Cambridge Edition February

Cambridge FEBRUARY 2016

Your monthly fix of local life www.cambsedition.co.uk

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...

ARTS

MAGAZINE

CULTURE

NIGHTLIFE

Cambridge

SIGN UP TO OUR WEEKLY DIGITAL NEWSLETTER

cambsedition.co.uk CE02_001 (COVER) cb.indd 6

22/01/2016 15:37

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 2

22/01/2016 11:38

r © Louisa Taylo

CONTENTS

Welcome

There’s no escaping that it’s Valentine’s Day this month, so what’s it to be? A romantic meal out? A home-cooked dinner à deux? A night on the tiles with friends? Whatever (or should that be whoever…) you fancy, we’ve got you covered – Andrew Webb shows you how to rustle up some dreamy culinary creations on page 46 if you’re staying in, plus we check out what local restaurants are offering. We’ve also unearthed some less conventional ideas – including an illuminated walk through Cambridge, an owl-spotting session at dusk, a food festival at Burwash Manor and a glamorous baroque ball at the Cambridge Union Society (page 63).

Things are seriously hotting up on the local foodie circuit too – turn to page 53 to see news of new eateries including the Cambridge Cookery School Café, a tapas bar and a brilliant noodle joint (thank goodness – life hasn’t been quite the same since the closure of Dojo).

Lovers of local knowledge will enjoy the Cambridge History Festival’s inspired line-up of events and activities (page 37), whilst those with little ones should make a beeline for the lovely Twilight at the Museums for an unforgettable after dark adventure (page 35).

Enjoy the issue, and see you next month!

NICOLA FOLEY, EDITOR IN CHIEF

5 • FIVE THINGS TO DO Edition’s pick of the crop this February

46-51 • FOOD FEATURE Stuck on plans for Valentine’s Day? Cook for your loved one to add a personal touch

7-10 • NIGHTLIFE Live comedy, music and more

53-56 • FOOD NEWS From the latest openings to tasting workshops, fill up on foodie happenings

12-13 • MUSIC BLOG The best live gigs in the city this month

59 • RESTAURANT REVIEW Edition reviews Thai street food restaurant Thaikhun

15-27 • ARTS & CULTURE Festivals, exhibitions and concerts around Cambridge, plus Edition chats to Bryony Kimmings about her show on mental health hitting the Junction this month

61 • COMPETITION Win a romantic stay at Hotel Felix

29-32 • WOW FESTIVAL We break down what to see and do at this year’s Women of the World Festival

63-66 • VALENTINE’S DAY We round up the best of what to see, where to eat and what to do with your loved one locally this year 71 • COMMUNITY Check the pulse of your community at a glance

35 • TWILIGHT AT THE MUSEUMS Get the low-down on Cambridge’s annual educational family night out

72-73 • BEAUTY Daisy Dickinson delivers her monthly serving of beauty wisdom

37 • CAMBRIDGE HISTORY FESTIVAL Now in its second year, the Festival programme is packed to the rafters, here are our highlights

77-80 • FASHION Swot up on the latest trends and daydream about must-have items…

39 • FAMILY Read up on what’s on offer for families in the city and surrounding area

87-93 • BUSINESS The second part of our conferencing special

EDITORIAL Editor in chief Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com Sub editors Lisa Clatworthy & Catherine Brodie

ADVERTISING Senior sales executive Natalie Robinson 01223 499451 natalierobinson@bright-publishing.com Key accounts Maria Francis 01223 499461 mariafrancis@bright-publishing.com

CONTRIBUTORS Angelina Villa-Clarke, Daisy Dickinson, Jordan Worland, Ruthie Collins, Gabrielle Watts, Catherine Carr, Rozena Toscani and Vanessa Blackledge

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

40-41 • LISTINGS A quick look at what’s on in Cambridge this month

Designer Emily Stowe 01223 499450 emilystowe@bright-publishing.com

45 • FOOD COLUMN Alex Rushmer pens his monthly installment, this time with a Sri Lankan twist

Ad production Lucy Woolcomb 01223 499468 lucywoolcomb@bright-publishing.com

Cover Art

The illustrations featured along the bottom of the cover are by local artist Naomi Davies, who has an exhibition this month at Hot Numbers - find out more on page 26. www.naomidaviesart.co.uk

We’re hiring!

Cambridge Edition is recruiting a features and web writer, please email CVs and cover letters to nicolafoley@ bright-publishing.com. For more details on the position, visit www.bright-publishing.com

MANAGING DIRECTORS Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck 01223 499450

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/CambsEdition FOLLOW US ON TWITTER: @cambsedition

www.bright-publishing.com

CAMBRIDGE EDITION MAGAZINE • Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ, 01223 499450, www.cambsedition.co.uk • All rights reserved. Material contained in this publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior permission of the publishers. • Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of Cambridge Edition or Bright Publishing Ltd, which do not accept any liability for loss or damage. • Every effort has been made to ensure all information is correct. • Cambridge Edition is a free publication that is distributed in Cambridge and the surrounding area

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_003 (CONTENTS) cbljc.indd 3

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 3

22/01/2016 15:26

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 4

22/01/2016 15:19

5 THINGS TO DO

this month...

1. 200 YEARS AT THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM A majestic, grand landmark in our city, in 2016 the fabulous Fitz celebrates 200 years of enlightening Cambridge residents through its ever-fascinating array of exhibitions, talks and events. There’s lots planned in honour of the anniversary, with highlights including an exhibition about the museum itself entitled Celebrating the First 200 Years, which will offer a timeline of key characters and themes in the museum’s history.

On 23 February, the first major exhibition of the celebrations opens. Death on the Nile explores death and religion in ancient Egypt and how it changed over 4,000 years. Expect gold, ghosts and mystery... www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

5. HALF-TERM ACTIVITIES Looking for inspiration for keeping kids busy this half term?

Ickworth House and Gardens in Suffolk will be running activities, 13-21 February, featuring children’s crafts, stories, hot chocolates and the chance to become a ‘nature detective’.

Or, head to Cambridge Science Centre, where they’ll be orbiting themes of space exploration. Engineers from Airbus Defence and Space will visit on 13 and 14 February to talk about engineering spacecraft and rovers for exploring other planets, and scientists from Cambridge Exoplanet Research Group will be speaking throughout the week about their search for other worlds.

2. DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

4. HANDA’S HEN

Entries are now open for the 12th annual Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival, an event which Cambridge Edition is proud to partner once again in 2016.

This year’s date for your diary is 10 September, when more than forty teams will battle it out along a stretch of the River Cam out by Fen Ditton. Each year the event raises a significant amount for their chosen charity (this year that’s Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust), and there’s also music, entertainment and food and drink on the banks, making it a great day out for the whole family. Find out more online. www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk

On 7 February visit Cambridge Junction to catch Handa’s Hen at 11.30am, 2.30pm or 4pm. This beautiful show, based on the book

by Eileen Browne, will feature 55 handcrafted puppets telling the story of Handa and her friend Akeyo, on the search for Handa’s grandmother’s black hen Mondi. Directed by Marleen Vermeulen, designed by Lyndie and Sarah Wright and produced by Little Angel Theatre, it promises to be an enchanting show.

Tickets start at £6 for children and £10 for adults. Group discounts are also available. www.junction.co.uk

3. POLKA DOTS & FEATHERS WINTER CHARITY CIRCUS BALL On 20 February, whip out the glitter for an evening of burlesque and live music. The Polka Dots & Feathers Winter Charity Circus Ball will be held at Comberton Sports and Arts Centre from 7.30pm and feature electro-swing DJs, street food courtesy of The River Kitchen and burlesque fashion designer Madam Isobel King from Quiver trading her wares in the lounge area. Tickets cost £10, with all proceeds going to the Royal National Children’s Foundation.

Dress code is circus, sparkles, black tie or burlesque. www.wegottickets.com

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_005 (5 THINGS) cbljc.indd 5

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 5

22/01/2016 08:10

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 6

22/01/2016 11:39

NIGHTLIFE

CHECK OUT LOCAL EVENTS ONLINE cambsedition.co.uk

THE NME AWARDS TOUR 2016 Catch a crop of the UK’s finest this month at the Cambridge leg of the NME Awards Tour 2016, which hits the Corn Exchange on 9 February. Renowned for showcasing acts on the cusp of greatness, this series of shows has previously featured Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and Florence and the Machine before they hit the big time.

On the line-up this year is Sheffield band Drenge, who stormed their Glastonbury set last summer and will be treating audiences to the full force of their acclaimed second album Undertow, named as one of NME’s Albums of the Year 2015.

Also playing is Rat Boy, aka Jordan Cardy, who makes a kind of scabby (in a good way) indie hip hop, which sounds a bit Arctic Monkeys and a bit Jamie T, with a side serving of Essex swagger. Manchester based Bugzy Malone, an artist powering a grime revival in the UK, completes the trio of up-and-coming Brit acts.

Headlining the gig are Bloc Party – critics’ darlings and surely one of the most hyped bands of the last decade.

Playing old favourites and material from their just released album HYMNS, this tour promises to be a treat for fans, with the band performing in venues far more intimate than their usual.

“The line-up for the NME Awards Tour 2016 with Austin, Texas is amazing for UK music fans”, says Mike Williams, editor in chief of NME. “Where else next February could you see three of the most exciting, gamechanging new artists around, as well as a bona fide festival headliner in such an intimate setting?”

The show starts at 7.30pm on 9 February and tickets are £28.10. www.cornex.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_007-010 (NIGHTLIFE) cb.indd 7

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 7

21/01/2016 16:57

NIGHTLIFE

B

25 FE

FOOTLIGHTS Founded in 1880 and counting comedy greats including John Cleese, Eric Idle, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie amongst its alumni, Cambridge Footlights are a cut above your usual student comedy troupe. In fact, the group is regarded as something of a finishing school for the cream of British comic entertainers – so you can guarantee that the pressure is on for each new crop undergrads preparing to tread the hallowed boards. Invariably though, they more than live up to expectations, delighting audiences with their off-beat sketches, skits, stand-up and songs. 2015 saw the group enjoy sell-out success after sell-out success, and now they’re bringing two dates, bursting with new material, to the Cambridge Arts Theatre. Catch them on 28 February and 6 March, tickets are £13-£18. www.cambridgeartstheatre.co.uk

ELO EXPERIENCE ELO, or Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra to give them their full name, captured the hearts of a nation back in the 1970s with their damn catchy, classical-infused pop-rock. Born in the late 1960s with an avowed goal of picking up ‘where the Beatles left off’, the band achieved global fame through hits like Don’t Bring Me Down, Evil Woman and of course, the inimitable Mr Blue Sky. In fact, between 1972 and 1986, they achieved more combined UK and US Top 40 hits than any other band on the planet – enshrining their place in the canon of British music.

You may not be able to see the original line-up anymore, but you can catch the next best thing this month in Cambridge, when The ELO Experience play the Corn Exchange on 25 February. Reproducing the magic of such a legendary band is no mean feat, but this act, with incredibly talented performers, a sensational string section and seriously impressive lighting and staging, manage it with aplomb. They’re so good, in fact, that this year they’re celebrating their tenth year of bringing the music of Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra to eager audiences – definitely a must for any fans!

The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £24.50. www.cornex.co.uk

CRAIG CHARLES FUNK AND SOUL CLUB Craig Charles’ CV is nothing if not varied. Best known to many as vindaloo-loving layabout Lister in sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf, he went on to present Robot Wars and Takeshi’s Castle – both of which ended up being huge cult TV hits. Most recently his acting career has seen him portraying philandering taxi driver Lloyd Mullaney in Coronation Street – a role which he played for over ten years before eventually leaving to pursue other ambitions last spring.

Charles’ main passion though, and that which brings him to Cambridge this month, is his love of music – specifically funk and soul. As well as performing in his own bands throughout his career, he presents the very well-loved Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show, a BBC Radio 6 Music Saturday night staple, and the network’s biggest listener draw, pulling in around 250,000 funk fans weekly. On the show, he delves into his dazzlingly huge record collection, stretching from stone-cold classics to red-hot new releases, via a few modern remixes and interesting covers.

And that’s pretty much what you can expect from his stint on the wheels of steel at the Junction this month when he stops by on 5 February: a funked-out night of dancing to great tunes.

Takes place 10pm-2am, tickets are £16. Over 18s only. www.junction.co.uk

8 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_007-010 (NIGHTLIFE) cb.indd 8

21/01/2016 16:57

NIGHTLIFE

SARAH MILLICAN

JOHN GRANT Epically bearded troubadour John Grant brings his mesmerising music to Cambridge Corn Exchange on 3 February, following the release of his latest album Grey Tickles, Black Pressure in October 2015. Regarded by many as one of the most accomplished songwriters in music today, his career as seen him move from Denver-based alt-rock band The Czars to launching a successful solo career in 2010. His first offering, Queen Of Denmark, was named as MOJO magazine’s album of the year, whilst 2013’s Pale Green Ghosts (recorded in Reykjavik, where Grant has lived ever since), won plaudit after plaudit, including Rough Trade’s Album of the Year 2013, The Guardian’s No.2 and in MOJO and Uncut’s Top Five.

His personal life, as is well documented, has been far from a bed of roses. Living for years on the brink of self-destruction, he’s battled through alcohol and drug addiction, parental rejection, agoraphobia and a recent HIV positive diagnosis, but all the while making the kind of music it’s impossible not to be utterly drawn in by. Find out why The Guardian left his gig ‘awestruck’ at Cambridge Corn Exchange on 3 February, tickets are £24.50. www.cornex.co.uk

WILL ROBERT Local musician Will Robert, who we featured as last month’s Cambridge Sound artist, has a gig on home turf this month as part of his first headline tour. It’s been an impressive ascent for this talented Cambridge singer-songwriter, who it’s very likely you’ve seen busking around the streets of the city, surrounded by a crowd of eager listeners.

Having left his job as a sound engineer a couple of years back to pursue a full-time career in music, Will has busked all over Europe, winning an ever-growing following for his unique, percussive style of guitar playing, his extraordinarily polished vocals and his beautifully crafted songs. We’re not the only ones who think he’s worth a listen either – last year one of his tracks, City Lights, was playlisted by BBC Radio 1.

Check him out at Cambridge Junction on 11 February, tickets are £8.50. www.junction.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_007-010 (NIGHTLIFE) cb.indd 9

10-13 March, Corn Exchange, £27.50 Following three sell-out tours, Sarah Millican brings her latest show, Outsider, to Cambridge next month.

Expect gag-laden anecdotes about life’s curiosities. www.cornex.co.uk

DYLAN MORAN 18 March, Corn Exchange, £27.50 Off The Hook, Moran’s first stand-up show for more than three years, offers a hilarious glimpse into the comic’s unique take on love, politics, misery and the everyday absurdities of life, all delivered with poetical panache. www.cornex.co.uk

MR SCRUFF 30 April, Junction, £14 Andy Carthy aka Mr Scruff, has no boundaries as far as his sets go – flitting joyously between soul, funk, hip hop, jazz, reggae, latin, African, ska, disco, house, funk, breaks, soundtracks and more. Lots of fun, guaranteed. www.junction.co.uk

BILL BAILEY 15-16 June, Corn Exchange, £27.50 Take a trip to Limboland with the bearded comedian, who visits Cambridge next summer. Expect sharp wit, silly songs and a hearty helping of surrealism. www.cornex.co.uk

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 9

21/01/2016 17:22

NIGHTLIFE

PAUL CARRACK

COMEDY HIGHLIGHTS It’s a great month for comedy in Cambridge, kicking off with Stewart Lee at the Corn Exchange on the 2nd. A Room With A Stew sees the comic return to Cambridge to try out new material ahead of his next series of BBC2’s Comedy Vehicle, in a show that sees him ‘more skilful and playful than ever’, according to The Guardian.

He’s followed on the 4th by Isy Suttie over at Cambridge Junction. You might well recognise her as geeky girlfriend Dobby in Peep Show, but she’s also a fantastically funny stand-up (have a look on YouTube), with a charmingly offbeat take on life and lots of quirky songs to share. In her new show The Actual One (based on her book of the same name), she’s lamenting the point in life at which all her mates have grown up without her and she’ll do pretty much anything to avoid farmer’s markets, nappies and mortgages…

Next up, on 12 February, catch bona fide comedy legends Reeves & Mortimer at the Corn Exchange. 25 Years of Reeves and Mortimer: The Poignant Moments, is the first time Vic and Bob have been on the road since 1995, and offers a hilarious celebration of their best bits as a duo. Expect music, magic, dancing and lots of laughs.

Rounding things off on 26 February will be the latest instalment of the Corn Exchange’s Comedy Live series, this month featuring award-winning comedian, writer and broadcaster, Jarlath Regan. He’ll be joined by sharp stand-up Alex Smith, along with Hayley Ellis, who’ll be compèring the evening.

The Comedy Live events offer a cabaret-style set up, with food and drink available on the ‘Grub & Glug’ menu – so make a night of it!

10 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_007-010 (NIGHTLIFE) cb.indd 10

A stalwart of British pop, once described by the BBC as ‘the man with the golden voice’, Paul Carrack has been churning out hits since the mid-1970s, when he found fame as the frontman of Ace. He went on to play in bands including Roxy Music and Squeeze, before joining forces with Paul Young to form Mike + The Mechanics, well loved for hits including Silent Running, The Living Years and of course, Over My Shoulder. The Sheffield singer songwriter has also enjoyed a fruitful solo career, with a back catalogue that features tracks like How Long? and When You Walk in the Room. His distinctive, soulful voice has won him fans across the globe, including many fellow musicians – his songs have been performed The Eagles, Diana Ross and Tom Jones and he is constantly in demand as a session keyboardist, having recorded and toured with Elton John, Van Morrison, Roger Waters, BB King, and most recently on Eric Clapton’s world tour. “I can’t wait to get back out on the road again in 2016”, he says of his latest series of shows.

“I love touring in the UK and I’ve chosen 34 of my favourite venues to perform in.”

Catch him at Cambridge Corn Exchange on 4 February. Tickets start at £31. www.cornex.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

21/01/2016 16:57

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 11

22/01/2016 11:40

MUSIC

Jordan Worland from local music website Slate the Disco selects his must-see gigs in Cambridge this month ebruary sees the NME Tour make its return to Cambridge.

Headlined by Bloc Party, the bill also features Drenge, Rat Boy and Bugzy Malone, with the tour taking in Cambridge Corn Exchange on the 9th as part of its 11-venue itinerary.

The tour gives audiences the chance to see returning British indie heroes Bloc Party, who headlined Latitude Festival in 2013, perform in the most intimate venues they’ll have played for some time. It will also be the first chance to catch the band’s new line-up. Alongside old favourites and bona fide classics, Bloc Party will be performing new songs from their forthcoming album HYMNS – due for release the day the tour kicks off – for the very first time.

Rowdy Sheffield-based band Drenge will bring the full-throttle force of their second album Undertow to the line-up, while one of indie’s freshest faces, Rat Boy, will ensure each night will be a raucous affair. He broke onto the scene earlier this year with his wide-boy rap, fusing

12 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_012-013 (MUSIC)ljckg.indd 12

B

9 FE

punk and hip-hop beats. Completing the bill is one of 2016’s most hotly-tipped newcomers, Bugzy Malone, the Manchester artist at the forefront of the revival of the UK grime scene.

Also at the Corn Exchange, the 3rd sees John Grant return to Cambridge.

The American singersongwriter and former lead vocalist with cult favorites The Czars released his third record - Grey Tickles, Black Pressure - last autumn.

The album was a triumph, refining and entwining the two principal strands

of Grant’s musical DNA, namely the sumptuous tempered ballad and the taut electronic pop song.

There is a busy schedule this month at The Portland Arms, starting with Barns Courtney on the 3rd. Barns has a bit of an unconventional backstory – he was born in Ipswich but spent most of his childhood living in grunge capital Seattle, before returning to the UK aged 15. This transatlantic upbringing can be heard in his

returning british inide heroes bloc party headline

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

21/01/2016 16:59

MUSIC

mix of blues-rock, hip hop and grunge with British indie melodic sensibilities, as well as in his US-British twang.

The Wave Pictures bring their latest record to The Portland on the 17th. A Season in Hull was recorded on acoustic guitars live to one microphone. Its songs were written as quickly as possible and the recording captures those moments in all their spontaneous and immediate glory, which should transfer perfectly to the live setting.

On the 28th Sundara Karma catches our eye. The school friends have gone from figuring out cover versions to writing their

sundara karma's innate knack for solid pop hooks own sun-kissed, uplifting indie pop. Last year after making the BBC Introducing playlist with their early track Freshbloom they were selected to play two of the UK’s biggest festivals at Reading and Leeds.

With their innate knack for writing solid pop hooks, an infectious sense of fun and some unconventional methods of inspiring and grabbing the attention of their audience, this is a young band to watch.

Beach Baby, who deal in an exquisite kind of slacker-pop, all bouncy bass and insta-hooks with a shoegaze patina thanks to the tonality of their guitars, will open for Sundara Karma, making this gig even more tempting.

Telegram have proved to be one of the most exciting new live bands around, effortlessly combining their love of Roxy, Barrett, Krautrock and late proto-punk to great effect. They bring their raucous, notto-be-missed live show to The Portland on the 29th.

Equally busy, Cambridge Junction has a full schedule this month, hosting They

Might Be Giants on the 3rd and Jack Savoretti on the 29th.

