The Award Winning Buzz Magazine - Newbury Issue 28

LO CA L

localbuzzmagazine.com

celebrating and supporting the people in our community

WIN A PAIR OF

PICK ME UP!

I’M FREE MAR/APR 2016

TICKETS TO

THORPE PARK

LOCAL FAMILY BOREDOM BUSTERS

celebrate HRH Her Majesty The Queen’s birthday At Rookwood Garden Fair

PARKWAY OPPORTUNITIES

Newbury Spring Festival JOIN SPECIAL SINGALONG Jazz Singer and Radio 2 presenter

New PROPERTY FEATURE

DURAN DURAN

COME BACK WITH Paper Gods newbury

|

Hungerford

|

CLARE TEAL Wash Common

|

Lambourn

|

Kingsclere

|

and surrounding areas

SA V

ÂŁ7 00

E Bu wh O VE zz En PO y R O w u ER j O cA in m th PA E ig n

At BuzzPower we have an appetite for your success Join now and enjoy our plate of delights for only ÂŁ54 per week!

Social Media e Articles Onlin il Marketing Ema Print Video site Banners Web

BuzzPower offers a value for money campaign.

Share your company information via various channels.

Maximise your profits with BuzzPower, which is a multimedia marketing campaign for local businesses.

Start taking advantage of this success campaign and harvest the results!

call us on 01635 200 006 . localbuzzpower.co.uk facebook.com/LocalBuzzPower

contents 4 6 7 15 16 18

Community Duran Duran Business Focus Crufts The Fitbit

Newbury Spring Festival

13 fashion

19 20 26 28 30

Buzz Offers

32 39 40 43

Property

BuzzConnect What’s On Food & Drink

Health, Beauty & Wellbeing

41 garden view

Which Pillow Competitions

Books, Cinema, Theatre

Editor-in-Chief Jackie Osborne To the Editor: editor@localbuzzmagazine.com Food Editor Paul Milverton Website Editor Jenny Summerill Community Editor Waheeda Soomro and Gemma McCrae editor@localbuzzmagazine.com Designer Vanessa Davis studio@localbuzzmagazine.com

Welcome Let the Spring issue of Buzz Magazine bring you a wealth of information!

W

e couldn’t be more excited about this issue as there is so much to share with you.

Please take some time to get to know the new property feature, where we have lots of amazing local companies sharing their information and products including; fantastic savings when building or buying timber frames homes and buildings from Vision Developments and where you can buy all your aggregates from Kwiksand.

Jackie Osborne

service that is absolutely free. Employers; why not use our online services for as little as £10pw. See more information on page 29. This is the quickest and most cost effective way to help you find the right candidate online and via social media.

We appreciate your support and are so happy to have you as a reader of Buzz Magazine. Now, relax and read your Buzz magazine in your own time, taking in the local articles and information to help you plan your activities for the forthcoming weeks.

You will find in Buzz a collection of inspired and instructive articles written by real, honest, downto-earth local people and businesses. In this issue, we are honoured to support the LibraryFest, which hosts a range of exciting family-friendly activities in all of our libraries. Please check our What’s On to see an incredible number of creative activities for the whole family.

There will be exciting news coming up, so make sure you stay in touch via our social media – like us on Facebook / buzz.newbury and follow us on Twitter @LocalBuzzMags.

With warmest thanks, Editor-in-Chief jackie@localbuzzmagazine.com

If you are looking for a new job we have a new online

Creative Media Damon Brown Copywriter Carlie Cohen

Contributors Kathy Jones

10 clare teal

To promote your event: events@localbuzzmagazine.com Contact: PO Box 6248, Thatcham Berkshire RG19 9HW Your complimentary copy or where sold £2. Thank you for the continued encouragement from our advertisers, supporters and the local community.

for a daily dose of buzz

facebook.com/ buzz.newbury

2013 magazine publishers’ awards

ZZ

Call us on 01635 200 006 www.localbuzzmagazine.com

best community magazine best magazine design best website/app

FIND BUZZ BEE OFFERS, FANTASTIC DEALS ON OUR WEBSITE

BU

BU

Advertise in Buzz! sales@localbuzzmagazine.com

BEE SEEN IN

we are proud winners

ZZ

Accounts Julia Payen accounts@localbuzzmagazine.com

OF

FE

RS IN ID E S

www.localbuzzmagazine.com Download an app to read this QR code and access our site immediately

@localbuzzmags

Although every effort has been taken in compiling the contents, the publisher cannot be held responsible for errors, omissions or information supplied by the advertisers.

uk.pinterest.com/ buzznewbury/

soundcloud.com /local-buzzmagazine

localbuzzmagazine

Y T I N U M COM

Do you have any news that you would like to share? We’d love to hear from you. . . editor@localbuzzmagazine.com

YOUR Community. YOUR voice.

What would you choose to hold on to… mro

By Waheeda Soo

A criticism or a compliment?

Chamber update West Berks Chamber President Joe Baily recently met with the newly appointed Chief Executive of Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group, Paul Britton.

www.westberkschamber.tvchamber.co.uk

One of the big drivers for Chamber success in 2016 will be the development of a new website which will link into the proposed West Berks business portal. The portal will connect the business community locally and provide a valuable back drop for business engagement.

Several West Berks members attended the inaugural meeting of the Newbury Business Partnership – this forum has been organised by West Berks Council to engage with businesses and share intelligence. The Chamber Council were pleased to provide letters of support to the recent planning applications for Premier Inns and the proposed Market Street development.

Look out for a great Careers event at Newbury College on the 16th March.

West Berks Chamber will hosts a free kick start breakfast to include speaker presentations from IKEA around talent management.

For more information about the West Berks Chamber of Commerce please call 01753 870500 or email customerservices@tvchamber.co.uk Gary Cranford Business Manager West Berks Chamber of Commerce 4

I was asked this question recently on a radio programme, where we were discussing identity and self-belief.

I

nterestingly most people hold on to criticism more readily, even though they would rather choose to hold on to compliments; why is that? Many of us grow up in an environment where we are conditioned to behave a certain way, perform to a set level, expectations are set through family, culture and background, and we live by this script in our head. There are many pressures in life, these start from as early as primary school all the way into adulthood; such pressures can lead to insecurities and self-doubt, and can blow our confidence levels and make us harsh judges of ourselves.

You could spend a small fortune on numerous self-help books on personal development and empowerment and I’m sure, to

don’t miss the next in the Issue. . . stanmdays 1st

an extent they will offer some guidance and help. I’m no expert, but I think the key to inner happiness is connecting with your true self, your authentic identity – who you are and who you want to be, rather than who everyone expects you to be.

January’s resolutions have probably faded for many of us, if they haven’t, and you’re still going strong, well done! But if you have dipped a little, then just pick yourself up and simply start your chapter from here. Be kinder to yourself, and people around you, pay attention to compliments, and don’t let criticism consume you.

We all have an inner voice, and life becomes the balance of listening to the voice in your head and the voice in your heart.

Museums & visitor centres

budget

6

Walks, ball games, parks, common, canal, woods, country parks

Generally FREE.

Cinema

FREE

Weekend am offers. £1.99 for each person (adult and child).

Library Books, computers and toddler activities. FREE or minimal cost.

things I didn’t know before I read Buzz magazine

Local Authority leisure centres Various family activities.

Under £10 per family.

Home Garden, board games, cooking, arts and crafts. FREE or minimal cost.

Toddler Groups Groups are held in various church and local communities' halls, minimal cost.

Soft play Dress up, padded play, giant play frame etc. £10- £15.

Volunteer work Please contact your local Volunteer Bureau for more information (i.e scouts, elderly, dogs, cats and much more) FREE.

LOCAL FAMILY Looking for something to do . . . ?

Pottery cafes Price per piece of pottery.

Ice Skating £25 family ticket.

Are you clued up about Cyber Crime?

Cyber crime and fraud is a fast-growing area of crime. To find out more about the issues and ways to protect yourself visit www.getsafeonline.org If you think you have been a victim of fraud: Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 20 40 or visit www.actionfraud.police.uk

Deputy Supt Lindsey Finch Local Policing Commander West Berkshire

3

Charles Cruft founded the world’s largest dog show in 1891.

4

LibraryFest runs from 11 weeks across nine libraries in West Berkshire.

5

BuzzConnect monthly networking sessions for businesses are free and held on the 3rd Thursday each month – See our “What’s on” section.

6

You can advertise your job vacancies for only £10pw at Buzz online.

Laser quest / Airsoft (indoor combat) From £6.50 pp for laser & £35 airsoft.

Gym membership Many gyms will host family and kids clubs for free or approx £5 per child.

Canal boat trips £37 family ticket

Family ticket approx £35.

lindsey’s top tip

The fantastic Roockwood Garden and Gift Fair in aid of charity will be held on 21st April.

From £35 each.

SPREE

Petting farms

2

Bowling - £22 family ticket.

Go Karting

April onwards. Pay for fruit only.

Family tickets from £20.

Jazz singer and radio 2 presenter Clare Teal will be performing at the Newbury Spring Festival.

BOREDOm busters

Fruit picking

Outdoor adventure parks / sports activity centre

1

Stately home Home, grounds, café and kids activities. Prices vary depending on package.

MY CANCER, MY CHOICES Providing complementary therapies to cancer patients in Berkshire My Cancer My Choices is a volunteer led service that is offering complimentary treatments in a peaceful, calm and confidential environment.

Treatments include: acupuncture, reflexology, massage, relaxation techniques, tai chi and mindfulness courses. They plan to offer yoga in the future.

The therapists give their time for free in the hope that after 2 complimentary sessions, those that are able, will make a donation for future treatments.

Treatments are available at Royal Berkshire Hospital Cancer Centre, Reading and Bracknell Healthspace, Brants Bridge, Bracknell.

