ESP January 2020

JANUARY 2020

Issue 245

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It’s a new start – what will you change in your life this year?

Inspiring ideas for 2020

Time to Change Supplement Inspiring ideas for 2020

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MEET YOUR GOALS @ VIVACITY GYMS

EDITORIAL Editor Sharon McAllister sharon.mcallister@espmag.co.uk

ADVERTISING Head of Sales & Marketing Sean McAllister sean.mcallister@espmag.co.uk

DESIGN Tony Mayer tony.mayer@espmag.co.uk

PHOTOGRAPHY Andy Vernum, Emma Bothamley, Mike Harris, Chris Brudenell, Andrew James

COLuMNISTS Pep Cipriano pep.cipriano@espmag.co.uk Darren Grigas darren.grigas@espmag.co.uk Keith Dalton keith.dalton@espmag.co.uk Phil Adlam phil.adlam@espmag.co.uk Karen Devine karen.devine@espmag.co.uk

REPORTERS Mikey Clarke mikey.clarke@espmag.co.uk Sarah Tempest sarah.tempest@espmag.co.uk Sarah Slack sarah.slack@espmag.co.uk

It’s a new year and you’re probably thinking it’s time to shape up for 2020! Vivacity gyms have launched a campaign called 'My goals' which focuses on that very intention.

There are six Vivacity gyms across the city in Hampton, the city centre, Orton, Netherton and Werrington and you can sign up with no fee and no contract.

They offer an individually tailored fitness plan, over 200 fitness classes a week and multi gym access memberships. So whatever your personal goals may be it sounds like they’re the ideal place to start!

Call 01733 864000 or search Vivacity Gyms to find out more.

TIME TO TREE-CYCLE

CONTRIBuTORS Gavin Miller gavin.miller@espmag.co.uk Marc Hernandez marc.hernandez@espmag.co.uk Rachael Church rachael.church@espmag.co.uk

ESP MAGAZINE LTD Directors Sharon McAllister sharon.mcallister@espmag.co.uk Sean McAllister sean.mcallister@espmag.co.uk

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ESP is a totally independent publication, not linked in any way to any other Peterborough publications. ESP is written, researched, designed and published by ESP Magazine Ltd. The views expressed in this magazine are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. All design and artwork is the copyright of its respective owner. Reproduction of any part of this publication is strictly prohibited unless prior written consent is given by the publishers.

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Now all the festivities are over don’t forget to ‘Tree-cycle’ and help support people needing hospice care.

Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice’s popular charity Tree-cycling is back, helping you recycle your real Christmas trees while raising vital funds for the hospice.

The scheme, first launched by Nene Valley Tree Services last year, saw recycled Christmas trees raise over £400 which could pay for 21 hours of hospice care.

This year it’s bigger and better than ever, with

collections now available directly from your home on January 4 and 11.

In return for a £10 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 if you chose to Tree-cycle in support of Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall you will not only raise vital funds for local families needing care from the hospice, but reduce landfill and support local farming businesses too.

If you live in areas with the PE1, PE2, PE3, PE4, PE5, PE6, PE7 or PE8 postcodes you can book your Christmas tree collection at www.sueryder.org/ ThorpeTreecycling.

If you live outside those postcode areas just call 01733 225999 to see whether collections can be arranged.

MADE IN DAGENHAM IS COMING SOON!

We need something to look forward to now all the excitement’s over so drop the date of this great show in your shiny new 2020 diary!

Following the success of 2018’s Spamalot, Westwood Musical Society are returning with their new production of Made in Dagenham at the Key Theatre this spring, on March 24 – 28.

Inspired by a true story and based on the hit movie, Made in Dagenham is the new British comedy musical about friendship, love and the importance of fighting for what’s right.

This is more than just a musical – it’s an uplifting human journey. It really happened. It changed history.

It’s emotional, it’s funny.

You’ll love it!

Book online at www.vivacity.org/theatreevents or call the Key Theatre box office on 01733 207239.

DIVISION ARE A CHARITABLE DUO

There are some talented local musicians here… but also some really good-hearted ones.

A popular music act who regularly perform at venues around Peterborough and the surrounding area has been collecting donations on behalf of Light Project Peterborough, a charity which supports the city’s rough sleeping community.

Local duo Division has been collecting money since last year at any local events where they performed.

Division – Adam and Mark – have become well known as a popular live acoustic act who entertain with a variety of covers that they do in their own style, plus they offer live requests so as long as they know the tune well enough they will have a go! They play regularly at the Pizza Parlour, Mattoni restaurants, Charters Bar, The Queens Head, The Windmill in Orton Waterville, The Cock Inn in Werrington, and many more locations around Peterborough so try and catch them… and donate some pennies.

VIVACITY GYM LAUNCHES NEW LES MILLS CLASSES If you’re into your fitness you’ll have heard of Les Mills.

The latest round of new classes from Body Combat to Body Pump are being launched on Sunday January 12 and Vivacity’s Hampton Leisure Centre is leading the way with six new classes.

Head down between 10am and 5pm to be among the first to try them out. You don’t have to be a member to go along – just ring and book through Emma Sweeney on 01733 864656.

X FACTOR FINALIST AT CHARITY ICE BALL

Here at ESP we love former X-Factor finalist, Nicole Lawrence, so we’re pleased to hear the talent singer will be providing the entertainment at a charity ball next month, 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 fundraising event to date.

They’re staging their first Ice Ball, a charity event to be held at Greetham Valley Golf Club on Saturday February 8, which includes fizz on arrival, a sumptuous three-course meal, a thrilling auction and entertainment.

For more information visit: www.stamfordiceball.co.uk.

SHALAMAR STAR TO PERFORM AT ST. JOHNS CHURCH

Something else to look forward to this year… Howard Hewett the lead singer in Shalamar is set to perform in Peterborough on Friday March 6 at a venue that will provide a perfect setting for the event!

Soul singer Howard is coming to the UK to just 4 cities for his debut solo tour and among them is St John’s Church in Peterborough – right in the city centre.

‘’We’ve brought Shalamar to the city 3 times now and it’s clear the band have a committed fanbase in this area.

We’re hoping they’ll be interested in seeing Howard in this unique setting” said show promoter Steve Jason, “This will be a unique opportunity to see one of the most gifted R&B singers in the world – here in Peterborough. It’s a lot smaller than the theatres we’ve played with Shalamar and the acoustics in the Church are superb.”

Tickets are on sale now priced at just £25 from www.seetickets.com and from www.ticketsource.co.uk.

Tickets are also available from the Tourist Information Centre on Bridge Street Peterborough.

THE PLOUGHMAN HELPS SUE RYDER The Ploughman in Werrington is a real community pub and has won Civic Awards for being super charitable. Now they’ve done it again with customers at their Winter Beer Festival helping raise over £4,000 for Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice. Well done once again to Holli, Andy and the team for organising so many events to benefit local charities – and of course all their generous punters!

Now, we know it’s Dry January, but try not to forget your local – even if it’s for a fruit juice and a pack of crisps, they need your support.

FREEMASONS SUPPORT ANNA’S HOPE

Uffington resident Colin Ward has presented a cheque for £500 on behalf of Welland Lodge to Carole Hughes from Anna’s Hope the local charity that supports children with brain tumours and their families. Carole (who lives in Stamford) founded the charity after losing her own daughter.

The money raised by the Freemasons will help fund vital care and support during and after treatment. If you’d like to support the charity contact Carole through www.annas-hope.co.uk.

LocalEntertainment

Four Go Mad in Thetford Forest

Cabaret This month gets off to a great start at the New Theatre with the return of Bill Kenwright’s fantastic revival of the classic musical Cabaret.

When it last took to the stage here it was an incredible night out with Will Young starring as Emcee but in the latest version of this hit show former EastEnders star John Partridge takes up the role. He’s become one of West End theatre’s most prolific leading men (A Chorus Line, Chicago, and La Cage Aux Folles) and is making his mark on this leading role.

This smash hit production directed by Rufus Norris will be a spectacular start to the year at the theatre transporting you to decadent 1930’s Berlin and the Kit Kat Klub. It’s full of show-stopping choreography, dazzling costumes and iconic songs including Money Makes the World Go Round, Maybe This Time, Cabaret and more.

Kara Lily Hayworth, who recently won rave reviews across the country for her portrayal of Cilla Black in Cilla the Musical, after she was discovered

by Bill Kenwright during the show’s nationwide TV auditions, stars as Sally Bowles. As Fraulein Schneider it’s singer and screen icon Anita Harris who first rose to fame as a singer in the 1960s and has played Grizabella in the West End’s Cats.

Joining this talented line-up is Basienka Blake (Casualty) as Fraulein Kost, Charles Hagerty (The Bodyguard, West End) as Cliff Bradshaw, James Paterson (The Phantom Of The Opera, West End) as Herr Schultz and Nick Tizzard (Doc Martin) as Ernst Ludwig.

This production’s been gaining plenty of critical acclaim and this is a chance to see it for yourself, right on your doorstep – no travel costs, no overnight stays required – just a top quality show in Peterborough. See it here from January 21 - 25. Grab your tickets now on 01733 852992 or visit www.newtheatrepeterborough.com.

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If there’s a way to beat the January blues, the latest show by Eastern Angles Theatre Company should be it.

They’ve come up with another great localised production that’s certain to bring a smile to your face this month when it comes to the Key Theatre Studio.

Dad’s Army and Boudicca all pop up in the musical comedy The Famous Four & A Half Go Wild in Thetford Forest and it’s getting great reviews.

It has its Peterborough run from January 21 – 25 and it’s packed with plenty of laughs (just what you need in January!) and original wacky songs as the company 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.

Ivan Cutting, Artistic Director at Eastern Angles, will be directing the show this year. He can’t wait to get started:

“Directing the Eastern Angles Christmas show is like no other job during the year. There is a script, but it changes, and then it has to absorb the interaction with the audience, the swift costume changes that hilariously go wrong, and the addition or swaps of local references during the tour, which always bring whoops of recognition. It’s going to be a corker of a show.”

So, get lashings of ginger beer at the ready for a jolly fun night out! Tickets start from £10 from the box office on 01733 207239.

FROM THE JAM ARE BACK! Fans of The Jam are in for a treat this month when From the Jam make a welcome return to The Cresset on Saturday 25 following their sold out show in 2017.

Incredibly it’s the 40th anniversary of The Jam’s fourth studio album Setting Sons and From the Jam are celebrating this milestone with their latest tour and having seen them last time they came here we can’t wait to watch them again. Frontman Russell Hastings is equally excited about the show.

“We can’t wait to perform the whole of Setting Sons live,” says vocalist and guitarist Russell Hastings. “The album has been noted as another one of The Jam’s best albums along with All Mod Cons. It seems that even the obscure album tracks like Little Boy Soldiers and Thick As Thieves are as popular when we play them live as the hit singles.”

The critically acclaimed album reached No.4 in the UK and was the band’s first album to enter the US charts.

Succeeding All Mod Cons, the album became a commercial success, earning them their first top ten hit single, The Eton Rifles.

From the Jam, featuring original Jam member Bruce Foxton, along with Russell Hastings will perform selections from this classic album plus a selection of hand-picked songs from the band’s back catalogue, so expect to hear more of your favourites like A Town Called Malice, Going Underground, The Modern World, Down in the Tube Station and That’s Entertainment.

We’ll see you there! Tickets are available on www.cresset.co.uk or call the box office on 01733 265705.

McCartney The Songbook Here’s a new one for fans of the music of Sir Paul McCartney, The Beatles and Wings.

This show at the Cresset comes from the producers of smash hit shows That’ll Be The Day and Walk Right Back and is billed as the ultimate McCartney experience.

Starring Joe Kane (Let It Be – West End and Touring, Cavern Club, Bootleg Beatles), this fantastic production tells the story of Sir Paul’s career from the early beginnings with the Fab Four, the Wings days and his prolific solo career with tales of life on the road and flashbacks to life in Liverpool.

With authentic costume and instrumentation complete with a fantastic live band the show features over 40 monster hits including Band On The Run, Can’t Buy Me Love, Yesterday, Live and Let Die, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Hey Jude.

It heads to the Bretton venue on Friday January 17 and tickets are £23 from the box office on 01733 265705.

Ruby Turner Returns To The Key Theatre

The panto fun continues this month so if you haven’t had your fair share of ‘It’s behind you’s’ and haven’t quite booed and hissed enough, get yourself along to Stamford for Jack and the Beanstalk.

This classic from Polka Dot Pantomimes in association with Stamford Arts Centre is their latest hilarious pantomime adventure and now’s the ideal time to take the kids along and have a family laugh together 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 on www.stamfordartscentre.com or call the box office on 01780 763203.

Sinderella Adult Panto Keep the kids at home and prepare for some adult naughtiness in this panto that’s set to be fun, filthy and fabulous!

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 RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, she still makes it to the ball with the help of her Fairy Drag Henny – Stacy Layne Matthews from RuPaul’s 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... this promises to be the biggest ball in town!

Start your engines Peterborough, Sinderella’s heading to the Cresset on Thursday January 30. Tickets are £24 on 01733 265705.

Photo: Pamela Raith Photography

Soul fans are in for a treat this month as Ruby Turner returns to the Peterborough stage.

Ruby’s regarded as having one of the greatest voices the UK has ever produced and now after selling out in 2018, Ruby Turner returns to the Key Theatre on Friday January 24.

This prolific soul artist can breathe life and meaning into a song whether it is a passionate soaring ballad or a soulful uptempo groove. Her career to date has been sensational with major tours, film, TV and theatre appearances. And of course all those appearances with Jools Holland on tour.

Described as truly the genuine article and blessed with a voice that’s been likened to Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin, Ruby continues to win the hearts and minds of an ever growing and diverse fan base.

For tickets, head online to www.vivacity.org or call the Key Theatre box office on 01733 207239.

Jack and the Beanstalk – Polka Dot Pantomimes

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat Dreams do come true… we’re getting a second chance to see Bill Kenwright’s production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s family musical in the city when it returns to the New Theatre on Broadway this month.

This spectacular musical remains as popular as ever and this production features Britain’s Got Talent 2019 finalist, Mark McMullan as Joseph, and 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 all the unforgettable songs we love.

It’s on from Tuesday January 7 – Saturday January 11. Tickets are from £20 £37.50 on 01733 852992 or visit www.newtheatre-peterborough.com.

The Bob Dylan Story The Key Theatre ends the month with a stunning live concert celebration of popular music’s greatest icon on Friday January 31.

It’s written by and stars genuine Dylan fans, complete with evocative visual projections and the fascinating stories behind the songs.

Join ‘Bob’ and ‘The Band’ on a nostalgic trip through and beyond 1960s America as hits including Like A Rolling Stone, Mr Tambourine Man, Blowin’ In The Wind, Knocking On Heaven’s Door, All Along The Watchtower, The Times They Are AChangin’, Lay Lady Lay and many more are captured to perfection.

Tickets are £21.50 per person from the box office or call 01733 207239.

Forbidden Nights - 2020 Sexy Circus Tour Add a little spice to January life and end the month at the Stamford Corn Exchange with the guys from Forbidden Nights.

