EXETER LIVES
Q&A
Answer to Where Am I? (page 11): Window overlooking Cathedral, St Martin’s Church in Cathedral Close
S
arah Lacey here is in charge of music and events at Exeter’s swanky new flagship restaurant/ bar/club The Terrace. She’s also founded Loft Barbers Live Sessions, worked for Mama Stones Records and worked with various musical artistes. You’ll also recognise her as the force behind the Breathe For Jo campaign. So that sort of makes her Exeter’s Simon Cowell – but with a heart. Where do you call home and what makes it special? I live just outside Exeter city centre. I have three gorgeous girls, Lottie (18) Bobby (14) and Lily (9) and four collie dogs, so my home is always full of kids, music, four-legged friends and complete chaos. I wouldn’t want it any other way. What would be your dream booking for The Terrace? Etta James – if she was still alive – and Aretha Franklin. What piece of music would you put on at the end of a trying day? I will usually put on Miles Davis’ Kind Of Blue then pour myself a bucket of red wine. What’s your karaoke song of choice? I’m not a big fan of karaoke, however, when I was a kid my little sister Hetty and I used to do a truly terrible rendition of Elton John and George Michael’s Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me. What has been your proudest moment? Kids give you countless proud mum moments! Every time my eldest daughter Lottie gets on a stage and sings, I’m a mess! Other than that, creating the Breathe For Jo campaign for my beautiful best friend Jo Smith, and seeing the community come together to help, was really overwhelming for both of us. I was so proud to have pulled such kindness together on a national scale. What’s your earliest childhood memory? My parents had a donkey named Doogle, who lived in our garden. I came downstairs and found him in the kitchen once. I must have been five years old. He was the coolest donkey ever! If your nearest and dearest had to describe you, what would they say? They would say, “Don’t go to Lacey’s house without the essentials: loo roll and wine!”
SARAH LACEY Donkeys, dogs and Miles Davis have all helped make the local music impresario the woman she is What issue, more than any other, makes you want to get up on a soapbox? Cancer, the lack of education behind prevention rather than a cure. It makes me so mad! When people ask “So what’s Exeter like?”, what do you say? I think now that The Terrace has opened, it’s a far more vibrant place; Exeter really needed an upmarket club. I think with the new Queen Street Dining development, The Quay and all the lovely street markets, Exeter is a really lovely, safe and welcoming place to live. Who would play you in a film about your life? Well, Jo and I have discussed this. We were on a sleeper train between New York and Arizona, we had been travelling for 10 days, and I think it came down to the obvious choices: Cameron Diaz played me and Jennifer Aniston played Jo. We had a giggle about that! We are still awaiting their calls. Where in the nearby countryside do you like to go to escape the hustle and bustle of town life? Haldon Forest with the dogs. If you had a time machine, which era would you return to and why? The 1920s – so elegant. I want to own a speakeasy one day.
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Do you have any hidden interests? I love visiting historic buildings. My father always had a keen interest in history, and as a child we were always visiting National Trust buildings. It’s definitely something that has resonated with me. What’s your favourite indulgence? Gin and tonic, and peanut butter and tomato sandwiches. If you had a super power, what would it be? To cure all disease. Who was your last text from and what was it about? It was from The Voice UK series one contestant Vince Freeman. He is performing for us and wanted to know if he needs to bring his own PA system. He also wanted to tell me he was bringing ‘Bongo Pete’ with him.... I’m excited about that! We should let you get on now.... what are you doing after? Calling Vince Freeman to find out who ‘Bongo Pete’ is!
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