For more information on this service please visit mycancermychoices.org or contact support@Mycancermychoices.org. 01344 662906

TO SHARE YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS CONTACT EDITOR@LOCALBUZZMAGAZINE.COM

Go to localbuzzmagazine.com for more updates on your local area 5

© Stephanie Pistel

John Taylor with band members (l to r) Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon

Duran Duran returned to the music scene in 2015,with the single ‘Pressure Off’ and the album ‘Paper Gods’.

The Evening Breeze’s Lucy Ambache caught up with bassist John Taylor.

I hear you’re a fan of The Breeze?

I have found myself listening a lot and you guys are almost always playing something I like listening to. Well this interview is going to go very well! (laughs) We have been loving playing ‘Pressure Off’. I watched the behind the scenes video and it’s great to see the musical brilliance of Duran Duran, Mark Ronson and Nile Rodgers working together. It really is quite something!

Yeah. We worked a lot with Nile in the eighties and it wasn’t until working with him on this song that we really appreciated what he brings to the room – and as a bass player, you just don’t get to play with musicians like him that often. I pulled up my chair very close to him and spent three days just trying to keep up with him and played some of the best bass on the album. He’s just a very inspiring guy to be around. And Mark’s a very different kind of guy – he’s like watching all the time. It was a great experience and nice to have something on the album that married the old eighties sounding Duran with the contemporary Duran.

john taylor from Duran Duran talks collaborations, mature touring and Glastonbury of featured artists we’ve got on it and if you don’t know the (Paper Gods) album, we’ve got quite a lot of singers and guitar players appearing on the album, and they’ve given a real flavour to it.

And that’s not usual for you?

Not at all. We like to think of ourselves as a closed shop – that’s what bands do - “we’re a gang, we’re all inclusive”. You look at the culture and what’s going on in music over the last few years and it’s all about features. You’ve got EDM and hip hop and they’re all about features.

By the end of this album, we’d have anybody on it! Anybody. Come! Come!

Play on our record!

It’s sort of been updated into 2015 on the album.

So you’re taking this album out on the road. Are you still up for this? Are you ready to tour?

That’s the job. You can’t just throw the baby out. You’ve got to hold onto the classic aspects but you’ve got to let in enough new energy so it sounds fresh and interesting. Otherwise you’ll just be preaching to the converted. With every album you do, you’ve got the opportunity to open things out a little bit. What ended up defining this album was the amount

After spending two years in the studio, we’re like “get us on tour!”. You’ve got these two different experiences that make up doing what we do. There’s the introspective studio work where it’s like a ‘man cave’ and the touring balances it out. I wouldn’t want to only be a touring musician but I wouldn’t just want to be a studio musician either.

Is it going to be a bit more different for you guys? A bit more civilised?

We’re very civilised! I know what you’re getting at though. You just don’t have the energy to party like you used to. Now the energy just goes into making the show as great as it can be. We’re very relaxed professionals and when you’re married and you’ve got families, it’s not like it was when you were in your twenties. But I would hope so too! I wouldn’t want to be me now doing what I was doing then – it would be pretty sad.

We’ll see you at Glastonbury 2016, right?

It’s got to be, right? On the main stage!

That would be good wouldn’t it?

Why has this not happened?

I don’t know. I’ve never had the opportunity to do the ‘hard sell’ but I’m sure one day we’ll get there. I’d better get down there and do the shmooze!

Hear more celebrity interviews with Lucy Ambache on The Evening Breeze, Sunday to Thursday 7-10pm. Find out more at www.thebreeze.com.

Appraisals and the common pitfalls

1. The definition of an appraisal is the act of assessing someone and that’s enough to put anyone off! So give the appraisal a new name, one that is more up to date and relevant to what you want to achieve.

2. Talk about performance regularly not just once a year at the appraisal.

3. Let your employees identify their own strengths and weaknesses - most know where they need to improve. Treat them like adults and you’ll find they have other ideas and insights to offer too.

A

ppraisals are just one of the tools available to help employees and organisations explore and improve the way they work. A good appraisal meets the needs and interests of both parties and done well can be a valuable business tool.

4. Show your people they, and their appraisal is important to you.

Stop changing the date of the

If you want appraisals to make a difference to your bottom line then make sure you avoid these common traps. . .

BUSINESS FOCUS

I could count on one hand the number of people with good things to say about appraisals. Managers often tell me they only do them because they have to and employees don’t see the point because they don’t change anything.

meeting; talk about the important stuff and face up to those difficult subjects.

If you’d like more ideas or advice on appraisals please get in touch.

Or if you would like to meet with other local employers for support, advice or as a sounding board on HR, employment or people related issues ask me about the HR Network. This group is run by People Essentials and Gardner Leader and there is no charge to attend.

01635 728 728 . info@peopleessentials.co.uk www.peopleessentials.co.uk . For more tips and information on Human Resources, visit Michelle’s page at localbuzzmagazine.com - Ask the Expert.

By Michelle Bailey

MEDIA

220,000 passing viewers

!

t e e r t s h bury hig

ew

N n i g n i w Sho

We create for free You pay for display We refresh when you say ads@gel.media 7

10%

For children under 2 booking a place for 4 full days or more a week.

discount for 3 months

Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer Voucher must be shown at time of registration Offer due to expire on 30th April 2016

“learning from an early age, sets children up for their future�

Get in touch to find out more or arrange a visit 01635 44184 info@littlebearsdaynursery.co.uk . www.littlebearsdaynursery.co.uk Like us on Facebook facebook.com/Littlebearsnurserynewbury 6 Northcroft Lane Newbury RG14 1BU

A Warm Welcome awaits you at Woodlands Day Nursery Located on the A339 between Kingsclere & Newbury on Greenham Business Park n

Privately owned day nursery at ground level

n Biometric

entry system

n Designated n Wildlife n Our

brilliant friendly management team are always available

n Qualified

Early Years preschool teacher with support staff

n Nutritious n Fun

gardens for each age group

garden & vegetable plot

home cooked food prepared by our Nursery Chef

& innovative activities for all age groups

n Different

sports offered for each age group

n Dance

n French

n Discounts

n Gardening/Craft

club

Wildlife garden and vegetable plot

on a sliding scale for children of NHS workers and those who work on Greenham Business Park

Call Sarah on 01635 33626 . Visit www.woodlandschildcare.co.uk or better still come and see us in action e: enquiries@woodlandschildcare.co.uk See us on Facebook 8

Fun and innovative activities for all age groups

Work and Careers Fair Wednesday 16 March 2016 10.00am–3.30pm Newbury, Berkshire

Are you: • • • •

Looking for your next job?

A student considering what next?

Interested in training or apprenticeships?

Needing help with your CV?

• • •

Still searching for the right job?

Considering a career change?

Self-employed or getting started?

If you answered yes to any of these questions - then this event has something to offer you.

Come and meet the experts. Get professional advice, discover job vacancies, see skills demonstrations, make new connections, benefit from workshops and seminars and entry is free!

Venue: Newbury College, Monks Lane, RG14 7TD. Skills and Enterprise

Only a 10 minute bus ride or 20 minute walk from the centre of town.

For full event details visit: www.workandcareersfair.co.uk @westberkscareer | facebook.com/westberksworkandcareersfair

www.workandcareersfair.co.uk

Spring-clean and tune-up your PC for as little as £40 n Questions about Windows 10? n Is your PC or Mac misbehaving? n Would you like it to

run faster?

n Do you need help

recovering lost files or transferring data to a new machine?

n Would you like a

chat about your IT systems overall?

“Thanks Bob for fixing my pc. After several years of slow running and interminable log-in times it is now zipping along and feels like new again which has saved me hundreds of pounds on buying a new computer.” DF

perceptionstudios.co.uk

We are an award winning video production company based in Newbury and specialise in creating, filming and editing, high quality video campaigns for businesses around the world.

10%

discount quote #perceptionbuzz in your correspondence, and first time buyers will receive a 10% discount off their final production price

We’ve worked with local, national and international companies, helping to increase their business reach and brand conversion rates with our expert knowledge and understanding of brand conversations and visuals.

Call PCBoB now 07958 473675

Speak to us today about how we can help you succeed in 2015

www.pcbob.co.uk . info@pcbob.co.uk

Call: 07976 625746 simons@perceptionstudios.co.uk

Friendly, local IT support for the home & small business

9

Showing the breadth of her talent, Clare has sung with Sir Van Morrison and opened twice for Liza Minnelli at Kenwood House and the Royal Festival Hall.

I’m looking forward to coming to Newbury again as last time it was a great laugh and there was a fantastic bond between the audience and the band.

Clare Teal Many will know Clare Teal’s distinctive soulful voice. The award-winning performer is one of the UK’s most celebrated and much-loved jazz singers and presents her own show on BBC Radio 2.

C

lare speaks to Buzz Magazine about her forthcoming performance which will form one of the highlights of the Newbury Spring Festival programme in May. She said: “I’m looking forward to coming to Newbury again as last time it was a great laugh and there was a fantastic bond between the audience and the band. There’s always a feeling of excitement and a celebratory air all around at festivals and if you can tap into that, your job’s already done.”

The set-list will include songs from the The Great American and British Songbooks plus covers of her musical heroes, Ella Fitzgerald, Doris Day and Peggy Lee. The audience can also expect some original material, some contemporary covers such as her celebrated version of Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars interspersed with her trademark witty anecdotes and conversation.

“We always try to get a mix of the songs from the 1930s and 40s that I love while also delving into some of the hidden gems from the 50s. Alongside that you’ve got more contemporary covers and original material, with the same palate of colours and chords given the same treatment”.

Clare famously fell into singing when she found herself without her clarinet for an exam and achieved her highest-ever grades.

She hasn’t looked back since and has so far recorded 14 albums with her 15th to be released in April. The album will be released on Clare’s own MUD record label and is a collaboration with the famed 100-piece Halle Orchestra.

After signing to independent label Candid in 2001 and releasing three acclaimed titles, it was Clare’s first album for Sony Jazz which became her breakthrough record and the largest-ever contract signed with a jazz singer.

‘Don’t Talk’ surpassed the Jazz

charts, reaching the top 20 in 2004, winning many plaudits and several awards.

