Chestnut - In A Nutshell

IN A NUTSHELL

PERFECTLY

PLACED HOSPITALITY

Contents

A paw-fect stay

Welcome by Philip Turner page 4

Chestnut party time pages 6 & 7

The Black Lion, Long Melford pages 8-10

Game changers pages 24-27

From grape to glass pages 28-29

James Dyson interview page 30-31

for the boys and refreshments for me.

Chestnut’s Best Pub Brand, Publican Award page 11

Bone appetite!

Ralph Fiennes interview pages 12 & 13

Winter fashions to bring a glow pages 14 & 15

Rule Brit Anya pages 17-19

I’ve been wanting to explore Suffolk for such a long time and when we were invited to stay at one of the Chestnut pubs I just had to choose The Westleton Crown. This beautiful, super dogfriendly inn takes pride of place on the edge of a quintessential Suffolk village green and is also very close to the beach. What’s not to like!

Saddling up for a good cause pages 32 & 33

Chestnut help in operation beach clean pages 34 & 35

The Feathers, Holt pages 36-38

Pork Belly Sticky Sage & Cider Ribs recipe page 39

A sandy paws staycation

The Three Blackbirds, Woodditton pages 20-22

Can you identify these landmarks? pages 40 & 41

Special thanks this issue Robert Hall and Ant Brown Magazine design: Nicola Howe and Holy Cow! Printed by the Manson Group.

Front cover: St Benet’s Mill, Norfolk by Justin Minns www.fotovue.com

After our arrival, we were taken to our room in the courtyard. The boys immediately ran to a lovely soft dog bed and got very excited about yummy dog treats that were waiting for them. The room was spacious and beautifully decorated; a lovely surprise was a rolltop bath! There was also a water bowl

I’d had a very busy week and couldn’t wait to sit down with a delicious G&T and enjoy a three-course meal that is included in the Sandy Paws Stay. I chose Grilled Peach with Pickled Kohlrabi, Chipotle and Maple Dressing and Smoked Almonds for starter. It was very refreshing and simply delicious. Being Sunday, I then couldn’t resist a roast dinner. The Norfolk beef was beautifully done and presented, and it was one of the best roast dinners I’ve had. I finished with Coconut Panna Cotta with Roasted Pineapple, Lime and Pink Peppercorn. The boys opted for sausages, of course!

This magazine was printed in the UK by The Manson Group, a subscriber to the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC) promoting responsible management of the world’s forests.

In addition to forest management and certification, the FSC uses a Chain of Custody system which tracks the timber from the forest to the paper mill and then to the printer. The Manson Group cares for the environment and has reduced landfill waste by over 80% through waste segregation policies, with all paper, cardboard, plastics and used printing plates recycled in a responsible manner.

After dinner it was time for a walk and

Wagging tails will always be welcome through our door. We invited Michaela and her four miniature dachshunds to discover the delights of The Westleton Crown with its doggy menus and dog-friendly bedrooms

Perfectly placed days out pages 42 & 43

Saffron Poached Essex Orchard Pear recipe page 44

Winter landscapes pages 45-47

Exploring East Anglia pages 49-52

Call of the wild pages 53-55

Spooks, the region’s ghost stories pages 56 & 57

A whale of a story pages 58 & 59

Top tees, great golf courses pages 60 & 61

Agenda - our pick of winter events pages 62-65

Chestmutts pages 66 & 67

Welcome

Thank you for all the incredible feedback from the first edition of “In a Nutshell”, it is humbling to hear what so many have had to say about the region and Chestnut’s growth.

Unfortunately for many, autumn and winter will be tough, as the real impact of energy bills bites. Chestnut’s charitable foundation The Giving Tree (established in April 2020, to produce and distribute home-cooked meals throughout Covid lockdowns) has spearheaded our ambitions to make a difference to the communities in which our business operates.

The Chestnut Cycle Safari set out on a 500km journey over four days to visit each of our properties across the region, in an effort to raise funds to help Nourishing Norfolk establish a series of ‘food hubs’ to support those at risk of food poverty this winter.

The connection between business and community has never been more important – it is core to our culture. The opportunity to provide employment, source and invest in local producers and encourage tourism expenditure is critical in our efforts to recruit teams and engage with communities as we grow.

Expect to read and hear about lots of news and stories from across the region, with interviews from East Anglian greats and inspiration on places to visit.

Chestnut’s East of England focus provides a platform – from here we seek to make things happen.

Why Chestnut?

I’ve always felt a pub brings people together, evolving over ti me and providing a sense of longevity. When looking for a brand na me I wanted something that shared those characteristics, grows ove r

time and has roots in the community. If The Packhorse was our first grown, it is a sturdy tree and it’s expanding branches ar e our properties.

Philip Turner, Founder of the Chestnut Group

Philip Turner (left) with some of the Chestnut team after a sponsored bike ride

A SENSE OF PLACE

Putting Chestnut on the hospitality map has been a journey. So we’ve reimagined the Chestnut landscape with all its charm, culture and abundant ingredients. This map tells the visual story of our places and our landscape. So take time to explore it, get to know it and enjoy it!

Chestnut Live

On a sunny spring day we celebrated our team with an epic party in the woods. Here’s what happened…

We closed all our pubs and inns, donned our finest festival wear and headed to the Cambridgeshire countryside.

The day was packed full with live music, food trucks, flowing cocktails, activities and dancing in the forest, plus it was an opportunity

to say a big thank you to our team for all that they do.

NUTS OLYMPICS AND MORE

From Starlight Boutique’s glitter art and festival headwear workshops, to the competitive welly wanging and tug-of-war in the Nuts Olympics, the team enjoyed a colourful, festival themed day.

COCKTAIL O’CLOCK

Edmunds cocktails flowed and the Sapling gin and vodka bar kept thirsts quenched. The team tucked in to woodfired pizza, sticky Asian bao buns and Steak and Honour’s epic burgers, before finishing off with Saffron Ice Cream’s sweet treats. As the sun set, gooey marshmallow s’mores were made on the fire pits. Tipis twinkled, fire pits roared and the team danced under the stars.

PARTY FOR THE PLANET

With sustainability high on our priority list, the aim was to be as environmentally friendly as possible. We worked with the best local suppliers; reusable cups in holders meant everyone had their own drinking vessel for the day, wristbands were made from recycled plastic and old bed frames from recently refurbished properties were given a new lease of life as festival signs. The Flower Hut’s floral photo area had no foam oasis in sight and guests left with flowers to enjoy at home.

OUR CHESTNUT FAMILY

We were thrilled that a few suppliers and treasured Chestnut alumni were able to join us for the day. It was particularly special to be able to come together to celebrate our team and wider Chestnut family and all that we have achieved and overcome over the past few years... from pandemics to new properties and everything in between.

A huge thank you to Vicky Fenton and her team for helping us organise the event so seamlessly and to all of our other partners for contributing to such a special, memorable day. Here’s to next year!

The Chestnut team enjoying their party in the woods

The Black Lion, Long Melford

What do you imagine when you think of Suffolk? I picture sleepy villages and thatched cottages painted in muted pinks and burnt oranges...

To kick start our August bank holiday weekend, we headed to the countryside for our overnight stay at The Black Lion. Although Suffolk is a short drive

from where I live, it’s a county I am quite unfamiliar with. So, when we arranged our stay, I was excited to see as much of the county as possible and it did not disappoint. I was lucky enough to enjoy this trip with my mum and my two children, Leo and Arlo.

LOCATION

The Black Lion is in the picturesque village of Long

Melford, close to the Essex border. It is renowned for its three-mile-long main street full of independent shops, tea rooms, antique centres, art galleries, pubs and restaurants. It is also home to two large manor houses, Melford Hall and Kentwell Hall, both of which are a stone’s throw or two from the pub.

The Black Lion is just outside of the main street, overlooking an impressive green and neighbouring

pretty cottages. A Grade I listed medieval church stands at the top of the green. Country paths are plentiful, making it a wonderful area to explore on foot or by bike.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

As we arrived, we were instantly drawn to the stunning Georgian façade – with the original sash windows and stone steps leading through a large arched doorway. As we stepped inside, we received a very warm welcome from the team. I instantly got the sense of being in a home away from home – where guests can come and feel like a local and explore the picturesque, quaint villages all at a slower country pace. The perfect break if you lead a busy life or want to escape from the city.

The interiors were a perfect mix of traditional and modern. A couple of the dining areas and bar have a timeless and typical Suffolk aesthetic with wonderful

paintings, wooden floors, vintage rugs, mismatched furniture – simply beautiful.

THE ROOMS

There are a total of 10 rooms, from Cosy and Family to large Luxury rooms. We stayed in room ‘Five’ which had a large double room, with a separate room for the boys and a sizeable bathroom. Our room was cosy and calming with effortless styling that fits in with the Georgian building.

The boys’ room overlooked the garden and the village church which is beautifully illuminated at night. They were over the moon with their bunk beds – which made them feel very grown up, with Arlo referring to his bottom bunk as his cave and Leo insisting, ‘we need to get bunk beds for our home!’

At bedtime after the initial excitement, they both slept like logs until half six – which is a win if you’re a parent.

The bathroom had a tub-shower combo with traditional style fittings in keeping with the timeless design seen throughout the inn, complete with Bramley products (the best!). Little touches like this always add that bit of luxury to your stay!

FOOD & DRINK

We had our evening meal in the Orangery. This room had a different aesthetic to the other rooms with its dark walls, bold wallpaper prints, plenty of mirrors and a pop of yellow, it manages to be light and airy whilst still retaining a cosy feel.

As it was a Saturday evening, we could not resist treating ourselves to a cocktail. If you’re going for dinner, you must order the burrata from the starters – it was to die for, so light and creamy.

For our main, my mum and I both opted for fish dishes, the mackerel and plaice – I was torn between the Breaded Plaice and Flat Iron Steak but wanted to save some room for dessert so decided the fish would be the better option. Safe to say I was happy I did.

The boys tucked into Fish and Chips and Macaroni Cheese finished off with a Chocolate Brownie and Ice Cream. We adults opted for the Chocolate Mousse and Panna Cotta – we left with extremely full, yet happy tummies!

SUITABLE FOR FAMILIES?

When looking for a family friendly stay, it isn’t always easy to find places that are suitable, but two of The

Black Lion’s rooms are family-friendly, both can sleep two adults and two children. There are a minimum of four choices on the children’s menu and at breakfast the menu can be adapted for smaller appetites.

You can easily enjoy a good run around on the village green - there is plenty of running space before you reach the road. So, bring a ball, a frisbee, a kite or simply a good game of catch and enjoy the outdoors on the doorstep of the Black Lion.

CAN I BRING MY DOG?

Yes, Chestnut is mutt-mad, so no need to leave your furry companion at home - bring them along for a fun getaway. There is also a full menu just for dogs with nibbles, treats and even drinks. Breakfast is also included, so they will leave feeling like one pampered pooch by the end of the stay.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

A relaxing break to the countryside and the perfect way to switch off, with good food and drink. It’s a flawless blend of traditional, stylish and modern interiors. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and left with some lovely memories of our trip to Suffolk.

VISIT A LOCAL VILLAGE

You cannot visit Suffolk without a trip to some of their charming villages close by:

Long Melford – Walk the longest high street in England, window shop and grab a coffee.

Lavenham – Only a 20-minute drive away this historic Tudor village is a typical postcard image of Suffolk, crooked houses painted in muted colours.

Kersey – A very small village but one of the prettiest!

