 200g baby vine tomatoes 150g tender stem broccoli Olive oil Lemon Salt and pepper Micro herbs (optional)

1. For the pesto; place all the ingredients into a food processer until smooth and season to taste (shop bought works fine).

2. Par boil the halved or quartered potatoes, in a large saucepan of lightly salted water for about 6 – 8minutes. Drain well and set aside (you can par boil the potatoes ahead of time).

3. Heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a deep frying pan over a medium heat add the drained potatoes, toss in the olive oil and cook for 10 –15 minutes turning occasionally, until golden and tender.

4. Pre heat oven to 200°C (180°C fan) drizzle the tomatoes with olive oil, season and roast for 6 – 7 minutes.

5. In separate large pan, bring salted water to the boil, trim off any hard ends from the broccoli stalks and blanche the broccoli for 3 – 4 minutes.

6. Add the diced chorizo to the potatoes, turn heat to low and cook for a further 3 minutes.

For the pesto 80g basil 50g pine nuts (toasted) 50g Parmesan shavings 175 ml olive oil 2 large garlic cloves (crushed)

For the garnish

For the seabream 1. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat, season the fish with salt and pepper on both sides and place in the pan skin side down.

2. Fry the fish for 2 – 3 minutes or until the skin is crisp and golden-brown, turn the fish and continue to cook for 1 – 2 minutes or until the fish is cooked through.

3. Dress your plate with the pesto and serve as shown in the photograph .

Dine by the beautiful River Deben

The

Maybush Waldringfield

Visit The Maybush and dine by the beautiful River Deben. Whatever the weather the Maybush offers spectacular views and excellent food with a wide and varied menu of locally sourced seasonal dishes and plenty of fresh seafood. Open all day every day with food served from 9.00am to 9.30pm why not join us for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Cliff Road Waldringfield, IP12 4QL 01473 736215 debeninns.co.uk/maybush

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MARCH 2017

When the owners of a Grade II listed pub at Upper Layham, near Hadleigh in Suffolk, appointed interior designers Rendall & Wright to work with architect Robert Keeble (KLH Architects) the building had been standing empty for years and was badly damaged both inside and out. With a brief to redesign and renovate The Marquis, including the creation of a new kitchen, dining rooms and hotel bedrooms Lindsey Rendall and Helen Wright’s talents, experience and local knowledge and connections would all be called on to achieve stunning results. Essential Suffolk finds out more

& IT’S ALL IN THE DETAIL Rendall Wright

engage with the building and have a greater understanding of where they are”.

Once planning approval was obtained building work swiftly commenced under the watchful eye of Rowland Cheeseman and his team from R. Cheeseman Property Ltd. A handmade solid oak frame, made by Suffolk Timber Frame Buildings, now links the old and new parts of the building giving a really strong internal structure to the new restaurant that needed to be carefully considered and sympathetically worked with to make the very most of its beauty. “I felt the beams needed to take centre stage, especially in the new dining room where the oak structure gives form to the space and as a result functionally divides the room into zoned areas” Lindsey commented.

L

indsey Rendall’s extraordinary talent for interior design, teamed with Helen Wright’s sensitive and seamless project management skills have ensured this pair are in high demand.

Having recently completed the renovation of a six bedroomed house in Southwold they’re currently working on another large family home in Aldeburgh as well as a second ‘wave’ of exclusive show-homes for leading East Anglian developer Hopkins Homes. In June last year Lindsey was elected as a director of the British Institute of Interior Design as well as continuing to chair their student board, working with University course leaders and sharing her wealth of knowledge with students. So finding time to pin these busy and gifted ladies down, to talk about their achievements, felt like an achievement in itself.

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December 2016 saw the completion of a major project for Rendall & Wright that provides an exciting showcase for their trademark results. “As with every project I am inspired by the building itself,” says designer, Lindsey Rendall “how it feels, the way the light effects each room and the natural landscape surrounding the property”. The Marquis is set in the beautiful Brett Valley and the location certainly provided ample stimulation but what Lindsey really wanted to achieve was a complete sensory overload for every visitor. “As well as the tastes and aromas of wonderful food and drink, and the background buzz of music and activity, I want each person that comes through the doors not just to feel visually stimulated by my designs but compelled to reach out and touch the surfaces,

“I wanted the building to feel like you are in the countryside it’s set in” she added and so, as the wool trade holds so much historical local significance she used this beautiful and versatile natural cloth as a primary feature within the soft furnishings, adding other natural fabrics such as leathers, linens, silks and velvets to layer texture into the schemes. The colour palette was taken from the view standing on the terrace and carefully incorporated into every room.

To compliment the fabric textures Lindsey turned to a range of natural materials for the hard surfaces; copper, marble, bronze and glass feature repeatedly thought the building. “I like to use a few simple materials and then repeat them to achieve elegant continuity.

I wanted the building to feel handcrafted rather than machine made” and that’s

Business Profile | Rendall & Wright

exactly what has been achieved. Working with a portfolio of local craftsmen wherever possible the finished results feel sympathetic but unpredictable.

Many of the products used were made within a ten mile radius of the building including bespoke wine cellar furniture, made to Lindsey’s specifications to ensure function, form and all important air-circulation, from Thorington Joinery.

Their talents were also used to beautifully execute her designs for the new staircase, bathroom vanity units, reception furniture and more.

Echoing her teenage years working in a few Suffolk pubs where the interiors were laden with requisite horse brasses, the bars are a playful homage to the materials used. The restaurant bar features brown leather with a brass strapping detail and the pub bar is made from fluted brass which will develop a beautiful patina over time. Both are topped with Carrara Marble, a traditional stone often used in kitchens. “I wanted the pub bar to have a sophisticated, feminine feel about it.

