ESP December 2019

DECEMBER 2019

Issue 244

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Your best guide to What’s On Bringing you the best of local Leisure and Lifestyle in Greater Peterborough for over 20 years!

Party Fashion Christmas in the City What’s on at The Cresset Festive Films NYE Nights Out

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Everyone’s been crying out for big names to come to Peterborough for years and now we’re going to see two massive pop bands play the city next summer.

Westlife and now Little Mix are set to play the Weston Homes Stadium next June as Peterborough United maintain their run of big live outdoor performances.

Irish boyband greats Westlife will be performing on Sunday June 21 while the world’s biggest girl band will perform their unmissable live show on Tuesday June 30.

The show will include some of their greatest hits including Woman Like Me, Touch, Shout Out to My Ex, Black Magic and Wings.

Speaking about the Summer 2020 Tour, the group said: “Performing live is our favourite thing to do as a band, we love it.

“Our last summer tour in 2018 was one of our favourites ever, so we can’t wait for some more brilliant outdoor shows next year. We want everyone to come party with us in the sunshine!”

Alex Harris, Commercial Manager at Peterborough United said: “Being able to attract such a huge act to Peterborough is a real coup for us as a football club and we are looking forward to the concert already. We hope the city and the surrounding areas come out and enjoy what promises to be a wonderful night of entertainment.”

Tickets are now on sale from www.theposhtickets.com.

QUEENSGATE DONATION BOX OPENS FOR SHINE Queensgate Shopping Centre’s installed a donation box out on the mall, to help with its fundraising for Shine, its Charity of the Year.

Shine provides specialist advice and support for people living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus across England and Northern Ireland.

When you’re out shopping you can pop any spare change through the super-tall donations box, and watch it zig-zag through the machine. There’s also a slot for notes, and it even takes contactless payments of £2, £5 and £10 if you’re feeling generous. It’s located outside Superdry.

To support and learn more about Shine, visit www.shinecharity.org.uk

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO YOUR PART OF TOWN! Here’s one to get the kids (even more) excited.

Peterborough Lions Club tell us they have four short tours in Peterborough of Santa's Carol Float – not just carols but Christmas music hosted

by Santa Ray from faraway Wisbech. Owing to his tight seasonal timetable, Santa will ride from 6pm until 8pm.

The first tour is scheduled for Orton Wistow on Wednesday December 11 taking in Ferry View, Farleigh Fields, Shearwater, Wyndham Park, Whitewater, Five Arches, Glendale and Linnet.

On Thursday December 12, the Werrington Tour will visit Canterbury Road, Edinburgh Ave, Bristol Ave, Wells Close, Lichfield Ave, Salisbury Road, Coventry Close, part of Lincoln Road on

the way to the Cock Inn. In the South, Santa's tour of Stanground is on Tuesday December 17 when he’ll visit Southfields Ave, Southfields Drive, Lawson Ave, Coneygree Road, Kingston Drive, Romany Gardens, Whittlesey Rd, Central Square, Desborough Ave, Poulter Ave, Oakdale Ave, Allan Ave and Wright Ave. His last epic journey will be in Netherton on Thursday December 19 where he’ll visit Atherstone Avenue, Meynell Walk, Ledbury Road, Tiverton Road, Berkeley Road, Morpeth Road, Grafton Avenue, part of Thorpe Park Road, Audley Gate and Bradwell Road.

All moneys collected will be spent by Peterborough Lions Club on good causes in Peterborough.

HEALTH AND CARE SECTOR WORK ACADEMY’S DECEMBER COURSES Winding down for Christmas? Don’t hold off until your new year’s resolutions are due and get ahead of the game with the Health and Care Sector Work Academy’s December courses in Peterborough! Book on to one of their 15 week courses to earn the Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care, and learn the theory behind the care certificate for free. Alongside the qualification, you’ll receive 1:1 mentoring and support with you CV, job searches and applications and the chance to meet with local employers, everything you’ll need to set you up for a successful career in the health and care sector. They even cover the costs of travel and childcare for you. Their courses are available to those who are over the age of 18 and in receipt of an in or out-ofwork benefit. Give them a call on freephone 0800 310 1160, or enquire via email on libby@healthandcareacade my.co.uk to find out about course dates and book your enrolment.

FREE HOME ENERGY CHECKS This winter, PECT is offering a free home energy advice service to residents in Fenland and South Kesteven. The aim of the ‘Warm Homes’ project is to help households save energy and cut costs.

You’ll receive a free home energy advice visit from an impartial advisor who’ll help you choose the best energy tariff and supplier, provide information on the national £140 Warm Home Discount and give you a free energy pack.

To book your FREE energy advice home visit or to ďŹ nd out more, call Nikki Dekker on 01733 568408 or email warmhomes@pect.org.uk.

‘TREE-CYCLE’ TO SUPPORT HOSPICE Once Christmas is over don’t forget to recycle your tree. If you’d like to support Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice as well why not make use of their ‘tree-cycle’ scheme and raise cash for the charity.

The scheme, ďŹ rst launched

by Nene Valley Tree Services last year, saw recycled Christmas trees raise over ÂŁ400 which could pay for 21 hours of hospice care.

This year the charity Christmas tree-cycling service will be bigger and better than ever, with collections now available directly from your home on January 4 and 11.

In return for a ÂŁ10 donation, your Christmas tree will be collected and chipped

into mulch to be used in the beautiful grounds of Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice and donated to local farms. This means residents who choose to Tree-Cycle in support of Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall will not only raise vital funds for local families needing care from the hospice, but reduce landďŹ ll and support local farming businesses too.

For more information on Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice visit www.sueryder.org/ thorpehall.

SPRINGFIELDS CHRISTMAS GIFTING TREE RETURNS The Gifting Tree is back at SpringďŹ elds again this year until December 15.

This hugely popular initiative is a great way to give back this Christmas. This year, SpringďŹ elds is collecting toys and gifts not only for children, but also for vulnerable adults in the local area that might not otherwise receive a Christmas present.

The tree can be found within M&S Outlet this year.

Take a tag from the tree, which will have a name and an age on it. Gifts are then collected unwrapped with the tag attached to be taken by local groups, charities, schools and hospitals to reach their recipient.

Last year, a record number of gifts was donated at SpringďŹ elds with 4,702 gifts given to local causes.

For more information, visit www.springfield soutlet.co.uk/events.

0% OFF Traditional English Pub Open for meals and snacks - 12pm to 9pm daily

Real food, Real ales, Real pub Orton Hall Hotel & Spa, The Village, Orton Longueville, Peterborough, PE2 7DN Tel: 01733 391111

ALL FOOD PURCHASES IN THE RAMBLEWOOD INN WHEN YOU SPEND ÂŁ30 OR MORE The ESP reader offer is only valid when you spend ÂŁ30 or more on food.

5IJT DPVQPO JT WBMJE BMM EBZ GSPN TU UP UI %FDFNCFS BOE BGUFS QN PO 4VOEBZT The discount does not apply to spend on drinks or for group bookings of eight or more. To receive your coupon for 0% OFF food purchase, just text us the word RAMBLEWOOD along with your NAME and EMAIL address on the number shown or email offers@espmag.co.uk to receive your coupon along with your NAME and PHONE NUMBER. Alternatively log on to wXw.espmag.co.uk/offers and click on the Ramblewood offer and print out your voucher.

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LocalEntertainment

Sinderella A Christmas Carol Bill Kenwright Presents Cabaret The New Theatre has been bringing us some top class shows and in January we’re excited to see the return of some Bill Kenwright productions to Peterborough as Cabaret gets ready to transport us to 1930’s Berlin and the decadent Kit Kat Klub.

This multi-award winning musical sees John Partridge, winner of Celebrity Master Chef in 2018, well known to TV audiences as EastEnders’ Christian Clarke, now one of West End theatre’s most prolific leading men (A Chorus Line, Chicago, and La Cage Aux Folles) head up this production of Cabaret as Emcee.

In the role of Sally Bowles is Kara Lily Hayworth who recently won rave reviews across the country for her portrayal of Cilla Black in Cilla the Musical, along with singer and screen icon Anita Harris as Fraulein Schneider.

It’s the perfect chance to catch an incredible show right on our doorstep and with no train tickets. Directed by the National Theatre’s Artistic Director Rufus Norris and featuring the Olivier Award Winning Choreography by Javier De Frutos, this production has enjoyed two smash hit West End runs at The Lyric and The Savoy theatres and now it’s heading here on January 21-25!

To book call 01733 852992 or visit www.newtheatre-peterborogh.com.

The Jungle Book For something a little different to keep the family entertained how about a trip into the jungle?

The talented team from local company Lamphouse Theatre are bringing another great show to The Undercroft at Serpentine Green Shopping Centre in Hampton, with their retelling of The Jungle Book.

Raised by wolves since birth, young man-cub, Mowgli is forced to leave his jungle home when he’s threatened by Shere Khan, a terrifying tiger.

Full of live music, comedy, puppetry and energy, this production explores the themes of growing up and staying true to yourself. It runs on Monday December 23 at 2pm and 7pm and on Christmas Eve at 12 noon.

Tickets are £10 adults, £7 concessions. Book at www.lamphousetheatre.co.uk.

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Here’s the ideal theatre performance for the season. European Arts Company return with a heart-warming evening to Stamford Arts Centre. Actor John O’Connor delightfully recreates Dickens’s famous performance of his best-loved ghost story.

A Christmas Carol was the first public reading Charles Dickens gave of his own work. He enacted it over 150 times and the effect on the public was phenomenal. This Christmas, you can experience what it must have been like to be in the audience! Enjoy a seasonal treat in the spirit of Christmas past, present and future.

See it on Tuesday December 10 at 7.30pm or Wednesday December 11 at 2pm. Tickets are £10 (£8) on 01780 763203.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Here’s one that’s definitely not for the kids… but for adults on the naughty list!

If you’re a fan of Ru Paul you’ll likely love this distinctly adult panto at the Cresset as Sinderella takes to the stage in dramatic diva style.

Join Cinderella to see if, despite the best efforts of her two evil step sisters and wicked Step Mother played by Divina De Campo from Ru Pauls Drag Race UK, she still makes it to the ball with the help of her Fairy Drag Henny – Stacy Layne Matthews from Ru Pauls Drag Race Series 3 and All Stars Series 4.

Will Prince Charming get down on one knee, or will Buttons get there first?!

With glittering sets, sparkling costumes and more innuendo than you ever thought possible... complete with a star line up, this promises to be the biggest ball in town!

Catch this naughty fairytale on Thursday January 30, tickets are £24 on 01733 265705.

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Dreams do come true… Bill Kenwright’s production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sparkling family musical was a huge hit last time it came to Peterborough and next month we have another chance to see it as it returns to the New Theatre on Broadway.

This spectacular musical remains as popular as ever and this show features additional new choreography from Gary Lloyd (Thriller Live, Heathers).

Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph, his eleven brothers and the coat of many colours, it’s full of unforgettable songs including Go, Go, Go Joseph, Any Dream Will Do, Jacob and Sons, Close Every Door To Me and many more.

See it here in the city from Tuesday January 7 – Saturday January 11. Tickets are from £20 - £37.50 on 01733 852992 or visit www.newtheatrepeterborough.com.

Austin Gold Live Tipped as one of the best live acts around, Peterborough heroes Austin Gold bring their 2019 tour to a close with a huge Christmas party at The Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre!

Austin Gold’s 5 star debut album, Before Dark Clouds, reached number 5 in the Amazon pre-release chart, and has since been extremely well supported with consistent radio airplay on stations such as Planet Rock and Radio 2.

ESP has been supporting the band and having seen them live we can tell you it’s a show not to be missed. See the guys locally while you can on Saturday December 14 with support from the Dead Reynolds.

Tickets are £11 on 01780 766455.

Peterborough Arts Cinema Escape the Christmas movies for a night and try something different at Peterborough Arts Cinema inside the Central Library in the John Clare Theatre as they see out the latest run with two movies in December.

On Thursday December 5 it’s Support the Girls, Regina Hall, Haley Lu Richardson and Dylan Gelula in the story of a general manager at a highway-side ‘'sports bar with curves’ who has her incurable optimism and faith, in her girls, her customers and herself, tested over the course of a long, strange day.

Then on Thursday December 12 it’s Korean film Burning. Jongsu bumps into a girl who used to live in the same neighborhood as him, who asks him to look after her cat while on a trip to Africa.

When she returns, she introduces Ben, a mysterious guy she met there, who confesses his secret hobby.

For tickets go to www.peterboroughartscinema.co.uk.

The Famous Four & A Half Go Wild in Thetford Forest Here’s the heads up on one you really should book for next month as Eastern Angles are set to bring us a cracking comedy at the Key Theatre Studio.

Dad’s Army and Boudicca pop up in Eastern Angles’ 2019 festive musical comedy show: The Famous Four & A Half Go Wild in Thetford Forest running from January 21 - 25.

If you’re about ready to get out of the house and need to beat the winter blues we reckon this should do the trick. Packed with their usual humour and original wacky songs the company will transport us on an adventurous time travel fuelled journey with Rupert, Nick, Fran, Alex and Dimmy the dog…

The Famous Four and A Half do battle with a shady figure who’s stolen their Aunt’s time machine. A crazy chase visits a future Thetford by the Sea, some hipster Neolithics at their local derby, and a certain Home Guard rehearsal. There’ll be plenty of local references to make you giggle so grab a ticket and give yourself something to look forward to when the festivities are over!

Tickets start from £10 from the box office on 01733 207239 or visit www.easternangles.co.uk.

Christmas Magic at Peterborough Cathedral Peterborough Cathedral is the ideal venue for the perfect Christmas concert on Saturday December 14.

Christmas Magic has brought us the most festive night out for the last nine years with all of our favourite songs sung by the city’s award-winning Peterborough Male Voice Choir, Peterborough Voices and Peterborough Youth Choir.

They’ll be accompanied by the Cathedral organ – one of the finest in the country – and Peterborough Festival Brass will support instrumental Christmas classics like Sleigh Ride.

Expect to hear festive favourites like We Three Kings, Little Drummer Boy, Walking in the Air, Jingle Bells, Carol of the Bells, Mary’s Boy Child, When a Child is Born, White Christmas, Winter Wonderland, and many more, getting your Christmas off to a flying start!

There will be two performances of Christmas Magic at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. Tickets from £18 are available from Peterborough Visitor Information Centre, by phone on 0333 666 3366 or at www.peterboroughsings.org.uk. www.espmag.co.uk

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LocalEvents

Vivacity’s Festive Holiday Activities It’s all about the kids at Christmas and Vivacity has everything you need this holiday season to help you celebrate. From magical family moments to kids holiday clubs – Vivacity has Christmas all wrapped up.

Kids Holiday Clubs There’s a variety of exciting themed days to get kids into the festive spirit at special holiday clubs. They can get involved in a variety of activities, from Elf Bootcamp to Santa’s Workshop, plus join them for their New Year’s Party!

X Factor finalist at Charity Ice Ball X-Factor Finalist, Nicole Lawrence, is a good friend of ESP Magazine. We love hearing her sing. We’ll all get the chance to do so when she performs at the Ice Ball early next year, alongside comedian, Adger Brown.

The Stamford Ladies Fundraising Group are nine women whose lives have all been deeply affected by the loss of loved ones cared for at the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice in Peterborough, and have embarked on their most ambitious fund-raising event to date.

Having raised several thousand pounds through dinner parties and a cake sale, they are now in the planning stages for the launch of their first Ice Ball, a charity event to be held at

Greetham Valley Golf Club on Saturday February 8, 2020.

The Ice Ball will include fizz on arrival, a sumptuous three-course meal, a thrilling auction and entertainment.

One of the organisers, Julie Gay said, “We’re really excited about the ball. Adger Brown is an exceptional compère, and avid followers of X-Factor will know that Peterborough’s very own Nicole Lawrence has a voice on par with the world’s finest soul singers.”

She added, “We want this to be a really fab night, and with everything we’ve planned, we’re certain it will be.”

For more information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities visit: www.stamfordiceball.co.uk.

A Victorian Christmas Celebration Take a step back into Christmas past at Peterborough Museum on Pristgate. It’s a great place to visit at any time but as it’s the festive season they’ll be giving youngsters the chance to discover Victorian Christmas traditions of the wealthy, and those who were not so fortunate. They can get crafty and make some traditional Victorian decorations and a Victorian Christmas card to take home.

Storytime with Sayeh Stone Local author Sayeh Stone will be sharing her new picture book Mr Brussel Fart during this special Storytime. It’s a fun rhyming Christmas story, to encourage you to eat your brussels sprouts at Christmas time.

Hear this hilarious Christmas story, join in with simple crafts, plus you can buy your very own copy of the book signed by the author.