Showing the breadth of her talent, Clare has sung with Sir Van Morrison and opened twice for Liza Minnelli at Kenwood House and the Royal Festival Hall. She has also performed with the BBC Big Band at Proms in the Park, headlined the Bourbon Street Tent at Glastonbury Festival and appeared regularly at the world-renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.

The ClOTHeS SHOP The Clothes Shop, your local supplier of wedding outfits, hats, accessories and much more. Pop in to see a range of unique stock that will make you stand out from the crowd!

Izabella dress & coat, designed in Ireland Satin with diamante and bead trim Hat by Whiteley We also provide a Hat Hire Service, please enquire for more information.

New stock now arriving!

01635 47832 www.theclothesshopnewbury.co.uk Opening hours : 9.15am – 5pm (Tues to Sat) 12 Pound Street, Newbury RG14 6AA

Simply an amazing venue in Newbury, Berkshire

l

l

l

l

l l l l l

Championship 18 hole golf course, membership available Conference and banqueting facilities

Unique wedding venue licensed for ceremonies

18th Century manor house set in over 500 acres Bar and restaurant open daily Non-members welcome

Driving range open 7 days

Fishing on the river or the lake Hotel accommodation in the manor or lodges on the estate

Donnington Grove Country Club, Grove Road, Newbury RG14 2LA Tel: 01635 581000 - Fax: 01635 552259 enquiries@donnington-grove.com www.donnington-grove.com

Sponsored by

FASHION

Lucy Stripe Skirt

£79.00 Embroidered Waist Coat 00

£45.

Karolina Pinafore Dress 00

£59.

Bella Skirt

£89.00

Tilly Stripe Skirt

£79.00

Wanda Waterfall Jacket

£49.00

Olivia Print Tunic

£89.00

Venus Dress Nobuk Non Print Dress

£59.

00

£199.00

Amber Dress

£149.00

e ry o n e!

Sta you cacan’t Sta lls n’t res ist lls you

v Fu n fo r e

res ist

Wid e va riety of un

us ua l pl ants

Rookwood Garden and Gift Fair

The Radiotherary Appeal Tracy’s Journey Charity No: 1050892

Thursday 21st April 2016 10.00am - 4.00pm Entry fee to the fair £5

Constance Craig Smith, Gardening writer for the Daily Mail Weekend Magazine will open the Plant Fair during The Champagne Breakfast to celebrate HRH Majesty The Queen’s 90th Birthday 9.00 – 10.00 tickets £15pp inc entry to Plant Fair available from charlotte@rookwoodhouse.co.uk Polly Wood will be giving the following lecture:

•

12 specialist nurseries

•

over 50 selected garden and gift stalls

•

Polly Wood lecture

•

exciting online auction

•

home-made lunches and teas

•

all in a beautiful spring garden

LECTURE FEES £10

10:30 AM

Starting a Kitchen Garden Jane Lawrence will be giving a floral demonstration: 2:30 PM

Arranging Flowers with maximum impact

Brighter Futures – Tracy’s Journey, is raising funds to equip a Radiotherapy Department for Swindon Hospital.

We would like to thank our main sponsors below and many other local companies and volunteers who have helped make this a real community effort.

www.rookwoodgardenfair.co.uk - 01488 608676 or 07770 435621 Rookwood Farmhouse, Stockcross, Newbury, Berks RG20 8JX

The first of the ‘Crufts’ Dog events took place in 1891 at the Royal Agricultural Hall in Islington. It was the brainchild of Charles Cruft, hence the name.

Crufts The world’s largest dog show

A

fter college, Charles worked for the well known dog food company Spratts, initially as an office boy and later as a travelling salesman across Europe. In 1878 he was asked by French dog-breeders to promote the canine section of the Paris Exhibition. Back in England, he managed the Allied Terrier Club Show at the Royal Aquarium, Westminster in 1886. He launched Crufts five years later. When Charles died in 1938, his wife Emma took over the running of the Show. She handed the mantle to the Kennel Club in 1948.

The first event had 2,437 entries representing 36 breeds. This year’s show will see over 22,000 dogs competing from around 43 countries. The event is truly international since quarantine laws were lifted in the year 2000.

The ultimate accolade, Best in Show has been contested for 87 years, and won by 43 different breeds. The most frequent

champion breed with seven wins is the cocker spaniel, followed by the Irish Setter and Welsh Terrier which have each taken four titles. The first ever winner was a greyhound and the 2015 winner was a five-year-old Russian Scottish Terrier called Knopa.

Winners receive a replica silver trophy and a small cash prize, but it is the prestige and future stud-money that are the real attraction.

In addition to the Best in Show and Best in Breed awards, there are now many other competitions including Scruffs for crossbreeds.

Over the last decade £138,000 has been raised from dog exhibitors for the Kennel Club’s charitable trust which distributes money to dog rehoming, assistance dog charities, and funds research into the understanding and prevention of dog diseases. Huge efforts are now made to ensure all dogs in the Show are healthy following previous concerns about welfare.

Crufts is a great day out, and for dog-lovers it’s not to be missed!

Dog Facts l A two year old child and pup

Visitors can also enjoy the spectacle of activities such as fast-paced flyball, skillful agility and heelwork to music. In many of the competitions there are junior as well as adult classes. Attendees also look forward to seeing famous names such as celebrity vets and TV personalities known for their love of dogs. There is a wealth of shopping opportunities with over 400 exhibition stands.

And for those thinking of purchasing a dog the Discover Dogs section features examples, advice and information from owners of around 200 breeds.

get along so well because they both roughly understand 250 words and gestures. l If you think your dog knows

when it’s time for dinner or a walk, you’re right! Dogs pick up on our routines and habits, and they also sense how much time has passed. l Depending on the breed, your

dog has between 125 million to 300 million scent glands — compared to only 5 million for humans.

Crufts, the world’s largest dog show takes place between

10 and 13 March at the NEC Birmingham

15

Want to make sure you’re completing your 10,000 steps a day, or looking to improve your training?

An activity tracker can help. The FitBit is probably the best known brand on the market, with several models to choose from.

The entry level Zip, at around £50, tracks your steps, distance walked and calories burned.

THE addictive FITBIT The Zip The entry level Zip, at around £50, tracks your steps, distance walked and calories burned. “So it’s a fancy pedometer then?” I hear you ask. Well, yes, basically, but it’s more responsive and you can sync it to your computer or smartphone to see your activity presented as a graph. This makes it much easier to monitor your activity levels over time and track you progress.

The Zip also acts as a watch, and there are various other extras, such as the ability to log your food intake.

one or flex Feel like you’re getting your full eight hours of sleep, but still feel tired? You might want to opt for One or Flex, which track your sleep as well as your activity. They also have silent alarms, to wake you up, but not your partner.

One clips onto your clothing, while Flex is worn like a watch. There are some differences in what they offer – Flex doesn’t have a clock, for example.

surge

now a warning. . .

Top of the range is Surge, at around £200. It’s been designed for people who are really serious about their sports performance, and want to monitor every aspect of their training. For instance, you can track the route you’re running using GPS. You can also control music and read texts that come through to your smartphone.

It is possible to get ever so slightly obsessed with the FitBit. You can easily find yourself checking it hundreds of times a day, which can distract you from real life, and you can find yourself pushing ever harder, unnecessarily.

So which one to go for? Well Zip is a great choice if you just want to check whether you’re walking those recommended 10,000 steps a day.

If you cycle, run, or enjoy another sport, you’ll want to opt for a more advanced model.

charge Charge is similar to Flex, in that you wear it like a watch, but it comes with some added extras, such as a clock. If your phone is nearby and it rings, the caller ID will come up on the Charge display. It also has a better battery life, of up to 10 days.

Charge HR is designed for people who work out regularly, as it can recognise different exercises, and has an automatic heart-rate monitor to help maximise your training.

On the positive side, it does encourage you to increase your activity levels and build up your fitness. Like so much in life, the key is moderation.

Tempted? Head to: www.fitbit.com

Tickets go on sale on 1st March for this year’s Newbury Spring Festival 2016, now in its 38th year, 50 concerts and performances take place in and around Newbury from 7th to 21st May.

class 4 MOTs Only

£35.00

WE OFFER l

M.O.T.s for classes 4, 5 & 7 by appointment (Free retest within10 working days)

l

Servicing and Repairs on all makes and models

l

Custom/Classic vehicles a speciality

l

Full Vehicle Diagnostics

l

Complimentary pick up and collection (within a 10 mile radius from Newbury)

l

Courtesy Car

l

Horseboxes and Trailers up to 3.5 tonnes

l

Air Conditioning Service

l

4 Wheel Laser Alignment

Comfortable waiting area with complimentary WiFi and refreshments.

Unit 9 & 10 River Park Industrial Estate Ampere Road Newbury Berkshire RG14 2DQ

Tickets available from 1st March t 0845 5218 218 www newburyspringfestival.org.uk

www.motech.co Tel: 01635 580084 E: info@motech.co

OpEn: MOn - saT 8aM - 6pM . sun 10aM - 2pM

N

ewbury Spring Festival is one of the most popular and successful music festivals in the South of England which over the last 38 years has grown hugely in size and quality building up a reputation of international status.

With dynamic programming, Festival Director Mark Eynon attracts the very best from the classical, jazz and world music fields to perform in and around Newbury.

The Festival opens on 7th May in St Nicholas Church with an exciting programme of Elgar and Vaughan Williams played by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Wilson. On the same night celebrated singer Clare Teal and her ‘Mini Big Band’ trio bring a spectacular opening night to the Corn Exchange performing some of the Great American Songbook.

On my way!

BuzzConnect supports businesses in West Berkshire and North Hampshire. Our aim is to build a stronger business community by providing members with opportunities to connect, collaborate, develop and support each other.

Come and join our Free networking event on the 3rd Thursday of the month at the Donnington Grove Hotel Go to www.buzz-connect.co.uk to see our events, workshops and information on joining.