The heavy beams make the room quite dark which gives a hard edge to the space, but the curves of the brass (manufactured by Cantilever Bars) with antiqued mirror behind the bar and the rounded glass pendant lights evoke a sense 1930’s cocktail bar glamour to the space” Lindsey explained. “I also sourced almost all the decorative lighting and some joinery hardware from Jim Lawrence (Hadleigh) and the handmade bricks were from another local company, Bulmer Brick, with the railings and gate posts handmade by a local forge, Barking Engineering.”

Even the kitchen has been designed to be on show from the restaurant. In the client’s brief he’d specified that he didn’t want the first guests sitting in the restaurant of an evening to feel like they were sitting in an empty room and so a view to the action in the kitchen means there is always something to watch and engage with. It’s been designed to feel like a continuation of the dining room rather than a sterile white space with finishes reflecting the adjoining area.

Perhaps the most surprising element of this project was the time spent working on site with artist Gary Cedeira to capture the view from the restaurant over the valley and the resulting landscapes hung throughout the building reflect the textures and colour palette used. Another local artist Louisa Tebbutt has also produced a fun series of miniature pencil sketches depicting countryside pursuits for the bar and lounge that Rendall & Wright were particularly keen to include. “It’s been such a joy to work with so many local people” added Helen “one of the tradesmen involved had even had his wedding reception at the pub many years ago and it has been a real pleasure and privilege to work on a building steeped in so much history and integral to the lives of the people on the community”.

Helen’s trademark attention to detail oversees the co-ordination and the production of all the furniture, lighting, soft furnishings and accessories. Under her watchful eye no detail is left unattended and the bedrooms were fully equipped with luxurious bedding,

coffee machines, hairdryers, elegant glass jars to contain handmade treats and bathrooms accessorised with beautiful toiletries and robes.

But their remit doesn’t stop with the interior. Rendall & Wright’s vision was for the garden design to link to the building providing external dining rooms with views of the river. They worked with designer Paul Baines to create a garden which had a contemporary structure and formality to it whilst using traditional country garden style plants in the beds. Further from the building, towards the river, the gardens become less formal to reflect the open countryside beyond with pale stone slabs chosen for the terraces that also run through into the entrance hall to link the spaces together, providing a seamless journey for visitors from the carpark to the reception desk.

As a finishing touch Helen and Lindsey even dressed the building ready for its Christmas festivities completing yet another very successful project from Rendall & Wright.

INFORMATION Rendall & Wright 01787 375076 www.rendallandwright.com

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Orwells Furniture

KITCHEN inspiration

Vale Designs 62

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Is 2017 the year of the new kitchen for you? We’ve chosen some of the bold, bespoke, traditional and modern designs on offer from leading local retailers to get you thinking

Samuel David Construction Ltd

Homes & Interiors

Anglia Factors

Neptune

Wren Kitchens

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Woodbridge Interiors

Kitchens

Bathrooms

German kitchen furniture | Corian | Caesarstone | Miele | Neiff

Villeroy & Boch bathrooms | Hansgrohe | Matki | Aqata | Keuco

2 A1 A12 A12

WOODBRIDGE

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01394 386390 www.woodbridgeinteriors.co.uk

WOO MELTON DS L N

LD FIE ITH SM

A1152

A1 15 2

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WOODBRIDGE INTERIORS

KITCHEN & BATHROOM SPECIALISTS

KITCHEN & BATHROOM SHOWROOM SMITHFIELD, MELTON RD, WOODBRIDGE IP12 1NG

Homes & Interiors

CLEVER IDEAS

Drawer dividers are an absolute must and not just for shallow, utensil drawers. Organising deep drawers into compartments helps to keep your cookware in good condition, preventing baking trays and boards from warping and keeping ceramics scratch and chip free. This clever solution from Orwells also integrates a knife block for ultimate safe handling.

Interchangeable storage railing (from Woodbridge Interiors) is a space saving way to create places for utensils and accessories that you need to keep close to hand. The system is completely flexible giving you ultimate say on your bespoke configuration.

Door-back storage really helps you make the most of your cupboard space. This example from the Henley range by Neptune is the perfect way to ensure smaller items can be easily found rather then lost behind larger contents.

The Bamix Hand Held Food Processor really is the machine for all jobs. It’s a premium quality hand blender and a great addition to a healthy kitchen. It will blend, chop, whip and grind flawlessly. We found it in stock at The Woodbridge Kitchen Company for £130.

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Homes & Interiors

Davonport Handmade Kitchens

Essential FIND

Vale Designs

Our friends at Woodbridge Interiors have brought a really clever solution to our attention and surely a ‘must consider’ feature for any future-proof kitchen. It’s a way to power up your smartphones and tablets without wires or cords – simply by laying them on the kitchen counter.

The new Corian® charging surface is very convenient and comes in an array of design options. It’s durable, stain resistant, easy-to-clean and every colour and pattern of Corian® is available for wireless charging integration. So – how does it power up? Just below the Corian® Charging Surface, a transmitter transfers energy wirelessly to a receiver within, or attached to, your smart device. Plus, the surface is smart – charging stops when your device has reached maximum battery capacity. It’s the ideal solution for homes, especially kitchens and bathrooms.