J2 welcomes local singer-songwriter Will Robert on the 11th and on the 15th HINDS, who play Cambridge for the first time. With a distinctively raw and playful sound the Spanish quartet are tipped for big things. Their debut album, Leave Me Alone, is 12 charmingly lo-fi tracks inspired by contemporary American garage rockers like Mac DeMarco, Ty Segall and The Black Lips. It’s an exciting introduction to the

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_012-013 (MUSIC)ljckg.indd 13

group who are pioneering the burgeoning indie music scene in Madrid.

Staying with the Cambridge Junction for our final two gigs, Will Varley is firstly also in J2. He’s steadily earned himself a reputation for searching, emotionally resonant observations on modern life and society. Always a favourite in the city, the rambling folk singer is back on the 23rd.

We close with our top tip for this month, the unflinching and brilliant Savages.

Renowned for their brutal and spellbinding live shows, they play on the 19th.

Tell us about your gig at www.slatethedisco.com

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 13

21/01/2016 16:59

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 14

22/01/2016 11:40

ARTS & CULTURE

We explore the arts and culture scene in Cambridge, showcasing some of the many exciting exhibitions and shows taking place around the city

SPRING SEASON

at the Arts theatre From Steinbeck to Footloose, the Arts theatre is offering a star-studded season of spectacular variety this spring.

Kicking things off, a duo of Alan Ayckbourn plays (Confusions and Hero’s Welcome, 1-6 February), followed by Measure for Measure, performed by Cambridge University’s Marlowe Society.

Kids can have fun at What the Ladybird Heard, and grown-ups can join Lucy Worsley for an Evening of Murder. Laugh your heart out at Showstopper!, an improvised musical on 22 February, and laugh some more when the Footlights turn up for two nights. If your belly’s aching: Peter Whelan offers a tale about one of Shakespeare’s daughters in The Herbal Bed on 1 March.

Murder mystery fans get a treat in March with a new play from Levinson & Link, the team who penned Murder, She Wrote. Rehearsal For Murder stars Robert Daws and runs from the 7th. Martin Shaw and Christopher Timothy lead the story of Henry Horatio Hobson from 14 March in Hobson’s Choice. More murder on 21 March, starring EastEnders’ Shane Richie

and Jessie Wallace, performing together in Peter James’ The Perfect Murder.

In the mood for something a little lighter? Try Toast by Richard Bean or kids favourite The Gruffalo’s Child. April welcomes Pop Idol’s Gareth Gates – he’ll be jamming with Maureen Nolan in Footloose from 4-9 April. Cue a key change on 12 April with Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men starring Dudley Sutton, before Sasha Regan’s all-male team returns with Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S Pinafore on 20 April. The English Touring Opera visit from 26 April with three productions from Mozart, Gluck and Donizetti. David Wood’s adaptation of Goodnight Mr Tom follows for the novel’s 35th anniversary from 3 May. Ken Dodd brings his Happiness Show on 8 May before Bruce Norris’ incisive Clybourne Park. The classics return with Brideshead Revisited and King Lear starring Michael Pennington before the season finale. That privilege goes to Samuel West in Present Laughter just before it hits the West End. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_015 (ARTS AND CULTURE).indd 15

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 15

22/01/2016 08:39

ARTS & CULTURE

© Ellie Kurttz

HAIRSPRAY: THE MUSICAL

© Ellie Kurttz

Comedy musical Hairspray hits Cambridge on 15 February for a five-day run as part of its 40-week tour of the UK. Directed by Paul Kerryson, there are foot-tapping tunes aplenty in this story of the bighearted, big-haired Tracy Turnblad and her ambitions of making it as a dancer in 1960s Baltimore.

Freya Sutton reprises her role as Tracy alongside Jon Tsouras as Corny Collins, Dex Lee as Seaweed, Ashley Gilmour as Link, Lauren Stroud as Amber and Monique Young as Penny. New faces and voices will include Tony Maudsley taking on the major role of Edna Turnblad, Claire Sweeney performing the part of Velma Von Tussle, Peter Duncan as Wilbur and Brenda Edwards as Motormouth Maybelle.

Described as ‘fresh and vivid’

by The Stage, this fizzy, colourful and star-studded show promises to put a smile on your face that will last long after you leave the theatre.

Tickets start at £30 and concessions are available for senior citizens, students and under 16s for specified performances.

See the website for more details. www.cornex.co.uk

FAME Lab

Starting on 8 February at 7pm, the Portland Arms will be hosting FameLab UK’s regional heats of the best and brightest scientific minds in the country.

Don’t worry, it’s not just for boffins. Contestants are given three minutes to present a topic in science, engineering or maths in an engaging way to a non-specialist adult audience. The idea is to find the new voices of their fields (think David Attenborough and Brian Cox). They have to be clear, correct and charismatic, and they’ll be judged by leading researchers, media personalities and science policy makers. The second heat is on 10 February, at The Portland, and ten participants will take part in the finals at Cambridge Junction on 9 March.

After that is the UK National Final on 25 April, with a £1000 cash prize on offer, £750 for a science communication activity, and the chance to compete against 25 other contestants from around the world at The Times Cheltenham Science Festival in June. The local heats will be co-ordinated by the Public Engagement Team at the University of Cambridge, ticket prices TBC. www.theportlandarms.co.uk

16 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_016-027 2(ARTS AND CULTURE) cbljc.indd 16

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 13:28

ARTS & CULTURE

Ahbab FESTIVAL

HEFFERS IN FEBRUARY Kicking off with Alison Bruce’s latest Cambridge crime thriller The Promise on 2 February, Heffers bookshop will be putting on a range of exciting events throughout this month. Following Bruce, there’ll be a change of tone on 18 February with Simon Horobin talking about his book, How English Became English: A Short History of a Global Language.

Horobin’s new book looks at the story of English, and how it continues to change with new speakers and uses.

There’s a return to the dark side of literature with Geoff Andrews’ The Shadow Man: At the Heart of the Cambridge Spy Circle on 23 February, a non-fiction book about the man who influenced, recruited and manipulated Cambridge’s communist spies. This will be the first of Heffers’ events which form part of the Cambridge History Festival, in collaboration with the Cambridge Museum. Festival events continue on 1 March with historian and TV presenter Suzannah Lipscomb, who will discuss her latest book, The King is Dead: a look at the last will and testament of Tudor King Henry VIII. The next day, famous author A C Grayling will present his book, The Age of Genius, and talk about the 17th century and the birth of the modern mind. All events at Heffers start at 6.30pm. Tickets are available through EventBrite and prices vary. www.heffersevents.eventbrite.co.uk

Named after the Arabic word for lovers, Ahbab, Cambridge Junction’s festival of Arabic music and film offers plenty to sweep you off your feet this Valentine’s weekend. Featuring film screenings, live music, panel discussions with leading academics and expert-led workshops, the event runs 12-14 February.

On 12 February, Egyptian musicians Tarek Abdallah and Adel Shams el Din and Syrian kanun player Maya Youssef will be performing their respective takes on classical traditions from Alexandria to Damascus. Tarek and Adel’s latest album Wasla was one of Songlines magazine’s best albums of 2015, and Maya won the Exceptional Talent award, which enabled her to migrate to the UK in early 2012 for her innovative work on traditional instrument the kanun.

On 13 February, there are two documentary films about the musical and creative hubs of Algiers and Baghdad in the first half of the 20th century in the name of the day’s theme, ‘cities, communities and collaborations’.

The films on show will be On the Banks of the Tigris and El Gusto, a film about a group of Algerian Jewish and Muslim musicians separated over 50 years ago and reunited once more to share their

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_016-027 2(ARTS AND CULTURE) cbljc.indd 17

common passion, Chaabi music. In the evening, there will be performances from lively modern artists the Baladi Blues Ensemble and Natacha Atlas. Natacha began her career as part of the world fusion group Transglobal Underground, and her most recent album Myriad Road is her first step into the world of jazz music. She worked on it with one of France’s most eminent jazz musicians, Ibrahim Maalouf. The Baladi Blues Ensemble is known for urban Egyptian dance music, and will feature master quarter-tone accordionist Megdy Twefik.

Valentine’s Day itself sees ‘songs of love’ (what else?) as the theme, hosting leading academics from Oxford, Cambridge, King’s and Anglia Ruskin Universities, who will be speaking about themes of love in Arabic music. There’ll be workshops for both musicians and families with professional artists, as well as film screenings of some classic Egyptian musicals and a grand celebration of music from Egypt’s golden age of film in the evening, performed

by Oxford Maqam’s ‘Abd al-Halim’ Ensemble. Fresh from their performances live at the BBC, London Jazz Festival, and St Paul’s Cathedral, the group are set to perform their programme of orchestral, jazz and Egyptian classical music proud, wrapping up the festival with aplomb.

Times and prices vary, see online for more details and to book tickets. www.junction.co.uk

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 17

22/01/2016 13:28

ARTS & CULTURE

Awards at home WIN BANFF FILM FESTIVAL TICKETS!

movies

WORDS ZENA TOSCANI

NIGHT AT THE

Follow us @CambsEdition

already been and gone. However, there’s plenty of late January releases like The Revenant, Room, The Big Short and With the weather markedly colder, Spotlight to choose from. The Arts Easter eggs on the shelves already and Picturehouse is also screening Carol on shop windows covered in love hearts and glorious 35mm in early March if you can rose petals, February elicits despondent wait that long. groans from many. Fortunately, your If, however, you’d rather see your local cinemas are the perfect antidote to leading ladies in duvet jackets than all of the above with cracking line-ups of diamond necklaces, you might be award-nominated films, and venues like more excited a few days before the the Corn Exchange holding an exciting Oscars when the Banff Mountain Film night out for adventure film lovers.

Festival lands at the Corn Exchange.

A highlight in the calendar for With the RED film programme hitting cinephiles the world over, 28 February the screen on 10 February at 7.30pm, attendees can expect to see an exhilarating collection of films covering modern alpinism, an A Banff screening will provoke a epic horseback journey, big mountain skiing and more. serious case of wanderlust If you’ve not been to a Banff screening before, beware, it’ll marks the 88th Academy Awards – so provoke a serious case of wanderlust. there’s no shortage of great films to see Tickets cost £15 (£13.50 for concessions), this month. As the Oscars recognise but keep an eye on the @CambsEdition films that have been released in the Twitter as we have a pair to give away to last year, you may find that some have a lucky reader.

Pro Moviemaker’s Zena Toscani tells us why February is for (movie) lovers

18 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_016-027 2(ARTS AND CULTURE) cbljc.indd 18

Sadly, living on this side of the pond means you’ll have to stay up until around 4am to finish watching the Academy Awards live – which is a tall ask for many.

Instead you could always build up to the event with a home cinema roster of nominated films that are already available on DVD like Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, Inside Out and Amy. Or even delve into the Academy archives to brush up on some past winners.

In fact, our own editor Nicola Foley has embarked on a journey of cinematic discovery with a plan to watch every Best Picture Oscar winner since the advent of the Academy Awards in 1929.

With 87 (soon to be 88) films on that list it’s no small undertaking, especially considering that some of the older ones will be quite hard to locate. Fancy joining her?

Keep an eye on the Cambridge Edition Twitter feed over the coming weeks where we’ll be testing your knowledge with an Oscar themed quiz. @cambsedition

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 13:29

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 19

22/01/2016 11:41

ARTS & CULTURE

WORDS NICOLA FOLEY

Bryony Kimmings INTERVIEW

Performance artist, provocateur, feminist activist and erstwhile Cambridge dweller, Bryony Kimmings’ previous shows have covered topics including chlamydia (in Sex Idiot), alcohol abuse (7 Day Drunk) and the hyper-sexualisation of teenage girls in 2013’s Credible Likeable Superstar Role Model. The latter saw her recruiting her nine-year-old niece to help her create Catherine Bennett – a tuna pasta eating, bike riding, dinosaur loving, brightly coloured clothes wearing, perfect popstar of a tweenager’s imagination. This time around, she’s got a new performance partner, her fiancé Tim Grayburn.

Her latest show, Fake It ’Til You Make It, is at its heart a touching love story, but in time-honoured Kimmings tradition, it’s also a gutsy work with a social conscience, designed to get people talking about important things.

The show focuses on mental health – specifically, Grayburn’s battle with chronic depression, a part of himself which he kept hidden from everyone around him for a long time. A deeply personal, deeply sensitive issue – it tackles the

It’s a gutsy work with a social conscience cultural taboo of male mental health head on, via some home-made music, dodgy dancing and a bit of Kimmings’ trademark goofiness. That’s not to say it’s an easy watch – and anyone who’s seen a loved one suffer from mental health issues or experienced something similar themselves is likely to feel a few tears of understanding and recognition pricking if they choose to go and watch it (which they definitely, definitely should).

Bryony tells me that the show came about when Grayburn suffered a relapse into depression whilst she was touring in Australia. “I knew I could no longer warrant us being apart,” she says simply.

“Over the course of the previous year

20 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_016-027 2(ARTS AND CULTURE) cbljc.indd 20

our lives had changed immeasurably after I discovered antidepressants in his backpack, unearthing a decade of hiding from his illness. When I came home from Australia I had joked to him in the car about him needing to quit his job so he could come on tour with me. He looked at me with eyes so serious I knew he was ready to tell his story to a global audience… So began the adventure.”

Kimmings is no stranger to airing her dirty laundry for the sake of art to, in her own words, ‘oil conversations on seemingly difficult subjects’, but was she concerned about doing it with her fiancé’s?

“Putting a loved one in the firing line of an audience is not something I take lightly,” she says. “My main objective with my work with non-performers is to let them dictate the rules and parameters they want to work in. Tim gave me rules I had to follow before I wrote the show, and these gave me the perimeters through which I constructed the drama. They included not wanting to look anyone in the eye (throughout the show he appears in an array of wacky headgear), and always wanting to appear like a ‘real man’. For a theatre maker these

rules are gifts. Tim spends a great deal of the show with his face obscured until he finally reveals his identity at the end.”

So far the reception has been phenomenal. The show sold out Edinburgh and a four-week run at the Soho Theatre, toured Australia, picked up a glut of awards, and the pair have played numerous festivals.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” she says. “The show is a truthful depiction of how an ordinary couple deal with clinical depression.

It’s very honest and very raw, but also funny and

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 13:29

heartfelt. It connects the audience, we speak to them all afterwards at the door and in the bar and people tell us that we are telling their story as well as ours up on that stage, which is truly beautiful.

Our aim is to do our tiny bit to normalise mental health and get blokes talking about their emotions more.”

Making it even more of a whirlwind is the fact that Kimmings was heavily pregnant for much of the tour, and is now on the road with a new baby in tow – an experience she describes as making her “tired, joyful, tearful, stressed, over the moon, worried, happy, mesmerised and completely and totally in love!”

She’s absolutely not slowing down though – and for her upcoming show, a musical opening in London in autumn, she’ll be taking an unflinching look at another big topic: cancer. She’s also, she tells me, considering a show about giving birth (“a mental experience!”).

Whatever she takes on in the next, I, for one, can't wait to see what the future holds for this fearless performer…

Cambridge Junction, 19-20 February.

Tickets are £16 in advance. www.junction.co.uk

CUTTING THE Curve We’re rather excited that talented local cut-paper artist Vanessa Stone has an upcoming exhibition at the Museum of Classical Archaeology.

Having featured her striking, bold artworks on the cover of Cambridge Edition three times, it’s no secret we’re big fans of Vanessa’s work, so we’re delighted that she’s finally got a show in Cambridge. On display for the first time are her cut-paper collages of the classical body, featuring S-curves and muscular torsos beside the heads of gods and goddesses. Using a scalpel, Vanessa has “drawn” into the surface of paper her impression of the museum’s beautiful cast gallery.

She says, “There is something magical about these casts, something just so beautiful about the line of a shoulder; my blade has almost been asking me to cut these lines – to capture them in the simplicity of cut paper.”

You can see the exhibition for free from 18 January to 25 February at the Museum of Classical Archaeology. Full details and opening hours are available online. www.classics.cam.ac.uk/museum

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_016-027 2(ARTS AND CULTURE) cbljc.indd 21

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 21

22/01/2016 13:29

ARTS & CULTURE

PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA As part of the continuing Cambridge Classical Series, legendary musician Vladimir Ashkenazy will be conducting the award-winning Philharmonia Orchestra at the Corn Exchange on 2 March.

The concert will feature two pieces by Rachmaninov, The Rock and Symphony No.3, as well as Sibelius’ Violin Concerto, performed by virtuoso soloist Esther Yoo. Now in her second year as a BBC New Generation Artist, at 16 Esther was the youngest ever winner of the International Sibelius Violin Competition. She plays the 1704 ‘Prince Obolensky’ Stradivarius violin, which was lent to her by a private collector. www.cornex.co.uk

VALENTINE’S CONCERT Calling all lovers and lonely hearts, if you fancy the idea of champagne by candlelight then Ely Cathedral’s Sparkling Valentine’s Day Concert might just be the thing for you. On 13 February at 7.30pm, British concert pianist Warren Mailley-Smith will be performing an intimate recital of Chopin’s most romantic piano music.

Set in the beautiful and historic premises the evening promises to be unforgettable. Mailley-Smith is performing Chopin’s complete solo piano works from memory in a series of 11 recitals in London this season. Tickets are £25, including a programme and a glass of bubbly. www.elycathedral.org

22 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_016-027 2(ARTS AND CULTURE) cbljc.indd 22

Lettering EXHIBITION “In the beginning was the word” proclaims the byline of Ely Cathedral’s Lettering Exhibition, which runs 4-28 February. Dedicated to letters, be they cut, written or printed, the show will celebrate contemporary calligraphy, letter carving and fine printing, running in conjunction with a series of workshops, activities and lectures to attend for children and adults.

Since its inception in 673, Ely Cathedral has had a close relationship with the written word, and this month-long event explores all aspects of that, from printed prayer books to graffiti on the cathedral walls.

Featuring the work of William Morris and live printing demonstrations in the Lady Chapel, there’s a preview evening on 3 February at 6.30pm; tickets are £5. During the main exhibition, tickets are £8 for adults and £2.50 for students whilst children under 16 go free. All can either be booked online or at the cathedral box office.

Alongside the main exhibition, you can join in with events that range from calligraphy workshops with Gaynor Goffe to talks on 20th century stone carving. Visit the cathedral website to find out more. www.elycathedral.org

PRACTICE OF THEORIES From 14 February to 10 April, Wysing Arts Centre in Bourn will host The Practice of Theories, featuring new and existing work by a number of contemporary artists. The idea? To make the intangible visible, sharing knowledge and complex theories through artistic works.

The event kicks off with a launch night on 13 February, with two study days (on 20 February and 5 March), geared towards exploring the themes of the exhibition. On 20 February, artist Andy Holden will host an event inside his sculptural installation The Dan Cox Library (part of which is pictured right). Holden has invited fellow artists Heather Phillipson and Erica Scourti, alongside poet and blogger Steve Roggenbuck, to read texts within the library on the night.

This event is part of Wysing Poly, a programme aiming to provide an environment where practice and theory can come together to develop new work. www.wysingartscentre.org

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 13:29

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 23

22/01/2016 11:42

r © Louisa Taylo

ARTS & CULTURE

"

arkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

Never have these words from Martin Luther King felt truer than in today’s world. Light is absolutely key, not just to art, but to the human spirit. Matisse once said that he expressed himself as an artist through light.

For Egon Schiele, the body burnt with it.

Indeed, the composer Schumann told us that an artist’s mission is to send light into the human heart.

So be inspired by e-Luminate, an art festival which sees the city transformed by light like no other time of the year. With extraordinary large-scale light installations sweeping through Cambridge, all it takes is a few minutes of walking around the city centre to see our iconic architecture flooded with light and colour, with pop-up workshops and events showcasing light and technology for all ages, from 12 to 17 February.

Not just a festival with a pretty face, e-Luminate will also shine a spotlight on

Cleantech, which is located at one of the city’s flagships for social enterprise, the Future Business Centre in Kings Hedges, in a beautiful building also home to innovative public art curated by Acuity Arts (who I met in the autumn at the Cambridge City Art Fair). For e-Luminate, get your smartphones ready to hunt for a Trail of Light that includes a trail of contemporary ‘smart’ beacons that glow as you near them. Inspired by Cambridge’s iconic Richardson Candles,

Extraordinary large-scale light installations that sweep through the city other cutting-edge technology, like the brilliant wizardry of Cleantech. Aside from being one of the ingredients of our city’s much hyped success ("Britain’s most successful city" - The Economist), Cleantech is helping us all save energy and build a cleaner world, including within the light and solar sectors.

Roughly 4000 businesses from in and around the city are involved with Cambridge

24 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_024-025 (RUTHIE) cbkg.indd 24

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

21/01/2016 17:01

ARTS & CULTURE

the beacons are a fabulous reinvention of this historical lamp, designed by senior lighting designer Francesco Anselmo at Arup. Visit www.eluminatefestivals.co.uk for more information.

As for love, well there’s no getting away from Valentine’s Day, whether you love it or would frankly rather have it annihilated.