Other events to look out for are Festival favorites Ballet Central returning on 10th May with their latest programme of contemporary, jazz and narrative dance. Decadence and drama comes to St Nicholas Church Hall on 14th May when

it is transformed into a cafe and the Little Baroque Company give a performance of Bach’s Coffee Cantata or experience the spectacle and the power of thundering rhythms on huge taiko drums by the Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers on 17th May in the Corn Exchange. Not to be missed is Grammy award winner, the beautiful Anoushka Shankar returning to the festival to present on evening of Indian Classical Ragas with her ensemble on 20th May. This year there is the opportunity for local choirs, individuals and families to join the Spring Festival Chorus with a special ‘singalong’ event on Sunday 15th May, the programme includes some choral favorites as well as songs from famous musicals culminating in a performance for all the family.

Full programme details on the website www.newburyspringfestival.org.uk Tickets available from 1st March 2016 Booking: www.newburyspringfestival.org.uk

0845 5218 218

Thorntons

50% off

Save £20.00on this fantastic chocolate fix Hamper

Quad Biking and 4x4 Adventure

47% off

Scribbler Free First Class UK Delivery when you buy 2 or more Cards!

Bannatyne Heavenly Pamper Day for Two

go ape!

BEE SEEN IN

BU ZZ

TREE TOP ADVENTURE BU

ZZ

OF

FE

RS IN ID E S

Online Offers and login today as these offers are only available for a limited period!

GO TO

localbuzzmagazine.com and click on Buzz Loves

CRAFT COMPANY

spa days Great Savings

Free Delivery on orders over £50

menkind Save £20.00 on a quadcopter

just eat

treatwell

20% off Pizza’s Newbury

Offer a range of Pampers

Little Tikes SAVE £20 WAS £69.99 NOW £49.99 Also available in Navy Blue and Purple

SCHUH

PERFUME SHOP

MAJOR SLASH BACKS ON A VARIETY OF SHOES

Massive savings on perfumes and free delivery over £10.00

B&Q photobox UP TO 50% OFF

Two for £35.00 on Delux kitchen and bathroom paint

BUZZCONNECT

Since 2008 Lis has been working as a personal development coach and keynote speaker. She tells us how membership of BuzzConnect is helping support her exciting plans for growing her business.

Lis is a keynote speaker,

My one-to-one meetings with BuzzConnect Ambassador Graham Hill from Verbatim and Janet Duffield from West Berkshire Council have provided extensive and invaluable advice.

Priceless!

I have attended two excellent Leadership workshops run

by BuzzConnect Ambassador Michelle Bailey from People Essentials where I not only learnt new things but was also able to exchange ideas and experience with senior managers from other businesses.

Surrounded by other ambitious businesses at BuzzConnect networking meetings always leaves me inspired and raring to go!

20

she runs presentation skills workshops and provides one to one coaching for individuals. She has also created a women-only event which looks at the mothering role and how, as women, we are influenced by our mothers.

You work alone – How do you keep motivated?

I have a very strong and far-reaching vision for my business, so the motivation is always there, It's more a question of how do I keep focussed!

How have you built your customer base?

By getting out there and meeting people in person.

I'm not 'selling a product', I'm sharing concepts and ideas and that takes time to explain to others.

3. Keep learning from others who know more, and ASK FOR HELP! 4. One more? I love what I do!

What is your favourite quote?

"Be the change you want to see in the world" ~ Gandhi As a local business, what are your plans/priorities for the future?

potential to roll this out as well, if there's a need or interest in it. Time will tell!

What help do you think you need to achieve them?

I'd like to attract a team of experienced business people around me - people who can guide/help me put a more structured financial plan, controls and systems in place. The model is perfectly formed - it just needs to grow. I could do with another me at this point, though!

What would you say are the top three things most important to your success?

Having trade-marked the brand, my longer-term plan for the Vagina Dialogues is to franchise the event so that other experienced women can facilitate the discussion, not just me. I've been told that what I'm doing is so simple, it's profound, so I feel that the more women who can have access to a safe environment where they can explore their thinking and share their views without judgement, the better.

Franchising would greatly speed this up, both in this country and further afield.

1. Believing whole-heartedly in what I'm doing (why would anyone else if I didn't?)

I'm launching a men-only pilot version in Hungerford in June called Talking Bollocks! There's

2. Keeping myself mentally and physically fit and healthy

For a fuller explanation please go to lisallen.com/vagina-dialogues

How do you go about marketing your business?

Until the brand is more widely known, I think I'm the person best-equipped to market my business, so speaking at events and personal networking are the main focus for me.

How has/will BuzzConnect help you achieve your plans?

The Buzz Team of Ambassadors have a wealth of business experience between them which they are sharing, plus I've been introduced to a couple of key people who can help me grow my business. Oh, and informal networking - the fun opportunity to meet and be supported by yet more inspiring business people in our local community. Brilliant!

B UZZ C ONNECT S PONSORS

BuzzConnect brings local businesses together to support and learn from each other.

Being part of this integrated business community will improve your business performance and also boost the local economy and make West Berkshire and North Hampshire a better place to work and live.

BuzzConnect serves the whole business community so whether you are a large company, SMB or Start-Up in the private, public or voluntary sector, we have a membership package to suit your needs.

Membership fees start at just ÂŁ20 per month and benefits include

1. Raise your profile 2. Build local network of suppliers and customers 3. Collaborate with other local businesses

l Monthly business networking

4. Develop business and leadership skills by attending BuzzConnect workshops and events.

l Free training and development provided

by local experts on topics ranging from recruitment, finance, marketing and leadership development.

5. Be part of a community that represents you.

l Regular opportunity to have your say on local

plans for business and education.

Here are top 5 benefits for joining BuzzConnect:

BuzzConnect provides a framework and an array of workshops purposely developed to enhance your business performance.

For more information, please call 01635 200006 or email info@buzz-connect.co.uk Join BuzzConnect on these forthcoming events:

WORKSHOPS DATES BUZZCONNECT MONTHLY

WORKSHOP DATES

MARCH

DROP-IN CLINIC FOR ADVICE ON EMPLOYMENT MATTERS Fri 4th Mar 9:00 - 12:00 West Berkshire Council Newbury RG14 5LD People Essentials

NETWORKING EVENT Thu 17th Mar 17:30 - 19:00 Donnington Grove Country Club, Newbury RG14 2LA BuzzConnect

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE Mon 7th Mar 9:00 - 12:00 Council Offices Committee Room, 1 Market Street, Newbury RG14 5LD Loving Monday

EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT TERMS, DISPUTES AND RESTRIVTIVE COVENANTS Wed 23rd Mar 8:30 - 10:00 Venue TBC Charles Lucas & Marshall

ARE YOU A BUSINESS OWNER WHO WANTS MORE, BETTER OR DIFFERENT? Wed 16th Mar 19:00 - 10:00 Audley Inglewood Hungerford RG17 9AA Bigger Brighter Bolder

APRIL

www.buzz-connect.co.uk

DROP-IN CLINIC FOR ADVICE ON EMPLOYMENT MATTERS Fri 1st Apr 9:00 - 12:00 Venue TBC People Essentials

UKBuzzConnect

GETTING LEADERSHIP TO WORK ORGANISATION INTEGRITY Wed 13th Apr 8:30 - 10:30 Newbury College Newbury RG14 7TD People Essentials BUZZCONNECT MONTHLY NETWORKING EVENT Thu 21st Apr 17:30 - 19:00 Donnington Grove Country Club, Newbury RG14 2LA BuzzConnect PENSIONS AND THE NEW AUTO ENROLMENT REQUIREMENTS Tue 26th Apr 10:00 - 11:00 Ross Brooke Ltd Newbury RG14 1QL Ross Brooke Ltd

UKBuzzConnect

berkshirebusinesshub.co.uk

westberks.gov.uk

B UZZ C ONNECT A MBASSADORS

localbuzzmagazine.com

peopleessentials.co.uk

biggerbrighterbolder.co.uk

dudleighfilms.com

rosemarybooks.co.uk/newbury

verbatim-cc.co.uk

ross-brooke.co.uk

loving-monday.com

clmlaw.co.uk

metrobankonline.co.uk

donnington-grove.com

BUZZCONNECT

It’s funny, you would never dream of asking your partner to do your dental work or fix your electrics if they hadn’t been trained first so why would you ask someone who hasn’t been trained to do your books?

WWW.ROSEMARYBOOKS.CO.UK/NEWBURY

What is the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?

A

t Rosemary Bookkeeping, we are surprised how often people do. But we’re never surprised that people get themselves in a pickle, especially with VAT. There’s a common misconception that accountants audit a company’s accounts at the end of the year – well it’s true that accountants do audit accounts but you have to have a turnover of over £6.5m and assets worth more than £3.26m so for the majority of business owners this will never become necessary. . . . you need to find someone who has clients already, is accustomed to dealing with VAT and hasn’t reached capacity.

22

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a real fan of accountants – they

do a fantastic job when you need help with strategy, tax planning and doing the year end compliance work - sending accounts to Companies House and HMRC. But all accountants will admit that they are under severe time pressures to do your work at the end of the year so they just don’t have the time to go through your paperwork in fine detail.

Of course accountants can review the books, but will they will be more expensive than a bookkeeper. So what should you look for in a bookkeeper? Well you need to find someone who has clients already, is accustomed to dealing with VAT and

hasn’t reached capacity. Some bookkeepers will charge by the hour but watch out for this – someone who isn’t charging a sensible amount will take longer to do the job, you’ll be paying for them to make mistakes and correct them and won’t necessarily have the skills to do a proper job. It can end up being a false economy – much better to pay more for each hour but even better to find someone whose charges are proportional to the work they do.

Look for a bookkeeper who doesn’t give you tax advice or offers to prepare your cash flow – however well meaning, many bookkeepers just don’t have the skills for this. They are great at VAT, helping you understand which parts of your business are the most profitable, helping you understand who you owe money to and who owes you money. Next time I’ll be explaining what you should expect your bookkeeper to provide – if your accountant isn’t examining your books, make sure you are getting the best from your bookkeeper.