VISIT MELFORD HALL OR KENTWELL HALL

Melford Hall – Tudor manor house built in the mid-16th Century and part of the National Trust.

Kentwell Hall – Beautiful redbrick moated Tudor Manor House famous for their Tudor re-enactments.

VISIT JIMMY’S FARM

Just 40 minutes away from The Black Lion, Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park has over 80 species and breeds on site, a WonderWood area where children can make dens and a large playground with a sand area.

Josie is a lifestyle, motherhood and travel blogger, based in Essex. Follow her on Instagram here. www.athomewithjosie.co.uk

Places to visit nearby

WINNER OF BEST PUB BRAND

TEAM CHESTNUT LIVING THE BRAND

To win a national industry award is always humbling, but to win one for something so fundamentally personal and all-encapsulating is just the cherry on top of a very fabulous cake! Brand is the DNA that joins all parts of our hospitality business together, brand is our soul.

The beating heart of Chestnut is its people, from our chefs and central reservations team, to our housekeepers and operations team, to our guest facing team members, our finance and people team, to our managers and marketeers - all delivering our Chestnut brand to our guests, day in and day out.

This award is for you and we thank you.

Ralph’s progress

Suffolk born actor Ralph Fiennes has played an evil SS commandant, leads in Shakespeare, 007’s chief and latterly an archaeologist making an important discovery at Sutton Hoo. Here he talks about his love of Suffolk and taking inspiration from his mother

Versatility is at the heart of Ralph Fiennes’ pursuit of dramatic excellence.

Asked to play any type of character and this, the most versatile of players, will take to the task with grandiose aplomb. Just look at his body of work: for a frightening and amoral evil monster, his turn in Schindler’s List. A tragic character battling against the weight of life... The English Patient A spot of comedic irreverence... In Bruges. Even a chapter in the greatest film franchise of them all, Bond, was accomplished when he played M in Skyfall, Spectre and No Time to Die.

By the time you’ve worked kid-themed projects, as Lord Voldemort, or across various animated voiceover projects (the Lego movie series), you know you are dealing with someone rather special.

It is perhaps no surprise that Fiennes – Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes to give him his full name – has proved to be an actor of such elevated ability. After all, he was born into a family that showcases almost indecent levels of talent. He is the eldest child of Mark Fiennes, a farmer and photographer, and writer Jennifer Lash. Fiennes counts among his siblings fellow actor Joseph, director Martha, composer Magnus and filmmaker Sophie, yet his talent eclipses all.

The actor was born in Ipswich, and although the family moved to Wiltshire during his childhood, and then on to Cork in Ireland, Fiennes has always retained a fondness for his the county of his birth. “I’ve always admired the wildness of East Anglia,” he begins. “There is a freedom, an energy, and so much oxygen. I don’t like being isolated, but I like the freedom to be alone at times; and at others to feel the warmth of people around me.

“People in Suffolk are that – warm; and there is a sense of history and legacy.

“While I don’t remember too much about growing up in Ipswich, I have returned many times. It’s one of those places where you can breathe in the atmosphere.”

Fiennes had the opportunity to revive the Suffolk accent when he took on the role of Basil Brown in the 2021 film, The Dig, which reimagined events of the 1939 excavation of Sutton Hoo.

“It was lovely to spend time in the area – the film held a special place for me, and I found the landscape and the big open skies stunning,” says Fiennes.

Perhaps it is the diversity of Fiennes’ work that defines him in an era when so many of our homegrown actors are fixed in the same roles and the same genres. He admits freeing himself from the pressure of others’ opinions was the first step on the road to a career in the spotlight that has yielded so much.

“I still believe if you’re too concerned with what people think about you then you’ll never be able to fully unleash yourself on a project,” he says. “It takes a really thick skin to be able to express completely what it is you’re reading or reciting or performing without that nagging feeling that someone is watching and laughing. I’m not sure any of us utterly accomplish that separation, but going towards it is certainly important.

“At school I decided that I didn’t want to live up to the fashions, and began to fall into a new social circle, and it was a really interesting experience. I discovered books and theatre and art; I discovered myself.”

Although art played a huge part in the Fiennes household, the actor is quick to blunt the perception of what might seem a slightly surreal home life of actors and performers to be.

“It was actually resoundingly normal,” he smiles. “Yes there was art, but there was humour, irreverence, downtime. It was normal.”

Most of his artistic pursuit he puts down to his mother. “I was very close to her; she was an enthusiast,” he says. “She encouraged us all to engage, to really go into whatever we were doing, not to skate on the surface… to become impassioned.

“She had an emotional fragility that we all felt strongly, but it inspired us all to do our best for her.”

Things really began to step up when, in 1993, after years of building himself into the archetypal

Ralph Fiennes starring alongside Carey Mulligan in the film, The Dig

classically-trained thespian, which included acclaimed stage performances (he was at the National Theatre before transferring with great success to the Royal Shakespeare Company) Fiennes landed the part of a Nazi concentration camp commander in Schindler’s List, a role he performed with such brilliance he became on overnight sensation.

“Schindler’s List was a marvellous piece of filmmaking. It was very disturbing in places and because Steven Spielberg was going off piste, so to speak, it garnered a lot more attention that it might have.

“Selfishly, to be able to use that vehicle to really thrust myself into the limelight was an incredible break, and one that might have taken me four or five times as long had I been in other films. The attention, actually, was in some ways quite uncomfortable –there’s nothing that can prepare you for it – though as an actor you would never turn it down.”

The English Patient, in 1996, further enhanced Fiennes’s reputation, and he has followed his own idiosyncratic path ever since, not least in turning to work behind the camera as a producer, notably in 2021’s The King’s Man, and more recently back on stage in TS Eliot’s Four Quartets.

It all begs the question as to what comes next for someone who, 60 in December, still has creativity and energy abound.

“First and foremost I always want to continue to work. I love work. I think that means I will always want to keep on. After all, work is the best of human traits,” says Fiennes.

“I’m constantly trying to discover what’s lurking underneath… and by that I mean, what’s underneath a character and, just as importantly, what’s underneath myself!”

The BAFTA award winning actor Ralph Fiennes

Styles for a winter glow

Chestnut pubs provide the perfect backdrop for Velvet magazine’s latest fashion shoots

Whether you’re staying in or going out, the festive season is filled with reasons to dress up. Showcasing preloved pieces from Brooks, the designer dress agency in Saffron Walden, Velvet’s contributing fashion editor Rohiny Belani pulls together looks for every occasion.

ON LOCATION

Part of the Chestnut collection - which has 15 (and counting) properties across East Anglia, including Moulton’s The Packhorse and The Rupert Brooke in Grantchester - The Westleton Crown sits on a quintessential village green close to the Suffolk coast.

Its decor inspired by the surrounding countryside, the inn has just had a floorto-rafters refurbishment, making it the ideal location for this year’s festive fashion shoot.

Like all properties in Chestnut’s portfolio, The Westleton Crown has its own distinctive personality while offering the same high standard of hospitality as its sister sites. Designed to be the perfect destination for both dining out and staying away, it has an acclaimed restaurant (with a head chef known for hero-ing local and seasonal produce) and rooms (which, equal parts chic and comfy, are dogfriendly, too).

Our fashion shoot also took in the 16th century Saffron Walden pub The Eight Bells. This Chestnut property mixes olde worlde exterior with a fun and modern interior.

For more information and to book visit westletoncrown.co.uk and theeightbellssaffronwalden.com

WRAP IT UP

Throw on a camel coat, add a bit of colour with a scarf and keep cosy with a faux fur hat on your post-lunch walk to really cement the Seventies feel.

Coat: Zara

Jeans: Waven

Boots: Russell and Bromley

Hat: Helen Moore

LADY IN RED

This Victoria Beckham dress is as comfy as pyjamas but will make a statement at formal events teamed with a cropped jacket, a sparkly bag and statement earrings.

Dress: Victoria Beckham

Sling back shoes: Hobbs London

Faux fur jacket: Vero Moda

WINTER BLUES

If red isn’t your colour, opt for deeper shades of blue instead. Paul Smith’s floral shirt is intended for lounging, but when paired with a luxe pair of trousers and dusted with a long statement necklace.

Shirt: Paul Smith

Velvet trousers: Rosemunde

Shoes: Nicola Sexton

MEET THE TEAM

Model: Rohiny Belani - @asweetrohmance

Photographer: Tanya Kalbachova - @t.kalbachova

Hair: Marina Moore@bridalhairbymarina; bridalhairessex.co.uk

Makeup: Victoria Taylor@victoriataylormua; victoriataylor.co.uk

Location: The Westleton Crown@thewestletoncrown; westletoncrown.co.uk and theeightbellssaffronwalden.com

Outfits: Brooks Designer Dress Agency@brooksdressa; brooksclothesagency.co.uk

Rule Brit Anya

Her fashion design has been honoured with a CBE and gained industry awards. Now promoting her new book, Anya Hindmarch gave an audience at Chestnut’s Stoke-by-Nayland Crown some insight into her stellar career

Yours is a sort of 'bags to riches story' being inspired by Italian design and then introducing some British humour and quirkiness into your take on bags. Can you tell us a little about that please?

I started the business in 1987 having been passionate about ‘

Anya Hindmarch

‘ handbags, leather craftmanship and the moodaltering joy of fashion. I started learning from the Florentine craftsmen and began selling my designs in London and then the business expanded abroad and it grew and grew until we had 65 stores in many cities around the world. I sold part of the business but regretted that and bought it back again in 2019 and I am much more focused on localisation rather than globalisation and have opened a little ‘village’ of stores near to my home in London with a café and creativity at it’s heart. It is fun. I love what I do and the team I work with and we are lucky enough to dream up all sorts of mad products and projects and make them happen.

We enjoyed reading your book - If In Doubt Wash Your Hair - an interesting mix of sound advice, creative tips and humour. Was it fun to write and will there be other books? Thank you so much! I have come to understand there is a process for me to go through once an idea has bubbled up and it was the same experience when writing the book. It goes something like; ‘I love it, I’m nervous, it’s hard, I’m not sure, it’s too hard, actually it’s okay, I like it, in fact I love it.’ It is always best to hang on for the journey if you can and this was a great project to put my mind to over lockdown.

For a private person like me, putting so much of myself down on paper wasn’t easy but I felt it was the right thing to do. It is for all those women who have approached me and told me about their fears. I am so often asked what my best piece of advice would be for a busy woman, and I nearly always reply with, if in doubt, wash your hair. It is the answer that almost every woman seems to understand – at least, it usually elicits lots of knowing smiles. On the one hand it is flippant, even trivial but it literally sums up how much better I feel with freshly washed hair. That small window of time and space to yourself is so valuable. On the other hand, it is about putting yourself first and learning to live a doubt-free life.

About Anya

A passionate advocate of British design and arts,

Anya Hindmarch is an Emeritus trustee of both the Royal Academy of Arts and the Design Museum, and a trustee of The Royal Marsden. In 2017 she was awarded a CBE in recognition for her contribution to the British fashion industry and has received several notable industry accolades including a British Fashion Award. In 2021, Anya published her first book, If In Doubt Wash Your Hair which is a Sunday Times bestseller. In it Anya shares what she has learned during her busy and eclectic life as a mother, stepmother, entrepreneur and businesswoman, what she still worries about, and what advice she has received along the way.

From practical tips and quick fixes, to profound observations about confidence and creativity, this inspiring handbook will show you how to live a little better – and why sometimes, the answer can be as simple as washing your hair.