Stories with Santa Santa Claus is making a special visit to Central Library. The kids can hear stories of his adventures, make their own crafts and then meet the man himself. If they’ve been good, there might even be a present to take home!

Find out more and book on www.vivacity.org/holidayactivities.

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National Festival of Railway Modelling Chances are you’ve probably already heard about this particular event as over 5,000 visitors are expected to attend the National Festival of Railway Modelling at the East of England Arena on the weekend of December 7-8.

This popular event is returning for the 11th consecutive year. It’s billed as ‘the ultimate day out for model railway enthusiasts’ and is organised by Warner’s Shows and supported by Market Deeping Model Railway Club and Nene Valley Railway. It’ll be held in the main arena building and will feature over 30 full model railway layouts in a variety of gauges – showcasing the most extensive, detailed and complex model railway creations from around the world.

There will also be over 100 trade stands, offering thousands of model railway products, areas and stands for clubs and societies, and demonstrations of all kinds of model railway technology and techniques. Children coming to the festival with pre-booked tickets will receive a simple to assemble, pre-printed and laser-cut weighbridge kit, for use in their own layouts.

For tickets and more details, visit www.eastofenglandarena.com.

On now until 28th December Stalls selling food, drink and gifts!

Market on Cathedral Green Open: Sun – Thurs: 12 noon – 7pm Fri and Sat: 12 noon – 9.30pm Market on Cathedral Square Open: Sun – Thurs: 10am – 7pm Fri and Sat: 10am – 9.30pm

Visit the decorated Guildhall Ice Bar! FREE MOBILE APP SEARCH PBXM in app stores.

Packed full of exclusive offers, coupons and discounts ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE APP.

WWW.PETERBOROUGHCHRISTMASMARKET.CO.UK

big lights The city centre’s looking fabulously festive after the big lights switch-on event and it’s great to see a real Christmas tree back in Cathedral Square.

T

Photos: Chris Brudenell

housands went along to the event which was organised by Peterborough City Council and hosted by breakfast show presenter Kev Lawrence and the team from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire, including their New Voices winner Juggy who helped present on stage. You’ll be hearing more from him on the station and reading his features in ESP next year.

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There was some great free entertainment from late afternoon right through until the evening and we even ended up on Look East with Pudsey putting in an appearance for BBC Children in Need.

Lucy’s Pop Choir, Urban Dance Academy, Tom Korni, 4th Labyrinth and more, along with Ricky Groves from the Cresset panto Cinderella and the Dame from the Key Theatre panto Beauty and the Beast, all kept us entertained before the lights went on and a

switch-on burst of fireworks added to the spectacle.

Big thanks are due to Vodafone Gigafast Broadband for sponsoring the event which was another big success launching the festivities in the city.

On the night the first phase of the new Peterborough Christmas Market was launched on the Cathedral Green complimenting a great craft market inside the cathedral itself. Dozens more market stalls are now popping up on Cathedral Square where the Guildhall has been transformed into an ice bar. You can also visit Santa’s Grotto and over 30 stalls selling festive food, drinks and goods from all over the world. Families can also enjoy carousel rides and the chance to meet some real reindeer.

Let’s shop local, enjoy what the city has to offer and just take a look at this issue to see all the fantastic things there are to see and do this December.

Merry Christmas from all of us here at ESP!

BBC New Voices winner Juggy, Pudsey and Kev Lawrence

Peterborough Christmas Market is now on.

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Christmas

in the City

ESP has teamed up with Peterborough City Council to bring you our guide to making the most of the festivities in the city from shopping to recycling…

Peterborough Christmas Market As part of the festive celebrations, a great new Christmas Market has opened in the city centre bringing us a fantastic range of gifts, treats and even live reindeer to see!

The chalet style market stalls are on Cathedral Green and Cathedral Square and will be open late bringing a great festive vibe to the city centre each evening.

The Christmas Market will run right through until December 28 and features a cool Ice Bar at the Guildhall, Santa’s Grotto and up to 30 stalls selling festive food, drinks and goods from all over the world.

Families can also enjoy entertainment, games, a fabulous carousel, children’s rides and much more. www.peterboroughchristmasmarket.co.uk.

Collection Days Change For Your Bins By the end of the year you’ll be stacked high with used wrapping paper, packaging and things to be recycled, so make sure you don’t miss your bin days!

Black and green bin days alter between Christmas and New Year and don’t forget to put your food bin out for collection with the appropriate bin on the days shown below: Normal Collection Day Tuesday 24 December Wednesday 25 December Thursday 26 December Friday 27 December Tuesday 31 December Wednesday 1 January Thursday 2 January Friday 3 January

Revised Collection Day Monday 23 December Tuesday 24 December Friday 27 December Saturday 28 December Tuesday 31 December Thursday 2 January Friday 3 January Saturday 4 January

Remember to put your bin out by 6.45am on your revised collection day. Collections will return to normal on January 7.

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Festive City Centre Parking Made Easier Prize Draw at City Market The main Peterborough City Market is all go for the festive season and there’s a Christmas prize draw when you shop.

If you buy something at the City Market over Christmas remember to fill out a form to be entered into the draw to win a family ticket to New Theatre Peterborough for any show in 2020. There are also some fantastic runner-up prizes.

The market in Northminster is still going strong and has had its own lights switch-on adding to the atmosphere. It’s packed with everything you need for Christmas from gifts to party outfits, and decorations to your Christmas dinner. There are more than 50 stalls, selling food, greetings cards, clothing, home decoration goods and much more.

Most of you will know the market’s faced some disruption due to the neighbouring car park being demolished, however, markets and commercial trading officer Steve Woolley said: “The big message is that we are still open, we still have plenty of bargains and stocking fillers available for Christmas and the New Year, and we still need the people of Peterborough to support us.

“You will not find a more knowledgeable set of butchers than in our food hall, so I’d advise people to get their Christmas roasts there and their vegetables from our grocers.”

For more information go to www.peterborough-market.org.

Getting parked up for Christmas shopping and a spot of retail therapy in the January sales needn’t be a stress.

You can use debit and credit card payments in all council car parks. Or even go completely mobile with the RingGo app. It’s quick and secure and all you have to do is register.

The best bit is you can then top-up your parking time without having to return to your car, so when you’re stuck in a queue or just fancy staying on for one more eggnog latté there’s no need to panic!

There are 11 city council car parks around the city centre and you can park for just £4 a day in Wellington Street, Pleasure Fair and Wirrina car parks. Plus, there are two car parks at Sand Martin House on the new Fletton Quays development.

You can register for RingGo by calling 01733 808551 or visit www.peterborough.gov. uk/residents/parking/ parking-charges.

Stay Healthy this Winter Christmas stress and cold, dark winter days can make this an unhealthy time of year when we get the sniffles and other bugs but you can do a few things to beat the winter blues.

When your body’s telling you to hibernate, keep healthy and fit, no matter what the weather's like by following our tips…

Gifts for City’s Homeless The chance to help those less fortunate this winter is being offered as part of the Peterborough’s Safer off the Streets (SOS) partnership.

The campaign, which recently celebrated its first anniversary, is continuing to help and support rough sleepers off the streets in Peterborough.

Organisers have produced an online ‘wishlist’ of items available on Amazon. You can purchase items which will then be automatically delivered to rough sleepers. The items include socks, gloves, bobble hats, toothbrushes, insulated clothes as well as soups and protein bars.

Christine Graham, chair of the Safer off the Streets Partnership, said: “We hope that people in Peterborough will take this chance to help those less fortunate during the coldest months of the year.

“The items on the wishlist have been specially selected with the aim of keeping rough sleepers warm and nourished. The public’s support is making a difference and the SOS campaign has made great progress during its first year.”

Since launching in 2018 the partnership of 19 voluntary, faith, community and public service organisations has raised more than £12,500 to help rough sleepers leave the streets – and we’re pleased to hear more than 40 individuals have been helped so far.

The funds raised go to the Garden House on Wheel Yard near Peterborough Cathedral, a day centre hub which is also celebrating its first anniversary. The Garden House is run

by The Light Project Peterborough (which is a charity), and relies on funds to keep it open, providing support from outreach workers to get rough sleepers into accommodation, drink/drug support services, health services and much more.

With the cold weather approaching the Night Shelter is now running for 20 weeks; rough sleepers can obtain a referral from the Garden House before heading to a church used that day, where they receive a warm meal and bed.

If you want to pledge your help you can donate money either online, via the contactless card reader in St Peter’s Arcade, or at the cash collection boxes at the Town Hall reception and Visitor Information Centre. To view the SOS Amazon wishlist visit: www.saferoffthestreets.co.uk/helpand-donations-caf/amazon-wishlist.

Sign up to the monthly SOS newsletter on the website or via the Peterborough City Council website and follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter, and also following and sharing news from its individual partners.

Recycle Your Christmas Tree When it’s time to take down your Christmas tree you can dispose of it at the Householders Recycling Centre (HRC) in Fengate.

It’s open seven days a week from 8am to 4pm, except on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. And it closes at 12 noon on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Alternatively, if you pay for you brown bin to be emptied you can chop your real tree up and pop it in there. Brown bin collections resume the week commencing January 15 alongside your scheduled recycling bin collection.

All real trees put in brown bins or taken to the HRC will be turned into compost, which is a valuable soil improver, so you’ll be doing your bit for the planet too!

1. Banish winter tiredness Some of us feel tired and sluggish in winter and this can be due to lack of sunlight, which disrupts our sleep and waking cycles, so try this...

• Get outdoors in natural daylight as much as possible • Get a good night's sleep – go to bed and wake up at the same time every day • Destress with exercise or meditation – stress has been shown to make you feel tired 2. Eat more fruit and veg When it's cold and dark outside it can be tempting to fill up on unhealthy comfort food, but it's important to ensure you still have a healthy diet and include five portions of fruit and veg a day.

If you find yourself craving a sugary treat, try a satsuma instead. Winter vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, swede and turnips can be roasted, mashed or made into soup for a comforting winter meal for the whole family.

3. Drink more milk!

You’re more likely to get a cold in winter, so make sure your immune system is in tip-top condition.

Milk and dairy products such as cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais are great sources of protein, vitamins A and B12 and calcium, which helps keep our bones strong.

Choose semi-skimmed, one per cent or skimmed milk rather than full-fat and low-fat plain yoghurts.

4. Try new activities for the whole family Don't use the cold winter months as an excuse to stay in and lounge around. Instead, get out with the whole family to try out a new activity – maybe ice-skating or taking a bracing winter walk on the beach or through the park.

Regular exercise helps control your weight and boost your immune system. It’s also a good way to break tension that can build if the family is constantly cooped up inside the house!

5. Have a hearty breakfast Winter is the perfect season for porridge. Eating a warm bowlful on a cold morning isn't just a delicious way to start your day, it also helps boost your intake of starchy foods and fibre.

These foods give you energy and help you feel fuller for longer, stopping the temptation to snack midmorning. Oats also contain lots of vital vitamins and minerals.

Add a sliced banana, berries or other fruit for extra flavour and to help you hit your five-a-day target.

www.espmag.co.uk

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LocalEvents

Christmas

Events

I’m one of those people that loves Christmas perhaps too much. The kind of person that puts their tree up annoyingly early and has watched a dozen festive movies way before December. My birthday is even on December 25 (hint, hint!). In fact, I’m known as Peterborough’s very own Buddy the Elf. OK, nobody has called me that – but I’m hoping it’ll take off. Due to my love of the season, the ESP editor often relies on me to find the best things to do to get you into the Christmas spirit. I’ve searched high and low so you don’t have to.

There’s so much taking place that I’m pretty sure the following will satisfy all ages and budgets…

Etsy Made Local Rutland & Stamford Christmas Fair Stamford Arts Centre – December 14 Here’s something if you’re looking to buy someone a gift that you won’t find in typical retailers. The Rutland & Stamford Etsy team are excited to be hosting the second Etsy Made Local Stamford Christmas Fair, a showcase of some of the best of Rutland & Stamford’s creative community and the ideal opportunity to conquer Christmas shopping and connect with the makers and designers behind the perfect gifts.

The market will feature the most unique, high quality gifts to get you Christmas ready. Whoever you’re looking to buy for and whatever you’re looking to find, you’re sure to discover it here, from homewares and jewellery to art and babywear. The fair will be bursting with stylish, contemporary items.

It’s taking place at Stamford Arts Centre on Saturday December 14, from 10am – 5pm with free admisision.

The venue has disabled access and facilities for wheelchair users and a café will be selling hot drinks and light refreshments throughout the day.

Mikey Clarke

Santa Steam Experience Nene Valley Railway – November 23 – December 24 Due to popular demand this event is fully ticketed with allocated seating, so pre-booking is essential.

Your Santa Steam experience (one of my favorite festive traditions) starts with a welcome from the station staff and badge team – with entertainment provided at busy weekends. This is followed by an exciting visit to Santa's log cabin where each child receives a special present from the legend himself. Following a short wait, families then join their steam hauled, decorated train for a fun-filled ride to Peterborough and back.

During the journey staff serve the children with a drink and chocolates.

Parents and other adults are not forgotten with a mince pie and either an alcoholic miniature, wine or a hot drink. Santa walks through the train to see the children, providing an opportunity to take photographs. The atmosphere is fantastic!

You can even choose how you would like to travel with different options available (classic, first or premium). Visit www.nvr.org.uk for tickets and more details.

Christmas Extravaganza Orton Longueville Playgroup – December 7 “Happy Birthday Orton Longueville Playgroup… Happy Biiiiirthday to you!” This registered charity do plenty of events throughout the year to raise much needed funds. One of those events is a Christmas Extravaganza on Saturday December 7 – taking place at the playgroup for the children, their families and supporters. Join them as they celebrate 50 years since opening.

Head down between 3pm and 6pm when there’ll be a winter wonderland walk in the garden finishing at Santa's grotto. There’ll be glitter tattoos, games, Christmas crafts, paper bag tombola as well as a raffle where you could win a luxury Christmas hamper and other amazing prizes!

They will be serving refreshments which will include warm food, mince pies, cakes, hot drinks including mulled wine and cold drinks.

Join them outside for a children's choir performance and to sing Happy Birthday to the Playgroup!

Visit www.ortonlonguevilleplaygroup.btck.co.uk or see their facebook page for more details.

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Winter Lights Spectacular Nene Valley Railway – December 13 – January 11 Speaking of Railways, this winter, Nene Valley Railway are bringing us a brand-new experience, a 60 minute Winter Light Spectacular!

I’ve seen footage of this and having ‘spectacular’ in the title is more than justified!

Arriving at Wansford Station, you’ll gather on the platform for the big reveal. Then once on board the heated carriages, after finding your allocated seats, you can sit back and enjoy a magical train ride, viewing the beautiful light displays between

Wansford and Overton Station, while a musical accompaniment adds to the spectacle.

There’ll be a short interval as the train changes ends at Peterborough, before the fairy-tale journey back to Wansford.

The turntable café will be open until the train’s departure, offering a selection of hot and hearty snacks.

Please note, Santa will not feature at this event, to book visit www.nvr.org.uk.

Countdown to Christmas at Nene Park On the run up to Christmas there are an exciting number of events being held at Nene Park to get us feeling festive!

Throughout the Christmas period, the Wildlife Garden (next to the Visitor Centre and Gift Shop in Ferry Meadows) is home to the Christmas Tree Festival. The area will be filled with Christmas trees purchased and decorated by local businesses and community groups on display.

Each Sunday in December, local bands and music groups will be entertaining visitors close to the Visitor Centre and Ferry Meadows Café. They will also be running craft workshops for both children and adults. Their Elves Workshops will take place in the Discovery Den for younger visitors, helping them to make something festive to take

home, with a different craft each week. Their adult workshops will cover festive activities such as wreath and winter remedy making.

Take part in their Christmas Holiday Trail and collect a trail sheet from the Visitor Centre before hunting for clues as you walk around Ferry Meadows. Remember to return to the Visitor Centre to collect your prize.

The Gift Shop is the perfect place to find unusual and exciting gifts this Christmas. Featuring a vast range of fair trade, handmade and sustainable gifts, cards and treats – you may even find a few ‘made with love’ items exclusively crafted by their rangers and volunteers.

To find out more about all their festive events please visit: www.nenepark.org.uk/visitus/events.

Stamford Santa Fun Run Burghley Park – December 8 If like me, you’ll likely overindulge this festive season, we should probably find a way to burn off all those calories. We could pull on our Santa gear and raise Christmas cheer and vital funds for our Peterborough-based hospice. Sue Ryder is one of the charities to benefit from this year’s family friendly Stamford Santa Fun Run held on Sunday December 8 at Burghley Park in Stamford.