BUZZCONNECT

Engaging your employees makes a difference to your organisation because it affects everything you do and everything you’re trying to do.

WWW.LOVING-MONDAY.COM

The engagement of your employees matters M

any businesses are currently feeling the pinch and experiencing significant challenges.

Margins are being squeezed, customers are harder to find and even harder to keep, and employment costs are rising along with a skills shortage in the region.

We’re not going to tell you that engaging your employees is going to make all this go away, but it can and does make a difference.

Let’s look at an example through the eyes of one of

our clients. This business is a housing association providing housing and care solutions across the south of England. We worked with them to increase their employee engagement and it moved from 58% to 82%.

So what you say it’s just a number, well actually it’s not just a number, think of it as more of an indicator.

As well as this indicator moving in the right direction, so did a number of others. Its absence statistics went down, its employee turnover figure went down, and its customer

satisfaction, loyalty and recommendations numbers all went up.

. . . while many businesses may need to spend less money and achieve more they may already have the answer.

The people they already employ.

More significantly because of all this, it saved money. In fact six figure sums of money which all directly linked to its increase in engagement.

It achieved and still achieves more for less, its employees came up with new ideas and innovations, some of which are now generating income.

The change was so significant that the Chief Exec believes, and tells others that increasing his employee engagement ‘transformed this business’.

So while many businesses may need to spend less money and achieve more they may already have the answer. The people they already employ. They just need to make sure they maximise the talent they have by engaging them in the business they’re already part of.

23

BUZZCONNECT

Andrew Egan, an employment lawyer with Charles Lucas & Marshall, explains the significance of a court case which examined access to workers' private messages sent via chat software and webmail accounts.

WWW.CLMLAW.CO.UK

Employers. . .

Do you have an electronics communication policy?

E

mployees' use of email and the internet - including their activities on social network sites and blogs - can lead to performance issues, damage to the employer's reputation, loss of business and various legal liabilities.

There are a number of ways in which employers may monitor their employees' email content and traffic, internet and telephone use in the workplace.

A policy should identify the minimum element of an internet usage and surveillance policy, including specific misconduct being monitored.

The importance of providing information to employees about monitoring means that employers should have an electronic communications policy. The policy should actually extend beyond monitoring, to also set standards, cross-reference other policies and address the risks arising from email use and internet access, including: l Constructive dismissal

claims

l Discrimination, harassment

and defamation claims

l Intellectual property issues l Contractual liability l Loss of productivity

24

In a recent case, an engineer, Mr Barbulescu, was utilising his business messenger account to send communications to his family and partner, including very personal content!

His employer discovered this by accident and dismissed him. After going through the Romanian Courts, he took his case to the European Court of Human Rights arguing that his right to respect of his private life and correspondence was breached by his employer monitoring his personal communications at work.

The Court did not agree, recognising the need for employers to be able to verify that employees are completing professional tasks during working hours, subject to proportionality.

The court’s ruling does not, however, give employers the right to force access to the personal social media accounts or other communication accounts of workers, particularly when used on their own devices, although, there is scope for access being monitored if during work hours and on a work device.

Most employers are to a degree flexible about employees using their computers and the internet to conduct personal tasks as long as it is in break times and is not excessive.

The judgment highlights the need and importance of ensuring that appropriate and lawful employeemonitoring policies are in place, are covered in the employee’s employment contract and that they are communicated to employees and adhered to.

Merely letting staff know that their activities are under surveillance may not be enough to provide the employee with sufficient information about the nature, scope and effect of the internet monitoring policy.

A policy should identify the minimum element of an internet usage and surveillance policy, including specific misconduct being monitored.

For further information contact Andrew Egan on 01635 521212 or andrew.egan@clmlaw.co.uk

BUZZCONNECT

WWW.BIGGERBRIGHTERBOLDER.CO.UK

As a driven entrepreneur, we can sometimes get extremely bogged down in the running of the business and miss out some of the crucial fun elements that can actually have a significant impact on our success as a business owner.

True success isn’t just about your business R

ichard Garnett expanded his goals this year to incorporate his personal dream and it had a profound effect on this success.

there all from different types of businesses and all in the same boat and attending the groups gives me the space I need to think big.”

He owns the highly successful Newbury branch of the Ripples Franchise with his wife Diane. Ripples designs and supplies beautiful bathrooms. Not just a standard bathroom but something that would be well placed in a luxury spa or an up-market hotel. If you’re local it’s well worth a visit as the showroom is inspirational.

In thinking bigger, Richard realised he wasn’t making any of his personal goals a priority. His rally car had been “moth-balled” in the garage for 9 years and whilst he’d meant to commit time to getting it back on the road, there always seemed to be something else that was more important. This year he made the commitment to get it sorted and get it rally ready. “I committed to the goal, broke it down into a plan and set out to get the help I needed. “

Ripples Newbury is a very successful franchise. Like all very successful business owners though, Richard doesn’t stand still for too long and is driven forward by the “What now, what next?” question. “We had reached a bit of a plateau,” he said.

“I needed a push and some new ideas.”

Richard joined BBB Success Groups in April 2015. “I really like George and his down to earth, “no holds barred”, “tell it how it is” approach to personal development.

It’s training on mindset rather than skills. There’s a fantastic group of people

The Ripples branded rally car was registered last month, has already been racing and is all set for the racing championship in February.

year ever! My staff are much more motivated and I’m embracing allowing them to manage personal things at work so they feel more empowered to make decisions and not have to divide their own lives up so much.”

We have but one life and it’s a rich tapestry, we need to embrace as much of it as possible.”

What’s your advice for other Business Owners?

“If you’re a good business owner you should be setting, reviewing and achieving goals,” says Richard.

“Running a business can be exhausting so it’s good to have variety and time out to keep the energy up. It’s easy to get distracted if you don’t plan and stick to your goals.

We have but one life and it’s a rich tapestry, we need to embrace as much of it as possible.”

So how did getting a rally car ready impact the business?

“It’s had a huge impact!,” says Richard. “I am having much more fun and this new positive attitude and excitement has spilled into the business and things are being done differently. We have had the best financial

21 25

BuzzConnect Monthly Networking event at the Donnington Grove Hotel

events@localbuzzmagazine.com

Creative Walk with Photography

on

UT

O D SOL

Fri 4 Mar

Nature Discovery Centre, Thatcham 10:00 – 12:00

£3.00

www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest 01635 519900

West Berkshire Mencap’s 12th Charity Race Day Fri 4 Mar

Newbury Racecourse 12:00 – 17:00 See flyer online for donations and sponsors Guests will have exclusive use of the Racegoers Restaurant with a fabulous view of the finish whilst enjoying delicious food and great company. Register your interest in hosting a table, donating a raffle prize or action lot, or even sponsoring a race, please visit www.westberkshiremencap. org/under-starters-orders and download, complete and return the form.

For further information contact West Berkshire Mencap on 01635 41464 or email info@wbmencap.org

Emotional Intelligence Delivered by loving monday

mon 7 Mar Council Offices Committee Room, 1 Market Street, Newbury, RG14 5LD 9:00 - 12:00 Recent research has estimated that around 85% of the difference between ‘star’ and average performers in management roles can be attributed to emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence has 5 key elements.This session will help you understand what they are, why they should be important to you and the effect of getting them right.

For more information, please call 01635 200006 or email info@buzz-connect.co.uk

a date for your diary!

Next events - 17th Mar & 21st Apr

Don’t miss!

Add to your diary now!

Heritage Walk

Showtime Market

Starting at Pangbourne Library

New Greenham Arts, Greenham Business Park, Thatcham

Tues 8 Mar

11:00 – 13:00 FREE (with ticket) www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest 01635 519900

Play Affordable Golf @ Bishopswood Golf Course Till end of March

Bishopswood Golf Course, Bishopswood Lane, Tadley, Hampshire, RG26 4AT 8:00 – 16:00 Every Monday and Thursday Play 9-holes of golf on a Monday or Thursday for £9.95 Call 0118 940 8601, book a tee time between 8:00 and 16:00. For more information visit www.bishopswoodgc.co.uk

thu 17 march

20:00 – 22:00 £10 (£8) Nomads Musical Theatre take some of the very best musical numbers from the stage and present them in a unique collage of amusing characters. It’s musical mayhem that will keep you smiling and your toes tapping.

Trevor Dobson 01635 865321

3D Printing Workshop Tues 29 Mar

Newbury Library 10:00 – 14:30 (time slots) £3.00 (30mins slots) www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest library@westberks.gov.uk 01635 519900

West Berkshire Mencap’s Annual Quiz Night

Collagraph Printing Taster Workshop

The Mencap Centre, Enborne Rd, Newbury

Lambourn Library

fri 11 mar

19:30 – 22:30

BuzzConnect workshop

3rd Thursday of the Month

£7.50 per person

General knowledge quiz and a supper choice of fish & chips or a vegetarian burger and chips. Teams of no more than six members. Ticket price includes the supper. Please bring your own drinks, glasses and nibbles. Raffle.

Call the charity on 01635 41464.

BuzzConnect Monthly Networking Event thur 17 Mar

Wed 30 Mar

14:00 – 16:00 £5.00 www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest library@westberks.gov.uk 01635 519900

Coding Dance Workshop Fri 1 Apr

Wash Common Community Centre 10:00 – 12:00 £3.00 www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest library@westberks.gov.uk 01635 519900

Donnington Grove Country Club Newbury, RG14 2LA

The Ugly Duckling

17:30 - 19:00

Theale Library

BuzzConnect provides a framework and an array of events purposely developed to enhance your business performance.

For more information, please call 01635 200006 or email info@buzz-connect.co.uk

Fri 1 Apr

Starting at 14:00 £3.00 www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest library@westberks.gov.uk 01635 519900

Jumble Sale in aid of Newbury Cats Protection sat 2 Apr

WHERE: Catholic Hall, Bath Rd, Thatcham 11:30 – 14:30 40p per person High quality bargins! Jumble accepted on the day at the centre between 9.00-10.30am.