Brace yourself for two hours of thrilling action, provocative choreography with the ultimate Forbidden night out (and a few men in uniform thrown in for good measure).

Abandon your inhibitions at the door as the talented cast of acrobats, fire acts, aerial artists and world-renowned circus performers flip and spin across the stage in this high-octane show.

This sexy but classy evening is guaranteed to get your pulse racing and leave you begging for more.

Now that sounds better than a hot milk and a night in watching Corrie surely?! Watch this instead on Friday January 31 – grab your tickets now on 01780 766455. www.espmag.co.uk

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LocalEvents

Photos: Chris Brudenell

January can seem like such a dull month in comparison to the magic of December. The festivities may be over but fear not, there’s still so much to do during the upcoming weeks. ESP’s Mikey Clarke has found some of the best local events coming soon.

Follow the Bear at Whittlesey Festival The Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival is a modern revival of the ancient Fenland custom of making a straw bear for Plough Monday – a man totally covered with a straw costume and led through the town. This is an event I look forward to every year – you can’t beat it when it comes to quirky and eccentric festivities. You never know what you’re going to see!

Many people flock to this event to follow the bear as it processes around the town centre from 10.30am – 3.30pm enjoying a tipple on the way. You’ll be entertained by dance groups, storytelling sessions, poetry, music and more. The weekend starts with a concert on the Friday night and the main events are the procession and dancing on the Saturday and the Burning of the Bear on the Sunday.

It’s all happening from January 17-19 with the Saturday being the main day when the town centre and the pubs will be brimming over with a lively crowd – wrap up warm though!

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NVR Lights Up January There’s still time to enjoy the special Winter Lights Spectacular at Nene Valley Railway which is running on various dates right through until January 11 brightening up those dark nights in style.

This 60-minute magical train ride allows you to view the beautiful light displays between Wansford and Overton Station while a musical accompaniment adds to the spectacle. Arriving at Wansford, you’ll gather on the platform for the big reveal then once on board the heated carriages, you will find your allocated seats, sit back and enjoy. There will be a short interval as the locomotive changes ends at Peterborough, before the fairy-tale journey home to Wansford.

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

Jerry Thurston from the NVR told ESP – “All of the NVR staff and volunteers are hugely excited by the the lights. This really is something completely different and from our dress rehearsal earlier this year we know it is going to look amazing. We can't wait to share it with our customers!”

Ticket prices are adults £18, children (aged 2 to 16) £14 and carers £5 with a full paying passenger To book and for more information, visit www.nvr.org.uk.

Winter at Railworld The Railworld Wildlife Haven has been gaining some excellent reviews on Trip Advisor and regularly attracts visitors from all over the world.

This year the volunteers have decided to open up on selected dates during the winter so if you haven’t visited this attraction on your doorstep – maybe now’s the time.

The former coal storage yard’s been transformed by the hard work of volunteers into an incredible wildlife habitat which is home to over 200

species of flora and fauna, as well as the various rail related attractions.

They have "OO" Railways, models and tracks – the kids will love the huge detailed railway model design with several tracks crossing live plus there’s the The Globe Hall giving a great perspective on our planet.

Entry’s through the Pleasure Fair Meadow car park and there’s free parking. Visit www.railworld.org.uk to find out more.

Midwinter Kids’ Festival Bored children and frustrated parents will finally have an answer to their midwinter prayers as The Peterborough Kids’ Fest comes to town early next month.

This great new family event is brought to us

by Hot Pink Events, and is being held at the East of England Arena on February 8 & 9.

It sounds a great idea and the perfect opportunity for any family fed up of being cooped up to get out and let off steam whilst learning.

The Kids’ Festival will feature attractions aimed at children from 1 - 14 years of age, with a dedicated under-5s area, an adult’s creche, quiet areas for breastfeeding mothers and special provisions for those with additional needs including SEN. The organisers have brought together attractions they’ve selected to educate, entertain and inform and include fun obstacle courses, circus workshops, arts & crafts, sports, STEM events, storytelling and face painting, as well as bubble football, go-karting, a soft play area, and dance and sports.

The Peterborough Kids' Fest is organised by husband and wife team Mike & Kim Rossiter who came up with the festival after they struggled to find an event suitable for their growing family.

Kim said, “We started The Kids’ Fest because we couldn’t find any events locally that were solely focused on the children. There are lots of festivals and events out there that are childfriendly, but nothing that is 100% about their fun, enjoyment and learning. We’ve scoured the county, region and country to bring the very best activities, workshops and entertainers to your doorstep. We hope you’re as excited by what we’ve found as we are!”

Mike added, “Two things were important to us when devising The Peterborough Kids’ Fest.

The first was that every activity will be free once you are inside, and the second was that everyone will be welcome and catered for. We are a fully inclusive festival and are making special provisions, such as a quiet tent, so all children can be included in the fun.”

Check out all the details on www.eastofenglandarena.com/events.

New Winter Walks at Burghley House If like me, you overindulged in a few too many mince pies throughout December, a walk is probably just what we need.

There are two opportunities to get some fresh air and discover more about what historic house gardeners get up to during the winter months with some special winter walks at Burghley House in Stamford.

You have the chance to stroll around the normally closed family South Gardens – with its seasonal flower displays – as well as the dramatic Sculpture Garden and the Tudor Garden of Surprises with the head gardener, Joe Whitehead. Joe really has country house gardening in his blood. His grandfather and great grandfather were both head gardeners on large country estates, and after being under gardener at Burghley early in his career Joe went on to work at RHS Garden Wisley and Salle Park in Norfolk before returning to Burghley as head gardener in 2017. He is also a regular panelist on BBC Norfolk's Saturday gardening show and BBC Cambridge's Sunday Gardener's Question Time.

The new winter guided walks will take place on Thursday January 30 and Friday January 31 and again on Thursday February 6 and Friday February 7 with online tickets priced at £12 each, but booking is essential as each tour will be limited to a maximum of 20 people.

Separate dates for group bookings are also available, subject to availability. For full details of the new tours and to book online tickets, visit www.burghley.co.uk or telephone 01780 752451. www.espmag.co.uk

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LocalEvents

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS Thursday January 23 Candlelight Tour of the Cathedral – 7pm Take a cathedral tour with a knowledgeable Tudorcostumed guide and meet ‘Old Scarlett the Tudor gravedigger’ as the candlelight flickers.

Friday January 24 Tudor Peterborough Walk – 2pm Meet at Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery and take a city tour with a costumed guide and find out what the city was like during the time of Katharine of Aragon before heading into Peterborough Cathedral to hear about the funeral of Queen Katharine. Also being held on Sunday January 26.

A Homage to Katharine of Aragon from Spain – 7.30pm

Lesley Smith, seen here in costume as Elizabeth I, will appear as Katharine at the festival

Katharine of Aragon festival If you love your history, January is a time to celebrate Peterborough’s link with a famous exiled Queen of England and take a trip back in time to the world of the Tudors.

O

ur iconic cathedral is the key focal point for the Katharine of Aragon Festival running from January 23 to 26 bringing her story to life with plenty for all the family to enjoy with further events at Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery.

Peterborough Cathedral in association with Vivacity have once again organised some fantastic events to bring us her story so there’s plenty to choose from for all ages.

Katharine of Aragon was the first wife of King Henry VIII and Queen of England from 1509 until 1533. After living in exile she died in 1536 and the Festival marks the anniversary of 29th January 1536, when she was buried at Peterborough Cathedral.

The Festival programme features the first ever performance of a Katharine of Aragon monologue by Lesley Smith, Curator of Tutbury Castle, who’ll wear an authentic costume commissioned especially for the occasion. There will also be a talk about Katharine’s daughter Princess Mary by Melita Thomas, as well as music, drama and dance performances.

Why not take the kids along to experience life in Tudor times at living history days at Peterborough Museum or take a tour led by ‘Old Scarlett the Tudor gravedigger’, at the cathedral.

There’s even a Family Audience with Queen Katharine in the Cathedral Visitor Centre, when they’ll get to meet Lesley Smith in character as Katharine of Aragon.

An evening of music, drama and dance at the cathedral from Katharine’s native Spain. Using period instruments, Spanish musicians will set the scene for the drama that follows with the world premiere of a play by Spanish Canarian author, Neftalí Díaz. A stylised flamenco dance set in early 20th century Spain is the finale to the evening.

The King’s Pearl, The Queen’s Pride: Katharine, Henry and Mary, The Family Years – 7.30pm A talk and book signing by Melita Thomas at John Clare Theatre (Peterborough Central Library) looking at how Mary’s education, academic, political, courtly and religious, was shaped by her parents.

Saturday January 25 At Home with the Tudors At Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery - 10am – 3pm Travel back in time to the 1500s, with a chance to meet Tudor characters such as the Barber Surgeon with his gruesome cures. Mind your manners with a Tudor lady, handle arms and armour with soldiers and try some period food. Take part in family activities and crafts with a Tudor theme. Also being held on Sunday January 26.

Old Scarlett Tours – 10am, 11am and 1pm This family friendly tour of the cathedral will be led by ‘Old Scarlett the Tudor gravedigger’, who lived to be 98 and buried both Katharine of Aragon and Mary, Queen of Scots.

A Family Audience with Queen Katharine – 12 noon Meet Queen Katharine at The Knights’ Chamber, Cathedral Visitor Centre played by Lesley Smith in all her Tudor splendour, who’ll be in character as she tells her story and answers your questions.

Digging Deeper Tudor Tour – 11.30am and 2.30pm A guided tour of the cathedral interior with a specifically Tudor focus.

An Audience with Katharine of Aragon – 7pm for 7.30pm For the first time Lesley Smith, who’s famed for her compelling costumed monologues, will take on the character of Katharine of Aragon bringing her incredible story to life.

Lesley is Curator of Tutbury Castle. She’s a medical historian, has 38 academic publications to her name and has appeared in over 120 television programmes.

See the full Festival programme and book tickets on www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/katharine or call 01733 355315 (for Museum tickets call 01733 864663).

10 www.espmag.co.uk

ManTown about

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

YOURS TRULY IS A GUITAR MAN A University of Southern Brittany study says men have more luck getting phone numbers when they’re carrying a guitar. Picked one up in the sales. Hope to dear God I don’t get asked to play it.

Love Peterborough? Read on...

Last year our city was subject to a bit of an unfair battering on social media.

I can’t even remember if it was one of those C**p Town polls or worst places to live surveys – that's how much I really took notice.

As with most findings of this nature, lots of negative keyboard warriors jumped on the bandwagon and a good majority responded in defence of our lovely city too.

But what really matters to me is how this city makes me feel living and working here. Yes, there are better places on the planet but who cares?

Peterborough is home and it’s served me well up until now. So, for those that live here or visit and haven’t a good word to say, please go and do one.

I could write pages on why Peterborough is so perfect for me, but I don’t think I can sum it up as well as our one-time Poet Laureate Keely Mills did in 2011.

And her words are still relevant as we enter a new decade.

It’s a new year and I wanted to start it on a high by publishing Keely’s poem ‘I Heart Peterborough because...’ Keely performed it at an awards evening we both recently attended and it made me Keely Mills chuckle with fondness for the city I’m proud to call home.

I § Peterborough because...

Coz of Mannings Cafe fry-ups, which heals the almighty hangover from the night before.

Coz we don't just have one Costa Coffee but in fact we have about four.

Coz of how a few pretty fountains get a few angry and writing into the PT. Coz our local paper reports with mistakes and spelling don't come easily.

Coz of Parrott’s Fish Parlour the best chippy in town, if only you opened late for me tea.

Coz nothing more peaceful than a lonely walk through old Broadway cemetery.

Coz the way my dad, says 'Mooosic' or 'Cumpooter' topped off with 'Alright Will'?

Coz how everything changes but the Cathedral gracefully stays still.

Coz we have a Bronze Age wonder to match Stonehenge, our jewel, Flag Fen. Coz we don't have just one way out of town but with our parkways about ten.

Coz our boats are pubs and our Guildhall is not a guild or a hall.

Coz our Tourist Information Centre has an official council title which is hard to recall.

Coz the saree shops on Gladstone Street and the Portuguese cafes on Lincoln Road.

Coz the Viking biker in his craziness has become part of my every day.

Coz it’s a city full of characters, good, bad and ugly in their way.

Coz of the Lido, swimming with pigeon

chested fen-men all out in the open air.

Coz the Asian ladies exercising around Central Park rushing here and there.

Coz of the taxi firms who send you Christmas cards each and every year.

Coz the city's funny smells from sugarbeet to onions frying in Cathedral Square.

Coz we are more than just an industrial estate or even a commuter town.

Coz we're communities full of difference, from near, far and all around.

Coz we are the home of Perkins, Amazon’s distribution and Pizza Express.

Coz we often shout about our failings rather than our success.

Coz we are a city with a Poet Laureate and a healthy spoken word scene.

Coz we have makers of change, many unsung and unseen.

Coz we're not in the North, we're not in the South, we're not in the East, we're not in the West or the Midlands.

Coz the soulmate who loves me, the family that raised me and my forever friends.

Peterborough’s poetry scene is thriving and last November’s Syntax Poetry Festival underlined the talent we have for poetry and spoken word.

The festival attracted audiences who’d never normally attend poetry events and it’s going to be back bigger and better this year.

And if this means more positive poems about Peterborough then I’ll toast a Happy New Year to that!

MY I’m on the job hunt and if anyone’s interested... I’m an Italian thoroughbred with full-service history, below average miles and near-faultless bodywork. I’m engaging and charismatic to drive. I’m great on fuel economy and have an impressive top speed. I sailed through my last MOT with no advisories and come valeted and with a full tank of fuel. I’m also offering 12 months warranty on parts and labour. Drop me an email for more information.

JOB

CIAOS OUT: 12 www.espmag.co.uk

WORD OF THE MONTH

Lettuce – James Bond next time? Steve – thanks for sitting in with me Neil – sold the Chopper yet?

John – proposition time... Tony – buon compleanno! Ravsi – can I be a white guy in your next video?

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On a Winning Streak

TEAM T.REX NEEDED AT CATHEDRAL Peterborough Cathedral is asking local businesses for a helping hand to get 14 dinosaurs into their premises for a summer exhibition.

Before I get into the detail of what my cathedral colleagues are after, here’s a massive thumbs up to the team who’ve pulled off yet another absolute must-see event for all of us to look forward to.

In July and August you’ll be able to marvel at the Natural History Museum’s touring exhibition – T. rex: The Killer Question – consisting of 14 dinosaurs, nine of which are animatronic models.

Amongst the collection is a moving, three-quarter size T. rex, as well as a life-size T. rex skeleton and a 12-metre-long static model of the creature. Models of other dinosaurs will also be on display alongside T. rex for comparison and visitors will be encouraged to consider whether it was a ferocious hunter or a mere scavenger?

But to make sure this brilliant exhibition can happen; the cathedral is asking for help from companies and individuals who may have the equipment or skills needed for the installation.

What the cathedral needs is: an air compressor, pallet trucks, a lifting frame or gantry, a forklift truck and driver, a telehandler and a pair of two metre step ladders.

There’re also opportunities for companies to sponsor individual dinosaurs and to be associated with publicity for the exhibition.