Anyone can take part in this festive event organised by the Rotary Club of Stamford Burghley – so why not turn your pushchair into a sleigh for the day and your furry four-legged friends into Reindeer!

Funds raised by Santa runners on the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice team will support local families needing expert and compassionate palliative care and bereavement support.

To sign up, visit: www.stamfordsantafunrun.com and select Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice as your team.

Lights Of Love Peterborough Cathedral – December 15 Here’s one final way you can support the Hospice that I’m proud to say I used to work at. People from Peterborough and beyond are invited to celebrate the lives of loved ones at a festive remembrance service.

Lights of Love is a free service, also attended by hospice volunteers and staff, featuring traditional Christmas carols, music, readings from Sue Ryder Nurses, and performances from local choirs, followed by refreshments and the chance to enjoy some festive stalls.

Everyone’s welcome at the magnificent Peterborough Cathedral at 6pm (with doors opening from 5.30pm) on Sunday December 15. It gives family and friends the time to remember, reflect and celebrate the lives of loved ones who are gone but not forgotten.

To request a dedication candle or for further details, please contact the Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall fundraising team on thorpe.fundraising@sueryder.org or call 01733 225999.

Father Christmas at Sacrewell Sacrewell Farm – Selected days throughout December Sacrewell Farm near Wasnford is always a great day out for all the family.

Amongst all the things already available to see and do, why not add a visit to Santa to your agenda?! You can visit Father Christmas before he boards his sleigh. You need to reserve a ticket – which includes a present for the children from the Elves Toy Workshop and Christmas themed crafts with Mrs Claus. All Christmas tickets include day admission.

Tickets won’t be available on the admission gate, so visit www.sacrewell.org.uk/events to get yours.

Along with their Standard Father Christmas experiences, they’re offering an Evening Father Christmas experience for those who wish to visit after work and school. Or why not visit with the whole family on December 24 for their very special Christmas Eve Father Christmas experience?

Christmas at Peterborough Cathedral It’s not just Lights of Love taking place at our beautiful Cathedral – far from it. For me, no other place in Peterborough makes me feel more festive than here. Surrounded by so much beauty, if the following events don’t give you that wonderful Christmas feeling, nothing will!

THE ADVENT PROCESSION Sunday December 1 – 6pm Their services are breathtaking at the best of times. Now imagine adding candlelight, mince pies, music and readings to the mix. This is in association with Kidney Research UK. PRE-SCHOOL NATIVITY SERVICE Tuesday December 3 – 12.30pm (arrive from 11.45pm) Nothing screams out ‘Christmas’ like watching the story of the Nativity told by young children.

G4 CHRISTMAS Saturday December 7 – 7.30pm G4 were a breath of fresh air on X-Factor. The popular four-piece vocal troupe are returning to Peterborough Cathedral with their biggest and best Christmas tour to date!

FESTIVE SILENT DISCO Friday December 13 – 7pm to 9pm We’d all love to be in control of the music when at a party.

Now’s your chance. Take to the floor and dance to a choice of fantastic Christmas and party tunes! Special rates available for groups.

CHRISTMAS MAGIC Saturday December 14 – 2.30pm and 7.30pm The Peterborough Male Voice Choir, Peterborough Voices, Peterborough Youth Choir and Peterborough Festival Brass will perform festive favourites.

BUSINESS AND SHOPPERS CAROLS Wednesday December 18 – 1pm A lunchtime of traditional Christmas carols and readings, followed by mulled wine and mince pies.

CATHEDRAL BY CANDLELIGHT TOUR Wednesday December 18 and Saturday December 28 (7pm) An atmospheric guided tour of the Cathedral by candlelight.

CHRISTINGLE Friday December 20 – 2pm A service for young children and their families, with seasonal readings, carols and Christingle oranges.

THE PETERBOROUGH CATHEDRAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT Saturday December 21 – 7.30pm The Peterborough Cathedral Choir, Youth Choir and Festival Chorus will perform Christmas choral favourites.

If this doesn’t get you feeling festive – nothing will! Tickets are £15, £20 or £25.

LIVING NATIVITY Monday December 23 – 10.30am and 2pm Outside the Cathedral and in the Cloisters, be inspired as you witness the Nativity story.

Finally, what’s Christmas without the…

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Services Tuesday December 24.

Services at 4pm, 8pm and 11.30pm Wednesday December 25.

Services at 8am, 10am, 11am and 3.30pm To find out more and book tickets visit www.peterboroughcathedral.org.uk We add events regularly to our ESP website. Visit www.espmag.co.uk to make sure you don’t miss out, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Finally, from the ESP team, have an amazing Christmas and a Happy New Year! www.espmag.co.uk

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ManTown about

ano Pep Cipri pep.cipriano@espmag.co.uk

MY

SEASON FOR GIVING?

WORD

13% of workers will flirt with their boss at the office Christmas party to secure a promotion. Let me think about my previous bosses... err... no, I’d get more pleasure flirting with the reindeer I saw at our Christmas market.

Your Chance to BID for an Improved City Centre It’s Christmas. This means everyone’s rushing around buying presents we don’t want and filling trolleys with enough food to feed a starving village in Africa for six months.

This also means our city centre is enjoying a boost in footfall, as thousands of shoppers spend their hard-earned cash while marvelling at the return of our traditional Christmas tree and enjoying the festive atmosphere of our (about time) Christmas market.

If only we could bottle the high street vibe at this time of the year. Well, maybe we won’t have to, as plans are well underway to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) which could mean the Christmas effect can be felt all year round in our city centre.

A BID enables businesses within a defined geographical area – in this case our city centre – to raise money they can use to fund a programme of initiatives of their choosing over and above what’s provided by the city

council. This could be to stage events, improve decorations or increase security for customers.

In other cities and towns, a BID has given businesses the power to work together to make changes to boost footfall and to attract more visitors in the evening. If the BID is successful, it’s expected to raise more than £400k each year to spend on improving the city centre visitor experience.

A BID steering group’s been set up and it wants city centre businesses to have their say on what the priorities of our BID should look like.

Views on what’s good, bad and can be improved on, are wanted on these areas: • Parking • Street traders • Street homelessness • Shoplifting

CIAOS OUT: 16 www.espmag.co.uk

OF THE MONTH

• Events • Marketing • Safety • Night-time economy • Street scene and cleansing • City connectivity

GIFTS Seriously, I know you’ve got good intentions but please don’t bother buying me any Christmas gifts this year. Here’s a selection of what I’ve unwrapped over the last few Christmases and sold at the car boot in January: a fountain pen, a Marks & Spencer hanky set, a thesaurus, flowerpatterned coasters, cufflinks with my name on them, a swear box (what a load of b*******), candles, gardening gloves and matching mat, a phone cover with the cast of Baywatch on it and a three-pack mountain forest air freshener set for my car.

Businesses are being asked to submit their views by completing this survey https://www.surveymonkey .co.uk/r/PBID2 and for more information, email development@queensgatecm .co.uk.

Based on all the feedback received by February, a draft plan will be created outlining possible projects and services requested by the business community and a ballot will be held in the summer, which will formally decide whether or not to launch the BID. This is a chance for businesses to become masters of their own destiny and for customers to feedback to the businesses they spend money in, so that their views can also influence the development of our city centre.

BIDs have made a positive impact in dozens of cities across the country and now this is our chance to give Peterborough the cherry on the top it deserves.

A thriving city centre isn’t just for Christmas. So, if you’re a business reading this, take a few moments to feedback and CAUGHT IN THE ACT! “Good to see Ricky help shape our high street Groves with his chi n up as he prepares to star for 2020 and beyond. in the Cresse t’s Cinderella panto this month .”

Pietro – see you at Christmas Gary – are we getting one in? Dave S – time for a catch-up Wayne – got another job for you... Hamza – need you to work your magic again! Gab – still waiting for that coffee...

Proudly sponsored by

54 Second Drove Industrial Estate, Fengate, Peterborough www.thenostalgialounge.co.uk Telephone: 01733 562653

Pasta Worthy Of Pizza The Action The first thing I have to say about The Pizza Parlour is OMG it was so busy!

It was a cold and miserable Saturday lunchtime in the middle of November – and it was a good job I’d reserved my table.

I can’t think of a restaurant I’ve been to in recent years where what seemed like busloads of people were swarming all over it in the hope of getting a table. There was a queue when I arrived at noon and a queue when I left at 3pm.

But should I really be surprised as to how popular The Pizza Parlour is? Well, of course not. Owner Pete Fierro knew exactly what he was doing when he opened this place a few years ago.

It’s a kind of Hard Rock Café meets Frankie and Benny’s but without the expense and **** food because what the Parlour does is good food and at reasonable prices.

We’re blessed to have this little gem in the centre of our city because it’s unique and has something for everyone. It’s cosy too and the atmosphere creates a vibe that makes you feel like you’re in Covent Garden rather than Cowgate.

What impressed me straight away was how happy the waiting staff were. Yes, I know it’s an odd thing to note, but when was the last time you were served by a genuine smile and will to make your dining experience the best it can be – and while you’re run off your feet!

A quick glance around at my fellow diners and I noticed a couple of tables had ordered the 20-inch Bada Bing pizza, which is great value at just £23.50. The table of young ladies

next to me were washing theirs down with cocktails. Up until this point I was dead set on Peroni but the rainbow of colours they were sipping on did enough for me to change my mind.

I went for a non-alcoholic Alabama Smoothly. This mix of Amaretto syrup, lime and cranberry juice was so good I ended up ordering a second at the end of my starter.

And that’s the other great thing about The Pizza Parlour – there's no stress when it comes to the menu. The choice is ample but there’s nothing overly complicated on it that you need to ask Google or the waiting staff about.

I dived in with a portion of Polpette (meatballs) mainly because the menu states they’re homemade and this means I was in for a treat, which I was. Pete’s always told me there’s nothing on the menu that isn’t prepared like it is in his own home and that’s when you know you’re getting proper Italian food.

The Polpette didn’t disappoint. I could taste every sensitive ingredient and I was so pleased they weren’t reeking of garlic like some meatballs are. The sauce they were nestled in was a throwback to how my nan used to make it and my first mouthful transported me back to that nostalgic time of simple but maximum impact cooking.

When it was time for my mains, I didn’t opt for pizza (although I knew I couldn’t go without and scoffed half of my dining partner’s). This is because it’s important to

give credit to The Pizza Parlour’s pasta offering. Yes, the wood-fired pizza is good but in my opinion the pasta is even better.

It’s so hard locally to get an authentically prepared pasta dish – especially one that’s dripping in tradition. Thankfully you can here and the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara really hits the spot.

So many ‘Italian’ restaurants ruin a carbonara by drowning it in cream (although Pete’s only recently added cream as an option) and other unnecessary ingredients but not here. Good grade pasta, egg, Pecorino cheese and pancetta is all that’s required and let me tell you, I was in heaven.

Dessert was a no-brainer for me. Lemon sorbet all day long, although next time I might be tempted by Tiramisu.

The Pizza Parlour is more than just a pleasant lunchtime stop (specials are Monday to Friday if you’re looking just to spend the hour) or a trendy evening eatery. It also bills itself as a music café (hence the musicinspired décor) and there’s a different theme and genre from Monday (live night) through to Thursday and with Sundays for acoustic sets.

Christmas of course is where The Pizza Parlour comes into its own. There’s karaoke nights and it’s a perfect venue for your Christmas party where tables of 10 or more get a free bottle of Prosecco thrown in. There are two dinner sittings for New Year’s Eve too, which gives you the flexibility to see in 2020 in plenty of time.

The Pizza Parlour really does have it all and that’s because its target audience is everyone.

As for my next target, I think it has to be the Pappardelle Di Primavera...

Payday In A Manger A Virgin Media study of 2,000 British adults has discovered a host of traits in adult life, which directly correlate to the role played as children in the school nativity play.

According to the findings, Brits who played the part of the ox now earn an average of £43,000 a year – more than twice as much as those who played a lamb or sheep.

Adults that starred as Mary or Joseph when they were at school are today most likely to have the biggest social media following in contrast to those who were a shepherd.

And angels have mainly ended up in a modest role within the healthcare industry, earning an average of £25k.

I was the **** end of a donkey, so where does that put me? www.espmag.co.uk

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Food Glori us Food New Chef at The Wheatsheaf Inn, Titchmarsh Just down the road near Oundle is a pub well worth a visit if you fancy getting out of the city limits for a while – especially as it’s just won a CAMRA gold award.

The Wheatsheaf Inn at Titchmarsh is just haf an hour away and has plenty going on over the festive season. It’s beautifully decorated and hosting some Christmas parties if you fancy a night out. They can cater for large family parties, small intimate groups or even your staff office party. They offer a delicious Christmas menu at both lunch & dinner times.

They now have a new assistant manager, Leon, and a brand new Head Chef Nick, which has seen exciting dishes already appearing on the specials boards which are proving a big hit with the locals.

Food wise the menu encompasses the likes of vegetarian, vegan & gluten free, and it’s prepared inhouse as much as possible. You can relax, eat, drink and socialise in the extensive lounge and dining rooms. The bar is widely stocked with some fantastic wines from Amps in Oundle, real ales, craft beers, traditional heritage ciders & artisan gins.

They’re a multi talented bunch and barman Matt not only serves up a great pint, but also dishes out some great live music for you too and he’ll be performing some of his own songs and favourite covers on Friday December 20 from 8pm.

Over Christmas Stuart and Frankie will be covering the bar on Christmas Day and Boxing Day so if you’re out an about why not join them for a Christmas tipple. Over Christmas their opening hours are Christmas Eve from 12 noon until late (food served 12pm – 4pm), Christmas Day from 12 noon - 3pm and give the Quality Street a rest and escape the TV on Boxing Day from 12 noon – 4pm.

See out the year on New Year’s Eve from lunch until late, with food served from 12 noon – 4pm, when they’re promising a good old fashioned knees up, it’s free entry and everyone’s welcome.

The Wheatsheaf Inn also hosts regular quiz nights if you want to test your grey matter with the final quiz night of the year on Thursday December 12 from 8.30pm, and then on the second Thursday of each month.

Pop in for their coffee mornings every Wednesday from 9am when their chefs create a fresh homemade cake for you!

Look out for their January sales and upcoming events on their website www.thewheatsheaf.pub or call 01832 732203.

M E D I A

S E R V I C E S

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Festive Afternoon Tea @ Orton Hall If you want to step out of the hustle and bustle and catch up with friends over the next few weeks we can recommend popping over to Orton Hall Hotel for a relaxing Festive Afternoon Tea. It includes all your favourites like turkey and stuffing, Brie and cranberry and salmon and cucumber finger sandwiches, a festive scone, stollen, chocolate log and tea or coffee. It’s available throughout December 1 – 31 for £16.50 and sounds like the perfect opportunity to put your feet up after all that rushing around. If there are 6 or more of you getting together you’ll need to book in advance on 01733 391111.

New Year’s Eve @ East If you prefer to dine out rather than party on New Year’s Eve, then a delicious dinner at East should see in 2020 perfectly.

Dine in style at the popular floating oriental restaurant situated on the upper deck at Charters, they’ll be serving a wonderful 4 course special menu for £35 per person. Booking is essential so call 01733 315705.

Party Nights at the Greyhound Stadium It’s another month of exciting race nights at Peterborough Greyhound Stadium but there’s even more festive fun planned in December.

Every night after the racing through until Saturday December 21 the party continues with a late bar and disco until 1am.

It’s free to everyone who’s been at the Stadium that evening so why not make a night of it? You might win a few quid for your Christmas shopping in the racing and then you can celebrate at the party night afterwards! Find out more on www.peterboroughgreyhounds.com or call 01733 296939.

Café Van Hage Festive Specials Drop by Van Hage at Eye this month and you can enjoy some festive specials in the café while you check out their great gifts and decorations.

Take a break from all the stress and shopping and take time out to try their Festive Afternoon Tea available from December 2 – 20 with a 2 for £25 offer. This includes finger sandwiches, chocolate pot with brandy cream, mini mince pie, mini festive cake, scone cream and jam & unlimited tea/filter coffee. If you’re feeling naughty you can upgrade to a glass of prosecco for £4.95 per glass.

Or why not take the kids along for Breakfast with Santa from December 18 – 21 for £7.95 per child. Alternatively you could opt for Afternoon Tea with Santa on December 14, 19 & 21 for £8.95 per child. You can book in store or call 01733 221400 or email danni.case@vanhage.co.uk.

Website Design and Social Media Campaigns – plus a free review of your current digital marketing offering.

CALL: 01733 381266

Breakfast With Santa You can enjoy a breakfast with Santa at various venues this month including the Origin8 Cafe at Sacrewell, the farm attraction near Wansford.

