Cambridge Edition September

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LOCAL LIFE

Step into autumn this

E X P L O R E T H E C I T Y AT O P E N C A M B R I D G E G E T I N S P I R E D F O R G R E AT FA M I LY DAYS O U T D I S C OV E R C A M B R I D G E ’S N E W F O O D I E H O T S P O T S G E T T H E L O W - D O W N O N T O P G I G S & T H E AT R E S H O W S

S I G N U P TO O U R W E E K LY D I G I TA L N E W S L E T T E R

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Cambridge

ED IT

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W E LC O M E

Welcome.

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E D I TO R I A L

Editor in chief Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright-publishing.com Senior sub editor Lisa Clatworthy Sub editor Siobhan Godwood

A DV E RT I S I N G

ambridge in the summertime truly Cambridge is a thing to be savoured, and I SIGN UP intend on spending W E E K LY TO O U R D N E W S L E I G I TA L this month eking out TTER the last dregs of the season for absolutely as long as I possibly can. If you’re of a similar disposition, my top tip for the month is the Sundowners at The Gog: a duo of events brimming with prosecco-filled, rustic charm, dancing under the stars and of course, a famous Gog Magog Hills sunset. Find out more on page 32.

Also prolonging the summer vibes will be Wysing Arts Centre, which is gearing up to once again host its edgy annual music festival this month – if your music taste tends towards leftfield electronic beats, you’re in for an unexpected treat out in sleepy little Bourn. Read all about it on page 9.

The foodPark gang will be serving up their final summer night market of the season too this month – not to be missed if you’re the kind of person who enjoys eating a week’s worth of (exceptionally tasty) food in a single evening. Washed down with cocktails and good tunes. Check out page 40 for all the details.

Also in our food section this month, we’ve got news on some tasty new openings – a coffee house, great new pub and spectacular patisserie, mosey over and add a few to your foodie must-try list. Another brand-new thing to try this month in Cambridge is Subterranean, a one-day rock and indie festival from the makers of the Folk Fest – and with a pedigree like that, our hopes are high – turn to page 29 to find out more.

There’s also the bonkers Dragon Boat racing festival, the illuminating Open Cambridge, a Biergarten film festival, a retro arcade experience, and lots more to look forward to – enjoy the issue and see you next month!

Nicola Foley Editor in chief

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EDIT

Senior sales executive Chris Jacobs 01223 499463 chrisjacobs@bright-publishing.com Sales executive Shannon Walford 01223 499457 shannonwalford@bright-publishing.com

C O N T R I B U TO R S

Alex Rushmer, Angelina Villa-Clarke, Charlotte Griffiths, Charlotte Phillips, Cyrus Pundole, Daisy Dickinson, Elodie Cameron Jordan Worland, Ruthie Collins, Sam Cooke

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Editorial designer Flo Thomas 01223 492242 flothomas@bright-publishing.com Ad production Lucy Woolcomb 01223 499468 lucywoolcomb@bright-publishing.com

M A N AG I N G D I R E C TO R S

Andy Brogden & Matt Pluck 01223 499450

FIND US @ CAMBSEDITION

CAMBSEDITION .CO.UK CAMBRIDGE EDITION MAGAZINE • Bright Publishing Ltd, Bright House, 82 High Street, Sawston, Cambridgeshire CB22 3HJ, 01223 499450, 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

This month’s cover illustration is by Flo Thomas.

AUTHOR ILLUSTRATIONS BY LOUISA TAYLOR louisataylorillustration.blogspot.co.uk

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C O N T E N TS

Contents.

7 Reasons to be cheerful.

Excellent things to enjoy in Cambridge this September

8 Nightlife.

After-dark fun, from live music and club nights to comedy

50 Review.

A tantalising Thai feast is devoured at The Three Tuns

Your at-a-glance guide to local events for September

11 Music blog.

56 Family.

13 Arts & culture.

62 Beauty.

Jordan from Slate the Disco gives his top gig picks for the month

A round-up of arty, cultural events in the city, from exhibitions to theatre

22 Art insider.

Ruthie Collins gives the low-down on arty happenings this month

25 Dragon Boat Festival.

Kids theatre, an autumn festival and loads more fun for the family this September

Daisy delivers a round-up of the best cruelty-free and ethical beauty products

Looking past the prospectuses, Charlotte Phillips gets advice on making the big decision

26 Open Cambridge.

77 Back to School Kit.

Talks, tours, and the chance to see usually off-limits corners of the city

Cute and quirky back to school essentials for your little ones

29 Subterranean Festival.

79 Lifelong Learning.

32 Food News.

91 Interiors.

43 Hero Eats.

102 Home store of the month.

All the gastronomic goings-on you need to know about

Three things you need to eat in Cambridge – right now

44 Five of the Foodie Best.

This month we’re putting the city’s top veggie bugers under the spotlight

47 Alex Rushmer.

Writing from the Swiss Alps, Alex serves up a bubbling pot of melty goodness

49 Drinks.

Elodie introduces two of the brightest young things in the craft booze game

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69 Choosing the Right School.

Catch the bonkers river-based fun out in Fen Ditton this month

A brand new indie and rock one-dayer from the team behind the Folk Festival

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54 Listings.

We take a look at the adult learning scene in the city

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Transform your bathroom into a beautiful, blissful sanctuary with a little help from the experts

We explore what local interiors company Delcor has to offer

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104 Home & Garden Show.

A preview of Cambridge’s exciting new interiors and design show, coming to town this September

107 Property News.

The latest news and commentary from the local property market, from local agents Cooke, Curtis & Co

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Reasons to be cheerful.

NEWMARKET WEDDING S H OW. Ready to inspire and advise on all your tying-the-knot needs, the Newmarket Wedding Show is back this month, serving up a vast array of vendors in the grand setting of the Millennium Grandstand at the Rowley Mile Racecourse, Newmarket. Taking place on 3 September (11am-4pm), the event will showcase gorgeous gowns, fabulous florists, divine decorations, excellent entertainers and plenty more besides. You’ll also be able to grab Sunday lunch if you need to refuel. thenewmarketweddingshow.co.uk

NEWS

Dragon Boat Festival.

A huge charity river race, the Dragon Boat Festival returns for a day of family-friendly fun on Saturday 9 September.

There’s food, drink, rides and entertainment on the banks, but the real action takes place on the water, where crews battle it out along a 200m stretch of the River Cam at Fen Ditton. Expect sinking boats, dancing Chinese dragons and a whole lot of laughs. Turn to page 25 for the full story on this event, for which Cambridge Edition is a proud partner. dragonboatfestivals.co.uk

BIERGARTEN F I L M F E S T I VA L .

© PHOTO CREDIT

Gog Magog Gran Fondo.

The Gog Magog Gran Fondo is back on 10 September, offering an unmissable day of cycling fun, food and beer.

Starting and finishing at the Gog Farm Shop, riders can choose between a 40- and 80-mile route, with both taking in the glorious south Cambridgeshire countryside. Over the last couple of years the event has raised £10,000 for fantastic charities, and they’re looking to continue the good work by supporting Teenage Cancer Trust and Tom’s Trust with this year’s event. Once you’re done, get stuck into awesome barbeque food and plenty of craft beer back at the farm shop. It’s £30 to enter. gogmagoggf.co.uk

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Thirsty Riverside (possibly Cambridge’s coolest drinking and eating spot of the summer) has teamed up with Enchanted Cinema to host a four-day mini film festival, set to run 14-17 September. Catch classics Pulp Fiction and Top Gun, plus Chef and La La Land, while you relax in deckchairs, have a few drinks from the bar and take full advantage of the vintage popcorn machine. There will also be street food from the likes of Provenance Kitchen, Steak & Honour and Churros Bar, plus coffees, cakes and more foodie treats. enchantedcinema.co.uk

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September nightlife.

CHEC O U T L O CK E V E N T SA L ONLINE CA M BS ED IT IO N .C O .U K

U LT I M AT E E AG L E S .

Makers of legendary hits like Hotel California, Take it Easy and Desperado, The Eagles are one of the bestselling, best-loved bands in history. They may have parted ways back in the summer of 1980, but this month you can catch the next best thing, live in Cambridge.

Ultimate Eagles, who play the Corn Exchange on 30 September, are more than your average tribute band.

Starring Grammy-nominated musicians, the group deftly recreates the timeless magic of The Eagles’ biggest hits with flair. Close your eyes, be transported to the golden era of the sizzling West Coast music scene and enjoy what Chris Evans describes as ‘The Best Eagles show in the world…’.

Tickets are £24.75 and the show starts at 7.30pm. cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

Texas.

Glaswegian chart juggernauts Texas hit Cambridge this month as part of a tour to coincide with their latest album Jump On Board. With megahits like Say What You Want, Summer Sun, I Don’t Want A Lover and Black Eyed Boy, they’ve amassed a whopping 40 million record sales since forming in 1986. You can catch Sharleen and co on 12 September at the Corn Exchange. Tickets start at £31.25. cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

LEE NELSON: SERIOUS JOKER.

The creation of comedian Simon Brodkin, Lee Nelson rose to fame as the chav-tastic South London geezer on BBC3’s hit Well Good Show. Packed with bullseye gags and cringe-making audience interaction, Serious Joker will add to a varied CV for Brodkin, who is in fact a qualified medical doctor, stood (in character as Lee Nelson) in the 2013 South Shields by-election and famously got arrested for running onto the pitch at Goodison Park and attempting to warm up with Manchester City ahead of a Premier League match with Everton (this time in character as gaffe-prone footy star Jason Bent). Catch him in action on 28 September, tickets are £22.50. junction.co.uk

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Phill Jupitus: Juplicity.

Comedian, poet and improvisation impresario Phill Jupitus swings our way this month with his new show, which pitches up at Cambridge Junction on 24 September.

Since making a name for himself on cult BBC series Never Mind the Buzzcocks back in the 1990s, Jupitus has become a regular on our screens, stages and radio airwaves, establishing himself as one of the bestknown comedians on the circuit. Juplicity sees him in fine fettle, taking audiences on a tour through his life, harvesting laughs from the chaos that lies therein. Tickets are £17. junction.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

Now Booking.

H OT 8 BRASS BAND

13 O C T, J U N C T I O N , £20.50

The coolest brass band on the planet are back in Cambridge to deliver a dose of their swaggering, funked-out, hip hop infused music. Not to be missed. junction.co.uk

THE BIG MOON .

Indie four-piece The Big Moon have been causing a stir lately, charming fans and critics alike and picking up a Mercury Prize nomination for their fuzzy, nostalgialaced debut Love in the 4th Dimension. A record about romance, hangovers and robots which channels the spirit of indie’s best, it’s a listen which keeps on giving.

The band are a ball of energy on stage, with a lead singer (Juliette Jackson) whose dulcet vocals you can’t help but get sucked in by. This is a band on the cusp of greatness and no mistake – catch them while you can in Cambridge when they play The Portland Arms on 24 September. Tickets are £11. theportlandarms.co.uk

SCOUTING FOR GIRLS

21 N OV, C O R N E X , £25.25

A decade on from their self-titled debut album, SFG return with more of their upbeat, fiendishly catchy tunes. cornex.co.uk

W YS I N G M U S I C F E S T I VA L .

A hotbed of artistic innovation, Wysing Arts Centre out in Bourn is set to make waves once more this autumn with its boundary-pushing annual music festival.

Celebrating the intersection of art and music, the event has now been running for eight years, and was described by Vogue as one of the best independent festivals in the UK. The 2017 offering, Opaque Poetics, is curated by artist, music producer and DJ, Nkisi, who will also be playing live, along with lauded electronic acts including Nídia, Patten, Abyss X and Tribe of Colin.

Expect an exciting and international blend of musicians, spanning ambient, techno, industrial and soul, plus ambitious installations from visual artists, throughout the 12-hour event, which starts at 1pm on 2 September.

“This is our eighth music festival at Wysing and only the second to be conceptualised and curated by an invited contributor,” says Donna Lynas, Wysing’s director. “The relationship with Nkisi came about through her playing at Wysing in September last year and I am thrilled to be working with her again on the festival. She has pulled together a stunning line-up; one of great clarity and precision.”

Tickets are £25 for the day, and a limited number of camping passes are available for an additional £10. wysingartscentre.org

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R O B B RY D O N 22 N OV, C O R N E X , £27.75

Star of Gavin and Stacey and The Trip, Rob Brydon’s on the road for his first stand-up show since 2009. cornex.co.uk

N E L LY

4 DEC, CORN EX, £30.25

Go on a mid-naughties nostalgia trip and enjoy classics like Hot in Herre, Dilemma and Ride Wit Me when rap megastar Nelly stops in December. cornex.co.uk

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NIGHTLIFE

Music blog.

J O R DA N WO R L A N D F RO M L O C A L M U S I C W E B S I T E S L AT E T H E D I S C O S E L E C T S H I S M U S T-S E E G I GS I N CAMBRIDGE THIS MONTH

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eptember sees the Cambridge music scene wake up again after a sleepy summer, and our first tip is the inaugural Subterranean day event taking place at the Corn Exchange on the 23rd. Cambridge has dabbled with all-dayers before but none has ever had the space or central location that the Corn Ex offers. The main auditorium is going to host three small stages with the crowd all around them, think a kind of Jools Holland set-up. Featuring 21 acts over four stages, Subterranean aims to please all varieties of guitar music fans with a mix of touring and local acts performing. Our tips from the bill include Manchester all-female five-piece PINS whose music combines noise, power and melody with sonic, buzz-saw guitar; The Amorettes with their hefty sonic nous; and local outfits Grieving and The Baby Seals.

The same venue hosts a sell-out gig from Ryan Adams on the 21st. Ryan Adams first tasted musical success as part of the alternative groups The Patty Duke Syndrome and Whiskeytown. Following the bands’ demise, he wasted no time in launching a solo career for which he has found success in his blend of heartfelt angst of a country performer with the brashness of garage rock.

There is an exciting punk-jazz tag team taking to the Blue Moon stage on the 23rd. The pairing is heavyweight saxophonist Alan Wilkinson with eager young gun-for-hire Andrew Cheetham on the traps. Expect sweat, skronk and paint-stripping ferocity – starting full throttle and revving up from there.

There’s a busy month down Chesterton Road at The Portland Arms. Our standout show has to be the Mercury Prize nominated The Big Moon on the 24th. Bold, articulate and with an insatiable ear for melody, The Big Moon released their debut LP back in April and it was brimming with nostalgic indie sounds, comic insouciance with romance and adventure, all tied up in noisy, guitar-led, hook-filled pop.

Our next Portland tip is Texan songwriter Micah P Hinson who is in town on the 29th. Hinson has an immense ability to summon beautiful music out of the most bitter of experiences. He’s in the UK this month to promote the release of his latest album, Presents the Holy Strangers, which is a take on a modern folk opera.

The Surfing Magazines is a new project from familiar faces. Featuring two thirds of The Wave Pictures and one half of Slow Club, the band’s garage rock crunch matches the menace of Link Wray to some poignantly British songwriting. Their debut album is out 1 September and they play The Portland on the 8th.

Hannah Lou-Clark creates a blend of riff-heavy alternative and melodic indie-slash-dream pop which is remarkably fresh. Her Portland show on the 1st is definitely one to check out, as is The Districts, who perform on the 3rd. Their latest record, out last month, has an intense sound created with charging guitars, thunderous

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Ryan Adams blends the angst of a country singer with garage rock brashness drumming, and Rob Grote’s searing vocals. Their live show is highly recommended.

Little Barrie are Portland bound on the 12th. The trio are led by Barrie Cadogan (guitarist extraordinaire for Primal Scream, Edwyn Collins, Paul Weller and Spiritualized), and they’ve just released their first record in four years, Death Express (which features their Better Call Saul theme tune).

The synth duo of Ben Fletcher and Tom Higham – the long-standing friendship and musical partnership that is known as Aquilo – also hits Cambridge this month. They released their latest album at the start of the year and it is a record full of heavy hearts and a seemingly bottomless well of lush, plaintive melodies. They bring their melancholy atmospherics to The Portland on the 19th – one for fans of older material by The xx.