If you can help, email t.rex@ peterboroughcathedral.org.uk or call Maria Elsey on: 01733 355315.

It was another year and another award in 2019!

I’ve previously enjoyed winning honours at the Peterborough Regional PR & Media Awards for campaign of the year and communicator of the year – and picked up accolades for team recognition too.

This latest highly commended team award went down nicely thank you.

Congratulations to my winning colleagues. It’s been emotional.

Trekking in Stanground It’s not every day Jean-Luc Picard flies into Oakdale Avenue for a plate of macaroni. But we were honoured and he gave us the lowdown on Picard, which started this month. He was a little shy for photos but my thanks to Diego Diiorio for capturing the moment.

21 Special Moments ESP Magazine has just celebrated its 21st birthday! That means I’ve written almost 500,000 words on these very pages – and I still get a buzz when it’s published every month.

Being 21 is special and it got me thinking about my special moments when I was 21. Despite writing more than 250 columns, some regular readers still think I’m a bit of a mystery. Others of course know me quite well, but how well?

Here’s a bit of fun you can have while sipping a cocktail in town. Five of the below statements relate to me when I was 21 and five are purely fabricated...

1. I lost my virginity 2. I started an amateur boxing career 3. I pinched Maria Whittaker’s bum at Truckfest 4. I did my last stint as an altar boy 5. I had a varicose vein removed from my leg 6. I had a bout of pubic lice 7. I became an Italian football columnist for the Evening Telegraph 8. I ate 16 cannelloni on Christmas Day 9. I was asked to join the local Conservative CAUGHT IN THE party ACT! “For auction: unripe – no need to replace week. Mounted wit for at least a 10. I appeared in Smash h heavy duty duc t-tape to prevent from being eaten.

Bidding starts at Hits magazine £150k. ”

www.espmag.co.uk

13

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Let’s Get Out There The start of a new year gets us all thinking about a healthier lifestyle and changes we want to make. ESP’s Darren Grigas has some tips on how to embrace this time of year and become the best version of you in 2020...

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14 www.espmag.co.uk

I

t’s that time of year again when we all take a deep breath, pack away the Christmas clutter, surplus booze and treats, anxiously pinch our slightly cuddlier waistlines feeling a bit disappointed with ourselves and look towards the warmer brighter months ahead.

January always sees a big surge in gym memberships and fad diets, which most people hit hard for a few driven weeks, but then buckle before we even reach February, I’ve seen this for many years in gyms, a crazy January which eases off in February and is back to normal by March.

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Why is this?

When joining a gym, many people are trying to force something that doesn’t align with their true values (check out a book The Values Factor by John DeMartini). For those people, no matter how much they’d love a tight tum and solid quads, their natural priorities revert to other areas of their lives, kids, work, or spending hours scrolling through their phones, browsing healthier better lives rather than getting up and doing something real about it.

Of course, your children and income are important and should be a primary focus, but if you don’t look after number one, then are you able to give the best version of you to your other commitments? The healthier you are both mentally and physically, the better you can serve other areas of your life, set a great example to your family and peers, and feel better about yourself and all around you.

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15

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So, how and where do you start this sustainable healthier way of life? Here are a few suggestions to start with: 1. Down the aisles. Shop smarter, we all know those 2-3 aisles in the supermarket that aren’t really going to help us, how about just skip those aisles altogether? If it’s not in your trolley, it won’t be in your cupboards when you feel that cheeky craving, and that’s a good thing! When you reach for those crisps, biscuits, bottle of wine in the store, ask yourself is that taking you towards or away from your goals? Put it back on the shelf and walk away. Don’t rule these treats out of your life altogether, but save them for exactly that, a rare treat rather than a daily dose that cancels out that healthy dinner you just made.

2. Make yourself accountable.

Book with a Personal Trainer or onto a class, then turn up and get it done as they’ll be counting on you. If you’re unsure about where to find the right class or personal trainer for you, visit www.thefitnessfinders.com and browse many listed professionals in and around 16 www.espmag.co.uk

Peterborough and choose one that best suits you. It’s like Trust a Trader for the fitness world.

3. Get outside! I’m a massive advocate of running and cycling and just love to be outside as often as possible, soaking up those D vitamins and getting my blood flowing and know the huge effect this has on how I feel in myself.

We all know how tired we feel after a long drive but how great we feel after a long walk or run.

So that’s the big one, get outside for walks, runs and outdoor activities, take the family, kids too.

We as a species aren’t meant to be sat motionless for hours on end hunched over screens, such a sedentary lifestyle has an undeniable link to mental health, leaving us feeling sluggish, unmotivated, restless, stressed and so many more implications on our wellbeing. Break that pattern daily, be it just for a walk, or a run, or find local outdoor activities to commit to.

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We’re lucky in Peterborough to have places like Ferry Meadows, Crown Lakes, Tallington Lakes and even Rutland Water a short drive away for some great outdoor places to go. If you’re concerned about the winter weather, just wrap up and embrace it. Remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing.

I visited Tallington Lakes with my brother Rich and his Ridgeback pup Buddy (yes, only 8 months yet 42kg!) to try some of the outdoor clothing and kit range they’ve got in their Pro Shop. They’ve got some great kit for all sorts of outdoor activities from dog-walking to snowboarding and soon to be adding trail running and walking range too.

They know their stuff and as the staff are all outdoorsy types they can give you the best advice. Plus if you’re a winter sports newbie (or want to improve) they can not only teach you how to ski/snowboard on their artificial slopes but give the benefit of their experience when it comes to getting kitted out. Their ski boot fitting service is incredibly thorough and spot on for making sure the most important thing – getting boots that are really right for you – means you can make the most of your ski experience.

So, put down the screens, get wrapped up, and get outside, you’ll be glad you did!

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TALLINGTON PRO SHOP Situated at Tallington Lakes the Pro Shop stocks a range of technical clothing for men and women and is now a Ruffwear stockist for performance wear for active dogs. www.tallingtonlakesproshop.com

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Models: Darren Grigas, Richard Grigas and Buddy the dog Photos: Emma Bothamley Location: Tallington Lakes www.espmag.co.uk

17

The ULTIMATE Combat Gaming Experience Airsoft is a military simulation game similar to paintball. It costs a lot less to play, it hurts less and uses realistic looking replica weapons.

Fight in the woods and undergrowth.

The games run with two teams, each are given objectives which they have to try and achieve.

Competitive Prices Private, corporate and open days catered for.

01733 247171 www.freefirezone.co.uk email: games@freefirezone.co.uk Airsoft Shop www.fire-support.co.uk

Food Glori us Food Food for all the Family at CafÊ Van Hage‌ including the Dog! If you’re feeling cooped up and are desperate to get out with the family on these cold winter days head down to the bright and airy Van Hage CafÊ at Eye and enjoy anything from breakfast to Afternoon Tea. You can even take the dog along to their new special area for your pet pooch so no-one needs to be left out! You can enjoy a drink with your pup while they enjoy the dog area with cushions, blankets, water bowls and free dog biscuits – what more could they ask for!

Kickstart those dull January mornings with their famous breakfast which continues to draw in the crowds with two breakfasts with a hot drink each for under ÂŁ10.

Throughout January there’s also a great special offer – buy one cream tea and get one free!

You can keep the kids amused in the ever popular, free Gruffalo Play Area while you enjoy a hot drink and a natter.

There’s a lovely designated Afternoon Tea area which can be used for group bookings or just two of you! For ÂŁ10 per head you get a dressed table along with a selection of ďŹ nger sandwiches, scones, jam & cream, a selection of cakes and also tea/coffee.

New for January they’re also now taking bookings for Children’s Afternoon Tea which can also be enjoyed in the Kids’ Zone or alongside any adult Afternoon Tea bookings.

Grandparents don’t have to miss out either, take them out for a visit to the cafÊ on Tuesdays and they can enjoy reduced price hot meals – for only £6.95 they can enjoy a hot meal with free dessert.

Burns Night Supper Get your tartan on and get ready to enjoy a delicious haggis!

Peterborough Cathedral is hosting a traditional Burns Night Supper on Saturday January 18 including the Selkirk Grace, the piping in of the haggis, all the traditional Burns Night recitations and toasts, as well as a live Ceilidh band and caller for Scottish dancing.

Don your kilt, or wear something tartan in your outďŹ t and you’ll be ready to enjoy a fabulous three course supper, with whisky for the toasts and coffee or tea to follow. Wine and soft drinks will be on sale. There are veggie options available.

Tickets are £60 per person and can be booked through the cathedral’s website www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk.

Free Wine Offer @ Pizza Parlour It’s time to ‘ban the Jan blues’ over at the Pizza Parlour on Cowgate.

You can enjoy great food with great music (see our Gig Guide) and even a free 125ml glass of house wine when you buy a main meal and take along this copy of ESP! We popped down to try the food last month and can thoroughly recommend it – the wood ďŹ red oven creates the perfect pizza and the pasta is delicious. You don’t have to break the bank – take your mates along and share one of their huge 20â€? Bada Bing pizzas for ÂŁ23.50.

Buttercross becomes the Willow CafĂŠ and Function Rooms You may have read in our Man About Town column that the long standing owners of The Buttercross Tearoom had sold the business.

Vince and Fil had made it the hub of Central Park and – according to our resident coffee expert (Pep Cipriano) – served the best cappuccino.

It’s now entering a new era and has been renamed the Willow CafÊ and Function Rooms and has been taken over by Christine and Adrian Corrigan.

The cafĂŠ has always been hugely popular and the addition of the new function room, which looks fantastic, should attract even more people.

They’ve introduced Sunday Lunches and a Monday Steak Night Club and they have plenty of ideas for the future.

Take a look at their Facebook page – The Willow CafÊ and Function Rooms – and we’ll have more news soon.

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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 OE +BOVBSZ UP UI +BOVBSZ 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.

TEXT HOTLINE 07 79 97 www.espmag.co.uk

19

Well Being Karen Devine’s

karen.devine@espmag.co.uk

After all the indulgence it’s time for a digestive cleanse...

That daily headache, spotty skin or hormonal imbalance you have, may have its roots starting in your colon.

Colonics may help to – Cleanse, tone and exercise the colon Improve transit time Improve energy and wellbeing Rehydrate Empty pockets of wastes in the bowel which can get trapped… and much more Does it wash out all the good bacteria?

No, in fact it can support the opposite. Our important bacteria are found embedded in the layer of the bowel wall. When we wash out waste from the lumen (the space in the colon), it allows for this bacteria to flourish more efficiently. There are good bacteria found within the lumen which is washed out but within a couple of days we can repopulate with ease. he winter months are a time for withdrawal, energy conservation and reflection – almost like a ‘do not disturb’ type of energy – but of course December keeps us up late, over indulging, in fight or flight mode, stressed out and pushes us the opposite way. January is often the first time we can take a sigh of relief and get some welcome rest.

T

The over-indulgences of Christmas will have likely taken its toll on your energy levels, immunity, and your digestive system. Hands up if you’re feeling sluggish, low in mood, bloated and tired! Taking a digestive rest, allowing the body to catch up and reset by getting early nights, moving more, getting those all-important fruits and vegetables back in your diet along with good hydration will soon give you a boost. Or you may feel you need something more cleansing to kick start your wellbeing.

I want to focus this month on colonic hydrotherapy and the most common questions people ask me about this very old therapy.

What is colonic hydrotherapy?

Colonic hydrotherapy is a method of introducing filtered water into the large bowel/colon. The water is varied in temperature which can relax or stimulate the muscle of the bowel depending on the individual. The water is at extremely low pressure (I use a gravity method which is very gentle) and slowly guided around the bowel to help soften the waste to encourage it to leave along with the excess gasses more effectively.

20 www.espmag.co.uk

Is it natural?

Can anyone have a colonic?

Hippocrates a Greek physician still known today as the father of medicine is said to have stated – ‘All disease begins in the gut’. He understood that internal cleansing was at the core of health and vitality, unfortunately this has been more and more overlooked and in many cases dismissed entirely.

No, there are some contraindications such as IBD (inflammatory bowel diseases), pregnancy and more. I personally support these conditions with other disciplines which take a functional medicine approach, nutrition and other naturopathic techniques that are not contraindicated in these cases. A therapist will advise if you’re suitable or not.

Is our diet and lifestyle today natural? The answer is no. We take pills for our ills and rarely look for the root cause. Our devilized foods, unnatural living, high stress levels and over stimulated nervous system can result in a weakened body more susceptible to illness as well as a weakened digestive system including the bowel.

Why colonic hydrotherapy?

The colon is our waste system which requires daily movement to get it out. A diet which is predominately higher in meat, refined carbohydrates, sugar, fizzy drinks, chemical additives, excess dairy and gluten just isn’t desirable for digestive health. These foods have one thing in common, they are gluey, some harder to digest, mucous forming and can leave a residue.

Our colon’s designed to be home for our waste but not for it to stick around too long. It’s a warm environment in there – when we don’t clear this waste efficiently it can dry out and stick to the bowel wall which can lead to putrefaction and/or fermentation leading to gas, bloating, loose stools or constipation which pollutes the whole body.

Whilst colonic hydrotherapy isn’t a fix all, it may bring good changes in bowel habits and your overall wellbeing. Along with it you need to make dietary and lifestyle changes such as exercise/relaxation techniques and eat foods rich in plant material. This isn’t suggesting that’s all you eat, if you enjoy meat just keep to a minimum and try a few meals per week that are plant based.

If you’d like to know more about colonics or are interested in my new workshops covering topics such as cleansing, intermittent fasting, detoxification and hormonal balancing then please do get in touch.

Happy New Year!

Karen Karen is a registered nutritionist, colonic hydrotherapist, functional medicine and Naturopathy. www.karendevine.co.uk

Time to

It’s a new start – what will you change in your life this year?

Inspiring ideas for 2020

Time to change...

Your approach to getting healthier

New Year’s Resolutions can be great for kick-starting a new, healthier lifestyle. But so often they fall by the wayside. We talked to the team at the YMCA Community Gym at The Cresset in Bretton to get their top tips on how to make a positive long term change.

1. Start small, and remember to find a class, programme or routine that fits in with your schedule. Even if it’s just working out once a week, that’s a positive step!

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

If you’re struggling to get started, losing your motivation or need help reaching a specific goal, talk to us. Our trainers and fitness staff will help you build a programme that suits you. New members get 4 free Personal Training sessions which can really help set you off on the right track!

3. Mix it up – vary your workouts, try new equipment and classes

Take a bite out of climate change this New Year This January, you may be making resolutions to get healthier in 2020, but by committing to changing food habits to improve health and wellbeing, you’ll also have the power to save the planet at the same time.

Cool Food, a digital tool designed to recommend and capture commitments from individuals to change their food habits, has created simple challenges to help you make healthier food choices whilst simultaneously making a noticeable CO2 saving.

Cool Food is the result of a collaboration with Al’Terre Breizh, Cornwall Food Foundation and PECT in Peterborough. The project has been co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund via the Interreg France (Channel) England Programme, which promotes cross border co-operation.