Each breakfast morning includes a present for the children, a cooked breakfast and story time led by Father Christmas and is available on December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22 from 9am - 10am.

There are various breakfast options with a child’s breakfast at £6.25 and an adult breakfast for £8.50 with vegetarian options also available or breakfast baps.

There is also the chance to enjoy breakfast with the big man in red over at Harvest Barn Farm Shop near Farcet. Enjoy a tasty buffet breakfast with a gift for the kids, £8.95 per child with various options – book online or at the shop. You can pick up a free range turkey and a veg box for your Christmas dinner while you’re there!

Ramblewood gives ESP readers 50% Off food There’s no denying this is an expensive month, but if you want to catch up with friends over the festive period and save some money, head to the Ramblewood Inn at Orton Waterville and make use of our ESP voucher.

You’ll get 50% off all food purchases when you spend £30 or more on food with our ESP reader voucher and the offer’s available all day from December 1 – 19 and after 4pm on Sundays.

The discount can’t be used to spend on drinks or for group bookings though.

Just download your voucher from our website www.espmag.co.uk or you can text us the word RAMBLEWOOD to 07379 697456 along with your NAME and EMAIL address or email offers@espmag.co.uk.

Dinner And Party Nights @ The Holiday Inn Yep, Christmas party time is here again, and to avoid all those arguments in the coffee room about where to go and stroppy emails with the accounts team – the Holiday Inn at Thorpe Wood has plenty of dinner and party nights to solve your dilemmas.

From Christmas to New Year’s Eve parties, whether you’re looking to dance the night away, enjoy delicious food or gather the family, they are all set to take the pressure off this Christmas.

They have special seasonal menus in the restaurant or you can dance the night away at various themed Christmas party nights, it’s definitely a better way to spend your office party. The ESP team went along to one of the preview events and had a great time.

You can ring in the New Year at their gorgeous Gala Dinner Dance for a stunning celebration too. Why not let them take care of Christmas Day or take the little ones for a festive lunch with Santa and his elves to get them into the festive spirit.

Take a look at www.letsdochristmas.com for all the details and take your pick! If you sign up for news on their site to hear about future events you’ll receive a voucher for a free drink. www.signupfornews.co.uk/HolidayInnPeterborough

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Photo: Chris Brudenell

Jack and the Beanstalk

The Wizard of Oz The cast of this year’s first panto at the New Theatre were on fine form when ESP went along to meet them and we can tell you, if the costumes are anything to go by this is going to be one spectacular trip to Oz!

E

veryone was enthusiastic and seems to be perfectly cast in their respective roles – including their real life Toto who’s bound to steal the show!

This new panto for Peterborough is being brought to us by Prime Pantomimes a dedicated pantomime production company as part of their debut season. With a large auditorium and with Strictly Come Dancing’s Katya Jones leading the line-up this is a much bigger production for Peterborough, but it’s still created specifically for a local audience.

It’s packed with audience participation, dazzling costumes and plenty of laughter, guaranteed to have you shouting, clapping, and singing along to a host of chart-topping hits.

The Wizard of Oz runs from December 14 (please note Katya Jones will not be performing in either show on Saturday December 14) to December 31.

Tickets are on sale now so click your heels together and book yours at www.newtheatrepeterborough.com or call 01733 852992.

Cinderella The Cresset’s teamed up with Premier Pantomimes once again bringing us the classic Cinderella starring TV’s Ricky Groves as Buttons and Mitch Hewer as Prince Charming, Lily Shires as the star of the show, Cinderella, and panto regulars Lawrence Stubbings and Zach Vanderfelt as the Ugly Sisters.

The ESP team have been along before and we can’t wait to see what they’ve come up with this year – but we know we’re guaranteed plenty of great songs, audience interaction and local links to make us laugh!

Cinderella runs at The Cresset from December 7 – 30. Tickets are priced from just £9 with fantastic group offers available. Book through the box office on 01733 265705 or online at www.cresset.co.uk.

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Fee Fi Fo Fum, beans mean fun at Stamford in January.

It’s time to take your pick of some fabulous pantos and in Stamford it’s a classic from Polka Dot Pantomimes in association with Stamford Arts Centre as they bring us Jack and the Beanstalk.

They’re back with their latest hilarious pantomime adventure taking to the stage after Christmas so you can have a laugh with the kids after all the rushing about.

There are 13 performances on January 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12 so get ready to boo the evil Poison Ivy (played by Rebecca Sibthorpe), laugh along with Dame Tilly Trott (Stamford favourite Vince Williams) and cheer on our hero Jack (Josh Harrison Yellop). This year’s show features Lincolnshire’s biggest giant, talented children from the local area and some amazing video projection.

Tickets are adults £14 (£13) and family of four £46, groups of 10+ £11.

Make sure you book yours before they sell out by visiting www.stamfordartscentre.com or call the box office on 01780 763203.

Beauty and the Beast If you want a great family panto with a homegrown feel and an intimate setting where you really feel part of the show, then the Key Theatre is the place to head for Beauty and the Beast.

It’ll be a ball and what make this panto different is that much of the music is original and is performed live on stage by the actors themselves!

Vivacity’s bringing us this classic French fairytale, directed by Simon Egerton, and as ever it’s packed with parody songs, city references and lots of audience participation. It’s the longest running panto in the city and with a smaller auditorium you’re in the thick of the action and younger kids can get really engrossed.

In a local twist this tale is set in the provincial town of ‘Pierreborough’, (home of the ‘Macrongate Shopping Centre’) with set, costumes and actors showing off lederhosen, alpenhorns and plenty of yodelling.

Beauty and the Beast runs from December 5 – January 5 and tickets start from just £10.

You can book online at www.vivacity.org/ panto or call the Key Theatre box office on 01733 207239.

Sales and Lettings teams with over 25 years’ experience 4 4 4 4 4

Competitive fees with no hidden costs 3D floor plans and high-tech photography Extensive on-line advertising through all major property websites A personal service tailored to you Full property management of both single lets and HMO properties

01733 552366 or sales mobile line

07984 141 897

Units 1 & 2 Columbus Road, Hempsted, Peterborough PE2 9FP | sales@beeresidential.co.uk | lettings@beeresidential.co.uk | www.beeresidential.co.uk

Gavin Miller’s

gavin.miller@espmag.co.uk

Movie Preview

STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER Cast: Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Mark Hamill, Ian McDiarmid, Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher Director: JJ Abrams

Released

DEC

19 JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL This sequel to the massively successful international blockbuster semi-reboot from two years ago – or third in the series after the Robin Williams-starring original – sees the entire cast reunite for an even more dangerous adventure.

Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillan all return to Jumanji as their video game avatars after Spencer repaired the system and got sucked back into the game – and his friends dive back in to save him. But this time Danny DeVito and Danny Glover join the ride as the players realise the game has dramatically changed.

22 www.espmag.co.uk

After 42 years and three trilogies encompassing nine films – the Skywalker Saga comes to a close.

Considering the original came out in 1977 – my year of birth – it’s a poignant milestone for perhaps the most recognisable film franchise in movie history.

And after the toxicity that met Rian Johnson’s 2017

Released

DEC

13

The Last Jedi, let’s hope the director of the first film of this trilogy, JJ Abrams, can hit light-speed to appease the disillusioned fan base – and bring harmony to this galaxy far, far, away.

How will the late Carrie Fisher’s Leia fit into proceedings? Who are the parents of Daisy Ridley’s Rey? How does Ian McDiarmid’s evil Emperor return? Will Billy Dee William’s Lando Calrissian

SPIES IN DISGUISE Will Smith’s famous super spy Lance Sterling is used to protecting the world from the most gravest of threats – and often counts on the technical smarts of Tom ‘SpiderMan’ Holland’s young scientist Walter Beckett to fashion great gadgets to aid him in his quests.

But when Sterling accidentally ingests Beckett’s newest invention, which turns him into a pigeon, he must try to find a way to save the planet from Ben Mendelsohn’s cybernetic madman – with the constraints of being such a small animal – in this animation from the team behind Ice Age.

be just as cool this time around? And will the story get the finale that it truly deserves and every movie fan is hoping for?

All the answers to the infamous sci-fi space opera will be finally answered – let’s just keep our fingers-crossed it uses the force wisely one final time.

Because if it does the force will be with Star Wars, always…

Released

NOV

29

Released

KNIVES OUT

NOV

29

Divisive, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, director Rian Johnson still comes with a great reputation, and this comedycrime-drama is getting some fantastic feedback. When Christopher Plummer’s renowned novelist is found dead at his estate, Daniel Craig’s debonair detective is mysteriously enlisted to investigate in this ‘whodunnit’. Chris Evans and Jamie Lee Curtis are just some of the stellar costarring cast on hand.

LUCY IN THE SKY

Released

DEC

6

Natalie Portman’s astronaut Lucy Cola returns to earth after a lengthy space mission – and begins to lose touch with reality in a world that now seems too small. Having started an affair with Jon Hamm’s (Baby Driver) fellow astronaut Mark Goodwin during this transcendent experience far from home, Lucy heads into a downward spiral as she loses connection to her husband, family, friends and lover in this sci-fi drama.

BLACK CHRISTMAS

Released

DEC

12

A group of female students – including Imogen Poots (28 Weeks Later) – are stalked by a stranger during their Christmas break, and one by one sorority girls on the quiet Hawthorne College campus are getting murdered. But the killer is about to discover that this generation’s young women aren’t willing to become hapless victims as they decide to fight back in this horror remake, that co-stars Saw actor Cary Elwes.

Released

CATS

DEC

20

An all-star cast – including Taylor Swift, Judi Dench, Jennifer Hudson and James Corden – star in this upcoming musical fantasy directed by Tom Hooper (Les Miserables), based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic theatre production. Over the course of a single night, a tribe of cats called the Jellicles make what is known as ‘the Jellicle choice’ – to decide which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a new life.

LITTLE WOMEN

Released

DEC

26

Four sisters – Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn), Emma Watson (Harry Potter), Florence Pugh (Fighting with My Family) and newcomer Eliza Scanlen – come of age in 1860’s New England in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Oscar-nominee Greta Gerwig – who directed Ronan in Ladybird – helms her second directorial effort as this period drama explores the young adult lives of the woman, alongside co-star Meryl Streep. www.espmag.co.uk

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DID YOU KNOW WE DID THIS?

ESP will carry out a FREE review of your current Digital Marketing Strategy to see what improvements could be made.

Website Design & Management

M E D I A

S E R V I C E S

Social Media

• A new website designed for your business, including customisable submission forms, online booking systems, e-commerce, email marketing tools and customer-relationship software.

• Firstly we will identify which platforms would suit your business best. Then we will set up all your accounts and manage your presence ongoing.

• Choose from a multitude of apps which can be installed to help you manage your business better.

• We can also help you with any paid for Social Media campaigns you may wish to carry out to maximise your business results.

• Your new website will include all on-site Search Engine Optimisation and will be fully set up with Google including analytics to maximise your online presence.

• All web pages will be built to be fully mobile optimised so they display and function correctly on any mobile device or tablet.

• ESP Media Services can also share your content across our own network as part of an ongoing marketing package to expose your business to all ESP’s followers, readers, subscribers and friends.

For your FREE review and a friendly chat with a member of our dedicated digital marketing team call ESP Media Services now on 01733 381266 or email office@espmag.co.uk.

Something for everyone at

THE CRESSET

Whether your parents were wearing some dodgy flares back in the day, or you were the one in the platforms – 1978 is a year to note because it saw the arrival of The Cresset in Peterborough – a unique community hub that’s still going strong over 40 years on.

T

hankfully we’ve come a long way since HM the Queen came to officially open the site in Bretton and we don’t just mean the iffy fashion choices – entertainment at the venue is now more likely to be Russell Howard than Norman Wisdom (ask your dad).

Whether it’s been a dance class, a visit to the gym, a pint at The Fayre Spot or a live show, most folks in the boro will have paid a visit to The Cresset and its diverse range of facilities.

side of the business has developed out of necessity, with changes to funding opportunities in the 80s and 90s, but it still offers space and facilities for the elderly, disabled, young people, and many charity and community groups throughout the local area.”

There’s so much on offer it’s likely everyone knows The Cresset for something different, there’s always something going on. Over the years you will have visited the centre for something whether it’s been the annual panto, theatre shows, weddings, or back in the day – the youth clubs and roller skating!

The Cresset is completely self funding but in 2014 it merged with what is now YMCA Trinity Group, which has secured the future of the building and the organisation for the future.

Penny added – “What people might not know is that our profits get invested back into the community through facilities and services and through the work of the YMCA – when you buy a ticket you’re supporting the YMCA. We offer really great affordable entertainment and a range of services. And isn’t it great that massive names like Edwin Starr, Bod Geldof, Sarah Millican, John Bishop and even Ed Sheeran (supporting Example) have performed right here on your doorstep!”

It’s been great to see recent investment to keep it thriving with The Fayre Spot pub having a fantastic £250,000 refurb and a range of improvements to The Cresset building itself.

There’s always something happening there so to find out just how many services The Cresset gives us, check out our centre spread.

You’ll be surprised!

DID YOU KNOW…?

• Bretton was the first new township of Greater Peterborough, and The Cresset was designed to sit at the heart of the community, offering services for all local residents and visitors • The name ‘Cresset’ refers to a basket of fire, kept continuously alight and placed at the focal point of a mediaeval community.

• Completely self-funding, The Cresset receives no public money at all, and now operates as a subsidiary of YMCA Trinity Group, with whom The Cresset Ltd merged in 2014.

• The Beacon Public House opened in 1981 and in 1993 it was replaced with The Fayre Spot opened by Masterchef host Lloyd Grossman When it was created The Cresset was a brand new concept, devised by Sir Harold Haywood, and was designed to offer a community hub at the heart of what was Peterborough’s first new township. It was a joint venture between the Development Corporation, Peterborough City Council, Cambridgeshire County Council and nine voluntary organisations. The ambitious plans included a library, youth club, theatre, events venues, day care centres, sports facilities and a Church, as well as over 80 flats managed by the YMCA. Penny Hansen told ESP – “It’s incredible, but 40 years on many of these services are still in operation and The Cresset still remains true to its original community purpose. The commercial

• The first Christmas panto, The Wizard of Oz was staged in 1996 – this year it’s Cinderella Rightwell, Bretton, Peterborough PE3 8DX

Tel: 01733 265 705 www.cresset.co.uk

• The first Cresset Comedy Club took place in 1998 and still runs today!

CONFERENCES

CHRISTENINGS

Superb facilities and top quality AV

A range of catering options available

The Cresset’s amazing range of services and shows...

COMEDY

PARTIES

The longest running comedy club in the city and big name acts

Excellent value packages from just £99

YMCA COMMUNITY GYM

This year’s panto Cinderella is a magical classic.

Workout at great prices

T

he Cresset’s teamed up with Premier Pantomimes once again and sees the return of handsome Mitch Hewer as Prince Charming and former EastEnders star Ricky Groves serving up the laughs as Buttons.

Joining them will be the hugely talented Lily Shires as the star of the show, Cinderella, and this year we see two favourites return in quite different roles.

Lawrence Stubbings is usually cast as a brilliant baddie while Zach Vanderfelt has been the hugely popular dame, but this year they’re teaming up as the Ugly Sisters and they’re promising plenty of reasons to boo them both!

The Cresset panto is loud and lively with plenty of audience participation, music and laughs – all ages will love it!

Cinderella runs at the Cresset Theatre from December 7 – 30. Tickets are priced from just £9 with fantastic group offers available. Book through the box office on 01733 265705 or online at www.cresset.co.uk.

DAY CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY Run by Peterborough City Council

CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

SERVICES Get your hair cut or shoes reheeled

Regular services and coffee mornings

LIVE MUSIC Well known bands, acts and tributes

EATING OUT Breakfast, lunch and dinner available at The Fayre Spot

CONVENTIONS

FAYRES

Exhibitions, merchandise, cosplay, gaming, it’s all here!

From vintage clothing to wedding services

LIBRARY WEDDINGS

Borrow a book and take part in the Year of Reading

Function suites are licensed for civil weddings

DANCE STUDIO

BEES IN THE HIVE NURSEY

Ballet classes and performing arts

Day care for the little ones

SPORTS PRESENTATIONS

BLOOD DONATIONS

Celebrate your team’s successes!