INFORMATION Woodbridge Interiors, Smithfield, Melton Road, Woodbridge 01394 386390 www.woodbridgeinteriors.co.uk

Debenvale

Essential SUFFOLK

always proud ~ to feature ~

LOCAL RETAILERS

STOCKISTS Anglia Factors 34 Gloster Road, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich. T: 01473 610192 www.angliafactors.co.uk Davonport Handmade Kitchens Peartree Road, Stanway, Colchester. T: 01206 760800 www.davonport.com Debenvale The Granary, Rendlesham Mews, Rendlesham. T: 01394 421214 www.debenvale.com Neptune 43 – 45 St Andrew’s St South, Bury St Edmunds. T: 01284 731025 www.neptuneburystedmunds.com Orwells Furniture 497 – 499 Wherstead Road, Ipswich. T: 01473 680091 www.orwellsfurniture.co.uk Samuel David Construction Ltd 1 Quayside, Woodbridge. T: 01394 766837 / 07889 129746 www.samueldavidconstruction.co.uk Vale Designs The Workshop, Forge Cottages, Thorpe Road, Aldringham. T: 01728 830581 www.valedesigns.co.uk Woodbridge Interiors Smithfield, Melton Road, Woodbridge. T: 01394 386390 www.woodbridgeinteriors.co.uk The Woodbridge Kitchen Company 5 – 7 Thoroughfare, Woodbridge. T: 01394 382091 www.woodbridgekitchencompany.co.uk Wren Kitchens Ransomes Europark, Ipswich. T: 01473 353105 www.wrenkitchens.com/showrooms/ipswich 66

essentialsuffolk.com

Antiques & Auctions

WOOD YOU BELIEVE IT! Mere men would be hard pressed to imagine the time when the value of the wardrobe exceeded the value of the contents. Imelda Marcos springs to mind.

Well, in a recent auction the unthinkable was achieved when over six minutes of bidding between combatants in the Saleroom and online resulted in a staggering figure of £18,000 being achieved for a Chinese wardrobe.

Why? I hear you think. Well it turned out to be all in the wood and, of equal importance, from where the wood had been sourced.

This piece was certainly not glitzy or large. It had a pair of doors which were elegantly, but not spectacularly, carved within panels at the top and flanked a

James Neal

circular lock plate which was pleasingly shaped and had engraved decoration matching the hinges. These were surface mounted and pinned and one of the hinges was ‘detached’.

The shaped apron at the base of the wardrobe linking the plain feet was also carved, this time with two dragons in a face-off! This carving was in contrast to the serenity of the landscape scenes and figures which adorned the doors.

of hardwoods. If sourced from China, probably from Hainan, an island beyond the mainland’s southern coast, it would be regarded as the best of the best. The purchaser advised me that the timber is now only available in Vietnam and is of inferior quality.

The key to the value of the object was in the wood. The darker panels of the wardrobe were similar in appearance to rosewood, while the surrounding timber was more honey coloured.

The irony of the story is that the late owner of the piece and his daughter, who lived in the Far East and had a splendid eye for oriental furniture, always wanted to find a piece made from huanghulai. It turned out that it was there in front of them, in the sitting room of her father’s home, with the doors unattached and the interior crammed full with other treasures.

This piece was made from huanghulai, regarded by the Chinese as the pinnacle

The last part of that preceding sentence is something I have seen and believe!

25% OFF Hypnos Orthocare 8 4’6” Divan Set WAS £1,188.00 NOW £891.00

Barretts of Woodbridge

£861.00 if we dispose of your old bed!

THE GREAT BARRETTS BED TRADE-IN Save an extra £30 on your new bed when we dispose of your old one! (usually costs £25)

Treat yourself to a new bed from one of our top-of-the-range manufacturers including Hypnos, Dunlopillo and Reylon

www.barretts.co.uk 40 The Thoroughfare, Woodbridge IP12 1AL 01394 384300 | sales@barretts.co.uk Free customer car park

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07970 100073

david@gardendesignsuffolk.com

gardendesignsuffolk.com

Business Profile | David Forestier-Walker Landscape and Garden Design

BEAUTIFUL GARDENS letting the materials lead the design

If you are planning a redesign of your outside space or garden it may seem like there’s a bewildering array of options available.

However, award-winning Suffolk-based garden designer, David Forestier-Walker believes that letting your landscaping materials influence your design can lead to a more creative, more sympathetic and beautiful end result.

David, who has worked across the world on projects that have ranged from parklands to small city gardens, says that this approach is particularly suited in the countryside and in Suffolk.

“Out here the properties are more likely to have been in one family for several generations, there’s a real love of the garden and the land and because of that a real need to be empathetic with the house and the landscape.”

So for instance at a property near Woodbridge (pictured) the owners wanted to develop a garden that helped disguise a new extension and make the most of its setting and natural countryside views, so asked for David’s help.

The farmhouse is in a handsome open grassy setting with trees. It was surrounded by an exquisite meadow luxuriant in wild flowers including fritillaries and wild orchids. The garden is bounded by a stream, has a number of natural springs and looks over a

traditional Suffolk scene that includes mature woodland of willows and poplars.

David felt there was a need to anchor the property within the landscape. “I found some wonderful old York stone in a reclamation yard which I felt would be perfect, because it was softened and weathered. I showed it to the client and they agreed with me.”

So David used this stone to create a terrace that stretches around two sides of the house and devised a soft planting scheme in pinks, purples, whites and greens.

Plants included Iris ‘Jane Phillips’, Rosa ‘Eglantyne’ (soft pink, longflowering), Rosa ‘Iceberg’ (snow white, equally long-flowering (9 months this last year), Nepeta ‘Walker’s low’ (a billowy hybrid of Catmint), Convolvulus cneorum (clean, silver-grey leaves), Campanula percisifolia alba (delicate, tall, white), Rosemary ‘benenden blue’ (a manageable-size cultivar), Alchemilla mollis (‘Lady’s Mantle’) and Rosa ‘The New iDawn’ (reliable climber, endlessly flowering, lovely glossy leaves).

The terrace now leads down to the meadow around the house and he feels the two elements of the garden work very well together. “It actually looks as if the terrace has been there for ever.”

He said that the second part of the project was at the front of the house where there was a smaller budget but to

keep the right feel the scheme used oak in combination with a strong planting scheme – the client requested Hydrangea Aborescens in white which was combined with Anemone September Charm.

The client was thrilled with the result. “I did not know anything about plants but I knew what I wanted the end result to look like and the colours too,” she says.