The Cool Food commitments encourage users to adopt planet-friendly flexitarian diets, including swapping one meat-based meal for a vegetarian meal every day or introducing dairy free days. Another commitment encourages you to cook more homemade meals, avoiding tempting takeaways or ready meals.

By showing you the real-time impact of your choices, the tool empowers people to work together to reduce CO2 emissions, whilst pursuing healthier eating habits. To join the hundreds of people who have already pledged to make healthier food choices and save carbon through the Cool Food challenge visit: www.coolfood.net and make your pledge today.

Time to change...

Get #thatfeeling at Slimming World The most common resolution or change many people want to make is to get healthy by going on a diet and losing weight. The word ‘diet’ brings up so many negative connotations – I can't eat this, I can't drink that, I can't socialize – so straight away you're feeling restricted, deprived and you haven't even started yet!

Let me let you into a secret...

Slimming World is NOT A DIET, it's a lifestyle change and we focus on the positives of what you CAN have. Yes, we have to make some changes to achieve our weight loss dreams, but nothing is banned on our generous and liberating Food Optimising plan.

This focuses on helping you discover the wonderful world of ‘Free Food’ that you can eat in unlimited

to keep it interesting! Varying your routine also helps to work different muscle groups so ask staff and instructors for ideas if you feel you’re becoming stale.

4. Buddy up! Half an hour on the treadmill goes much quicker if you have a friend to talk to, and you’ll find it so much easier if you can motivate each other.

5. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself! If your goals and targets are too high, progress will feel slow and you’ll be more likely to give up. Setting small, short term, achievable targets will be much easier to stick to, and you’ll have more achievements to celebrate!

Your food habits

amounts to fill you up so you can lose weight without ever going hungry. It's suitable for everybody no matter what your age or circumstance, it fits around the busiest of lifestyles and is so family friendly that there's no need to be cooking different meals for the kids – we'll even show you how easy it is to make Slimming World friendly burger and chips or curries.

There’s no need to be calorie counting or weighing and measuring our Free Food – just cook, eat, enjoy and watch the weight fall off. The plan is easy and safe, it's backed by Public Health England and the Royal College of Midwives (the only weight-loss plan recommended for pregnant and breast feeding mums) and the health benefits of losing weight are endless. We have so many examples of members who’ve been able to reduce or even cease medication for various ailments (including

Time to change...

diabetes) because they’ve lost weight.

All of our consultants have been on a weight loss journey themselves and understand the mindset of the slimmer, this means our groups are full of understanding, compassion, respect, support and motivation.

It couldn't be easier to find a group suitable for you, there are over 50 in and around Peterborough, with 20 different consultants, visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk/neare st-group to find the one for you.

Mike Jarvis, Slimming World

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU There are over 50 Slimming World groups in and around Peterborough where you can achieve your weight loss dreams in 2020 and get #thatfeeling...

Bretton, Cardea, City Centre, Deeping, Dogsthorpe, Eastrea, Eye, Fletton, Glinton, Hampton, Netherton, Orton, Paston, Sawtry, Stanground, Thorney, Walton, Werrington, Whittlesey, Woodston, Yaxley Visit: www.Slimmingworld.co.uk/nearest-group to find the one for you and keep an eye on our Slimming World in Peterborough Facebook page for all the latest updates

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Time to change...

Try something new

What if I told you there’s something that will make you healthier & happier, that you can do anywhere, any time, with no training or equipment, completely for free?

Singing! It’s a really simple thing to add into your life that can have a surprisingly big impact. Singing can help you sleep better, improves your posture, boosts your immune system, lowers your stress levels, and is even a gentle workout (unless of course you also feel the need to dance, in which case it’s a full workout!).

You can set up a singalong playlist for the car, or for while you’re cooking. You can put any style of music on it, so choose those songs you can’t help but sing along to!

If you have small children who won’t leave you alone for long enough to really get your groove on, then make it Disney songs. Worst case scenario? Sing along to those annoying children’s TV theme songs. Yes Paw Patrol, I’m talking about you.

Sing in the shower, or sing while you’re walking through town. It doesn’t matter where you are or how you sound, you’re still getting all these benefits: The act of singing releases endorphins, the brain's ‘feel good’ chemicals.

Singing is an aerobic activity, meaning it gets more oxygen into the blood for better circulation. Singing improves lung function, breathing awareness, and memory training – all skills needed for singing, but beneficial to all aspects of physical and mental health. Singing helps reduce your cortisol (stress hormone) levels.

If you can sing with others, such as in a choir, the benefits only increase. Joining a choir is a great way to meet new people.

Singing releases endorphins which reduce stress and anxiety levels and contribute to a positive mental state. You’re part of something bigger than you, and that moment when everyone’s voices come together is always uplifting.

Photos: Chris Brudenell

Emily Hughes runs Lucy’s Pop Choir in Peterborough. If you’re looking to try something new she believes joining a choir is a great move…

Your brain is busy listening, learning and remembering, which leaves little time or space for worrying. Choir helps you leave all your baggage at the door, and just enjoy yourself for a while. It’s the best way I know to beat the ‘bad day blues’.

There are plenty of different styles of choir around Peterborough, so chances are you can find something that suits you and your musical tastes quite easily.

Next time you have a spare 5 minutes, why not find a playlist you like the sound of, or set up your own? If you can’t find a playlist on Spotify that’s perfect for you, you’re not looking hard enough! www.lucyspopchoirpeterborough.co.uk.

Give a little back

Volunteers at Nene Park

You can’t beat that feel good vibe you get when you help someone else so if you want a new challenge, to learn some new skills or want to give a little back, volunteering could be the answer…

So many organisations need volunteers from Peterborough Cathedral to Railworld, from charities to environmental projects. Whatever your interests or skills there’s something you can try.

Volunteers have played a crucial role in the life of Nene Park in Peterborough for many years and there are a wide variety of opportunities available, ranging from conservation work, visitor centre staff, education and event helpers, to training to become volunteers specifically for Sailability, a charity which offers people with disabilities the opportunity to go sailing and much more.

Time to change...

The Trust was awarded the Investing in Volunteers accreditation; a scheme run by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations that reflects the hard work of staff and volunteers in operating a well organised volunteer programme for Nene Park.

Having volunteered at Nene Park since October 2018, Jacqui Slater commented: “At Nene Park I help with all sorts of things. I have laid wood chip, planted bulbs and even cut willows in order to build the boardwalk. There are so many different things we can do.”

Andrew MacDermott, Head of Development at Nene Park Trust said: “Volunteers play a crucial role in so many different organisations across Peterborough and it’s no different here at Nene Park. Our team plays a vital role and we are always in need of dedicated, compassionate individuals to help us carry on preserving this wonderful Park. For those interested in getting involved, all of the information about roles currently available is on our website to help you get started.”

Tom Lomas, who’as been volunteering for seven years at Nene Park, added: “I love the company of the other volunteers – we laugh a lot and have so much fun. Being outside and working on exciting projects has not only helped the Park but it’s helped me too – it has added years to my life.”

To find out more about becoming a volunteer at Nene Park, visit: https://www.nenepark.org.uk/supportus/volunteer or call 01733 234193. For other volunteering opportunities visit www.pcvs.co.uk.

Time to change...

Move home

Ashwood Homes If you’re thinking this is the year for change and it’s time to buy or move, buying or renting isn’t easy so we’ve asked some local experts for their tips to make one of your biggest decisions a little easier and the things you needs to consider….

It’s been another successful year for local company Ashwood Homes, with five developments now underway and new communities flourishing.

There are new developments at The Brambles in Holbeach and Holbeach Meadows and this year they’re developing a range of 2-5 bedroom homes in Surfleet a quaint village and civil parish in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire near Spalding. With the Riven Glen running through the village, it makes for a scenic and quiet place to live – despite being located closely to the A17.

The village consists of a Primary School, pubs, Parish Church, local shop, golf course and much more. The village is also located just 1.5 miles from Pinchbeck, with even more shops, a football club and more.

Chairman Ashley King says they know from years of experience what a big commitment it is for people to buy and how important a real home is.

“Ashwood Homes aims to invest everything into our customer journeys – each new home is designed not just to please, but to exceed expectations. The most important people are our customers who choose homes in which to build their futures. The satisfaction and confidence in us from our very first meeting onwards is a key measure of success.

“The local communities in which we build are important to us, we provide assistance and sponsorship to local good causes and support our employees in raising money for charities that are important to them.”

Keep up to date with all their latest developments on their Facebook page, visit www.ashwoodhomes.co or phone 01406 490590.

Looking to Buy an Ashwood Home? Here are a few tips to get you started…

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Is there a certain area you would like to live in?

Close to work etc?

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Choose your dream home from our designs and pick a plot from the site plan.

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Reserve your plot with our sales team and provide the reservation fee.

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Did you know we are part of the Help to Buy initiative - meaning if eligible, you could purchase your new home for just a 5% deposit!

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We also offer part exchange with the PX Partnership for those looking to sell their old home quickly and avoid estate agent fees.

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All our homes are customisable in terms of kitchens & worktops, tiling and flooring! If there are other items you’d like to add to your new home then let us know and we can try to accommodate.

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Find a financial advisor, who’ll help you figure out your budget and how much you will be able to spend on your new home.

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Find a good solicitor to help get your purchase finalised. We have a number of recommended solicitors on our panel.

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The fun part - SHOPPING! Lots of new items for your new home to really make it your own.

So, you’re thinking of moving to a new house – what next?

Bee Residential have this advice...

The first thing is to find out what you can afford, before you start viewing and getting excited about properties you need to know what you can borrow.

Speaking to your current lender, bank or independent financial advisor, will ensure you get the best rates and deals around.

If you have a property to sell you need to know what equity you have in the property. The best way to find this out is by instructing an Estate Agent. Choosing an estate agent is an important decision – take your time and make sure that you know exactly what services are being offered and what fees will be charged.

Ask around about estate agents – see if friends or relations have used them and what the service was like. Don't be afraid to check what their clients say on recommendation websites.

Shortlist your agents, but don't shorten too much. Try to get at least three to come and value your property.

When your property is valued it's important not to be too impressed by the agent that values your property the highest – this could be a ploy to win your business.

Ideally, you need an agent who’s going to be honest and fair, not one who’s going to overvalue your property and then fail to get a buyer at that price.

Once you’ve decided to put your property on the market and you have instructed your agent, you need to make sure you’re ready for the marketing process. It’s easy to think of the marketing process as just people visiting once or twice a week to have a look around and doing a quick tidy up before they arrive. To give you the best possible chance of success though, you need to take a more proactive approach and always be at the ready for viewings, even if they are at short notice.

Maintenance • Don’t forget to get the little jobs done. Skirting boards that need attention, door frames that are worn and light bulbs that need changing. Get these jobs finished! Some buyers can be very picky, so anything you can do to help minimise this, the more likely you are to get an offer that you’re happy with.

Give each room purpose • Most buyers like to picture themselves living in the house they are viewing, so highlight the purpose of each room. If your dining room has computers, paperwork or exercise accessories, take these out and return it to what it should be. De-personalise each room. Take posters down from children’s rooms so buyers can see the house at its full potential, and where they can put their things.

Karl French - Bee Residential You often get two opportunities to make a first impression. Firstly, online and secondly in real life: • Online: This in part is about your choice of agent and how they market their properties online, both on their own websites and portals like Rightmove. It’s also about being prepared for taking photographs and marketing details before the property goes live.

Having images that show your property at its best will generate initial interest. It’s important that you’re telling a consistent story about your home and the photos should also match how the property presents itself in real life, so your potential buyers aren’t disappointed. Images should also be truthful and careful photography that conceals less desirable features won’t help you sell the property, as the potential buyer will see what’s there when they view.

• In real life: The way your property is presented from the outside, call it kerb-appeal, will set up the way a potential buyer feels about the property before they come in when they first view it. Many buyers will do a ‘drive by’ in advance to get a first look at the outside of the property beforehand and so maintaining a proactive approach to keeping things neat and tidy will make all the difference, even before the viewing.

Increase your home’s kerb appeal • Making sure your property is well presented on the outside gives potential buyers a great first impression, making them keen to see more. Try putting up hanging baskets or planting some colourful plants. Move bins out of sight! If fences and front doors are looking tired, give them a lick of paint. Doing these things will create a lasting impression for any potential purchasers.

De-clutter!

• Making sure your home stands out from the rest doesn’t have to cost you the earth. Whoever buys your property will want to put their own stamp on it anyway, however freshening up the décor goes a long way in keeping up a buyer’s enthusiasm, giving them that feel good factor. Make sure rooms are as light and airy as possible. You can do this by hanging up a mirror to create an illusion of space. Make sure kitchen worktops are clear. Kitchens are one of the main selling points of any property, so making them look good is a top priority!

Give buyers space!

• On viewings, let buyers wander around your property with your Estate Agent. They like to feel comfortable and like to say what they think about your property without insulting you. The longer someone spends looking at your property, the feedback is more likely to be positive. Be prepared to answer any questions that your Estate Agent might not know the answers to.

Maximise your garden • Outdoor spaces are another big selling point. Making sure what garden you have, big or small, is neat and tidy and not overgrown will show buyers that you care about all aspects of your property, and that not one area has been forgotten about or abandoned.

Choose the best buyer • When you have multiple offers on your property, the next thing is to choose the best buyer. Your Estate Agent will be able to guide you and give you advice on which buyer they believe is the most reliable client. Estate Agents should be vetting all buyers that wish to make an offer on your property and in doing this they have will have a clear picture of who is in the best position financially.

Bee Residential Sales Team has over 35 years’ experience to offer you. To book a free Valuation call Karl French or Lisa McNamee on 01733 552366 or our sales mobile line 07984 141897.

Time to change...

Improve your future career prospects in 2020

It will come as no surprise that your job prospects will improve if you have better qualifications.

One of the best ways to secure that dream job and move up the career ladder is by studying and gaining a degree qualification.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re currently in sixth form or college studying or you’re a mature student wanting to return to study – there’s a place and course for you locally at University Centre Peterborough.

The New Year gives you the opportunity to evaluate what you want to do in the future and studying for a degree will be one of the best choices you will ever make. Once you’ve gained a degree this will be with you for the rest of your working life and not hold you back – in fact, it will open up a whole new world of opportunities.

At their modern and spacious campus in the heart of Peterborough there’s a wide range of courses on offer from Business Management to Criminology, Computing to Forensic Investigation, Accounting to Sociology, Early Years to Digital Arts and Performing Arts to English Literature.

To make it more convenient to study for a degree, University Centre Peterborough structure the majority of their degrees as two full days a week so studying can fit around your work, family, childcare or other commitments.

You can even study courses part-time which can be one day or one and a half days a week to make it fit around the busiest of schedules.

The support from their staff is second to none as you will study in small classes and lecturers will give you all the help you need with one to one tutorials and the ability to engage with them outside and during lectures.

If you’re looking to study a degree in Business Management or Computing, then you can also start this degree at the end of January 2020 with options to study fulltime or part-time.

For more information about University Centre Peterborough and the courses on offer, visit www.ucp.ac.uk or call them on 01733 214466.

Make Digital Change

Time to change...