A busy month at Cambridge Junction includes Woodley Taylor (7th), Jess and the Bandits (14th) and The Rails (18th). Our Junction must-see goes down on the 19th when both Danny & The Champions of the World and William The Conqueror perform, both having released exceptional new records recently. n

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Arts & culture.

Art Auction for Headway.

The Childerley Hall Estate will host an art auction this month to help raise funds for Headway, a charity that works to improve life after brain injury. The event, which takes place on 26 September, will feature a speech by broadcaster Andrew Marr, Headway Cambridgeshire ambassador and himself a stroke survivor. As well as speaking about his experiences of brain injury, he will be auctioning off a piece of his art. There will also be pieces by artists including Maggi Hambling, Anita Klein and Martha Winter to bid on, plus drinks and canapĂŠs. headway-cambs.org.uk

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N E W S E A S O N AT C A M B R I D G E A RTS T H E AT R E .

The recently unveiled new season programme for Cambridge Arts Theatre serves up a feast of theatrical treats, from spine-chilling dramas to political thrillers, critically-acclaimed comedies and stunning ballet performances.

Starting the autumn series in style is The Real Thing, Cambridge Arts Theatre’s major new co-production of Tom Stoppard’s award-winning masterpiece. Starring Laurence Fox (Lewis, A Room with a View, Gosford Park), the plot centres around a bed-hopping coterie of theatre luvvies for whom the lines between art and reality grow increasingly blurred. Catch it from 6-16 September.

Following that, running 19-23 September, is the spine-chilling Wait Until Dark, a stage rework of the 1967 Hollywood thriller featuring Audrey Hepburn. Alone in her apartment, a blind woman becomes embroiled with a group of conmen hatching an elaborate scheme. Left to fend for herself and with the phone line cut and the house plunged into darkness, can she outwit the murderous visitors? Expect much edge-ofseat teetering as the tension builds.

Hot on the heels of a dazzling West End run, the sumptuous stage production of The Kite Runner arrives at the Arts Theatre on 25 September. Based on Khaled Hosseini’s international bestselling novel, this unforgettable story follows two childhood friends in Afghanistan about to be torn apart by war.

Also hitting Cambridge fresh from the West End is Around the World in 80 Days, which sees the fabulously wealthy Phileas Fogg wagering his life’s fortune on a bet that he can circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. Described by The Independent as a “magnificently preposterous romp”, this inventive take on the classic tale is performed by just eight actors playing 125 different characters; their story taking them from misty Victorian London to exotic

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far-flung corners and through the gun-toting Wild West. Catch it 14-18 November.

From the fantastical to the farcical, when Alan Ayckbourn’s hilarious How the Other Half Loves arrives at the theatre at the end of October. Misunderstandings, mendaciousness and marital mishaps abound in this middle-class comedy of manners, which stars Robert Daws (The Royal, Outside Edge), opposite Caroline Langrishe (Lovejoy, Holby City), plus Charlie Brooks (Eastenders), Leon Ockenden (Coronation Street), and Sara Crowe (Four Weddings and a Funeral).

Continuing Ayckbourn’s tradition of social satire is Rules for Living, a darkly funny hit comedy which runs 3-7 October. A family gathers on Christmas Day; their individual foibles and tensions with each other creating a descent into chaos as the drinks flow and obligatory games intensify…

Treat yourself to a duo of music performances of the highest calibre during October, beginning with Clare Teal and her Mini Big Band, who’ll be honouring the musical legacy of the high priestess of jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, on the 8th. Then, on the 15th, spend an evening in the company of Dan Forshaw and his sextet, celebrating the legendary Blue Note jazz era.

There’s dance, too, courtesy of aweinspiring all-male company BalletBoyz (22-23 October), plus family theatre in the shape of Grufallo’s Child (15-18 November).

From 16-21 October it’s the turn of The Best Man – Gore Vidal’s award-winning play about two presidential candidates and their race to the White House.

Round off the year with the Arts Theatre’s traditional pantomime, which is always a glittering, grandiose affair. This year the cast are taking on Jack & The Beanstalk, so expect the climb of your life with Matt Crosby (Cambridge’s favourite panto dame), et al. cambridgeartstheatre.com

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Hot on the heels of a dazzling West End run, the sumptuous stage production of The Kite Runner arrives at the Arts Theatre on 25 September.

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THE SIMON & GA R F U N K E L S TO RY. Childhood friends who grew up together in Queens, New York, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel went on to become one of the most popular music acts of the 1960s. Under the Simon and Garfunkel moniker, they soundtracked the decade, serving up immortal hits such as The Sound of Silence, Mrs Robinson, The Boxer and Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Famously, though, they traversed troubled waters of their own; their relationship one of creative harmony but personal discord. At the peak of their success, Paul Simon opted out – leaving Garfunkel bitterly wondering why his musical partner was walking away from such a good thing – at its commercial peak – to covertly pursue solo ambitions.

They’ve reunited a few times since for concerts, but the frostiness continues; their rift reaching mythological status in the annals of rock history. Now both in their mid-70s, the chances of seeing them play live again together are, one senses, ever-dwindling.

But, you can catch the next best thing in Cambridge this month, when The Simon & Garfunkel Story heads to the Corn Exchange. Coming our way following a sell-out success in the West End, the show has now been seen by more than a quarter of a million people worldwide, and offers a theatre-style concert show featuring the duo’s biggest hits – sublime harmonies faithfully restored – with a full live band, along with original film footage and projection photos, plus lots of interesting facts and stories about the duo.

Catch it on 27 September, tickets are £27.75. cornex.co.uk

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Jewellery Fair.

Pick up a unique treasure this month at Rural Magpie’s Jewellery Fair, which takes place in Great Chesterford near Saffron Walden on 30 September. There will be a huge range of gorgeous pieces to browse and buy, featuring vintage, designer and handmade jewellery by local artisans.

From a delicate silver necklace to a showstopping piece of costume jewellery or a perfect pre-loved wonder, you’re sure to find something which will make a perfect addition to your wardrobe, or a special pressie if you’re feeling generous. It's at The Chesterfords Community Centre from 10am-4pm. ruralmagpie.co.uk

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The Arcade Experience.

If you yearn for childhood days spent scrapping on Street Fighter, tussling with Doctor Robotnik or beating ’em up Barbarian-style on Golden Axe, hot-foot it down to the Centre for Computing History this month where you can binge on classic games to your heart’s content. The Arcade Experience on 2 September will offer a unique chance to play with more than 20 of the best arcade machines from the 80s and 90s – all set up on free-play (it’s your childhood dream come true!). There will also be nostalgia-tastic tunes blaring, plus a fullylicensed bar from Lord Conrad’s Brewery – not to mention a burger van to keep you well-fuelled and ready for more joystick joy.

Over 18’s only. Tickets are £10 in advance, or £12, if there are some left on the night, which runs 7pm-12am. computinghistory.org.uk

All The Young Dudes.

Visit Cambridge Guildhall on Saturday 2 September to see an exhibition featuring sculptures, photography, paintings and light depicting some of rock’s most iconic and best-loved names. The show, entitled All The Young Dudes, will feature pieces celebrating music icons including David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Bob Dylan, Syd Barrett, The Beatles, Motorhead, Amy Winehouse, Lemmy and more.

The exhibition is the product of a partnership between Cambridge Live and Spadge Hopkins, one of the artists responsible for Cambridge’s official Syd Barrett commemorative artwork, and will showcase the work of top artists from around the region. Some items on display will also be available to purchase. cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

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C I R C U S : A N Y D AY. Weird and captivating, Max Calaf Sevé’s Junction show this month takes everyday activities and turns them into an eye-popping circus act on a trampoline. The plot follows the daily life of Max, a lonely character with a pet bird who moves through events, happy and sad, surrounded by a bubble, before venturing out into a surreal and poetic new world.

Using clowning, physical theatre, object manipulation and improvisation with the audience, a unique production is created. Check it out on 23 September at 3pm or 7.30pm, tickets are £12.50 or £8 (cons). junction.co.uk

Big Girls Don’t Cry.

R I P I T U P. An evening of swinging, bopping, jitterbugging, lindy-hopping, jiving and ballroom dancing with the very best of them awaits at the Corn Exchange, when Rip It Up stops by for one night only. Join in the fun on 20 September, when you’ll be awestruck by the smooth moves of Strictly Come Dancing stars Jay McGuiness, Natalie Lowe and Louis Smith. They’ll be dancing to the tracks of the 50s, from ballads to rock ’n’ roll. Expect dazzling moves and iconic songs including Summertime Blues, Hound Dog and My Baby Just Cares. The show starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £22.25-£37.75. cornex.co.uk

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Celebrate the music of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons this month at the Corn Exchange when hit musical Big Girls Don’t Cry stops by on 29 September for a night which will have you dancing in the aisles.

Blasting onto the airwaves in the 1960s, these four New Jersey boys had a sound unlike anything else we’d heard, and instantly won fans with their gorgeous harmonies and fiendishly catchy tunes.

Relive the magic of tracks like Sherry, December 1963 (Oh What a Night), Walk Like a Man, Rag Doll and Big Girls Don’t Cry on 29 September, tickets are available starting at £18.75. cornex.co.uk

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Seascape Exhibition.

From Monet’s majestic breaking waves, da Vinci’s imagined coastline views and Turner’s abstract vortexes of wind and water, there are few sources of inspiration so enduring for artists as the sea. Showcasing that this month will be King Street gallery Byard Art, which welcomes back its annual Seascape Exhibition, featuring artworks in a variety of mediums including craftwork, jewellery, sculpture and paintings.

On display will be the fresh and atmospheric sea-inspired paintings of Wendy Mcbride, the vibrant, textural seascapes of Jessica Oliver, plus the dreamy coastal landscapes of Felicity Keefe. The exhibition will also debut new works by artists Mike Bernard, Kate Aggett, Beccy Marshall and Chris Macauley, each chosen for their interesting perspectives on the sea, coastlines and coastal human activities.

The exhibition runs from 7 September until 1 October. byardart.co.uk

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The Art Insider.

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RUTHIE COLLINS, FOUNDER OF CA MBRIDGE ART SALON, GIVES HER ART Y PICKS OF THE MONTH

he beauty of art, just like politics, is that it is for everyone, it’s “local and relevant to the needs of local people” (John Tusa, one time director of the Barbican).

Which is why projects like the Chesterton Community Mural are so brilliant. A large scale public art piece created on the side of the Co-op in Chesterton, it was designed with help from the local community and was installed this summer by fantastic artists Sa’adiah and Samirah Khan, together with Dan Biggs. Also excellent is New Geographies, an Arts Council funded project led by the East Contemporary Visual Arts Network (ECVAN), inviting the public to lead on nominating spots for ten site specific works, celebrating ‘overlooked or unexpected’ sites in counties across the East of England, including Cambridgeshire. Donna Lynas, director of Wysing Arts, just outside Cambridge, is spokesperson for the project.

“The idea is for us to create a new map of the East of England, one based on personal thoughts and reflections rather than historical or economic centres. Any location will be considered, whether poetic or prosaic,” she says. “We hope these new commissions will be enjoyed not only by the people and communities that nominated them, but also bring visitors who will be able to explore the East of England through this new map of ideas and reflections; these New Geographies.”

Literally anything goes – from an old Tesco’s site, to closed down, once-loved pubs, to the Cherry Hinton chalk pits. Anyone can enter – by post, or through an easy to use website: newgeographies.uk.

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Above and right Where the worlds of art and nature collide: Daisy Tempest’s illustrations inspired by the bird and animal kingdom are available to buy as prints from her website Opposite Check out this brilliant community art at the Co-op on the junction of Green End and Milton Roads

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It’s exciting to see off the beaten track spots not only attracting contemporary art – but being celebrated. Plenty in the East, including its coastal areas, are set to lead the way for off-the-radar, experimental art (you heard it here, first), often a stone’s throw from Cambridge. As one artist said to me recently at a party, “yes, there’s Berlin. But for me the warehouses and hidden away areas of places like King’s Lynn are just as fascinating.”

Artists have always been talented at spotting and transforming places into cultural magnets, way before places become trendy – sadly, often a sign of impending commercialisation which doesn’t always marry well with community needs. So, emerging art developments with local people’s interests at their heart rock.

You can meet the team from ECVAN at a Heritage Open Day at Peckover House in

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Wisbech on 9 September, and at Fire & Flint Festival, an afternoon of performances, light installations and a lantern procession, at Brandon, on 23 September.

King’s Lynn’s GroundWork gallery is a cutting-edge, pioneering art space exploring art and the environment. Catch the tail end of a fascinating show this month, Bird after Bird, exploring the fragility of birds, the dangers they face – and the incredible vision that artists can add to our relationship with them. Watch out for Jayne Ivimey’s centrepiece installation: 70 white, bisque-fired stoneware effigies, of dead birds – inspired by the Red List of endangered birds. Breathtaking, poignant, disturbing, in equal measure.

Learn more about the gallery here: groundworkgallery.com.

Increasingly, it’s art that makes us aware of the Anthropocene, the geological name for our current era where humans dominate nature with often catastrophic consequences – I had to ask ‘Um, what’s that?’ after artist Freya Zinovieff posted something about this new era, into which we’ve stumbled, on her Facebook page earlier this year. Canada-based Zinovieff, a Cambridge School of Art alumni, is known for standout works such as Traces of Infinity, for which she created sound scores from bacteria grown

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from dust gathered at holy places of different faiths across Australia. She’s also developing a sound sharing platform, to which users can submit snippets of sound from their local environment – the Sound Hoop. Listen to her haunting soundscapes, such as Here in the Anthropocene Time is Cyclical here: freyazinovieff.com.

If art, passion and love can help inspire us to protect, rather than destroy the habitats of animals, that can only be a good thing.

Lovers of nature’s winged creatures will adore illustrator Daisy Tempest’s vibrant work (based at the Art Salon’s Chesterton art space), whose bird and animal kingdom inspired illustrations are available as prints from her online shop. Check her website at daisytempest.com.

Fans of the bat, that lesser-loved winged beast, check Jo Clark – she has a soft spot for the underdogs of the animal world: joclarkdesign. co.uk.

So, my New Geographies nominated site?

Shepreth Wildlife Park, whose team inspired my five-year old to want to work with animals when he grows up (he also overcame his fear of bats there and wants to learn to ‘speak bat’ – move over Batman). Where would your special place be? Wherever it is, have a fabulous month all. n

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Dragon Boat Festival.

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he River Cam in Fen Ditton will soon be reverberating to the sound of beating drums as the Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival returns to celebrate its thirteenth anniversary.

The Festival, supported by Cambridge Edition and Star Radio, offers a chance to see 48 teams battling it out along a 200-metre stretch of the River Cam out in Fen Ditton on Saturday 9 September, cheered on by hundreds of spectators. It’s loud, colourful, fun – and slightly crazy, in the best possible way!

The teams represent businesses and groups from across Cambridgeshire and surrounding areas, all seeking to raise vital funds for Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust (ACT). Medals and trophies are awarded for the top three crews, the top mixed crew and the best dressed crew (as fancy as possible!), and there’s a superb incentive to top the fundraising leader board as the crew raising the most money for ACT will receive a special afternoon tea at SIX Panoramic Bar and Restaurant in Cambridge.

There’s plenty to see, with a race every 10-15 minutes between 10am and 5pm, plus bankside entertainment including children’s rides, face painting, food stalls and a bar. There will also be a colourful Chinese lion to meet, t’ai chi and traditional dancing displays from the Cambridge Chinese Community Centre.

Visitors will also be able to find out more about the Festival charity, ACT and the fantastic work they do in making a difference for patients at Addenbrooke’s and the Rosie hospitals.

One of the teams racing is Chill#2, which is also a Silver Sponsor of the event. “Our biggest focus at Chill#2 is to support our local community and the Dragon Boat Festival provides an opportunity for us to raise money for ACT in an enjoyable and light-hearted way, whilst embracing one of Cambridge’s most celebrated events" says Frank Bechemilh, General Manager at ibis Cambridge and Chill#2. "Though we may not win the race, we hope spectators will be entertained by our attempts to row and by our costumes! Watch this space…”

Emily Willdigg, ACT’s Events Fundraiser is looking forward to building on the success of the event last year which raised more than £20,000 for the charity. “We are thrilled with the take-up again this year by companies in and around Cambridge,” she says.