So why not go a bit wild and turn your loved one’s body into a canvas by commissioning a tattoo for them this Valentine’s? Or have matching tattoos created? I was recently wowed by the work of artist Steve Tucker, studio manager for Almost Angels Tattoo Family in Ely, who are offering Valentine’s vouchers for your beaus as prezzies – so pop in and have the perfect tattoo designed if you're that way inclined. (I’ve got two tattoos, each one telling its own story, and I don’t regret getting either in the slightest).

"Tattoos are a wonderful art piece to commission, and hugely popular – our artists have a range of styles to suit," says Almost Angels’ Faye Peters. Visit www. facebook.com/AlmostAngelsTattooCo for more.

Being given a unique art piece, or having one created for your loved ones, is a treasure indeed. I recently fell for a heart-emblazoned urban art piece, Smell The Flowers, by Cambridge-based artist and designer Karen Stamper (aka Kaz the Artist), recently exhibited as part of Pivotal,

a festival exploring climate change through art (this is not a massive hint to anyone at all, honest). Karen’s distinctive work, marked with a signature style that mixes pop, guerilla and urban styles is available from Storm Fine Arts, www.stormfinearts.com.

Meanwhile, children will be delighted this month by the illustrations of Cambridge

theneonmoonclub.com for further details).

Also, watch out for Neon Moon’s explosive, light-fuelled production exploring the role that electricity has played in live performance throughout the 20th and 21st century - the Electric Rodeo Circus - due to go on tour later this year around the east of England in country mansions, restoration theatres and other fascinating spots.

I spent the Audiovisuals, sumptuous performance, circus afternoon writing about poet Emily and illusion – a diamond in the making Dickinson before their sneak preview resident Joy Sutherland, in a series of books at Cambridge Junction last month (dousing

by Rachel Braddock published by Bold all attendees with a champagne reception Beasts (www.boldbeasts.com). at four in the afternoon – decadent!), Available in Heffers Children’s which was iridescent with audiovisuals Bookshop, the stories - Ariadne and technology, sumptuous performance, Armadillo, Henrietta Hen, Catullus circus and illusion – a diamond in the the Caterpillar, Esquire the Squirrel making. Emily once said "to find that and more - are full of charming phosphorescence, that light within - that’s illustrations by one of the city's the genius behind poetry". You could say best-loved artists (Joy helped run the same, not just of poetry, but of so much playgroups in Cambridge back in performance and art-making, really. It’s just the 1980s and is well remembered finding those cracks to let the light in. by many!).

Have a fabulous February, all.

Finally, all you lovers can head to a vaudevillian-style burlesque Clockwise from left e-Luminate Festival returns to extravaganza: Neon Moon’s Cambridge, The Neon Moon is back with a Valentine’s Masquerade Ball and (left) The Flowers by Kaz the Valentine’s Masquerade Ball on Artist (Karen Stamper).

13 February, held in the heart of the city at the Cambridge Union Society (check www.

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_024-025 (RUTHIE) cbkg.indd 25

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 25

21/01/2016 17:01

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 26

22/01/2016 15:20

ARTS & CULTURE

NAOMI DAVIES EXHIBITION Local artist Naomi Davies will be exhibiting a display of her lovely illustrations at Hot Numbers on Gwydir Street from 18 February to 13 March. On display as part of Everyday Cambridge will be the latest of her paintings of Cambridge, featuring street scenes and colourful depictions of favourite local independent cafés, shops and street food vans.

“My paintings could be described as quirky observations of everyday life,” says Naomi. “I work in pen and watercolour and generally don’t use a pencil, but go straight for pen. I like concise lines and don’t like to edit my work too much – I’m recording what I see, not what I want to see. I am never bored – I can always draw. It doesn’t matter to me if there’s nothing pretty to look at. It’s there, and my fingers start itching to record it.”

When she’s not illustrating our city, Naomi’s other life is running a company called Helpful Genealogy that helps people trace their family history. “I use drawing as a way to relax when I have too many names and dates swimming around up there,” she says. “It’s a left brain right, brain thing.”

The Everyday Cambridge exhibition opens with a preview evening on 17 February, 7-9pm. www.naomidaviesart.co.uk

SOMEONE YOU love

Head down to Norfolk Street’s Changing Spaces gallery this month to check out Someone You Love, the latest exhibition from Cambridge-based photographer Ian Farrell. Beginning on 8 February, this week-long show is a continuation of Ian’s Open Studios project, in which he asked all of his subjects to think of the same thing while he photographed them: someone that they love. The results were then printed in real time and hung on the wall throughout the day.

“It was an experiment that turned out to be far more popular than I imagined,” says Ian. “I think visitors liked reading the pictures’ captions and scrutinising the faces in each picture to find the emotion.”

The 2016 Someone You Love exhibition will follow a similar format, showing many of the pictures captured in 2015 while also offering visitors the opportunity to sit for a portrait themselves. Photographs shot during the exhibition will be printed and displayed throughout the week – and participants can take home a print in return for a small donation.

There will be a special late-night opening (until 9pm) on the 14 February to celebrate Valentine’s day. www.ianfarrell.com

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_016-027 2(ARTS AND CULTURE) cbljc.indd 27

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 27

22/01/2016 13:29

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 28

22/01/2016 15:20

WOW

WORDS VANESSA BLACKLEDGE

Women of the World festival Cambridge Celebrate the achievements of women and girls from across the globe at the Cambridge leg of this annual event

WHAT IS WOW? The Women of the World Festival, appropriately known as WOW, was launched on International Women’s Day 2011 by Jude Kelly, artistic director of the Southbank Centre. It’s the world’s largest festival network of its kind and, since its conception, has grown into a global movement, with 15 festivals on five continents and counting. The

aim is celebration; a celebration of the achievements of women and girls across the world. But it also takes time to explore the obstacles that hinder them.

Each festival lasts between a day and a week, and comprises talks, debates, performance, music and activism, as well as a marketplace packed with stands, from handmade crafts for sale to businesses and charities that have women at their heart and (crucially) a free creche.

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_029-031 (WOW) ljc.indd 29

WOW has received a lot of high profile attention since its birth, with past speakers including Malala Yousafzai, Patrick Stewart, Salma Hayek, Annie Lennox, Caitlin Moran and former PM Gordon Brown. In 2015, The Duchess of Cornwall became WOW’s President and there’s even talk of a WOW Commonwealth Festival at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 on Australia’s Gold Coast.

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 29

22/01/2016 08:14

WOW

WHY IS WOW IMPORTANT? There was a lot of good news for women across the globe in 2015: Nigeria’s outgoing president Goodluck Jonathan banned female genital mutilation (FGM). Germany passed a law for gender quotas in the boardroom. Brazil and Columbia became the latest Latin American countries to pass specific femicide laws. Malawi’s Senior Chief Inkosi Kachindamoto annulled 330 child marriages. Canada appointed a genderequal cabinet (“because it’s 2015”). And

30 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_029-031 (WOW) ljc.indd 30

good old Sweden added the genderneutral pronoun ‘hen’ to its dictionary.

It’s clear that there’s a continuing worldwide appetite for shifts in attitudes towards women. However, according to UN Women (the UN body for gender equality and empowerment of women), one in three women still experience physical or sexual violence. Women who have been victims of sexual or physical abuse are more likely to be infected with HIV. 43% of women in the 28 European Union member states have experienced some form of psychological violence.

92% of women in New Delhi reported sexual violence in public spaces. More than 700 million women alive today were married as children. One in ten girls across the globe have experienced forced sex. 133 million girls have been subjected to FGM. And women and girls make up 70% of all human trafficking detected worldwide.

Safe to say that there’s still an awful lot of work to be done, which is where WOW comes in.

So far WOW Festivals have been launched in Egypt’s Alexandria, Baltimore, Brisbane, Cardiff, Londonderry, Harlem, Australia’s Katherine, Sydney, and, of course, our own Cambridge. Over one million people have been involved globally already, and it’s Festival policy to make all its content available online, for free, which is a hugely important part of getting its messages to women who may be isolated.

WOW London made history when it became one of the first public places where survivors of FGM spoke in a mainstream context, leading to a change in government policy, announced by David Cameron in 2014, to outlaw the practice. Over 10,000 women have been mentored globally as part of their free Speed Mentoring. And they are establishing a year-round programme of events globally, in partnership with organisations like Plan, including WOW Wheels on the UN’s International Day of the Girl Child, with 400 girls speedmentored on the London Eye, so far, by successful women from all walks of life.

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 08:14

WOW

FRINGE GOOD VIBRATIONS GAMELAN PROJECT Workshop and talk about Bath Spa’s research on female offenders #EPICFAIL Four high profile women discuss their career failures HISTORY OF WOMEN’S EDUCATION Talk and exhibition on women’s education in Cambridge ART BY WOMEN AT THE FITZWILLIAM MUSEUM Eliza Gluckman discusses art by women

WOW CAMBRIDGE WOW Cambridge became a fullyfledged event in 2015, and was such a success that this year’s programme is already jostling. Back in October the organisers held a ‘think-in’ which was open to any interested party within the community. The aim was simply to throw ideas around as to what people would like to see featured.

Radio 1 DJ Gemma Cairney, who is on the committee for the London WOW, told us: “Each time a think-in is held we all come out reverberating with excitement and food for thought. There is something inexplicably powerful about sounding off, asking questions, learning from each other's experiences and creating a space which is women focused.” Perhaps it’s unsurprising that Cambridge’s think-in returned education as a strong theme.

Education in relation to gender is at the heart of WOW Cambridge, and that’s reflected in this year’s programme.

Sigrid Fisher is one of the organisers of Women of the World Cambridge and she explains that Cambridge is an important centre for the festival because of its links to education, but stresses that this is not an academic event, rather, it’s a

place for community and for a broad sharing of ideas and experience that is accessible to everyone. “It’s very important that there’s a local feel – that makes it really relevant.”

A TASTE OF WHO’S TO COME Polly Vernon, author of joyfully controversial book Hot Feminist, which challenges more traditional feminist ideologies with its sexy, man-loving tone, will be on the panel for Seen and Heard,

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_029-031 (WOW) ljc.indd 31

discussing how women are perceived and listened to (or not). When we asked why she thinks WOW is important she said, “It's incredibly important that we keep discussing the issues that impact women; as our lives change, those issues change, so it needs to be a constant and evolving chat. I also think we need to embrace as many perspectives and experiences as

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 31

22/01/2016 08:14

WOW

HIGHLIGHTS MIGHTY WOMEN Featuring women who do amazing things: Harriet Minter, Sarah Leiter, Hollie McNish #NOTGUILTY A panel discussing sexual violence on campus: Angie Stewart, Ione Wells, Janine Booth, Emerald O’Hanrahan, Graham Virgo, Rachel Fenton WOMEN IN POLITICS Sophie Walker, Frances Scott, Helen Pankhurst TO INFINITY AND BEYOND Women in science and engineering: Finn Mackay, Kate Smurthwaite, Taryn Gleeson, Tamsyn Challenger WOMEN AND CRIME Loraine Gelsthorpe, Colleen Moore, Diana Minns

possible through the discussion, which is something WOW does well.”

You may remember Charlotte Proudman from the LinkedIn sexism storm last year, when she held a man who made inappropriate comments on her profile picture to account. Beyond that she’s a staggeringly accomplished woman; a barrister in family law, an expert in female genital mutilation, forced marriage and honour-based violence, and a doctoral researcher here at Cambridge researching FGM in England and Wales. We asked her if feminism is still important here in the UK where we have relative equality compared with women in other countries, and she said, “Patriarchy is universal and cross-cultural; it’s not something to one society and not others… I think it’s important to have feminism wherever you have gender inequality.”

Full-time mum Caroline Jones set up her blog, Knickers Model’s Own, after her mother Mary lost her battle with cancer.

She decided to wear a different outfit every day for a year, sourced from her local Cancer Research charity shop. In her

32 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_029-031 (WOW) ljc.indd 32

first week she’d had 97,000 hits and at the close of 2015 she had raised just shy of £50,000 (donate at www.justgiving. com/knickers-models-own). Her astonishment at her own ability, realised later in life, will inspire: “I never saw myself as someone to speak for women.

It was only during this campaign, when I was invited to speak in Cardiff, at that moment I felt fantastic! Before I didn’t think I had anything to say on any subject.”

WOW Cambridge takes place on the 5 March at Cambridge Junction. Fringe events take place 1–7 March, and International Women’s Day is 7 March.

Keep your eyes on the WOW and Cambridge Edition websites for the programme of events and speakers for the festival and fringe.

SEEN AND HEARD How women are perceived and listened to (or not): Alice Wroe, Priscilla Mensah, Cat Crossley WOMEN, WAR AND PEACE Jennifer Barnes, Anne Lonsdale, Hazel Thompson, Rehab Jameel WOMEN AND EDUCATION Mabel van Orange and Katherine Wilson

www.wowcambridge. cam.ac.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 08:14

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 33

22/01/2016 11:43

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 34

22/01/2016 11:44

MUSEUMS

WORDS ELLA WATTS

AT THE n 17 February, the University of Cambridge Museums will be open after hours for their tenth annual Twilight at the Museums event. From 4.30pm until 8.30pm, not just the university museums will be open; the Museum of Cambridge, Cambridge Museum of Technology and Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey are all taking part too.

There’s a huge array of things to see and do, plus refreshments to keep the family batteries charged. As well as the museums’ own cafés, Caffe Mobile will be on hand with hot drinks and cakes, and gourmet street food outfit Steak & Honour will be flipping burgers on the Downing Street site.

MUSEUMS

Animal fans can showcase their knowledge at the Polar Museum, where the Museum of Zoology will be testing your ability to distinguish between Arctic and Antarctic creatures. Or if you prefer skeletons, visit the Sedgwick Museum for a twilight trail of dinosaur bones and fossils brought to life by sound and light.

Adventurers can do their best Indiana Jones impression at the Botanic Garden, where they’ll be tasked with finding specimens in the glasshouses.

Or go all Famous If you're feeling brave, venture on Five at the Farmland Museum and Denny the Statues that Go Bump trail Abbey, following in the footsteps of a Where to start? Science geeks should little boy who started a collection head over to Cambridge Science Centre, in a shoebox. If you’re feeling where they’ll be talking about light and brave, venture into the Museum astronomy with shows, demonstrations of Classical Archaeology for their and workshops. Or you could go on an twilight trail: Statues that Go Bump epic hunt for gadgets and gizmos at the in the Night.

Whipple Museum to be in with the chance Finally, the Fitzwilliam Museum of winning a secret prize. The Museum is teaming up with Kettle’s Yard to of Cambridge meanwhile will have an offer kids workshops with local artist Lizzy enchanting demonstration of their magic Hobbs at 4.30pm, 5.30pm and 6.30pm. lantern projector – you even get to make If you’re getting tired you might want to your own slide to take home. opt for storytelling with Vanessa Woolf The Cambridge Museum of Technology at 4.45pm, 5.45pm and 6.45pm. Or start will boast entertainment all night your evening at the museum, which will be guaranteed to get minds whirring. There’ll glowing with an installation as part of the be live music by creatives from CBBC’s e-Luminate Festival and hosting a lightHorrible Histories, pedal-powered bands, inspired museum trail. sound tours and hands-on activities inside Susan Miller, Twilight at the Museums and out. Plus live fire jugglers! event coordinator says: “We cannot

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_035 (TWILIGHT MUSEUMS)ljc.indd 35

17

Feb

believe that Twilight at the Museums has now reached double digits, and my, has it grown! This year’s programme looks set to be bigger and more exciting than ever. For first-time visitors and regulars alike, Twilight is a great opportunity to see these amazing collections in a unique, exciting context.”

Follow @CamUnivMuseums on Twitter and like them on Facebook. www.cam.ac.uk/museums-and-collections

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 35

21/01/2016 17:27

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 36

22/01/2016 11:44

HISTORY FESTIVAL

Illustrations by Alice Thomson: www.alicethomson.co.uk

WORDS ELLA WATTS

Cambridge History Festival or its 80th anniversary the Museum of Cambridge is presenting a jam-packed series of live entertainment, hands-on workshops and mouth-watering feasts for the second Cambridge History Festival.

Wash down your slice of history with a pint at Beer and Brewing in Cambridge with CAMRA on 26 February, a tour which will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about pubs and brewing in Cambridge. Beginning at 7pm in Castle Street Methodist Church, the tour concludes with a tipple at the Museum of Cambridge – formerly the White Horse Inn. Tickets are £7-£9.50 and places are limited.

Or, join BBC Radio 4’s Dr Annie Gray on 25 February, who’ll be talking Fenland feasts and fasts. Tickets start at £5 and include a glass of wine. On 5 March meanwhile, there’ll be a special event in which head chef Byron Franklin will present Historical Dining at Clare College. Starting at 7pm, he’s plundered the college archives to create a three-course menu that draws from the past, with a modern twist. Tickets are £70 per person and group discounts are available.

Fitzbillies owner Tim Hayward will also be giving a talk towards the end of the evening.

If you don’t fancy dining, there’s plenty more to make and do, especially for families. On 21 February the Museum of Technology is hosting STEAM’s Family FunDay, a free day of creative thinking and activities between 1pm and 5pm. Activities (directed toward older children and young adults), include coding robotic crocodiles,

Cambridge with Prof. Helen Weinstein and Allan Brigham to learn the grizzly tale of Industrial Cambridge on 21 February. It starts at 11am and tickets cost £5.

On 22 February, 100 Years of Coconuts will tell the story of Cambridge United Supporters Club for free from 7pm. The next day, MC Steve Cross is masterminding an evening comedy madness starring An evening of comedy madness starring of archaeologists, historians, researchers, curators and historians, researchers and curators archivists. History Showoff kicks off at 7.30pm at the Portland Arms, from £6. All profits will go to local charities Wintercomfort and Jimmy’s Night Shelter.

Finally, on 12 March at Great St Mary’s there’ll be a full day of activities, punctuated by a Singing History Concert at 3pm. Music includes a new piece by children’s writer Michael Rosen, rounds and anthems co-written by Cambridge composers, and 17 FEB songs by Dave Cohen, chief - 12 MAR songwriter for CBBC’s Horrible Histories. Primary school singers will lead the music, but lyrics will be projected so everybody can join Matthew and Gill of HistoryNeedsYou.com in. From football to foot-tapping, feasting to will be bringing you Meet Dr John Dee the farce, the second Cambridge History Festival tale of a Cambridge wizard. They’ll also help is set to be a real humdinger. families make magic spells and potions to treat diseases. If you like the messy side of www.folkmuseum.org.uk history, Walk the Really Horrible History of building rockets and creative newspaper engineering. Volunteers from Makespace and CamCreatives will be on hand too, showcasing robots and prototypes for new inventions. Littler historians can go to the Museum of Cambridge on 27 February between 10.30am and 2.30pm, where

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_037 (HISTORY) cb_if.indd 37

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 37

21/01/2016 17:10

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 38

22/01/2016 11:45

FAMILY

MORGAN & WEST’S UTTERLY SPIFFING SPECTACULAR MAGIC SHOW FOR KIDS… “(And Childish Grown-ups!)” runs the headline of Messrs Rhys Morgan and Robert West’s brain boggling upcoming show at Cambridge Junction. Self-proclaimed as a time travelling Victorian magic act, Morgan & West perform a range of shows for both children and adults and have toured the modern world extensively.

The magic show includes illusions, magic (naturally) and, of course, good old-fashioned tomfoolery. Described by Broadway Baby as ‘the perfect double act’, and boasting four stars from the British Comedy Guide, it’s not to be missed! There are two shows on 16 February, and tickets cost £10 for adults and £6 for children, group rates and concessions are available. www.junction.co.uk

VICTORIAN GAMES GALORE Audley End will be hosting a series of family activities during half term all about how the Victorians had fun. Between 11am and 4pm daily from 15 to 19 February, you can play skittles, quoits, croquet and chess in the property’s Jacobean gardens. Staff will be on hand to give advice and instruction, and as well as all the equipment you’ll need.

Plus, since it’s Audley End, you’ll be playing in what was once one of the largest and most opulent gardens in Jacobean England.

Admission is £16 for adults and £9.60 for children aged five to 15. www.english-heritage.org.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_039 (FAMILY) ljc_if.indd 39

HALF TERM AT CAMBRIDGE SCIENCE CENTRE

WHAT THE LADYBIRD HEARD Parents and kids alike are in for a treat at Cambridge Arts Theatre from 17 to 21 February. Based on the award-winning picture book by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, What the Ladybird Heard follows the Ladybird as she attempts to foil Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len in their plans to steal the farmer’s prize cow. Bright, colourful, full of music and audience participation, the show combines puppetry with live performance and promises to be a treat for all.

It’ll run for 55 minutes with no interval, and is recommended for all children aged three and above. There are least two shows per day, so check the website for precise times. All tickets are £15.50. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Got a budding astronaut in the family? Be sure to take them to Jesus Lane’s Science Centre 13-21 February, where they’ll be venturing into the mysterious depths of outer space.

There’s a crop of fun and fascinating science-like activities taking place, all geared towards looking at how we are exploring life beyond earth.