Refreshments available.

01635 200111

www.cats.org.uk/Newbury

Magic Hands Sun 3 Apr

Newbury Library Starting at 10:00 £3.00 www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest library@westberks.gov.uk 01635 519900

The Ugly Duckling Sun 3 Apr

Newbury Library

entertainments including outings, bingo and pub visits.

Jane Belcher 01635 40210 www.westberks.gov.uk 01635 519900

Alexander Technique sat 9 Apr

St John's School, Marlborough SN8 4AX UK 10:00 – 15:00 £45.00 Alexander Technique is a scientifically proven hands on re-education system for the human mind body. Widely used for relief of back and neck pain. The tutor’s classes are fun and easy to follow.

Book on Davina Nichols 01672- 519537 or e-mail dnichols@stjohns.wilts.sch.uk

BuzzConnect workshop

Getting Leadership to Work Organisation Integrity

Hungerford Big Business Breakfast tues 19 Apr

Herongate Leisure, Hungerford 12:30 – 14:00 £10.00 The Hungerford Big Business Breakfast Club offers something different and provides a great chance to network without becoming a duty. info@Hungerfordbbb.com 07746 893 468

51st Worldwide Sketchcrawl Around Central Newbury sat 23 Apr

Starting at Newbury Library 10:00 – 16:00 FREE (with ticket) www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest library@westberks.gov.uk 01635 519900

World Book Night

Starting at 13:00 £3.00 www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest library@westberks.gov.uk 01635 519900

Delivered by People Essentials

sat 23 Apr

WED 13 APR

Starting at Newbury Library

Paper Cup Challenge

8:30 - 10:30

Starting at 18:45 FREE www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest library@westberks.gov.uk

Mon 4 Apr

lambourn Library 10:00 – 13:00 £5.00 www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest library@westberks.gov.uk 01635 519900

Newbury Torch Club tues 5 Apr

Fairclose, Newtown Road, Newbury 19:00 – 21:00 Members pay a small subscription on the evenings they come.

Torch Club is a friendly social club for people who are new to the area, lonely, disabled, depressed or bereaved and wish to have a club to go to on a regular basis.

The meetings take place on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday evening of every month with varied

FREE

Upload your events FREE to www.localbuzzmagazine.com

Newbury College, Newbury RG14 7TD When leaders create a working environment that engages their employees, there is a direct impact on profit, productivity and customer satisfaction. This event gives you practical tips for developing a more engaging workplace.

For more information, please call 01635 200006 or email info@buzz-connect.co.uk

Question and Answer Time – Adam Brown sat 16 Apr

Hungerford Library 10:00 – 11:00 FREE (with ticket) www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest library@westberks.gov.uk 01635 519900

Some details may be subject to change so please check www.localbuzzmagazine.com before you book or travel for an event. ://entertainment.askbuzz.co.uk

Author Talk – Erwin James sat 23 Apr

Starting at Newbury Library 19:30 – 20:30 FREE (with ticket) www.westberks.gov.uk/libraryfest library@westberks.gov.uk 01635 519900

Woolton Hill Church Hall – Village Market sat 30 Apr

Woolton Hill Church Hall, Woolton Hill, Newbury 10:00 – 13:00 FREE Now a thriving venture on the last Saturday of every month. It supports local good causes through the tearoom, raffle and by offering a community information table. www.wooltonhillvillagemarket.co.uk/ calendar

Book now for Mother’s Day at the recently refurbished Indigo Bay!

Mother’s Day - Sun 6th March book your table noW!

Weekend offer

Enjoy Dinner, Bed and Breakfast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights for £150 per night.

Offer is based on 2 people sharing a double room.

01635 35000 www.indigobayrestaurant.co.uk

www.thebullinnstanforddingley.co.uk

54-55 Bartholomew St, Newbury RG14 5QA

The Bull Inn, Stanford Dingley RG7 6LS Follow us on Facebook!

The home of America in the heart of Newbury BooBars smokehouse deli, the home of authentic American BBQ. All our meats are slow cooked over wood for for up to 15 hours for that smokey BBQ melt in the mouth taste. All our sauces and slaw are lovingly prepared fresh on site every day by our master chefs.

5 Market Place, Newbury 01635 226856 www.facebook.com/boobarsbbq

01 ca 18 ll to 9 7 us bo 44 on o 58 k 2

Book your table now and have a drink on us.

Looking for a new challenge?

t ies ea nit gr rtu po op

of Tr TO ip P Ad 5 vi so r

Local Job Offers with Buzz online Visit our website today to apply for a new job locally.

Enjoy a variety of classic English and Italian dishes at The Spotted Dog in Cold Ash. These are complemented with a great selection of Real Ales and Fine Wines.

With a Lava Rock grill, Chef John Cowan and his team provide a top quality grill menu with all meat being supplied by Vickers and vegetables from Covent Garden.

MONDAY ITALIAN NIGHT Homemade pasta and sauces plus chicken and steak dishes made on the premises

by Porko Grasso Italian Restaurant Head Chef.

Food served all day Mon-Sat - 12pm - 9pm Sunday - 12pm - 6pm

t.

01635 862458 or see us on spotteddogcoldash.co.uk

news@localbuzzmagazine.com 01635 200006

of yo u

cu

s

A

m

en

ÂŁ com tom s a n r fi 5 d pli er, ew rs i me enj t s sc nt oy in o ar a gl u y e tr n ea t t

NEW TO OUR MENU Home-made ice creams and desserts.

01635 862458

If you have a position that you would like to advertise, please contact us asap.

Garnet Beauty is located in Newbury town centre, offering a full range of treatments in a new and spacious treatment room. l

Massage/Hot Stone Massage

l Facial

l CND Shellac Manicure and Pedicure l Waxing

l Eye Treatments

l Make-up / Wedding Airbase Make-up

Tel: 07526 638235 www.garnetbeauty.co.uk www.facebook.com/ Garnet Beauty Fringe Hair Salon - Top Floor, 2 Saddlers Court, Newbury RG14 1AZ

Tatjana is a fully qualified Beauty and Holistic Therapist, Nail Technician as well as fully trained Airbase Make-up Artist.

New treatments and latest trends are offered to clients together with all special offers through regular newsletters.

Our goal is to make every client feel at home as we provide a calm and relaxed environment so you can fully benefit from your treatment.

HEALTH . BEAUTY . WELLBEING

Mindfulness with Do you feel Stressed?

Do you have pain or other health problems? l

Mindfulness reduces stress

l Helps

with pain management

l Improves l Reduces

sleep

anxiety

l Improves

happiness

Finding Peace in a Frantic World New course starts April

to find out more : sheila.bond@livingwellmindfulness.com 01635 873335 n 07990 584078 livingwellmindfulness.com Facebook.com/Living Well Mindfulness

L aurabella H &B D S ealth

March

eauty

Microdermabrasion Facial £45.

Microdermabrasion Bright Eye Facial £25.

Combined price £60.

pa

Monday to Thursday 9am to 9pm Friday and Saturday 9am to 7pm Sunday 10am to 4pm

COMe And Meet tAnyA Our reflexOlOgiSt for an introduction to Reflexology only £10

Traditional Manicure and Pedicure for £50.

Mother’s Day Mother and daughter express facial, just £35 for both of you.

April

ay

Opening Hours

£20 fOr 1St treAtMent with richard the Acupuncturist

Spa Special - Only £20 Enjoy a relaxing hour in the Hot Tub followed by a Himalayan Scrub. 10% off any massage or facial you have with this spa day.

Strattons Farm, Newbury Road, Kingsclere RG20 4SZ

AMAzing Offer frOM dr dAy £50 off any aesthetic treatment in March and April

Download the Laurabella App, a convenient and easy way to make appointments.

For extra information and daily promotions find us on Facebook and Twitter and like our page.

T: 01635 291211

www.laurabella.co.uk Laurabella Day Spa

Mel Harrison

The Pain of Gardening

“I suffered severe sciatic pain in my right leg and lower back making it impossible for me to work.

From the first visit, Mel eased my pain and have since made a full recovery.” ANDY

This time of year is my busiest time. . . why?

Providing a professional and personalised osteopathic approach to give you pain relief

07727 666312 www.melharrisonosteopath.co.uk

O

ver the winter we are less active, we lose strength and flexibility and the cold winter air and less activity causes our spines to stiffen up.

melharrison156@yahoo.com Melanie Harrison Osteopathy @OsteoMel

Then our gardens become a mess in the spring and all of a sudden we think we are fit enough to spend a whole day or even a whole weekend bent over for hours on end doing physical work. I bet a low percentage of you warm up or cool down with stretching either, because gardening isn’t considered a sport, right?

This is why my Monday mornings are filled with calls from patients who have hurt their backs or shoulders from gardening over the weekend.

Hint and tips:

Spots

l Stretch before and after gardening l Use your knees- squat down closer to what you are

working on, rather than bending through your spine l Take regular breaks

A spinal check is important to prevent future aches and pains. You visit your dentist regularly, why not your osteopath?

07727 666312 www.melharrisonosteopath.co.uk melharrison156@yahoo.com ASK MEL BUZZ OSTEOPATHY EXPERT

Often appearing at the worst times; spots are unsightly and can be uncomfortable.

They occur when oil called sebum comes into contact with blocked pores.

T

o reduce the risk of spots you should prevent excess oil build up by keeping your hair clean and off your face.

You should also avoid the use of irritants like greasy makeup and certain sunscreens. Daily washing with a gentle cleanser is recommended and wash your towels regularly because dirty ones spread bacteria.

If you do get a spot you can try products which contain

benzoyl peroxide, salicyclic acid and alpha hydroxy acids, as these help to unblock pores, prevent oiliness, kill bacteria and speed up the growth of new skin cells. You should avoid squeezing spots as this can cause infection and scarring.

Exfoliation can improve the effectiveness of topical treatments and improve the appearance of skin.