“By entering a dragon boat crew and raising money for ACT, the teams will be helping to raise much-needed funds for cutting edge technology, additional specialist services, vital research and extra comforts for patients that make all the difference over and above what would be possible through NHS funding alone.”

Entrance to the Festival is free and free parking is available at the Fen Ditton village recreation ground (follow signs).n dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/cambridge act4addenbrookes.org.uk

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MEDIA PARTNER !

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Open Cambridge.

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xplore the city’s hidden nooks and crannies this month at Open Cambridge, which takes place from 8 to 11 September. Part of the national Heritage Open Days scheme, the event is geared towards illuminating the history and heritage of cities to their inhabitants, serving up talks, behind-the-scenes tours, exhibitions and all kinds of other fascinating activities which are open to all and mostly free.

In addition to the usual stimulating blend of events, this year’s Open Cambridge will celebrate the unveiling of a whole new quarter of Cambridge, as well as tying in with India Unboxed, a citywide initiative which marks the 70th anniversary of Indian independence and the close relationship between Cambridge and India.

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TO U R S .

Take a riveting journey through the city’s past with the Historic Cambridge tours on 8 and 9 September, which will offer an introduction to some of the people and places that have contributed to Cambridge becoming the powerhouse it is today.

From the old to the new, another highlight from this year’s programme includes a tour of the impressive David Attenborough building, which opened last spring. Named in honour of Sir David’s pioneering work in bringing the wonders of nature to our screens, it will serve as a collaborative hub for the conservation community in the city and beyond. Have a look around on the 8th.

Perhaps you fancy a jaunt into the world of espionage? You’re in the right place: the relationship between Cambridge University and spies is famous, and goes far beyond the KGB’s so-called ‘Magnificent Five’. The Cambridge Spies tour, taking place on 8 and 9 September, will examine the motives of individuals who betray their country, as well as role of spies today, whilst visiting colleges associated with Cambridge’s contribution to spying.

Another tour explores the life and legacy of the Bloomsbury Group, a set of writers and artists that included Virginia Woolf, John Maynard Keynes, Rupert Brooke and E. M. Forster, who met, lived and studied here in Cambridge. The tours, on 8 and 9 September, will be a chance to visit their favourite haunts and find out more about their considerable influence on literature and the arts.

There’s also a chance to explore some of the

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most beautiful college gardens, go backstage at the ADC Theatre and unearth the stories of the young American soldiers who arrived in Cambridge during the Second World War and at Cambridge who are now commemorated American Cemetery and Memorial. Plus, find out about the lives of birds in the coldest parts of the world in a polar safari, visit the historic Cambridge Observatory and admire 19th century telescopes, plus plenty more besides.

O P E N E D D I N G TO N .

A special strand of this year’s Open Cambridge, Open Eddington will offer an opportunity to explore Cambridge’s new district, which will comprise 3,000 new homes, 50 hectares of green space and a primary school and community facilities once complete. Pop by on the 9th and experience guided tours of the site, a look inside the first homes and a peek at some of the forward-thinking features, including the UK’s largest rainwater harvesting system and communal underground waste system.

B R I D G E T H E GA P.

The annual Bridge The Gap charity walk also returns on 10 September. Sign up and join in

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the stroll around Cambridge’s most magnificent sights, whilst helping to raise valuable funds for two community charities: Arthur Rank Hospice and Romsey Mill. There’s also cakes, ice cream and live music from the Waterbeach Brass Band to enjoy.

D I N E AT C O R P U S .

One of the most beautiful of all the Cambridge colleges, Corpus Christi will host a glittering dinner in its 19th century dining hall on 8 September. Soak up the historic splendor and indulge in a slap-up meal. n opencambridge.cam.ac.uk

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Subterranean Festival.

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et set for Subterranean, a brand new one-day festival from the makers of the Cambridge Folk Festival that hits town on 23 September. The organisers have got a blistering line-up of indie and rock in store, set to be performed on three stages (the Inferno Stage, the Labyrinth Stage and the Underworld Stage) inside the Corn Exchange’s main auditorium. The upstairs bar of the venue will become The Lair, featuring the very best in acoustic rock and indie, plus there be will a festival marketplace and food available.

“Subterranean is aimed at all ages and offers a great line-up from the worlds of indie and rock,” explains Neil Jones, Operations Director for Cambridge Live and co-curator for Subterranean. “Cambridge Live is particularly pleased to be able to offer a platform for so many of the great local bands to play the biggest venue in the city.”

Headlining the Underworld stage are The Amorettes, a hard rocking all-female Scottish three-piece who exploded onto the scene in 2015 with the release of their debut album Game On. Since then, the feisty trio have garnered huge critical and popular acclaim and will be on tour this spring as official support to Black Star Riders.

Over on the Labyrinth stage, indie outfit PINS will be bringing their trademark energy, revisiting hits from their two albums Girls like Us and Wild Nights.

The Inferno stage, meanwhile, will see Stone Broken – known for their stadium-worthy sound and anthemic choruses – topping the bill.

There’s loads more to enjoy beyond the headliners too, including acoustic performances from InMe lead singer Dave McPherson and rock band Ducking Punches, alongside the cream of the local rock and indie scene including Hollowstar, Beverley Kills, Sweet Crisis, Seasons, Phoenix Calling, The Extons, The Baby Seals and Staycations. n Subterranean runs from midday on 23 September and tickets are £15 advance. Available from cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

It’s fantastic that Subterranean is giving local bands the opportunity to perform at one of Cambridge’s most prestigious venues alongside exciting up and coming bands from the national scene,” says co-curator and Cambridge 105 presenter Tim Willett. “The atmosphere will be incredible, I can’t wait!”

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Food & drink.

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FOOD NEWS.

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5 OF THE BEST: VEGGIE BURGERS.

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Food news.

Sundowners at The Gog.

Have a last summer hurrah at the gorgeous Gog Sundowner events, which take place on 1 and 15 September. In the beautiful rural setting, nestled in the Gog Magog Hills, guests will enjoy food, drink and music, as well as a superb vantage point for admiring the sunset.

For the first time, these two Sundowner events will also feature a silent disco hidden away on the farm. Grab your headphones and boogie til you drop (or until 1am, whichever comes first) to a great mix of tunes – with three channels of music you’re bound to find your perfect dance-floor jam!

As ever, food is a crucial component of the Sundowners, and you can expect juicy burgers and plenty of gluten-free and veggie options.

There will also be lots of liquid temptation including local craft beers and prosecco. Doors are at 7pm and tickets cost £17 (includes headphone hire), or £25 for a Bun & Beer upgrade which includes food (meaty, veggie or gluten-free), beer (or Prosecco if that’s your preferred tipple) and headphone hire. thegog.com

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H OT NUMBERS BRUNCH. With its fantastic own-roasted coffee, excellent cakes and buzzy vibe, Hot Numbers has rightly become one of Cambridge’s top cafés. Now with two branches in the city, they’re continually evolving the offering – and the most recent addition might just be the most exciting yet. Now available at the Gwydir Street branch, the newly-launched Hot Numbers brunch has been getting local foodies hot under the collar in recent weeks. On the menu you’ll find Early Sweets, which are served from 7.30am until 11am, and include toasted cornbread with peaches and whipped ricotta, plus porridge with green tea syrup and toasted coconut flakes. Then (be still our rumbling tummies), it’s onto the more substantial all-day offerings, which include artfully presented kimchi and feta eggs – a flavour-packed combo of fried eggs, kimchi, gochujang tomato sauce, coriander, spring onion and toasted sesame, plus toast. There’s also smashed avocado on cornbread with burnt lime, sesame, pickled radish and poached egg and sriracha, plus more traditional offerings like buttery toast with jam, or eggs (however you want them) on seeded granary bloomer.

Edition can vouch for the fact that it’s blooming delicious. The rest of the menu spruce includes a range of home-made focaccia, loaded with fillings including the Merguez (lamb merguez sausages, harissa cream cheese, pickled red onion, pickled cucumber and lettuce), and the New Yorker (smoked streaky bacon, fried free range egg, cheese). hotnumberscoffee.co.uk

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QUE RICO TAPAS POP-UP.

Cambridge Wine Merchants will host an evening of Spanish food and wine this month when Que Rico Tapas bring their flavoursome and authentic dishes to the Cherry Hinton Road branch for a special pop-up on 12Â September. The wine on offer will focus on La Rioja, possibly the most famous Spanish wine region, which constantly yields exciting new wines, brands and blends. These magnificent wines will be paired with tapas from the area, which is also famed for its rich gastronomy.

Tickets are ÂŁ32.50 (includes five tapas dishes and five wines). cambridgewine.com

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CHOSEN BUN OPENS.

The burger revolution rolls on here in Cambridge, with yet another patty purveyor pitching up to lure us in. This time, it’s Chosen Bun, who opened for business at 27 Hills Road last month, with a focus on speedily delivering top-notch burgers directly to your home. The restaurant was founded by Pete and Andy, two burger enthusiasts fed up of “endless soggy bun disappointment” when it came to home delivery, who set about creating a burger delivery service where convenience to the customer didn’t compromise on the quality of the burger. “To assert that we’ve taken this seriously would be a great, steaming understatement,” said the founders. “We’ve tasted approximately 1000 beef patties, chomped our way through ten types of lettuce, 12 varieties of pickled gherkins, 62 types of cheese, dozens of buns, 30 onion ring recipes, 50 types of triple-cooked chips… The list is endless. All so we could bring you the one Chosen Bun.” The burgers are all made to order and cooked fresh, and there’s some seriously tempting topping options, from the epic BBQ Eastwoody (juicy beef patty, smoked applewood cheddar cheese, smoked streaky bacon, caramelised pink onion relish, lettuce, Stokes Barbeque Sauce and a panko breadcrumb onion ring), to the rather exotic veggie-friendly Edamamy (shredded chestnut mushroom, shiitake mushroom and edamame bean patty, sliced mozzarella, relish, garlic aioli and lettuce).

Sides include triple-cooked rosemary chips, confit chicken wings and fried macaroni and cheese balls, plus there’s a scrummy selection of Moonshakes, including salted caramel flavour, made with real gelato.

Lightning quick delivery is a key part of the offering, so you can expect to be tucking into your order within a maximum of 30 minutes. Happy feasting! chosenbun.com

Tap takeover & Farmers’ Market.

We’ve loved the summer of foodie, boozy brilliance that’s been served up at Thirsty Riverside: the al fresco Biergarten located in the garden of the Cambridge Museum of Technology. The good news is that the fun’s not over yet – as they’ve got a rather special tap takeover touching down on 7 September. Copenhagen’s legendary craft brewer Mikkeller will be pitching up with at least 12 of their feted brews, alongside Matthias Meierer, an acclaimed winemaker from Germany’s beautiful Mosel Valley. You can find out more about these two superstars of grape and grain over on page 49, and if you pop down to the event, you can expect tastings, food and wine pairings, irresistible Scandi-inspired cocktails, live music and loads more – stay tuned to @ThirstyCamb on Twitter for updates.

After a stormingly successful debut, the Thirsty (& Hungry) Farmers’ Market will also be making a return on the 10th, serving up a veritable feast of treats from top producers from the region plus some tasty food trucks. Eat, drink, shop and be merry from 11am until 5pm.

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NEW OPENING!

THE WAT E R M A N .

CB4 is sizzling at the moment, with excellent little food and drink spots popping up all around the neighbourhood – and there’s now another reason to visit (or celebrate, if Chesterton is home!). The Waterman, which reopened last month after a major refurbishment and under new management, is now serving up great food and drink in a super hip setting with an awesome outside seating area – and you can even stay over in one of their eight bedrooms if you need a bed for the night. It’s the latest outpost from the rapidly expanding City Pub Company, who also run favourites like the Cambridge Brew House and the Old Bicycle Shop. Inside, there’s comfy furniture, cool art (by We Three Club) and a menu serving up a mix of pub classics and more refined à la carte offerings. Expect nibbly finger food, gourmet burgers, sharing platters, superfood salads and a smattering of elegant gastronomic dishes. You’ll be able to wash it down with craft beers and ciders, plus an eclectic range of wines and spirits. The courtyard outside is a dream of a setting for a few pints on a sunny afternoon, or you can cosy up in The Potting Shed if the weather turns. There’s lots of events in the offing, including pop-up cocktail clubs, open mic nights and quizzes – plus key sporting events will be screened via their HD projector and screen. thewatermancambridge.com

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foodPark Night Market.

The foodPark gang are back at Gravel Hill Farm this month for their final summer Night Market of the season, taking place on 30 September.

Running from 5pm until 10pm, the event will feature the usual winning combo of excellent food trucks, music and tasty wines and cocktails. Featuring the cream of the vibrant Cambridge street food scene, and plenty of indoor and outdoor space to chill out, relax and chow down, these family-friendly events are a must for local foodlovers. Take your pick from gourmet burgers from Steak & Honour, artisan pizzas from Fired Up, spectacular Sri Lankan cuisine from Kura Kura and sweet treats from Sweet Ally Scoops and Churros Bar, amongst others. Booze will be provided by Cambridge Wine Merchants and The Spirited Mare, who’ll be dishing out cocktails from their quirky horsebox bar. Jolly Good Beer will also be in attendance, serving up their tasty brews, while delighting your ears will be live music from The Suits and Wonky Disco DJs Stuart Banks and Henry Kirkup. Tickets are £4 per adult and free for children. foodparkcam.com

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N O 3 0.

Under the same ownership as its neighbour The Waterman, No 30 is yet another addition to the Chesterton area’s fizzing food scene. A small but perfectly formed café perched on Mitcham’s Corner, there’s great coffee, premium teas, artisan cakes and pastries and some seriously tempting breakfasts and lunches on offer – all in a hip, friendly setting.

Pop by for brunch and you can feast on a full English, sausage sarnie (with bangers from the brilliant Radmore Farm Shop around the corner) or American pancakes.

There’s also light lunch bites including scrumptious sandwiches, colourful wholesome salads and a couple of hearty hot dishes too. Welcome, No 30 – we think you’re going to be quite the hit… no30cambridge.com

Cambridge Food, Garden & Produce Show.

Enter your prize-winning veg in the produce show, take baking or flower arranging classes, watch celebrity cooking demos, shop and eat to your heart’s content at the Cambridge Food, Garden & Produce Show, which hits Parker’s Piece on 16-17 September. Organised by Oakleigh Fairs, this huge, free event is a popular annual fixture in the city, offering a wide range of arts, crafts, food, drink, homeware and lifestyle stalls both out on the grass and inside two large marquees. A bar will also be on-site, and you can catch cookery demonstrations from local chefs and famous foodies including Ian Cumming from The Great British Bake Off. The event runs 10am-5pm. oakleighfairs.co.uk

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Dulcedo Opens.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Dulcedo is the new opening which should be top of your list. A recent addition to bustling Hills Road, this delightful patisserie is serving up gorgeously crafted confections, from artisan chocolates to perfect pastries, delicious dragées and all sorts of other mindblowingly beautiful sweet treats. Sample a lemon and raspberry eclair with meringue, or perhaps a pecan praline with milk chocolate choux, amongst myriad other artfully presented offerings.

Everything they sell is lovingly made by hand, and there’s also good coffee, plus a range of speciality teas. Pay them a visit; your taste buds and Instagram feed will thank you. dulcedopatisserie.co.uk

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New at itsu.

Sidney Street eatery itsu has got a new look and a brand-new range of lipsmackingly tasty Far East inspired treats to get stuck into. Cambridge is the first store in the 75-strong chain to introduce the new menu, which features steaming chicken teriyaki and rice bowls, pulled pork noodles and hot gyoza dumplings, with hot dishes starting at £2.99.

“Cambridge is world renowned as a centre of innovation so what better place to kick off our new menu!” says Itsu founder Julian Metcalfe, who has been at the store regularly to put the revamp in place. “Our vision for itsu Cambridge is that it will become a warm and welcoming place to spend time of an evening, as well remaining somewhere to grab a healthy light lunch.