On the agenda are the Cambridge Exoplanet Research Group, who’ll be pondering the search for other worlds. Engineers from Airbus Defence and Space will discuss spacecraft too, and there’ll be lots of hands-on workshops. Visit the Science Centre's website for full details. www.cambridgesciencecentre.org

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 39

21/01/2016 17:11

LISTINGS CHECK OUT LOCAL EVENTS ONLINE

cambsedition.co.uk

A ROUND-UP OF EVENTS IN AND AROUND CAMBRIDGESHIRE THIS FEBRUARY 1-6 FEBRUARY CONFUSIONS Time: 2.30pm & 7.45pm Location: Cambridge Arts Theatre Price: £18-£33 Description: From a devoted, isolated mother and her unfaithful travelling salesman husband, to a solicitous waiter, well-heeled diners and an utterly shambolic garden fete, human frailty is laid bare as one hilarious situation after another unfolds in these Alan Ayckbourn one-act plays. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com 2 FEBRUARY CANDLEMAS Time: 7.30pm Location: Ely Cathedral Price: £20 Description: More than 5,000 candles will light up the cathedral for this enchanting medieval Candlemas. Ely’s cathedral choir will sing choral music by a range of composers and there will be a special introduction from the Rt Revd Dr Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. www.elycathedral.org 4 FEBRUARY ISY SUTTIE: THE ACTUAL ONE Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £15 Description: Featuring stories, songs and readings, Isy’s show is based on her book of the same name, which considers the possibility of meeting not just The One, but The Actual One. junction.co.uk

6 FEBRUARY AHIR SHAH: DISTANT Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £11 Description: Philosophical and erudite, Ahir has performed across the UK and abroad, earning consistent acclaim, an inconsistent income and a description as a ‘thoughtful wastrel’. His stand-up is all about the importance of faraway things, including the First World War, cigarettes, climate change, love and pirates. www.junction.co.uk 7 FEBRUARY VALENTINE’S CRAFT FAIR Time: 10am–3pm Location: Stanwick Village Hall Price: Free Description: Featuring 20 stalls selling handmade items, this is a perfect opportunity to buy gifts for loved ones or even yourself just in time for Valentine’s Day. There’ll also be children’s craft bags and activities, as well as refreshments and home-made cakes. www.rainbowcraftevents.co.uk

7 FEBRUARY HANDA’S HEN Time: 11.30am, 2.30pm & 4pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £6/£10 Description: The same company that created Handa’s Surprise is behind this enchanting tale based on the book by Eileen Browne.

Little Angel Theatre is one of only three building-based puppet theatres in England and the show will feature 55 puppets crafted specially for the production, which will sing and dance through the story as they go. www.junction.co.uk 10 FEBRUARY BANFF MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange

8 FEBRUARY FAMELAB Time: 7pm Location: The Portland Arms Price: TBC Description: Science, technology and engineering concepts are demystified in bite-sized presentations by experts in the FameLab competition.

Contestants from around the world are armed only with a fighting spirit and a few props. The results are unpredictable, enlightening, entertaining and exciting. www.theportlandarms.co.uk

Price: £15 Description: Get a large helping of adrenaline with a side order of adventure when the Banff Mountain Film Festival sets up camp for the night at the Corn Exchange, just one stop on its UK and Ireland tour. The evening offers a packed bag of thoughtprovoking, stunning short films following some of the world’s most incredible adventurers as they explore the globe’s most distant corners. www.cornex.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_040-041 (LISTINGS)ljc cb.indd 40

21/01/2016 17:11

LISTINGS

13 FEBRUARY GRANTA CHORALE Time: 7.30pm Location: Saffron Hall Price: £14 Description: In honour of Valentine’s Day, Granta Chorale presents a feast of love songs exploring the joys, sorrows and lighter side of love. www.saffronhall.com

17 FEBRUARY THE WAVE PICTURES Time: 7.30pm Location: The Portland Arms Price: £11 Description: English alternative rock band, The Wave Pictures are back with their brand-new, vinyl only album A Season in Hull, due out on 12 February. www.theportlandarms.co.uk

13-14 FEBRUARY THE CAMBRIDGE LIVING HISTORY FAIR Time: 10am Location: Wood Green Animal Shelter Price: £2 Description: A marketplace for historical interpreters and enthusiasts, the fair promises to be unusual, fun and educational. www.woodgreen.org.uk

21 FEBRUARY EVENING OF MURDER Time: 7.45pm Location: Cambridge Arts Theatre Price: £15.50-£25.50 Description: Renowned historian, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces and BBC TV presenter, Dr Lucy Worsley will take you on an illustrated tour of our fascination with murder, examining notorious crimes and criminals and explaining how murder became entertainment. www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

13 FEBRUARY THE PRACTICE OF THEORIES Time: 6-8pm Location: Wysing Arts Centre Price: Free Description: Launch day for this exhibition, which brings together artists who seek to make complex and intangible theories visible and to share knowledge. www.wysingartscentre.org 16 FEBRUARY UTTERLY SPIFFING SPECTACULAR MAGIC SHOW Time: 11.30am & 2.30pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £6/£10 Description: Magical timetravelling Victorian double act Morgan & West crash-land at the Junction to mix brain-boggling illusions and good old-fashioned tomfoolery for all the family. www.junction.co.uk 17 FEBRUARY LOOKING FOR LGBT HISTORY Time: 1.15pm Location: The Fitzwilliam Museum Price: Free Description: Dr Kate Nichols, a Fellow in British art from the University of Birmingham, gives a talk, part of LGBT History month. www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

22 FEBRUARY KODO ONE EARTH TOUR Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £12.50-£25 Description: Directed by one of the world’s most celebrated Kabuki actors, Tamasaburo Bando, this spectacular production combines contemporary music and dance based on traditional Japanese arts. www.cornex.co.uk 23 FEBRUARY THE SHADOW MAN Time: 6.30pm Location: Heffers Bookshop Price: £3.60 Description: As part of Cambridge History Festival, author Geoff Andrews talks about James Klugmann, the ‘shadow man’ in his book. www.bookshop. blackwell.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_040-041 (LISTINGS)ljc cb.indd 41

21 FEBRUARY ROALD DAHL’S THE BFG Time: 2pm & 4pm Location: Saffron Hall Price: £8-£20 Description: The London Philharmonic Orchestra presents a family-friendly special FUNharmonics concert to mark the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth. In honour of this beloved children’s author, the orchestra will bring The BFG to life. www.saffronhall.com

25 FEBRUARY TOMMY TIERNAN: OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £19 advance Description: He’s won every award going in his 20-year career, but Tommy is still as passionate as ever about storytelling. Profound, dark and silly, his performance is mesmerising, uplifting and breathtakingly funny. www.junction.co.uk

27 FEBRUARY RUNRIG Time: 7.30pm Location: Corn Exchange Price: £30.50 Description: Barnstorming Celtic rockers Runrig are on the road again to celebrate the release of their 14th studio album, The Story. www.cornex.co.uk 27 FEBRUARY OTAVA YO Time: 8pm Location: Cambridge Junction Price: £11 advance Description: Straight from St Petersburg, Otava Yo bring the abandoned traditions of Russian folk song to the 21st century, complete with peasant dress and ushankas (hats to you and me). www.junction.co.uk 28 FEBRUARY CAMBRIDGE HALF MARATHON Time: 9.30am Location: Midsummer Common Price: Free Description: It’ll be a real spectacle with more than 7,000 runners running the 13.1 miles. www.onestepbeyond.org.uk

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 41

21/01/2016 17:11

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 42

22/01/2016 11:45

FOOD DRINK A N D

GET THE INSIDE TRACK ON CAMBRIDGE’S FOODIE SCENE WITH EDITION’S MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT

latest

new foodie openings REVIEW:

THAIKHUN

Get in the mood

food

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_043 (FOOD OPENER) ljckg.indd 43

Cambridge Edition | July 2014 | 43

21/01/2016 17:12

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 44

22/01/2016 11:46

FOOD

WORDS ALEX RUSHMER

SPICE ISL AND THE TOTALLY TROPICAL TASTES OF SRI LANKA HAVE SPICED UP CHEF ALEX’S OUTLOOK - AND HIS MENUS ’ve just returned from a blissful fortnight’s holiday in Sri Lanka.

After a full year of work, during which the longest break I had out of the kitchen amounted to a brief three-day trip to Marrakech after my wedding in June, this break felt less like a luxury and more like a necessity. Engaging with a new country, climate, culture and cuisine really is the best way to recharge your batteries, with the latter certainly being the most exciting and inspirational for me.

The food in Sri Lanka is redolent of that of southern India – being a tropical island nation ensures an abundance of great fish and coconuts – but it also has a distinct identity of its own. Curries are light and slightly sour, spice mixes are complex and often roasted to a dark, rich colour which

imparts deep flavours, often with cinnamon at the heart. The spice is native to the island and continues to be a major export crop. Its use outside of sweet preparations was, at first, revelatory.

The island’s signature dish, if it can be described as such, is the simply named ‘rice and curry’ but its short title belies its intricate and generous reality. A mound of rice is surrounded by as many as nine or ten different preparations including meat curries, lentil dhals,

THE NAME ‘RICE AND CURRY’ BELIES THE INTRICATE AND GENEROUS REALITY OF THE ISLAND’S SIGNATURE DISH vegetable curries and a number of sambols – usually cold preparations such as chutneys that provide delicious counterpoints of spice, freshness, acidity and heat, depending on how you wish to balance your dish.

Dhal and curry, often coconut based, make an appearance at breakfast too, alongside string hoppers, which are similar to thin rice noodles with a slightly stickier texture.

Although rice is Sri Lanka’s near ubiquitous

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_045 (FOOD COLUMN)ljc_if.indd 45

staple starch, flatbreads like rotis also make an appearance, either in stacks where they are used as an ersatz spoon in the absence of cutlery, or folded around delicious curry fillings for an amazing snack that kept calling me back as we navigated the island’s trundling railways.

Perhaps the best use of rotis, though, is in kottu roti, where they are chopped and fried on a huge hot plate along with egg and vegetables. Chicken, fish or even cheese might make an appearance too and the result is probably best described as being reminiscent of chow mein. It is stodgy, filling and totally delicious, especially when paired with a fiery chilli sambol – essentially it is perfect fodder for soaking up excess beer and arrack, Sri Lanka’s pungent local grog distilled from the sap of coconut flowers.

Less aggressive refreshment almost always came in the form of some of the finest tea I have ever tasted – delicate single-estate brews that would make tea lovers the world over weep, and doubtless would cost a small fortune by the time they made their journey to the UK. Not bad considering tea production was only introduced after a parasite wiped out the island’s coffee production in the 19th century.

Expect to see some dishes inspired by this trip on the menu very soon.

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 45

21/01/2016 17:14

WORDS ANDREW WEBB

get in the mood

food

Inspiration for a home-cooked feast, perfect for a romantic dinner à deux this Valentine’s Day Valentine’s Day evening must surely be one of the most unromantic times to eat out. A meal ‘enjoyed’ in close proximity of dozens of other couples, none of whom you must look at but whose every word you can hear. If that’s your thing, good

Dining À ,deux on Valentine s night luck; if not how else should you mark the occasion? Fire up the stoves and cook something special at home I say. After all, the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach.

Sadly, no foods are scientifically proven to work as aphrodisiacs. But that doesn’t mean that good food can’t kindle romance. Here are some suggestions for dining à deux on Valentine’s night.

Sharing shellfish Reputedly enjoyed in great quantities by the great lover Casanova himself, oysters

46 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_046-051 (FOOD FEATURE) ljc1_if.indd 46

are synonymous with seduction. Plus you look cool shucking them open yourself (though you can have this done if you’d prefer). If you don’t like raw oysters, try other shellfish such as clams, mussels or scallops: just top with butter, parsley and breadcrumbs before cooking under the grill. Lowestoft-based Crystal Waters fishmongers are at Cambridge city centre market on Wednesday through to Saturday, and have a large stock of rock oysters, as well as the smaller, but just as tasty, native variety fresh from the Essex coast. Also, did you know Loch Fyne on Trumpington Street have a fresh fish counter? They sell beautiful British lobsters, whiskysmoked salmon, langoustines and, of course, fresh oysters and mussels from their eponymous

Scottish loch. Finally, Mill road's Sea Tree can order in wet fish for you.

Crystal Waters 01502 586866 www.onlinefish.co.uk Loch Fyne, 37 Trumpington Street CB2 1QY 01223 362433 See Tree www.seatree.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

21/01/2016 17:15

FOOD

Steak acclaim If you’re planning on a meaty menu then nothing beats a big, well-hung piece of steak, such as a T-bone. The beauty of this heart-shaped cut is that it’s really two steaks in one with a T-shaped bone down the centre, hence its name. On one side there’s a piece of fillet, on the other, a sirloin, allowing you to share a bit of each. Here’s how to cook it.

Firstly, season with plenty of fine sea salt and get your pan smoking hot.

Using a pair of tongs hold the white rind of the steak against the bottom of the pan for a few minutes to release a little of the fat, before allowing the flesh to

Nothing beats a T-bone if you fancy a meaty menu

special offer

Gog Magog Hills Farm Shop are offering readers a T-bone steak and a bottle of house wine for just £15.

Simply quote Cambridge Edition offer when purchasing.

hit it. Flip every 60 seconds and cook for around 3-4 minutes for medium rare, or 5-6 for medium. During the last minute, ‘dress’ it by adding a tablespoon of butter to the pan and allow it to foam. Rest, then serve with a green salad and a horseradish and mayonnaise dressing.

Most good butchers stock T-bone steaks. I really like the ones from butcher Oliver Anstee at the Gog Magog Farm Shop.

They’re produced by Ollie’s father, Frank, who farms British Blue cattle at the family farm near Ashdon. While you’re there, you could also pick up some of their beautifully decorated Valentine’s shortbread biscuits filled with jam for an easy, but tasty pudding.

Gog Magog Hills Farm Shop CB22 3AD 01223 248352 www.gogmagoghills.com

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_046-051 (FOOD FEATURE) ljc1_if.indd 47

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 47

21/01/2016 17:15

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 48

22/01/2016 11:46

FOOD

Pasta passion If you’re small on budget, but big on romance, then go for a classic Italian ragu or Bolognese sauce. Here’s how I make mine; first gently sweat finely chopped onion, garlic, celery and carrot in a 50:50 mixture of butter and olive oil until soft. Remove the vegetables and set aside, wipe out the pan and add more oil and 500g minced beef and about 200g minced pork, but don’t overcrowd the pan. Sauté until brown then return the vegetables and add passata, plum tomatoes and wine. Season with salt and pepper and place in a 120°C oven for 3 hours or more to slowly cook. The beauty of this dish is you can do all this prep before

prep before your sweetheart arrives your sweetheart arrives, then simply boil the pasta and open the wine.

Traditionally, Bolognese sauce is always served with tagliatelle rather than spaghetti, but if you do want to recreate the classic scene from the Disney animated film The Lady and the Tramp, Balzano’s on Cherry Hinton Road stocks the extra long spaghetti you’ll need.

Balzano’s, 204 Cherry Hinton Road 01223 246168 www.balzanos.co.uk

Pizza the action An easily prepared, budget option is pizza.

You can make your dough hours in advance or even the night before, then fool around with the flour in the kitchen as you shape and knead it.

Visit Limoncello to pick up genuine Italian toppings such as buffalo mozzarella and some slices of the classic salami – they also sell freshly-made packs of pizza dough, ready to roll. While there, choose a selection of antipasti such as stuffed olives, anchovies and seafood salad too.

Limoncello, 212 Mill Road CB1 3LF 01223 507036 www.limoncello.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_046-051 (FOOD FEATURE) ljc1_if.indd 49

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 49

21/01/2016 17:15

FOOD

Chocoholic-ism The late Snoopy cartoonist Charles M. Schulz once wrote: “all you need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” And he was right, so if you’re planning some chocolate for your love, head to Chocolat Chocolat.

Their speciality this Valentine’s Day is handmade chocolate bouquets with a handwritten message. Choose from phrases such as ‘be mine’ or ‘true love’, or have the in-house team write a custom message for you. Other chocolate treats include rose-flavoured milk chocolate with Turkish delight pieces, available in bouquets, bars and as individual pieces.

Finally, if you’ve left it to the last minute, they’re even offering a Valentine’s Day delivery service!

Chocolat Chocolat, 21 St Andrew’s Street CB2 3AX 01223 778982 www.chocolatchocolat.co.uk

Drink to me only with thine eyes So you’ve decided on your menu, but what to drink with it? I asked James Thorne of Cambridge Wine Merchants for some romantic recommendations, all around the £15 to £20 mark. First up, fizz.

Their Joseph Perrier Brut Rosé NV Cuvée Royale is an incredibly pretty pale rose colour, and would be great on its own or with seafood. For something a little different, try Jansz Premium Cuvée NV Brut from Tasmania. James reckons it’s up there with the best of champagne and it’s cracking value too.

To serve with more meaty dishes, James recommends Tim Smith Wines Bugalugs Shiraz 2014 Barossa, which

50 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_046-051 (FOOD FEATURE) ljc1_if.indd 50

delivers rich, full bodied and juicy fruit flavours along with soft tannins making it dangerously easy to drink. Another option is the Vondeling Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, a broad, succulent and silky wine with plenty of red fruit, smoky cigar box, roasted almonds and maraschino cherries.

Finally, a pretty pink sticky drink in the form of Warner Edwards Harrington Rhubarb Gin 75l (£35). Northamptonshirebased Warner Edwards have created this fruit-based gin, which tastes equally beautiful whether blended with tonic in a martini or served on its own, giving a burst of rhubarb flavour without being too sweet. It’s wonderfully vibrant and perfectly balanced.

Cambridge Wine Merchants 01223 309309 www.cambridgewine.com

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

21/01/2016 17:15

FOOD

Asian inspiration If you lack both time and confidence in the kitchen and fancy something spicy then you could always cheat a little and order in.

Inder’s Kitchen do a range of classic Indian dishes which can either be bought frozen and cooked at home, or ordered in hot and ready to eat. Try the mutton laal maas, a spicy red curry from Rajasthan made with chilli and yoghurt, or the Goan king prawn balchao with red chillies. There’s even dishes under 500 calories for those of you still sticking with the new year diet, as well as vegetarian and gluten-free options. What’s more, every order on Valentine’s Day comes with a free pudding for you both.

Inder’s Kitchen 01223 211333 www.inderskitchen.com

happily ever after So, the menu’s decided, the recipes are ready, anything else?

Well I’ll leave the final thought to Relate ambassador and UK Dating Expert of the Year, Susan Quilliam. “My top tips? Make the setting for your food as sensuous as possible – a beautifully laid table, some romantic music in the background, seating close enough to touch. Make as much of your food in advance as you can – after all, the focus is on the two of you, not on the act of cooking – unless of course you’re cooking together, which can be a lovely way to bond as a couple. And if what begins in the kitchen, and continues into the dining room, ends in the bedroom, then that’s lovely too!”

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_046-051 (FOOD FEATURE) ljc1_if.indd 51

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 51

21/01/2016 17:17

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 52

22/01/2016 11:47

FOOD

FOOD NEWS A MONTHLY ROUND-UP OF GASTRONOMIC GOINGS-ON IN CAMBRIDGE AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

CAMBRIDGE COOKERY SCHOOL CAFE

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_053-056 (FOOD NEWS) cbljc.indd 53

© Daisy Dickinson

It feels like it’s been a while in the pipeline, so we were very pleased to see that Cambridge Cookery School at last opened the doors to its brand-new café, just off Hills Road, last month. And rather lovely it is too. Step inside and you’re greeted with sleek and contemporary interiors, oozing Scandi chic, and a counter laden with vibrant salads and tempting homemade cakes.

On the small but perfectly formed menu you’ll find breakfast treats like Swedish cinnamon rolls, handmade croissants and toasted sourdough with a choice of toppings including avocado, sweet potato hummus and dill cream cheese.

Come lunch, there’s a range of colourful fresh salads, packed with goodness, plus great sandwiches, soups and a couple of more hearty main courses like spaghetti with meatballs. If you’re in the market for something sweet, be sure to sample one of the many tempting cakes, loaves and cookies – washed down with an expertly made Union HandRoasted coffee.

There are big plans afoot at the Cambridge Cookery School Café in 2016, including a pop-up on 18 March with local burger legends Steak & Honour (from 6.30pm). Soon, the café will be serving as a micro bakery too, meaning you can pick up loaves of their sensational sourdough, and they’ve got plans to open in the evenings as well, offering cocktails and a selection of Italian wines.

The café is at Cambridge Cookery School, Homerton Business Centre, Harrison Drive. www.cambridgecookeryschool.com

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 53

21/01/2016 17:44

FOOD

CULINARIS PHO Another new opening this month, and one which cements this corner of Cambridge as a foodie hotspot in the city, we’re delighted to announce the arrival of Pho. Located at 1 Wheeler Street (next to the Corn Exchange), the restaurant is run by husband and wife team Stephen and Juliette Wall, and specialises in the national dish of Vietnam – offering pho noodle soups along with a range of tasty street foods like spicy salads, fragrant curries, wok-fried noodles and spring rolls. They also have a selection of premium cocktails made with imported Vietnamese spirits, authentic Vietnamese coffees and a selection of fresh juices. www.phocafe.co.uk

54 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_053-056 (FOOD NEWS) cbljc.indd 54

If you’re the kind of person who likes browsing heaving shelves of intriguing foodstuffs then we recommend you pay a visit to Mill Road’s newest addition: Culinaris. A speciality food store that opened in December, Culinaris stocks a huge (and we mean huge) selection of unique items from Europe and beyond.