Brought to book

As well as Anya Hindmarch speaking at the Stoke-by-Nayland Crown this autumn, other recent speakers at Chestnut properties have included author and journalist Ben Timberlake at The Weeping Willow, Barrow; BBC Radio 4 Today show presenter Justin Webb at The Eight Bells, Saffron Walden, and novelist and fashion writer Justine Picardie at The Carpenters, Great Wilbraham.

If you were to take one piece of advice from your book, which would you say is your most regularly used?

There are two things that have stuck with me and helped both personally and professionally. The first is a quote from Oscar Wilde: “Be yourself; everyone else is taken.” The second is what Sister Angela, a nun at my convent school, once said: “Girls, you’re never going to be fully happy and if you accept that you will be very happy indeed.”

What is the one bag you own that you cannot be parted from?

That is almost like asking me to choose between children! I am very proud of our Return To Nature collection - it was two years in the making, the leather is from fully traceable skins from Swedish farms and treated using a new natural tanning technique which means they are fully biodegradable. In fact, if you do choose to compost your bag at the end of its natural life, it will positively impact soil health.

Who is your most famous/most exciting client? Honestly, it brings me so much joy to see people wearing and enjoying my designs to this day. They are intended to be beautiful, useful and share a little joy. People always ask me about Diana, the late Princess of Wales, and I can say she was utterly charming. We always joked that the clutch bags we used to make for her were her ‘cleavage bags’ as she found them very useful to cover herself from the paparazzi.

In your book you talk about employing people you would enjoy going out to dinner with –who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

I have a lot of fun with my team. So they would be top of the list. But my other family - my husband, kids, parents would need to be there, plus I have a very strong group of formidable girlfriends who are my rocks.

Clockwise from above: The Anya Hindmarch Labelled Store, one of the five stores at the Anya Village in Chelsea; a model with a Return To Nature Tote, £995: The Anya Cafe, 9 Pont Street, London; Anya Brands Baileys sequin tote (£995) and Baileys charm (£175); The Return To Nature collection, made from fully compostable leather; Eyes Crossbody in AH logo velvet, £395 each

You design plenty of incredible concept stores, such as Anya’s Café and Ice Cream Parlour, but if you were to design a pub, how would you put your unique stamp on it?

Well, we did actually open a pub. It was called the ‘Bag & Bottle’ and it was in a famous old pub where the great train robbery was planned. We brought in an incredible chef for the best British classics like ‘ham egg and chips’ which is surprisingly delicious if the ingredients are exceptional. We had a darts champion and Richard

E Grant was in charge of the pub quiz and Barbara Windsor was behind the bar and pulled the pints. I could go on…

And finally can you tell us about your ideal staycation . . . where you’d like to be, what you’d like to be doing.

I am always at my happiest at home, ideally at the kitchen table surrounded by friends and family –roast chicken, a good bottle of wine and those I am closest to. I never get to spend enough time there.

The Three Blackbirds, Woodditton

The village of Woodditton has its own phoenix from the ashes story - except instead of the mythical bird it centres on blackbirds.

In 2018 fire caused substantial

damage to the Grade II listed Three Blackbirds inn - crews from seven nearby towns and villages and some 30 firefighters battled the blaze. Coming after a refurbishment in 2017 the devastation was a telling blow for Chestnut, who had recently acquired the property, yet two years on it was born again.

Only locals will know what this inn was like before the fire but new visitors can’t help but be impressed

by a clever and sympathetic rebuild. Much of the character of the old building has been retained. It has lovely bar and restaurant areas and inviting bedrooms in The Barn. The cosy, relaxed setting enables you to kick off your boots, wellies or otherwise and forget life’s stresses. For our autumn visit we had a dog friendly ground floor bedroom looking out over a landscaped courtyard, a suntrap from spring to autumn. The

en suite included a rainfall shower and double sink.

As with Chestnut’s other pubs and inns there is great attention to furnishings and decor.

We found some picturesque walks along footpaths close to paddocks and fields. It gave us the chance to tire our dogs and have them sit contentedly by our table as we had drinks on a terraced area and then an evening meal in the restaurant. (Dog owners please note: This

is a perfect place to bring your four legged friends, you/they can choose a Muddy Paws Stay complete with dog menu.)

Stand out choices from a menu dotted with pub classics were the Newmarket sausages, mash and long stem broccoli; Salmon fishcake, pickled fennel and chive mayo and a ‘special’, whole plaice with samphire and brown shrimp.

And while I’m not vegan, the banana bread, rum caramel, caramelised banana, vegan vanilla ice cream was a delight.

Next day for breakfast we had bacon and scrambled eggs on sourdough - a hearty, wake-me-up - and plenty of strong coffee.

It seemed many of our fellow guests were either popping into nearby Newmarket, or setting off for long walks in the countryside. We decided to join the footsloggers for a short walk before heading home.

Woodditton is a charming place and, thanks to a remarkable community spirit and investment from Chestnut, it boasts the kind of ‘local’ that would grace any village. Sam Marten

Places to visit nearby

NEWMARKET

Watch the horses exercise on the famous Warren Hill, visit the National Horse Racing Museum or plan a day out at the races.

Walk the historic Devils Dyke or visit Wicken Fen National Trust Nature Reserve.

GAME changers

In the midst of a cost of living crisis, ‘Field to Fork’ offers a food solution that is both environmentally and economically sound, whilst being healthy and delicious. Game is the quintessential British ingredient, steeped in tradition. Now there is a new breed of game enthusiasts bringing it to the forefront of modern cookery as revealed on pages 28 and 29.

But first let’s meet Robert Hall, pictured left, head gamekeeper of the Houghton Estate in North Norfolk. He and the estate are reaping the benefits of sympathetic, organic land management and animal husbandry.

Robert, if you could raise awareness for one thing that is important to our environmental future what would it be?

By starting at the very bottom of the food chain and making habitats good for plants and insects. The result is you’ll be rewarded with greater numbers of farmland birds and mammals. Without the correct foundation you cannot expect to achieve the latter.

The production of all game and wildlife is dependent on the three legged stool analogy when good habitat is paired with good weather, plus good and sympathetic predator control - this will achieve success. Without one of the elements the stool will fall over.

What is the most rewarding part of your job at Houghton?

This is a long term project that continually evolves, so to see game and wildlife respond directly to our efforts has definitely got to be the most pleasing part of the job.

What is the most challenging part of modern day game management on an estate like Houghton?

Trying to maintain all the necessary requirements that game and wildlife need to thrive on a busy and diverse estate. Whatever you do it can’t be at the expense of the other enterprises here, or at the expense of the game and wildlife. There is the added pressure from

mankind and great numbers of predators. Communication and education are absolute keys to the future.

How important is the welfare of game animals and birds to you as a gamekeeper? It’s number one, it is everything. Creating good habitats, rich in food shelter and sanctuary, and eco systems which support abundant wildlife is paramount to their ultimate welfare. Equally, providing fine quality grazing for the deer herds and providing good winter forage for them which is grown on the estate. Managing stocking densities is important too.

Can you tell us about your most rewarding

project that you have worked on in recent years - one that has benefited the estate’s ecosystems?

The ‘Grey Partridge’ project is, without a doubt, the most rewarding as the benefits to game and other wildlife species has been simply amazing. Recording the highest beneficial insect numbers in the United Kingdom has allowed the farmland, gamebird and songbird populations to explode from corn buntings, yellow hammers, hedge sparrows, lapwings, oystercatchers, golden plovers, stone curlews and, of course, crucially pheasants and grey partridges. In addition managing the deer park is very rewarding.

About Houghton Hall and the Estate

Houghton

18th century and, in the process, the village of Houghton was demolished and rebuilt at the main gates of the park with the exception of the medieval Church of St Martin which now stands alone.

Hall is the residence of David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley. It was commissioned by Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole in 1722, and is a key building in the history of English architecture. It is a Grade I listed and surrounded by 1,000 acres of parkland. The park surrounding the Hall was redesigned in the

The grey partridge and (inset) deer on the Houghton Estate

Grand setting: Houghton Hall, Norfolk

The tasty riches on our doorstep

The game larder is diverse and plentiful, suited to a wide range of cooking techniques and styles, reaching far beyond the stereotypical ‘shoot dinner’.

Ant Brown is a chef at the forefront of modern game cookery, redefining the way we look at game as an ingredient. As a cook and educator, he has an acute connection to the land and the bounty it provides.

Other than grouse East Anglia has pretty much everything game-wise, says Ant. “The diversity in

landscape, from the coastal marshlands through to the fertile farmland and deer parks (and all the woodland between), supports all six species of deer (fallow, sika, red, muntjac, roe and Chinese water deer), a range of wonderful wildfowl and waders, as well one of the key farmlands species, the grey partridge, which benefits from extensive conservations efforts, notably at Houghton, and other large rural estates in the region.”

The coming months provide the greatest opportunity to enjoy game in terms of quality and variety. Says

Ant: “From the glorious 12th, and the commencement of the grouse shooting in the Northern uplands, through to the end of January and the close of the pheasant shooting season, it's a time of plenty.

Wild fowl and partridge have been available from September - with each quarry species reaching its peak in terms of eating at some point within the winter period. It’s something to celebrate, to enjoy and to share with others.”

Ant explains another reason for us to select it on Chestnut menus. “Game is a super lean, free range,

flavourful and versatile source of protein. Its leanness tends to create challenges when cooking, certainly in terms of the meat becoming dry if overcooked, however, there are a few tricks that make cooking it a little more forgiving. Master these and game can be utilised across the board in a whole range of dishes - it’s something to be embraced and enjoyed!

Chef Ant Brown, above, on the benefits of eating game and what’s in season

Above: Winter dining at The Feathers, Holt

Ant Brown on game flavours and the best ways to

cook wild meats

Pheasant

A light meat - similar to chicken. A pheasant breast really benefits from a marinade in buttermilk to tenderise, with some grated garlic and spices. After a few hours in the fridge scrape off the buttermilk and then egg and breadcrumb the pheasant breast (maybe with some more dried herbs and spices) then fry until golden brown on both sides. Great in a brioche bun with garlic mayo.

Partridge

Try a winter barbecue - cut out the backbone with scissors and press down on the breastbone to flatten the bird. Next marinade in olive oil, lemon zest, garlic and fresh oregano and then grill over super hot coals. Squeeze over some extra lemon juice and season with Maldon salt and eat with your hands.

Wild duck

Wild duck legs are a rare treat, although they take a bit of work. Cure them in a coating of sea salt, thyme and star anise for a couple of hours, wash them off and then confit in duck fat with a couple of cloves of garlic at 120 degrees for four hours in the oven. Remove from the oil and then crisp up in a pan before eating them up quickly! Store them up and do a big batch as they’re very moreish.

Venison

Left: Poached and roasted duck, heritage carrots, cavolo nero, spiced grilled plums, game sauce with star anise

Venison mince is a really affordable alternative to beef. It’s great in a kofta with ground coriander, cumin, paprika, parsley and shallot - served on a flatbread with cucumber raita and finely shredded red cabbage - simply delicious!

From grape to glass - toasting a sustainable future

From the food we cook to the wine we pour, we carefully consider our choices when it comes to suppliers and partners at Chestnut. Not only so we are able us to serve the best products, but also to ensure that we are making a conscious effort to move towards a more sustainable future.

Torres has earned a place on our wine menu, not only because they produce delicious wines with a strong identity and history, but also because sustainability is at the heart of everything they do.