Where else can you enjoy great quality, fresh food, served in lovely bowls of an evening for under £6?

“We’ve invested a lot of time and energy into getting the Cambridge restaurant right for the local market. It is a completely different experience to our other restaurants across the country.

Our innovative approach is helping inform our USA launch plans next year.” itsu.com

E LY V E GA N FA I R .

30 SEPT

Local lovers of plant-based eating and living, you’re in luck this month, as Ely Markets welcomes back its annual Vegan Fair on 30 September. It’s the second outing for this event, which will run 9am-3pm along Ely’s High Street and feature Ely Market regulars, plus around 20 of the best vegan traders from around the region. Aimed at vegans and those who are simply curious, visitors will be able to discover an array of delicious food and drink, enjoy live music and browse stalls at the Craft & Vintage Market, which will be running alongside the event.

Goodies on offer will include Miss Molly’s vegan cheesecakes, Food! By Lizzi’s vegan comfort food including the famous Scotch Eggless, Wandering Yak’s vibrant Middle Eastern food, beautifully crafted vegan bags from Katherena and oat milk lattes from Snail Shell Café. You’ll even be able to get a henna tattoo from Wild Girl Henna, who’ll be decorating the crowds from their VW camper van, plus grab a v-friendly beverage or two from the vegan bar. elymarkets.co.uk

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1 Hero eats.

Pint Shop’s Posh Kebab.

There are many highlights on the Pint Shop’s excellent menu, but the ‘posh kebab’ is the star, as far as we’re concerned. An open flatbread loaded with smoky devilled lamb shoulder, crispy onions and lashings of chilli sauce, it’s a symphony of colours, textures and bold flavours. Do yourself a favour and team it with a side of triple-cooked spuds, which come swaddled in truffle cheese sauce. Heaven. pintshop.co.uk

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T H R E E T H I N GS YO U N E E D TO E AT IN CAMBRIDGE R I G H T N OW

Churros Bar’s Churros.

A Cambridge eat so heroic we had to triplecheck that we’d not already featured them on this page, you can sample these doughnutlike chunky delights from Churros Bar’s truck, which pops up at events around the city including foodPark. Golden and crisp on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside, they’re sugary little bundles of deep-fried deliciousness that taste best (in our humble opinion) doused in salted caramel dip.

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B U F FA LO J O E ’S G O C H YA W I N G S .

© DAISY DICKINSON

Recently bagging second place at London Wing Fest in the Best Wild Wing category, Buffalo Joe’s Korean-inspired Goch Ya Wings have a rep which extends far beyond Cambridge’s street food scene. Tender, buttery chicken with a lipsmackingly tasty, sweet and sticky marinade, slathered in wasabi mayo, they’re a deliciously exotic twist on a favourite.

Twitter @BuffaloJoesCamb

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STEAK & HONOUR.

We’re cheating ever so slightly here, but these homegrown heroes are hugely deserving of a double nod: if you head to Steak & Honour’s permanent home in the heart of the city, you can tuck into two equally splendid meatless burgers that have been crafted with just as much care and attention as their beef-based siblings. The ’Shroom – also available from S&H’s Citroën vans – sees juicy flat mushrooms combined with American cheese, lettuce, onions, gherkins, French’s mustard, Heinz ketchup and S&H’s signature toasted brioche bun. It’s definitely messy, but gloriously so: our advice is to wrap yourself in napkins and fearlessly dive in. The other vegfriendly offering is their take on a bean-based patty, which goes by the name Check The Pulse – this burger features beetroot pickle and seaweed mayo for bonus umami that’ll have even the most ardent anti-veg crusader licking their fingers. No visit to S&H is complete without a pot of their outrageously crispy salted fries, and maybe a side of mac ’n’ cheese if you’ve got the room – but whether you’re a veggie burger fan or just fancy a meat-free feast, we wholeheartedly recommend taking your feet to Wheeler Street and through Steak & Honour’s neon-lit door.

Veggie Burgers.

W O R D S C H A R LOT T E G R I F F I T H S I M AG E S D A I SY D I C K I N S O N

Stem & Glory.

Tucked away upstairs on Mitcham’s Corner is an eatery with ethics: Stem & Glory is camyoga’s addition to the Cambridge dining scene, providing delicious vegan dishes where you genuinely don’t miss the animal by-products – and their burger offering is definitely worth a detour, whether you’re carnivorous or otherwise inclined. It’s a clever combination of smoky barbecue sauce with on-trend jackfruit, which has been making waves in culinary circles for a few years now as the Holy Grail of vegan eating due to its meaty texture and ability to absorb flavour. Slow-cooking young jackfruit creates an uncannily realistic pulled-pork-style dish, which is perfectly paired here with a well-seeded bun, a fresh citrus avocado slaw, Cajun-spiced new potatoes and sweet, sun-dried tomato ketchup. Throw in a craft beer from Stem & Glory’s extensive list, and you’ve got yourself a dinner fit for a king – whether vegan or not.

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FOOD & DRINK

Butch Annie’s.

Follow the neon burger downstairs off Market Street and you’ll find yourself in one of central Cambridge’s great secret eating spots: Butch Annie’s. This colourful bar was designed around two culinary pillars – burgers and beer – and every one of the eight burger iterations that they offer can be transformed into a meatfree variety. Just say the word and a ‘secret-recipe’ patty will be swapped in, wrapped in bright turquoise paper and presented to your table – matched up with trendy (and delicious) skin-on fries dusted with za’atar, rosemary salt or simple Maldon. Far be it from us to reveal all their secrets, but we will say this: the patty’s well designed to match up with a range of flavours so whichever option you choose from their menu, you’re in for a treat. We tried the Classic Butch in its veggie form and were delighted with the neat, delicious, well-balanced burger – plus it’s exciting to see a whole range of options on a menu rather than a lonely solo offering. Grab a few friends and a few more beers, and head downstairs for a session.

BREWHOUSE. This bustling town-centre pub and brewery has a reputation for great atmosphere and even better beers, and their reliably tasty food offering makes the Brewhouse a fantastic spot to meet friends and while away an evening. Their extensive menu caters to all tastes and sizes of appetites, but you’d better come hungry if you’re keen on their veggie burger. This feast combines roasted butternut squash and sweet potato, then slathers on a thick, melty blanket of red Leicester cheese and serves it all up alongside hand-cut chunky chips and garlic mayo for dipping purposes. If you’ve had a day where you find yourself needing to pull your dinner over your head duvet-style, this is the burger for you: a comforting carb blanket that will soothe away life’s stresses. For truly extraordinary times and a little extra cash, you can make the burger ‘dirty’ with a fried egg and onions or even double up your patty. Wash it all down with one of the brews crafted on site and even the most dedicated meateater is sure to go a little green with envy.

4 HONEST BURGERS. These relative newcomers to Cambridge are no strangers to the art of crafting a burger: our city’s outpost of Honest Burgers is the latest in the family, with at least 20 other branches found within London’s environs, so it’s fair to say they’ve got experience – and the queue out the door on weekends shows that we’ve taken the newest residents of ‘Meat Street’ to our hearts. But for all their talk of commitment to top-quality produce and focus on simple meat preparation, how’s their veggie offering? Honestly (sorry)… it’s really rather good: a grown-up evolution of the spiced burger that all vegetarians lived off in the early 2000s. Honest’s Market Vegetable fritter is made from cauliflower, sweetcorn, tomato, coriander and cucumber yoghurt, and comes paired with the finger-licking triple-cooked skin-on rosemary-salted chips which food critic Jay Rayner once described as “the edible equivalent of crystal meth”. Add in one of their home-made mint lemonades or a Tin Cup Cocktail – or Honest’s first milkshake, created in partnership with neighbour Jack’s Gelato – and you’ve definitely got yourself a burger to remember.

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Absence makes the heart grow fondue.

A RECENT CONVERT TO ITS CHARMS, ALEX RUSHMER EMBARKS O N A L OV E A F FA I R W I T H F O N D U E I N T H E S W I S S A L P S

E

arlier this summer I experienced my first ever fondue. It’s not that I’ve actively avoided it for the first three and a half decades of my life, more that the opportunity never presented itself which, given my adoration of the constituent elements, is very strange. A cheese toastie with a punchy acidic counterpoint (chutney or pickles) is a thing of simple and delicious beauty and many a late night hunger has been assuaged by this most magnificent snack. A fondue contains the same elements but in a manner that not only includes wine but is also acceptable as a sociable (and even refined) meal option, not just a morsel to be consumed in the semi-darkness.

However, as I am currently ensconced in the friendly bosom of the Swiss Alps and therefore in the spiritual home of fondue, it seemed like the ideal opportunity to indulge in this particular culinary icon and I was advised of just the place to do so.

Restaurant Chez Dany sits alone, high in the hills above Verbier town centre, at an altitude of about 1700m. At night it is visible from the valley below, a single point of light on an otherwise black mountainside. They specialise in classic Swiss dishes including rosti and cured meats but the fondue was the real reason for my visit. As well as the traditional cheese there is the option of a fondue with wild girolle mushrooms, and even one with white truffles from just over the border in the northern Italian province of Alba; but as a first timer I felt there was no need for embellishment.

Alongside a small burner and pot of molten, near-boiling cheese, came a basket of bread and a jar of pickled gherkins and tiny silverskin onions for those of us sat around the fondue to share.

Of course, the food itself was delicious, that was no surprise, but what really made the experience truly enjoyable was the friendly and communal nature of the meal. I was breaking bread with people I had only just met but the usual boundaries of early meetings were noticeably absent. I dare say this was aided by a few glasses of

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Fendant, the local wine, and a few more of Abricotine, a fiery eau de vie made from apricots grown in the Valais canton, which also acts as a much needed digestif after the heavy onslaught of melted cheese, bread and pickles.

The crowning glory of the meal came when I was advised to use a fondue fork to chisel off the crispy layer of caramelised cheese that had welded itself to the bottom of the pot. Wonderfully textured and pleasingly bitter, it reminded me of the dribbles of melted cheese that stick to the hot plates on the Breville but remain attached to the outside of a toastie. By the time I ate that final crunchy morsel I was well and truly stuffed and well and truly happy, optimistic that the booze and pickles would aid the digestion of what felt like an increasingly leaden weight in my belly. I’m not entirely sure that was the case, but I do know that I slept very well indeed. n

Alex Rushmer

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Grape & Grain.

T H I N K O N LY B A D T H I N GS H A P P E N W H E N YO U M I X B E E R A N D W I N E ? T H I N K AGA I N , S AYS T H I R S T Y’S E L O D I E C A M E RO N

fascinating thing happens when you get like-minded people together from different places and with different experiences; dynamics can create exciting new things. We all know that old adage not to mix the grape and grain – those words of wisdom echoed through many student halls, usually ignored with unpleasant consequences. But maybe it isn’t so crazy after all, when you get the right people involved. It’s all about vision, knowing what you’re doing and being good at it.

Our story begins with two guys: Matthias from Germany and Mikkel from Denmark. Matthias Meierer is a winemaker with a clear philosophy. He lives and breathes winemaking, as has his family since they established their estate in 1767. He champions his wine region, the Mosel, spreading the word and sharing his passion and his love for this unique terroir and the noble grape that he nurtures there – Riesling. The unique combination of slate coupled with slopes of up to 85% incline ensures this region and its wines are like no other. The slate creates a heat-storage system and provides the vines with minerals, as Matthias puts it: “Riesling plus slate equals 100% love.” The incline of the slopes turns this man into a mountaineer – it takes three times the effort to look after these vines than it does to a flat vineyard (and there is no machinery to help).

Everything must be done by hand, but Matthias wouldn’t want it any other way, as it allows him to know and understand his wine better. Picking grapes by hand with two buckets to allow him to sort as he goes, building calves and determination of steel, but he loves the ritual and the results are worth all the effort. When we met Matthias we were instantly drawn in, his dedication and focus immediately clear both in the man and his wines. The wines range from dry and off-dry through to sweet, and wow do they blow your socks off! Lip-smacking acidity, elegance and backbone, the minerality shines through in all his wines.

Mikkel Borg Bjergsø, meanwhile, is a brewer with a clear philosophy to create great beers using the best ingredients, working with talented and creative people around the world – now that sounds fun! He wants to challenge people’s taste buds, make them think about beer and enjoy the flavours and styles, and make beer a sophisticated accompaniment to food.

Ten years ago he was a maths and physics teacher experimenting in his Copenhagen kitchen, and now he exports to over 50 countries, is involved in a string of bars and restaurants and is acknowledged as one

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It's all about vision, knowing what you're doing, and being good at it of the most innovative and experimental brewers in the world – not bad. With locations as far reaching as Stockholm, San Diego and Tokyo (each one is totally individual: this is not a chain concept,) there is a clear thread of creativity and style. Being known as ‘the godfather of gypsy brewing’ is a statement to live up to, but with beers such as Chill Pils Yuzu, Milk Stout, Green Gold IPA, American Dream Lager, Hallo Ich Bin Berliner Weisse Mango to name but a few, Mikkel manages to do just that. And let it be known: this man has even made a beer with Rick Astley…

What happens when you bring these men together? Well, one thing is great wine and the other is great beer – with wine in it! The Mikkeller Beer Geek Riesling (made by Mikkel using Matthias’ grapes) is a wine made for beer drinkers. There has also been a spontaneously fermented beer blended with Riesling juice and even a dry hopped Riesling – intriguing indeed, and it makes you want to know, and taste, more.

You may now get the chance. Join Thirsty Cambridge for the Mikkeller/Meierer weekend of Untold Dreams, from 8 to 10 September, which will include a tutored tasting with Matthias Meierer and a Mikkeller Tap Takeover at Thirsty Chesterton Road and Thirsty Riverside. For details, visit the website. n wearethirsty.co.uk

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R E S TAU R A N T R E V I E W

The Three Tuns.

C H A R L O T T E G R I F F I T H S PAYS A V I S I T T O G R E AT A B I N G T O N ’S I N -T H E - K N OW GEM FOR A THAI FEAST

I

f you pop ‘The Three Tuns’ into Google – as I did when asked to review this particular eatery – you’re met with a couple of similarly named options spread across the wider Cambridgeshire area, and at first glance you might not be sure which direction to head in. However, the second you mention the name to a locally-based human or two, it’s clear which pub you’re looking for. “Oh – the Thai place in Abington? That’s fantastic, that is – really good takeaway. Lucky you!”

The Three Tuns is indeed based out in Great Abington, and we visited on probably the wettest day of the summer so far, dashing from the car park through the rain into the warm and inviting pub, where we instantly forgot the inclement conditions outside the solid walls.

After chatting with the welcoming staff behind the bar, we nestled into our table (next to a window, to remind us of the rain) and were swiftly brought an enormous bowlful of rustling, crispy and not-too-greasy Thai prawn crackers – accompanied by a simple but delicious satay sauce, which we happily shovelled away at while we read through the pub’s menu.

My dining companion for the evening is a vegetarian, so we kicked off the experience with a Veggie Combo: tempura vegetables, spring rolls and sweetcorn cakes. The tempura batter was crispy and almost sweet, with sesame seeds studding the golden-brown surface, while the spring rolls’ delicate wrapper contained a smoky, sticky, beansprout-based filling which was rendered even more mouth-watering by dipping them into the provided sweet chilli sauce. The sweetcorn cakes were a total triumph. All too often these can be flat, insipid, gluey coasters which act simply as a medium to get more sweet chilli sauce into your mouth as quickly as possible, but The Three Tuns’ versions were

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golf-ball-sized and the corn on the exterior of the cake had a halfpopped popcorn vibe: incredibly crunchy and totally addictive. Around us, other guests tucked into more meaty starters: sesame pork toasts, satay chicken – and one particular special of crispy squid, which was earning audibly rave reviews from our neighbouring table.

Our starters were cleared, though we hung onto the prawn crackers (and were brought extra satay sauce to finish off the bowl) and to ok the chance to look around the dining room while waiting for the main courses. The bar was packed with drinkers, and every table was filled: this place clearly deserves its glowing reputation.