“We wanted it to be wild and natural but also to be tamed and David perfectly understood and was brilliant with the design.

“The house is mainly 17th century but we have just had a new extension and from the outside we wanted it be softened and he has done that brilliantly not just with the stone but with the planting too.”

David has won top awards not just at Chelsea but at the Asian Property Awards and his landscape and garden design business is based in Suffolk and London.

He believes that garden design should involve the client at every stage and says, “It’s my responsibility to leave the client with something they are proud of and can enjoy for many years.”

INFORMATION David Forestier-Walker Landscape & Garden Design Telephone: 07970 100073 gardendesignsuffolk.com

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MARCH 2017

EXPLOSION OF COLOUR Get your dancing shoes on. Monochrome is out – banished by the flowering of the first spring bulbs writes Catharine Howard

T

hey fill the season with colour, scent and exotic allure as perennials and shrubs begin to stir their roots in lazy fashion. Bulbs are opportunists. Most come from the far Eastern end of the Mediterranean, from rocky scree where early snow melt gives a source of water before summer drought. The busting into leaf and flower comes from energy supplied by a modified root and shoot system stored in their fleshy cells. Photosynthesis and pollination accomplished, they retreat below ground before a hungry goat munches them.

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This retreat into dormancy means they are easy to transport and so it was that the Dutch fully exploited this market in the late 16th Century. They raised their economic horizon beyond the herring harvest and whaling to world exploration. Bulbs would be heaved into the hold on the return leg of a trading voyage.

The bulb market was a pretty new thing then. In the early part of the century, the Turks had besieged Vienna. European potentates were keen to engage in diplomacy with the Sultan at the

Topkapi Palace and en route there, the ambassador for the Holy Roman Emperor saw glistering fields of native flowering bulbs. At the palace itself, a total love affair with tulips was on show – omnipresent on wall and floor tiles, etched in glass and carved on furniture.

At flowering time there was a festival, hundreds of tortoises with candles on their shells ambling amongst the tulips.

The mania for tulips, once they reached the European market, is well recorded; one bulb reaching the price of a mansion in Amsterdam. When the

Gardening

bubble burst in the 17th Century, the Dutch hung on to the growing, breeding, hybridising and exportation of these plants. When I first started gardening, I worked for a giant Father Christmas of a Dutchman, pipe smoking and clog wearing, who had come to England as a bulb sales rep.

nervous of its popularity; the website boasts one million visitors per annum (all squeezed into bulb time). And by the way, this at 18 euros a head is a complete marketing triumph for the top 100 bulb companies who are just showing off their wares.

It being our first Bulb holiday, we started gently. Our first port of call, the Hortus Bulborum, in the lee of the church of Limmen – a small village which gives the side bonus of horticultural snooping in front

This and the dizzying harlequin pictures of the Keukenhoff Gardens lured me and some friends to visit The Netherlands. This garden is Holland’s Eiffel Tower – we were a little

gardens. The Hortus is a charity. Its mission to save old varieties from extinction. A look at a bulb catalogue shows the furiously busy breeding programme for tulips. So many new types condemn the unfashionable to extinction. 90 percent of the tulips at the Hortus, growing in the tidy rows staked out in front of the graveyard, are no longer available on the open market.

There are metres and metres of highly scented hyacinths that look more like bluebells than the stumpy drumsticks we now grow. And as for the narcissi, ‰

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Elmers Hardware | 59-61 Edmonton Road | Kesgrave | Suffolk | 01473 623381 | www.elmershardware.co.uk

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MARCH 2017

Gardening

this is the place to pick out that perfect daffodil for the exact subtle colour shade and complement of leaves. Strictly uncommercial, we had the collection of 4,000 bulbs pretty much to ourselves.

Keukenhoff is only one hour on. We parked in one of those heart-sinkingly large carparks and joined a human tide towards the oompapa band. But we were denied the snooty satisfaction of disappointment. Forget the seven million bulbs on display (seven for each person). The display boggled our eyes and our minds. Flowering bulbs run in a liquid flow of curving, undulating colour beneath trees, up slope and down.

Sometimes pouring out of buildings.

Sinuous, jaunty and eye searing in colours. Every bed is labelled so drool and desire can lead to acquisition.

Then when you have seen enough beds of hyacinths glissading into narcissi or two tone tulips aplenty, the next surprise is in the co planting of different bulbs.

The more intricate like a detail from a medieval tapestry. The simplest recipe had yellow imperial fritillary with a tulip called Blue Diamond (actually pink rather than blue). Others resembled a jazzy take on dolly mixture, however my heart was stolen by a rendition in white, blue and purple including of anemones, grape hyacinths and 10 types of tulips.

Keukenhoff on-line will tell you the recipe mixture to the square metre. I rendered my five square into a Vanity Keukenhoff project, town garden size.

Experiments always allure, but this time it feels like I have dressed a bit of the garden for a ball when it is actually going to a barn dance.

INFORMATION Catharine Howard is a Suffolk-based gardening writer and designer. www.catharinehoward.co.uk

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Property

Essential

PROPERTY 74 75 77 79 80 81 83 84 92

Mortimers Fenn Wright Clarke & Simpson Flick & Son Castle Estates Savills Neals Jackson-Stops & Staff Hopkins Homes

76 Hasketon

78 Parham

82 Walberswick EssentialSUFFOLK

73

1%

No VAT No sAle, No fee.

No up froNT fees.

No Tie iN period.