If you own or operate a business, then it may be time to consider reviewing your Digital Media offering. We all know that the digital world is constantly changing and most of us would be unaware of all the updates that are launched by companies like Google on a regular basis. If you set up your website several years ago and have left it alone since then, it could be well worth having an audit of all your Digital Media. Below are some things to consider looking at on your website or asking a Digital Media expert to look at for you: display a slightly different version of your site that fits a mobile phone screen. For many of the sites we have created they are being viewed on a mobile phone around 85% of the time.

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In the site address bar, it should start with https:// at the beginning of your site’s address and it show a secure padlock icon. If it shows http:// instead, then there will also be an exclamation mark symbol. If you click on this, it will bring up a message to warn people your site is not secure. You need to get this sorted.

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How does your site look on a mobile phone or tablet? People are using mobile devices more than ever to look online. Your site needs to be optimised so that it displays correctly on a mobile device. You shouldn’t have to zoom in and out with your fingers on a mobile phone to view the site and read the content. It should

Ask some neutral people that will be honest with you about what they think of your content.

If I visit your site, I should be able to clearly understand what it is you do on your homepage. I then need to be clearly directed to the next steps available to me. I see so many sites that have a large amount of meaningless content on the site. The quality of the content on your site is far more important than the quantity. ‘Content is King’, was always the mantra, but waffle is waffle and it won’t help you retain visitors or rank highly on Google if it’s 5-year-old waffle designed to fill space.

There are many more things that you need to look at so feel free to contact me through ESP Magazine if you’d like to learn more.

Austen Moore, Director of Signpost Media Ltd, NLP Practioner, Life & Business Coach.

Bring Energy To Your Career

Time to change...

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

Now is the time of the year when you might be thinking about your future career options. Whether that be a change of career if you’re already in employment, or what the next steps could be for you if you’ll soon be leaving school. Many of you may consider boosting your level of employability by studying new or higher level qualifications alongside your current job role, increasing your prospects without having to study full time. Apprenticeships are an ideal opportunity to earn while you learn in order to gain industry recognised qualifications.

What is an Apprenticeship?

An Apprenticeship is essentially a full time job with additional recognised industry training. Typically Apprentices will spend a minimum of 30 hours a week within a work place and will complete 20% off-the-job training to support your development.

This could be through day release at college or structured training within the work place that contributes to the qualification you’re undertaking.

Apprenticeships are a genuine alternative to full time education at either college or university. Whether it’s a Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship or a Level 6/7 Degree Apprenticeship, an increasing number of employers are offering fantastic opportunities to develop exciting future careers.

Apprenticeships are available in a variety of industries including business, finance, law, construction, engineering, hair & beauty, hospitality, science, education, care and many more.

National Apprenticeship Week is fast approaching and many organisations will be hosting events to celebrate Apprenticeships and showcase local opportunities. Peterborough Regional College are hosting an Apprenticeship Fair between 6pm and 8pm and will run alongside the main Open Evening on Tuesday February 4.

This is a fantastic opportunity to meet the Apprenticeship Academy and local employers to discuss Apprenticeship vacancies on offer within the area.

For even more news and events, check out our website

www.espmag.co.uk

For up to date stories and what’s on like us on Facebook or follow us on twitter @espmagazine /espmagazine

To find out more and pre-register visit www.peterborough.ac.uk.

/espmagazine

Time to change...

Revamp your wardrobe

2020 a new decade, a new year, time for a new you?

Karen Miller Take the time to review Does your wardrobe make the start of your day easy? Do you wake up at 5.30am and everything is ready to go, or is it chaotic, you grab the nearest thing to you and get out of the door? How does this make you feel? Organised and in control, or out of control and another area of your life that causes stress? Pay attention to this because it’s the start of your day, it sets the tone for how you feel, how confident you are and how you appear to other people you are meeting throughout the day.

Have a clear out When I’m doing a wardrobe edit for a client this is generally the most stressful part of the process

If you feel you need to revamp, refresh and relaunch yourself – it’s time to take a good look at your wardrobe.

ESP’s style expert and personal shopper Karen Miller has her top tips…

January 2020, how did that happen? I can’t believe we are already in a new decade! There’s something very inspiring about the start of a new year, it’s almost like a clean slate to start afresh and what better time to outline your goals and commit to them.

In shopping terms January isn’t the time to update your wardrobe, this is because the sales are in full swing and unless you’re shopping for classic investment pieces it’s not a good idea to mindlessly fill your wardrobe just because it’s a bargain! It is however a great time to organise your wardrobe, get clear on what you have and what you need to replace, so to make life a little easier for you here are my top tips on getting your wardrobe in great shape for the year ahead. for them. Often people have emotional attachments to items like, ‘I wore this to go on our first date’ or for ‘my son’s christening, 10 years ago’. It’s important to keep reminding yourself why you’re going through this process, i.e. to make life easier, save time and get rid of items you haven’t worn for a decade or more. If you’re struggling to be objective with your decisions around what to keep and what to get rid of, get an honest friend to help you or consult an expert.

Organise what you are left with There are many ways to organise your wardrobe and some people have distinct preferences, i.e. colour coded, all tops together or

skirts together, however I always recommend organising your wardrobe into outfits for the five days ahead. This way, when you get up in the morning it’s one less thing to think about, you know what you’re wearing and which accessories compliment which outfit. One less thing to think about = more headspace, more time and less stress.

Invest in basics It’s important to make a list of any items that you may be missing; it may be white T-shirts, a smart dress or a leather jacket. When buying basic items it’s advisable to invest in quality fabrics and classic cuts that will last a long time. In the short term this may be more

expensive but in the long term it will save you money. It’s also a much more eco-friendly choice than burning through countless low-quality, fast-fashion items.

The fun part – or is it just me?

Going shopping to update your wardrobe for spring/summer is generally best approached when the sales are over. The beginning of March is a good time to start adding a few key pieces to update your wardrobe for the new season.

You don’t have to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe unless you have the inclination (and money) to do so, but think about what you have and what you can add to, make a list and go and have some fun.

Be on trend Pantone Colour of the Year 2020 – Classic Blue For over 20 years, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings, and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design. You can expect to see this colour running through many ranges this spring/summer.

Summer Leather Leather continues to be a huge trend for the new season, the textures will be finer, but think dresses, waistcoats, shirts and can easily be combined with flimsier summer fabrics.

Citrus Brights Electric shades of lime green, orange and fuschia will be brightening up our wardrobes, if you’re afraid of colour adding a key bright with your accessories, shoes, or scarves will be a more comfortable option, as would combining with colours such as caramel, grey, beige to soften the overall look.

Spotted Dresses Who didn’t love Zara’s white and black polka dot dress last season? Well the good news is spots are here to stay. Polka dot dresses were all over the catwalks and the best news is they can suit most personalities and occasions, either way this is one of the easiest trends to try.

Time to change...

Statement Collars & Puffed Sleeves Yes that’s right puff sleeves aren’t going anywhere this year, though they are going to be more dramatic.

If you’re going to try this trend make sure the rest of your outfit is pared back and understated, it’s also not a style that suits everyone, so if you’re broad shouldered, I’d recommend you steer clear.

Statement collars on the other hand can be worn by almost anyone and there will be many styles to choose from adding a touch of flair and drama to prim, buttoned-up looks.

paparazzi Caught in the act?

Good times and good tunes…

We have a great live music scene in and around Peterborough and it was great to see people out supporting the bands and the local pubs during the festivities.

ESP photographer Mike Harris was out an about capturing you all in the act of having a good time – including our own columnists Keith Dalton and Karen Devine – so if you were a bit worse for wear at the time, here’s a reminder of what a good night out you had!

The Peacock on London Road had Honeywell providing the tunes, The Crown on Lincoln Road was having a wild night with Cap'n Rasty and the Good Time Charlies and The Cock Inn at Werrington had Frankly My Dear keeping the tunes and the drinks flowing.

Happy New Year folks – we’ll be out and about again with our cameras very soon.

You can see all of our Paparazzi photos on our Facebook page.

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www.espmag.co.uk

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Gavin Miller’s

gavin.miller@espmag.co.uk

Movie Preview

BAD BOYS FOR LIFE Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Joe Pantoliano, Alexander Ludwig & Vanessa Hudgens Directors: Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah The first Bad Boys in 1995 was a guilty pleasure of mine – being one of the coolest actioners of the decade.

As well as being one of Michael Bay’s best films.

The sequel Bad Boys 2 eight years later was a bit of a mess.

Now 17 years on, Will Smith’s Mike Lowery and Martin Lawrence’s Marcus Burnett are back for potentially one last ride.

Released

JAN

17

An ageing Burnett, who has now become a police inspector, reunites with Lowery – who is suffering a mid-life crisis – to tackle an Albanian mob boss mercenary, whose brother they killed years earlier.

Even Joe Pantoliano’s Captain Conrad Howard and Theresa Randle – who plays Burnett’s wife Theresa – return to add that all-important franchise continuity for the third film in the series.

And if it plays anywhere near as good as the original, this could be bad-ass.

Watcha gonna do?

1917

Released

JAN

10

Cast: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Richard Madden, Colin Firth & Benedict Cumberbatch Director: Sam Mendes This early Oscar-season contender from acclaimed Skyfall and Academy Awardwinning American Beauty director Sam Mendes, is already been lauded for its extraordinary accomplishment – being astonishingly filmed in one single take.

Lance corporals Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) – two young British fighters during the third year of the First World War – are given a seemingly impossible task.

With time against them they must deliver a message deep inside enemy territory, that will

34 www.espmag.co.uk

hopefully prevent their own men – including Blake’s brother (Richard Madden from TV series The Bodyguard) – from walking straight into a deadly trap.

THE GENTLEMAN

Released

Released

JAN

JAN

1

Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey heads an all-star cast in Guy Ritchie’s crime-comedy caper. He stars as a British drug lord – and American ex-pat – who has created a highly profitable marijuana empire in London. But when word gets out that he wants to sell, it triggers plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail – as a dynasty of Oklahoma billionaires look to take it from under him.

Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell, Henry Golding and Hugh Grant co-star.

BOMBSHELL

JOJO RABBIT

1

This highly-regarded – and Golden Globe-nominated – World War II satire follows a lonely German boy called Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis), whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl in their attic. Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi, who also directs), Jojo must confront his blind nationalism in this comedy war drama, that co-stars Sam Rockwell.

Released

Released

JAN

JAN

17

JUST MERCY

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Both Charlize Theron and Margot Robbie have picked up Golden Globe ‘noms’ – starring alongside Nicole Kidman – in this highly-anticipated biographical drama that is picking up a lot of award season buzz. They star as Fox News employees who – at the time was an unprecedented move – team up to take on founder Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) with allegations of misconduct against him due to the toxic atmosphere he created at the iconic US-based broadcaster.

Creed star Michael B Jordan portrays world-renowned civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson in this thoughtprovoking true story. After graduating from Harvard, he had the pick of the lucrative jobs, but instead headed to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned, with one of his first cases being that of Jamie Foxx’s Walter McMillan – who was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl. Brie ‘Captain Marvel’ Larsson provides support.

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD

THE GRUDGE

Released

JAN

24

Released

JAN

31

The Death of Stalin helmer – and Alan Partridge TV series scribe – Armando Iannucci directs this classic ode to Charles Dickens’ masterpiece. With Slumdog Millionaire’s Dev Patel in the headline role, this comedy-drama chronicles his life from his youth to adulthood – given a new cosmopolitan re-imagined twist in the process. A heavily British-inspired cast – including Tilda Swinton, Peter Capaldi and Ben Whishaw – all lend a hand to proceedings.

The remake of the classic Japanese horror in 2004 provided some notable jump scares, so 16 years later they’ve decided to do it all over again – just this time with Sam Raimi on production duties. The premise seems pretty similar, as a house cursed by a vengeful ghost ‘dooms’ those that enter with a ‘violent death’. A notable B-list cast – including Andrea Risborough (Oblivion), Demian Bichir (The Hateful Eight) and Betty Gilpin (Stuber) – all face their fears.

A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

THE RHYTHM SECTION

Released

JAN

31

Two-time Oscar Winner Tom Hanks has garnered a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe nomination for this moving and timely tale of kindness triumphing over cynicism – based on the true story of a real-life friendship between jaded magazine writer Lloyd Vogel (British actor Matthew Rhys) and iconic television personality Fred Rogers (Hanks). Here Vogel overcomes scepticism to learn about empathy and decency from America’s ‘most beloved neighbour’.

Released

QUEEN & SLIM

JAN

31

Another drama that has lappedup critical praise sees a couple’s – Slim (Get Out star Daniel Kaluuya) and Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith) – first date takes an unexpected and traumatic twist when a policeman pulls them over for a minor traffic violation. But when the situation escalates, Slim takes the Officer’s gun and shoots him in self-defence, forcing them on the run – but then unexpectedly become a symbol of grief and pain for people all across the country.

Released

JAN

31

This intriguing-sounding mystery-drama sees Blake Lively’s (The Shallows) ‘broken’ woman on a path to self-destruction after her family is tragically killed in a plane crash – but then discovers it wasn’t an accident. This sends her spiralling into a dark and complex world to seek revenge on those responsible to find her own redemption. Jude Law and Sterling K Brown (Frozen II) co-star in this movie that is produced by the same team behind the recent James Bond films.

RICHARD JEWELL

Released

JAN

31

Oscar-winner Clint Eastwood helms this biographical act of heroism, which sees American security guard Richard Jewell (I, Tonya’s Paul Walter Hauser) save thousands of lives from an exploding bomb at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta – but is vilified by the press who falsely report that he was the terrorist involved all along. Sam Rockwell, Olivia Wilde and Jon Hamm all provide support in this movie, which has cooked up more than a little controversy. www.espmag.co.uk

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WEDDINGS Planning Your Big Day

Photos: Ian Whitwell

You can’t beat a bit of advice from someone who’s already done it so ESP’s Sarah Tempest shares her wedding planning advice…

Outdoor Weddings at Orton Hall Hotel & Spa

E

ver dreamed of getting married in the great outdoors under blue skies, surrounded by family and friends? Well that dream has now become a reality at Orton Hall Hotel & Spa in Peterborough.

Thanks to their newly constructed gazebo, nestled in the beautiful parkland setting of Orton Hall, you and your loved one can now say “I do” in a romantic ceremony outdoors.

The elegant wooden structure sits sympathetically on the lawns with the magnificent 17th century hotel as its backdrop. The perfectly placed flower boxes allow you to add a touch of colour to the proceedings whilst your guests look on in awe.

They can cater for up to 140 guests for an outdoor civil ceremony but it’s worth noting that it is the Registrar that makes the final decision as to the suitability of the weather on the day.

As we all know, the great British weather can be unpredictable but never fear, their experienced team will have everything organised in the event that your ceremony needs to move indoors.

So if you’re getting hitched and fancy going al fresco just get in touch with the team at Orton Hall to discuss your plans.

Tel: 01733 391111 Email: conference@ortonhall.co.uk Web: www.ortonhall.co.uk

Holiday Inn Wedding Fair The Holiday Inn Peterborough hosts a huge wedding fair on Sunday January 12 so what better way to kick off your New Year wedding planning?