For mains, I went for a classic Pad Thai with chicken, while my friend chose a cashew nut curry with coconut rice (later revealed as her ultimate hangover cure – hot tip). Mine arrived piping hot and piled high on the plate, and was everything you want from this reliable noodlebased dish: tangy, comforting, and completely perfect for a rainy day. The flavours immediately reminded me of dishes I’d enjoyed in the past at Dojos (hallowed be its name), and I beamed across the table, genuinely delighted to have found another splendid place to tuck into Thai food. The cashew nut curry broth was delicately spiced with lemongrass and coriander, and the rice was like eating a sweet, coconut-flavoured cloud: again, your ideal bad-weather feast.

All the dishes were generously portioned, so it wasn’t completely surprising when our appetites started to fade midway through the mains – but there was no way we were giving up the leftovers.

Our waiter packed them in boxes and handed them back to us in bags, much to the delight of owner Chris, who popped over for a quick chat about the restaurant between courses. He’s been in charge of The Three Tuns for 14 years, but has been cooking Thai food for 20 – and has several

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Authentic ingredients make for a mouth-watering experience – and generous portions proving too great a challenge can be boxed up and taken home

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Thai chefs working in the kitchen, serving up their much-loved dishes to locals and visitors alike who come back time and time again to pack the place out. On that particular day, the pub had over seventy diners joining them for lunch, and the kitchen were set to do the same again during the evening service – despite the weather.

A short dessert offering was chalked up on the specials board, and our waiter guided us in the direction of the Rolo cheesecake – which, when she returned with the neatly towered sweet, was revealed as the last one the kitchen had. As we took our first bites, a nearby pair of diners leaned over: “Is that… did she say it was the last cheesecake?”

We looked at each other, holding forks aloft.

“Er – yes… sorry?”

“Nooooo,” they wailed as they slumped back in their seats, laughing – but also looking a little heartbroken. The kind thing to do here would have been to give the cheesecake up to the obvious fans of the restaurant, but despite being just as full as the room was, we were in no mood to surrender this dessert. We ate every morsel and after a final cheery chat with the front-of-house crew, we left, clutching our takeaway boxes to our extremely happy bellies.

The Three Tuns is clearly one of those local ‘secrets’ which, once you discover it, you also find that everyone already knows about. If you’re city centre-based then it’s well worth the short schlep whether you’re looking for lunch, dinner or a takeaway option, but whichever you choose, arrive hungry and you won’t be disappointed.

That is – assuming you get your cheesecake order in before I do… n 75 High St, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6AB | thethreetuns-greatabington.co.uk

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A DV E RTO R I A L F E AT U R E

OFO BIKE SHARE LAUNCHES IN CAMBRIDGE. W I T H O U R B I K E S A L L OV E R T H E C I T Y, I T ’S E A S I E R T H A N E V E R F O R YO U G E T A RO U N D

DOWNLOAD THE OFO APP TODAY & GET CYCLING!

FOUNDED IN 2014, ofo is the world’s first and leading ‘non-docking’ bicycle-sharing platform.

It’s a simple proposition; a bike that is easy to find and fun to use. With the app on your phone, just scan and go – and it’s now available in Cambridge. Our goal is to inspire 50 billion bicycle journeys by 2020, reducing the planet’s carbon footprint by 31.5 billion kilograms. It’s not just about more people cycling, but cycling changing our planet for the better.

We know that Cambridge is a city that loves cycling – and after a hugely successful trial, we’ve decided that ofo needs a permanent home here. Our iconic yellow bikes are available at high footfall, convenient locations, and can be picked up and dropped off anywhere that bike parking is allowed. To access a bike, scan the QR code on the lock. Once you’ve finished your journey, leave the bike in a spot that cycle parking is permitted and end your trip through the app, making the bike available for the next person. With rental costs as low as 50p for 30 minutes, ofo is a great value way to get around.

Download our app by searching ofo in the Apple Store or Google Play Store.

ofo FAQ’s

H OW M U C H W I L L I T C O S T ?

Journeys start at 50p per 30 minutes and you won’t ever pay more than £5 thanks to our handy cap.

WHERE CAN I FIND A BIKE? Our bike marshals work all through our city, redistributing bikes to popular areas. You’ll find ofos by the train station and in the city centre as well as other spots our users park them.

I CAN’T FIND A BIKE?

We hear you loud and clear. We are working alongside the council to service Cambridge with more bikes. Stay on the lookout.

Find out more at ofo.so

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What’s on.

A RO U N D - U P O F E V E N T S I N A N D A RO U N D C A M B R I D G E S H I R E T H I S AU G U S T

4/5 S E P T E M B E R STICK MAN

Scamp Theatre’s delightful adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler tells the misadventure of Stick Man during a morning jog.

Most suited for ages three and up.

1.30pm & 4.30pm Monday, 11am & 4.30pm Tuesday | Corn Exchange | £15.50, under-16s £13.50 | cambridgelivetrust. co.uk

6-16 S E P T E M B E R THE REAL THING

Laurence Fox (Lewis, Gosford Park) stars in the theatre’s major new co-production of Tom Stoppard’s award-winning masterpiece. Opens in Cambridge prior to national tour.

7.45pm, 2.30pm Thursdays and Saturdays | Cambridge

Arts Theatre | £23-£42 | cambridgeartstheatre.com

Times vary | ADC Theatre | Free | adctheatre.com

8 SEPTEMBER HAMMER & TO N G U E

10 S E P T E M B E R T H E A DV E N T U R E S O F WA LT E R L E M O N FAC E

The slam poets are back with another verbal jousting session.

Expect impressive spoken word artistry, competitive mayhem and a great atmosphere.

7.15pm | Cambridge Junction | £7.50 or £4 for slammers | junction.co.uk

8 SEPTEMBER B AC KS TAG E AT T H E A D C T H E AT R E

Part of Open Cambridge, this event will offer theatre-lovers a chance to go behind the scenes at the ADC, which launched the careers of Sir Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson and Rachel Weiss.

Ever wanted to control what happens in a cartoon? Now you can, as fearless inventor Walter Lemonface hunts for Rhubarb Ogres and battles ghosts.

11.30am, 2.30pm | Cambridge Junction | £6, £10 | junction.co.uk

12 S E P T E M B E R Q U E R I C O TA PA S : L A R I O JA

Wine tasting with a focus on the La Rioja region. Magnificent Spanish wine paired with tapas from the same region. Price includes five wines and five tapas.

DON MISS ’T THIN A G

CAM

BSED

IT IO N

.C O .U

K

7pm | Cambridge Wine Merchants, Cherry Hinton Road | £32.50 | cambridgewine.com

17 S E P T E M B E R G ÖT T E R DÄ M M E R U N G

Saffron Opera Group conclude their triumphant Ring Cycle, deservedly hailed as one of the UK’s most ambitious and successful Wagnerian events of the last decade.

2pm | Saffron Hall | £25-£35 | saffronhall.com

19-23 S E P T E M B E R WA I T U N T I L DA R K A major revival of the classic edge-of-your-seat thriller. Set in the social turbulence of mid60s London, Susy, who is blind, becomes embroiled with a group of conmen.

7.45pm, 2.30pm Thursday & Saturday | Cambridge Arts Theatre | £19-£34 | cambridgeartstheatre.com

20 S E P T E M B E R RIP IT UP

Natalie Lowe, recently departed star pro-dancer from Strictly Come Dancing, returns to the Corn Exchange, this time with former champions Jay McGuinness and Cambridgeshire’s Louis Smith for a dance through the 50s.

7.30pm | Corn Exchange | £22.25-37.75 | cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

23 S E P T E M B E R C I R C U S : A N Y DAY

7 September Peace Train

A music-filled journey into the life of Cat Stevens, singer of iconic songs including Father and Son, Wild World, The First Cut is the Deepest and Where do the Children Play?

7.30pm | Corn Exchange | from £26.25 | cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

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A circus show like no other for all the family, Max lives on a trampoline with only his little pet bird for company. Every day is the same but Max decides he wants a change.

3pm, 7.30pm | Cambridge Junction | £12.50 | junction.co.uk

23 S E P T E M B E R SUBTERRANEAN

A new one-day indoor rock and indie festival aimed at fans of all ages, with four stages and 21 acts including PINS, whose credits include recording with Iggy Pop.

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W X XHXAT XX ' SXO XN X 12pm | Corn Exchange | £15 | cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

24 S E P T E M B E R AU T U M N F E S T I VA L

Milton Country Park’s biggest fundraiser returns with more fantastic seasonal food, crafts, activities music and entertainment.

Local bands, delicious street food from foodPark, Pinkster Gin pop-up bar, steam train and hovercraft rides on the lake.

10.30am-5pm | Milton Country Park | £6 advance, £10 on the door, kids under 16 free | miltoncountrypark.org

17 September Andy Parsons.

As seen on Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo and QI, Parsons presents his latest sharp comedy on life.

8pm | Cambridge Junction | £16.50 | junction.co.uk

24 S E P T E M B E R PHILL JUPITUS: JUPLICITY

This stand-up started out, in TV terms, on Never Mind the Buzzcocks in 1996. Watch in delight and/or horror as Phill Jupitus delivers adult themes in a childish way.

8pm | Cambridge Junction | £17 | junction.co.uk

25-30 S E P T E M B E R THE KITE RUNNER Based on Khaled Hosseini’s bestselling novel, this haunting tale of friendship which spans cultures and continents follows one man’s journey to confront his past.

7.45pm, 2.30pm Thursday & Saturday | Cambridge Arts Theatre | £19-£34 | cambridgeartstheatre.com

29 S E P T E M B E R BIG GIRLS D O N ’ T C RY

The unique sound and hit after hit of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons is recreated in this stellar show. Featuring Sherry, Walk Like a Man, Rag Doll and December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night).

7.30pm | Corn Exchange | £18.75-£29.75 | cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

30 S E P T E M B E R U LT I M AT E E AG L E S

The world’s premier Eagles show, the tribute group have performed to over 500,000 people across the globe and can claim five million online views.

7.30pm | Corn Exchange | £24.75 | cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

30 S E P T E M B E R SOME ENCHANTED EVENING A cast of the industry’s most talented professionals perform favourites from The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Les

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Misérables, Fame, Chicago and many more.

7.45pm | ADC Theatre | £9, £12 | adctheatre.com

30 S E P T E M B E R F O O D PA R K

It's your last chance to feast your way around a foodPark summer night market until next year – so we recommend rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck in!

Expect top street food, great wine and cocktails, live music and an abundance of foodie fun.

5pm | Gravel Hill Farm | £4 | foodparkcam.com

27 September The Simon & Garfunkel Story.

The tale, and songs, of America’s biggest duo returns, using huge projection pictures and original film footage. This year marks 50 years since they started.

7.30pm | Corn Exchange | £27.75 | cambridgelivetrust.co.uk

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The Adventures of Walter Lemonface.

More fab children’s theatre from Cambridge Junction this month as the venue welcomes The Adventures of Walter Lemonface, a vibrantly colourful, fun-filled production from 154 Collective. Interactivity is at the heart of the show, in which Walter Lemonface – an adventurer, fearless inventor and connoisseur of carrots – has rhubarb ogres to hunt, ghosts to battle and adventures to find around every corner.

Combining live animation, music and storytelling to tell a heartwarming and silly tale, it’s bound to delight audiences and is suitable for children aged three and up and their grown-ups.

Two shows are on 10 September and tickets are £6 per child and £10 per adult. junction.co.uk

STICK MAN .

“Stick Man lives in the family tree, with his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three...”, and life is rather lovely – but when he ventures outside the comfort of his family tree, things can get a bit scary. A morning jog becomes a gauntlet run when dogs try to play catch with him, a swan builds a nest with him and he even ends up as kindling. Will he ever get back to his home? Find out in this awardwinning production from Scamp Theatre, which visits the Corn Exchange on 4 September. Based on Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s delightful children’s book, it’s a riot of live music, puppetry and funky dance moves.

It’s suitable for ages three and up but all ages are welcome. Tickets are £13.50 for children under 16, and £15.50 for adults. cornex.co.uk

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M I LTO N C O U N T RY PA R K F E S T I VA L .

Get out and about in the great outdoors with your family this month when Milton Country Park welcomes back its annual Autumn Festival. Taking place on Sunday 24 September, this day-long event features great food, live music, arts and crafts and plenty of opportunities for wild outdoor adventures in this beautiful green space.

Hungry tums should find their way to the foodPark area, where our city’s top street food traders will be selling their delicious fare, while you’ll also browse stalls selling great local produce to take home. If you fancy a tipple, swing by the Pinkster Gin stall or Gentleman Jim’s (a bar in a horsebox!), or head to the meadow for local ales and ciders courtesy of Milton pub the Lion & Lamb.

There will be live music from local acts including Big 10, Saltfen, Oscar Corney and Mortal Tides to get you up dancing, plus hands-on fun including wood craft, face painting and apple pressing.

If you fancy something a bit more adventurous, you can learn circus skills with Right Side Up Circus, join in with a canoe safari and have ride on a miniature steam train, not to mention getting scruffy with a spot of hay play! As well as supporting local foodies, crafters and creatives, the festival also donates all proceeds towards the upkeep of Milton Country Park, helping to keep it open and accessible for everyone to enjoy.

Early bird tickets are £6 (£10 on the gate), and children under 16 years go free. Advance booking is recommended. miltoncountrypark.org

Dragon Boat Festival.

Hooray, Cambridge’s madcap boating race is back for another afternoon of fun on the banks of the River Cam out in Fen Ditton. Taking place on 9 September, it offers a great day out for families, who can watch the teams battle it out on the river in the Chinese style dragon boats, enjoying the entertainment and funfair rides, and picking up something to eat and drink. Entry is free for spectators. dragonboatfestivals.co.uk

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FA M I LY

The Girl and the Giraffe.

Imagine if you found a giraffe peering over your garden fence one day? That’s exactly what happens to Girl in this lovely production from Half Moon and Floods of Ink, which stops by in Cambridge on 17 September.

Girl becomes friends with her towering visitor, but soon realises that he’s not very well. She tries all she can think of to make him feel better, from putting on bandages to making cups of tea and even baking a magnificent cake, but Giraffe is sad – and needs a different kind of plaster.

With puppetry, an enchanting soundscape and beautiful storytelling, The Girl and the Giraffe is a tale of wellbeing and friendship, sensitively looking at mental health issues from a child’s perspective.

Shows take place at 11.30am and 2.30pm and tickets are £6 for children and £10 for adults. junction.co.uk

C H E S T E RTO N S P O RTS CENTRE. I C K L E S TO C K .

The village of Ickleton in South Cambridgeshire will host the inaugural Icklestock this month: a huge day of community celebration packed with live music, great food, kids fun and a range of stalls. The event is being held as part of a fundraising drive for the Ickleton Park Project, an initiative championing the transformation of Ickleton’s recreation ground.

Villagers hope that this six-acre green space can evolve into a “unique and visionary space that encourages a healthy outdoor lifestyle for young and old – one that can be enjoyed by the whole of the South Cambs and Essex community”. The plans in the offing include bouldering zones, scooter tracks, percussion paths, exercise stations, community orchard and a perimeter walkway.

Icklestock, a not-for-profit mini festival, is on 9 September and features a host of live music, an awesome kids zone and some seriously tasty food from popular local traders including Guerrilla Kitchen, Bread & Meat, Stem & Glory and Steak & Honour – not to mention local craft beers and a selection of artisan stalls. Get the full lowdown on the Icklestock website. icklestock.co.uk

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Fancy a family dip this September? Pop along to Chesterton Sports Centre, where the spacious indoor pool has just had a refurbishment – and with entry as low as £2.50, it’s a great value excursion to get the kids active. Better still, they’ve also had a swish new sauna installed – so you can let off some steam while the little ones splash about! If you’d rather remain on terra firma, there’s tennis courts to play on, or if one of your brood has a birthday coming up, there’s pool parties with floats and an inflatable slide, bouncy castle parties, football parties and loads more to choose from, plus options for scrummy party food from the Box Café. Check out the website for all the details. chestertonsportscentre.org.uk

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CAMBRIDGE HALLOWEEN PIZZA & EVENTS P R O S E CC O R E S TAU R A N T F E S T I VA L REVIEWS Comedy nights COMING UP TO P FAMILY DAYS OUT

NEXT MONTH.