£895,000

Woodbridge

An elegant four bedroom Georgian town house which occupies a prime position within the town centre. e property is presented in immaculate condition and benefits from a good sized garden with a garage, car port and private pedestrian access directly on to e Market Square. An early internal viewing is highly recommended EPC:N/A

Guide Price £635,000

old Martlesham

A tastefully modernised and extended four bedroom detached contemporary style property which has the ‘wow’ factor. e property benefits from UPVC double glazing, Gas c/h, detached double garage and workshop. EPC:C

Melton

Woodbridge

£295,000

Melton EPC:TBC

£395,000

Guide Price 425,000

A spacious Grade II listed town house in the centre of Woodbridge. e property is in need of general modernisation, but has great potential. Courtyard garden. Early viewings Advised. EPC:N/A

Guide Price £950,000

Woodbridge

A charming Grade II* listed town house in the centre of Woodbridge with views from the top floor of the river Deben. e property has been tastefully refurbished throughout and now provides spacious family accommodation. Courtyard, private secure parking and secret garden with electric gate. EPC:N/A

Guide Price £450,000

Woodbridge

A rare opportunity to acquire a three bedroom detached bungalow in the very sought-aer area of rough Duncans. e property benefits from an extra large garden EPC:D

Melton EPC:D

£315,000

Woodbridge

£425,000

Be seen in our newly refurbished office in Church street, Woodbridge and our associated park lane, london office. Call for a free valuation on 01394 386688

01394 386688 | info@mortimersestateagents.co.uk www.mortimersestateagents.co.uk

Christchurch Park

Trimley St Martin

A well-presented detached family home offering spacious and versatile accommodation benefitting from a beautifully landscaped garden and panoramic field views to the front.

A beautifully designed family home tucked away down a private road close to Christchurch Park and within a short walk to Ipswich School.

Guide Price £530,000

• Stunning open plan living • 3 reception rooms • Bespoke fitted Orwell kitchen • Master bedroom suite • Guest bedroom with ensuite • 3 further double bedrooms • Double garage • Ample off road parking • Short walk to Christchurch Park • EPC Rating C

Christchurch Park

Guide Price £895,000

Raydon An imposing Grade II Listed residence boasting many period features and well-planned accommodation over three floors plus cellars and extends to over 4,000 sq. ft incorporating a two bedroom self-contained apartment.

A detached character cottage in need of refurbishment and offers superb potential and opportunity with a 2,762 sq. ft. timber framed barn which could be converted for residential use, subject to planning permission.

Guide Price £685,000

• 3 bedrooms • Family bathroom • Kitchen, sitting room • Utility & boot room • Kennels & cattery • Range of outbuildings • 3.4 acres • Potential for equestrian • Close to countryside walks

• 6 bedrooms, 4 bath/ shower rooms • 3 reception rooms • Kitchen/breakfast room • 2 bedroom annexe • Double garage • Ample parking • Approximately half an acre • Walking distance of Christchurch Park Guide Price £850,000

• 3/4 bedrooms, 2/3 receptions • 3 recently refitted bathrooms • Beautiful orangery with views over the garden • Kitchen/breakfast room & utility • Detached double garage • Attached single garage • Gardens extending to 0.6 acres • EPC Rating D

MARCH 2017

PROSPECT HOUSE FACTS LOCATION: HASKETON GUIDE PRICE: £595,000 AGENT: NEALS

ROOMS FOR IMPROVEMENT Set in a garden of half an acre, Prospect House is a large sevenbedroom family home on the outskirts of the village of Hasketon that has been in the same ownership for around 45 and is in need of modernisation and improvement.

With a south west facing aspect it’s a good looking property with a balanced façade enhanced by Virginia creeper and wisteria as well as a porch and two upstairs balconies.

The property includes a double garage which is set to one side of the drive and was previously a stable and gig store with rooms for the coachman above.

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Downstairs are two good sized sitting and dining rooms, a study, breakfast room and kitchen with built in pantry. There’s also a downstairs cloak/shower room and store.

Upstairs the two main bedrooms to the front of the house open out onto balconies with views over the garden and the road beyond to the fields on the far side.

There are three other bedrooms on this floor and a family bathroom. Bedrooms six and seven are on the second floor.

The garden is enclosed behind a hedge and includes a rectangular lawn, with planting around the perimeter and steps up to the path leading to the front door.

A gravel path leads off passing a mature wisteria and on to the terrace which adjoins the sitting room.

To the back and sides of the property are further lawns, shrubs and trees.

Partly concealed by honeysuckle and ivy is the remains of what was a Gardener’s Cottage which is now virtually derelict.

The two storey garage is brick built and is accessed by two up and over doors.

A timber staircase leads upstairs with access into the two first floor rooms.

One has a cast iron fireplace and window, the other also has a window.

INFORMATION Neals 01394 382263 To see more pictures of this property visit www.essentialsuffolk.com/property

Bedingfield, Nr Eye £700,000 An impressive and spacious Grade II Listed barn conversion with stunning main reception area, located on the outskirts of the village. Comprising entrance hall, 42’ drawing room/dining hall, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room and cloakroom. Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, guest bedroom with en-suite shower room, three further bedrooms and family bathroom. Annexe, double cart lodge and workshop. Gardens and grounds, including a paddock, extending to approximately 2.25 acres. Ref: 5518

Peasenhall, Nr Saxmundham £475,000

Framlingham £335,000

An extremely well maintained and presented detached house situated in the pretty village of Peasenhall. Comprising entrance hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room and cloakroom. Master bedroom with en-suite and dressing room, guest bedroom with en-suite shower room, two further bedrooms and family bathroom. Integral single garage and two parking spaces. Small front garden and attractive garden to the rear. EPC = D Ref: 5680

A well maintained detached bungalow located in the popular market town of Framlingham. Comprising entrance hall, sitting room, kitchen/breakfast room, dining room/bedroom three, master bedroom with en-suite shower room, further bedroom and bathroom. Garden to front and rear. Single garage with electrically operated door. Parking. EPC = D Ref: 5673

Clarke and Simpson, Well Close Square, Framlingham, Suffolk, IP13 9DU

T: 01728 724200

www.clarkeandsimpson.co.uk

MARCH 2017

CHURCH FARM FACTS LOCATION: PARHAM GUIDE PRICE: £650,000 AGENT: JACKSON-STOPS & STAFF

A HOME WITH HISTORY Featured in Pevsner’s Book of Suffolk Buildings this Grade Two Listed Tudor farmhouse is a home with real history.