It is well publicised that Torres have a deep love and respect for the environment and biodiversity, so I was thrilled to be invited to visit their winery in Barcelona, to meet the family and get a chance to visit the historic wine estate that I have heard so much about.

The family motto is: ‘The more we care for the earth, the better our wines’ and they have high ambitions, including

Tori Dexter visits a Barcelona wine estate to see how the family-run business embraces nature in their viticulture

Left: Wine being stored in oak barrels. Above: The company’s electric train and below, Mas La Plana, the Torres flagship estate

wanting to self-supply 50% of the energy at its Pacs del PenedËs winery by 2023, and to achieve net zero emissions before 2040.

When first arriving at their flagship vineyard, Mas La Plana in Barcelona I was first struck by the gorgeous vista and the architecture of the buildings – all very sympathetic to the surrounding landscape and housing a large number of solar panels helping to provide self-generated renewable energy, thanks to the Spanish sun.

Their biomass boiler also covers over 39% of energy needs and the organic residues produced during pruning and forest management helps fuel it - a really effective alternative to fossil fuels.

The vineyard itself felt very different to those I have been to in the past - the grass and wildlife seeks to imitate nature, so that the vineyards can become natural ecosystems. It’s a model based on the carbon cycle, which enables the land here to absorb more atmospheric C02 and at the same time

regenerate the soils, curb erosion, and promote biodiversity.

With the inevitable effects of climate change the family have had to adapt their management techniques to slow down grape maturation. While walking around the vineyard we were able to see changes they have made to combat the rising temperatures – they have installed wider planting frames, lowered the canopy height and selected the most suitable rootstock and cultivation areas.

You will find a number of award winning Torres wines on our Chestnut wine lists, including Pazo das Bruxas Albarino, Purgatory and the legendary Mas la Plana

It is clear that the family have thought in detail about how to affect all touch points at their winery, in turn reducing their impact on the environment.

To avoid fossil fuel usage, there are two electric-solar trains, which we used on our wine tour - with the goal to convert all company vehicles to electric in the coming years. To support with water efficiency and recycling, there are over 45 rainwater collection ponds in the Torres vineyards. The

biological wastewater treatment plant allows them to treat all the water used in the winery which, following purification, means it can be reused.

To monitor their carbon footprint Torres annually calculate and verify their C02 emissions per bottle of wine produced, throughout the lifecycle of the product – from the vineyard to final consumer and post consumption.

On my return from the winery and reflecting on my trip (whilst sat drinking a large glass of Mas la Plana at The Packhorse), not only was the tour a real education into the heritage and history behind the wines it also opened my eyes to sustainability and the real effects of climate change. It gave me a glimpse into what the future of winemaking will look like.

The Torres legacy goes beyond sustainability, it is clear that the family really care for the planet and aim to give back to nature and society to help support future generations. It’s a mantra that Chestnut are certainly on board with, and it is encouraging that others in the industry are following their lead too.

Tori Dexter is Chestnut’s Head of Marketing

Solar panels on the estate. Familia Torres remains among the world’s 50 best wine tourism destinations according to the ‘World’s Best Vineyards 2022’

Above, from left: Jonathan Hoad, Fells; Andy Gaskin, Peter Graham Wines; Tori Dexter and Charley O’Toole, Chestnut, enjoying a tour of the Priorat wine region

never been a fan of the phrase ‘good things come to those who wait’”

You will surely struggle to find someone who doesn’t regard James Dyson as one of the good guys of modern business. The Cromerborn entrepreneur has always gone about his craft as someone looking to solve rather mundane, modest, everyday problems, usually in the home; yet his success is taken with a sense of real humility.

His pathway from graduate also-ran to one of the

richest manmade Brits of all time, has come about through effort, endeavour, and no small amount of repetition, as the 5,127 flawed designs en route to the eventual successful launch of his Dyson vacuum cleaner proves.

“I’ve never been a huge fan of the phrase ‘good things come to those who wait’,” he begins.

“Perhaps ‘good things come to those who persist and persist and refuse to back down’ is closer to the mark! That’s certainly been the way I have gone

James Dyson on his home county of Norfolk, a passion for invention and the need for persistence

“I’ve

about pushing forward with ideas I believe in, and I suppose I’ve been that way for most of my life.”

James Dyson was born in Norfolk in May 1947, to parents Mary and Alec. As a child attending boarding school then art college, there was very little indication of the inventor extraordinaire about to emerge out of the East Anglia mist, yet as with all those who find design or entrepreneurial inspiration out of fulfilling a need, Dyson was inspired to affect change.

“It really began when one day I grew tired of the clumsiness and dustiness of hoovering and hoover bags,” he says.

“I had a machine that had spent months losing power, and the more I fiddled about with this contraption in an attempt to figure out why it was failing to perform, the more I became covered in a film of dust, hair and skin.”

Dyson came up with the first of, literally, thousands of prototypes, which embraced the concept of cyclonic separation – effectively ensuring there was no reduction in suction even when hoovering up – with the usefulness of an airtight storage pocket that replaced the hoover bag concept.

When the inventor took the idea to the UK’s leading vacuum brands though, his advances where promptly quashed. “I didn’t really realise it at the time, but I was a threat to the norm,” he says.

“When you have large brands who have cornered the market, as well as having had the foresight to upsell their suction concept – notably by introducing hoover bags and creating a market worth £100million a year by itself – you’re going to get short shrift.”

The idea of being a disruptor went against much of what Dyson had been brought up to be. A boarding school upbringing at Gresham’s School in Holt provided a foundation in toeing the line and rarely showing individuality or innovation. “I liked my boarding school days, but I knew that as soon as I got out in the real world I was never going to be able to play along to those rules of formality and process.

“That said, there was something of a security I liked in the education system I’d inhabited. I had suffered setbacks as a child and sometimes the thing you search for is consistency and solidity in the way you live your life.”

Dyson’s reference is a nod to his father, Alec, a classics professor at Gresham’s, who died when James was just nine, succumbing to prostate cancer. It was a devastating yet pivotal moment in his life – one that, in the short-term, led him to recoil into a formal way of living; yet in later years, provoked a desire to push new boundaries of discovery and self-reliance.

“I don’t think there are many childhood experiences that don’t shape you in some way,” he says. “Obviously some are more profound than others, but they are all the building blocks of who we are and how we confront the world around us.

When Dyson completed his studies at Gresham’s, he studied for a year at Byam Shaw School of Art, moving on to furniture and interior design at the Royal College of Art, until 1970.

“Fine art was a fair distance from what it appears I was destined to do, but so much about an appreciation of art is also an appreciation of function. It is all about the things that root us in a space and make us feel comfortable in there, so there was something of a linear route towards

finding a vocation that strayed from aesthetics to functionality.”

The industrial design path he thus began to tread in the eighties, with the evolution of the Dyson G-Force cleaner and, eventually, the creation of the Dyson company as a manufacturing force in its own right, after his invention was rejected by all the major manufacturers, has taken him to iconic status.

“A lot of invention is going with an idea you believe in and sticking to it,” he says – a fact no better referenced than in the way he has worked the now famous Dyson ball design into his vacuum cleaners, something that was first incorporated into his Ballbarrow, way back in the seventies.

As for the part his homeland has played in this incredible one-man success story, Dyson is grateful for his roots. “Obviously through childhood and education, Norfolk was home. It is a breathless county that, to me, showcased everything from wonderful coastline to market towns to the thrill of the capital being just a couple of hours away.

“It was somewhere that made me feel protected and safe, yet connected and alive; and having travelled the world, I can say there aren’t too many places that hold that sort of generic appeal.”

It’s pleasing to think that what some might describe as ‘sleepy Norfolk’, allied to the skills of one of its best known sons, has contributed to a range of products that have truly revolutionised the lives of consumers the world over – from vacuum cleaners to hand-drying systems (Dyson Airblade), to the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer. His influence has also seen the launch of the James Dyson Foundation and the Dyson Institute of Engineering & Technology.

The inventor’s accumulated wealth of around £7billion is a world away from anything he could possibly have dreamt when inventing took over his life, and even now, the money is insignificant to him. “Invention is never about profit, it’s about practicality and convenience.

“Many inventors have created products that are gamechangers, yet go to the grave with little more than what they arrived with in the world.

“I have certainly been lucky in being able to create something meaningful that has given me a comfortable lifestyle, but that was never what I set out to do.”

James Dyson pictured in the royal box at Wimbledon

The Chestnut Cycle Safari route. Raising money for the Norfolk Community Foundation and The Giving Tree.

pubs

Pedal power

Cyclists take the Chestnut route to raise funds

This autumn, a number of our Chestnut team embarked on an epic 500km cycle ride around all of our properties, in support of the Norfolk Community Foundation and to continue our important fundraising efforts for The Giving Tree.

Currently, more people than ever are struggling with energy bills, rising mortgage rates and the cost of their weekly shop. We wanted to act to help our local communities and, when the opportunity came up to support the Norfolk Community Foundation’s Nourishing Norfolk initiative, we jumped at the chance.

Nourishing Norfolk was established in 2021 and brings together groups both big and small who work at grassroots level to ensure communities have access to affordable, healthy food. Through its food hubs, Nourishing Norfolk helps to feed thousands of locals each week.

After a lot of planning (and training), fast-forward to 11th October when a team of nine cyclists set off from The Carpenters Arms on a route that took them from the wetlands and fields in Cambridgeshire, to the rolling hills of Constable Country, onto the winding country roads of the Suffolk and

Norfolk coasts, before finishing four days later at The Weeping Willow on 14th October.

The core team of four, including an assistant manager, two head chefs, and an operations manager gallantly rode the full 500km and were joined along the way by the 10 equally important support cyclists, who completed partial sections of the Safari.

Thanks to the efforts of everyone that took part in the ride and our sponsors, Birketts, Abbeygate Wealth Management and Adnams, we’ve been able to raise over £20,000 for our local communities to be able to access affordable, healthy food.

The money raised is incredibly helpful to the Norfolk Community Foundation, which supports over 2,000 small charitable groups, and will go towards funding additional food hubs across the county as they become increasingly in demand.

We want to say a big thanks to everyone who took part in cycling, organising, donating, and sharing of this great Giving Tree initiative by our team. Well done to everyone involved!

For those who would still like to donate, you can do so online on our Go Fund Me page, just search Chestnut Cycle Safari Go Fund Me on our website.

Chestnut’s Big Beach Clean

This year the Great British Beach Clean Week ran from Friday 16thSunday 25th September, inviting people up and down the country to get together to clean up their local coastlines

This seemed like the perfect opportunity to start rallying our team members to get involved in their first eco initiative. On the morning of Saturday 24th September team members from The Globe, in WellsNext-The-Sea, volunteered to join ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) executive, Lily, down on the beach, litter pickers in hand. In just two hours we

collected over 11.5kg of litter, ranging from beer cans to crisp packets and even a kite caught in a tree. In total nine bags of rubbish were removed from the coastline and stopped any wildlife being harmed.

Keeping our beaches clean is so important. Each year over one million marine organisms die from plastic pollution in our oceans. If we all remember to clean up after ourselves after a day at the beach, we can avoid our

Helping to keep the coast clear (above and right) . . . members of the Chestnut team and four legged friends on beach cleaning duty

litter making its way into the ocean and harming the precious wildlife.

We are hoping to make the Team Chestnut Beach Clean a regular event and extend the invite to our guests in the future. In an ideal world there will be no litter to collect, but until that is a reality Chestnut will do its bit to protect our wonderful environment. The moral of the story is don’t leave it, bin it.