COMPETITIONS

Theatre highlights

New foodie openings

H E R O E ATS ART

EXHIBITIONS

Cambridge Vegan Market

YO U R G U I D E TO THROWING THE 37TH T H E U L T I M AT E CAMBRIDGE C A M B R I D G E FILM FESTIVAL W E D D I N G

C H E C K O U T LO C A L E V E N TS O N L I N E AT C A M B S E D I T I O N . C O . U K CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

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Crueltyfree beauty.

DA I S Y D I C K I N S O N RO U N DS U P H E R B E S T E T H I C A L B E AU T Y B U YS

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hile animal-tested products were banned in the EU back in 2013, a loophole means ingredients can still be tested on animals, or third parties outside the EU can be used to test on behalf of a company. There’s also no strict regulation for claims on packaging which means brands can still say they’re cruelty-free, when in fact they may actually test their products on animals ‘when required by law’ – which is a stipulation of some markets, such as China. Independent site crueltyfreekitty. com is a bible for a cruelty-free approach to beauty, featuring over 100 certified brands and making life much easier for the ethicallyminded beauty fan.

New from PÜR Cosmetics, the beautiful Soirée Diaries Eyeshadow Palette 1 (£28, M&S) is a blogger’s dream. Presented in a marble-look palette, the packaging looks as good as the stunning, highly pigmented shadows inside.

Also in the range are the PÜR Velvet Matte Liquid Lipsticks 2 (£16, M&S). With a unique mousse texture, these long-lasting lipsticks are perfect for those who like the staying power of liquids, but want a more hydrating feel.

Available in ten shades these are also parabenand gluten-free, and vegan-friendly too.

Just launched on Debenhams.com, the latest product from Too Faced, the Melted Latex High Shine Liquified Lipstick 3 (£19) is unlike any lip product I’d tried before.

The innovative texture is honey-like and comfortable to wear, but offers buildable, lacquered colour which lasts for hours. Any late-summer festival-goers must try Unicorn

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Tears for an irresistibly iridescent slick.

If you’re an Instagram beauty fan, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the blindingly brilliant Iconic London Illuminator highlighter 4 (£29.99, iconiclondoninc.com). This concentrated liquid shimmer can be added to foundation or primer for a dewy glow, or applied direct to cheekbones using fingers to pat and blend for an out-of-this-world sheen.

Murad believes that healthy minds, bodies and skin shouldn’t be at the expense of animals. The latest in the company’s range of dermatologist-developed products, the Rapid Relief Spot Treatment 5 (£17, murad. co.uk), answers the prayers of anyone who’s experienced the arrival of a pesky zit before an important event. This stuff really works, and if used early reduces blemish size and redness within 24 hours.

Marc Jacobs Beauty has recently been added to the cruelty-free list, choosing to no longer sell in markets which require animal testing by law. The new Under(Cover) Perfecting Coconut Eye Primer (£20, John Lewis) is infused with coconut water and provides a silky-smooth base for all-day-stay eyeshadows.

Beauty Bakerie; the name says it all. With cute packaging and delightful product names, everything in the range is certified cruelty-free.

Available from love-makeup.co.uk, a must-try is the Lip Whip 6 (£15.95) – the strongest liquid lipstick I’ve ever used – and available in an array of pretty shades. So hard-wearing it must be removed with an oil-based remover, and I highly recommend the dedicated Lip Whip Remover pads (£10.50). For a perfectly polished finish to your make-up, try the vegan

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Think mink.

Be wary of shopping for mink lashes which claim to be cruelty-free – this is a seriously iffy area and sadly while companies may claim the mink are brushed for their fur and label their products cruelty-free, the reality is that it’s virtually impossible to farm fur humanely. If the listed material is real mink, stay clear! There are plenty of beautiful alternatives – check out Iconic London’s Fierce lashes (£19.99), which are made from silk-like fibers for a lightweight flutter.

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Flour Setting Powder 7 (£17.95) dusted over foundation for all-day wear.

Neal’s Yard Frankincense Intense Beauty Boost Supplement 8 (£15.95, Neal’s Yard – Rose Crescent) works from the inside out to support healthy skin, hair and nails, containing frankincense, MSM and pine bark extract, plus vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytonutrients. I’ve been using this for a month and have seen results, especially with my nails.

If you’re yet to try Kat Von D beauty, make it top of your beauty to-do list! Cruelty-free and vegan, Kat’s products are consistently high-quality across the whole range, and I’m yet to find fault. The liquid lipsticks are long-lasting and not drying, the foundation offers insanely polished coverage, and the eyeshadows are rich and pigmented. If you only buy one thing, go for the Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Beloved 9 (£17). While we don’t have an in-store counter yet, you can purchase online at Debenhams.com and click and collect to the Grafton Centre store. n

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PA G E SPECI AL.

Education edition.

AS THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS, FIND O U T W H AT T H E S C H O O L S I N O U R A R E A O F F E R A N D H OW YO U C A N B E N E F I T F RO M L AT E R - I N - L I F E L E A R N I N G

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SCHOOLS

Choosing the Right School.

C H A R L O T T E P H I L L I P S H E L P S YO U T O L O O K B E YO N D T H E R E P O R T S A N D G L O S S Y B RO C H U R E S W I T H S O M E P R AC T I C A L A DV I C E O N T H E B I G D E C I S I O N

n the surface, it’s never been easier to see how schools are doing. Google ‘compare school performance’ and a shiny new site, courtesy of the government, enables parents (at state schools) to see not just whether a school is making progress and how much but also how well it’s doing in comparison with other schools round the country, not just in terms of the national average but in comparison with schools that have a similar student population.

You can read inspection reports, peruse exam results, examine the school’s website and measure the percentage of smiley children (and teachers) per

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picture (if you really want). Independent schools are also vetted, many by their own inspectorate (the ISI) though the yardsticks they use – such as quality of teaching and safeguarding, for example – are very similar.

But while you’ll have a clear idea of facts and figures, something it’s essential to know is that all this information, bountiful (and sometimes overwhelming) though it is, can’t tell you everything, says Paul Wellstead, marketing director at Culford School – and it certainly can’t substitute for visiting a school.

“Inspection reports and exam results indicate how a school has performed, and give a quick and simple

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measure of performance and academic success. However, they cannot tell you about the school in the present and, importantly, whether the school is the right fit. There is no substitute for visiting a school, meeting the teachers, and talking to pupils and their parents.”

David Shah, director of studies at Mander Portman Woodward (MPW) sees much of the data as essential – but again with caveats. “I would be sceptical if the inspection wasn’t good but at the same time, wouldn’t take it at face value if it was outstanding.” Official reports shouldn’t be seen as an end in themselves, he stresses. Instead, they should be the starting point for prospective pupils and their families.

“League tables and more tangibly Ofsted reports or ISI reports should define the questions that a parent wants to ask when they go to visit the school rather than providing answers,” he points out. “More than a snapshot, I see Ofsted as defining the things you want to talk about to the headmaster or headmistress of the school and then getting a fuller context.”

One of the most important goals these days is that pupils should leave school not only with a clutch of qualifications to catapult them into the next stage of their lives, but with an armoury of less obvious skills that – like magic charms – will help them survive the inevitable setbacks that they will encounter in their lives.

And, a large part of that is going to be down to how pupils feel about themselves. You can have a child who, academically, is at the

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SCHOOLS top of the tree. But they also need sufficient resilience, confidence or – for want of a better word – happiness, so that they can lead fulfilling, enjoyable lives when they leave school and enter adulthood.

It’s all about fostering qualities such as flexibility, innovation and dynamism. This is certainly what Julian Johnson-Munday, headmaster of Culford School, believes. “If we build resilience into them so that they see failure only as the necessary prelude to success, not as a defeat in itself, we will empower them to grasp whatever the world offers.”

While inspection reports and exam results are a measurable metric, says Richard Settle, headmaster of Sancton Wood School, they are also a limited one.

“They can only tell you what the children have ended up with not the journey they’ve been on, and they can’t tell you the feeling you get when you walk through the door of the school, the warmth you might be able to pick up, or otherwise.”

More than ever before, children’s mental health has a prominence it needs. Educators, policy makers and healthcare professionals all recognise that childhood isn’t automatically the best time of our lives, but a period with a fragile equilibrium that can all too easily be disrupted.

Schools are aware of this – and the fact is that while happiness is much talked about, it can be awfully hard to pin down. But as education leaders readily acknowledge, it’s a vital component of a good education and something, increasingly, that forms part of every aspect of the way schools operate, from the type of teachers they recruit to how they support children through failure as well as success.

For a start, there’s the way that teachers teach. It sounds obvious – that’s what teachers do, after all – but

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League tables and Ofsted reports should define the questions a parent wants to ask when they go to visit the school, rather than providing answers doing it in a fear-free environment that makes children embrace the next challenge and want to take another step up the learning ladder requires effective teachers whose emotional intelligence enables them to know when to encourage and when to step back and let pupils do it for themselves.

At Stamford Endowed Schools, it’s a principle enshrined in the way learning is structured. “Teachers engender a positive atmosphere and culture in the classroom and have high expectations of their students, but they expect their students to have high aspirations for themselves, too,” says the principal, Will Phelan.

“Perhaps the most important thing to instill is a sense that they can achieve anything and that the world is built on graft and effort, not on intelligence.”

The school even has an acronym for FAIL – which stands for ‘First Attempt In Learning’. “We press this hard and it links with the growth mindset culture we develop in all the schools,” says Will Phelan.

At MPW, a premium is placed on the confidence inspired by teachers’ expertise. Because teachers know – to a ‘t’ – exactly what’s required and are brilliant communicators, tests become part of the learning process rather than a fear-filled exercise.

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“Even if students haven’t done as well as they’d like, they know why and can evaluate their performance. That gives them a much greater sense of security,” says David Shah.

But it’s about more than great teaching.

Successful teachers also model the qualities they hope to see in their pupils – taking risks and coping with failure, for example.

“While happy kids mean children who are more receptive to learning, the same is true for teachers. Happy teachers means engaging lessons, and that means happy kids, too,” says Will Phelan.

Richard Settle has a simple rule when he’s recruiting new members of staff. “I always look for a teacher that I would like to have been taught by,” he says. Must-have attributes include teachers who (apart from being experts in their subjects) don’t take themselves too seriously and give pupils the sense that ‘we’re in this together’.

Increasingly, what good schools pride themselves on is something they also encourage in their pupils – talking to each other and sharing their concerns.

Different schools do it different ways, from daily staff meetings to a quiet word in the corridor.

The bottom line, however, is that should a child show signs of being stressed, worried or disengaged, it won’t go unnoticed.

At MPW, small class sizes, an in-depth knowledge of every pupil’s learning style, and an interactive approach means that teachers will be in no doubt as to when students

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need to spend more time on a topic and when the pace can be accelerated. “It’s about keeping a finger on the pulse and that can only be done through effective dialogue,” says David Shah.

And while a clutch of top exam grades is never going to go amiss, happiness, agree schools, is absolutely essential. When pupils feel happy and secure, they are more likely to challenge and push themselves.“Happiness implies there’s not a fear of failure,” says Richard Settle.

Happy teachers means engaging lessons, and that means happy kids And when in a school where pupils bounce in with a smile on their faces, he says, parents can feel confident that their teachers are getting it right. “I’m acutely aware that children can’t go round again, they can’t have their school days twice, so if we get it wrong, those memories are stuck with them forever. So I want to employ staff who are going to make that journey a good one and a fun one – and that’s what we’re looking for.” b

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E D U C AT I NITOE N RIORS

POWELL CRAFT DINOSAUR RAINCOAT

£39, childrensalon.com

TWENTY-SEVEN SHARK PENCIL CASE

£18, notonthehighstreet.com ELVIS THE ELEPHANT CHILDREN'S UMBRELLA

GLAMINGO HB PENCILS WITH TOPPERS

£5 (for 5), paperchase.co.uk

£8.95, dotcomgiftshop.com

Back to school kit.

HAPPY JACKSON YAY LUNCH BOX IN YELLOW

£5.95, cuckooland.com

FLAMINGO BAY FLASK

£12.95, dotcomgiftshop.com

KIDORABLE LUCKY CAT UMBRELLA FEATHER DENIM CLASSIC BACKPACK

£27.50, paperchase.co.uk

COLOURFUL ANIMAL LUNCHBAG

£14.95, brollied.com

£7.50, colourfuldove.com

SPARKS LIVING PERSONALISED PENCIL CASE, STAY SHARP PENCIL POUCH

£9.50, notonthehighstreet.com

£12.50, arkcambridge.co.uk

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A D U LT A DEUDLT U CEAT D UI O C AT N ION

Lifelong Learning.

W H E T H E R YO U WA N T T O B O O S T E M P L OYM E N T P RO S P E C T S , S W I T C H C A R E E R S O R I N D U L G E A PA S S I O N O R H O B BY, O U R A R E A H A S E V E RY I M AG I N A B L E A D U LT L E A R N I N G O P P O R T U N I T Y O N O F F E R , F I N D S CHARLOT TE PHILLIPS

dult education has, arguably, never been more important, in every sense. In these unsettled times, local providers offer courses that can be food for the mind or something a little more tangible – life-changing, even.

Basic skills remain a concern. In the UK as a whole, reports the Learning and Work Institute, an independent research body, one in six adults struggles with literacy and a quarter find maths tricky. And even though an estimated nine in ten jobs these days require applicants to have at least basic IT skills, one in two over 18s in England and Northern Ireland currently lack them.

Apprenticeships aren’t necessarily the answer. Though there are more of them, the rise is likely to be countered by a drop in the total number of adult learners when the Learning and Work Institute carries out its next survey in a few months’ time, thinks Shane Chowen, its head of policy and public affairs.

“It could be the case that those participation gaps in non-apprenticeship adult education

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have got worse. Ditto with Advanced Learner Loans, which are predominantly taken out for access to higher education courses or workrelated qualifications,” he says.

As so often, what it demonstrates is that those most in need of training can find it hardest to access. A recent report, The Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices, pointed out that half of those in the lowest socioeconomic group have not participated in any training since leaving education. According to the Learning and Work Institute, it’s often the better educated and wealthier people who are most likely to sign up for adult education.

Organisations in our area are, however, doing their bit. Learndirect, the UK’s largest provider of skills, training and employment services, reports that currently well over 400 learners are currently registered at its Stevenage centre for a range of courses – usually free – that include employability skills as well as maths, English and IT. While unfulfilled potential is a tragedy for the individual concerned, experts argue that it also makes us poorer as a society. A report by the Institute for Employment Studies looking at the impact of further education (including most forms of adult learning) found that it wasn’t just the learners themselves who benefited (from

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better employment prospects and improved social mobility) but their children, too.

And as a nation, the more skilled the workforce, the greater our ability to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing employment market.

According to a report published by The World Economic Forum earlier this year, we’re at the start of a fourth Industrial Revolution. The machines are coming to get us – or our jobs, at any rate, and not necessarily just in high tech industries.

Robots have been developed that can build walls quicker than bricklayers, milk cows better than the most cattle friendly farmer, or create the perfect personalised burger. No human intervention required. And then, of course, there’s the advent of the driverless vehicle. Soon, some people are predicting, the long‑distance lorry driver will be a thing of the past.

When 60% of children in primary education today will be working in careers that haven’t yet been invented, the role played by adult education providers could become increasingly important.

With that in mind, it’s good to know that in our area, colleges are busily embracing the future with a vigour that augurs well for adult learners – regardless of their goals. For some, embarking on a course can be the first step – intentional or

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otherwise – on the journey to a completely new life.

Take Jackie Duckworth. A scientist who originally trained as a geneticist in London, she took a career break to raise her two young children.

When they left primary school, she was at a crossroads. Her previous career in science had changed beyond all recognition, making a return impossible.

A keen artist, she had been forced to give up art and concentrate on science for A levels.

Encouragement from an acquaintance prompted her to sign up for life drawing, helping her build the portfolio that secured her a place at CRC (Cambridge Regional College) on its part time ACE (Access to Higher Education Course).