Built in the late 15th Century it’s thought to have been built as a Dower House. Church Farm has stood for over 500 years and while it benefited from works in the 1980s the property is now ready for a further significant restoration programme.

With handsome twinned gable it has a wealth of fine period features including exposed timbers, leaded light windows, wide boarded oak floors and open fireplaces.

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There are 17th Century panelled rooms and rarely seen 18th Century panelled paintings. It also includes a shield bearing the arms of the de Uffords, the Earls of Suffolk.

Outside there are a range of traditional brick and timber buildings, including a timber framed barn arranged around a covered yard.

The accommodation is on three floors and includes three ground floor reception rooms, a kitchen, scullery, cellar and cloakroom. The first floor has a large central room with a fine moulded ceiling and wide oak floorboards that is used as a drawing room.

The south-facing garden is sheltered and includes a variety of mature shrubs and many trees and extends to two acres. There are areas of lawn and a kitchen garden too plus an area of mature mixed woodland which runs along the side of the River Ore which flanks the southern boundary.

There are also currently four bedrooms and two bathrooms on this floor with a fifth bedroom and bathroom on the second floor.

INFORMATION Jackson-Stops & Staff 01473 218218 To see more pictures of this property visit www.essentialsuffolk.com/property

FlickCoast&andSon Country

Expert advice, professional service, excellent results.

Guide Price £950,000 Sotherton

Walberswick

Guide Price £650,000

A substantial detached ve bedroom family house situated in the heart of this most popular of coastal villages standing in an elevated position commanding far reaching views to the sea and coastline. EPC Rating F.

A character ve bedroom Grade II Listed farmhouse with a wealth of period features, in need of updating. Outbuildings and approximately seven acres (sts). No onward chain.

Southwold 01502 722253

Halesworth 01986 873757

“I want to thank you for the support and help you gave me to ensure that this went through with as little stress to me as possible which I very much appreciated.”

Pat

Snape

Guide Price £285,000

CALL TODAY FOR A FREE MARKET VALUATION

Offers in excess of £170,000

Peasenhall

A cosy three bedroom semi-detached cottage with ample off-road parking, located close to the centre of the popular village of Snape.

EPC Rating E.

A charming Grade II Listed period cottage occupying an elevated position overlooking elds set on the edge of this ever popular East Suffolk village.

No onward chain.

Aldeburgh 01728 452469

Saxmundham 01728 633777

ALDEBURGH 01728 452469

HALESWORTH 01986 873757

LEISTON 01728 833785

SAXMUNDHAM 01728 633777

SOUTHWOLD 01502 722253

LETTINGS 01728 633773

www. ickandson.co.uk info@ ickandson.co.uk

Castle Estates

01394 01 0139 013 450100 4 45 450 4501 45010

b barry@ca barry barry@ barr bar barry@castlebarry@castl barry@cast barry@cas barry@castle barry@c a -es e estates. estat estate est estates.uk.com estates.uk.c estates.uk. estates.uk estates.uk.co estates.u estates sta

ORFORD

Crown Cottage in Castle Lane is a recently refurbished 3 bedroom property, just off the main village square. Bi-folding doors opening onto a small secluded patio terrace. There are two parking spaces. EPC Band: D Guide Price: ÂŁ500,000

SNAPE

A stunning renovation of a period property that enjoys excellent views across water meadows to the river, a short stroll from Snape Maltings. Over two thousand square feet of flexible accommodation. EPC Band: tba Guide Price: ÂŁ695,000 Contact Castle Estates for further information or an appointment to view, call 01394 450100 or email barry@castle-estates.uk.com

MARCH 2017

LEVERETTS FACTS LOCATION: WALBERSWICK GUIDE PRICE: £950,000 AGENT: FLICK & SON

SUBSTANTIAL FAMILY HOME ON THE COAST Leveretts is a spacious detached family home situated in the heart of Walberswick, one of the most popular coastal villages in Suffolk.

With five bedrooms, three reception rooms, kitchen, dining room and conservatory, the property stands in around half an acre of mature gardens, just a short walk from the sea. Leveretts has been a much-loved house for generations, being used as both a holiday home and a permanent residence.

Over time, the house has been lovingly extended and now offers more than 2,500 sq ft of accommodation. The principal reception rooms are well proportioned with open fireplaces and

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plenty of natural light thanks to wide south-facing double glazed windows.

The kitchen, complete with Aga, leads to a dining room and through to a conservatory, which in turn offers access to the spacious, well-tended gardens mainly laid to lawn but also featuring mature shrubs, hedgerow and a vegetable garden.

On the first floor, the ensuite master bedroom is accompanied by four further bedrooms and a family bathroom with an additional attic room on the second floor that could be used as another bedroom or a study space. The farreaching views over neighbouring pasture to the sea and coastline are particularly accentuated on the upper

floors. Leveretts is immediately adjacent to a footpath leading to the beach.

Richard Brown from agents Flick & Son said: “This is the first time Leveretts has become available in more than half a century and the vendors speak very fondly of generations of families spending long and happy holidays there.

Its position in the centre of Walberswick as well as its proximity to the beach should stand Leveretts in good stead to be a much loved family home for many years to come.”

INFORMATION Flick & Son 01502 722253 To see more pictures of this property visit www.essentialsuffolk.com/property

01394 382263 enquiries@nsf.co.uk www.nsf.co.uk 26 CHURCH STREET WOODBRIDGE SUFFOLK IP12 1DP

LITTLE BEALINGS - WITH LOVELY VIEWS OVER THE FYNN VALLEY

The property stands on high ground close to the Church, the Village Hall and only a short walk from the highly regarded Primary School.