In store, you’ll find some 1500 products, which range from top quality cheeses and hams to freshly baked breads, as well as a dazzling array of condiments, sauces and artisan chocolates and sweets from around the world. You can also pick up freshly prepared sandwiches too, making it an ideal place to grab some lunch. www.culinaris.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

21/01/2016 17:45

FOOD

ASK THE FOODIE

HEIDI WHITE AKA THE MOVING FOODIE ANSWERS ' ' YOUR BURNING QUESTIONS ON THE CAMBRIDGE FOOD SCENE

THIS MONTH’S TREND THE EMPEROR If you’ve not paid a visit to The Emperor on Hills Road recently, we recommend you make it top of your foodie hit list for the month.

The pub has undergone a complete refurbishment and launched a new food and drink offering to transform it into a Latin tapas bar.

There’s colourful new decor and an irresistible menu that features classic Latin cuisine with modern twists.

Dishes include Arroz con Pato (confit duck leg in coriander and dark beer rice with roquito pepper, corn, salsa criolla and huancaina sauce), and Ceviche el Emperador (sea bass, amarillo chilli tiger milk, sweet potato, red onion, corn and Andean limo chilli).

To drink, there’s Spanish cava, Peruvian pisco, Chilean and Argentinian wines, South American coffee and, if you’re feeling brave, Mexican tequila. www.theemperorcambridge.com

Cambridge is pop-up central right now! pub grub and high-quality beer list.

Just as I was predicting in last month’s Provenance Kitchen’s stunning vintage column, the trend for pop-ups and street silver Airstream trailer has been spotted food residencies is being well and truly (it’s pretty hard to miss!) pitched outside embraced this month. the pub to provide hungry punters with Following on from Steak & Honour’s seasonal, locally sourced, restaurantwinter residency at cool cocktail bar quality food with other street food visitors Novi, Guerrilla Kitchen will be serving to the pub to be announced. their super-addictive menu of bao Nearby in Barton, Burwash Manor’s (delectable Asian steamed buns with a Love Food festival is back on Saturday 13 variety of street food-inspired fillings) and Sunday 14 February and, this year, plus surprise specials every Friday night, cranks things up a notch with a line-up 6-9pm, starting 5 February. Hot Numbers of street food traders throughout the is growing its list of guest street food weekend to keep you warm and fed while traders, too, with a rotating lineyou browse the 30-strong stalls in up of vans parking up outside the Larder’s food fair marquee. the Gwydir Street coffee bar Rumour has it Swiss street every Thursday evening to food newbies Rösti Strasse Got a question for the coincide with the popular will be there, as well as Moving Foodie? Tweet us jazz nights. Expect to everyone’s favourite burger at @cambsedition or find Holy Schnitzels, wagon, Steak & Honour. @TheMovingFoodie The Wandering Yak and Looking ahead to spring, using the tag: Guerrilla Kitchen hanging word on the street is that #askthefoodie out kerbside, in addition to some very exciting kitchen Steak and Honour’s regular Friday takeovers are on the horizon as part night spot. of the Eat Cambridge festival in May And pop-up fever is spreading to the (from 7 to 22 May, www.eat-cambridge. villages too… Mobile wood-fired pizza co.uk). Think pop-up street food feasts purveyors Fired Up enjoyed a successful – nay, extravaganzas! – at some quirky month-long pop-up pizzeria at the Cambridgeshire venues, alongside some beautiful No. 77 restaurant in Caxton in equally intriguing drink matches.

January, featuring an entire restaurant This month’s top pick: There’s a new takeover plus live music and food events. food trader on the scene at Cambridge I’m hoping to see more of the same very Market. The River Kitchen is a market soon. Watch this space. stall with a difference, serving handmade Elsewhere, The Blue Ball Inn in pizzas and vegan salads at the market Grantchester has enjoyed a recent revamp square every Monday, Wednesday, and and is lining up some tasty pop-ups to Friday, from a very cute, entirely pop-up complement its good old-fashioned and fold-down pizzeria and kitchen.

For more top tips on eating and drinking in Cambridge, visit Heidi’s blog www.movingfoodie.com

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_053-056 (FOOD NEWS) cbljc.indd 55

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 55

21/01/2016 17:45

FOOD

MEE AND I NINES GLOBAL BUFFET OPENS Located at the site of the old Lucky Star Buffet at Cambridge Leisure Park you’ll now find innovative new eaterie Nines Global Buffet, a brand new restaurant which opened its doors at the end of January.

Eat your way around the world at this international smorgasbord, sampling favourite dishes from Japan, Spain, Thailand, China, Italy and more. It won't break the bank either, with prices starting at £7.99 for a weekday lunch and going up to £15.99 for a weekend dinner. On offer each lunchtime will be around 100 dishes, whilst come dinner time, you can feast your way through a staggering 200 dishes from 14 different countries (though we don't recommend you actually attempt that...).

The sleek, modern restaurant will be equipped with live cooking stations, where chefs will prepare and cook food in front of customers, and there's also a rather cool sushi conveyor belt.

Veggies don’t need to worry, either, as there’ll be a good selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes cooked at their own station with their own utensils to prevent contamination.

Meat eaters, on the other hand, can get their mouths watering at the Nines’ dedicated grill bar and BBQ station.

Promising affordability and great quality, the restaurant can seat up to 300 diners – so possibly a good option if you've got a large gathering to plan... www.ninesrestaurant.co.uk

56 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_053-056 (FOOD NEWS) cbljc.indd 56

Possibly going some way towards filling the noodleshaped hole left in our lives by the departure of much-loved Mill Lane restaurant Dojos, Mee & I opened recently to much excitement on the local food scene.

Located on Castle Street (where Café Naz used to be), this cool and contemporary new eaterie pitches itself as an Asian tapas and noodle bar, and serves up dishes from across Vietnam, China, Japan and Korea, along with a selection of craft beers.

On the menu you’ll find favourites like tempura prawns, dumplings, curries and noodles aplenty, with dishes divided into small and large plates – perfect if you fancy sampling a few dishes in one sitting (which we very much do).

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

21/01/2016 17:45

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 57

22/01/2016 11:47

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 58

22/01/2016 11:48

EATING OUT

THAIKHUN THIS MONTH NICOLA FOLEY SAMPLES THE COLOURFUL COCKTAILS , AND THAI STREET FOOD ON OFFER AT THAIKHUN WORDS NICOLA FOLEY IMAGES DAISY DICKINSON

haikhun became an instant hit on the Cambridge dining circuit when it opened back in June last year, luring in local foodies with its enticing Thai street food menu, fun atmosphere and prime riverside location.

The brainchild of Kim Kaewkraikhot, a Bangkok ‘street hawker’ turned entrepreneur, the restaurant’s colourful and charmingly rustic interior is bound to bring back fond memories for anyone who’s visited Thailand.

A bright orange tuk-tuk greets you at the entrance, after which you’re ushered into the higgledy-piggledy dining area, where every inch is covered in birdcages, sacks of rice, film posters and other Thai knick-knackery – they really have gone all out on the decor.

Like the restaurant, the menu is packed to the rafters, overflowing with dishes that range from soups and salads to curries, stir-fries, rice and noodles, pinto boxes and grilled meats. There’s an interesting drinks menu too, featuring iced teas, smoothies and a selection of Thai cocktails. To kick things off, on the recommendation of our waitress, I went for a Full Moon cocktail: a blend of vodka, orange liqueur, watermelon, apple and cranberry – it tasted like sweeties and came garnished with flying saucers, making it a total winner in my book.

There’s lots of tempting starters to choose from, but I couldn’t resist the Plamuk Tod

Prik Kleur (salt and pepper squid). Beautifully seasoned and with just the right balance of crunchy exterior and succulent interior, the flavoursome chunks of squid came served in a basket lined with Thaikhun Times newspaper – very cute – and a choice of sweet chilli sauce and sriracha. My dining partner, a vegetarian, was pleased to have a few solid options to choose between, and went for the sweetcorn cakes with red curry paste and aromatic kaffir lime leaves, served

LIKE THE RESTAURANT THE MENU IS , PACKED TO THE RAFTERS with chilli dip, which added a nice kick of heat.

Generously sized, cosy and comforting, it made for the perfect antidote to the freezing January evening we’d escaped.

For mains, I went for one of the regional specials, the Khao Ka Moo. I’d sampled this dish whilst travelling in Thailand – where it’s ubiquitous among the street vendors – but it’s not a standard feature at Thai restaurants in the UK, so I was excited to give Thaikhun’s version a try. I wasn’t disappointed.

The (huge) serving consisted of pulled pork on a bed of steamed rice, served with steamed greens and topped with a boiled egg. The freshness of the greens nicely cut through the fattiness of the meat – which had

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_059 2(REVIEW) cbljc.indd 59

been slow braised in a spiced broth, making for a flavoursome and tender finished product.

My veggie friend went for a classic: Pad Thai with tofu. A staple of Thai cuisine, all too often you experience a law of diminishing returns with this dish, simply because there’s not enough variety going on to keep it interesting, but Thaikhun’s take managed to swerve this problem. A bit sweet, a bit salty, a bit spicy and completely delicious (exactly as it should be), the dish was loaded with colourful carrots, broccoli, spring onions and came with a liberal serving of peanuts and plenty of chunks of firm tofu. Another winning dish.

For desserts, we both chose the Pancake Sankaya – which prompted a flurry of excitement at our table when they arrived, on account of their fluorescent green appearance. These traditional Thai pancakes came with pandan custard (a kind of vanilla, almond flavouring popular in Asian cuisine), and with a dollop of ice cream, an orange slice, slivers of strawberry and a zigzag of chocolate sauce – making for a very colourful plate indeed. Slightly wacky looking but addictively tasty, and I’d bet my bottom baht that any kids will go nuts for it. www.thaikhun.co.uk

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 59

22/01/2016 08:19

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 60

22/01/2016 15:20

COMPETITION

WIN A ROMANTIC STAY AT HOTEL FELIX In honour of Valentine’s Day, we’ve teamed up with Hotel Felix to give away a very special, very romantic prize for one lucky reader and their beau this month.

Hotel Felix, located just outside Cambridge on Huntingdon Road, is one of the city’s finest: a gorgeous Victorian building with a cool and contemporary interior, it’s the perfect blend of traditional and modern, complete with luxury bedrooms and an excellent restaurant. In short, it’s the perfect boutique bolthole – and you could be enjoying an indulgent stay there with lots of lovely extras.

Our winners will be treated to an overnight stay in one of Felix’s beautiful bedrooms, as well as a chocolate hamper

from local store Chocolat Chocolat. Graffiti restaurant, which serves up innovative British cuisine in a sleek and stylish setting, will be your dinner date location, with local independent wine shop Thirsty supplying a bottle of Stag’s Leap, in honour of the leap year.

The prize also includes a pair of massages from local hair and beauty salon Finn Jordan (choose an Indian head massage, back massage or facial), and a one-hour punting trip with Scudamore’s, complete with a dozen red roses.

To be in with a chance of winning this prize, visit the Cambridge Edition website. www.cambsedition.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_061 (COMP)ljc cb.indd 61

2016 WEDDING PACKAGES

Hotel Felix are offering some fantastic wedding deals for 2016. Take the leap this leap year and take advantage of their £95 per person wedding package, which includes a civil ceremony, drinks reception, threecourse dinner with wine, DJ, evening buffet and everything else you could want to make your big day perfect.

Available on specific dates only. Visit www.hotelfelix.co.uk or call 01223 277977 for details.

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 61

21/01/2016 17:45

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 62

22/01/2016 15:21

VALENTINE'S

LOCH FYNE If your beau is a seafood lover, make a beeline for Trumpington Street restaurant Loch Fyne, where they’re offering a lovely looking menu in honour of Valentine’s Day. Available 12-14 February, diners get four courses, including a glass of Joseph Perrier champagne, coffee and chocolate truffles for £39.95 per person. Starters include trademark oysters and smoked salmon, whilst mains include choices such as a shellfish platter with lobster and sirloin steak. The desserts are fruity, from fig turnovers to milk chocolate and passion fruit ganache. Or, for all the fromage fiends out there, there’s a traditional Scottish cheeseboard. www.lochfyneseafoodandgrill. co.uk

SCU DAM ORE’ S Once again Scudamore’s are offering their Valentine’s special this year, providing cosy, romantic private punting trips between 11 and 14 February. Available from 10am to 4.30pm, the boats come with cushions, blankets and hot water bottles, so you don’t need to worry about catching a chill on your half-hour glide along the college backs. Included is a long stemmed red rose, and if you choose an after-dusk tour, your way will be lit by Chinese lanterns. Boats leave from the Quayside Punting Station and can be booked 48 hours in advance online or by calling 01223 359 750. £90 per trip. www.scudamores.com

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_063-066 (VALENTINES)ljc.indd 63

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 63

22/01/2016 11:20

© Daisy Dickinson

VALENTINE'S

THE RAPTOR F O U N D AT I O N

DE LU C A Get indulgent at De Luca Cucina & Bar with a four-course menu and an evening of love songs from its popular piano bar. Priced at £35, and on offer for Sunday 14 February only, De Luca’s set menu for Valentine’s Day is an array of the restaurant’s most popular classic dishes. You’ll have several options for each course: starters include home-made minestrone soup, chorizo arancini stuffed with fontina cheese, and deep fried squid. To follow is a palette cleansing raspberry sorbet with Prosecco and chambord. For mains, meat eaters have a choice of rump of lamb with roasted butternut squash or roasted pistachio and hazelnut salmon, whilst vegetarians can choose between ravioli stuffed with goat’s cheese and shallots or gnocchi with mixed roasted vegetables. Individual trio platters make up dessert and include chocolate and raspberry torte, chestnut sponge with blackberry sauce and white chocolate and lemon cheesecake. The piano bar will be open all evening, with resident entertainer Robin P-iano taking requests. Book quickly, as the evening is expected to sell out. www.delucacucina.co.uk

MARCO PIERRE WHITE The Doubletree Hotel’s luxury steakhouse is going all out for the day of lurve with a sumptuous set menu on 13 and 14 February.

The restaurant presents a three-course meal including a glass of Laurent Perrier champagne at £52 per person. Starters include a choice of duck liver terrine and cream of celeriac soup, whilst mains range from half a lobster to a rack of lamb and a tower of grilled vegetables with mozzarella.

Sweet toothed diners are in for a treat with desserts including such delights as strawberry sable hearts with popping candy. www.mpwrestaurants.co.uk

64 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_063-066 (VALENTINES)ljc.indd 64

It’s always fun to be original, and walking through a park at dusk can be the definition of romantic.

If you’re looking for something different this Valentine’s Day, visit the Raptor Foundation, near St Ives.

On 13 February from 6pm they’ll be hosting a flying display of owls from around the world. There’ll also be a talk about the birds, and guests are welcome to arrive early to wander the park. The display itself will last about an hour, and tickets are £12 per person, including a supper of lasagne and salad. Call 01487 741140 to book. www.raptorfoundation.org.uk

P O P U P AT STICKYBEAKS Camb Events #Popups offer a unique dining experience, and they’re going all out for Valentine’s Day. The event will take place on 12 February at Stickybeaks Café and will feature a five-course French inspired menu, put together by Sirous Naderi of Limoncello and Workshop Kitchen, with four matched wines. The night promises to be an atmospheric one, with candle-lit tables and French music to match the cuisine. Tickets are £10 a seat from Eventbrite, and you can find out more by liking Cambs Events on Facebook. www.frenchpopup.eventbrite.com

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 11:20

© Richard Marsham

© Tigz Rice

NEON MOON VA L E N T I N E ’ S BALL For a bit of decadent escapism this Valentine’s, pop along to Cambridge Union Society, where the Neon Moon Burlesque and Cabaret Club are set to host a glamorous baroque ball.

Expect cocktails, dancing till late and internationally acclaimed burlesque and cabaret stars Miss Bruise Violet, Lou Safire and Ruby Truelove, as well as gorgeous clothing, trinkets and treats to browse and buy.

When it comes to your outfit, let your imagination take flight. The organisers suggest indulging your romantic side with pastels, frills, vintage lace and flowered posies, perhaps adding a mask for a little extra intrigue.

If you like playing dress up and old school glamour, this is where you need to be on 13 February, whether with dates, or mates.

Tickets cost £28.50 in advance and the event takes place 8pm-2am. www.theneonmoonclub.com

FEAST OF LOVE SONGS If music be the food of love, play on.

Local group Granta Chorale have taken Shakespeare’s oft-quoted line to heart and will be taking over the elegant Saffron Hall with a feast of love songs on 13 February. The choir’s repertoire is set to include music exploring the joys, sorrows and lighter side of love. It’ll range from classical gems by Purcell, Monteverdi and Holst to more modern jazz, including Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love and My Funny Valentine by Richard Rogers. Directed

by Janet Wheeler, Richard Carr finishes off the menu with a series of piano solos. Tickets £14. www.saffronhall.com

E - L U M I N AT E E-Luminate is back and once again it promises to be spectacular. Running from 12 to 17 February, this unique festival will set our city ablaze in a riot of beautiful light installations and activities, many of which are free to attend. Highlights this year include a night-time arts and crafts market for the launch on 12 February, an interactive installation outside the Fitzwilliam Museum and a light show projected onto Senate House.

For a real treat, get a ticket for the Trail of Light on 13 February. Starting at St Catharine’s College Porter’s Lodge at 4.30pm and 5.15pm, this consists of a walk through selected college chapels and a mini-concert in each. Participants are given their own LED light, becoming part of a moving art installation. The event ends with a drinks reception at Pembroke College. Tickets start at £11.74. Early booking advised. www.e-luminatefestivals.co.uk

L O V E F O O D AT B U R WA S H MANOR Burwash Manor in Barton welcomes back its annual Love Food festival, for the eighth time, this Valentine’s weekend, making for a perfect day out for local gastronomes. As ever, the event will showcase some of the area’s finest food and drink suppliers, who’ll be tempting visitors with plenty of deliciousness to try and buy, in addition to demonstrations and plenty of kids’ activities.

Pick up craft beer from Black Bar Brewery, meringues from the Fabulous Food Company, chutneys from the Saffron Bee and Hibiscus Lily, beetroot ketchup from Foraging Fox and pork pies from Bray’s Cottage, plus lots more. For something warming on the day, street food vans Rosti Strasse, Churro’s Bar and Steak & Honour will be on hand to stave off any rumbling tummies.

The Larder, Burwash’s renowned food hall, will also be running a series of classes for kids over February half term as part of Little Love Food, in which they’ll be covering everything from Italian bread making to pottery.

The Love Food festival takes place on 13 and 14 February from 10am. www.burwashmanor.com

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 65

CE02_063-066 (VALENTINES)ljc.indd 65

22/01/2016 11:20

VALENTINE'S Chocoholics will adore a luxury workshop with chocolatier Jo Clayton. All chocolate, decorations and packaging supplied, lesson takes place in your home. Email jojococoacambridge@gmail.com or call 07930482153. www.jojococoa.co.uk

G I F T

G U I D E 1

9

4

Does the object of your affection enjoy a tipple? Order a bottle of Wild Knight Vodka, created by local couple Matt and Steph Brown, which is made using East Anglian barley. www.wildknightvodka. co.uk/shop

2

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL INDIES!

5

10

6

7

3

8 11

Various Valentine’s themed cakes will be available on George’s Bakery St Ives market stall, including a pink champagne and raspberry cake. Prices start at £16.

1. Small Sunflower Print Heart Studs by Janglerins, £38 2. Jug with Lines by Katharina Klug, £42 3. Fused Glass Bird/ Fused Glass Baby Bird by Sarah Myatt, £17/£15 all Cambridge Contemporary Crafts 4. Pom Pom Tutti make-up bag by Disaster Designs, £15 5. Give Us A Pout compact mirror by Disaster Designs, £6.50 6. Sparkling Heart necklace by Estella Bartlett, £15, all Lilac Rose 7. Aubade La Meneuse de Revue plunge bra, £99, Elouise Lingerie, Buckden 8. Drusy Rock Necklace, £60, Ark. 9. Couples Chocolate Workshop with Jo Clayton, £150, JoJo Cocoa 10. Handcrafted English Vodka by Wild Knight, £40 11. Rose and Lemon Cake (serves 12-14), £26, georgesbakery.co.uk

66 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_063-066 (VALENTINES)ljc.indd 66

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 11:21

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 67

22/01/2016 15:21

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 68

22/01/2016 11:51

SHOPPING

THE TROLLBEADS Cambridge story

For truly individual jewellery head to Trollbeads, where very beautiful bead is handmade and unique f you’re a jewellery lover, chances are you’ve already peeked inside the ornate frontage of the beautiful Trollbeads store on Market Street, which has charmed local shoppers since opening in November last year.

A Danish family business founded in 1976, the Trollbeads brand has craftsmanship and creativity at the heart of its ethos. The original charm bead brand, each and every bead is a work of art, designed to perfectly adorn their silver bracelets, necklaces and bangles.

The Cambridge branch is the UK’s first Trollbeads concept store, independently

owned and exclusively stocking the brand’s range of sought-after products.

The shelves are lined with thousands of beads, and you could easily lose hours deciding which you’d like to add to your collection. The choice is dazzling, with Italian glass, silver, gold, amber, precious stones and more on offer, and each is completely unique, as well as being handmade, so you’ll never see two beads which are identical. Once you’ve begun your Trollbeads story, you can customise to your heart’s content, adding to your collection and adapting your jewellery as often as you like, depending on your outfit, mood or the latest trends.