Save a life with the National Blood Service

AN AUDIENCE WITH… Talks from the stars

THEATRE SHOWS Great touring productions

SHOPS Buy handbags, accessories and toys

THE KINGFISHER CENTRE AND GOLDHAY ARTS Supporting adults with disabilities and learning difficulties

SOCIALISING Have a drink with friends at The Fayre Spot

PANTO Cinderella with TV’s Ricky Groves and Mitch Hewer

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL THE TEAM

Print your own Ticket Treats at Home H

ave you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one! The Cresset may well have the answer to your problems though, with a spring programme that has something for everyone, show tickets can make the ideal gift. And if you’re clueless about which show to book for, there’s a gift voucher option which is always a safe bet. They even offer a print at home facility which makes it the ideal solution for those last minute gifts when you just can’t face hitting the shops again!

The new What’s On brochure is out now, so head to the website for a browse through what’s coming up in 2020, and take your pick of some great shows you can treat your friends and family too… or maybe just yourself!

It’s a Strictly-tastic season as Kristina Rihanoff, Giovanni Pernice, Neil Jones and Craig Revel Horwood head to The Cresset – so if you’re a dance fan, be sure to book early to see these Strictly stars in action!

After their high-flying production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in October, we can’t wait for the next epic production from PODS in May, the brilliant SHREK: The Musical.

Those mad about musicals will also want to check out Cruising Through Menopause, the hysterical sequel to the sell-out hit Menopause The Musical; and Friends! The Musical Parody, a hilarious romp through the best bits of the hit TV show.

Last but certainly not least there’s tons of great comedy coming up from Chris Ramsey, Russell Howard, Henning Wehn,

Jimmy Carr and David Baddiel as well as the city’s longest running Comedy Club.

Rightwell, Bretton, Peterborough PE3 8DX

Tel: 01733 265 705 www.cresset.co.uk

More than just a garden centre

Festive Café Specials Monday 2nd – Friday 20th December

FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA

...WITH SANTA

2 for £25 Includes finger sandwiches, chocolate pot with brandy cream, mini mince pie, mini festive cake, scone cream and jam & unlimited tea/filter coffee.

Breakfast with Santa 18th & 21st Dec - £7.95 per child Afternoon Tea with Santa 14th, 19th & 21st Dec - £8.95 per child Book in store, call 01733 221400 or email danni.case@vanhage.co.uk

Upgrade to a glass of prosecco for £4.95 per glass

FAMILY FUN

Van Hage’s Christmas Grotto now open

Mini Farm

COMPETITIONS

Fresh cut Christmas trees now available

GROTTO

TREES

Featured departments...

Make sure to follow us on facebook for competitions throughout December

Coming Soon PE1’s Inflatanation, 14,000 sq ft of inflatable fun for all ages!

There’s something for everyone at...

Van Hage Garden Centre PE1 Retail Park, Eye Road, Eye, Peterborough PE1 4YZ t: 01733 221400 e: peterborough@vanhage.co.uk

Beauty and the Beast December 5 – January 5

Key Theatre Box office: 01733 207239 It’s panto season but it’s also party season so it’s time to be the ‘Belle’ of the ball and hit the dancefloor with your own handsome beast.

Get your glitz on and look the part in a beautiful gown, pop your hair up in an on trend ponytail and complete your look with a pair of sparkly heels.

Don’t miss out on the fun – make sure you let your hair down at the panto.

This year Vivacity’s bringing us the classic French fairytale, Beauty and the Beast, to the Key Theatre stage directed by Simon Egerton.

This version puts a hilarious, local twist on this traditional tale, setting the action in the provincial town of ‘Pierreborough’, (home of the Macrongate Shopping Centre). It’s packed with parody songs, city references to make us locals laugh and lots of audience participation plus live music playd by the actors themselves.

Nude sequin gown, Quiz, £99.99 Nude sparkly heels, New Look, £23.99

30 www.espmag.co.uk

Karen Miller

INTRODUCING This month ESP is pleased to welcome a new face to our team as local style consultant Karen Miller joins us as our new style coach to help make sure you’re looking good and feeling confident.

Karen certainly knows her stuff – she’s a Personal Stylist and HR Consultant who qualified with the London College of Style and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Her experience ranges from back-stage at London Fashion week, editorial photo shoots to providing corporate workshops and working with clients individually from widely different backgrounds.

Karen started her business, in-Style (www.instyleconsulting.com) in 2015 and provides a variety of services including personal shopping, styling, make-up and workshops along with coaching for businesses and individuals on impression management, recruitment and executive presence.

How to create a cool party look...

I

t’s that time of year again when things start to get crazy heading towards Christmas and that all important question of what to wear!

Striking the right balance between party ready and taking it too far is the question many of us ask ourselves. So to help you out with your party outfits here are my top tips to help you get it just right.

Every year there are some distinct trends, mixing trend with timeless pieces never goes out of fashion. This year there are some key themes in the designer collections namely dark gothic glamour, 80’s influenced glitz, embellished dresses and not forgetting a good dose of butter soft leather. The high street has some fabulous interpretations of all of these trends, Zara has nailed all of them, with gorgeous tailoring embellished with sequins, chiffon maxi dresses and enough hot pink to satisfy even the most demanding shopper. River Island, Warehouse, New Look and Quiz are strong on sequins and Top Shop boutique has some great tailoring in strong colours. At the slightly more expensive end of the high street, Reiss has some beautiful tailoring and sophisticated dresses, Maje has some great sequin and lurex dresses and The Kooples have plenty of faux fur, leather tailoring and gothic inspired dresses and separates.

Sometimes it’s difficult to gauge what the dress code for an event is going to be (unless it’s stated on the invite) and therefore if you’re not sure, go for an outfit that you are going to be comfortable and confident in. Normally an elevated version of what you normally wear in the shape and cut that suits your body shape is a good option. Know your limits when it comes to your heel height, your tolerance of tight waistbands or arm restricting jackets, you want to enjoy yourself not be worrying about how tight your dress is or changing your shoes halfway through the night.

There are some items that will never date and can be super helpful to have in your party wardrobe. A good evening coat is one of those essentials, either in faux fur or embellished

with feathers or embroidery won’t date and will add a glamorous finishing touch to any outfit.

Buying this in a neutral colour, either black, grey, brown or burgundy will be an invaluable investment and can even be worn during the day to up the glamour stakes of your jeans and T-shirt. Fail safe classics include an elegant slip dress with a leather jacket and heels or a tuxedo evening jacket with ankle cropped trousers, satin or embellished shoes/boots for more of an edge.

If you’re going for full on glitz with your outfit keeping your accessories simple and classy will add more of an impact and stop each of them competing for attention. If you’re going for a simple, classic look you can afford to be more daring with your choice of shoes/boots and accessories. Mixing up fabrics can be a good option to give more of a statement look, a leather skirt and chiffon blouse can look amazing or faux fur and velvet can give a more luxe feel. If you’re confident with a print clash look don’t forget to break it up with a neutral colour in between and keep your accessories simple.

And finally, good underwear is the key to any outfit, make sure it fits, isn’t too tight/too loose, don’t be embarrassed to invest in shapewear, John Lewis, Marks and Spencer and even Primark have some great shapewear to suit every figure and price point. Luminous white legs are rarely flattering, so add a little fake tan or wear a low denier tight. For instant fake tan that’s easy to apply Vita Liberata, body blur is amazing and comes in several colours to suit every skin tone and desired tan. If you’re going for a longer wearing fake tan St Tropez in my opinion can’t be beaten and for tights, Marks and Spencer Autograph 5 denier tights in either Natural Tan or Suntan give the appearance of wearing no tights but add a little colour to your legs.

So, that’s it from me for now, have a wonderful, glamorous Christmas everyone.

Karen www.in-styleconsulting.com

Models: Gemma Royce, Darren Grigas and Richard Grigas (our handsome beast!)

Photos: Andy Vernum at Studio One, Ailsworth All clothes from the Queensgate Shopping Centre, Peterborough

www.espmag.co.uk

31

Cinderella December 7 – 30 The Cresset Box office: 01733 265705 It’s time to don your glad rags and make an impact when you step out this party season, because you will go to the ball!

Accept all invitations and opt for sequins and shimmer. Top off your look with some glitzy hair accessories and you’ll be looking great until midnight and beyond.

Don’t leave your heels behind and go for plenty of bling.

Boys, make like Prince Charming and add a little luxe to your look with some velvet.

When the party’s over make sure you haven’t forgotten your ticket to see Cinderella at the Cresset – it’s an absolute panto classic.

Cinderella has everything you need with a great story, a heroine to root for and plenty of magic.

The Cresset Theatre’s teamed up with Premier Pantomimes once again and welcomes back Mitch Hewer as Prince Charming and former EastEnders star Ricky Groves serving up the laughs as Buttons. It’ll be loud and lively with plenty of music and audience interaction and two very ugly sisters!

GEMMA Long blue sequin gown, Quiz, £89.99 Silver sparkly heels, New Look, £23.99 Hairband, Accessorize, £16

DARREN Black velvet jacket, John Lewis & Partners, £125 Black dress trousers, John Lewis & Partners, £50 White shirt, NEXT, £34 Black shoes, NEXT, £85 Black and white spot tie, John Lewis & Partners, £5 Pocket square, NEXT, £10

32 www.espmag.co.uk

GEMMA

DARREN

Black and silver star dress, Oasis, £60

Check suit trousers, NEXT, £40

Faux leather biker jacket, Oasis, £32.99 Red heels, New Look, £32.99

Check waistcoat, NEXT, £40 White shirt, NEXT, £34 Tan shoes, NEXT, £30 When you hit the (yellow brick) road to your Christmas party make an impact by topping off your outfit with a bold accessory. Girls will be the envy of everyone with some statement shoes and the boys can opt for print rather than plain to stand out from the crowd.

For another festive night out dance your way over to the New Theatre to catch Strictly’s Katya Jones in the city’s big new panto.

There’ll be no place like Peterborough this Christmas when the Wizard of Oz takes to the stage.

This pantomime spectacular is a much larger affair guaranteed to whisk us off from Kansas to Oz in a large scale production with Katya bringing some Strictly glitz to her panto debut. It’s created specifically for a local audience packed with audience participation, dazzling costumes, plenty of laughs and a host of chart-topping hits.

Wizard

of Oz December 14 – 31 New Theatre Box office: 01733 852992

www.espmag.co.uk

33

GEMMA

DARREN

Gold and black sequin dress, Quiz, £69

Black velvet jacket, John Lewis & Partners, £125

Black sparkly heels, Quiz, £27

Black dress trousers, John Lewis & Partners, £50 White shirt, NEXT, £34 Black shoes, NEXT, £85 Black and white spot tie, John Lewis & Partners, £5 Pocket square, NEXT, £10 Leather belt, John Lewis, £40

DARREN

GEMMA

Check suit trousers, NEXT, £40

Pink sequin wrap dress, Quiz, £55

Check waistcoat, NEXT, £40

Black fur coat, New Look, £45.99

Grey shirt, NEXT, £34 Tan shoes, NEXT, £30

34 www.espmag.co.uk

GEMMA

DARREN

Black Tulle skirt, New Look, £19.99

Blue suit jacket, NEXT, £75

Embellished T-shirt, New Look, £12.99

Blue suit trousers, NEXT, £35

Diamante belt, New Look, £15.99

White shirt, NEXT, £34

Black boots with diamante heel, New Look, £29.99

Tan leather belt, John Lewis, £40 Tan shoes, NEXT, £30

GEMMA

GEMMA

Bodycon silver and nude dress, Quiz, £50

Pink sparkly pleat skirt, New Look, £24.99

Black bag wht diamante, Accessorize, £22

Cream fluffy jumper, New Look, £17.99

Black sparkly heels, Quiz £27

Black boots with diamante heel, New Look, £29.99

www.espmag.co.uk

35

Shoes and accessories from NEXT, Queensgate Shopping Centre. Handkerchief set £8, leather wallet £24, blue dot tie and pin £10, black shoes £85 , cufflinks and tie pin set £16, black tie and pocket square set £10, 5 pair pack of socks £12, tan leather belt.

Burgundy faux fur wrap, Accessorize £25, rose gold clutch with flower clasp, Quiz £22.99, rainbow sequined clutch, Accessorize £28, sparkly silver court shoe Quiz £30, glitter ankle socks, Accessorize £4, cream and black faux fur wrap, Accessorize £25, nude sparkly wrap, Accessorize £18, nude sparkly heels New Look £23.99, black clutch with diamante V detail Accessorize £22, leopard print sequin purse, Accessorize £8, burgundy clutch Accessorize £22, black ankle boots with diamante heel New Look £29.99, beaded hair clips Accesorize £6, black diamante embellished clutch, New Look £22.99, leaf diamante heels Quiz £29.99, silver sparkly crossover heels Quiz £30, beaded hairband Accessorize £16.

36 www.espmag.co.uk

Gifts MR BRUSSEL FART

BY SAYEH STONE For a bit of fun over the Christmas period the latest festive tale from local author Sayeh Stone, Mr Brussel Fart, should have everyone giggling!

It’s a fun rhyming Christmas story, to encourage you to eat your Brussels sprouts – it’s not just for the kids, it’s for adults too and be warned... this story is not to be taken seriously!

Pick up a copy at Walkers Bookshop in Stamford or from Books by Sayeh Stone on Facebook.

It’s written and illustrated by Sayeh and follows her successful Christmas book last year, Snotty Santa.

BARKING!

BY CHRIS PORSZ Peterborough paramedic turned street photographer Chris Porsz has come up with a cracker for Christmas with his latest photo book dedicated to our four legged friends.

As with all of his candid photographs he’s caught some great images guaranteed to make any doggie fan smile. To grab your copy visit www.chrisporsz.com or see his Facebook page.

RUFFWEAR PRODUCTS AT TALLINGTON LAKES PRO SHOP If you want to get out in the great outdoors and take your four legged companion with you, there are some great treats for Rover over at Tallington Lakes Pro Shop. Not only do they stock some great outdoor gear but as a Ruffwear stockist they also have these cool looks for your canine too!

TICKETS TO SEE LITTLE MIX AND WESTLIFE IN THE CITY If there’s something pop fans in Peterborough will want in their Christmas stocking this year it’s concert tickets.

The world’s biggest girl band are set to perform live at The Weston Homes Stadium in Peterborough next summer on Tuesday June 30, while boy band Westlife appear on Sunday June 21.

Tickets are on sale now at www.theposhtickets.com.

www.espmag.co.uk

37

heaLth

and beauty

ESP’s Rachael Church has all the latest health and beauty news…

rachael.church@espmag.co.uk

The Christmas party season can be a time for making some amazing memories. If we’re lucky, there is lots of time to spend with loved ones and our best friends, getting glammed up to eat, drink and be merry. So this column is dedicated to all things to get us ready for the big month ahead.

Pre Christmas: in need OF Christmas Party make-uP ideas?

Yep, even Christmas make-up has its own season trends. And we all want to look Instagram ready, so here’s what’s worth thinking about in preparation.

Winter nail art – stay on trend and make sure you go all out with a festive pattern for your nails.

Glittery eyes – more is definitely more this Christmas, and bold glittery gold eye make-up is everywhere.

Top Tips:

Top Tips:

Kissable Christmas lips – oxblood red lipsticks carry on being popular from the autumn ranges and are still the must have colour.

•

•

Get something that’s easy to apply for the first go.

Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow from Boots is worth a look.

Top Tips:

•

Contrast the gold with some thick black eyeliner

•

•

Add some false eyelashes if you want to go all out

•

•

Start with two coats of a base colour first – a festive mint green (think Tiffany green for nails) is a great choice Use a cuticle stick (Superdrug, 99p for 10 in Queensgate FYI) to add some decoration with a white varnish – candy canes and dots are easy for beginners – then move onto the more complex reindeer later Then apply a top coat, to make sure all your hard work isn’t chipped away during the Christmas day washing up

38 www.espmag.co.uk

•

First, lightly pat a small amount of concealer on your lips to neutralize your natural lip colour and to create a good foundation

The party ponytail – either very straight locks or extravagant curls may be your usual go-to hairstyles for nights out, but a ponytail can make sure that you stand out from the crowd.

Top Tips: •

As this is a party look, you will want to add a bit of volume before pulling it all back

•

Take a backcomb brush and gently tease your roots to create bounce

•

Then smooth over the top layer with your brush and a spritz of hairspray to get rid of any frizz

Then, line your lips using the liner right along the edge of your lip line and fill in your lips with the pencil – sorted

On the BiG day: No time for hours of makeup and beauty routines on the 25th, we need to be downstairs sharpish for present opening and a 9am glass of prosecco.

Three must haves on the dressing table for Christmas day morning so you can get ready in 5 minutes if necessary: •

Dry shampoo – you all have your own favourite.