At Chestnut we are working hard to understand our environmental impact and implement changes that will enable us to operate more efficiently for both our people and our planet.

Guests can expect to start seeing examples of this commitment. We have consciously collated a core drinks list across all of our pubs and inns that consists of sustainable and local wines, beers, and spirits. Our menus are and always will be centred around our region’s finest seasonal and local produce. This means lower food miles and supporting local suppliers – win win! We are encouraging our teams to conserve energy where they can, and we will be taking steps to reduce single-use plastic consumption too.

We want to celebrate the small steps, the seemingly insignificant changes we can make to reduce waste and energy consumption. For our team that might look like turning lights off when and where possible or cycling to work. For our guests that could mean anything from enjoying a different tipple to your usual selected from our sustainable drinks list or taking your leftovers home with you to enjoy the next day.

We hope our guests will share in our efforts to become more climate conscious.

The Feathers, Holt

You know you are driving through deepest rural Norfolk when your journey is intermittently held up by slow moving agricultural vehicles. Still, village names like Little and Great Snoring and Old Beetley can amuse along the way, and there’s something uplifting about motoring along sun-dappled, autumn country roads with pheasants scuttling by in the hedgerows.

My destination is Holt (a lovely Georgian town surrounded by parks and open fields, yet just three miles from the coast) and The Feathers, one of Chestnut’s more recently acquired properties. It’s well situated in the High Street alongside enticing independent fashion boutiques, upmarket gift shops, a splendid bakery and an estate agent showcasing the best in north Norfolk homes for sale. Locally, perhaps

only Burnham Market can rival its upmarket appeal as a special place to stay and explore. What isn’t apparent from the roadside is the depth of The Feathers. There are cosy nooks and crannies in the bar area at the front of the pub then you step up to a large dining area that stretches out to the rear and a small car park. A terraced area provides a pleasant corner for summer drinks.

Even on the Tuesday evening I visited the restaurant had a nice buzz about it. If I say the food here is straightforward and unpretentious hopefully that doesn’t suggest it is wanting in any way. There is a skill in the make-up of dishes like a ‘Chicken Caesar Salad’ and a ‘Market Fish Pie’ and the chef here is bang on the money. The aforementioned salad was a very nicely calibrated mix of crisp Romaine lettuce, crunchy

croutons, hard boiled egg, grated Parmesan, lean chicken plus salty anchovies. It was an exceptional and good sized starter.

Next up was fish pie in a deep dish with a perfectly browned cheese and potato topping (plus a bowl of greens) - undoubtedly the best of nourishing comfort food. Meanwhile if you’ve got a real appetite another main might do the trick. A fellow diner sitting

close to me cleared the decks for a well stacked ‘Swannington Bone Marrow Brisket Burger, Cheese and Tomato Relish and Fries’. I trust he loosened his belt buckle beforehand.

There had to be a sweet indulgence after these courses so the ‘Rum Sponge, BBQ Pineapple, Lime Granita and Rum Syrup’ was ideal, the icy cold granita offsetting a finger of rich, rum-dipped sponge. The ‘Milky Bar, Salted Caramel, Pistachio, Coffee Ice Cream’ also caught my eye, perhaps for another time.

I had one of the ‘best’ category of bedrooms, overlooking the high street and both spacious and welcoming. The feel is a little idiosyncratic, a mix of styles working within the structures of an historic building. You get a king sized bed, large en suite bathroom, with Bramley toiletries, and a walk-in shower. All ‘best’ rooms are dog friendly and a number of the rooms can be made into twins.

Breakfast next day was spent in warmth and comfort while outside rain lashed down, beating a soft rhythm on the glass roof of the conservatory part of the restaurant. Fans of cooked breakfasts can choose from a buffet while there is an assortment of juices, porridge, cereals, fruits and all manner of egg options.

Underlying all of this are staff who are friendly, attentive and helpful so if you are looking for a break in this delightful corner of Norfolk why not make a bolt for Holt and The Feathers? Fiona Perkins

Places to visit nearby

Blakeney National Nature Reserve offers the chance to try crabbing from the quay, or a boat trip to see seals.

Alternatively - and for some nostalgia - you can experi ence a steam train ride on Norfolk’s longest narrow gauge line at Bure Valley Railway.

If you are roaming the coast give the award winning Cromer Pier a look, it’s home to an RNLI lifeboat station and the Pavilion Theatre. Meanwhile the winter weather usually means there is lots of space to walk the beaches at Wells, Holkham and Brancaster . . . just wrap up warm.

From The Chef’s Kitchen

Dingley Dell Pork Belly Sticky

Sage & Cider Ribs

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

1.2kg pork belly ask butcher to take ribs off and cut into portions

Method

STEP 1

Steve Angier

The Packhorse Inn

Steve Angier is a Chestnut Head Chef, currently holding the reigns at The Packhorse Inn, Moulton, just outside of Newmarket. Steve began his career 20 years ago at Michelin starred Zum Zaringer, in Bern, Switzerland. From there he travelled around Europe as Head Training Chef for a group of hotels located in Ski resorts, opening kitchens, developing menus and training brigades.

1 onion 2 potatoes Bunch of Sage Garlic Lemon For the ribs Cider Sage Onion Salt Garlic Potato croquette 3 large potatoes 2 eggs 20 g parmesan Flour Breadcrumb

Apple ketchup

6 Apples 200g Sugar Splash vinegar

Bunch of chard Salt

Place the belly in boiling water for 5 minutes, take out and dry both sides with a cloth then score the fat and rub in Maldon sea salt. Arrange onions, sage, garlic and a splash of cider on a roasting tray and put belly on top. Try and leave for an hour to dry. Set oven to 220C.

STEP 2

While the belly is drying, season the ribs with salt and pepper and pan fry till golden then put in separate tray with 300ml of cider and 300 ml of chicken stock, sage, garlic and onion and cover with foil and braise in the oven with the pork belly.

STEP 3 Put belly and ribs in the oven for 50 minutes, turn the belly round after 25 for even cooking.

STEP 4

For the potato croquette peel and boil potatoes then leave till dry then mash, add egg, parmesan, seasoning and a tbsp of flour, mix and roll into balls, then roll in flour then mixed egg and then breadcrumb. Fry in pan with a little oil so golden all over.

STEP 5

For the apple ketchup put sugar in pan and caramelise till light brown, then add chopped apples and vinegar cook for ten minutes then blend.

STEP 6

Turn the oven down to 160C and add a small glass of cider to the belly tray then roast for 1 hour.

STEP 7

Turn ovens back up to 200C and cook belly till crackling is crispy take out and rest for 20 mins. Also take out the ribs place on a plate and reduce the liquid, when it starts to thicken add the ribs back, this gives us the glaze and our sauce.

STEP 8

Blanch greens in salted boiling water for a couple of minutes, drain season and serve.

STEP 9

Place a dollop of apple ketchup,1 croquette, a large slice of belly, a couple of ribs from the liquor and pour some of the sauce on, put some greens on the plate and serve.

Where are we?

Can you identify these East Angland landmarks? There are small clues with each image A town known for its tasty crabs

Right: A bridge to make you sigh in this seat of learning

Winter sails . . . this little village has two mills

The Castle on the Hill championed by a certain red haired singer/songwriter

The pink cottages, church and green are a postcard favourite but which South Suffolk village is this?

Clockwise from top left; Framlingham Castle, Cambridge, Cavendish, Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge, Pakenham and Cromer

Below: These mist shrouded mounds were featured in a film starring Ralph Fiennes

Boats and a tide mill - it’s a much photographed scene, but where?

Tucked away on the Suffolk coast, Dunwich Heath offers you peace and quiet and a rare and precious habitat that’s home for species such as the Dartford warbler, nightjar, woodlark, ant-lion, adders and much more. Quiet and serene, wild and dramatic, this is an inspiring place, whatever the time of year. From July to September, the Health is alive with colour; pink and purple heather and coconut- scented yellow gorse, the perfect way to work up an appetite for a pub lunch at either The Ship Inn or The Westleton Crown, both of which are a jaunt away.

The Carpenters Arms

Dunwich Heath

Dunwich Health and Beach

Essex

Chelmsford

The Ship Dunwich

Anglesey Abbey

The Black Lion Long Melford

Melford Hall

Perfectly placed days out

Our pubs with rooms are ideally located to pair a break or tasty lunch with a visit to some of the National Trust’s most precious landscapes and heritage properties. Step back in time, or stride into nature and landscapes that are protected and cared for by Europe’s biggest conservation charity

Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill

A passion for tradition and impressing guests inspired one man, Lord Fairhaven, to lovingly restore and bring to life this home designed specifically for lavish, considered hospitality. Wanting to inspire and surprise visitors, he created a spectacular garden for all seasons and a cosy house in which to entertain. Life revolved around horse racing and shooting, and guests enjoyed 1930s luxury. A fascinating day trip within easy reach of The Carpenters Arms.

Melford Hall

An eclectic home, with stories of naval exploits and Beatrix Potter set in picturesque gardens. Inside the Hall discover the trials and tribulations of its history, from Beatrix Potter sketches to collections of paintings and Chinese porcelain - everything tells a story and everyone has left their mark. Outside enjoy a breath of fresh country air at Melford Hall, where you can enjoy a gentle stroll through the gardens, just a stone’s throw from The Black Lion.

Felbrigg Hall, Gardens and Estate

From The Globe, you can take your own Norfolk coastal tour to one of the most elegant country houses in East Anglia. A mixture of opulence and homeliness where each room reflects Felbrigg’s vibrant history. The walled garden is a gardener’s delight, flowers from it decorate the Hall, whilst allotments in the walled garden provide fruit and vegetables for the Squire’s Pantry. The rolling park with a lake, woods and waymarked trails is a great way to explore the estate.

For more information and opening times visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk

©National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

©National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra

©National Trust Images/Rob Coleman

From The Chef’s Kitchen

Saffron Poached

Essex Orchard Pear

Serves 8

Ingredients

Polenta sponge 500g caster sugar 6 free-range eggs

David Webb

The Eight Bells

David is Head Chef at The Eight Bells in Saffron Walden. He went to art college and studied photography then started his career as a photographer on a cruise ship which gave him a taste for food from around the world and travelling. Once he returned to the UK he was keen to become a chef and for the last 25 years has been running kitchens. David has been with us at The Eight Bells for the last ten years. Saffron and Sunshine by Elizabeth Luard is his favourite cookbook.

500g fine milled polenta 2 tsp gluten free baking powder 2 pinches of Maldon sea salt

240 ml freshly squeezed orange juice 240 ml cold pressed rapeseed oil Zest of 4 oranges 12 saffron stamens

For the pears 4 Round mid-season pears, such as Williams or Beurre Hardy.

750ml Aspall’s Cyder 200g caster sugar 1 star anise

1 vanilla bean pod (seeds scraped)

Sunflower & poppy seed tuille (optional)

50g unsalted butter 1 tbs orange juice

25ml glucose syrup

25g gluten free flour 75g icing sugar 15g poppy seeds 50g sunflower seeds

Method for sponge

Place the eggs in the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk on medium speed until frothy. Gradually add the sugar, until fully incorporated, turn the speed up to maximum, and whisk until trebled in volume.

Combine the polenta baking powder & salt in a bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the cold pressed rapeseed oil, orange juice, zest, & vanilla.

Gradually fold the dry & wet ingredients alternately into the eggs and sugar, until fully combined.

Pour the sponge batter into a lined 8 by 10-inch cake tin.