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_069 (TROLLBEADS)ljc cb.indd 69

“We feel very lucky to have such an amazing location in the centre of Cambridge,” says manager Claire. “The traditional art nouveau frontage is really special and there’s always a lovely atmosphere in store.”

The store prides itself on its excellent customer service too, and the staff love helping shoppers to find the perfect addition for their bracelet, necklace or pair of earrings.

“We believe very strongly that jewellery, more than most products, is something you really need to touch and feel and try on.

We get a lot of people coming in who’ve ordered something on the Internet, and it wasn’t quite what they were expecting – perhaps it wasn’t as heavy or such good quality – but when you come in store you can spend as long as you like exploring and trying things on, and we can offer advice too,” says Claire.

Trollbeads Cambridge, 21 Market Street www.trollbeadscambridge.co.uk

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 69

21/01/2016 17:46

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 70

22/01/2016 11:51

COMMUNITY

Community news

Conservation WITH CAMBRIDGE PPF

This February, get hands-on with Cambridge PPF at Wandlebury Country Park. The weather is bracing but that doesn’t mean everybody wants to sit inside, and so if you’re willing to pull on your wellies, some sturdy waterproofs and get a few lungfuls of fresh air, this might just be the thing for you. On 7 February, volunteers can get involved with hedge-laying: a process which improves the structure of hedges for wildlife, views across the countryside and helps to stimulate fresh growth.

On 13 and 27 February, you can try your hand at making coppiced products: splitting hazel poles, making wattle hurdles for use around the park, stakes gleaned from the brash for hedges, bean poles and pea sticks.

All events start at 11am, finishing at 3.30pm. Volunteers are asked to bring packed lunches, warm waterproof clothes and sturdy footwear, and should meet at the Wandlebury Country Park noticeboard. Parking is £3 and tools are provided. www.cambridgeppf.org/whats-on

FREE BUSINESS

workshops

South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire District Councils are funding a series of 28 half-day workshops which are free for local businesses to attend. The workshops, presented by award-winning local business support organisation, Nwes, cover a range of subjects to help local business people and entrepreneurs.

Support will be focused on core business areas including marketing, finance, planning and start-up workshops. Businesses will also receive an hour’s free one-to-one business advice. The workshops are being held throughout the area.

Cllr Nick Wright, South Cambridgeshire District Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Development, says: “Our previous workshops have been a huge success and the collaboration between the two councils is allowing us to provide a greater number of workshops in venues across the districts to support our businesses.”

February’s first workshop, Planning for Growth, will be held at Melbourn Community Hub on 15 February. For more information, call Nwes on 08456 099 991 or email info@nwes.org.uk. www.nwes.org.uk

FRIENDS OF ST GILES’ CHURCH LAUNCH PLANS FOR 150TH ANNIVERSARY Friends of St Giles’ Church have announced their plans to raise money and complete a series of restorative projects by the church’s 150th anniversary in 2025. The church, which is Grade II* listed, was first built almost a thousand years ago. As well as being of great artistic value, the church has long been a community centre. In both world wars it provided shelter and soup kitchens, and today it is part of the Cambridge Churches Homeless Project, operating as a dormitory during the winter months.

The Friends’ plans include various restoration projects, essential maintenance and sensitive plans to modernise the church into an effective and affordable venue for local charities, lectures and concerts. The Friends have proposed a budget of £250,000 and to that end, they will be hosting monthly lectures and an annual May Week Garden Party. For details about volunteering and support, visit the Friends’ website. www.fosgc.org

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_071 (COMMUNITY) esljc.indd 71

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 71

21/01/2016 17:46

BEAUTY WORDS DAISY DICKINSON

nottheninetofive.com

BR OW

Streamlined and skinny? Bold and bushy? Whichever trend you opt for, well-groomed eyebrows, just like a great haircut, can frame your features and transform your appearance.

Daisy Dickinson picks the best products to keep your brows on fleek From the thick-set brows made popular by Audrey Hepburn in the 60s, to the quite literally eyebrow-raising trend of over-plucked skinnies in the 90s, thankfully 2016 is favouring a natural, but well-kept shape. And it’s easier than ever to get groomed, with so many great products from high-street to high-end. Just follow these fail-safe tips for banging brows.

SHAPE UP Most brows don’t need too much work to tidy, but it’s worth noting your natural shape before you start hacking away. Pluck and stray hairs away from under your brows, paying careful attention when removing any hairs that will change the shape. Think of your face as a clock, with inner eyebrow edge at 12 o’clock, the arch should be one o’clock, and tail end tapering off towards two o’clock. Brow newbies might prefer taking a trip to the salon to get their shape started by a pro – with plenty of options available from plucking, waxing and threading, ask your technician which is best suited to you.

2

72 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_072-073 (BEAUTY) cb_if.indd 72

1

D R AW THE LINE Once you’re perfectly plucked and preened, consider the depth you want from your brows. Pencils are a classic tool for manipulating shape and adding definition.

The most important choice is making sure you get the colour right. As a rule, use your natural brow and hair colour as a guide. If your brows are sparse, a thin pencil swept in short strokes in the direction of hair growth can fabricate the look of real hairs, giving a fuller appearance. NYX Micro Brow Pencil 1 (£7, feelunique.com) is tiny, making it so easy to draw precise hairs for a natural look. This retractable pencil is available in five shades (I chose 04 Chocolate) and is a pretty good dupe for MACs £14 version.

Those with more brow to play with may prefer a thicker pencil like the Hi Brow Soft Eyebrow Pencil 2 (£8.50, lashperfect. co.uk) with a velvet consistency the colour glides on. Blending edges with a brush and spoolie (a mini loo-brush style tool) will soften the appearance further.

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

21/01/2016 17:47

BEAUTY

3

FIERCE AND FULL

5

POWDERFUL If you’re already happy with the shape of your brows, and are looking more to enhance than create, then a powder is the product for you. Similarly, if you have a shaky hand or are nervous of getting artistic with your arches, powder offers a more forgiving approach, and is easier to build up colour. I love all-in-one kits like this Essence How to Make Brows Wow 3 (£5.99, Wilkos, Ely) which comes with three shades – making it simple to match your natural colour – and includes a soft pink shimmering highlighter, complete with mini tweezers and two-sided brush.

Packaged in a cute little tin, Too Faced Brow Envy 4 (£35, Debenhams) features two shades, a crème highlighter and setting wax, with tweezers and two brushes as well as comprehensive instructions and even stencils to get you started.

Like Too Faced, Jane Iredale’s Bitty Brow Kit 5 (£25, janeiredale.co.uk) also has cruelty-free credentials and is vegan.

With a soft powder in brunette or blonde, this luxury kit comes with a setting wax and three brushes, perfectly sized for popping in your handbag.

When you’re feeling confident and ready to up your brow game, look for a product with the staying power to keep your brows bold all night long. Requiring slightly more artistic skill, but well worth the practice, Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade 6 (£15, beautybay.com) is the holy grail for brows, instantly giving Instagram-doubletap-worthy frames to your eyes. This water and smudge-proof formula is available in a huge range of colours, and when used with a precision brush can build colour and definition which will last hours, and even doubles up as an eyeliner too.

A relatively new product to the market, and one that’s raising the eyebrows of beauty bloggers the world over, is Wunderbrow 1-Step Gel 7 (£19.95, wunderbrow.co.uk). I was curious to try wunderbrow.co.uk) this gel product which states its hair-like fibers fasten to skin and hair, and I have to say I’m impressed. It was easy to apply and build, and looks amazingly natural, particularly at the edges of my brows where I’ve never been able to grow hairs.

7

B ROW TO :

9

6 8

4

10

1. Work colour through your brows in the direction of your hair growth, from your inner eye, outwards.

2. Remember to build the arch at one o’clock, tapering the tail down towards two o’clock.

3. Blend using a soft brush like Nanshy’s Angled Detailer brush 8 (£5.95, nanshy.co.uk) to soften.

4. Cover up any mistakes and define edges using your regular concealer and slim brush like the Vintage Cosmetic Company’s Cream Concealer brush 9 (£7, feelunique.com) offering.

5. Make your look come to life by highlighting under your brow bone. Makeup Revolution Golden highlighter 10 (£3, Superdrug) in Golden Lights is just perfect for the job.

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 73

CE02_072-073 (BEAUTY) cb_if.indd 73

21/01/2016 17:48

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 74

22/01/2016 11:52

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 75

22/01/2016 11:52

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 76

22/01/2016 11:53

FASHION NEWS

FOR HIM

Check out our top picks this month from some of our favourite local independent fashion boutiques

YOSHI LEIGHTON DUCK EGG BLUE HUNTER LEATHER BOWLER BAG £85 PODAROK, BENE’T STREET

CARHARTT PONCHO SHIRT NOW £93.75 DOGFISH, TRINITY STREET

COIN NECKLACE £15 LILAC ROSE, BRIDGE STREET

PRIMROSE PARK MIDI DRESS NOW £53 ANNA, HIGH STREET, SAFFRON WALDEN SCARAMANGA SMALL OVERLANDER BAG £140 PODAROK, BENE’T STREET RYNIE CIRCLE DRESS BY LOUCHE £45 LILAC ROSE, BRIDGE STREET ITALIAN CRYSTAL NECKLACE £45 ARK, PEAS HILL

BERTONI BIRD PRINT SHIRT £65 PETRUS, BRIDGE STREET

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_077 (INDIE FASHION) cb.indd 77

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 77

21/01/2016 17:48

ROUND THE EDGES

ruffle

© McQueen, SS16

FASHION TOP 5 S BROGUE SHOE THE PERFECT TO TO STEP IN SPRING WITH…

ASOS MAGIC VELVET BROGUES £30 ASOS

PINK AND LEOPARD PRINTED BROGUES £165 ROGUES

We got friiiills, they’re multiplying. Think ruffles are just for flamenco dancers and Saga cruisers? Think again. Ruffles were a big look on the spring/summer ’16 catwalks, as seen at Roberto Cavalli, Michael Kors, Miu Miu and many more. This season’s take on the trend ranged from minimalist tiers to flowing, romantic blouses and dresses – and the high street has followed suit with a dazzling range of options.

BROGUES £39 LA REDOUTE

LACE-UP BROGUES £14 GEORGE AT ASDA REISS ELIAS RUFFLE FRONT SLEEVELESS TOP £125 JOHN LEWIS, DOWNING STREET RUFFLE FRONT SLEEVELESS BLOUSE NOW £25 KAREN MILLEN, MARKET PASSAGE

MONOCHROME RUFFLE CROP TOP £15 MISSGUIDED

ASOS MERCURY LACE-UP POINTED SHOES £35 ASOS

ORANGE FRILL BLOUSE £35 RIVER ISLAND, PETTY CURY

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_078-079 (WOMENS FASHION) cb.indd 78

22/01/2016 08:33

FASHION

TWO IN ONE T-SHIRT MIDI DRESS £24 TOPSHOP, GRAFTON CENTRE AND GRAND ARCADE

RIVER ISLAND LEATHER LOOK BUTTON THROUGH SKIRT £30 ASOS

STRIPE CROP TOP £5 PRIMARK, BURLEIGH STREET

RIB APRON FRONT NAVY STRIPE TOP £6 PRIMARK, BURLEIGH STREET

PLAID TENNIS SKIRT

BY UNIF £70 TOPSHOP, GRAFTON CENTRE AND GRAND ARCADE

This trend has been bubbling away for a few seasons now, but in 2016 (beautifully timed with this year’s possible Spice Girls reunion!), it’s about to go stratospheric. It was a decade of slip dresses, crop tops, chunky platforms, chokers and a-line skirts – all of which have made a very determined comeback of late. To nail this look, hit up US brand UNIF (recently launched on ASOS), for their bright roll necks and this powder pink dress – which we love.

CROP TOP £24 RIVER ISLAND, PETTY CURY

AIN’T 2 PROUD 2 BEG BLACK SUEDE £22.99 LA MODA

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_078-079 (WOMENS FASHION) cb.indd 79

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 79

22/01/2016 08:33

FASHION

NEW & LINGWOOD PAISLEY PRINT SHIRT £85 HOUSE OF FRASER

JOHN ROCHA BOTANICAL PRINT SHIRT £40 DEBENHAMS, GRAFTON CENTRE

S T Y L E

P I C K S

FOR HIM

COTTON MOSS STITCH SWEATER £85 JAEGER, TRINITY STREET

T-SHIRT £19.50 JACKET £59 TROUSERS £29 ALL NORTH COAST AT M&S, SIDNEY STREET

CLAUDE £99 DUNE, MARKET STREET

ROGUE £89 DUNE, MARKET STREET FARAH OVERCOAT £170 ASOS

80 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_080 (MENS FASHION)ljc.indd 80

22/01/2016 14:01

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 81

22/01/2016 11:53

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 82

22/01/2016 11:53

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 83

22/01/2016 11:54

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 84

22/01/2016 11:54

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

SANCTON WOOD SCHOOL

OPEN MORNINGS Saturday 6 February 9am: Early years Wednesday 10 February 9am: Whole school

SANCTON WOOD SCHOOL Sancton Wood is a small, family-oriented school, which has seen hundreds of happy and successful children pass through its doors. The School was founded in 1976 as a primary school, by its first headmistress, Mrs Jill Sturdy. Having a large family, including nine adopted children, Mrs Sturdy was fully aware of the emotional, spiritual and educational needs of children. She decided to open her own school because of her desire to provide an educational establishment of excellence. Her ethos and passion for learning remain today under the leadership of the school’s current head, Mr Richard Settle.

Over the last 40 years Sancton Wood has grown into an all-through school, educating boys and girls from the age of one in the

the battlefields of Northern France and New York.

2016 is an exciting year for Sancton Wood as we look to the future and prepare for our expansion in September. We are acquiring three new properties, all within a five-minute walk of our current site, so we will be able to offer more opportunities for our students than ever before. We will Known for its excellent academic results… have new science laboratories, a purposereflected in our high GCSE pass rate built cafeteria and a specialist site for our youngest pupils, with a large, safe outdoor programme supports our academic space. More space, will mean we will be able excellence. We have small class sizes of to welcome more pupils, and we intend to approximately 16 across the school and this double in size to a two-form entry school, excellent pupil:teacher ratio is the key to while still maintaining the small class sizes our philosophy that focuses and individual attention that makes Sancton on the provision of a tailored Wood so unique. education for each pupil.

Please come and visit our school, At Sancton Wood, small meet the head, speak to our teachers and certainly does not mean students, and see for yourselves what makes limited. With a full and varied Sancton Wood such an incredible school. programme of enrichment activities from early morning Contact our registrar, Fiona Haskell today to yoga, lunchtime cross country arrange a visit. Call 01223 471703 or email to after-school orchestra, admissions@sanctonwood.co.uk. there’s something for everyone.

We also compete with other 2 St Paul’s Road, Cambridge CB1 2EZ schools in a variety of sports admissions@sanctonwood.co.uk and offer trips to a whole host www.sanctonwood.co.uk of locations, including Malaga, Baby Unicorns, all the way to GCSE at 16. The school is known for its excellent academic results. This is reflected in the regular position at the top of the league tables for GCSEs for Cambridgeshire and our high GCSE pass rate.

An equally important pastoral

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_085 (SANCTON WOOD ADV)ljc.indd 85

Cambridge CambridgeEdition Edition| September | February 2016 2015 | 85

22/01/2016 08:55

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 86

22/01/2016 11:55

BUSINESS

T P A R

2

WORDS CHARLOTTE PHILLIPS

In part two of our conference special, Charlotte Phillips offers tips on making your event a stand-out success Conferences have probably been around forever. It’s even possible, if you don’t mind scraping the barrel of credibility, that all those ancient cave paintings of stencilled hands were merely an early form of checking in before the welcome mammoth broth was served.

Today, if there’s corporate news to announce, sales people to galvanise or something to celebrate, the conference remains the top place to do it.

It may seem counter-intuitive given that so much of our working lives takes place online. But while you might think that, as a result, face-to-face gatherings would happen less than they used to, the message from Cambridge’s leading venues is that business is booming.

So what’s behind the enduring appeal of the business meeting? Part of it could be

down to the simple fact that UK workers could use the break. With almost half a million more people working more than 48 hours a week compared with 2010, according to figures from the TUC, being chained to that same old desk can often leave us feeling distinctly jaded. There’s nothing quite like getting away from it all to avoid perma-ennui.

experiences we’d otherwise miss. We are, after all, social creatures. Get togethers are fulfilling and enjoyable in a way that online conferences, however efficient and convenient, just aren’t.

And that social dimension can also have commercial benefits, thinks Carol Robinson, conference manager at Churchill College.

“You can go to an event, meet someone you had no idea you were going to meet and learn GET TOGETHERS ARE FULFILLING AND something from them that ENJOYABLE IN A WAY THAT ONLINE you wouldn’t pick up on if you were listening to the CONFERENCES JUST AREN’T event online.”

The Møller Centre, an And for the many workers who spend award-winning residential conference and their lives either on the road or slogging management training centre in Cambridge, away on their own, there’s another positively encourages the experience. The undervalued benefit – getting the real world two communal areas outside the meeting

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_087-093 (CONFERENCING) cbes.indd 87

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 87

22/01/2016 12:53

BUSINESS

CB1 BUSINESS CENTRE The CB1 Business Centre is just 46 minutes from London

rooms are formally known as the milling areas where, Cambridge being still relatively small, you’re practically guaranteed to bump into every leading mover and shaker in the area – if you stay long enough.

There’s even inspiration to be derived from the furnishings there. “Our customers tell us that the vibrancy and energy associated with our art and design collections encourages creative flair and innovative thought, therefore enhancing their learning experience with us,” says Tim

YOU’RE GUARANTEED TO BUMP INTO ALMOST EVERY LEADING MOVER AND SHAKER Hill, head of marketing. No wonder, given that the collection showcases some of the most iconic Hans J Wegner designs of chairs, sofas, tables and lighting, including the Round Chair (1949), made famous by the 1960 John F Kennedy and Nixon debate, as well as work by other leading contemporary designers.

“Conferences are a good place to meet people, go somewhere new, be catered

88 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_087-093 (CONFERENCING) cbes.indd 88

for and get the real-world experience of seeing people and chatting face-to-face,” says Maya Bullen, group manager at Mantle Business Centres, which looks after the CB1 Business Centre. Designed along clean, modern lines, CB1 offers a bright, airy reception area with “two lovely reception staff who will set the room up for you, put refreshments in the room and welcome you in,” says Maya. The two meeting rooms, complete with projector and speakers are suitable for everything from board meetings to training sessions for two to 16 people.

With so much amazing architecture and brilliant spaces crying out to be admired, visited and enjoyed, conferences here provide myriad ways of hosting an event that pushes all the right buttons.

While historic Cambridge is, of course, a massive lure, modern buildings, settings and interiors can be inspirational.

With its ultra-convenient location, CB1 is a popular meeting place for local firms and others further afield. London is just 46 minutes away and that includes the minute’s walk from the station – the guided busway is similarly close by. The meeting rooms for two to 16 people come fully equipped with high-spec furnishings, audiovisual equipment and Wi-Fi – and the building is also accessorised with some of the coolest business minds in the area, courtesy of the up-and-coming firms who rent office space in the building. www.mantlebusinesscentres.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 12:54

BUSINESS

Take Churchill College, for instance, completed in the 1960s, which houses 3,000 boxes of Sir Winston Churchill’s papers. Add its lecture theatre which seats up to 300 people and meeting rooms – many with views of the extensive grounds including the Fellows’ Lawn – for up to 60 delegates, and an in-house catering team capable of rustling meals for five to 400 plus with equal aplomb, and it’s not surprising that conference bookings there are rising.

IT’S OFTEN THE LITTLE DETAILS THAT, DONE WELL, CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE Here, as elsewhere, it’s often the little details that, done well, can make all the difference between an acceptable conference and a really brilliant one.

Carol Robinson stresses the importance of flexibility. If someone wants a room changed from theatre to boardroom layout with a cabaret at 3pm, “We’ll say fine, we’ll make it happen.”

It’s a similar success story at the Wellcome Genome Campus Conference Centre, where Linda Prior, conference centre business manager, says that there has been an ‘incredible’ increase in enquiries and bookings since a major refurbishment to the centre was completed last year. “Within the first three months of operation, the conference centre, set in 100 acres and home to historic Hinxton Hall, saw a 55% increase in the number of events and a

CORN EXCHANGE & GUILDHALLS Nowhere else in the centre of Cambridge does it quite like the Corn Exchange which, since last year, has been managed by a charity, Cambridge Live. Best known for hosting fab live entertainment, its popularity for business-related events is growing fast, and while it may be listed, recent upgrades – including broadband speed of up to 90Mbps – are anything but historic.

But it is its sheer size that gives it such an edge. Up to 1,200 delegates can be accommodated, crossing the road to the Guildhall, also managed by Cambridge Live, to be wined and dined courtesy of well-known local caterers Cambridge Dining Company and Puddini. No wonder large international businesses, as well as local enterprises from Silicon Fen, are among the companies flocking to book their conferences here. www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

The Wellcome Genome Campus exhibition space

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 89

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 90

22/01/2016 11:56

BUSINESS

15% increase in the number of delegates that visited.”