31

PROPERTY

Vision Development South Ltd is a wholly family run timber frame manufacturer situated in Reading.

Formed to meet the ever increasing demand of aspiring self-builders, developers and construction companies, for energy efficient high performance homes that not only dramatically reduce energy costs but save considerable time in their superfast construction.

We are dedicated to provide you with a high quality structure made with responsibly sourced timber at a competitive price.

Choosing a Timber Frame solution for your new build will provide a robust structure which is fully engineered and often exceeds requirements of Building Regulations.

The new na

O

ur totally flexible systems lend themselves well to homes, extensions, schools, hotels, offices and sporting facilities.

The Timber Frame Panels are prefabricated in our factory before reaching site which greatly reduces any build program and is not subject to long delays for ‘drying out’ periods or inclement weather conditions. Crucial factors to any project large or small.

The speed of the build means the new construction is soon in use and due to the high level of thermal efficiency and air tightness the energy savings continue indefinitely. This level of efficiency is attained using high quality insulation and membranes incorporated in a 140mm timber frame panel, giving a streamline build with less compromise on space.

The recently completed Closed Panel Timber Frame home achieved a ‘U’ Value of 0.14 for the walls and an incredible overall EPC rating of A+ (97 out of 100 available score) which means that over a period of 3 years, the total energy costs will amount to less than £1,750. This includes heating, lighting, appliance use and hot water, resulting in an average expense of under £600 per year for an 1800 sq foot house. The added installation of solar panels contribute to the power source and of course enjoys a pay-back from the grid when an excess of electricity is achieved.

Closed Panel Timber Frame home

Vision’s factory is based in Reading where both open and closed panel timber frame systems are manufactured to your specification or alternatively designed in-house to meet

your discerning requirements. For ease Kit houses are available too and can be seen on our website www.timber-frame-suppliers.co.uk.

The team at Vision is continuously researching new concepts and technologies to further develop the timber frame panel systems providing the best and most competitive service possible.

The process could not be simpler and is available to all who seek to invest wisely.

(top) Render and tile hang combination (below) Render and brick combination Brick exterior skin to timber frame homes

Bungalow conversion

Gallery of new homes and extensions demonstrating the varying exterior finishes that can be achieved.

me in Timber frame (left and below left) Fabulous new home designed by client

TIMBER FRAME BENEFITS AND WHAT WE CAN OFFER l Design facility working with you

to ensure the desired objectives are reached.

l Fabricated in-house where every (below) Timber clad exteriors

element of the panels are quality controlled to the highest standard. l Speedy assembly times reducing time

and labour costs on-site. l Excellent thermal and acoustic qualities. l Construction process not dependent

on weather conditions. l The versatility of timber frame suits

almost any design. l Savings in ongoing running costs.

MAKING MONEY FROM YOUR PLOT This golden opportunity is open to anyone who may have a plot of land or garden large enough to accommodate a new home, subject to planning. In realizing your asset, Vision can offer assistance in unlocking the equity with joint venture possibilities and the benefit of shared profits. www.timber-framesuppliers.co.uk/landowners

l Reduced carbon footprint.

www.timber-frame-suppliers.co.uk 01189 712181 tim@vision-dsl.com

Are you looking at the possibilities of using timber frame for your project and want to know more, then give our team a call on

01189 712181

PROPERTY

Villa Bella is a beautifully restored traditional property located at the centre of a quiet and peaceful village, just 12 km from Bulgaria's premier ski resort Bansko. With wonderful views of the Pirin and Rila mountains.

Traditional Bulgarian holiday home or lifestyle retreat

T

he property comprises a three bedroom house and two bedroom lodge.

The house has a fully fitted kitchen with all appliances, there is a downstairs shower with WC and storage room. An internal staircase leads to the upper floor comprising of a living room with authentic fireplace, 3 bedrooms and a nice veranda overlooking the garden.

PKY Lettings advert A6ls

The traditional style 2 bedroom lodge has a lovely stone fireplace, walls and flooring, a fully fitted kitchenette plus a shower and WC on the ground floor. The bedrooms are located on the upper floor with a veranda offering spectacular mountain views.

PRICE £49,500 For further information, please contact Paul on 07736 868 738

There is an authentic open barbeque area with fireplace in the garden and garage for one car. copy.pdf 1 08/02/2016 13:40

Unit to let

Parkway Shopping Centre, Newbury • White boxed units ready to go!

• Flexible length of lease (Pop up & long term) • Opportunities from 200ft2 -2,000ft2 • Join a superb mix of international and local independent brands

Please contact the following for further information: Alice Stimpson, Lunson Mitchenall

Henry Foreman, Strutt & Parker

alices@lunson-mitchenall.co.uk

henry.foreman@struttandparker.com

020 7478 4973

020 7318 5155

PROPERTY

Adaptable business unit set within attractive, modern business park.

11 Queen Eleanor House . Kingsclere Business Park . Kingsclere . Newbury

Business Premises

Semi rural location, overlooking stunning countryside

l 1,000sq ft to 2,000 sq ft

(5 to 20 staff) l Immediately available l Plug and play offices l Air conditioned

(with heat pumps) l Convienent location on

the A339 midway between Newbury (8 miles) and Basingstoke (7 miles) l 10mins walk into Kingsclere

village with excellent eating, shopping and leisure amenities l Superbly fitted including

partially glazed demountable partitioning l Excellent communication

links to M3 and M4 l Rent from ÂŁ920 per

month exclusive on easy in/out terms l Available on a floor by

floor basis l Generous onsite parking

1,000sq ft to 2,000 sq ft (5 to 20 staff)

l Managed environment with

onsite security l Each suite fully self

contained with staff facilities on each floor

For more information please call

Catherine Smith 07785 778899

PROPERTY

KWIKSAND limited

For all your Aggregate needs.

Providing a friendly, prompt and competitive service supplying any amount up to 4 tonnes of: n n n n n

Sand Gravel Ballast Scalpings Soil and much more

For further information please call Brian on 07743 687 950.

The home of building in Berkshire Experts in all types of building works, including new build, conversions, refurbishments, decorating, kitchens and bathrooms for your home or business needs.

Mob : 07776 198262 enquiries@redkitebuildingandconstruction.co.uk www.redkitebuildingandconstruction.co.uk

Follow Us MovedToOfficial

Join Newbury’s Best Socialising Group Regular socials New member nights All ages welcome No fees

Find out more at www.movedto.com/newbury

PROPERTY

By Richard Deal

PROPERTY EXPERT From Deal Varney www.dealvarney.co.uk Deal Varney report the successful sale of two properties at Kingfisher Court

Deal Varney report the New Year started somewhat slowly but as we start to take our nervous footsteps into 2016 demand seems to be returning to all sectors although the retail market remains a little quiet.

The commercial core of offices in Newbury contributes some £20m per annum to the local economy through rates payments. . .

Property Roundup R ecent letting activity in the retail market has been caused by the proposed development in Bartholomew Street, moving a number of retailers away from their location and some of these have already taken premises elsewhere in the town centre.

The office market remains quiet and there has been the announcement of the departure of Heat Computers from Newbury Business Park as well as Amec Foster Wheeler who are moving to Reading. The relocation of these two firms continues a story that is causing some concern, particularly following the Bayer departure.

Deal Varney report the successful sale of two properties at Kingfisher Court totalling 7,000 sq ft and both sold to Newbury based businesses.

In the town centre St Anthony’s House in Oxford Square has been let to Outsource International Limited who have relocated from London Road, taking 2,261 sq ft.

At Padworth a workshop with first floor offices has been sold to Digitgain Limited for their own occupation.

The commercial core of offices in Newbury contributes some £20m per annum to the local economy through rates payments. The loss of Bayer alone will reduce this by some quarter of a million revenue unless other commercial occupiers replace the business in Strawberry Hill.

Oxford Square

A small suite at Commercial House in Newbury has been let to Creative Support Limited, taking 450 sq ft.

On the retail front, the agent reports completion of the letting of Market Place, Abingdon, to Sue Ryder.

4 Bridge Street, Newbury is now under offer subject to planning, this is the former Oldbury’s café unit, which is under offer as a burger house restaurant.

PROPERTY

You might spend hundreds on a comfortable new bed, but did you know your pillow can impact on your quality of sleep and your general health and wellbeing?

Which

pillow?

Pillows were originally used mainly by wealthy men in Asia. They were also found in Ancient Egyptian tombs. In Tudor times, pillows became widely-used; it was believed only women giving birth and weak men should use one. The Industrial Revolution saw the mass production of decorated textiles and decorated pillows.

A

good pillow should hold your head in alignment with your shoulders and spine to guard against potential neck or back pain.

The correct choice depends on your body shape and preferred sleeping position.

TUMMY SLEEPER Choose a softer, lower pillow.

BACK SLEEPER A medium thickness pillow

SIDE SLEEPER Opt for a medium-high thickness.

Other fillings include micro bead, water, buckwheat and wool.

If you have a known allergy to feathers, suffer from asthma or have other significant allergies – stick with synthetic fillings such as polyester (Hollowfibre, Microfibre) or memory foam pillows. Otherwise there is a wide have a range of fillings to choose from.

SYNTHETIC PILLOWS Cheap and good for allergy sufferers but they flatten quite quickly and have the shortest life span.

LATEX PILLOWS Cooler and more airy than memory foam and are also soft and supportive, but they can be expensive.

So, before you buy your next pillows, shop around first and explore all the options!

MEMORY FOAM PILLOWS Retain their shape, offer good support and are durable, but they can be heavy and hot.

FEATHER PILLOWS Last longer, are inexpensive, soft and easy to shape but sometimes the feathers poke through and they are not good for allergy sufferers.

DOWN PILLOWS Down is the layer underneath a birds feathers to keep it warm and dry and even considered nature’s best insulator as it’s the world’s warmest material when compared to its weight. Down clusters are rounder and more spherical than feathers and feel more luxurious - but more expensive!