It’s the only wedding show where every single company exhibiting is a Truly Scrumptious recommended supplier so everyone’s been verified, has insurance and is qualified within their industry to provide their product or service, guaranteed.

There’ll be a variety of companies exhibiting bridal wear, cakes, cars, photography, videography, stationery, musicians, entertainment and a whole lot more! It’s free admission from 11am - 3pm with a free goody bag and free magazine too.

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Sarah Tempest

When I was planning our wedding, I was the most un-Bridezilla like bride to be ever!

I was agog when the florist told me stories of brides bringing in threads of fabric to try and match flowers to, and she in turn nearly fell off her chair when I told her I’d chosen my colour scheme simply because my sister (bridesmaid) had tried on a random dress and fallen in love with it. But whilst many brides would have palpitations at my so called apathy, I know that I enjoyed my day far more than many ‘perfectionists’ simply because I didn’t sweat the small stuff.

I realised early on that anything that happens, good or not so good, just becomes part of the story of your day and no-one ever comes away going – “Well that would have been a great wedding if only the centre pieces hadn’t been a shade darker than the bride’s mother’s scarf”!

I also found it helpful to make a list of all the things I’d ideally like at the wedding and then go through each one and ask if it would make the day complete if it was there (in our case – a surprise Elvis tribute act!) or would it just be nice but wouldn’t ruin our day if it wasn’t (like fireworks!).

It’s a great way to prioritise what’s important to you to make your day special. Above all, I’d advise anyone to just relax and enjoy it – it goes so quickly anyway, and it’s being surrounded by friends and family who love you that makes it perfect – not the shade of your invitations.

Here are my tip tips for if you’re planning your big day…

1. Set your overall budget – and stick to it!

2. Write your wedding day wish list, and then go through and prioritise the ‘must haves’ from the ‘would be nice’ to help keep your spending in check.

3. Join wedding social media groups for ideas and items for sale.

4. Buy a wedding planner notebook – it’s so much easier to have phone numbers and notes in one place.

5. Make a monthly ‘to do’ tick list to help you prioritise what needs to be done and when.

6. Invite only those who you want to spend your special day with, not those that you think you should – and don’t feel guilty about those who don’t make the cut!

7. Don’t stress about the small details – striving for ‘perfection’ will only stress you out, and most people won’t notice anyway!

8. You may have an idea of your dream dress, but make sure you try on lots of different styles, even if you’re not sure.

Most brides end up choosing something completely different to that which they thought they would!

9. Check out wedding dress shops’ end of season sales – you can save a fortune on top designer brands.

10. Be flexible, and open to different ideas and plans. If you’re too fixated on certain things, you may end up disappointed.

Happy New Year!

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HeALtH

and beauty

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

rachael.church@espmag.co.uk

A HAppy New yeAr everyoNe The start of a whole new decade makes us all take a bit more time than usual to consider what we want from life. Looking after our health and wellbeing is rightly top of everyone’s agendas right now, so ESP has some new year tips for how to make some great changes to your routine for 2020. It’s also a good time to have a think about

what you want to achieve from 2020, it could be anything from a new job, to simply being the best version of yourself you can be.

Whatever your aim, see our beauty tips below that will help empower you to achieve whatever it is you set your heart on, because looking and feeling you best is sometimes half the battle!

Look After yourseLf – top tips to coNsider for A HeALtHy 2020 1. Take the ‘How are you Quiz‘ – via the Healthy Peterborough website www.healthypeterborough.org.uk. It only takes a few minutes to analyse what you are eating, drinking and how much exercise you get and gives some friendly tips on how to make some changes. Most of all, it really gets you thinking about looking after your body a bit better!

3. Consider volunteering – A great way to boost your endorphins is to think about how, every so often, you can give something back to the community. So many great charities are looking for help and support in Peterborough, and if you like being outdoors the Nene Park Trust is a great place to start www.nenepark.org.uk.

2. Set yourself an achievable challenge – it might be the Perkins Great Eastern Run, 5k or even the half marathon, make the decision now and give yourself plenty of time to get training.

4. Get a Netflix subscription – we’re not joking, there are so many great documentaries for your health and wellbeing – anyone else seen Game Changers?

38 www.espmag.co.uk

5. Non alcoholic options are here to stay – as a current ‘non drinker’ it’s great, there are so many options out there now, and more of us are feeling the benefits of ditching the booze even beyond Dry January. Get creative and try your own drinks recipes like this pineapple and lime mocktail (with gold glitter optional!) www.bbcgoodfood.com/ recipes/shine-light.

New yeAr, New JoHN Lewis Anyone else as excited as I was about the opening of the new look JL store in Queensgate? Great news for beauty fans, there are new beauty counters to check out and more chances to go in and get one-to-one advice on what suits you. So if you’ve yet to venture in, make sure you go and see what’s new!

feeL your best for 2020 – 3 products to iNvest iN todAy! Products with minimal packaging that leave a very small mark on our precious planet – so we look and feel good. Check out the Lush ‘everything naked range’ which has loads of new products, including my favourite, the Rose Jam shower gel.

SINGING • ACTING • DANCING

LEARN SKILLS FOR LIFE PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN A PROFESSIONAL THEATRE

Rejuvenating your skin – still fairly new to the market and touted as a bit of a miracle worker, is an Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Renewal Retinol Treatment. A bit on the pricey side at £63 for 30ml, but has received rave reviews for offering radiant, smoother skin.

Advent calendar sales – we spoke in the last issue about the explosion of beauty advent calendars – check out what your favourite brands have got left over in the January sales, you might get some proper bargains.

New Theatre 46 Broadway Peterborough PE1 1RS Telephone: 07375 586 179

www.NewTheatreAcademy.com /newtheatreacademy

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39

Camila Cabello Camila Cabello has gone from strength to strength since leaving girl group Fifth Harmony and an ever growing fanbase just love the singer, so it’s no surprise tickets for her Romance tour and copies of her new album have been selling fast. ESP’s Mikey Clarke might just have a copy of his own…

A new album, a new tour and a new love in her life… 2020 is looking to be a great year for Camila Cabello!

I’d be very surprised if you’ve not heard of the Mikey Clarke Cuban-American singersongwriter – after all, her 2017 hit Havana saw her become Spotify’s second-most-streamed artist. Since walking away from Fifth Harmony in 2016, the multi Grammy nominated singer has released some amazing tracks – with Señorita being a personal favourite of mine. That particular song features on her second album, Romance, which is out now. After nine months in the studio, Camila has created some incredible material which is quite personal. In an interview with ELLE, she explained, “Honestly, this past year and a half was the first time I really experienced falling in love with another person. I think there is so much more depth to love when you know you are in it with another person. You have so much more to say – I think that’s what makes me emotional.”

40 www.espmag.co.uk

The love of her life is Shawn Mendes – who features on the Señorita track. Since the couple got together in July 2019, they’ve been pictured together numerous times and they couldn’t look happier. During the same ELLE interview, Camila described what it was like working alongside him. “I mean, I love him.

We have always connected; we have the best time together. Shawn texted me the idea for the chorus for Seno ̃ rita. He was like, ‘Hey, what if we work on this and do it together?’ I was on the Taylor Swift tour and hadn’t been in the studio for a while. I didn’t want to do it, and then a few months later, I couldn’t get the song out of my head. I [ finally] told him, ‘I think we should do this’. He was like, ‘I don’t want to do it anymore’. It went back and forth for, like, eight months. Then we finally went into the studio and reworked it so we both felt good about it, without any pressure. I love working with him so much.”

Lovel life aside it’s been busy times for the singer. Camila is currently the most listened to female artist in the world on Spotify and broke the record for the most monthly listeners for a female artist in Spotify history.

In November 2018, Camila was named the

new ambassador for Save the Children and next year she’s set to make her acting debut starring in Sony Pictures’ Cinderella, to be released on February 5, 2021.

For now though it’s all about Romance and if you received the album in your Christmas stocking and can’t get enough of the music – you’re in luck! The singer is touring this year and tickets are on sale now.

UK & Ireland Tour | June 2020 1st June – Birmingham, Resorts World Arena - UK 2nd June – Leeds, First Direct Arena - UK 4th June – Manchester, Manchester Arena - UK 8th June – Dublin, 3Arena – Ireland 9th June – Glasgow, The SSE Hydro – UK 11th June – London, The O2 – UK For tickets or for more information, visit: www.romance.camilacabello.com or www.livenation.co.uk/artist/camilacabello-tickets.

More than just a garden centre

Escape the house this January and head down to Van Hage…

Café

Mum

Grandparents

A café for all the family, we’ve got you covered whether you’re bringing your mum, nan, kids or dogs!

Did you know that we have a designated Afternoon Tea area which can be used for group bookings or whether it’s just the two of you! For £10 per head you get a dressed table along with a selection of finger sandwiches, scones, jam & cream, a selection of cakes and also tea/coffee.

Bring the grandparents along for a visit to the café on Tuesdays and they can benefit from reduced price hot meals, for only £6.95 they can enjoy a hot meal from the hot food counter with free dessert.

Breakfast

Kids

January 2020

Dog Friendly

Our famous breakfast continues to draw in the crowds, 2 breakfasts with a hot drink each for under £10! Great for those dull January mornings.

The ever popular, free Gruffalo Play Area in our Kids’ Zone lets children run off some energy while you enjoy a hot drink and a natter.

We are now taking bookings for our Children’s Afternoon Tea which can also be enjoyed in the Kids’ Zone or alongside any adult Afternoon Tea bookings!

New dog friendly area now located in the café, enjoy a drink with your pup while they enjoy the dog area with cushions, blankets, water bowls and free dog biscuits what more could they ask for!

Featured departments...

Local artist

Djibo Art

GBC Garden Buildings Centre Located in the outside area near the Mini Farm

Little Owls Childcare Peterborough Located in store, please find their Facebook page for more information including available session dates.

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

Proudly sponsored by

THE

POSH PAGE

Tel: 01733 380657 www.studio-one.co

ESP’s columnist Phil Adlam brings us the exclusives on all things Peterborough United…

2020. SOUNDS FUTURISTIC DOESN’T IT. Unfortunately, it is reality and it makes me feel old. Next year will be my 20th working at Peterborough United. I think the only thing older than me is probably ESP. In fact, when you put that into a sentence you realise just how impressive it is that a magazine has lasted so long anywhere, let alone Peterborough.

We live in a world now where news is viewed in an instant, pictures are uploaded in a flash and goals are viewed faster than ever before. And all on a mobile device. You have to move with the times, adapt your skillset and get the best out of the facilities we now have available.

At Peterborough United, we listen to the supporters as much we can.

Whether that’s on social media, email or the old school written letter. We’re not perfect, but it is important to at least try and engage with the fan base.

When I first started, there was no such thing as social media. Well, there was Myspace and Bebo but nobody really knew what they were doing on there and Tom, bless him, sent a message to everyone so don’t think you were special.

Media has evolved over that time.

Everyone knows when they joined Twitter (there is an app for that) and people often ask me what the biggest change in my job has been down the years, and I think social media is the biggest difference.

It’s rare to find players who are not on one form of social media.

Sometimes they may not be visible, some sign up with random accounts just to get the feedback from supporters on their performances. My advice to players is go on social media when you win and don’t when you lose. That message is exactly the same to the one I gave back in 2001, except the words ‘social media’ were replaced with ‘buy the paper’.

We get asked all sorts of questions, so to end, I wanted to give you a simple answer to what I describe as our most frequently asked questions on Twitter.

1. What are you holding concerts for, you are a football club?

We have 23 league games a season and the potential for a few other cup matches. Why should we not explore the stadium as a host of other events? We have had concerts for a number of years, they have proved successful and help

revenue streams. We want to do other sporting events and are looking into those too. That will not change. We want to be at the heart of the community.

2. Why didn’t you win today?

If we won every week, every year, we would be top of the Premier League. We try to win every week, it is just not possible. To be fair the variant of this frequently asked question normally has a few swear words in and often comes from supporters of other clubs that have been let down on their betting coupon.

3. Can I have a signed shirt?

We work with a chosen charity every year. They are the recipients of our signed merchandise.

However, if you buy the shirt/ball, we will get it signed for you.

4. When are you signing Lionel Messi?

He wouldn’t get in our team ahead of Ivan Toney.

When the full-time whistle goes on a match day, the first thing I am looking for is to see what my players are putting on Twitter and Instagram. It’s a great communicator tool when used correctly. There are countless examples of good practice, but don’t get me wrong, we have had a few incidents when it’s been used incorrectly.

Commercial, food and product photography, business portraits, press and PR

5 Station Road, Ailsworth, Peterborough, PE5 7AH

The Ostrich Inn

Blue Bell Inn DO GS THORPE

THE HEART OF THE CITY CENTRE

One of Peterborough oldest Pubs we offer a warm welcome in lovely surroundings.

Enjoy a variety of music on our New Sound System Live Music nights return in February!

Live music every weekend

- Live Music Every Weekend - see Gig Guide - 5 constantly changing Real Ales including Gluten Free and Vegan

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

Tel 01733 313700

- Courtyard Beer Garden - Craft Beers - Quality Wines - Large Gin Selection

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

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.

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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.

The ESP Comedy Guide

sarah.slack@espmag.co.uk

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

ESP Interview with Ed Byrne Given your known appearances on Mock the Week and other satirical panel shows, do you feel you have a responsibility to deliver more political material given the current climate?

“It’s not that I feel a responsibility, I think it just feels more satisfying when you’re doing it, and it feels more satisfying when people hear it. When a joke makes a good point, I think people enjoy it. It’s the difference between having a steak and eating a chocolate bar.”

One constant theme of your shows has always been self-deprecation. Does this come naturally to you or is it something you have to work on in your material?

Ahead of his performance at the New Theatre on January 29, we heard from TV favourite Ed Byrne, an award-winning comedian best known for his stellar stand-up performances and his highly evolved story-telling abilities. Ed talked about his brand new show, If I’m Honest, as well as the challenges of performing political comedy and what he honestly thinks about men’s rights activists...

Can you tell us what your new show is all about?

“My new show, If I’m Honest, digs ever deeper into a father’s sense of responsibility, what it means to be a man in 2019, and whether I possess any qualities whatsoever worth passing on to my two sons.”

What do you think it means to be a man in 2019?

“There are things where men get a raw deal, we have higher suicide rates, and we tend not to do well in divorces, but representation in action movies is not something we have an issue with. It was Mad Max: Fury Road that kicked it all off, even though nobody complained about Ripley in Alien or Sarah Connor in Terminator 2. Of course, social media means this stuff gets broadcast far and wide in an instant, which emboldens people.”

Given your new show If I’m Honest has such a male focus, what are your opinions regarding men’s rights activists?

“The problem with men’s rights activists is that it’s not about speaking up for men’s rights, it’s about hating women. If you’re a men’s rights activist, you’re not going to care 44 www.espmag.co.uk

about the fact that there’s an all-female Ghostbusters remake. That’s nothing to do with men’s rights or female entitlement.

That’s everything to do with being, well, a whiny baby.”

As someone with over 25 years of experience in the comedy industry, how do you approach putting political comedy into your shows? Does it change over time?