But it wasn’t until her inspiring lecturer told her that she had the talent to take her studies further that she realised she could be on the brink of a completely new career.

Today, Jackie is the proud possessor of a first-class degree from Anglia Ruskin University and a flourishing body of work that sells at a brisk pace.

Without CRC, would she be where she is now? “Definitely not,” she says. “CRC taught me a lot and gave me confidence.”

Her advice to others in search of a new career but uncertain about how to begin reimagining their lives is to go for it. “My advice would be – it’s always worth a try,” she says. “Don’t think, ‘I’d like to do that but I can’t.’

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When 60% of children in primary education today will be working in careers that haven’t yet been invented, the role played by adult education providers could become increasingly important

“Think ‘I’d like to do that; how could I do it?’ and take it in steps.”

Given the sheer variety of courses in our area – and reasons for signing up to them – it’s an approach that makes a lot of sense. Some learners are interested in acquiring new skills and qualifications that will pave the way to new careers – or enhance promotion prospects in existing jobs. At Madingley Hall, home to the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), different subjects and courses attract different learners.

“Weekend courses tend to attract older people who want to learn for personal enrichment, whereas part-time courses attract more of a mix,” says Paul Ireland, communications and marketing manager at ICE. People involved in community projects might sign up for archaeology and local history courses while international development, genetics and coaching tend to attract people who are studying for professional reasons, either to help them in their current role or because they want to change career. “We also have a number of students who wish to go on to further study, sometimes at postgraduate or PhD level,” he points out.

And that’s just the start. Fancy acquiring skills in bridal hair, bench joinery, beauty therapy or personal training? CRC – key message ‘great careers start here’ – is happy to oblige. HR training at the college is also booming. “With Brexit happening, companies want trained HR professionals who know what is going on and understand the legislation involved,” explains Kay Gibson, who heads management and professional training at CRC.

At Hills Road, meanwhile, proofreading and editing, bookkeeping and website design are all increasingly in demand as is professional counselling, now so popular that for the first time, the college has added a new satellite course in Sawtry, near Peterborough.

While boosting employability skills remains an important driver for many adult learners, it’s just one of many reasons why people sign up.

Even popular TV programmes can be a factor.

It’s not hard to find a link between the appeal of the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? and the healthy demand for genealogy classes at Hills Road, for example.

Then there’s the role played by travel. If our area is anything to go by, it can definitely broaden the mind, sparking the desire to learn more about a country’s culture.

No surprise, then, that there’s a healthy take-up of language-related courses. They can be online or classroom based at CRC (the college’s CELTA courses – Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults – are increasingly popular, with students going on to jobs across the world), while at Hills Road learners can choose from four levels in Arabic as well as modern and ancient Greek, along with a plethora of other languages.

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Discover

A DELIGHTFUL medieval market town in northwest Essex, Saffron Walden takes its name from the Crocus sativus crop, which was cultivated here between the 15th and 18th centuries and used as a dye, flavouring and medicine. The town has a rich heritage of old buildings, including St Mary’s Church, the largest and one of the most beautiful parish churches in Essex, as well as many quirky independent shops, galleries and cafés, a friendly award-winning museum, an ancient turf labyrinth and the beautiful Bridge End Gardens.

The town is fast acquiring a reputation as a centre for arts and culture with its 740-seat Saffron Hall – one of the UK’s most exciting new performance spaces; Saffron Screen, our awardwinning community cinema; and The Fry Public

Art Gallery which houses an impressive number of paintings, prints, illustrations, wallpapers and decorative designs by artists of the 20th century and the present day with local connections.

A market has been held in Saffron Walden since 1141, and market days are Tuesdays and Saturdays. There is a wide variety of stalls including specialist and local foods, flowers, plants, gift items and the more practical stalls selling clothing, household items, watch batteries and so on.

Within a few minutes’ walk of the marketplace, there are many independent shops and eating places to choose from. And the town’s regular independent shopping challenges will be running again in December, highlighting the importance of supporting local shops and the community. n

Audley End Miniature Railway.

Visit Audley End Miniature Railway and Enchanted Fairy and Elf Walk for a family fun day out full of innocent fun and imagination. Take one of the steam or diesel engines through the beautiful Audley End Estate Woodland – home to hundreds of teddy bears and wildlife. The little ones are sure to want to explore the magical land of the Enchanted Fairy and Elf Walk, seeking out the tiny fairies and elves in their handmade wooden tree houses. They can even make their very own fairy or elf wand to help with their magical spotting powers, ticking off the fairies and elves in the I Spy booklet as they find them.

Relax in the large picnic and play area while the children enjoy the wooden play equipment or treat yourself to locally sourced, home-made food and drink from the Signal Box Café.

Audley End Road, Saffron Walden CB11 4JB | 01799 542134 or 510726 | audley-end-railway.co.uk

In 2011, former Liberty’s Buyer, Jane Shaw opened Craft Days, a vibrant, creative hub, filled to the brim with gorgeous yarns, fabrics, haberdashery and inspiration, offering an exciting programme of workshops and courses. Since opening, Jane has continued to inspire all who visit with her love of craft, be it through hosting workshops in knitting, crochet, sewing and needle-felting or simply by chatting to customers about the joy of making. She holds Open House coffee mornings every Friday and Meet & Make evenings every second and fourth Thursday, just take along what you are working on and join in the chat.

Whether you’re keen to learn a new skill or are an experienced crafter and love to spend time around like-minded people, pop in and meet Jane and the team over a cuppa – everyone is welcome at Craft Days.

27 High Street, Saffron Walden CB10 1AT | 01799 218429 | craft-days.co.uk

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Connie’s Pantry in Market Row is a traditional friendly coffee shop providing high-quality food and drink, breakfasts all day, lunches and afternoon teas, home-made on the premises using local produce to eat in or take away. Connie’s also sells a range of pantry items, including homemade jams and chutneys and local free-range eggs. If you’re looking for catering services for a buffet, party or event around the area, Connie’s will be delighted to bring the Coffee Angels mobile catering unit complete with gazebos to your venue for afternoon tea. The premises in Market Row are also available for hire, ideal for groups, children and business events. Pop in when you’re town, or you can reserve a table in advance.

12 Market Row, Saffron Walden CB10 1HB | 01799 520070 | facebook.com/Conniespantry

Hill St. Chocolate Boutique & Café.

Brothers Chris and Greg grew up in a little village in Essex, and as kids they fought like brothers do. Chris took himself off to Paris to train as a chocolatier; Greg tried his hand at design back home. Now grown up and back in Britain, they realised they have more in common than they thought: a desire to be the best, big respect for their local community, an appetite for experimentation and an uncontrollable love of chocolate. And so, Hill St. was born. A unique experience for chocolate lovers with a taste for authenticity and created by local boys with big ambition, Hill St. is a unique chocolate boutique and café where fresh artisan chocolates, seasonal chocolate models, gelato, sundaes, crêpes and French patisserie are all made with love on the premises – you can even experience the chocolate laboratory at work.

7 Hill Street, Saffron Walden CB10 1EH | 01799 521555 | facebook.com/hillstreetuk12

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Church Street Gallery.

Church Street Gallery is a bright and welcoming gallery where you are guaranteed a warm welcome from the owner, local artist Debbie Scott. Visit the gallery and you will find a superb collection of work by original British printmakers, and affordable contemporary paintings in a range of styles from both established and emerging artists, at prices to suit most pockets.

The Gallery also sells a lovely range of handmade studio ceramics, jewellery and printmakers cards, perfect for that original handmade gift. You are always welcome to pop in and browse the varied and regular exhibitions held throughout the year. The Gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm, and at other times by appointment.

17 Church Street, Saffron Walden CB10 1JW | 01799 522947 | churchstreetgallery.co.uk

Established in 2002, Arts Decoratifs has evolved into the area’s go-to shop for vintage jewellery and accessories. You’ll think you’ve stepped into an Aladdin’s cave when you see the vast array of stock. With prices from 50p, the jewellery ranges from costume jewellery to precious gold pieces, Georgian, Victorian and deco. The shop also houses a huge collection of small antiques and collectibles, ranging from cutlery to boxes, militaria to scent bottles.

Tucked down the alley behind the former Beales building, the shop is situated in the Cockpit (the name comes from the cockfights said to have taken place in the cellar) of Winstanley House, birthplace of Henry Winstanley, designer of the Eddistone Lighthouse.

The Cockpit, off Market Hill, Saffron Walden CB10 1HQ | 01799 513666 | artsdecoratifs.co.uk

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Do you crave unique designs that will make you dizzy with delight – just for you and just for the hell of it? If this is you, you will simply adore Óshe. Óshe believes that every woman deserves to wear something designer, something different from the high street. The shop’s ranges are hand selected for form over function – art, style and pure joy.

Visit the store and you step into a world of fabulous footwear, quirky and beautiful handbags and breathtaking brollies. Óshe’s shoe collections include designs by Katy Perry and Pure Lopez, Vivienne Westwood and Irregular Choice, while the handbags are from Italy by new Italian designers, Jadise and BiChris.

Be prepared for something different at Óshe!

19 King Street, Saffron Walden CB10 1EU | 01799 520807 | oshe.shoes

The Saffron Walden Gallery.

The Saffron Walden Gallery shows an eclectic mix of contemporary art from national and international artists, sculptors and ceramicists giving wall space to long established, internationally renowned artists and the up-and-coming.

The intention is to provide a tranquil space and serene environment for the appreciation of fine art. The Gallery holds regular exhibitions and displays a constantly evolving selection of work. Details of exhibitions and events are published on the website and in the newsletter (subscribe via the website).

The Gallery provides free postage and packaging to all UK destinations so if you are unable to visit in person you can purchase through the online shop or by phone. A commissioning service is provided by the Gallery if you would like to have a special person, pet or place painted. Phone the Gallery for details.

77a High Street, Saffron Walden CB10 1DZ | 01799 524700 | thesaffronwaldengallery.com

Established to meet the demands of auto-enrolment and to assist small to medium-sized companies with their new workplace pension responsibilities, Opt Pensions is a small company, whose team pride themselves in offering a friendly and knowledgeable service. Their dedicated implementation and client services teams provide full support for all workplace pension needs. All staff members have either been awarded the Pension Management Institute’s Certificate in automatic enrolment or are currently studying towards it, giving you the reassurance that your workplace pension will be managed by experienced and qualified professionals. Opt Pensions is free to employers and would be delighted to assist with your requirements.

3 Bakehouse Court, 19 High Street, Saffron Walden CB10 1AT | 01799 581200 | optpensions.com

M Riccio Hair Design.

All the stylists at M Riccio love what they do and use only the best products in their work. The team is an unparalleled mix of experience and youth; offering more than 70 years of combined experience as salon owners, working internationally and on TV, as well as creativity, inspiration and awareness of current trends. All team members attend seasonal workshops in London and photo shoots, as well as entering national and international competitions and working alongside leading hairdressers within the industry. This makes for an unrivalled team – at your service.

M Riccio aims to give everyone a unique experience from consultation through to a manageable and beautiful look just for you, all in sumptuous surroundings. Check out the reviews on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Gibson House, 13 Market Hill, Saffron Walden CB10 1HQ | 01799 796300 | mricciohairdesign.co.uk

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Bath tub beyond.

INTERIORS

&

WORDS ANGELINA VILL A-CL ARKE

© WATERS BATHSCREDIT OF ASHBOURNE © PHOTO

B AT H RO O M D E S I G N HAS COME A LONG WAY S I N C E T H E AVO C A D O - G R E E N S U I T E S O F O L D. H E R E ’S H OW T O E L E VAT E YO U R WA S H RO O M I N T O T H E M O S T S T Y L I S H S PAC E IN THE HOUSE

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Sensational surfaces.

Of all the rooms in our homes, it may seem that the bathroom is the most functional, and so it’s easy to overlook when it comes to interior planning. But, as it happens to be the place where we usually kick-start and end each day, a few stylish touches will turn its prosaicness into prettiness.

Reflecting the current leaning towards artisanship and craftsmanship is the new trend of patterned tiles, especially on the floor.

From bold zigzag designs to elaborate Spanish patterns, like those available at tile specialist Walls and Floors, statement flooring is most effective when paired with clean lines.

“Opting for traditional-style patterned tiles will create a classic look in your home that you’ll love for years to come,” says Tile Trader.

“Our beautifully decorative La Fayette range, for example, features traditional motifs from around the world.”

Stone & Ceramic Warehouse, meanwhile, advocates porcelain tiles for the bathroom as being the most practical and versatile. “Firstly, they are both indestructible and stain-proof, as well as being impervious to water,” says Chris Grainger, managing director. “They also won’t be damaged by the detergents we frequently expose our bathroom surfaces to. ➥

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Top These Haven Wood tiles, from Walls and Floors, £29.95 per m2, are laid diagonally to add interest Above Rimini tiles in Bluestone come in a large format for a contemporary look, from Stone and Ceramic Warehouse, from £66 per m2

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Above Team neutrals with flashes of bold colour for dramatic effect. Little Greene’s Colours of England palette includes this Deep Space Blue used on the ceiling, Marigold on the window frames and Flint on the walls, from £42 for 2.5l

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“Another benefit is that they can now be manufactured in a whole range of realistic finishes, including marble, natural limestone, concrete and metallics.”

When it comes to wall colours, look to Little Greene’s newly updated Colours of England collection of paints, for a nod to heritage décor.

As well as contemporary shades, it includes many authentic 18th, 19th and 20th century colours.

For a beguiling statement wall, meanwhile, the Paint and Paper Library has launched its new Tresco wallpaper collection, designed by artist Hugo Dalton. The range of eight wallpapers includes Chart, a digitally-printed mural, that depicts the lines found on nautical charts and perfectly suits the watery surrounds of a bathroom. While Abigail Edwards, renowned for her artistic wallpapers, has designed a Dragonfly Mural made of 18 hand-drawn ceramic tiles, to add a whimsical touch to a bathroom.

“A tile mural is a way of creating interest and adding personality to a room while also serving a practical purpose,” she says. “The Dragonfly Mural is really delicate so it adds a bit of softness to the modernity of the classic white bathroom suite. It is a nod to the historical mural but used in a contemporary way.”

Large-format tiles are perfect for creating a luxury feel in even the smallest space. ➥

F E E T F I R S T. Lorna Williams, of flooring specialist Amtico, reveals her top three trends Simple naturals: rustic woodgrains add an authentic feel.

Organic patterns: soft geometric abstracts give a modern look.

Clockwise from top Abigail Edwards’ Dragonfly Mural, £250 for 18 ceramic tiles.

Tresco Chart wallpaper in collaboration with Hugo Dalton by Paint & Paper Library, £215 per roll. Terra Nova tiles by Gemini Tiles, £39.99 per m2. Dunelm’s Elements range of bathroom accessories start at £6

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Botanical inspiration: nature is the source of multitonal neutrals.

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INTERIORS Shirley Holland, marketing manager at Gemini Tiles, agrees: “We’re seeing a trend to embrace serene spa-inspired bathrooms in the home. Taking inspiration from the world’s luxury boutique hotels is the use of large-format tiles to create a feeling of space and capture the essence of spa tranquility.”

Fabulous fixtures.

According to Simon Taylor, marketing director

T H R E E L I T T L E TO U C H E S .

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Fired Earth’s brand ambassador Laura James gives her style tips

Fresh colour schemes, such as blue and white or mint green, are perfect for bathrooms.

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Use small tiles – such as our Nordic Glass mosaics – in a herringbone layout for visual appeal.

Splash out on luxurious finishes, such as marble, for a glamorous look.

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of Roper Rhodes, a luxury bathroom specialist, new developments in bathroom furniture are playing a pivotal role in bathroom design.

“Vanity units remain incredibly popular,” he says. “People are continuing to look at ways to create more storage in their bathrooms and the easiest way to do this is to add a furniture unit under the basin. If chosen wisely, a modular vanity unit also has the added effect of creating a real style statement in the bathroom.”