Win a Waste Land DVD

competitions

When was Waste Land released? a. 2009

b. 2010

c. 2011

WIN an Almost A Boffin book

by E.E. Vielle

Go to our website to enter today

www.localbuzzmagazine.com

When did he start writing his memoirs? a. 30 years ago

Win a meal for 2 Win at The Spotted Dog When did Piero and Louise start running The Spotted Dog? a. 2011

b. 2014

c. 2015

b. 50 years ago c. 70 years ago

Win a 1 night stay, bed and breakfast, at The Bull Inn Like The Bull Inn's Facebook and share the competition post. Make sure the post is public so that it can be seen.

Win

Win

Win a celebration afternoon tea for 4 at Donnington Grove How many rooms are there at Donnington Grove Hotel? a. 30

b. 36

Win an Authentic BBQ Sandwich from BooBars How long does BooBars slow cook their pulled pork for?

Win a Sunday Lunch for 2 at Bishopswood How much is a 2-course Sunday Lunch in Sands Restaurant? a. £13.95

b. £17.95

c. £19.95

Win

a. 10 hours

Win pair of tickets to the international Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour

b. 15 hours c. 20 hours

c. 42

How many films are being shown in the Red Programme at Banff Screening at The Hexagon on 8th April?

Win a £25 pottery painting voucher

a. 4

b. 6

c. 7

What is the Leap Frog Ceramics logo? a. A green toad

Win a free annual service at Pegasus Motor Care

b. A green frog c. A blue frog

WIN a pair of tickets to Thorpe Park How long does the Ghost Train journey last? a. 5 - 10 minutes

Like Pegasus Motor Care's Facebook and share the competition post. Make sure the post is public so that it can be seen.

WIN a free hat hire for any occasion

b. 10 - 15 minutes

When was The Clothes Shop established?

c. 15 - 20 minutes

a. 1975

40

b. 1985

c. 1995

Win eight tickets to Go to our website for more details

ONLY WITH THE BUZZ MAGAZINE

GARDEN VIEW

The first day of spring this year is officially March 20th. Trees are blossoming and een daffodils are in er Fergus Gr Buzz Garden bloom. The garden has woken up from its winter sleep and is full of promise.

But promise is not enough.

A beautiful garden does not happen by chance. So what are the top jobs for March gardeners?

Pruning features large!

Hard-prune those late flowering shrubs like Buddleia, Leycesteria and Lavateria, but only if the risk of heavy frost is past.

S

pring-flowering plants such as Forsythia and Winter Honeysuckle should be pruned immediately the flowers fade.

If you haven’t already pruned your bush roses, now is the time. Leave about an inch of last year’s growth to encourage bushiness and lots of flowers. Shrub roses don’t need such radical treatment but would benefit from losing a third of their old, thick, woody stems.

Lovely Lilies and a spot of hard-pruning

Lift congested clumps of snowdrops while they still have leaves showing.

Finally, stay on top of the weeds. If you leave them, weeding quickly becomes an insurmountable chore. Ok, we’ve dispensed with the hard work, now it’s time to look ahead.

I have one word for you. . . Lilies I always thought they were tricky to grow, and so they proved, mainly because my garden doubles as a slug sanctuary!

Then I had an epiphany. It dawned on me that if I grew them in pots, slug prevention would be easier, plus I didn’t

run the risk of slicing through the fat, scaly bulbs or tender shoots with my hoe while enthusiastically weeding my plot. Even better, it means you can grow them even if you only have a balcony.

There are loads of varieties in the garden centres right now. Three bulbs fit nicely into an 8inch / 20cm pot and five fit into a ten inch / 25cm pot. I’ve found terracotta pots best because they provide enough weight to prevent these tall plants tipping over.

Lilies need an open planting mixture which drains well so I use a mixture of potting compost plus a soil-less multi-purpose compost. The bulb tips should be a couple of inches below the compost.

Keep in a sheltered spot and water when the surface of the compost looks dry. Once the buds have formed, feed weekly with dilute tomato food until late summer. When the blooms fade, cut the stems down and place in a sheltered spot.

Each spring, scrape away a couple of inches of compost and add fresh mixture, then repeat the instructions above. Treated like this your lilies will reward you for three or four years before they need re-potting.

There are a plethora of colours and scents available, so there is a lily for everyone. Try them. I guarantee you’ll be as in love with lilies as I am.

8

Hand Car Wash Map Data ©2013 Google

Open 7 days a week from 8am to 7pm Free car park all day 5 min walk to town

Car wash from £6

Call 07591 506761

Faraday Road, Newbury RG14 2AD

fantastic offers. . .

BEE SEEN IN

BU ZZ

BU

ZZ

OF

FE

RS IN ID E S

Take advantage of all offers from our advertisers and download the vouchers via our website.

things you didn’t know about buzz

OFF

10% per FAmily per tABle 01635 35000

We have over 33,000 Twitter impressions per month

3

Monthly website visits have increased to over 12,500

Buzz won three prestigious awards, Best Community Magazine, Best Magazine Design and Best website

5

don’t miss the next Issue. . .

As per our readers’ request, Buzz has become a bi-monthly publication

6

in the stands 1st may BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

7

Afternoon tea at Donnington Grove

As well as our door-to-door distribution, you can pick up Buzz at various locations across West Berkshire and North Hampshire. Call to enquire

Bring this voucher

54-55 Bartholomew Street Newbury

Offer valid against one printed voucher or via the Buzz app per table – offer ends 30 Apr 2016

2

4

Maximum of 5 vouchers per group dining Not valid with conference or event bookings

Expires 30th April 2016

kingsclere@laurabella.co.uk telephone 01635 291211 www.laurabella.co.uk

one voucher per person . valid until Apr 30th 2016

Reflexology treatment for 25 minutes with Tanya

OVER 2.4 MILLION WEBSITE HITS IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS

We are delighted to share our tweets with over 2,000 Twitter followers

www.localbuzzmagazine.com

£10

1

8

BUZZ SUPPORTS LOCAL CHARITIES

BOOKS

CINEMA

hunterswick green

LONDON HAS FALLEN 4TH MAR

D

esigned by handsome and predatory Michael King, the Hunterswick Green complex built in fifty acres of rolling countryside offers, if you believe the brochures, ‘a great new way of living’ to the discerning purchasers of its luxury homes.

Peter and Alison buy into the dream but Alison has the feeling she is being watched – and who is showing lights in the wood at night?

The young couple discover to their cost that perfection comes at a price and Hunterswick Green is not at all what it seems. . .

the bounder

BY MIKE DAUNT "

T

his book is an often bawdy romp through just some of Mike's adventures from a deeply unhappy childhood to the raddled septuagenarian scribe, bon viveur and lecher that he is today." Chris Tarrant

F

ollowing the dramatic events of Olympus Has Fallen, Mike Banning is back to protect President Benjamin Asher against an even greater and more terrifying threat.

KUNG FU PANDA 3 11TH MAR

T

he third instalment in the franchise sees Po reunite with his biological father and head to a secret panda sanctuary, only for an ancient spirit to terrorize the nation.

ZOOTROPOLIS

T

25TH MAR

he first bunny police officer must work side-by-side with a scam-artist fox to crack a case in the sprawling city of Zootropolis.

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 25TH MAR

A

s Toula and Ian face the challenges that come with a difficult teenage daughter, it’s time to prepare for yet another big, fat, Greek wedding – one set to be even more problematic than the last.

BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE

The Queen at Leisure

25TH MAR

T

wo of the most powerful heroes of all time face off in this long-awaited and thrilling spectacle.

BY DEREK ANSELL

T

MARCH

MARCH

BY IRIS LLOYD

he Queen at Leisure is the story of the love between King Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, his third and favourite wife.

It covers her attempts to restore his daughters by previous marriage, Mary and Elizabeth, back to favour at the court and also the uprising in the north of England, known as the Pilgrimage of Grace, by gentry and commons who wanted Henry removed and the Catholic church restored. And finally, her destiny as mother of Henry's only legitimate son and heir.

APRIL

EDDIE THE EAGLE

T

1ST APR

he story of Great Britain's first ski jumper to enter the Winter Olympics.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR 29TH APR

A

THEATRE

n incident leads to the Avengers developing a schism over how to deal with situations, which escalates into an open fight between allies Iron Man and Captain America.

Patrick Monahan: The Disco Years NEW GREENHAM ARTS Sat 5 Mar . 8pm . Tickets £13

C

harged by Patrick’s memories and reminiscences of being an immigrant to Great Britain, this is a laugh out loud show that is both thoughtful and smart as well as brilliantly silly!

APRIL

Debra Stephenson CORN EXCHANGE NEWBURY Fri 1 Apr . 7.45pm . Tickets £17

T

he star of BBC's Dead Ringers & The Impressions Show, and ITV's Newzoids & Coronation Street, and Bad Girls takes to the stage for an evening of comedy, music and impressions!

Rumpelstiltskin

NEW GREENHAM ARTS Sat 2 Apr . 11.30am . Tickets £10.50

A

woolly wonderland of a show with spinning, weaving, lively puppetry, music and storytelling, perfect for the little ones aged 3+.

Forever Jackson

CORN EXCHANGE NEWBURY Sat 16 Apr . 7.45pm Tickets £20.50 (£18.50 concessions)

T

he number one Michael Jackson tribute in the UK. With electrifying choreography, stunning special effects, superb musicians and a vast catalogue of hits – from the Jackson 5’s Can You Feel It to Thriller and Beat It, this is truly a show for everyone.

Stones in his Pockets CORN EXCHANGE NEWBURY Tue 19 Apr, 7.45pm Tickets £17 (£15 concessions)

A

quiet Irish village community is turned upside down with the arrival of a Hollywood film crew, looking for the ‘real’ Ireland for their latest schmaltzy blockbuster. Written with poignancy and sincerity, performed at breakneck pace, this play has made deep connection with audiences in over 30 countries.

For full details go to our website - www.localbuzzmagazine.com

Discover

Parkway

Shopping Centre, Newbury

and more...

www.shopatparkway.com