Buy a miniature version now and have it close by at all times

•

Touche Éclat – Treat yourself to the proper YSL version from JL, and get rid of tired eyes/leftover eyeliner in seconds

•

NYX eyeliner – go now and pick out a vibrant colour to perfectly match the Christmas jumper

the POst Christmas reCOvery PLan Rehydrate the skin: On Christmas night, peel off the make-up and give your skin an extra special treat. Pop to one of the counters in JL beforehand and ask for a sample of a very good regeneration cream, then treat yourself that night before flopping into bed.

Get some fresh air pronto: If you’ve been inside all day on the 25th, make sure you plan to make up for it on Boxing Day. My usual plan – 5am, join the Next sale queue, and 3pm Peterborough United v Doncaster. See you there?

a FinaL WOrd – FindinG Christmas diFFiCuLt? Here at ESP, we know Christmas isn’t the best time for everyone, especially if you’ve lost a loved one, have problems or are further away from your family than you’d like. Looking after your health and wellbeing at this time is crucial, so if you need to talk to someone locally, visit the Cambridgeshire MIND website at www.cpslmind.org.uk and they have all the options of where you can talk to someone locally 365 days a year. And a big shout out to those local people working and volunteering over Christmas too, thank you! www.espmag.co.uk

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Well Being Karen Devine’s

karen.devine@espmag.co.uk

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Survival Tips for the Festive Season

on. Fasting days and lighter recovery days will help the bowel move its waste but also consider a colonic (you can contact me for more details) or use some gentle bowel herbs to loosen that waste off the colon wall.

7.

GIVING – I’m not sure about you but I don’t think about ‘what will I get for Christmas’ my focus is on what can I give. But it is not all about gifts wrapped up in shiny paper, it may also be aiding a charity, giving some time to help deliver hot food or visit the elderly. Giving to others has been shown to make people happier and more connected to their community.

8.

EXERCISE – moving your body daily is fundamental to physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, in between the excess try to take some exercise which improves the way your body deals with sugar and insulin.

9.

FRESH AIR -– wrap up and get into nature when you can. Nothing beats getting wrapped up snug and being outside for a short time.

We are devoid of fresh air during the winter months and our mucous membranes get very dry leading to infections. Fill your lungs with good clean air when you can. Nature helps calm, relax and rejuvenate.

With the busiest, most demanding time of the year coming up this month it’s good to remind ourselves that we can still take time out to look after ourselves mentally, emotionally and physically to avoid what the drain on our energy can lead to.

10. FINANCIAL PRESSURE – take the pressure off yourself financially where you can.

Look up debt control/management companies online if you can, they will give you lots of tips on keeping a handle on the out of control spending that Christmas can often bring. This can be a great source of stress.

Here are my top 12 tips (in no particular order) to survive and thrive this December...

1.

2.

3.

HYDRATE – Hydration is key, with all the sugar, cooked foods, central heating, caffeine and of course wee nips of alcohol the chances are that you’ll become dehydrated very quickly.

The obvious addition is drinking more fresh water, but also adding in more fresh fruits and salads where you can to bring the best structured water nature can give us.

FASTING – this is one of the easiest ways to allow the body a bit of breathing space to digest all the excess foods. Giving yourself 12 hours fast which includes sleep is no big deal for most people. If you can take it further to 14 or even 16 hours then your body may be grateful. For example if you stop eating at 7pm then 7am is 12 hours, you may not actually be hungry so drink some water and wait a while, by 9am you have reached 14 hours, it can really be effective. Go as long as you are comfortable.

RECOVERY DAYS – take a few intermittent days during this month to eat lightly, have zero alcohol and enjoy salads, soups, roasted veggies with salads, fruits, light dressings and ditch starchy breads, pasta, rice and potatoes.

40 www.espmag.co.uk

This will give your energy a boost and your digestion a rest. Hydrating and eating lighter works wonders.

4.

5.

6.

MASSAGE/SAUNA – a little indulgence is good for the spirit. Massages not only relieve tension but also keep that lymph system moving which plays a big role in detoxification, elimination and immunity – all these systems need a little extra support this time of year.

Saunas are also great for the lymphatic system and sweating out toxins.

SLEEP – nothing beats a good restful sleep.

Alcohol, refined carbohydrates such as sugar, dehydration and late nights play havoc with our sleep pattern and nutrients. Alcohol depletes B vitamins, essential fatty acids, magnesium and more – all needed to build hormones to help our sleep and calm the nervous system. So in between your parties, schedule a good book and a few early nights.

COLONICS/BOWEL CLEANSING – Gas, bloating, constipation and loose stools can all be a side effect from overeating and of course eating hard to digest foods that stick around the colon too long. Nothing feels worse when going out squeezing into those new clothes that you have to loosen off as the night goes

11. STRETCHING/YOGA – you are only as old as your spine is an old yogi proverb. Tension in the muscles restricts blood and lymph flow, leads to headaches, irritability, stiffness, aches and pains and more. Get that body stretched out, it makes you feel amazing afterwards, and yoga increases chemicals that balance inflammation, immunity, mood and stress.

12. STILLNESS/MEDITATION/PRAYER – try to switch off the loudness this festive season, if you are unable to meditate, or sit in the stillness for a few minutes each day try to listen to some of nature’s sounds, this will bring the stress levels down which will help your immune system.

Enjoy the next few weeks, remember too that someone closer than you realise may be going through a tough time at Christmas, check in with friends, neighbours and family or others that you see that may need help or a few kind words. A conversation and a smile can make a big difference to them.

In health, Karen www.karendevine.co.uk

Say

Merry s Christma with

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Photo: BBC/Ray Burmiston

It wouldn’t be Christmas without Strictly Come Dancing and with several of the professionals bringing their shows to the city next year, it’s time to see if ESP’s top Strictly fan Sarah Tempest will get out her 10…

A

lthough it’s hard to remember a time before Strictly Come Dancing became a staple of our winter Saturday night entertainment, it’s still incredible to think that the Sarah Tempest current series is actually the 17th series of our favourite dancing show.

Although the glitter, sequins and fake tan (but enough about Craig Revel Horwood) are all still as abundant as ever, it’s fair to say that this has been a series of firsts.

Firstly, there was a new judge, with Motsi Mabusi, sister of professional dancer Oti, joining the panel. Bringing with her infectious enthusiasm, passion and impeccable technical knowledge, she’s truly hit the ground running and shot straight to the hearts of even the most stuck in their ways Strictly fan. “Darcey who?” we hear them cry as they hang onto Ms Mabusi’s every superlative.

Next there came the first ever same sex Strictly dance with professional dancers Graziano and Johannes taking to the floor to perform a spine tingling routine to Emeli Sande’s Shine. Whilst the sane world applauded the move and revelled in the performance, Ofcom received some 189 complaints about the ‘offensive’ performance.

Seems a first for inclusion on the show was a time step too far for the small group of narrow minded glitterati.

And finally after 17 series and fruitless partnerships with celebrities such as Lesley Garrett, Esther Rantzen, Judy Murray and, infamously, Ann Widdecombe, Anton Du Beke finally scored his first ever 10! Dropping to the floor with his head in his hands, partner Emma Barton (of Eastenders fame) could only look on bewildered at the display, as Anton declared, “seventeen series! You don’t understand! This is how Kevin Clifton feels!” he exclaimed, referencing fellow professional dancer and reigning champion, “It’s lovely!” Bless.

In other news, Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher has proved the surprise hit of the series, despite only joining the cast at the 11th hour to step in for the injured Jamie Laing from Made in Chelsea fame. Bouffant haired professional dancer AJ failed to break his curse

42 www.espmag.co.uk

of leaving the competition after the Samba when even ‘celebrity’ partner Saffron Barker’s 1.4 million instagram followers couldn’t save them from the dance off and elimination.

Comedian Chris Ramsey suddenly found his rhythm, CBBC presenter Karim Zeroual hasn’t always proved popular with voters, despite his obvious talent, BBC presenter Mike Bushell won the unofficial ‘Ed Balls trophy for embarrassing Dad dancing’ (if that’s not a real thing, it should be) and former Lioness footballer Alex Scott showed us that her feet are not only good for kicking a ball. Cuckold and Strictly wannabe (his beaming features were always at the forefront of ‘Claudia’s area’ on previous series, despite him not featuring in the main line up) Neil Jones finally made it onto the show proper when he was announced as Alex’s partner, although it’s fair to say, she scored higher when Neil was out injured and she was partnered instead by the afore mentioned Kevin Clifton.

What isn’t new this series, however, is Peterborough’s connection to all things Strictly.

Not only can we boast former champion Louis Smith, hot contender Aston Merrygold (he was robbed), People’s Champion Cassidy Little and, of course, Strictly’s resident singer Hayley, of Dave Arch band fame (whose vocal talents have wowed us every Strictly Saturday night since forever), but the Strictly stars past and present can’t keep away from our city.

The Cresset is playing host to Kristina Rihanoff and her Dance to the Music show in March; Giovanni Pernice’s This Is Me show in April; Craig Revel Horwood’s All Balls and Glitter debut solo tour in July, as well as Neil Jones’ Gingerland tour.

New dad Gorka Marquez will be taking time off from nappy duty to appear with co star Karen Hauer in Firedance at the New Theatre in March, whilst Kevin Clifton and his sister Joanne are set to ‘Burn the Floor’ in May. And in June, the New Theatre will host former stars and Strictly favourites Ian Waite and Vincent Simone who, as well as the Cliftons, will be offering the opportunity to meet and pose with them at their VIP meet and greets.

For all ticket and show information, contact the box offices and don’t miss your Strictly fix!

Sarah Tempest

New Slimming World Consultant in Deeping Charlotte Hayward a multi award-winning consultant of 9 years and a Deeping resident, has relaunched the Tuesday evening Slimming World Group at The Deepings School, Deeping St James at 7.30pm.

C

urrently running 2 successful groups in Werrington, helping 250 members, Charlotte is delighted and excited to be able to run a group in her home town and help local residents achieve their weight loss dreams.

So far in 2019 Charlotte has helped 54 slimmers achieve their dream weight, with losses ranging from one to a staggering 11 stones, resulting in total

weight losses of nearly 500 stones in just 11 months and wants to replicate that success in Deeping.

Charlotte prides herself on running fun, honest, informative groups and totally understands the struggles slimmers encounter. “As a member myself, I joined Slimming World over a decade ago and am now over 4 stone lighter, I have total belief in the Slimming World plan, but also know how difficult it can be at times and know the best ways to help members get back on track and stay on plan when we begin to waiver.

“There is never, ever any judgement in my groups, just support and advice to help members achieve their dreams in a safe, warm and friendly environment.”

To find out more call Charlotte on 07809 569694 or simply go along to The Deepings School, Park Road, Deeping St James, PE6 8NF and start your journey to the new you.

New Consultant from 26th November The Deeping's School, Park Road, Deeping St James PE6 8NF Call Charlotte on 07809 569694

LOSE WEIGHT AND NEVER GO HUNGRY There are over 50 Slimming World groups in the Peterborough area, including...

Bretton, City Centre, Dogsthorpe, Eye, Fletton, Glinton, Hampton, Netherton, Orton, Oundle, Paston, Sawtry, Stanground, Thorney, Walton, Werrington, Wittering, Woodston and Yaxley.

To find the group for you, visit: www.Slimmingworld.co.uk/nearest-group

And don’t forget to check out our Slimming World in Peterborough Facebook page for the latest updates

We're currently recruiting in the Peterborough area, call Mike on 07774 868859 for more information

The ESP Comedy Guide

Sarah Slack brings us the ESP guide to where the laughs are at this month…

sarah.slack@espmag.co.uk

Top 3 Christmas Comedy Gifts So here we are – another year and another month of mad dashing to the shops in the hopes of buying those perfect Christmas gifts for friends and family. If you have a comedy nerd in your life however, and absolutely no idea what to buy them, I’ve waded through the novelty items to bring you my top tips for comedy gifts this Christmas (or as inspiration for your own Amazon wish list!)…

Adam Kay: T’was The Nightshift Before Christmas Promising the perfect (surgical) stocking filler, this latest book from musical comedian Adam Kay is a follow-up to his bestseller, This Is Going to Hurt, which was released last year to critical acclaim. This festive hospital diary offers a hilarious, honest, and sometimes heart-breaking peek behind the blue curtain during December, making it the perfect present for anyone who’s ever worked for the NHS or set foot in a hospital over the holidays.

Jack Whitehall Performs At Peterborough Arena Last month I was lucky to see Jack Whitehall’s brand new Stood-Up tour thanks to the lovely people at the East of England Arena, who managed to nab me a last minute ticket on the night. Performing to a sold out capacity of 5,000, Whitehall’s new show succeeded in delivering both observational comedy, but also material which was tongue-in-cheek and more shocking than his standard fare, however the audience certainly had no problem with enjoying his surprisingly darker punchlines.

The show ribs and rides on the success of his popular Netflix series, Travels with My Father, including an introductory segment voiced by Michael Whitehall himself which made reference to local institutions and how he’d much rather be at The Solstice than seeing his son perform! Throughout the show Jack performed some fantastic material on British cultural traditions, what it’s like performing in front of Prince Charles, and why dairy milk drinkers are considered the cigarette smokers of 2019. Jack’s inclusion of local references also has to be applauded, from mimicking a mad man shouting along Lincoln Road to parodying the posh Waitrose shoppers of Uppingham – it was clear Jack had done his research, but he might want to work on his correct pronunciation of the word ‘fens’ next time!

Overall it was a great night out and another reminder of all the fantastic comedians performing right on our doorstep, but if you missed out on seeing Jack last month you’ll be glad to know that due to a surge in demand, it’s just been announced he’ll be performing at the East of England Arena in Peterborough again in January 2020. Venue director Jason Lunn welcomed the news by saying, “The response to this show has been nothing short of fantastic, and we really didn’t want to have to turn away disappointed fans when the tickets sold out. So we’re delighted we could find an opportunity to get Jack back to the arena so soon after Christmas.”

Tickets for his second show on Monday January 6 are likely to sell out again, so if you’re interested in snatching tickets to see this comedy star’s longest and best-received tour so far, visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk/jack-whitehall or www.jackwhitehall.com.

44 www.espmag.co.uk

Taskmaster: The Board Game Move over Monopoly and sod off Scrabble – here’s a new board game to get families and friends together this Christmas! Now in its ninth season on Dave, Taskmaster boasts an impressive line-up of winners, including Bob Mortimer, Josh Widdicombe and most recently Ed Gamble, however this brand new board game gives players the chance to become Taskmaster Champion themselves. Packed full of ludicrous tasks, including video tasks filmed by Little Alex Horne himself, this board games brings the very essence of this popular show to the comfort of your own home.

Richard Osman’s House of Games Quiz Book Featuring hundreds of questions based on some of the most loved rounds from the hit BBC2 show, Richard Osman’s House of Games Quiz Book is the ultimate test of wit, wisdom and imagination. Quirky, unique and exactly the right amount of silly, House of Games offers over 50 new and exclusive games to try out for hours of guaranteed fun, as well as a chance to step inside the House of Games and pitch your trivia skills against your family and friends.

Comedy Gig Guide DEC

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FUNHOUSE COMEDY CLUB

VOODOO STANDS UP

Performing this month at the Lightbox Café on Bridge Street will be popular musical comedian Jonny Awsum, who’s previously appeared on BGT back in 2017. Joining him will be Fringe favourite Yuriko Kotani and compere Fran Jenking. Tickets are available by visiting www.funhousecomedy.co.uk.

The monthly stand up comedy event with established circuit headliner comedians returns to Mama Liz’s for its December session with Jonny Awsum from Britain’s Got Talent, Joe Zalias, Richard Massara and your compere for the night is Stevie Gray. Tickets are £10 from www.mamaliz.co.uk or call 07595 412 056.

STAND-UP COMEDY AT SAMM’S This month’s comedy club at Samm’s on Bridge Street is a festive triple headliner and will be featuring BGT runner-up Robert White plus Tanyalee Davis, who’s previously performed on Live at the Apollo.

Joining them will be up and coming comic Kae Kurd plus MC Chris Norton Walker. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.

Blue Bell Inn D OG S THOR P E One of Peterborough oldest Pubs we offer a warm welcome in lovely surroundings.

DECEMBER GIGS 7th The Deps 14th Kids Xmas party with entertainer (2pm)

Blackstar

Russell’s Big Three at the Cresset

(evening)

21st Racing the World 24th Caustic Lights 28th The Expletives New Year’s Eve Eyes Wide Open (Ticket only)

The Cresset’s clinched a real comedy corker and although it’s not until next summer you better book fast as tickets will no doubt fly out.

Next August will see the return of Russell Howard to the Bretton venue for the first time since he made an appearance at the Cresset’s long running Comedy Club way back in 2006 when he was second on the bill!

He’s returning in style with not one, but three headline shows running consecutively from Friday August 21 to Sunday August 23 at 8pm and tickets have just been released.