It goes without saying that the bathtub remains all-important. However, a stand-alone tub is the aspirational piece of furniture to lust after. Phil Etherden, managing director at the Albion Bath Company, agrees: “For many, the quintessentially traditional bathroom has at its heart the classic freestanding bath. Styles range from roll or flat tops to single- or double-ended.

Incorporating a free-standing bath in a bright colour really does change the feel of the whole room.”

Showers, meanwhile, have also become style statements with waterfall showers, wet rooms and elegant shower screens coming into vogue.

At the Majestic Shower Company, its new matte black MetalCraft collection channels an industrial theme. Tom King, managing director, comments: “At Majestic we embrace the storytelling aspect of interior design and encourage people to curate their own sanctuary.

Our shower screens and enclosures bring colour and texture to the bathroom.”

When it comes to taps – the more opulent the better. THG Paris, for instance, stocks a range of fittings available in luxurious finishes – such as dark bronze, rose gold and matt gold taps.

Its latest collection, West Coast, created in collaboration with interior designer Timothy Corrigan, features a range of taps with stunning black or white onyx inlay. ➥

Clockwise from above Roper Rhodes’ Burford furniture and Harrow basin, prices vary. Majestic’s MetalCraft shower screen, prices vary. Amtico Form Coal Grain Oak in parquet pattern, £55 per m2

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It’s easy to overlook the bathroom when it comes to interior planning, but a few stylish touches will turn its prosaicness into prettiness CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK

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INTERIORS Make a statement with monochrome, from floor to ceiling – and everything in between. This dramatic bathroom is by Majestic Showers

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Fantastic final touches.

From ultra-modern radiators – look to The Radiator Company for inspirational choices – to stunning mirrors, such as The French Bedroom Company’s velvet range – it’s the finishing touches that will turn a practical bathroom into a pretty one.

Store toiletries in baskets or chic boxes to keep surfaces clear – Kaleidoscope has a range of storage drawers and tubs that fit the bill. Dunelm’s Elements bathroom collection is made up of accessories, such as towels in modern colour palettes and modern, minimalist soap dispensers. You can’t beat piles of white towels, such as those available at Linen Me, if it’s the boutique-hotel look you are after. While elegant glass lighting from Fritz Fryer will add a classic French aesthetic.

For character and warmth, however, invest in a row of beautiful baskets to lift an otherwise pared-back bathroom. La Basketry offers a range of brightly coloured, ethical baskets created in partnership with artisans in Senegal. Co-founder of the brand, Tabara N’Diaye, gives the final word on washroom style: “Ensure you create a soothing environment with enough storage units so the space doesn’t feel too cluttered, as we all know it’s impossible to relax when your surroundings are untidy. Plants can bring calm to any room and even purify the air around us.

Channel the botanical trend and add a plant, such as aloe vera, bamboo or a philodendron, which are all easy to look after. You can even use one of our Diamond or Etoile baskets to house them.” n

Above Albion Baths’ Imperium Feet bath in gold, from £2,105 Below Dunelm Elements Dots towels in ochre and grey, from £6

S TO C K I S TS .

Abigail Edwards abigailedwards.com

Little Greene 020 7935 8844, littlegreene.com

Albion Bath Company 01255 831605, albionbathco.com

Majestic Shower Company, 01279 443644, majesticshowers.com

Amtico amtico.com Dunelm dunelm.com Fired Earth 01223 300941, firedearth.com Fritz Fryer 01989 567416, fritzfryer.co.uk Gemini Tiles 0800 014 2994, geminitiles.co.uk Kaleidoscope 0871 244 2770, kaleidoscope.co.uk La Basketry labasketry.com Linen Me 020 8133 3853, linenme.com

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Paint and Paper Library paintandpaperlibrary.com Roper Rhodes 01225 303900, roperrhodes.co.uk The French Bedroom Company 01444 415430, frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk The Radiator Company 01342 302250, theradiatorcompany.co.uk The Stone & Ceramic Warehouse 020 8993 5545, sacw.co.uk THG Paris thg-paris.com/uk/en TIle Trader 0800 783 3183, tiletrader.co.uk Walls and Floors 01536 314730, wallsandfloors.co.uk

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BLOOMINGVILLE MARBLE TUMBLER

£45, amara.com LEDBURY RIBBED WALL LIGHT & SHADE

£160, fritzfryer.co.uk CHRISTY INDIGO KALIFI TOWELS

£12, kaleidoscope.co.uk

GREY MARBLE STORAGE JAR

£12, sainsburys.co.uk

Edition loves.

GEORGE HOME GOLD GEO DISPENSER

£6, asda.com

PINEAPPLE TRINKET BOX

£32, oliverbonas.com

CHEVRON BATH MAT

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Delcor.

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or the past 50 years, Delcor has been one of the UK’s leading experts in made-to-measure sofas and chairs. From velvet statement armchairs to modern corner sofas, the company prides itself on its rich heritage in furniture-making and craftsmanship, and now also offers a range of upholstered beds.

“We are incredibly proud to be flying the flag for British design,” says Rick Petini, Delcor’s managing director. “In our Northumberland workshop, our highly skilled master craftsmen and women hand-make each piece individually with specialist skills perfected over generations. We design all our sofas ourselves, combining classical design history with the best of contemporary styles.”

Delcor was recently awarded the Manufacturing Guild Mark by The Furniture Makers’ Company, which rewards fine Britishmade design and best business practice.

“Fewer than 20 companies hold this award,” continues Rick, proudly. “And it is shared by

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everyone at Delcor. The best thing about being a small, family-run business is our shared passion and goal to do the very best we can. This ambition is not just shared by my immediate family, but by everyone who works here – Delcor is one big family. Many of the team have worked for the brand for many years, as well as members of their families before and since.”

From its opulent Ambassador sofa in a rich teal fabric to the luxurious, deep-buttoned Natasha bed – particularly striking when upholstered in a Wedgewood fabric – there is an endless choice of furniture on offer.

“Customers are only limited by their imagination and room size,” says Rick in acknowledgement. “We offer a complete madeto-measure service. Backs and feet can be raised or lowered, arms widened or shortened, all made by our skilled team of craftspeople.

We cut and build the frames ourselves by hand using techniques passed down through the

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Main picture Delcor is known for its opulent, high-quality furniture which can be adjusted according to customers’ individual specifications and fabric choice

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generations. Nothing is pre-cut or off-the-peg here. We believe in doing things properly so your piece of furniture will last a lifetime.”

As well as new pieces, the company also offers a refurbishment service so customers can refresh favourite items of Delcor furniture.

“I think there has been a realisation across the country that the throwaway society is not sustainable,” explains Rick. “We have kept the pattern for every piece of furniture that Delcor has made, and with our 50-year frame guarantee refreshing the upholstery is easy, making the piece as good as new.”

Four destination showrooms across the UK – in Cheshire, London, Northumberland and Lincolnshire – means customers can talk directly to designers and select from over 10,000 designer fabrics and leathers from around the world.

“Each part of the country has different trends,” reveals Rick. “Customers coming to our London flagship showroom favour more contemporary shapes in neutral colourways with smaller footprints and room underneath to give the illusion of additional space, while customers in Stamford, for example, favour big, comfy sofas in bold fabrics.”

“Overall, our customers look to us for authority and advice, so it is important to be aware of the latest trends – but not necessarily led by them,” he continues. “Working closely with the world’s leading textile houses, we are very much aware of changing colour and pattern trends. At the minute, green and pink continue to be very popular, while brown and teal are expected to be big colours for next season. Bringing a sense of the outdoors inside is still a firm favourite, with botanical and floral prints popular with both classic and modern shapes.”

Bringing a sense of style to the bedroom are Delcor’s sumptuous bed-frames. “In our busy lives, the importance of a good night’s sleep has never been more important,” says Rick. “The bedroom is a sanctuary from the rest of the world and consumers are investing in comfort and style. We work with mattress specialist Spink & Edgar, another British company which has a similar brand philosophy and a reputation for high quality, to help give our customers the best night’s sleep.”

Looking ahead to the future, Rick reveals plans to develop Delcor’s occasional chair range as well as expanding the bedroom collection with new designs for bedsteads, divans and ottomans. And revealing some very good news for locally-based readers, he says: “We also plan to open more stores in Scotland, further south of London – and in Cambridgeshire.” n Delcor, 30 Bath Row, Rear of St Marys Hill, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2QX | 01780 762 579 | delcor.co.uk

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Cambridge Home & Garden Show.

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ove interior design? In the process of doing up your home and after some inspiration or advice? Just fancy admiring some gorgeous homewares and having a cuppa and a slice of cake? If you answered yes to any of these questions, make a beeline for the Cambridge Home + Garden Show, which makes its debut on 9 September. The first event of its kind in the city, it takes place at the Guildhall in the city centre, featuring a packed exhibition hall, talks, workshops, professional advice and a pop-up café to relax in.

“The Cambridge Home + Garden Show has been something I’ve been thinking about for a while and I’m so excited that my idea is coming to fruition”, says organiser Jennifer Chong. “There are design events all over the country, particularly in London, and I couldn’t understand why we didn’t have one in Cambridge. There is so much creative talent here that needs to be celebrated and I know how much people enjoy gathering ideas for their home and garden. I’m delighted to be able to present this fantastic collection of businesses, and supporting local independents is something I’m passionate about. I hope visitors will be inspired, pick up some valuable tips and discover something new to help them create their dream home.”

Dedicated to the best in home and garden design, the event is completely free to attend, and will bring together an eclectic range of carefully curated exhibitors, from start-up rising stars to larger, well-established companies. Whatever their size, they all share a passion for their trade and a commitment to offering exceptional service and quality products.

The line-up includes Farrow & Ball, a company famed for their exquisite handcrafted wallpaper and highly pigmented paints; bringing vibrancy to homes both traditional and modern. They’ll be joined by John Lewis of Hungerford, who have a showroom on Regent Street in Cambridge and have been making beautiful kitchens, fitted wardrobes and freestanding furniture for 45 years. Celebrating British blooms will be local company Wild Rosamund, who create stunning floral displays and will be offering demonstrations at the event. “Cambridge is a quintessentially English city and we Brits love to prettify our homes and gardens with flowers. As Wild Rosamund uses only British and locally foraged flowers and foliage, we’re really excited to be involved in a local event that gives us the chance to show everyone how easy it is to use British flowers to decorate their home,” says Bridget Davidson, owner of Wild Rosamund. “Our demonstrations will show visitors how to make a simple but striking arrangement with what grows in their garden or the countryside around them.”

Another fabulous local firm who’ll be in attendance is Oxbow and Peach, run by a pair of childhood friends who turned their mutual passion for seeking out vintage homewares into a busy and thriving enterprise. Pop by and visit them at the show or their charming showroom in Whittlesford, a former Victorian schoolhouse filled with ‘eclectic, eccentric and exquisite’ pieces, from chandeliers to cushions. Mineheart, another local company and a partner for the show, will be bringing some of their stylish furniture and accessories to the show to create a luxurious seating space at the café for visitors to admire and enjoy. Expect quirky furnishings and fabulous British design.

There’s plenty more to explore and enjoy too – be sure to take plenty of questions, a notepad to jot down your ideas, and get ready to get inspired! n camhomeshow.com

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Talks & demos.

In the small hall, visitors can listen to talks and demos from industry professionals. The programme includes interior design advice from designer Katie Malik, a Farrow & Ball colour talk with a Q&A session, flower arranging from local florist Wild Rosamund, a styling demo by interiors stylist and editor Victoria Harrison, and a talk by blogger Vaila Morrison on Inclusive Design.

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If you’re looking for help with a project, you can submit questions for the experts via the Cambridge Home + Garden Show website. Head to the ‘Ask Me Anything’ section, which offers the chance to have a free 30-minute design consultation with a professional on the day. Whether it’s an architect, interior designer, garden landscaper or a niche specialist, you will find the right person to deal with the query. There will also be RIBA architects available for one-to-one consultations.

Anglia Fireplaces X Art of Flooring X Cambridge Classics X Cambridge Garden Studios X The Cambridge Shutter Company X colour + shape X David Hall Kitchen and Furniture Makers X Design Republic X Devlin Architects Ltd X Eclectic Mix Cambridge X Farrow & Ball X FiMi X Harri James Slate X Indiana X Jessica D’Alton Goode X John Lewis of Hungerford X Karen Jinks Design X Koti & Co X Lanai Outdoor Living Ltd X Laura Chaplin Artist X Mabel Fox X Millworks Ltd X OpenForm Furniture X Oxbow and Peach X Pelikan Online X Profile Designs X Robert Barker Garden and Landscape Design X Sunflower Artistry X Vescom X Wild Rosamund X Zion Landscapes

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Pop-up cafe.

When you need to sit down and relax and refuel, stop by at Novi’s exclusive pop-up café at the inaugural Cambridge Home + Garden Show.

They’ll be serving delicious food and drinks, including Frank & Earnest coffee.

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Uber efficient.

S A M C O O K E , PA R T N E R AT C O O K E , C U R T I S & C O, E X A M I N E S H OW E S TAT E AG E N T S C A N M A K E E F F I C I E N C Y GA I N S

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or those who don’t know, taxi service Uber is now in Cambridge, essentially doing what taxis have always done but far more efficiently.

Uber is an entrepreneur’s dream – spotting something that’s currently handled inefficiently by people and getting computers to handle it efficiently is a sure-fire way to make squillions.

For the last ten years or so people have been trying to get rich quick doing the same thing with estate agency.

The first model sought to do away with estate agency staff altogether, with the customer taking their own photos, organising viewings, negotiating the sale directly with the buyer, etc. No need for an estate agent at all. But when you think about it, this actually isn’t an efficiency saving – it’s just the customer that does all the legwork, not the estate agent, and, much like servicing your own car or carrying out your own hip replacement op, the potential for it to cost you a lot more than it saves you is huge. So it didn’t really take off. It turned out people do actually want the advice of someone who knows what they’re doing.

The second model was born: this one sought to remove most of the staff and the office premises of the estate agent to keep just one agent on board who can help when needs be, but to pass the majority of the work booking the viewings and showing people round to the homeowner. Perhaps better – but again, there are no actual efficiency gains. It’s just passing the labour to the owner. This is fine if the owner has nothing better to do, after all, showing someone round a house is easy, right?

Well, yes. But also no. First of all, there’s the practicality of being there at the time the viewer wants you to be, but there’s also the question of exactly how much or how little to say. The biggest mistake is to say too much, introducing negatives that the viewer may not have even thought of. Viewers will also never be honest with sellers about the house, whereas when a third party is showing them round, they’ll relax more and be prepared to air their concerns.

So the biggest problem with trying to streamline estate agency by taking out the labour element is that you actually can’t. It’s a service industry. It needs people to make it work, not computers. Which is why it’s an expensive business and always will be.

But that’s not the only reason why. It’s also an expensive business because a lot of the time we end up not earning any money. On average, we show 11 people every house before someone buys it. Not very efficient.

And we actually don’t sell 25% of what comes on to the market; people change their mind, have a bad survey, that sort of thing. Not very efficient. We also only put

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on the market about 40% of the houses we value. Some people don’t move, others choose another agent. Not very efficient. We basically waste about 75% of our time, so those that do move end up effectively covering the costs of those who don’t. This is the other thing new agency models seek to address.

One way to eliminate this inefficiency is to charge up front. You can’t really charge people to view a house, but you can charge sellers up front. Easy. Sit back and watch the cash roll in like Uber. But wait. Uber do exactly the same job as a taxi; you pay them to take you to a place and they take you there. Imagine if their model was to charge a bit less than a black cab, make you pay up front but not actually take you to your destination. That would sound absurd, right? No one would do it.

Such is the massive, insurmountable issue with online estate agency models – the only way they can improve the efficiency of estate agency is to make people pay for something up front that they may never actually receive.

Nevertheless, there will be people who only see the price and not the value, and that’s fine. Internet estate agencies are here to stay and their presence has forced us to look at what we do and improve our offering to distance our service level from them and justify our charges. We’re doing that – working harder and doing a better job. It’s still basically the same job as the self-sale online firms. Just like Cambridge United basically play the same game as Real Madrid and a pedal car will get you to your destination in basically the same way as a 1973 Porsche 911 3.0 RSR… n

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