Bake in a pre-heated oven set at 180c for 35 minutes, or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.

Cool in the tin for 15 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Once cool, portion the sponge into your preferred shape. (At the Eight Bells we use a circular ring cutter).

Method for poached pears

Make the poaching liquor by combining all the ingredients except the pears, in a saucepan. Bring to a boil to dissolve the sugar. Set aside. Peel, halve, & core the pears. Add the pears to the poaching liquor, poach on a medium to low heat, until tender.

Once tender, remove the pears from the liquor, and cool. Reduce the poaching liquor over a high heat, to a thin syrup consistency, then cool.

Method for tuille

Place the butter, orange juice and glucose, in a pan. Bring to a boil, stirring to emulsify. Remove from the heat. Fold the combined dry ingredients into the pan.

Spread out in a thin layer, onto a silicone baking mat. Transfer to a baking sheet & set in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Pre heat the oven to 150c. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until evenly coloured Once cool break into shards, store in an airtight container until required.

Fire & ice

Winter landscapes don’t have to be monotone and stark, as the work of these East Anglian artists show

Left: ‘St Edmundsbury Cathedral’ by Kim Whittingham

Right: ‘Woodland snow’ by Andy Lovell

Previous page: ‘Winter evening’ by Paul Evans

The Rotunda at the West Wing of Ickworth House by Kim Whittingham

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 'Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.'"

- Alice in Wonderland author Lewis Carroll

Teazles and winter frost by Paul Evans

Exploring East Anglia

From well known destinations to some that you may like to discover, here is an eclectic mix of where to go and what to see

KNETTISHALL

HEATH NATURE RESERVE

Perhaps best known for its grazing wild ponies (introduced from Exmoor in 2013) this is a Suffolk Wildlife Trust-managed mix of heath, woodland and riverside meadows.

You may not find them but the heath is home to the rare grey carpet moth and lunar yellow underwing

moth. The equally scarce barbastelle bat can found here too.

LYNFORD ARBORETUM

Not far from Thetford there are trails here for walkers, flooded gravel pits with small sandy beaches and plenty of wildlife. Noted for its variety of birds,

Wild ponies at Knettishall Heath Nature Reserve near Thetford on the Norfolk/Suffolk border

Image: Joel Howe

spring flowers and autumn fungi, the arboretum is a haven of peace and quiet.

MARKS HALL GARDENS AND ARBORETUM, COGGESHALL

While we are on the subject of arboretums here’s one in north Essex that is worth a visit. Lakeside gardens and a breathtaking array of flowers.

BRADFIELD WOOD

One of Britain’s finest ancient woodlands and a ‘working wood’ that has been under continuous traditional coppice management since 1252. Find it 5-6 miles south of Bury St Edmunds.

ANGLESEY ABBEY GARDENS AND LODE MILL

Looked after by the National Trust this is a Jacobeanstyle house with gardens and a working watermill. A ‘Nature by Night’ winter lights event is due to run through December. Find it a short drive from Cambridge and Newmarket.

THE WOOL TRAIL

Everyone knows about the much-photographed small town of Lavenham but it is worth exploring the equally delightful villages near it on the south-easterly backroads to Hadleigh. Drop by on the thatch cottage filled settlements of Monks Eleigh, Chelsworth, Bildeston and Kersey and you won’t be disappointed.

SIZEWELL

Why seek out one of Suffolk’s eyesores? Well, park up close to the power station and there is an excellent walk along the dunes and shingle beach towards Minsmere. With the Sizewell dome always in sight it’s an interesting, if sometimes slightly eerie, place to stroll and exercise dogs.

GAINSBOROUGH’S HOUSE

You can’t miss the statue to Suffolk’s great artist on Sudbury’s Market Hill but the museum in his honour is not quite so visible. The house where he grew up is in Gainsborough Street (where else?) but there is now an impressive three-story structure linked to it with three galleries - including one devoted to Gainsbrough’s work - exhibitions and displays. A new orangery-style cafe, overlooking a walled 18th century garden is another forthcoming addition.

DAD’S ARMY MUSEUM

Based in Thetford’s Cage Lane, and close to where the popular sitcom was filmed, this small but packed with nostalgia salute to Capt Mainwaring and company opens on Saturdays and entry is free.

FULLERS MILL

A real treat for garden lovers but somewhat hidden away along a forest track at West Stow. Set amongst woodland and the banks of the River Lark (providing shady areas and sunny glades) it’s full of unusual shrubs, perennials, lilies and marginal plants.

ELY

The second smallest city in England is dominated by its magnificent Norman cathedral, aka ‘The Ship of the Fens’, but there is much else to see including a restful riverside, Oliver Cromwell’s House, offering a peek into 17th century life, and the Stained Glass Museum.

BEWILDERWOOD

Just the place for young adventurers this north Norfolk theme park has treehouses, zip wires, jungle bridges, plus marsh walks and storytelling.

ABBEY GARDENS, BURY ST EDMUNDS

The town’s glorious gardens, spreading out beneath the cathedral and around the Abbey Ruins, are a must-visit any time of the year.

Colourful, tranquil and just a short walk from Bury’s bustling town centre.

HOLKHAM HALL

One of the most impressive stately homes in Norfolk with vast grounds, a mile-long lake and splendid walled garden. For a bracing winter stroll visit the beach too.

Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds

Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire

ARGER FEN

You can find this lovely small stretch of woodland near Assington. It’s a fascinating mosaic of ancient coppice woodland and new, naturally regenerating woodland alongside wet meadows. The mix of trees includes oak, ash, field maple, holly, crab apple plus superb large alder and hazel stools. This reserve is also one of only a few ancient woodlands in Suffolk with wild cherry.

Make a note to visit in spring when you will be greeted with a fabulous display of bluebells accompanied by the magical song of woodland birds. Listen out for black cap, whitethroat and willow warbler.

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, LONG MELFORD

East Anglia has its share of grand cathedrals (Bury St Edmunds, Ely and Norwich among the latter) but if we had to pick out one of the region’s finest churches to visit it would be the Holy Trinity, just a few yards from Chestnut’s Black Lion. One of the great wool churches, it stands proud next to the village green and has been there for over 1000 years.

COLCHESTER CASTLE

Built on the foundations of the Roman Temple of Claudius the castle is an important heritage site and the largest Norman keep in Europe. In recent years interactive displays have made it a good family attraction - you can try building a Norman archway or steering a Roman chariot.

NATIONAL HORSE RACING MUSEUM

A museum covering a five acre site at the heart of Newmarket that’s really hit its stride in recent years

comprising of galleries, stables, a training arena, restaurant, gift shop and more.

Mount up and go interactive to find out how it feels to be a jockey at the home of racing!

CLARE

Officially a West Suffolk town but one that won Village of the Year in 2010 and Anglia in Bloom’s Best (floral displays for a) Large Village in 2011. Regardless of size it’s a lovely place to visit with a priory, Norman castle, 36-acre country park, Victorian railway buildings and a nice sprinkling of independent shops, cafes and pubs.

THE BRECKS TRAIL

A route created by the Green Access team at Suffolk County Council it winds its way over 14 miles between the country parks at West Stow and Brandon taking in the Kings Forest and

Lakenheath Warren before entering Thetford Forest, England’s largest lowland woodland. More at www. discoversuffolk.org.uk

CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY BOTANIC GARDENS

From tropical plants in glasshouses, to British wild flowers growing in abundance, there are over 8,000 species here. As well as being a place of horticultural learning it is a beautiful destination for visitors - the tree colours in autumn and winter can be strikingand is only a 15 minute walk from the city centre.

TAKE A PUNT

Go with the flow on the River Cam at Cambridge with a punt taking you alongside some of the city’s finest landmarks. Self steering can be fun but best to choose a guide to tell you all about those famous colleges, bridges and much more.

Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford

National Horse Racing Museum, Newmarket

Call of the wild

Stunning images of the natural world by East Anglian based wildlife photographers

Splashdown! Nick Hurst’s remarkable shot of a kingfisher captured on a waterway near Framlingham

A barn owl about to feed its young. Nick Hurst took this shot in morning light at Lakenheath

Seeing double: An urban fox at Norwich photographed by Jamie Hall

A swan unfurls its wings on the River Stour at Sudbury Cock pheasant on Sudbury’s ancient water meadows

A duckling making its way along the River Stour at Sudbury, Suffolk

Nick Hurst @www.bearprintsphotography.info

Images: Trevor Burch, trevorburchphotography.co.uk Also see instagram burch7078 and facebook Trevor Burch Photography

Blending in: Camouflage for a red deer at Thetford Forest www.jamiehallphotography.co.uk

Anyone finding themselves alone in an unfamiliar place on a dark, cold and misty winter’s night might be forgiven for suddenly believing in the paranormal. And that sense of wondering about unworldly spirits could be heightened in the more isolated parts of the East Anglian countryside and coast.

As a region rich in folklore, of witchhunts and smugglers, demon dogs and troubled priests, it’s not surprising strange tales have emerged.

Essex is said to have the most haunted house in England. Borley, on the Suffolk/Essex border is an unassuming place, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it settlement close to Long Melford. But though the apparently ghost-filled rectory was burnt down in 1939, the next door church and surrounds remain eerie with reports of organ music coming from inside the building, as well as strange tapping noises, footsteps and even a menacing cry, occasionally heard. Throw in stories of a phantom coach rattling along the road, driven by two headless horsemen, and you have a feast of ghoulish phenomenon.

There’s even a film, The Ghosts of Borley Rectory starring, among others, former Dr Who, Colin Baker, 80s popstar Toyah Willcox and Julian Sands.

Switching to the Suffolk coast many will have heard the story of the lost town of Dunwich, Britain’s very own Atlantis.

Great storms in 1286 and 1740 caused terrible devastation and, over time, a settlement of eight churches, two hospitals, shops and a windmill were lost to the sea. A once rich port handling fish, furs, timber, fine cloth and wine was drowned, its remains approximately a mile from today’s coastline and some 50 feet below the surface. A popular myth is that on some days you can hear church bells chiming below the waves.

Then there is Black Shuck, Old Shuck, Old

Spooks

A town beneath the sea, a terrifying fiery-eyed dog and the most haunted house in England. Peter Stokes looks at tales of the supernatural in East Anglia

Shock or simply Shuck, a large wild dog said to roam the coastline and countryside with sightings in the Fens as well as east Norfolk and Suffolk. The name Shuck derives from the word scucca ‘devil, fiend’, and it’s a beast you wouldn’t want to meet due to its fiery eyes and immense size. Apparently it usually visits churchyards at midnight, so not somewhere members of the public would usually

spend their late evening lesiure time.

One eye witness describes a “huge black dog that prowls along dark lanes and lonesome field footpaths, where, although his howling makes the hearer's blood run cold, his footfalls make no sound. You may know him at once, should you see him, by his fiery eye, or eyes, in the middle of his head. But such an encounter might bring you the

“It is said that to meet him is to be warned that your death will occur before the end of the year. So you will do well to shut your eyes.”

worst of luck. It is said that to meet him is to be warned that your death will occur before the end of the year. So you will do well to shut your eyes.”

Shuck wasn’t the only terror of the Fens. There have been stories of the ‘Lantern Men’ at Wicken Fen, figures carrying lights believed to be evil spirits luring victims to a watery death in the reed beds. If spotted how do you evade the whispering call of these shadowy men? The answer, it is claimed, is to throw yourself face down in the ground with your mouth pressed firmly into the earth.