With its stunning combination of history and high-tech, it’s not surprising that between October and December 2015, 6,207 delegates passed through its doors, attending everything from small meetings and training sessions, to day and residential conferences and retreats. “The arrangement of the meeting spaces encourages interaction and networking,” says Linda.

Despite its rural feel, it is easily accessible by road, train and air, and the immersive, retreat-like feel of this very special venue can spark some exceptional discussion and reflection. No wonder it is hosting 40 residential events per year and welcoming

companies such as AstraZeneca, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute of Medical Research and One Nucleus.

So if you’ve been charged with putting an event together, how do you go about working with the venue you’ve chosen to make it a stand-out success?

Flexibility is key, thinks Olivia Hamilton at the Hallmark Hotel, Cambridge. Catering for up to 200 delegates in a choice of rooms, impressive grounds and a choice of meals and delegate packages, it’s hard to find anything that is too much trouble.

Hire the main Cambridgeshire Suite and it comes complete with a drop-down, builtin projector and screen, compact and wirefree, as well as an adjoining room with its

CONFERENCE

CRITICAL LIST Do your research, stresses Linda Prior.

“Ensure your event is not the subject of a further event being held either in close proximity or at a similar time in the year.”

In advance of the meeting, contact the venue so they know how you want the room set up, including AV equipment, what refreshments and who is going to be arriving on the day, says Maya Bullen at CB1. And turn up at least 30 minutes early. “If your meeting starts at 9am, book the room from 8.30am to give yourself time to set up before the delegates start arriving.”

Establish a single point of contact who will liaise with the technician, AV specialist and catering manager, suggests Megan Charnock. “They do everything through me and we build up a relationship.”

Book really good speakers, advises Carol Robinson. It’s key to encouraging people to re-book. And don’t underestimate the importance of getting the food right.

“Delegates talk more about the food than you would expect. If it’s bad, it can put them off a venue for good.”

HALLMARK HOTEL Catering for up to 200 delegates and offering plentiful parking, 136 bedrooms and excellent facilities, the Hallmark Hotel, located in Bar Hill, is just the ticket for presentations, thank you events and team building.

Ten well-equipped meeting rooms with air-conditioning and a choice of configurations, from theatre style to open plan, cater for up to 60 people, making it easy to plan a range of events, from formal meetings to social get togethers. Flexibility, from the range of delegate options that includes a 24-hour package covering accommodation, meals and use of leisure facilities, is provided by friendly staff and even extends to hospitality buggies which serve drinks and snacks to guests enjoying a game of golf on the hotel’s own course. www.hallmarkhotels.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

CE02_087-093 (CONFERENCING) cbes.indd 91

Don’t forget to make it fun, says Olivia Hamilton. With a big conference, it’s easy to feel out of it, so pack the agenda with lots of interaction. “Don’t just stand there and drill stuff into them, have a few activities to get people mixing on tables. Have fun things like sweets on the table because when you’ve been sitting a while, and it’s warm, you can start to feel a bit sleepy. A quick sugar hit and you’re back with everybody.”

After the event, don’t be frightened about giving honest feedback to your venue, says Maya Bullen. “Because we’re not using the room in the same way that the delegates are, meaning that we don’t necessarily pick up on things that they will.”

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 91

22/01/2016 12:54

BUSINESS

An art exhibition held in the Guildhall, across the road from the Corn Exchange

own bar, complete with one windowed wall and stunning views over one of the hotel’s star attractions – a 6,750-yard golf course.

Some of the doors even open straight on to the putting green – ideal for away days, break-out sessions or as an antidote to conference fatigue.

There are also rooms for smaller meetings (a handful or even fewer) all catered for with equal panache and in every imaginable configuration, from U-shape to open plan, for receptions and buffets.

Of course, sometimes only big will do.

And that’s where the Corn Exchange comes in. A one-of-a-kind, formerly council-run, listed building that’s now managed, along with the Guildhall on the opposite side of the road, by local charity Cambridge Live.

The Guildhall can be a standalone venue on its own, with two interlinked halls, catering for upwards of 50 guests. But as Megan Charnock, conference and private events manager explains, they come into their own when there’s a major event at the Corn Exchange, hosting exhibitions or linked events, while the main plenary session fills the auditorium with up to 1,200 delegates fills the auditorium. And the city centre location offers the potential to do more.

“We’re surrounded by the colleges, so if they want to still have the college dinner, or use the colleges for accommodation or additional breakout spaces, they’re all on our doorstep as well.”

CHURCHILL COLLEGE Drive past Churchill College and while you can’t miss the uncompromising 60s architecture of its buildings - but its spacious setting in 42 tranquil acres isn’t as obvious. Once inside, however, the glorious views from the big windows in many meeting rooms are a defining feature. Catering for all comers but particularly popular with the science and technology communities, meetings or dinners can be arranged for as few as five or six people, while the lecture theatre seats up to 300. Accommodation is plentiful – 486 bedrooms, all arranged around four courtyards (a fifth follows later this year), including 130 en-suites. But for guests, it’s the staff who really make conferences special. “Magically easy to deal with” is one website comment. www.chu.cam.ac.uk

92 | Cambridge Edition | February 2016

CE02_087-093 (CONFERENCING) cbes.indd 92

Churchill College’s Wolfson Hall can seat up to 300 delegates

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 12:54

BUSINESS

A seating area beside the Genome Campus exhibition area

With enquiries rising, the future for conferences in Cambridge looks prosperous. Even if one day we’ve developed avatars who can beam themselves into the venue, deliver the speeches and use advanced business psychology to secure the order, what’s the betting we leave them busily plugging away at the admin while we swan off to one of our area’s fabulously business-friendly venues for a burst of inspiration?

Maya Bullen thinks it possible that meetings will increasingly combine a mixture of real and remote attendees.

“You’ll have a certain number of people coming together in a meeting room, perhaps chatting with people on the other side of the world via a virtual connection but we won’t completely lose the need to sit in a room with others.”

So not only will we continue in our droves for the face-to-face encounter (even if we start to arrive via jet pack through the window), the experience is likely to mean even more. “It will become more special to go away to somewhere where you’re engaging with other people, rather than sitting in front of a computer in your office,” says Carol Robinson.

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

WELLCOME GENOME CAMPUS Over 6,200 delegates visited in the last three months of 2015 – impressive for a venue whose aim is to become ‘an internationally recognised location for scientific, business, educational and cultural activities’. The extensive choice of rooms and accommodation within the 100-acre landscaped site makes it ideally suited to a full range of meetings, training sessions, conferences and retreats, whether day or residential, for up to 300 people. With many rooms offering relaxing views across the grounds, natural light and ventilation is a big feature, though for those in search of (even more) open spaces, it’s also possible to set up a marquee or team building events on the lawn. conferencecentre.wellcomegenomecampus.org

Cambridge Edition | February 2016 | 93

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 74

22/01/2016 11:52

Brought to you by Cambridge Edition

FEBRUARY 2016

www.cambsedition.co.uk

FIND YOUR DREAM HOME

PROPERTY NEWS

INTERIORS

TURN OVER FOR

EE INE FRGAZ A M PE02_001 2(PECOVER)cb.indd 1

22/01/2016 15:56

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 131

22/01/2016 12:07

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER…

Hampden bed £549, Alexa Jacquard bedding set £69, authentic weave cushion £12, chevron embroidered cushion £17.50. All available at M&S. www.marksandspencer.com

EDITORIAL For editorial enquiries, contact Editor Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com

ADVERTISING For commercial enquiries, contact Key accounts Maria Francis 01223 499461 mariafrancis@bright-publishing.com Senior sales executive Natalie Robinson 01223 499451 natalierobinson@bright-publishing.com

THIS MONTH… 16-18 • PROPERTY NEWS The latest from the buzzing Cambridge property market 22 • BOOMTOWN News on the new family homes at the Aura development 24-25 • ARCHITECTURE We take a look at the challenges facing Cambridge 26 • EDITORS’ PICKS Colourful cushions to keep you cosy 29-36 • INTERIORS Angelina rounds up the hottest home trends for spring

Property & Home Edition | February 2016 | 3

PE02_003 (WELCOME) cb.indd 3

22/01/2016 15:27

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 129

22/01/2016 12:07

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 128

22/01/2016 12:06

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 127

22/01/2016 12:06

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 126

22/01/2016 12:05

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 125

22/01/2016 12:05

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 124

22/01/2016 12:05

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 123

22/01/2016 12:04

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 122

22/01/2016 12:04

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 121

22/01/2016 12:03

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE

N TO G S N W PI O M D U A TR ME

NEW YEAR, NEW HOME CHAFFINCH AND SKYLARK HOMES RELEASED AT AWARD-WINNING TRUMPINGTON MEADOWS DEVELOPMENT n a piece of good news for property hunters seeking their dream home in 2016, Barratt Homes has released a further phase of their highly sought-after development, Trumpington Meadows. Located three miles outside central Cambridge, the award-winning development offers a collection of impressive, high specification homes and apartments set in a beautiful country park, near to excellent schools and an abundance of amenities.

The latest properties to hit the market are the Chaffinch and Skylark; two spacious four-bedroom homes set across three storeys which would make ideal family homes. The light, modern Chaffinch offers a large family/dining/kitchen, utility room and WC on the ground floor, whilst upstairs you’ll find a study, three double bedrooms (one en suite) and a single bedroom, along with two family bathrooms.

The sleek Skylark again offers a ground

floor family/kitchen/dining room, with doors out to the rear of the property to the integral garage. Upstairs on the first floor there’s a living room, a family bathroom and a good-sized double bedroom, whilst the landing leads to the second floor which houses the master bedroom and your en-suite, plus two further bedrooms with another family bathroom.

For more information contact Barratt Homes on 0844 811 4888.

Barratt Homes is offering a £5,000 purchaser redeemable voucher on plots available at Trumpington Meadows. This voucher must be redeemed prior to making the reservation and cannot be used in conjunction with any other incentives. (Terms and conditions apply. Valid until 31.03.16)

Reference C.E02

EXCLUSIVE £5,000 DISCOUNT VOUCHER FOR CUSTOMISING YOUR NEW HOME

For more information contact Barratt Homes: 0844 811 4888 www.barratthomes.co.uk/new-homes/cambridgeshire/H618701-Trumpington-Meadows

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

PE02_013 (BIDWELLS ADV)ljc.indd 13

Property & Home Edition | February 2016 | 13

22/01/2016 11:35

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 119

22/01/2016 12:03

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 118

22/01/2016 12:02

PROPERTY

PROPERTY Edition takes a look at the latest happenings in the buzzing local property market

MARKBY CLOSE, CB22

The Cambridge countryside:

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

SW AP PI P CA EA NG N CE TH BR FU E IN L BU G CO SY HU U C GE NT ITY BE RYS FO NE ID R T FI E HE TS

With central Cambridge becoming more crowded, increasingly expensive and hard to navigate for first-time buyers, we asked Carter Jonas Bradshaws about the advantages of life outside of the city Cambridge continues to be a beacon for world-class organisations and has become home to one of the most talented workforces in the world. With house prices to match some of London’s most prestigious postcodes, it’s becoming more difficult for buyers to get a slice of the central Cambridge property pie.

According to a recent Lloyds Bank report, nine out of the ten most expensive streets in East Anglia are in Cambridge. First-time buyers don’t even stand a chance says Mark Wood, partner at Carter Jonas Bradshaws. “Since 2006 we’ve seen a huge decline in the number of first-time buyers able to purchase in the city. With Cambridge’s prosperity continuing to grow and driving more people to the city we have seen great economic expansion, but unfortunately it’s been at the expense of the first-time buyer.”

So what approach should first-time buyers take? Buying outside the city is the best option and swapping the busy city for the peaceful countryside can bring huge benefits.

“Our first-time buyers are purchasing property outside the city in places such as Cambourne, Ely, Sawston, Hardwick and Cottenham where there are strong links to the city. There’s a better quality of life too, with plenty of open spaces and good schools.”

The picturesque market town of St Ives also holds real potential for those looking for a new home within close proximity of the city. “We’ve just launched properties on a new development called Meadow Park. Prices are very reasonable, with one-bedroom studios starting from £97,000. The average price of the same property in central Cambridge is £190,000 and the return for investors are in excess of 5.5%, making it a highly attractive and most importantly, affordable prospect.” carterjonas.co.uk/bradshaws

Who? Carter Jonas What? Four-bedroom detached house Where? Markby Close, Duxford, 1 mile from the M11, 1.4 miles from Whittlesford train station, 8 miles from Addenbrooke’s Hospital How much? £425,000 Tell me more: Markby Close is a large, modern property situated in the popular village of Duxford. It boasts four bedrooms, one bathroom, two reception rooms, a garden and a double garage, covering approximately 1,227 square feet. The nearest schools are located in Cambridge and Royston, and have, on average, been rated highly by Ofsted.

Duxford itself remains sought after for its proximity to the M11 and Whittlesford station, which offers a direct link to London’s Liverpool Street, and there is a comprehensive range of facilities available in nearby Sawston, as well as further afield in Cambridge and Saffron Walden. www.carterjonas.co.uk

16 | Property & Home Edition | February 2016

PE02_016-018 2(PROPERTY NEWS) cbljc.indd 16

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 09:44

H IN £45 ERE TH 0K ’S E W W CI IL HA TY L T AN BU £4 D Y Y 00 BE O YO U – ND

PROPERTY

WHAT CAN I GET HISTON ROAD, CB4 Who? Carter Jonas What? Three-bed semi-detached house Where? Histon Road, Cambridge, 1.5 miles from the city centre, 2.9 miles from the train station How much? £450,000 Tell me more: As well as its three bedrooms, this property offers a front and a back garden, two bathrooms and two reception rooms. It has already been extended and has potential for further development. It occupies approximately 1,173 square feet and is located near several good primary and secondary schools. The property offers great potential, especially with a few updates, and the location, whilst a little way out of town, offers both shops and parks within easy walking distance. www.carterjonas.co.uk

NEW STREET, CB1

THE DONCASTER, CB8 Who? Bidwells What? Five-bedroom detached house Where? Anvil Way, Kentford. 5 miles from Newmarket, 1 mile from Kennett railway station, 28 minutes’ drive to Cambridge How much? £425,000 Tell me more: In Kentford, rural Suffolk, the Doncaster has five bedrooms, a spacious living room, dining room, en-suite shower and double garage. Kentford is a small village located between Newmarket and Bury St Edmunds which offers a post office, two pubs and a primary school. With a 90-minute commute to central London, Stansted Airport is 40 minutes away and there’s easy access to the A1 and M11. www.bidwells.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

PE02_016-018 2(PROPERTY NEWS) cbljc.indd 17

Who? Carter Jonas What? Two-bedroom duplex penthouse apartment Where? New Street, Cambridge, within walking distance of Anglia Ruskin University, the train station and The Grafton Centre How much? £450,000 Tell me more: New Street is a slick city-centre development boasting two floors, two bathrooms and two bedrooms, plus exclusive access to a roof terrace. The development includes 14 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Whilst there is a store for cycles and bins, no parking is available. As with all central Cambridge properties, New Street is within close reach of outstanding primary and secondary schools. www.carterjonas.co.uk

Property & Home Edition | February 2016 | 17

22/01/2016 09:44

PROPERTY

Nightswapping

STAGE YOUR HOME TO ACHIEVE A HIGHER SALE PRICE

TOP TIPS

Clare Freenan, certified home staging & styling professional, offers tips to boost your home sale price When you put your property on the market to sell it is crucial that it stands out from the crowd so that you can get the highest possible price.

Home staging is preparing your home for sale or rental by making the best of its features and space. Without doubt this will ensure that your property appeals to the greatest number of buyers and sells in the least amount of time. In turn, this will allow you to act quickly on the property you want to buy; particularly essential in the fast moving property market in and around Cambridge.

• Does your house have ‘kerb appeal’? Is the garden tidy and well-kempt? Is any garden furniture that you have well placed so you can convey to potential buyers that you have useable outdoor space?

• Do you think the general appearance and ambience of your house suggests that it is a warm and welcoming home?

• Have you made the best use of all the spaces? Do you perhaps use a room as a study or storage area that should really be a dining room? If so, convert it back to a useable dining room, accessorising either with existing linen and glassware or perhaps choose some new dining room furniture and accessories that you would like to take with you to your next house.

• Would your house benefit from storing some excess furniture or personal items to create more space in the various rooms? You will need to pack up your belongings when you move anyway so this is really just part of the process, but it will really help any potential buyer to see the full potential of each room.

• Maybe you have always thought that the layout of the house would flow better if a certain wall was knocked down or a door was removed but you just haven’t got round to it? If this is the case you could undertake some relatively minor and low-cost building work which would almost certainly help to improve the value of the property.

Ever see the Cameron Diaz/Jude Law romcom The Holiday? Well now you can have yourself a houseswapping adventure of your very own, with the help of a nifty little app that’s becoming increasingly popular with Cambridge homeowners.

Nightswapping, the latest indie travel craze, is the first website to facilitate swaps between members completely for free, offering its well-vetted users the opportunity to swap ‘nights’ for accommodation at members’ properties across the globe. Members need to pay £9.90 as a reservation fee whenever they travel, although it’s a set price no matter the number of nights or size of the party travelling. If you’re not in a position to offer space yourself, you can buy nights directly for £7 to £49, depending on the standard of accommodation. With 110,000 members in 160 countries listing 30,000 places, something definitely seems to be working. The idea is exciting, and you have several options: to do a mutual nightswap, to swap for a private room or even for an entire place. Only question is, where to first? www.nightswapping.com

If you are planning to sell your home and think some of these pointers may apply to you but you would like a second opinion or some help to kick-start the home staging process, please do give me a call for a no obligation chat about how I can help.

Equally if you have had numerous viewings but no offers, perhaps now is the time to seek the advice of a home staging professional who can help to make your property into a desirable home that will fly off the market.

Clare Feenan is a certified home staging & styling professional who runs a friendly and affordable property styling company operating in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Essex. www.clarefeenan.com

18 | Property & Home Edition | February 2016

PE02_016-018 2(PROPERTY NEWS) cbljc.indd 18

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 09:44

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 114

22/01/2016 12:02

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 113

22/01/2016 12:01

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 112

22/01/2016 12:00

PROPERTY

BOOMTOWN

The latest from Cambridge’s new property developments

Bulletin

S S OU E RI OM XU H LU ILY M FA

22 | Property & Home Edition | February 2016

PE02_022 (BOOMTOWN) cbljc.indd 22

FAMILY HOMES AT AURA ON THE MARKET Developer Countryside has released four new styles of luxurious homes onto the market at Aura on Long Road in Great Kneighton. Situated less than two and a half miles from Cambridge city centre, these three- and fourbedroom properties would make ideal family homes, with the benefit of a selection of top schools located nearby.

Close to Addenbrooke’s, the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and Junction 11 of the M11, and surrounded on two sides by mature woodland, Aura combines the convenience of city living with the benefits of a rural lifestyle.

The homes themselves – Allingham, Irving, Kavanagh and Arlington – have a variety of particular features to suit their buyers. The Kavanagh and the Arlington are marginally bigger, with four storeys and bedrooms, while the Allingham and the Irving each have three storeys. All are modern, stylish and spacious, and the neighbourhood, incorporating a wide range of amenities including a health and community centre, library, offices, sports pitches and a 120-acre country park, add to their appeal.

Andrew Loveday, sales director at Countryside comments: “Cambridge offers the perfect combination of historic city charm with contemporary amenities, good schools and transport links to central London. Our new collection of townhouses reflects our understanding of how our buyers live and what they really want from a home in Cambridge.”

Prices range from £715,000 to £995,000 for these three- to fourbedroom townhouses. Call 01223 656167 or go online for full details. www.auracambridge.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 09:16

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 110

22/01/2016 11:59

CAMBRIDGE’S FUTURE

WORDS ROBIN PELLEW

CAMBRIDGE’S

ARE WE KILLING THE GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGG? Robin Pellew, Chairman of Cambridge Past, Present & Future, considers some solutions to challenges Cambridge could face, as it continues to grow and evolve apace Cambridge is reaping the whirlwind of its own success. A once sleepy university town is being transformed into one of the fastest growing high-tech cities in Europe.

This success is driving an ever-increasing demand for space to expand, which in turn is changing the character of the city. We need foresight, intelligence and creativity if change is to be well managed. What makes Cambridge so successful is not just the

scientific spin-off from both its universities, but the ability of its high-tech sector to evolve. Whereas other European cities may dazzle then fade, Cambridge re-invents itself – first computer electronics and software design, then biomedical and now clean tech: Cambridge always seems to catch the crest of the wave.

But this success is under threat. Lack of land for expansion, unaffordable housing

This article originally appeared in issue 70 of Cambridge Architecture Gazette.

Read the digital magazine online at www.cambridgearchitects.org

24 | Property & Home Edition | February 2016

PE02 024-025 (ARCHITECTURE)esljc.indd 24

22/01/2016 09:04

CAMBRIDGE’S FUTURE

This is what I think should be done to address Cambridge’s growth problems:

© CambridgePPF

and traffic congestion – collectively these could derail Cambridge’s future prosperity.

So are we killing the goose that lays the golden egg?

The approach of our local authorities seems to vacillate, depending on their political complexion. The ‘compact city’ was the mantra until the millennium, then the release of substantial chunks of green belt for development in the 2006 plan and now back to compact with the 2014 draft plans.