Penny Hansen from the Cresset told me she can’t wait for this one – “We’re delighted to welcome Russell back to The Cresset, and we’re thrilled he’s chosen to spend three nights here. We’re often told by comedians that The Cresset’s a great venue for comedy, and it’s fantastic that we’re able to bring another big comedy name to Peterborough!”

Russell’s been riding high with a critically acclaimed sold out arena leg of his Respite tour and is now back with his biggest stand up tour to date which is taking him all over the world – and Peterborough!

A regular on our TV screens, Russell’s also had huge success with his Sky One show, the Russell Howard Hour and his Netflix Special, Recalibrate. It’s good to see him back on stage with live stand up and this time he’s trying to make sense of a world that’s spinning out of control… aren’t we all!

For tickets visit www.cresset.co.uk or call the box office on 01733 265705.

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JAN

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Blue Bell Inn, Welland Road, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough PE1 3SA

Tel 01733 313700

The Ostrich Inn THE HEART OF THE CITY CENTRE

- Live Music - Courtyard Every Beer Garden Weekend (See - Craft Beers Gig Guide) - Quality - 5 constantly Wines changing Real Ales including - Large Gin Gluten Free Selection and Vegan

A PINT OF COMEDY The line-up for this month’s comedy club at the Stamford Arts Centre is yet to be announced, however it’s worth buying your tickets now as with every ticket bought you’ll receive £1 off your first drink purchased at the Cellar Bar, making it an ideal night out this Christmas. Tickets are available by calling 01780 763203.

ED BYRNE - IF I’M HONEST…

Thur 19th Dec

Not until next month, but best get your tickets soon for the new show from Ed Byrne, If I’m Honest, coming to the New Theatre. Join Ed as he takes a long hard look at himself and tries to decide if he has ANY traits that are worth passing on to his children. Tickets are available on 01733 852992. www.espmag.co.uk

17, North Street, Peterborough, PE1 2RA (just off Westgate) 45

NIGHTlife

Your guide to the nighttime scene SUN CITY PRESENTS GARAGE ANTHEMS Sun City presents Garage Anthems at The Solstice on Saturday November 30 with Pied Paper & MC DT performing Do You Really Like It and Kele Le Roc performing My Love, My Romeo and Things we do for Love plus Hyperactive performing Sexy Cinderella.

Advance tickets are £5 from the website www.thesolstice.co.uk.

BBC RADIO 1’S DANNY HOWARD HEADLINES MIXOLOGY ON BOXING DAY! When it’s the festive season, you know Mixo are going to deliver a Christmas-cracker of a line-up and this year is no exception as they welcome BBC Radio 1’s Danny Howard to Red Room on Broadway!

A cultivator and tastemaker of dance music, not only is Danny renowned for showcasing underground gems on his Friday night show but also heads up the Nothing Else Matters imprint, with club ready productions from influential DJs like Gerd Janson, Kill Frenzy and Waze & Odyssey as well as rising stars including Iglesias, Joseph Edmund and Peterborough’s very own and Mixo regular Alisha.

His own productions have seen him release on the likes of Toolroom, Subliminal Records and Shadowchild’s Food Music.

Joining Danny on the night are Mixo residents Tom Skinner, James Chan and Dan Clare (Maur) who’ll be setting the pace. They also welcome back Mixmag’s transatlantic jet setter and local lad Funster bringing his seasonal good tidings and a sledge full of Chunk bangers.

The night also sees Sola label boss and purveyor of tech-house stompers; Peterborough’s C.O.Z rounding off the Red Room line-up. And it wouldn’t be a Boxing Day Mixology without the return of Purple Room and this year they welcome Arc and Source to cohost the room.

Founder of Arc, Lee Haslam will be on selector duties alongside Jack Bettison and Callea. Taking over the controls into the small hours will be Stamford’s Source party. Dan Wallace is joined by Jason Veitch and Euphoric Sounds DJs.

M E D I A

S E R V I C E S

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NEW YEAR’S EVE AT EMBASSY The newly refurbished and renamed Embassy on Broadway has loads lined up to help you see in 2020.

They’ll be celebrating the decade 20102019 on December 31 with all 3 rooms at the venue dressed to impress and they want you to be too! Expect the biggest tracks from the last 10 years across all the genres.

The first 100 people get a free The Decade 2010-2019 CD. Tickets will go quick, so get them now to avoid disappointment and enjoy NYE in style!

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE! On Friday nights The Solstice on Northminster turns live music venue brining us some great bands.

Friday December 6 it’s Radius 45 from 10.30pm, followed by the High Rollers on Friday December 13 and finally the fantastic roackbilly band of brothers The Houndogs will have you rocking and rolling on Friday December 20. www.thesolstice.co.uk.

SOLSTICE NIGHTS It’s party season so head to The Solstice for some great nights out throughout December. On Friday December 13 it’s Urban Classics in the SolGarden from 10pm and on Saturday December 14 the SolGarden Sessions presents Platinum Radio LIVE! with Alessandro Vacca and DJ MD & Marc Dicks. Keep an eye on their Facebook and website for details of the big festive nights coming up.

PURE NICENESS @ THE LIGHTBOX CAFÉ These new nights at the Lightbox Café on Bridge Street continue on Saturday December 21 with the Xmas Red And White Affair Pure Niceness Party. They bring a Caribbean vibe to these winter nights, playing the best in R&B old school, reggae and all things nice. Getting in the Christmas spirit it’s all about the ‘Red and White Affair’ so dress to impress and you could be a winner of a bottle of bubbly.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAMM’S Independent bar SAMM’s on Bridge Street celebrates its first anniversary this month and ESP wishes the guys a big Happy Birthday!

There’s loads going on once again this month including live music and entertainment so plenty of reasons to drop by over the festive period.

Check out our Gig Guide for the live music nights, and their Facebook page for more, but you can join Mosh 4 Hope on Friday December 13, the Once Upon a Time in Peterborough Xmas Special is on Wednesday December 18 and on Friday December 20 it’s Progression Hardcore and grab the mic for the latest Lip Sync Battle Christmas Edition on Sunday December 22.

DID YOU KNOW WE DID THIS?

Leaflet Distribution – through our unique magazine distribution network or hand outs at events.

HEDKANDI 20TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT PART II For the last 20 years one iconic dance brand has delivered the finest house music to dance floors around the world.

The Solstice is proudly welcoming back Hedkandi to Peterborough as part of this year’s 20th Anniversary Tour Part II. Join them on Saturday December 21 for a night of pure Kandi magic with special guest DJs, performers and full HedKandi production.

The amazing line-up includes The Freemasons with the creator of the brand Mark Doyle, who’s recently rejoined the brand as it celebrates this amazing anniversary. The event also features Soraya Vivian, Sarah Sax Player and Alessandro Vacca.

It runs form 9pm to 4am, dress code is pure Kandi style and advance tickets are on sale now with more on the door on the night.

Call them on 01733 560231 or visit www.thesolstice.co.uk.

CALL: 01733 381266

Real ales • Live music Function/meeting room hire • Open to all

NIGHTS OUT AT THE BREWERY TAP

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE BURGHLEY

We have to say a huge well done to Mr Nash and the team at the Brewery Tap for raising nearly £12,000 for charity with their L’Aristo’s Revival nights and other events. Clubbers revisiting their nights out at the Fengate venue back in the day have generously helped raise over £10,500 for Sue Ryder and over £1,000 for Cancer Research.

There is plenty more happening at the Westgate venue this month.

The 2019 Annual OPA (old Petriburgians) reunion is returning to the Brewery Tap on Friday December 27. The event reunites old students, staff and friends of the Kings School. Following the success of last year’s open mic they will have more music performances.

They round off the year in style with the New Year’s Eve Soul Party with The Contacts – be quick as there are limited tickets remaining. It promises to be a night of high energy soul party fun featuring live music with support from DJ Andrew Lindsay. Contact the venue directly to purchase tickets.

Other entertainment this month includes Oakham Mic Night on Sunday December 1, 6pm – late, free entry and complimentary drinks voucher for all performers.

It’s karaoke on Thursdays December 5, 12 & 19 with Resident DJ Rick Allen from 9pm – late, free entry.

Thank Funk it’s Friday with resident DJ Mr Nash on Fridays December 6, 13 & 20 from 9pm – late, free entry.

The weekend gets you up and dancing at Saturday Night Groove on December 7, 14 & 21 with resident DJ Rick Allen from 9pm – late and again it’s free entry.

Rounding things off on Friday December 27 it’s Open Mic from 7pm – late with free entry .

NOVEMBER Friday 29th High Rollers Saturday 30th Soul FX

Friday 13th Ginger Ninja Disco

DECEMBER Friday 6th The Agents Saturday 7th Betty Swollocks

Friday 20th Outlaw Eagles

Saturday 14th Cosmic Rodney

Saturday 21st Hooker

Friday 27th Big W Disco Roadshow Saturday 28th The Zephyrs New Year’s Eve Dizzy Miss Lizzy’s + Wayne Mills Disco, buffet and glass of bubbly, £20/head

(All bands start at 9pm, free entry unless stated)

Sunday Carvery – All welcome, Sundays 12-4pm.

Adults

£7.95

Children

£4.95

Senior

£5.95

Selection of meats and local veg

We are now able to offer an Outside Bar & Event Catering Service. Please call for more details.

Last Tuesday of every month for senior citizens we offer a 3 course lunch for just £5.00

7 Burghley Road, Peterborough PE1 2QA Tel: 01733 896989 | www.theburghleyclub.co.uk

WHAT’S ON @ CHARTERS The bar on the river has another packed month ahead with the weekly general knowledge quiz taking up Thursdays on December 5, 12 & 19 from 8pm, and then the monthly Music Quiz on Sunday December 8 from 6.30pm.

Christmas Eve will be a biggie with the third Annual Vinyl Party kicking off at midday through until late. Expect everything from vintage soul to heavy metal, reggae to rock all on vinyl played out by various popular DJs. It’s free entry but they’ll be raising funds for the local charity Young People’s Counselling Service.

The usual Vinyl Night resumes on Friday December 27 with resident DJ Derek Gibson from 8pm – late.

Then spend New Year’s Eve with DJ Sav and dance the night away to an array of retro tunes from 8pm – late. It’s free entry but arrive early as space onboard is limited.

NEW DANCE NIGHT AND MORE @ THE MET Nearly 18 years since they've done a dance event at the club, the Met Lounge on Bridge Street is hosting a new night with Grooveyard on Friday December 6. This unique night will see special guests Inland Knights and Filta Freqz join Grooveyard resident Christian Murray.

Special discounted early bird tickets are on sale now so check out Facebook.

Grooveyard is an underground old skool free party sound system dedicated to keeping the underground house movement alive to the masses old and new with DJs playing quality house music – expect a mind blowing experience of the best house music Peterborough has ever seen.

On Friday December 13 it’s Panic! At The Emo: Christmas Special at the Met Lounge, and their newest club night goes from strength to strength as they relive the glory years of pop punk and introduce ska/skate punk/hardcore and more into the Pop Punk’s Not Dead Xmas Party on Friday December 20.

It’s the Code Red Christmas Evil Ball on Friday December 27 and NYE sees the 21st anniversary of the best ‘alternative’ party in town! www.espmag.co.uk

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PETERBOROUGH

Enjoy our new look Beer Garden.

Sky Sports and BT Sports showing all games of football

DECEMBER 7th Ska, Punk and Soul Revival Night 13th Honeywell 14th Mister J 21st Filthy Contact

Family friendly pub open at 12 midday everyday apart from Posh match days when we open at 11 am.

22nd Childrens’ Christmas Party 31st New Year’s Eve Party with Disco Tickets available from the pub

26 London Road, Peterborough PE2 8AR /ThePeacockPeterborough

keith.dalton@espmag.co.uk

Keith Dalton has the ESP guide to the best news and views from the local live music scene…

Where the Tunes are at this NYE So New Year’s Eve looms. It’s great to see that quite a few venues are giving us live music to herald in 2020. So depending on your taste in music here are just a few suggestions: You can expect to bring in the new year in style at The Ploughman in Werrington Centre as Simmo always lays on a great celebration. I predict there’ll be plenty of Queen and other rock classics as the music comes from Last Minute Brigade. I’m sure it will be a mixture of classics but LMB excel at Queen numbers.

If soul is your thing then The Brewery Tap is the place to head because in just two years The Contacts have established themselves as a very popular soul band in the area and played a very lively set at the Peterborough Beer Festival this year.

The Nuggets are at Fletton Club playing a great range of sixties hits and you can

always expect the unexpected when lead singer Karl Brown gets in the party mood.

Ramshackle Serenade play their unique brand of swingabilly at The Bluebell Inn in Werrington. I saw their excellent performance at the Beer Festival a couple of years ago and it’s bound to be a good night.

The Ostrich has been revived under new management and has been right on the money with a great run of live music nights and they keep that up with The Money Shot keeping things lively on New Year’s Eve with free entry.

Finally the versatile and ever popular Children of the Revolution are playing Ebeneezers in Woodston and you can hear plenty of Beatles when the Dizzy Miss Lizzy’s play on New Year’s Eve at The Burghley.

I think some very good choices for you there, but a word of warning, because of the

desire to control the size of the crowd and the cost of putting on the evening MOST venues have a ticket policy on New Year’s Eve. So if you’re interested, I would contact the venue and get your tickets as soon as possible. Don’t just turn up at the door on the night because you will most likely be disappointed. See our Gig Guide for more.

Wherever you go... whatever you’re doing...

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Rest In Punk Allen Photo: GIZZ BUTT March 31st 2016

Allen (left) with his hero and friend, Tim Smith AKA T.V. Smith of The Adverts.

It was a shock to hear of the death of Allen Adams who was a long time band member of The Destructors and will be familiar to visitors of The Met Lounge as he worked there for many years.

Allen was lead singer of the local punk band at their beginning in 1976 and was their current lead singer, with a small period on bass in the middle of their extensive career bringing punk rock to the UK for over 43 years.

Allen loved being in a band, and writing and producing albums and once told ESP – “I have 7,500 sets of lyrics ready to work on, I wake up and I have a line of a song in my head it’s like I write them in my sleep.”

He also produced collaborative works with younger bands in the city, Allen decided that a good side project would be the This Is Peterborough album which features young bands of that time and Destructors guitarist, Dave Colton told me – “He gave not only his time and expertise to helping 48 www.espmag.co.uk

young musicians , but also personally financed many of the recordings. The impact that Allen had on the local music scene will be greatly missed. We’re all shocked and devastated at the news.”

Former ESP live music columnist Andy Slater added - “Allen was a great guy and a founding member of the Peterborough Punk movement. He was mad, funny and a very clever and productive writer. I remember well the deep conversations we had at the Met Lounge desk at 2am. I always woke up on Sunday with a new Destructors CD in my coat. He will be greatly missed.”

It was Allen who gave The Prodigy’s Gizz Butt his name. When he joined The Destructors, he was Graham back then but Allen thought he looked like Gizzard Puke so called him Gizz and it stuck! Gizz told us – “Hearing about his death gave me a massive shock. I just thought he'd go on making CD's forever.

His output was beyond prolific; he would release a minimum of an album a year. I can understand why he did it. It gave him a reason and a vehicle for that knowledge of his. He will be sadly missed. No more birthday parties at the Hand and Heart with TV Smith providing the entertainment, no more CD's slapped in the hand at the Met Lounge where Allen worked on the door. No more of that big smile and that cheeky eye twinkle.”

So many people have commented on social media on the man Allen Adams and he was undoubtedly a generous, clever eccentric. He was a character who even had a full size Dalek in his bedroom (courtesy of BBC Props Dept).

I’ll leave the last word to Gizz: “Possibly the most pro-active person to come out of Peterborough! RIP Allen Adams. Rest In PUNK!”

AND…

RIP LLOYD As we were about to go to press I received the devastating news of the death of my lifelong friend Lloyd Watson. We grew up together, went to school together and although our careers went on different paths, we always kept in touch mainly through our shared love of music. He was an outstandingly talented guitarist who will be greatly missed by all the local music community.

Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.

LIVE MUSIC DURING DECEMBER AT THE PLOUGHMAN Proudly sponsored by

Fri 6th Dec The Mighty and the High Sat 7th Dec The Nuggets

Fri 13th Dec Dirty Rumour

Fri 20th Dec The Overdubs

Fri 27th Dec High Rollers

Sat 14th Dec Children of the Revolution

Sat 21st Dec Revolver

Tues 31st Dec Last Minute Brigade (Ticket Only)

The Ploughman, 1 Staniland Way, Peterborough, PE4 6NA Tel: 01733 327696

Music On Stage There is no better way to begin celebrating Christmas than with a Christmas special dedicated to your favourite artists’ music. So I thought I’d look around the area’s venues for some alternatives that may appeal. Obviously pantomimes dominate later in December but there’s still plenty on offer early in the month.