“I previously did stuff about Trump and the Pizzagate right wing conspiracy and a couple of the reviewers said, ‘Oh, I would have liked to have watched a whole show of this’. And I think, ‘well you might have, but the average person who comes to see me would not like to see that’. I like to make a point or get something off my chest, or perhaps I’m talking about something that’s been on my mind, but the majority of stuff is just to get laughs. People who come to see me are not political activists necessarily, they’re regular folk. If you can make a point to them, in between talking about your struggles with aging, or discussing your hernia operation or whatever it is, you can toss in something that does give people pause as regards to how men should share the household chores.”

“I do genuinely annoy myself, but the thing of your children being a reflection of you gives you an opportunity to build something out of the best of yourself only for you to then see flashes of the worst of yourself in them. It’s a wake-up call about your own behaviour.”

Do you sometimes think you’re being too hard on yourself?!

“I don’t think I’m being massively hard on myself. The fact is when you’re the bloke who is standing on the stage with the microphone, commanding an audience’s attention, you’re in a very elevated position anyway. Self-aggrandising humour is a lot harder to pull off than self-deprecating humour. A lot of people get really annoyed when Ricky Gervais is self-congratulatory. I always find it very funny when he accepts awards and does so in the most big-headed way possible. I think it’s a trickier type of humour to pull off, talking yourself up in that way.”

Finally, your last show Spoiler Alert received critical acclaim for its honest approach to becoming middle-aged – do you feel any competition from other comedians performing similar material on the circuit?

“You see comics who are my age and older but are still retaining a level of ‘cool’ and drawing a young crowd. I can’t deny that I’m quite envious of that. But there’s also something very satisfying about your audience growing old with you.”

Ed Byrne will be performing at the New Theatre on Wednesday January 29. To book tickets, call the box office on 01733 852992 or visit www.newtheatrepeterborough.com.

Comedy

Gig Guide SIMON BRODKIN

JAN

7

SAMM’s on Bridge Street has booked a corker for its first Pearface Comedy Night of the year with none other than acclaimed character comedian Simon Brodkin.

Best known for his irrepressible, south London wide boy Lee Nelson he’s also been named ‘the world’s most famous blagger’ by The Daily Telegraph for his many pranks. Most famously he handed Prime Minister Theresa May a P45 form during her keynote speech at the Conservative Party Conference, and of course duped the BGT judges with his ultra-orthodox Jewish rapper Steven Goldblatt (aka ‘The Rapping Rabbi’), fooling Simon Cowell and the other judges to win four ‘yeses’.

2020’s Best Comedy Gigs Let’s face it, January is by far the worst month of the year and frankly I feel sorry for anyone who has a birthday this month – it’s cold, you have a post-Christmas belly, and you have to go back to work too! Sometimes it’s far too much misery to handle, however if you need something to perk up your spirits I’ve compiled this list of the best comedy gigs coming to Peterborough in 2020 to give you something to look forward to for the rest of the year:

Tickets are £10 per ticket on Eventbrite.

SINDERELLA

JAN

30

Start your engines, as fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race won’t want to miss out on this adult pantomime performing at The Cresset this month, as it stars Divina De Campo from RuPaul’s Drag Race UK plus legendary season 3 contestant Stacy Layne Matthews. Featuring glittering sets, sparkling costumes and more innuendo than you ever thought possible, this promises to be the biggest and most glamorous ball in town.Tickets are available online or by calling 01733 265705.

FUNHOUSE COMEDY

JAN

COMPETITION

31

Promising a great night of comedy to allay those winter blues, a fantastic line-up of comedians will be performing this month at the South Holland Centre in Spalding. Headlining will be the brilliant Barry Castagnola, who has regularly supported Rhod Gilbert on tour, along with Lynn Ruth Miller and compere Tony Cowards. Tickets are available on 01775 764777.

WIN TICKETS TO SEE ED BYRNE ESP has a pair of tickets to give away to Ed’s gig at the New Theatre in Peterborough on January 29.

To enter please email competition@espmag.co.uk with your name, address and contact number, put COMEDY in the header and answer the following question by January 17…

Q - What is the name of Ed’s co-host on his Big Adventure and Road to Mandalay BBC television series?

Frankie Boyle Russell Howard Dara O’Briain T&C – Usual competition rules apply, there is no cash alternative. Entries must be received by January 17, 2020 and winners will be notified by ESP.

EMAIL:

COMPETITION@ ESPMAG.CO.UK

February 14 Stewart Lee - Snowflake/Tornado Seen by many as one of the greatest comedians living today, this is a rare opportunity to see Stewart Lee perform not just one, but two hours of comedy when he performs at the New Theatre in February. This show will consist of two 60 minute sets back to back, combining Stewart’s views on his position in the comedy marketplace after a mistaken Netflix listing as well as questioning his own liberal values in the current political climate. Critics have already described the Snowflake/Tornado tour as ‘joyously funny’ (The Guardian) and ‘a virtuoso piece of physical comedy’ (The Telegraph), so make sure you get your tickets as soon as you can before it’s sold out.

April 29 David Baddiel - Trolls: Not the Dolls David Baddiel last played Peterborough back in 2018 with his critically-acclaimed My Family: Not the Sitcom show, so I can’t wait to see what he’ll be bringing to The Cresset again in April when he’ll be performing a brand new hour of material about social media trolls. David has always seen these trolls as hecklers and believes it is a comedian’s duty not to ignore the heckler, but to wittily put them down! Containing stories of the dark, terrible and hysterically absurd cyber-paths interacting with trolls has led him down, David’s show promises a hilarious comedic journey into our culture’s most dank virtual underground.

June 11 Tim Vine is Plastic Elvis Last year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival I was gutted to miss out on tickets to see this festival favourite, however luckily Tim Vine is bringing his unique tribute to the legendary Elvis Presley to venues across the country, which includes a performance at The Cresset. Whilst known for his infamous one-liners, Tim Vine will be changing his schtick to hit the stage as Plastic Elvis to perform some of the rock’n’roll icon’s greatest songs live whilst backed by an incredible five-piece band. Don’t miss your chance to see this unique tribute to a legend by booking your tickets soon for an unforgettable evening of music and comedy.

www.espmag.co.uk

45

NIGHTlife

Your guide to the nighttime scene

GROOVES AND TUNES AT THE BREWERY TAP Beat those January blues with some funky tunes and get your groove on at the Brewery Tap on Westgate throughout January.

On Friday January 3 work off some of those Quality Street calories at Thank Funk It’s Friday with resident DJ Mr Nash from 9pm with free entry.

It’s time for some Saturday Night Groove with resident DJ Rick Allen on Saturdays January 4, 11 and 18 from 9pm with free entry.

Finally on Saturday January 25 it’s The Get Down with resident DJ Mr Nash from 9pm with free entry.

For their live music nights see our Gig Guide.

NIGHTS OUT AT CHARTERS Cheer yourself up this January and socialise with your mates at some cheap fun nights out at Charters Bar. Have a laugh and test your grey matter (if you have any left after all of those festive hangovers!) and join in with the Weekly Quiz on Thursdays January 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. It’s free entry and starts at 8pm.

If you’re better at the music questions then round off your weekend at the Monthly Music Quiz on Sunday January 12 instead. It starts at 6.30pm and it’s free entry.

See out the month with a new pay packet and treat yourself to a pint and a packet of crisps on Friday January 31 while enjoying some tunes on the black plastic at Vinyl Night with resident DJ Derek Gibson from 8pm – free entry.

For their live music nights see our Gig Guide.

BEN STERLING & LUKE VAN DIJK HEADLINE MIXOLOGY To kick off 2020, Mixology bring two of Europe’s most talented DJs and producers to Peterborough’s Red Room on Broadway – Luuk van Dijk & Ben Sterling on Friday January 31!

Amsterdam based DJ and producer Luuk van Dijk is known for his groovy sound and prominent basslines. His discography already features massive labels such as Hot Creations, Solid Grooves, VIVa Music and Circus Recordings.

Revered as an ‘artist to watch’ by Hot Since 82, Hector Couto, Eats Everything, Steve Lawler and Shadow Child; Luuk has played at some of the biggest parties in the world including Paradise, Awakenings, Elrow & Cocoon.

Joining Luuk on the night will be one of Britain’s must see DJs, Ben Sterling!

Influenced by his father’s golden 70-80s Disco, Electro and passion for Chicago House and Detroit Techno, Ben’s sound marries mesmerising uplifting fluidity with a nod towards Acid House and Raw Electronic Groove.

An exceptional 2019 saw Ben play across the world, performing at the likes of WHP, DC-10, Elrow, Octan & Fabric and releasing on premier underground labels: Cr2 Records and Hot Creations.

On support as ever and warming things up nicely will be their resident DJs Dan Clare, James Chan & Tom Skinner.

Another incredible Mixo awaits to kick off their eighth year of parties.

Get your tickets quick for this one.

M E D I A

S E R V I C E S

46 www.espmag.co.uk

DID YOU KNOW WE DID THIS?

NEW TUNES AT THE PIZZA PARLOUR The Pizza Parlour and Music Café on Cowgate is starting two new events this month to change up their regular live entertainment in the week.

Every second Wednesday the FYA reggae band will be playing live and every fourth Wednesday they’re starting Soul and Motown live music nights with Free Soul Sista performing in January.

There’s music for all tastes as well as pizza and pasta! See the full listings in our Gig Guide.

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

CALL: 01733 381266

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

ENTERTAINMENT AT THE BURGHLEY JANUARY Saturday 4th Sound Injectors

Saturday 18th Friday 31st Clarksdale Janus Stark Contract (Album Launch) Saturday 11th Saturday 25th + The Tara Rez Band + I Got The Mighty and Ramshackle Spiders The High Serenade Friday 17th Soul Disco

FEBRUARY Saturday 1st Americana (All bands start at 9pm, free entry unless stated)

Sunday Carvery – All welcome, Sundays 12-3pm.

Adults

£8.50

Senior

£6.95

Children

£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

EX-PRODIGY STAR LEEROY THORNHILL TO PERFORM DJ SET AT CHARTERS It’s a new year and we all need a few things to look forward to right?

It’s great to see more names heading our way and Charters is getting ready to host a big one!

The popular live music venue Charters has joined forces with local DJs and Promoters Eclectic Ballroom to bring one of the most renowned DJs and former member of dance act The Prodigy to Peterborough on Saturday February 29.

You’ll need to get your tickets quick for this one as it’s expected to be a complete sell-out with the ever-loyal Prodigy fans eager to attend.

Leeroy is a British electronic music artist and formerly a dancer and occasional live keyboardist of the British rave act The Prodigy. Since leaving The Prodigy Leeroy’s gone on to make a name for himself as a renowned DJ. He picked up his musical style whilst touring with The Prodigy in the mid 90s and continues to produce music today with solo releases and remixes for various artists and DJs such as Darren Emerson and Maxim (Prodigy).

He now resides in Germany and is being flown in especially for this event which is brought to us by Warren Allett, General Manager of Charters Bar, Zed Malik and Jim Norton aka Eclectic Ballroom.

Warren said – “I am excited about working together with Eclectic Ballroom and hope that this will be the first of many high profile acts that we can bring to Charters and to Peterborough, together further enhancing our recent recognition in The Guardian as one of the top 10 live music pubs in the UK.” Leeroy will be supported on the night by local lad Nick Slater of Shades of Rhythm, Nick was part of the Peterborough based trio who made a name for themselves back in 1989 when they produced multiple tracks for their self-penned album Frequency, although Sound of Eden is perhaps the track they’re most associated with.

Tickets are being released in stages with the next batch on sale from 11am on January 6 at £9 and the final wave at 11am on January 31 at £10.

This one is strictly for over 18s. The venue will remain open to the public until 9.30pm and will reopen to ticket holders at 10.30pm.

PETERBOROUGH

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

Sky Sports and BT Sports showing all games of football

Closed New Year’s Day Real Ale Available 2 Pool Tables 26 London Road, Peterborough PE2 8AR /ThePeacockPeterborough

www.espmag.co.uk

47

keith.dalton@espmag.co.uk

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

So we herald in the New Year having witnessed some changes on the Live Music scene in 2019.

We unfortunately lost some legendry names on the local scene at the end of the year.

The passing of Lloyd Watson and Allen Adams within a few days of each other robbed Peterborough of some of its finest talent. I had known Lloyd personally for many years and he was nationally acknowledged as an extremely talented musician who throughout his whole life was joined to his guitar. He was probably closer to his guitar than anything else in the world.

I remember visiting him at home when we were younger and he was ill. There he sat in bed, playing his guitar. They were inseparable! I saw a gig

by Frankly My Dear recently and was quite moved by the musical dedications that they did in Lloyd’s memory.

I did an article on Allen in the last ESP and both he and Lloyd will be sadly missed by the local music community.

Music for Theatre Fans Photo: Pamela Raith Photography

Keith says...

There’s a real treat for Musical Theatre fans in January because the Peterborough New Theatre brings two of the most enduring musicals to the area. At the beginning of the month it’s Joseph and the Amazing Technical Dreamcoat whilst Cabaret visits towards the end.

Both are Bill Kenwright productions from the West End and both feature a very strong cast.

Joseph and the Amazing Technical Dreamcoat needs very little explanation and Britain’s Got Talent 2019 finalist, Mark McMullan, fulfills his dream as he dons Joseph’s coveted Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Mark floored the Britain’s Got Talent judges this year with his emotional rendition of Les Misérables’ Bring Him Home, which was dedicated to his brother Declan. Week after week, his performances of classic musical theatre songs won him a place in the final of the show. Joseph is showing between Tuesday

January 7 and Saturday January 11 and has two performances on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday.

I’ve seen the Bill Kenwright production of Cabaret when it visited the New Theatre a couple of years ago and it’s a startling production mixing show-stopping choreography, dazzling costumes and iconic songs like Money Makes the World Go Round, Maybe This Time and of course Cabaret.

It puts you on an emotional roller coaster with humour mixed into the tragic realism of 1930’s Berlin, a haven of decadence and the infamous Kit Kat Klub.

Starring as Emcee is John Partridge, winner of Celebrity Masterchef 2018, well known to TV audiences as EastEnders’ charismatic Christian Clarke. You can read more on our Entertainment pages in this issue.

Cabaret runs from Tuesday January 21 to Saturday January 25 and also has some afternoon performances.

Both shows are great value, particularly if you bear in mind that it would cost a lot more to see the same productions in the West End. This is the sort of show that Selladoor are aiming to bring to Peterborough if they prove popular. Tickets are available on the website: www.newtheatrepeterborough.com.

To all connected with the local music scene, I hope you have a Happy and Successful New Year.

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Live Music Real Ales Charity Events

LIVE MUSIC January 4th Cuttin loose January 16th Palmy Uke Band January 31st Velocity

Staniland Way Werrington 01733 327696

The B-Siders are getting on the A List

Conversely, it was encouraging to see some old favourites and great new bands appearing in the area. As well as Frankly, I particularly enjoyed The Returns and Cuttin’ Loose together with rebranded bands: Candy Twist (formerly The Guards) and Cap’n Rasty and the Good Time Charlies (League of Mentalmen).