Meanwhile another Cambridgeshire mystery surrounds ‘fen slodger’ Joseph Hempsall. A slodger was someone who made a living from catching fish and fowl from the flatland’s drains and though a jovial character Hempsall died in mysterious circumstances after walking home one foggy night after much imbibing in a local tavern. His final wish was that he be buried in Wicken churchyard but when friends chose to bury him nearer his home at Soham it “angered the spirits” and his ghost was often seen. When reinterred at Wicken the hauntings ceased.

Interest can be piqued if a ghostly encounter is with a well known figure from history. Such is the case with the Blickling Estate in Norfolk, the birthplace of Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn. Unable to provide Henry with the son he wanted she was charged with high treason and hanged at the Tower of London.

Claims have been made that at night Boleyn’s ghost appears in a coach drawn by a headless (are there any other types?) horseman. She has her head on her lap, but when nearing the front of the house, this frightening ensemble disappears.

Moving south into Suffolk, the much haunted town of Bury St Edmunds has another lady of the

night. The ‘Grey Lady’ has been spotted among the town’s many landmarks, notably the Abbey Ruins and the Theatre Royal. She may or may not be a nun who killed Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, uncle of Henry VI. Another theory is she was a medieval nun punished with execution for a liason with a monk at the Abbey.

Apparitions of Benedictine monks are also seen walking the grounds of the Abbey and surrounding buildings.

With so many eerie goings-on local guides offer a ‘Ghostly and Macabre Walk’ through the town from Halloween to the end of March.

Woodland at night can make for an uneasy setting so perhaps it’s no surprise that Warren Lodge in Norfolk’s Thetford Forest is said to be the home of a rabbit with large flaming eyes. If seen misfortune follows. It is thought there was once a medieval leper colony near the Lodge so watch out for a faceless man wandering among the trees. Not far away at Thetford Priory a ghostly monk-like character has been seen at a window.

The clergy seem to repeatedly figure in paranormal occurences. The footsteps of an old chaplain have been heard pacing a chapel connected to Orford Castle. Might he be searching for liquid refreshment? Many have reported the smell of ale in the castle, but it never lingers for long.

Of course, ghosts or apprations can frighten as well as intrigue. One hotel owner I know (not any of the Chestnut Group, I hasten to add) once told me: “We don’t usually mention that one of our rooms is said to be haunted. For every visitor keen to try a night there are plenty of others it discourages.”

Black Shuck, a terrifying dog

Out of the Blue

What motivated you to write your first novel The Stranding?

I was working in events in London and, due to the all encompassing nature of the job, I was struggling to make time for creative pursuits. I decided that I needed a challenge to focus me, so I signed up for 28 Plays Later: a playwriting challenge where participants are sent a prompt on each day of February and asked to write a play in response within 24 hours: hence the 28 Plays. There was one particular morning - an early morning on the bus to a breakfast event - when the prompt was Blue Whale. I knew I wouldn’t be able to write that evening as I had a long day ahead so on the bus, then tube to work I wrote a short play in my phone about a family living in a hut made of the bones of a blue whale in a post-apocalyptic world. For the next year, that short play kept playing on my mind and in March 2019 I sat down and started to write the backstory of the woman in the play, Ruth. And nine months later I had written the first draft of The Stranding.

The Stranding was a word of mouth hit. What themes in the book do you think resonated with readers?

As pundits on the airwaves don’t seem to tire of telling us, we are living in ‘unprecedented times’. There is much in our lives that feels unstable and I think many of us are worried about the future, for all sorts of reasons. For the main character of The

Stranding, Ruth, the worst thing imaginable happens - the seeming annihilation of civilization when she is very far from home and all those that she loves. It is a story of resilience and hope and recognising that the things and people we love are valuable beyond measure. I think it’s the reflection on the way we are living that people have connected to; I think too, it is the sense of hope for the future and, ideally, they’ve been entertained by the story too.

Why did you choose a whale as the place of sanctuary for the protagonists of the story?

As I said before, the whale bones were an unconscious choice in response to a writing prompt. But as I reflected on the idea and considered how it might be expanded into a bigger story I realised that it was a very useful literary motif. There is a great history and connection of whales as an augury or a symbol of the pursuit of meaning in literature and, of course, in the bible. Whales are also synonymous with the human pursuit of industry and then - as their numbers waned due to that pursuit - the destruction of our natural world. These were all subjects I wanted to reflect on and so the whale, or whales, became a really important part of the story I was trying to tell.

What do you think are the important issues facing the world that we live in right now?

Oh there are so many; it’d be a bit depressing to list them all. But I think we really need to start giving

our all to preserving, or rehabilitating, our planet. All the other issues on an economic and social level are only going to get worse if we don’t; and possibly life might even become fairer as a consequence of an international effort to make change for the good of our natural world.

The relationships in the book feel very real. Did your theatre experience help you to create such well observed characters?

Without doubt my years working in theatre have shaped my understanding of storytelling and dialogue. I was lucky to perform in a lot of Shakespeare during my acting career and I don’t think there’s a better way to study the essence of human relationships and psychology than being part of those plays nightly for a three month run. Acting, like writing, is an act of empathy, for both you need to try and see the world through another human’s eyes and represent their opinions and actions without judgement; which in this divided world it feels like an important thing to do.

They say that everyone has a ‘book’ in them, what advice would you give aspiring authors?

Start writing! It sounds like a joke but I have researched it: for the last year I’ve been making a podcast, Novel Experience (available wherever you listen to your podcasts), where I talk to authors at various stages in their careers about the experiences that led them to, through and beyond publication.

“The countryside is stunning as is the architecture; I didn’t appreciate how steeped in history the whole area is when I was younger... but the best thing is being near my family. “

Kate Sawyer, winner of the East Anglian Book Awards fiction category, talks about her whale themed debut novel and moving back to the Suffolk countryside

Each author’s journey varies wildly, so much so, that I often think the only thing that connects their experiences is that there is no connection. However, what every single one of them did was start writing. Some started with an idea. Some started because they had to for a course. Some were without any plan or idea that they might one day be published. But every single one of them started writing a book, dared to share it with someone and then - after lots of rewriting, editing and sometimes writing something completely new - they were published. There’s no way round it, to be a writer you have to write - the hardest part is to believe that you can.

How have you tackled the writing of your second novel This Family and is there anything you can share with us about the book?

Something I didn’t know before I was published and met other authors is that there is such a thing as ‘second book syndrome’. It would seem that it is quite normal for authors to find themselves a little blocked when approaching the second novel. I didn’t suffer too badly, but I definitely found myself questioning myself more and so, the writing of my second novel was a bit of a slower process; it took nearly two years rather than the nine months that The Stranding did. However, I think it benefited from that extra time and now I am

really excited to share it when it is published in May. This Family is a multi-generational family story told over the course of one day in a Suffolk garden, punctuated by 40 years of memories. It is about relationships and the things that change with the passing of time and the things that stay the same. I can’t wait for people to read it!

Having lived in London for a fair few years, how have you adapted back to living in Suffolk and what do you enjoy about the county so much?

I lived in London, with brief stints in New York, LA and Australia, for just over 20 years and so moving back to Suffolk in late 2019 was a real change of pace. That’s part of what I’ve loved about being back here though. The countryside is stunning as is the architecture; I didn’t appreciate how steeped in history the whole area is when I was younger. I’ve enjoyed getting out in nature for long walks, trips to the coast and having room for a vegetable garden, but the best thing is being near my family.

How do you juggle being a single mum (by choice) and being an award winning author?

‘Juggle’ is the right word and it might account for part of why my second book took me so much longer to write than my first! Organisation is key. I try to make sure my work doesn’t leak too much into the time when I am with my daughter and try my best to get my writing and admin done when she is at nursery and forest school for a couple of days each week. My parents are a huge help when I need to be away for evening events or meetings in London. Our lives can feel very busy but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The Stranding published by Coronet books, is out now in paperback, £8.99

photograph by Nick Daniel Arthur ©

Author and podcaster Kate Sawyer

Top tees to tempt

Our pick of some of the best golf courses to play near Chestnut properties in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk

Bury St Edmunds

A club celebrating its centenary in 2024 and a course where you will need to drive well to score well as there are trees lining most fairways. Sometimes slopes on the greens can serve up some quick putts, especially on the par three 2nd. The 17th is a tough par 4 with bunkers to be avoided. A lot of players will find the second shot is played from a sloping lie, downhill to a tight green –make par and hurry to the 18th.

Flempton

A gem of a nine holer near Bury St Edmunds and nestling beside Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve. The sandy

soil makes it playable almost all year and its three loops of three mean you are never far away from the clubhouse. While it’s not long, there are plenty of bunkers to keep you on your mettle and that particularly applies on the 7th where there are 15 sandtraps waiting for a misdirected approach. Look out for the lovely par three 5th with a pond and ditches ready to punish any inaccuracy.

Sheringham

The Norfolk coast has some outstanding places to play but this clifftop links might just be the most fun. Elevated tees give fine views of the course and the North Sea, and take note of which way the wind is

blowing and how hard . . . high handicappers may have to take a driver for one of the par 3s. Lending a yesteryear feel, a steam train can sometimes be seen puffing along a line by the closing holes.

Gog

Magog

Old Course

Often rated as the Cambridge area’s best course. It’s not especially long so placement is the order of the day. In between some tough holes, that may need some distance-carrying shots, there are some that offer up easier par or birdie chances. The greens are usually immaculately presented and can be very quick so be warned!

Royal Worlington

A club steeped in tradition and ranked 94th in Golf World’s Top 100 courses in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Admired by golf writers, it’s a lovely nine hole course.

Colchester

Attractive, gently rolling, tree-lined course situated just north of the town with fast running fairways, subtly contoured greens and 70 bunkers to gobble up wayward shots.

Thetford

Admired by the late Peter Alliss this is an outstanding course on the Suffolk/Norfolk border

and a tough test for even the better players. Although it can look stunning in autumn it’s probably not an ideal course for a novice to play as the trees and bracken will devour any shots off target. Always in very good condition and greens can be very quick so plan for the occasional three putt.

Links Newmarket

The Devil’s Dyke features in one part of the course. Fairly quick running fairways in good condition with greens usually in fine order. The 14th is a par 4 played from an elevated position from what appears to be an old railway embankment to a tree and bush lined fairway. The green has a couple of bunkers to

be avoided before you walk off with (hopefully) your par.

Aldeburgh

A 6,603 yards Championhip course with no par fives. However, every hole presents an examination in shotmaking and accuracy; a stroke given away to the course is difficult to recover. The gently rolling countryside allows views of the River Alde and glimpses of the North Sea. There’s a yesteryear feel to the clubhouse - old fashioned but friendly and very civilised.

Royal Cromer

A cliff top course that over the years has had to counter coastal erosion. Fortunately the work of various course architects has maintained a challenging layout. Look out for the signature 14th hole that heads towards the landmark lighthouse.

Saffron Walden

Some wonderful views here - the course is set in the picturesque surroundings of Audley End Houseand it’s a good test over rolling parkland.

Thorpeness

A lovely place for relaxing seaside golf. Play alongside, or near to, the village’s famous Meare, spot Sizewell’s mighty dome and, on the 18th green, you are just a few yards from the House in the Clouds, a water tower converted into a private residence. Plot your way around carefully; gorse and heather line the fairways and will claim any errant shots.

Woodbridge

Magnificent heathland course that looks just as good in autumn and winter as it does in summer. You’ll find two courses here, Heath and Forest, with the former stretching out over 6299 yards. Accuracy and strategic skill are needed to manoeuvre your way to a good score.