The property provides spacious accommodation comprising Hall, Cloakroom, Drawing Room, Magnificent part vaulted Kitchen-Living Room-Family Room, Utility Room, 4 Bedrooms, 1 En Suite and a family Bathroom.

Of Offer Offe Off aroun arou aro aar £ £6 £69 £695 £695, £695,0 £695,00 around £695,000 Double Cart Lodge. Mature Garden extending to about 0.5 acres sts. EPC Band D . Offers

WOODBRIDGE - AN IMPRESSIVE LISTED TOWN HOUSE WITH VIEWS TO THE RIVER

Thought to date from the XVII century, this distinctive town house has accommodation on three floors. Hall, Cellar, Cloakroom, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Kitchen-Breakfast Room, Laundry Room, 4 Bedrooms, one with Dressing Area and En Suite Bathroom and further Bath and Shower Rooms on this level. Self-contained floor above with Kitchenette, Living Area, Bed-Sitting Room and En Suite. around aaro arou aroun £ £85 £850 £850, £850,0 £850,00 £850,000 Of Offers Offer Offe ar £8 Part walled Garden and sheltered Courtyard. EPC N/A Off

jackson-stops.co.uk Specialists in prime residential property

Dedham

North Suffolk

A commanding property enjoying elevated views of the Dedham Vale on the edge of this highly sought after village.

A handsome Grade II Listed old rectory set in stunning gardens & grounds with an extensive range of brick outbuildings.

Guide £1,800,000

Guide £1,500,000

● 3 reception rooms ● Large kitchen/breakfast room ● Westbury garden room ● 5 bedrooms all with en suites ● Triple bay cart lodge style garage with studio over

● 3 reception rooms ● Study ● kitchen/breakfast ● 6 bedrooms ● 3 bathrooms ● Stabling ● Swimming pool ● entertainment barn ● In all about 10 acres

Parham, Nr Framlingham

Wetheringsett, nr Debenham

An opportunity to restore an historic and classic Grade II* Listed Tudor farmhouse.

A comfortable period style house occupying an elevated setting in mature grounds.

Guide £650,000

Guide £495,000

● Displaying a wealth of fine period features ● 3 reception rooms ● kitchen & cellar ● 6 bedrooms ● 3 bathrooms ● Attics ● Brick outbuildings, barn & cart lodges ● In all about 2 acres

● 3 reception rooms ● 4 bedrooms ● 2 bath/shower rooms ● Utility & cloakroom ● Double garage ● In all about ¾ of an acre ● Adjacent to the lime tree lined driveway to Wetheringsett Manor ● epc-D

Thinking of selling? Contact us for a FREE market appraisal Call Tim Dansie, Jonathan Penn or James Squirrell 01473 218218 ipswich@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional offices

People Property Places

To view more, or purchase, photographs from this event visit essentialsuffolk.com

Bruisyard Hall A festive drinks party gave visitors the chance to view and explore Bruisyard Hall – a magnificent stately home, set in 700 acres of quintessential Suffolk countryside including a private fishing lake. The Hall can be hired in its entirety for a weekend or mid-week countryside break, wedding, party or intimate event.

Simon & Jan Ballard

Charles Robinson, Paul Rivett

Geoff & Yvonne Holdencroft, Michaela Woodley

Kathy & Johan Bolling

Alice Croft, Steve Cook, Matt Warren

Jann Richardson, Michaela Woodley

Robert Rous, Kurt Scheepers

Jenny Stockman, Kathryn Simpson, Michaela Woodley

Anthony Mann, Hana Dickinson

Nicola Woodhall, Serena Beddoes

EssentialSUFFOLK

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Essential Faces

Coastal Connections at The Turks Head Marshall Hatchick Solicitors has launched a new business networking community for people based in the Suffolk Coastal Region. The ethos behind Coastal Connections is to develop opportunities and make new connections with likeminded business people whilst enjoying a fun, informal, friendly dinner at some of Suffolk's best venues. The first event of 2017 took place at the Turk’s Head in Hasketon.

Paul Rosher, Sue Maxfield

Ciara Scallon, Luke Cain

David Houchell, Mike Sparrow, James Tucker

Michael Bedford, Michaela Woodley

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Michael Kernan, Elizabeth Everett

Jess Avery, James Robbins

Marc Potter, Lorna Savoy, Darrell Smith

Rebecca Eglington, Laura Clay-Harris

Louise White, Sam Parnell

To view more, or purchase, photographs from these events visit essentialsuffolk.com

The Ufford Crown Celebration Polly & Max Durrant invited guests to help them celebrate the latest phase of their developments at The Ufford Crown which has seen a transformation of the bar and function room to complement to already refurbished restaurant.

Will Hardiman, Polly & Max Durrant

Louise & Ian Fox

Gill & Bryan Cooper

Jojo Hume-Brown, Cenzo & Rachel Townshend

Ken Nunn, Penny Hardiman

Rufus Owen, Sally Walker Brown, Philly Owen

Sam Simpson, Nick Crocker

Abi & Ed Hopkins

Richard & Cathy Arbon

Philippa & John Adcroft

Gillian & Giles Slaughter, Lyn Taylor

EssentialSUFFOLK

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Essential Directory DESIGN SERVICES

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Maypole Green, Dennington, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP13 8AH 01728 638 372 www.rogergladwell.co.uk

Rendall Wright

Award winning interior design, creating beautiful, elegant and timeless interiors in the heart of Suffolk

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HOMES & INTERIORS

Newman Design 8 Brightwell Barns Ipswich Road Brightwell IP10 0BJ 01473 811728 info@newman-design.com www.newman-design.com