The additional 35,000 homes for the Greater Cambridge area are to be located first in the sites around the city fringe that have not yet been developed and then in new satellite settlements beyond the green belt in South Cambs – Cambourne, Northstowe, Bourn Airfield and Waterbeach Barracks.

This strategy is largely influenced by the Council’s desire to protect the green belt and the setting of the city. A noble and, I believe, an essential objective, but it still has to be asked whether in the current context

the green belt has outlived its usefulness.

Does it continue to play a valuable role in preventing urban sprawl, or is it now an impediment to essential growth? Do we want Cambridge to spread out into an expanding urban metropolis with a sanitised heritage centre?

The Council’s response of creating new settlements outside the green belt raises fundamental sustainability issues that the inspectors are now questioning. Is building a settlement in the middle of the countryside a sustainable form of development?

Commercial developers have been arguing that creating more urban extensions in the city fringe is cheaper, quicker and easier, but we need to consider how realistic this is. While new settlements will need major investment in new infrastructure, especially public transport, it is pernicious to argue that expansion around the fringe can simply piggyback on existing facilities without overloading the infrastructure.

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

PE02 024-025 (ARCHITECTURE)esljc.indd 25

1. If Cambridge has one thing in abundance, it’s brains. Surely we can mobilise this cerebral resource to encourage fresh, innovative and exciting new thinking about the future of our city? Cambridge Futures and more recently the CambridgePPF 2030 Vision show the way.

2. We need a new approach that addresses the imbalance between the demand by road users and the capacity of the road system.

Demand can best be reduced through the provision of a highquality, public transport alternative, and the way to subsidise such a service is through a congestion charge. What about a new body – Transport for Cambridge – modelled on the London example?

3. A review of the green belt is needed, looking not only at its landscape value and its role in protecting the setting of the city, but also its potential contribution to improving the quality of life of local people. Green belt should be the last resort once all brownfield sites and areas suitable for regeneration have been exhausted.

4. Because Cambridge pulls in people from such a wide area, its spatial planning needs to be addressed at a sub-regional scale. Planning authorities have a statutory duty to cooperate but the degree of practical cooperation varies. 2019 will see the creation of a Combined Authority for spatial planning and transport – rather than this awkward hybrid beast, why not go the whole hog and set up a Unitary Authority for Greater Cambridge?

We need to face up to the new realities so that Cambridge can keep its lead, but civic, like academic leadership requires creativity and political courage.

Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. For CambridgePPF’s position, please visit www.cambridgeppf.org/planning

Property & Home Edition | February 2016 | 25

22/01/2016 09:04

INTERIORS

WOOL RICH GEOMETRIC APPLIQUE CUSHION £18 NEXT

ORANGE STRIPED CUSHION WITH POM POMS £26 OLIVER BONAS

TOUCAN CUSHION £7 GEORGE AT ASDA

CUSHIONS Get cosy in the month of love with some of these quirky and cool cushions

GEOMETRIC CUSHION £7.99 HOMESENSE LORDS AND MASTERS CUSHION £72 MINE HEART

CUSHION YOU AND ME £24 IN-SPACES VERDON CUSHION YELLOW LB3 £20 MADE.COM

26 | Property & Home Edition | February 2016

PE02_026 (INTERIORS 1 PAGE) cbljc.indd 26

CAROLA VAN DYKE RACCOON CUSHION £89 AMARA

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 09:26

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 106

22/01/2016 11:58

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 105

22/01/2016 11:58

INTERIORS

WORDS ANGELINA VILLA-CLARKE

OUT

WITH

THE

From a new colour palette to inspire you to glamorous burnished metals, this season’s new trends will give an elegant feel to your home. Add in botanical prints and a dash of floral decor for schemes that are naturally stylish Blooming lovely: Delcor’s Magnum Sofa, £6,329, features dramatic dark florals in Designers Guild Bloomsbury Rose List fabric

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

PE02 029-036 (INTERIORS) cbljc.indd 29

Property & Home Edition | February 2016 | 29

22/01/2016 09:07

With a new season comes a desire for renewal, not least when it comes to our homes. The new interior trends for springsummer 2016 take their inspiration largely from the natural world with a hint of highfashion style. Whatever room you want to refresh, take a note from these emerging styles to keep your house looking fresh.

Each year Pantone, the colour experts, announce their ‘colours of the year’ from which many designers and brands take inspiration. For 2016 the emphasis is on softer shades with Rose Quartz (a warm, rose pink) and Serenity (a cool, tranquil blue) being named as the shades that will dictate the way we dress our homes.

The high street is awash with accessories in pale pink and hues of blue. Check out the dusty-pink, space-saving wall table at The Scandinavian Shop and the pretty rose light-

shades at Besselink & Jones. Bert Frank’s stunning matt, petrol-blue Revolve lamps are great investment pieces too.

Specialists in fabrics and upholstery, Cambridge design-house Barker and Barker offers a sky/pink stripe fabric called Serenity that is bang on trend. Janet Dixon, chief designer, gives her advice: “When using colour and fabric try to use something you really like that reflects your personality, even if it doesn’t follow fashions. Trends come and go, so choosing something you love is important or you may end up with an expensive mistake! Colour and pattern make bold statements and can liven up a room.

One of the easiest, cheapest ways to add these is to use cushions and throws. Adding weaves, patterns and prints in a colour is a good way to make a change so try to incorporate colours that work together

Perfect pastels LEFT FROM TOP Small Telescopic Desk Lamp with pink shade, £625, Besselink & Jones; Star Rug, £75, and Fresh American Cushion, £58, Dash and Albert; Delilah Occasional Chair, £74.99, MY Furniture; Acrylic Painted Boat Bath in Citron, from £1,554, BC Designs ABOVE Make an investment with John Lewis of Hungerford’s Shaker kitchen, which is available in blossom pink and earl grey shades, kitchens start from £25,000

30 | Property & Home Edition | February 2016

PE02 029-036 (INTERIORS) cbljc.indd 30

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 09:08

and prints that won’t conflict. Tone down a bold pattern with a plain, solid tonal colour – this will help to soften the look. Changing your curtains and sofa are another great option, but for a purse-friendly alternative decorative accessories are brilliant.”

Considered a ‘new neutral’, grey-pink can bring a sophisticated, gentle hue to walls.

Teamed with gleaming bronze and flashes of neon yellow, blush tones can look instantly grown-up and elegant. Launching this month, Farrow & Ball’s nine new colours for 2016 include the ethereal Peignoir as well as a range of so-called ‘muted drabs’. This greypink has a romantic feel “inspired by the chiffon gowns in which ladies traditionally brushed their hair in boudoirs”.

You can easily add hues of pink in rugs or cushions, or commit further by purchasing chairs and sofas in pale pink, such as those at Sofa Workshop. For lovers of the shade, why not go the whole way and invest in a pink Shaker-style kitchen, as seen at John Lewis of Hungerford?

The blue theme has perhaps more of a universal appeal with Delcor’s baby-blue

Chesterfield and Pavilion sofas particularly stylish choices. Sainsbury’s Moroccan Blue collection is inspired by a bolder, electric blue giving the ultimate summer feel.

Andrew Tanner, head of home design at Sainsbury’s, comments: “The timeless pairing of classic blue and white invites us to embrace summer style. We’ve updated it by looking to the city of Casablanca, picking up prints and patterns from elaborate tile work, ikat and batik fabrics. This melting pot of influences resulted in a collection of beautiful ceramics inspired by decorative textiles that you might expect to find in Morocco.”

For a fresh, modern feel, add touches of citrus yellow or bright white, in the form of accessories or one-off pieces of furniture, such as the occasional chairs and ottomans available at MY Furniture.

“Nothing adds a burst of sunshine to interiors like yellow. It blends well with pastels as well as darker shades making it a great choice for any room,” says Sally Cutchie, sales coordinator at BC Designs, which sells a citron-painted Boat Bath that will give the wow factor to a bathroom. As

part of its new collection of Architectural Paint colours, Paint and Paper Library offers Chinese Emperor – a dull yellow that contrasts the equally striking Plaster V (a mauve-pink) and Blue Blood (petrol blue).

Championing the return of white is Helen Shaw, marketing director at paint specialists Benjamin Moore UK: “White is transcendent, timeless and has an unrivalled versatility, that is why we chose Simply White OC-117 as our 2016 colour of the year. From the elegance of layered whites to bold contrasting schemes and warm rustic textured settings, white is not just a trend, it is an essential.”

Give a nod to the new neutrals TOP RIGHT Barker and Barker’s Serenity stripe fabric, £39 per metre, channels the trend ABOVE Sofa Workshop’s The Hunter Chair in Moon Earth Candy, £1,699, is a subtle take on pink

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

PE02 029-036 (INTERIORS) cbljc.indd 31

Property & Home Edition | February 2016 | 31

22/01/2016 09:08

INTERIORS

While gleaming copper, bronze and gold have been on the design radar for a while, this year sees a focus on more matt metals.

High polish is out with darker, wrought-iron and burnished and brushed metals in.

One easy way to translate this metallic trend is by accent lighting – with a huge range of styles available. Next, for instance, has a choice of streamlined, industrial

DARKER, WROUGHTIRON AND BURNISHED METALS ARE IN

lights, while BHS’s matt, silver mariner-style lighting will give a room impact. For lovers of Victoriana, seek out the wrought-iron chandelier and delicate Peterstow lamps at Fritz Fryer.

For a subtle take on the trend, factor in one of The Nine Schools’ Chinese cabinets or console tables that feature metal handles and locks or go for a decorative, traditional castiron radiator, available at The Radiator Centre.

Giving a talking point to a bathroom, meanwhile, is the Albion Bath Company’s slipper or double-ended baths available in a range of burnished finishes (gold, iron and bronze). Complement it with copper porcelain floor and copper metallic wall tiles from Tile Mountain.

Turn on to brushed metals CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Copper Metallic Modular Wall Tiles, £6.99 each, Tile Mountain; Montefresco bath in burnished metallic finishes, £2,545, The Albion Bath Company; Peterstow Industrial wall light, £90, Fritz Fryer; Madison Diner Pendant, £150, BHS; Antique Wrought Iron Chandelier, £1,300, Fritz Fryer; Arlington Pendant, £120, BHS ABOVE Medium Chinese Cabinet in Oyster Grey, £350, The Nine Schools

32 | Property & Home Edition | February 2016

PE02 029-036 (INTERIORS) cbljc.indd 32

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 09:08

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 100

22/01/2016 11:58

Heralding the end of minimalism is the return of all things floral with big, bold prints particularly in vogue. Cambridge-based interior designer, Cate Burren of Angel & Blume, agrees: “For me, florals have never been out of style but if a contemporary feel is what you are after, there are some fabulous digital prints on the market that are about bold patterns and vibrant colours.”

Jim Carlile, managing director at Elybased Reeds Furniture and Bed Centre, comments: “Floral upholstery is on-trend this season. Mix-and-match prints with plain pieces to get the balance right. Dark prints – such as navy and rose florals on velvet – are of the moment and are a hip version of

the ‘grandma chic’ look. Choose bold, wild blooms over small ditzy prints for a modern feel and show these off on a statement piece of furniture for maximum impact.”

A case in point is Sofa Workshop’s Ives chair, which is now available in Liberty’s Secret Garden fabric, a jewel-toned, floral velvet. Match it with Besslink & Jones’s roses chandelier for a dramatic feel.

Delcor has armchairs and sofas in rich floral designs. If you dare, why not carpet a bedroom or spare room with Brintons’ luxury Florals Parterre – a subtle, floral carpet that is beautifully soft underfoot.

As the weather heats up (we hope), inject a blast of summer into your home with floral motifs found on the kitchen accessories by Pip Studio and Cath Kidston at Daisy Park, the fun and flowery cardboard deer heads at The Scandinavian Shop and the evocative textile designs found at Art of the Loom. Its latest collection, entitled Indian Summer, features fabrics in bright colours and is inspired by the vibrancy of India. The fabrics hint at the influence of embroidered saris, flowers for the temple, painted trucks and decorated camels.

Finally, come the bright soft furnishings and bold wallpapers at the Finnish brand Vallila Interior. Emma Niskanen comments: “Florals are an enduring favourite in design, but we are seeing exciting takes on the theme with edgy designs in bold colours and graphic prints, alongside contemporary motifs in soft, pale shades. Another trend is large-scale botanical prints with a touch of the exotic. These styles look great and are easy to incorporate into modern interiors.”

Flower power TOP LEFT Delcor’s Petite Chair, from £812, will give a floral statement TOP RIGHT Accessorise with Cath Kidston’s Blossom Birds Mug, £6.50, from Daisy Park, and the Amanda and Charlotte cushions, £13.90 each, at Vallila Interior ABOVE LEFT The Amelie large sofa, from £1,239, is from the new Maison Collection by Parker Knoll available at Reeds Furniture and Bed Centre ABOVE RIGHT Miho Mini Deer Trophy in Bonsai, £19.95, The Scandinavian Shop

34 | Property & Home Edition | February 2016

PE02 029-036 (INTERIORS) cbljc.indd 34

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 09:08

INTERIORS

This season there is still a penchant for ‘bringing the outside in’ when it comes to interior design. Consequently, gardeninspired designs bring leaf patterns, fern prints and insect motifs into the living room.

The Botanist collection from Sainsbury’s includes fern-printed pillows, green glasses and butterfly-themed crockery.

Andrew Tanner, head of home design, says: “Autumn’s moody-hued painterly florals give way to fresher botanicals for spring.

This is the sophisticated, fashion-led take on conservatory style. Think a dash of Victorian palm house with botanical illustrations and brass finishes, which beautifully transforms the home into a tropical haven.”

BHS’s Sweet Nostalgia range taps into emerging trends with floral, botanical and nostalgia at its heart. Make a beeline for the pretty lampshades, wooden pictures and pineapple accessories. Offering an eclectic collection of classic and contemporary furniture is Atkin and Thyme. Co-owner Victoria Atkin comments: “Interiors are reconnecting with Mother Nature by finding their roots in unfussy, pragmatic styling that

emphasises natural raw beauty. Handcrafted, artisan products make for truly unique designs that please aesthetically and perform functionally. Surrender the home to the drama of rustic mango wood, elaborate embroidery and colourful prints for a season of wild abandon.”

From jungle-print wallpaper at Lime Lace to the botanist cabinets at The Farthing, the trend has its roots in British history. David Mottershead, managing director of Little Greene agrees: “The bedrock of design, botanicals have never been in or out of fashion – but the way they are presented has changed dramatically – from the eccentric Victorians, to the geometric Art Deco period, to the flamboyant 70s. This year botanicals are being reproduced in modern colours and used as art works or with geometric prints. Botanicals have never felt so fresh and in vogue!”

Use flashes of green for maximum impact – scatter a few cushions with a

BOTANICALS HAVE NEVER FELT SO FRESH AND IN VOGUE

fern or leaf print or introduce the Manila or Hortus rugs from Modern Rugs. Ben Dale, the founder of Modern Rugs, gives his expertise: “The use of florals, botanical prints and green colourways are an effective way of bringing the outside in. This eco, nature vibe can easily be added to a home with accessories and soft furnishings.”

Cate Burren of Angel & Blume agrees: “Green is a calming colour and it visually connects interiors and exteriors. Adding florals is a bonus and keeping the main colour palette the same with accent colours lets you layer textures and patterns without being too hectic.”

Outside inspiration ABOVE RIGHT FROM TOP Winchester Solid Wood Chest of Drawers, £449, Atkin and Thyme; Sweet Nostalgia cushions, from £12, BHS; Manila Green Rug, from £409, and Bluebellgray Mode Rug, from £899, Modern Rugs ABOVE LEFT Little Greene’s Archive Trails collection includes this Darwin Serein wallpaper, £131 per roll

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

PE02 029-036 (INTERIORS) cbljc.indd 35

Property & Home Edition | February 2016 | 35

22/01/2016 09:09

INTERIORS

© Simon Whitmore Photography

Mix romantic, feminine touches – think velvet and lace – with more contemporary, harder materials, such as concrete flooring or woven textiles, for a modern-day ‘mashup’ style.

Revealing the trend in full effect is the new style of wall tiles that are becoming increasingly popular.

Emma Pratt at St Ives Tile and Stone comments, “Coming on-trend this year is a mix-and-match tiling style.

Subtle florals, geometric patterns and quirky prints are being used in a non-matching way and we are seeing more customers opting for patterns instead of plain tiles. It gives a quirky patchwork effect and is very of the moment.

Love it or hate it, used sparingly next to plain tiles, it gives a wonderful focal point to a bathroom or kitchen. Use them as a stripe down the wall of a shower enclosure, for example, or as a splashback behind a range – above all, this type of tiling gives personality and character.”

Nigel Wright, owner of Interiors of Ely, gives his advice on translating the theme: “Harness the nostalgia trend by seeking out

HARNESS THE NOSTALGIA AND SEEK OUT A QUIRKY, ONEOFF FIND a quirky, one-off find for your home. We supply a range of unique pieces – such as vintage furniture and unusual accessories.

For something completely original, we also offer a handmade bespoke service so you can create your own pieces. These ‘finds’ will add character and give a talking point to your room. We also restore items of furniture – this is a great way to breathe new life into something you would otherwise replace. After all, who wants to be the same as everyone else – originality is key to being on-trend.”

Unique pieces for your home include the sumptuous, bright tub chairs at Oliver Bonas, the velvet dining chairs and chaise longues at Black Orchid and the quirky, plywood stools designed by Piet Hein Eek and Dutch manufacturer NLXL LAB, which feature paintings from Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum (available at Lime Lace).

Angel & Blume’s interior designer Cate Burren concludes: “Creating a space that is personal to a homeowner is the core of a good design scheme and often this includes a carefully balanced mix of styles. I love to see a modern contemporary home softened with, for example, some feminine textures of velvet, linen, lace and embroidery.”

Opulent desire ABOVE RIGHT FROM TOP Jungle Print Wallpaper by Miki Rose for The Graduate collection, £125 per roll, Lime Lace; velvet tub chair, £445, Oliver Bonas; Silver Versailles Velvet Chaise Longue, £820, Black Orchid, London; Horse Head made of driftwood, £159, Interiors of Ely ABOVE LEFT Interior designer Cate Burren of Angel & Blume Interior Design suggests adding a quilted bed-throw for the perfect nostalgic look

36 | Property & Home Edition | February 2016

PE02 029-036 (INTERIORS) cbljc.indd 36

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

22/01/2016 09:48

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 96

22/01/2016 11:57

CE ADS_FEBRUARY.indd 95

22/01/2016 11:56

©Vallila Interior

INTERIORS

OLIVER BONAS 020 8974 0110 www.oliverbonas. com PAINT & PAPER LIBRARY 020 7823 7755 www.paint-library. co.uk REEDS FURNITURE AND BED CENTRE 01353 669754 www.reedshomestore.co.uk SAINSBURY’S 0800 636 262 www.sainsburys. co.uk

ALBION BATH COMPANY 01255 831605 www.albionbathco.com

BESSELINK & JONES 020 7584 0343 www.besselink.com

FRITZ FRYER 01989 567416 www.fritzfryer.co.uk

ST IVES TILE AND STONE 01480 467800 www.stivestileandstone.co.uk

ANGEL & BLUME 01223 479 434 www.angelandblume.com

BHS www.bhs.co.uk

INTERIORS OF ELY 01353 659005

THE FARTHING 0844 567 2400 www.thefarthing.co.uk

ART OF THE LOOM 01200 427744 www.artoftheloom.co.uk

BLACK ORCHID LONDON 0844 854 2794 www.blackorchid.london

JOHN LEWIS OF HUNGERFORD 01223 305480 www.john-lewis.co.uk

THE NINE SCHOOLS 0117 332 3673 www.thenineschools.co.uk

ATKIN AND THYME 0844 409 9834 www.atkinandthyme.co.uk

BRINTONS 0800 505 055 www.brintons.co.uk

LIME LACE 01423 900 522 www.limelace.co.uk

THE RADIATOR CENTRE 01727 840344 www.theradiatorcentre.com

BARKER AND BARKER 01223 733 730 www.barkerandbarker.co.uk

DAISY PARK 01769 579077 www.daisypark.co.uk

LITTLE GREENE 0845 880 5855 www.littlegreene.co.uk

THE SCANDINAVIAN SHOP 01436 673623 www.scandinavianshop.co.uk

BC DESIGNS 01206 827100 www.bcdesigns.co.uk

DASH AND ALBERT EUROPE www.dashandalberteurope.com

MODERN RUGS 01388 663 738 www.modern-rugs.co.uk

BENJAMIN MOORE UK 01753 575756 www.benjaminmoorepaint.co.uk

DELCOR 0191 237 1303 www.delcor.co.uk

MY FURNITURE 0800 092 1636 www.my-furniture.co.uk

BERT FRANK 020 7164 6482 www.bertfrank.co.uk

FARROW & BALL 01223 367771 www.farrow-ball.com

NEXT 0333 777 8000 www.next.co.uk

SIGN UP TO THE EDIT NEWSLETTER AT CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

PE02 039 (INTERIORS DIRECTORY) cbljc.indd 39

THE SOFA WORKSHOP 0800 23 00 048 www.sofaworkshop.com TILE MOUNTAIN 01782 223822 www.tilemountain.co.uk VALLILA INTERIOR www.vallilainterior.fi

Property & Home Edition | February 2016 | 39

22/01/2016 09:11