Royal West Norfolk

Otherwise known as Brancaster, this is tough to play in summer let alone on a gusty and chilly winter day. But you should visit as (situated between the sea and a saltmarsh) it is atmospheric and a wonderfully challenging 18 holes. Not for high handicappers.

Clockwise from left: Sheringham, Gog Magog, Cromer and Thorpeness, all great courses to play and aesthetically pleasing

AGENDA

Our pick of events in East Anglia during autumn and winter

Cambridgeshire

IWM DUXFORD: THE QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE

Ongoing until January 8 Marking the Platinum Jubilee the museum present an object trail charting British and Commonwealth aviation during The Queen’s 70-year

reign alongside a large-scale projection of recently digitised film from IWM’s archive which traces her late majesty’s personal experience of war.

As Princess Elizabeth, The Queen’s first public duties were during the Second World War, which broke out

when she was 13 years old. Upon joining the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945, she became the first woman in The Royal Family to enlist as a full-time member of the armed services.

New research into IWM’s photography archive demonstrates

just how keenly The Queen’s role as monarch had been shaped by her wartime experiences. This relationship between crown and conflict will be explored through IWM’s collections, bringing human stories to the foreground.

The majestic Wimpole Hall

DARK SKIES NIGHT

Fen Meadows, Cambridge 19 November

Apparently Jupiter and Saturn will be looking their best this month so why not join Cambridge University’s Institute of Astronomy for some stargazing, astronomy talks and sky tours. The Leonid meteor shower could be visible too.

Telescopes are available. More details, including ticket prices, at hi@fenmeadows.com

CHRISTMAS AT WIMPOLE

Wimpole Estate

25 Nov - 1st January 2023

By day Christmas decorations festoon the halls in the house and the estate is filled with the sights, sounds and scents of the festive season. By night lights and illuminations make this the most magical place to visit.

Book in advance via nationaltrust. org.uk Tickets prices vary.

CAMBRIDGE FESTIVE ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR

The Exhibition Hall, The Guildhall Cambridge 10 December 10.30am – 4pm

Join Cambridge Community Arts for their first festive fair. A chance to discover unique, handmade gifts from

local artists and join them for festive refreshments.

Free entry.

TTP CAMBRIDGE HALF MARATHON

Cambridge City Centre 5th March

Take part in Cancer Research UK’s early spring running event and raise money for vital research. Entry fee £20, minimum fundraising target £350. More at cancerresearchuk.org

Essex

OWLS BY CANDLELIGHT, HEDINGHAM CASTLE

4th December, 18th December, 19th February, 19th March

Join the Eden Falconry for a magical evening at the historic north Essex castle. During a candlelit encounter, you will witness a variety of owls and experience these beautiful birds demonstrating their natural abilities, and have them fly to your gloved fist. www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk

COLCHESTER CASTLE OPEN EVENING

7th December 15.00 - 20.00

Soak up the festive atmosphere whilst seeing over 2,000 years of amazing history. With choirs, mince pies and mulled wine, it’s going to be a great way to get in the spirit of the season. There will also be an opportunity to meet Father Christmas and his cheeky elves and receive a gift for just £5. Booking is not necessary, simply turn up.

AUDLEY END HOUSE MEMBERS EVENT: RESISTING THE INVADER Saffron Walden

10 March 11am-1pm. 1.30pm3.30pm

If Hitler had invaded Britain in the dark days of 1940, Audley End House (or Defence Area 70 as it was known) would have played a crucial role in resisting the invader. Your guide Mark Selwood will take you on a tour of the grounds as you discover the hidden remnants of Audley’s dramatic past. On arrival please meet your guide outside the front entrance of the house. Best to wear flat, comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. A waterproof coat is recommended. This event has moderate access due to being a walking tour outside on a historical site.

More information and ticket prices at englishheritage.seetickets.com

RIDELONDON-ESSEX 100 CYCLE EVENT

May 28

Plenty of advance notice for this one. At last year’s event a total of 22,367 riders took part in this cycling day. The final route for 2023 was being settled as we went to print, and it will be held on May 28. The mass participation event is the culmination of a three-day cycling weekend that includes two elite cycle races and a mass event for members of the public who can choose to cycle either 30, 60 or 100 miles starting and finishing in London while taking in 60 miles of Essex roads. Essex County Council says the event will help support and inspire people in the county taking up cycling as part of a healthy, active and environmentally sustainable lifestyle. Entries now open, more at www. ridelondon.co.uk

Audley End House, Essex

It’ll be a hoot . . . owls at Hedingham Castle

WELLBEING WALKS

Wells Beach, Holkham Beach or Holkham Park

Tuesday 20th December –Holkham Park

Tuesday 17th January –Wells Beach

Tuesday 21st February –Holkham Beach

Tuesday 21st March –Holkham Park

All start at 10am. Free, no booking required.

During the colder months, when the days are shorter and the skies are greyer, it can be easy to begin to feel a little blue. To help combat this, why not join these free wellbeing walks on the third Tuesday of each month for a daily dose of fresh air and good conversation.

THURSFORD CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

Near Fakenham

8 November -23rd December, 2pm and 7pm

An annual extravaganza of non-stop singing, dancing, music, humour and variety. It’s a fast moving celebration of the festive season featuring an eclectic mix of both seasonal and year round favourites. With a cast of 130 this is the biggest Christmas show of it’s kind in Europe. Prices start at £41. Suitable for aged 8 plus.

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT TOUR

Cheryl Cade Food and Drink Tours

1-8 December

An indulgent early December treat with sommelier and ‘Great Taste Judge’ Cade taking you from the heart of Norwich Market to the city’s historic Tombland to sample some festive nibbles and seasonal drinks. £34.99 per person. cherylcade.com

POLAR EXPRESS Mid Norfolk Railway

The Railway Station, Station Road, Dereham,NR19 1DF.

Until 23rd December 2022

Said to be one of the best children’s Christmas events in Norfolk. Standard tickets from £27.50.

VISIONS OF ANCIENT EGYPT

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts University of East Anglia, Norwich Until 1 January 2023

The exhibition examines how the iconic motifs and visual styles of Egypt

have been re-imagined and re-invented over time – revealing a history closely entwined with conquest and colonial politics.

RETRO GAMES

Time and Tide Museum, Great Yarmouth

Until 20 March 2023 Gaming has been a feature of our lives for over 40 years; now a new exhibition at Time and Tide, curated by young people, takes a look at this rich history in a show full of the sights and sounds of gaming life.

Retro Games charts the rise of computer gaming through the boom of the 1980s to the present day. Starting with the early days of games arcades in the 70s, just like those found on the seafront of Great Yarmouth, the show moves through the decades of gaming development taking in the consoles and characters which have become household names.

Look Norse . . . Thetford’s viking exhibition

THE

VIKINGS:

History ON YOUR DOORSTEP

Ancient House Museum of Thetford Life

8 July

An exhibition exploring the history of the Vikings in Thetford and the surrounding area and the impact of their presence and culture.

Beautiful objects on loan from the British Museum alongside impressive Viking artefacts from the collections of Norfolk Museums Service and Suffolk County Council chart the Viking story in East Anglia. It looks at their initial raids along the east coast around 1,200 years ago, through 200 years of integration and settlement and the creation of an AngloScandinavian culture.

Get close to Nature at Holkham Park

Suffolk

The Making of Masters & Monarchs

– An Exhibition with Brandler Galleries

National Horse Racing Museum, Newmarket

19th November - 26 February, 10am - 4pm

A new exhibition from Brandler Galleries which looks at the works of renowned masters and artists, as well as the skilled creations of master forgers.

This whirlwind tour through time and talent includes rarely seen paintings by King Charles III and Queen Victoria and will take visitors from the worlds of masters Joseph Mallord William Turner and John Constable to David Hockney and Andy Warhol. The exhibition can be found in the Thompson Gallery.

WINTER BEER FESTIVAL

Constitutional Club, Guildhall Street, Bury St Edmunds 25-27 November, Friday 3pm-11pm, Saturday 12am-11pm, Sunday 3pm10pm

Organised by the West Suffolk branch of CAMRA there will be over 20 beers, craft ale and ciders and perrys to try. Free entry, glass and programme on arrival. If you are a football fan fear not, this year’s event will encompass the England v USA match at 7pm on Friday 25th November.

PRESENT’S GALORE

Rowley Mile Racecourse, Newmarket November 25, 26 & 27. Open 4pm8pm Friday, 10am-5pm Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday East Anglia’s biggest Christmas Fair returns bringing with it a stunning collection of gift, food and drink stalls in time for the festive season.

St Edmundsbury Cathedral

DICKENSIAN CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE

Kentwell Hall, Long Melford 10-18 December, 10am -5pm Kentwell turns the Christmas clock back to the year 1869 and the age of Dickens to create a rich tapestry of lively and enjoyable events for all ages. Come enjoy the festive season when life was slower and commercialism a twinkle in a far off cash register.

LONGEST NIGHT SERVICE

St Edmundsbury Cathedral December 18, 5:30 pm

CHRISTMAS DAY SWIM

Southwold Beach

December 25. 10.30am

Watch those brave souls embracing the North Sea for a Christmas Day ‘refresher’ organised by the Southwold and District Rotary Club. Adverse weather conditions (rough sea, high winds) may prevent this event going ahead.

A service with music, carols and quiet reflection to support and remember those for whom Christmas will be difficult.

Southwold Pier and beach

A paw-fect stay

Wagging tails will always be welcome through our door. We invited Michaela and her four miniature dachshunds to discover the delights of The Westleton Crown with its doggy menus and dog-friendly bedrooms

I’ve been wanting to explore Suffolk for such a long time and when we were invited to stay at one of the Chestnut pubs I just had to choose The Westleton Crown. This beautiful, super dogfriendly inn takes pride of place on the edge of a quintessential Suffolk village green and is also very close to the beach. What’s not to like!

A sandy paws staycation

After our arrival, we were taken to our room in the courtyard. The boys immediately ran to a lovely soft dog bed and got very excited about yummy dog treats that were waiting for them. The room was spacious and beautifully decorated; a lovely surprise was a rolltop bath! There was also a water bowl

for the boys and refreshments for me.

Bone appetite!

I’d had a very busy week and couldn’t wait to sit down with a delicious G&T and enjoy a three-course meal that is included in the Sandy Paws Stay. I chose Grilled Peach with Pickled Kohlrabi, Chipotle and Maple Dressing and Smoked Almonds for starter. It was very refreshing and simply delicious. Being Sunday, I then couldn’t resist a roast dinner. The Norfolk beef was beautifully done and presented, and it was one of the best roast dinners I’ve had. I finished with Coconut Panna Cotta with Roasted Pineapple, Lime and Pink Peppercorn. The boys opted for sausages, of course!

After dinner it was time for a walk and

where else could we go than the beach. It is only a two-minute drive away and the boys were so happy to stretch their legs.

Wagtail walkies

After a delicious full English breakfast (and extra sausages for the boys) we wanted to explore Suffolk more. Dunwich Heath is only a short drive and dogs are welcome all year. It is the perfect place for a quiet morning walk on the beach and through the pink

and purple carpets of heather during summer months. Our next stop was Dunwich village where there is another Chestnut pub, The Ship Inn, and the Greyfriars Medieval Friary. By that time it was getting very cold so we headed back to the coast and did some beach hopping all the way up to Southwold.

Michaela, dog-mum to Barney, Benji, Monty and Ozzie @the_daxie_trouble on Instagram