It’s also noticeable that an ever increasing number of venues are embracing live music particularly at weekends, which can only be good news.

Come and join us at a pub that’s at the heart of the community and has charity at its heart!

Finding something different as a feature of your band’s set list is difficult so I’m impressed by covers band The B-Siders. They decided that an often neglected source of quality music was the flip side of all those 7”vinyl singles that were released in a 50 year period from the late 50s and so they play only B-sides of singles.

The band was formed in mid 2019 by Steve McGuire who was the lead guitarist in the original Dr and the Medics band who had a number 1 in 1986 with Spirit in the Sky. Now slightly changed from his stage appearances with The Medics, Steve is a talented guitarist who’s worked throughout his life on the professional music scene both as a performer, tour manager and, more recently, as a tutor in music production and performance at the Peterborough Regional College. He’s joined by Paul Edenbrow, Assistant Head teacher at Hampton College (on drums) and Aaron Oliver, owner and manager of a music production company in Peterborough, TrueAudio, on bass. That’s quite a pedigree.

Steve’s always wanted to return to his roots – performing. So the B-Siders were formed with the specific intention of providing entertainment. I asked Steve about how being on stage now compares to his heyday in the 1980s. He said – "The magic of performing live music is always the same: the thrill

Proudly sponsored by

Stamford Music Agency seeks New Talent If you’re a local musician or band and want to get the year off to a great start, I have news that a leading live music agency in Stamford is on the lookout for fresh new talent in the Peterborough area.

Bands For Hire is run by a familiar face from the local music scene – Adam Mezzatesta from Mesh 29 – who works alongside ambitious singers and musicians to further their careers in musical performance. The agency offers opportunities to perform at various functions all over the UK, including weddings and corporate events.

Adam, who’s originally from Whittlesey, built the agency in 2011 from the ground up, and has since taken it from strength to strength. His client list features several high-profile organisations, including Google, IBM, Adobe, Bauer Media, Deloitte, BBC, News UK, Amazon, British Airways and SKY. As a musician himself, Adam has a sound understanding of the needs of both Bands For Hire’s clients and its acts, maintaining a personable and professional approach that’s earned his agency over 300 5-star reviews.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of running the agency is discovering young talent and developing new acts,” says Adam, “with such uncertainty in the music industry, it’s vital for musicians to ensure they have a regular stream of income from performing.”

Bands For Hire relocated to their brand new premises in Stamford at the beginning of 2019, where it continues to expand. The agency’s now home to over 400 live acts, who between them perform at over 3,000 events a year across the country and you could join them.

You can find out more at www.bandsforhire.net or apply to be part of their roster of musicians at https://www.bandsforhire.net/content/artistapplication.

never fades, the excitement of filling a room with great sound, being close to an audience who enjoy what you are doing, and playing what you love for people who are there to hear you – nothing beats it, it's amazing every single time."

So how does it compare to the heady days of Dr and the Medics?

Steve says – "In Dr and the Medics, I worked with dedicated, talented musicians, and enjoyed good success in those days. These days, I am lucky to have found similarly dedicated and talented musicians who share my passion for live music and performance. Nowadays, the measure of success is different, no top-10 singles, but the sheer joy of performing is exactly the same."

The band’s set includes some surprises which started as B-sides but have become hugely successful hits in their own right. Like The

Rolling Stones’ You Can’t Always Get What You Want. The Model by Kraftwerk and The Beatles’ Revolution. The band is continually adding to its repertoire (usually from extensive research by band members and friends of the band and players).

They’re also open to suggestions and have a Discussion section on their Facebook page for that purpose.

It’s great to see a new concept and it’s proving very successful because a growing number of venues are booking them and they’ve managed to secure themselves a place at the prestigious Glastonbudget Festival to take place in Leicestershire in May 2020.

If you fancy taking a Walk on the Flip side you can catch the B-Siders at Charters on Saturday January 25 and keep up to date on their Facebook page. To book the band call 07961 514052.

Janus Stark Album Launch at The Burghley Local band Janus Stark fronted by Gizz Butt are back after 20 years and have a big gig planned at The Burghley to launch their brand new album which should be an amazing night!

They’ll be headlining on Friday January 31 with support from The Tara Rez Band (featuring Segs from The Ruts) and I Got Spiders for the official launch of Angel In The Flames through Time & Matter Records.

Janus Stark initially existed between 1996-2002, formed at the same time former English Dogs, Destructors and UK Subs guitarist Gizz Butt was also playing for The Prodigy during their Fat Of The Land period, scoring a number one album in 38 countries in 1997.

Now they’re back with brand new material after a 20 year hiatus and the label tell us – “This stunning new album really does set the guitar-led punk-rock world alight, with Gizz’s versatility and virtuoso sixstring pyrotechnics more aflame and to the fore than ever, with the four-piece band equally on fire, they also have much to say via their thought-provoking sociopolitical, and highly personal lyrical content on an album you’ll love and repeatedly play. Dave Grohl once described Janus Stark as ‘a great melodic kick up the arse…’ Little has changed on that front. Prepare to have your arse kicked all over again.”

Janus Stark features some talented local musicians along with Gizz Butt on lead vocals and lead guitar. There’s Richard Gombault on guitar and vocals, who enjoyed success as the singer/guitarist/songwriter of pop punk favourites Midget, Simon Martin on bass and vocals who was taught guitar by Gizz and eventually hooked up with him in 2007 forming the covers band The Dizzy Miss Lizzys and Fozzy on drums who many will be familiar with from his time with Kismet and The Contrast and is also a bandmate in the Dizzys.

The album’s available as an LP, CD and Digital Download, featuring 12-tracks and as with their debut album, Great Adventure Cigar, legendary UK Subs frontman Charlie Harper has co-written a song, plays harmonica and provides backing vocals on some of the new tracks.

The oil painting featured on the album cover was painted by Gizz's talented daughter Astrid, of which there are various meanings within, which augment some of the themes running through this album's song lyrics.

The album also includes a leaflet for the mental health MIND charity’s ‘Stop Suicide’ campaign, and in support of this, Gizz has written a moving essay revealing his own personal struggles with mental health issues to be included as part of the LP insert and CD booklet.

Check out the band’s Facebook page for more on www.facebook.com/JanusStarkBand and get your year off to a great start with their gig at The Burghley.

www.espmag.co.uk

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GIGGUIDE FRI DEC 27

ACOUSTIC SESSION WITH THE BOATMEN The Boat Inn, Whittlesey

CARPARK RENDEZVOUS The Queen's Head, Queen Street

FILTHY CONTACT

THE ZEPHYRS

THE NUGGETS (TICKETED)

OAKLEAS RISE (4PM)

DAVID JAMES SMITH

TUE JAN 14

Fletton Club, Fletton

Mama Liz's, Stamford

The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

OPEN MIC

SUN DEC 29

THE ZEPHYRS (TICKETED)

PANAMA TRIO

ALAN TRENDELL

The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

The Burghley, Burghley Road

The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

VELOCITY RICHARD KEELING The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue THU JAN 2

The Cock Inn, Werrington MON DEC 30

HIGH ROLLERS The Ploughman, Werrington

NO GOD NO MANAGERS BAND NIGHT The Ostrich, North Street

OPEN MIC NIGHT The Brewery Tap, Westgate

RAMSHACKLE SERENADE The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

REVOLVER The Nag's Head, Bourne

THE MONEY SHOT The Crown, Lincoln Road SAT DEC 28

AFTERLIFE The Cock Inn, Werrington

BOBA FETT The Crown, Lincoln Road

CLARKSDALE CONTRACT SAMM'S, Bridge Street

MOLLY'S CHAMBER The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

SAMM'S, Bridge Street

THE RAINMEN The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

VOODOO ACOUSTIC WITH DAVID B

TUE DEC 31

ANOTHER GIRL ANOTHER PLANET

TIGER CLUB

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)

MON JAN 6

LUKE CAREY The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

OPEN MIC WITH STACEY LOWETH The Blue Bell, Werrington

STEVIE JONES & THE WILDFIRES + STEPHEN TANNER & THE RUNAWAYS + THE MODERN AGE + JESS ORETANO

The Crown, Lincoln Road

The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

OPEN MIC

The Crown, Lincoln Road

ACOUSTIC NIGHT WITH GRAHAM CLEAVER

ANNA RADFORD

OPEN MIC The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

SAT JAN 4 WED JAN 8

NITE OWLS The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

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

FRANKLY MY DEAR The Ostrich, North Street

PHOENIX SHOWBAND The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

REVOLVER The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

SMOKESCREEN + SUPPORT Mama Liz's, Stamford

REPOSE The Ostrich, North Street

THE MIGHTY & THE HIGH The Crown, Lincoln Road

THE SOUND INJECTORS The Burghley, Burghley Road

TIGER CLUB The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

FYA REGGAE BAND

THE CONTACTS

The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

The Crown, Lincoln Road

THU JAN 9

THE MIGHTY & THE HIGH

CAPTAIN BACKWASH The Hand & Heart, Highbury Street

PALMY UKE BAND OPEN PRACTICE NIGHT The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

SUN JAN 5

POWERED OPEN MIC NIGHT

CHRIS JOHNSON

The Bull, Newborough

The Bull, Newborough

PALMY UKE BAND OPEN PRACTICE NIGHT The Ploughman, Werrington

Fletton Club, Fletton

CUTTIN LOOSE The Ploughman, Werrington

The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

THE FAMOUS UNKNOWNS

SAT JAN 11

VELOCITY

ROCKABILLY

THU JAN 16

TUE JAN 7

The Millstone, Barnack

WED JAN 15

Mama Liz's, Stamford

Mama Liz's, Stamford FRI JAN 3

The Crown, Lincoln Road

The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

The Burghley, Burghley Road SUN JAN 12

HAZEYJANE (4PM) Mama Liz's, Stamford

FRI JAN 17

JUNK PUPPETS The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

MORNING GLORY (OASIS TRIBUTE) The Nag's Head, Bourne

RADIUS 45 The Crown, Lincoln Road

STEALER The Golden Fleece, Stamford

THE DEPS The Ostrich, North Street

THE FLYING ACES The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

THE MIGHTY & THE HIGH The Blue Bell, Werrington

MARTIN JOHN

SAT JAN 18

The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

4 GEEZERS

MON JAN 13

The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

CAUSTIC LIGHTS

The Brewery Tap, Westgate

The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

FRI JAN 10

THE EXPLETIVES

THE MONEY SHOT

OAKHAM MIC NIGHT

BLACK ROSE SOCIETY

PAUL HENSHAW

The Blue Bell, Dogsthorpe

The Ostrich, North Street

The Brewery Tap, Westgate

CLARKSDALE CONTRACT

The Ostrich, North Street

The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

The Burghley, Burghley Road

PORKY PIG The Ostrich, North Street

50 www.espmag.co.uk

OPEN MIC NIGHT

The Crown, Lincoln Road

The Talbot, Stilton

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

GIGS@ESPMAG.CO.UK CUTTIN LOOSE The Stage, Market Deeping

LOS RAMONES + A GREAT NOTION + SCUMBUS Mama Liz's, Stamford

REBECCA RHOSYN

OPEN MIC WITH THE BOATMEN AND PHIL Q

The Crown, Lincoln Road

The Boat Inn, Whittlesey

SWEET REVENGE The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

WED JAN 22

BACKROOM ACOUSTIC WITH DAVE AND SHAUN

Fletton Club, Fletton

STINGRAY

FREE SOUL SISTA The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

THE BOATMEN

THE B-SIDERS CARPARK RENDEZVOUS The Crown, Lincoln Road

DB5 The Ostrich, North Street

FROM THE JAM (TICKETED) The Cresset, Bretton

Charters, Town Bridge SUN JAN 26

BOB RENTON + GEORGIA AND THE PRISONERS OF JAZZKABAN + NIGEL & TERI The Glasshouse, Key Theatre

The Falcon Hotel, Whittlesey

THE SOUND INJECTORS The Ivy Leaf Club, Whittlesey SUN JAN 19

CHRIS POWELL The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

LATIESHA TRIO The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

PENNYLESS (4PM) Mama Liz's, Stamford MON JAN 20

LISA HAMMOND The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

MON JAN 27

THE VELTONES

THE RAINMEN

The Brewery Tap, Westgate

The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

SAT JAN 25

The Ale House, Ramsey

The Ostrich, North Street

VELOCITY

TO ENHANCE YOUR GIGS PLEASE CONTACT US ON 01733 381266 FOR MORE DETAILS THU JAN 23

PALMY UKE BAND OPEN PRACTICE NIGHT The Ostrich, North Street

GEMMA MCDOWELL Fletton Club, Fletton

EPIGONE JAZZ ENSEMBLE (4PM)

HUSH

Mama Liz's, Stamford

The Bell, Sawtry

HUSH

FRI JAN 24

LE BROCK + A STORY TO TELL + THE PORTLAND

CUTTIN LOOSE

The Met Lounge, Bridge Street

The Golden Fleece, Stamford

JAMROOM Mama Liz's, Stamford

SALMON DAVE The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

TUE JAN 21

OFF THE RECORD The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

RAMSHACKLE SERENADE The Burghley, Burghley Road

The Seven Wives, St Ives

OPEN MIC

STEALER

The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

The Ostrich, North Street

The Palmerston Arms, Woodston

The Ploughman, Werrington

OPEN MIC

SAT FEB 1

The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

AMERICANA

THU JAN 30

OPEN MIC WITH GRAHAM CLEAVER

The Burghley, Burghley Road

CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION

The Blue Boar, Eye

The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

POWERED OPEN MIC NIGHT

COSMIC RODNEY

The Blue Boar, Eye

The Crown, Lincoln Road

FRI JAN 31

CUBANS & COGNAC

ACOUSTIC SESSION WITH THE BOATMEN

The Ostrich, North Street

The Boat Inn, Whittlesey

CHILDREN OF THE REVOLUTION The Blue Bell, Werrington

LAST MINUTE BRIGADE Fletton Club, Fletton

THE SOUND INJECTORS The Golden Lion, Spalding

LAST MINUTE BRIGADE

FRI FEB 7

MARK SPAFFORD

Yaxley FC, Yaxley

MOJO SLIDE

The Parkway Club, Maskew Avenue

The Nag's Head, Bourne

RAMSHACKLE SERENADE The Ostrich, North Street

WILDLIGHTS

THE MIGHTY & THE HIGH

TUE JAN 28

VELOCITY

The Pizza Parlour & Music Cafe, Cowgate

LOOSE ROCKET

RETROLUX

The Ostrich, North Street

REPOSE The Crown, Lincoln Road

The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road

SAT FEB 8

THE HOUNDOGS

BETI GIE

Mama Liz's, Stamford

THE RETURNS The Crown, Lincoln Road

Fletton Club, Fletton

STEALER The Ostrich, North Street

FRIDAY JANUARY 17

MORNING GLORY – OASIS TRIBUTE

GIG of the MONTH

The Nag’s Head, 2 Abbey Road, Bourne If you’re a fan of the Gallagher brothers and the songs of Oasis you can expect all the hits you know and love from the Britpop heroes.

This new act features two original members of the popular tribute act Noasis which toured extensively.

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