Big Girls Don’t Cry At the New Theatre Peterborough on Thursday December 5 there’s Big Girls Don’t Cry. This show features all your favourite Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons hits along with a generous sprinkle of festive falsetto with Christmas standards arranged in the iconic harmonic style of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, and I’m sure audience participation will be encouraged.

At the Stamford Corn Exchange they feature a run of Christmas specials starting with the Johnny Cash Revisited Christmas Road Show on Thursday December 5.

You get a chance to enjoy two hours of classic rock ’n’ roll and country music with a whole bunch of festive fun thrown in for good measure. The Man in Black, Johnny Cash, just loved the festive season and his Christmas TV Specials are legendary. This will feature all of Johnny Cash’s greatest hits including Folsom Prison Blues, I Walk The Line, A Boy Named Sue, Ring of Fire plus many, many more, together with a selection of Christmas classics. It features Rick McKay as The Man in Black, together with Jodie McKay as June Carter-Cash.

Bootleg Abba Christmas Party The following evening, Friday December 6, sees the Bootleg Abba Christmas Party night.

For over 20 years Bootleg Abba have toured the UK and Europe to great acclaim, and the music of Abba has continued to be the most enjoyed and sought after entertainment since their explosive appearance at the Eurovision song contest in 1974, through to the phenomenal success of the Mamma Mia movie. An unbelievable list of hits and of course their stage costumes wouldn’t need any extra glitter and sparkle for Christmas.

That 80’s Christmas Rock Show

And on Saturday December 7 the Corn Exchange has That 80’s Christmas Rock Show which claims to pay homage to the era taste forgot! If you love Bon Jovi, Queen, Bonnie Tyler, Whitesnake, Journey and Guns’n’Roses then this could be up your festive street.

It features an energetic 6-piece band performing all the biggest 80’s stadium rock anthems and power ballads. Expect an energetic, anthemic, fun new show with these larger than life characters and I’m sure plenty of air-guitar too!

Finally, at the Key Theatre on Monday December 9 is The Rat Pack Swinging Christmas show. The cast is David Alacey who was in the original West End production as Frank Sinatra, Des Coleman as Sammy Davis Jnr and Paul Drakeley as Dean Martin. This is the original Rat Pack show, now celebrating its 20th record breaking year and it was voted the No.1 tribute show by Agents in 2016 & 17 and also did a guest performance in 2017 on Strictly Come Dancing.

Together they amaze audiences with their recreation of the music of Sinatra, Martin and Davis, in a fabulous show which brings the style and excitement of the Las Vegas heyday to vivid life. Including all the great hits – My Way, Mr Bojangles, New York New York, Amore, and Come Fly With Me! Tickets for all these shows can be obtained from the theatre box offices: New Theatre Peterborough 01733 852992 Key Theatre Peterborough 01733 207239 Stamford Corn Exchange 01780 766455

The Rat Pack Swinging Christmas show

Westlife are signd up for Boro Gig! What great news about the forthcoming Westlife appearance at the home of Peterborough United. The Irish quartet will perform at The Weston Homes Stadium on Sunday June 21 next summer. Another brilliant signing by Posh!

Although they’re not particularly my cup of tea, the family have already got their tickets and there’s no disputing their success and popularity with 14 number ones in the UK charts over their career.

The band were reunited last year after a six year split so fans will have been starved of seeing them and I feel sure that this is going to be another sell out at Posh’s ground.

As this is the 4th year of concerts at the venue, I hope there will be other bookings announced for next year and that it continues as a regular feature in the city.

Well done to the Commercial Team at Posh! www.espmag.co.uk

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GIGGUIDE WED NOV 27 BACKROOM ACOUSTIC WITH DAVE AND SHAUN The Ale House Kitchen, Ramsey COUNTRY MIX The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate THU NOV 28 CHARITY GIG SAMM'S, Bridge Street OPEN MIC WITH GRAHAM CLEAVER The Blue Boar, Eye THE PALMY UKE BAND The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

DIZZY MISS LIZZYS Charters, Town Bridge DONUT The Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping KICKBACK Palmers, Long Sutton

MON DEC 2 CJ HATT The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate OPEN MIC WITH STACEY LOWETH The Blue Bell, Werrington

KUSHTY SAMM'S, Bridge Street

TUE DEC 3

LAST MINUTE BRIGADE The Ruddy Duck, Peakirk

ACOUSTIC NIGHT WITH GRAHAM CLEAVER The Millstone, Barnack

OUTLAW EAGLES The Cock Inn, Werrington

LAZY OYSTER JAZZ BAND The Angel Inn, Yarwell

PRIMA VISTA Fletton Club, Fletton

OPEN MIC NIGHT The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

FRI NOV 29

REVOLVER The Black Bull, Donnington

ACOUSTIC SESSION WITH THE BOATMEN The Boat Inn, Whittlesey

SOUL FX The Burghley, Burghley Road

DIVISION (6PM) Mattoni Restaurant, Eye

STEALER The New Crown, Whittlesey

THU DEC 5

CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION The Nag's Head, Bourne GROOVE CARTELL The Brewery Tap, Westgate HIGH ROLLERS The Burghley, Burghley Road

STIPE (REM TRIBUTE) The Met Lounge, Bridge Street SUBWAY 77 The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

HIT 4 SIX The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

THE ELECTRIC WARRIORS The Peacock, London Road

LAST MINUTE BRIGADE The Golden Fleece, Stamford

THE ONE EYED CATS The Crown, Lincoln Road

LEFTOVAS The Ploughman, Werrington

THE STROLLERS The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

RAMSHACKLE SERENADE The Blue Bell, Werrington

TIGER CLUB The Ploughman, Werrington

THE MIGHTY & THE HIGH The Ostrich, North Street

SUN DEC 1

TOMMY PHILPOTT The Queen's Head, Queen Street TRUE 90S The Crown, Lincoln Road SAT NOV 30

COSMIC RODNEY The Blue Bell, Dogsthorpe DEAD REYNOLDS + A STORY TO TELL + NOVA STATUS + THE MORPHICS Mama Liz's, Stamford 50 www.espmag.co.uk

CHRIS WATSON (3PM) Charters, Town Bridge GEORGIA EVANS (2PM) The Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping JAZZ UNDERGROUND SAMM'S, Bridge Street MIZMERISE The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate OAKHAM MIC NIGHT The Brewery Tap, Westgate PENNYLESS (4PM) Mama Liz's, Stamford

WED DEC 4

OPEN ACOUSTIC Mama Liz's, Stamford OPEN MIC NIGHT The Queen's Head, Queen Street PETERBOROUGH BIG BAND The Blue Bell, Werrington THE PALMY UKE BAND The Ploughman, Werrington VOODOO ACOUSTIC WITH DAVID B Mama Liz's, Stamford FRI DEC 6 CARPARK RENDEZVOUS The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road CUTTIN LOOSE The Jubilee, Bourne FIRED UP The Crown, Lincoln Road FRANKLY MY DEAR The Ostrich, North Street

ROMY The Queen's Head, Queen Street

TRUE BRITISH MAYHEM The Cock Inn, March

DIVISION The Queen's Head, Queen Street

THE AGENTS The Burghley, Burghley Road

VARIOUS ARTISTS (5PM) St Mary's Church, Whittlesey

FOLK NIGHT The Falcon Hotel, Whittlesey

THE GANGSTERS The Nag's Head, Bourne THE MIGHTY & THE HIGH The Ploughman, Werrington TIN PIGEONS + LEWIS SPIERS Mama Liz's, Stamford SAT DEC 7 AMANDA JAYNE Fletton Club, Fletton BETTY SWOLLOCKS The Burghley, Burghley Road

SUN DEC 8 LEXIE GREEN (4PM) Mama Liz's, Stamford MATTY HAYNES (3PM) Charrters, Town Bridge ROB BULL ACOUSTIC (3PM) The Frothblowers, Werrington WILDLIGHTS The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

FRANKLY MY DEAR The Cock Inn, Werrington HIGH ROLLERS The Solstice, Northminster HONEYWELL The Peacock, London Road THE CUREHEADS + SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES EXPEREINCE Mama Liz's, Stamford THE LAZOONS Charters, Town Bridge

MON DEC 9

CAPTAIN BACKWASH The Angel Inn, Yarwell

OPEN MIC NIGHT The Talbot, Stilton

CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION Charters, Town Bridge

SUGAR & SPICE The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

DIRTY RUMOUR The Golden Fleece, Stamford

TUE DEC 10

FRANKLY MY DEAR The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

OPEN MIC NIGHT The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

LAST MINUTE BRIGADE The Granary, Long Sutton

WED DEC 11

BLACKSTAR The Blue Bell, Dogsthorpe

NICKY The Nag's Head, Bourne

BACKROOM ACOUSTIC WITH DAVE AND SHAUN The Ale House Kitchen, Ramsey

CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION The Ploughman, Werrington

NIGHTFUEL The Cock Inn, Werrington

GEORGIA EVANS The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

PIZZA TRAMP + BRASSICK + MIXTAPE SAINTS + KICKED IN THE TEETH Mama Liz's, Stamford

GEORGIA EVANS JINGLE BALL (TICKETED) Village Hall, Castor

THU DEC 12

GO WITH THE FLOW Fletton Club, Fletton

REVOLVER The Stage, Market Deeping THE CHUCK NORRIS EXPERIENCE The Fayre Spot, Bretton

CAPTAIN BACKWASH The Hand & Heart, Highbury Street OPEN MIC NIGHT The Queen's Head, Queen Street FRI DEC 13

THE DEPS The Blue Bell, Dogsthorpe

ANOTHER GIRL ANOTHER PLANET The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

SAT DEC 14 ANDY WELBURN SAMM'S, Bridge Street AUSTIN GOLD + DEAD REYNOLDS (TICKETED) Stamford Corn Exchange, Broad Street

GROOVE CARTELL Charters, Town Bridge HUSH The Cock, March LAST MINUTE BRIGADE The Cock Inn, Werrington LEXIE GREEN AND THE INDIGO BLUE The Angel Inn, Yarwell

CANDY TWIST The Golden Fleece, Stamford

MISTER J The Peacock, London Road

CAP'N RASTYS BIG TIME CHARLIES The Crown, Lincoln Road

NICKY The Nag's Head, Bourne

OPAQUE Charters, Town Bridge

THE NUGGETS The Ploughman, Werrington

CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION The New Crown, Whittlesey

OPEN MIC WITH GRAHAM CLEAVER The Bull, Newborough

RADIUS 45 The Solstice, Northminster

THIRD STONE FROM THE SUN SAMM'S, Bridge Street

DIRTY RUMOUR The Ploughman, Werrington

HONEYWELL The Peacock, London Road MOTOR CITY VIPERS The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

THE ELECTRIC WARRIORS The Crown, Lincoln Road THE INTRUDERS The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

THE BROADCASTERS The Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping

If you want to get your gigs in ESP for free, e-mail:

GIGS@ESPMAG.CO.UK THE ELECTRIC WARRIORS The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road THE EXPLETIVES The Crown, Lincoln Road THE REVOLUTIONAIRES British Legion, Yaxley COSMIC RODNEY The Burghley, Burghley Road

THU DEC 19

SAT DEC 21

SUN DEC 22

ACOUSTIC NIGHT WITH JOHNNY QUINN + ROBERT J BULL + ADAM LEON + JIMMY DOHERTY The Ostrich, North Street

ATOMIC PEACH The Golden Fleece, Stamford

ANNA & JIMMY The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

CANDY TWIST The Talbot, Stilton

DANIEL WATT The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

CAUSTIC LIGHTS The Crown, Lincoln Road

DAVID JAMES SMITH ACOUSTIC (4PM) The Ostrich, North Street

OPEN MIC WITH GRAHAM CLEAVER The Blue Boar, Eye

VELOCITY The Fayre Spot, Bretton

POWERED OPEN MIC NIGHT The Blue Boar, Eye

SUN DEC 15

FRI DEC 20

CHRIS BOOTH The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION The Prince of Wales, Castor

DIVISION The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate KEITH LUCKEY (3PM) The Frothblowers, Werrington OPEN MIC NIGHT The Fayre Spot, Bretton ROB & DAVE COTR ACOUSTIC (3PM) Charters, Town Bridge

GLAM SLAM GLITZ The Crown, Lincoln Road

MON DEC 16

JUNK PUPPETS The Blue Bell, Werrington

TOMMY PHILPOTT The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate TUE DEC 17 OPEN MIC NIGHT The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate OPEN MIC WITH THE BOATMEN AND PHIL Q The Boat Inn, Whittlesey

LOOSE ROCKET The Jubilee, Bourne OUTLAW EAGLES The Burghley, Burghley Road RETROLUX The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road ROB JEFFREY The Angel Inn, Yarwell

HIGH ROLLERS The Ploughman, Werrington OPEN MIC NIGHT The Brewery Tap, Westgate RAMSHACKLE SERENADE The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

FILTHY CONTACT The Peacock, London Road

PALMY UKE BAND (3PM) Charters, Town Bridge

HIGH ROLLERS Charters, Town Bridge

PETER JAY (4PM) The Talbot, Stilton

REVOLVER The Nag's Head, Bourne

MON DEC 23

THE MONEY SHOT The Crown, Lincoln Road

HOOKER The Burghley, Burghley Road HUSH The Crown, Earith

HAYLEY DI RITO The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

TO ENHANCE YOUR GIGS PLEASE CONTACT US ON 01733 381266 FOR MORE DETAILS

STEVE BEAN 4PM Mama Liz's, Stamford

FILTHY CONTACT The Cock Inn, Werrington

TUE DEC 24

PARK ROYLE The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

CAUSTIC LIGHTS The Blue Bell, Dogsthorpe

RACING THE WORLD The Blue Bell, Dogsthorpe

LAST MINUTE BRIGADE The Crown, Lincoln Road

REVOLVER The Ploughman, Werrington

RACING THE WORLD SAMM'S, Bridge Street

STEALER The Ostrich, North Street

WED DEC 18

THE HOUNDOGS The Solstice, Northminster

DIVISION (6PM) Mattoni Restaurant, Eye

THE OVERDUBS The Ploughman, Werrington

THE MIGHTY & THE HIGH The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

PAGAN The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

WALKWAY Charters, Town Bridge

THE SMARTIES SAMM'S, Bridge Street

AFTERLIFE The Cock Inn, Werrington BOBA FETT The Crown, Lincoln Road CLARKSDALE CONTRACT SAMM'S, Bridge Street

NICKY The Nag's Head, Bourne

STAR LIZZY The Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping

SAT DEC 28

RAMSHACKLE SERENADE The Coalheavers, Woodston FRI DEC 27 ACOUSTIC SESSION WITH THE BOATMEN The Boat Inn, Whittlesey CARPARK RENDEZVOUS The Queen's Head, Queen Street

MOLLY'S CHAMBER The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

THE EXPLETIVES The Blue Bell, Dogsthorpe THE ZEPHYRS The Burghley, Burghley Road SUN DEC 29 ALAN TRENDELL The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

TUE DEC 31 ANOTHER GIRL ANOTHER PLANET The Crown, Lincoln Road BILLY GEE AND THE HEARTBEATS The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue CAUSTIC LIGHTS (TICKETED) The Fayre Spot, Bretton CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION (TICKETED) Ebeneezers, Woodston DIZZY MISS LIZZYS (TICKETED) The Burghley, Burghley Road

EYES WIDE OPEN (TICKETED) The Blue Bell, Dogsthorpe RAMSHACKLE SERENADE The Blue Bell, Werrington THE CONTACTS (TICKETED) The Brewery Tap, Westgate THE MONEY SHOT The Ostrich, North Street THE NUGGETS (TICKETED) Fletton Club, Fletton THE ZEPHYRS (TICKETED) The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

RICHARD KEELING The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

VELOCITY SAMM'S, Bridge Street

MON DEC 30

THU JAN 2

THE RAINMEN The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

VOODOO ACOUSTIC WITH DAVID B Mama Liz's, Stamford

THURSDAY DECEMBER 19

ORIGINALS ACOUSTIC NIGHT

GIG of the MONTH

The Ostrich Inn, 17 North Street, Peterborough A new acoustic originals night featuring some great local talent who’ll be familiar to many. This one sees Johnny Quinn, Robert J Bull, Adam Leon and Jimmy Doherty showcase some of their original tunes.

The first act is on at 8.30pm and it’s free entry.

www.espmag.co.uk

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