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GARDENING

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A superb collection of furniture, homeware, antiques, art, gifts and cards Grange Barns, Grundisburgh Road Woodbridge IP13 6HN 01473 735491 www.antiques.eu.com

Excellent service & highly competitive prices from the largest independent stockists in the area 246-248 High Street, Walton 01394 282538 ebcarpetsandflooring.co.uk

To advertise from just £25 per month call 01473 809932 we’ll be happy to help and advise you

MOTORING

Bespoke uPVC colouring Windows, doors & conservatories Warm roofs

01394 420774

colourchangeupvc.co.uk

Beautifully hand crafted, bespoke kitchens, cabinets and furniture www.orwellsfurniture.co.uk

Mercedes-Benz Independent Specialist Sales, Service & Repair

Providing a complete, bespoke service KITCHEN | DINING | LIVING B E D R O O M | B AT H R O O M Visit our beautiful showroom 43 – 45 St Andrew’s Street South Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 3PH Tel 01284 731025 www.neptuneburystedmunds.com

We share your vision!

01394 780045

www.samueldavidconstruction.co.uk

Complimentary Courtesy Cars The Woodlands, Badley Needham Market, IP6 8RS 01449 774222 service@derrickwells.com www.derrickwells.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

SUFFOLK HOT TUBS Prepare your hot tub for spring with a start of season service for £149.

10% off all chemical orders over £20.

Spas in stock for quick delivery. Splasher pools. Hot tub chemicals in stock.

NOW HERE The exclusive Deckworld Deben six seat hot tub – just £6250.

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Suffolk Carpet Weavers 30 years of transforming homes, caravans and even boats! See our full range of colours, weights & patterns or create your own.

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Photography that works for your business FOOD INTERIORS EVENTS CORPORATE / PR Hourly, half day and full day rates available

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Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, IP10 ODE (Opposite Miller & Carter)

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01473 809932

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EssentialSUFFOLK

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My Suffolk

MARCH 2017

How long have you lived in Suffolk?

We moved to Aldeburgh and took over the bookshop in March 2000. We had been living in London and had two young children. We came to stay here to see a friend who just happened to mention the bookshop was for sale and we loved it so much we decided to make Suffolk our home. When we first moved here we lived in a flat in Aldeburgh but now we commute to work from Snape.

Photograph by Eamonn McCabe

It’s the 16th Aldeburgh Literary Festival this month so Essential Suffolk asked organisers, Mary and John James, from Aldeburgh Bookshop, to talk about their lives in Suffolk

What’s special about Suffolk?

The history and wide skies. We love walking the estuaries and the coast and everywhere you go there is something fascinating to discover about the past.

The other day we went to Wantisden Church – near Bentwaters – it is all on its own down a track and is absolutely wonderful. Also Suffolk is an incredibly welcoming place – when we came here we knew hardly anyone but because of the shop we now know so many people.

How did the festival come about?

When we started out there were only 40 or so literary festivals in the UK but now there are more than 340. In the first year we simply thought we might invite some authors to Aldeburgh for occasional talks but then Tim Rowan-Robinson suggested we do something bigger. We were so lucky because P.D. James agreed to come to our first event, which gave us great impetus. We had a fantastic programme and were about to go to press when out of the blue Alan Bennett said he’d like to come along. It’s grown since then and it’s now so popular that when we send out the brochures (they go out by post so local people have the opportunity to book first) the response is so big that we have to time stamp all the replies. This year we’d sold out one event just a few minutes after 10am.

What are your favourite ‘Suffolk’ books?

Well there are so many but Peter Sager’s East Anglia – it’s out of print now but we always try and have a copy in the shop. Rings of Saturn by W G Sebald and anything by Ronald Blythe but especially Time by The Sea. There is a very, very fine novel A Short Gentleman

by John Canter and The Dig by John Preston about Sutton Hoo. The other one is The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald, which is set in Southwold and at the moment is being made into a film and Bill Nighy is in it.

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Where do you like to walk?

We are really lucky we live next door to The Crown at Snape so our most usual walk is along the marshes on the north side of Snape Bridge, through the woods and then home. It takes about 40 minutes. But we also love the footpath from Snape to Iken and also a walk by the marshes at Gedgrave.

Do you have a favourite picture or view of Suffolk?

The picture has to be a painting of Crag Path by Mary Potter and the view is St Botolph’s Church in Iken from many angles – although we can see it from our house.

What about places to eat out?

In Aldeburgh we do like The Lighthouse and we are very excited about Sea Spice the Indian restaurant. Other favourites include Main’s in Yoxford and The Railway Inn at Framlingham.

And a pub?

It has to be The Crown at Snape – not only do we live next door but it’s got a great history. It was an old smuggler’s pub and is at the end of the Sailor’s Path. We are also great friends with Teresa the landlady.

What about Suffolk and the Arts?

We are so lucky to have so much and actually we are spoiled for choice. We’ve got music, poetry, drama and dance and, apart from Benjamin Britten, Suffolk has also been a place for authors and there are art exhibitions on all the time. We particularly like going to Sudbourne Printmakers.

Where would you take visitors on a tour of Suffolk?

Well we’d start off in Aldeburgh and then go to Orford. Then we’d head off to Framlingham Castle and walk around the ramparts – when my American cousin comes to stay we also go there with the children. Then we’d go to Blythburgh Church and on to see the Wenhaston Doom painting. Two other places that are well worth a visit include the Munnings Museum in Dedham and the Long Shop Museum in Leiston for its industrial social history.

Who’s on your ‘wish list’ for future Literary Festivals?

Barry Humphries because apart from Dame Edna Everage he’s a collector of Gothic books!

Inspired by tradition

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We are East Anglia's leading developers, building collections of homes to exceptionally high standards, each one individually designed to complement its setting, be it town, village, countryside or coast.

hopkinshomes.co.uk • 01394 446860 Hopkins Homes builds traditional award winning homes throughout Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex